February 17-Playhouse Performers

Are your kids getting the winter blues? Need to get out and burn off some energy?

Check out the Playhouse Performers at Deanna's Playhouse on Thursday, February 17 from 6-7:30 p.m.

A team of "Storyographers" will provide entertainment and dancing. Kids can sit and listen or go and play depending on their age. 

Lemonjellos coffee will also be there for parents.

Cost: $3 per person

Deanna's Playhouse is located on the corner of Adams Street and Country Club Road in Holland.
11172 Adams St, Holland

Clean Up Clean Up

Helping children learn to clean up after themselves can be a tricky task. Here are a few ideas on motivating your little ones to have fun while they clean up:

• First off, don't surprise children with clean up time. Give them a 5 or 10 minute heads up. "In five minutes we need to start picking up"
• The mess can be overwhelming for toddlers and just asking them to help doesn't compute so be specific about what they should clean up. Put the crayons in this bin, put your dolls in the toybox, Etc.
• Put a timer on and see if they can get all the toys put away before the timer goes off. If you have more than one child give each an area that needs to be cleaned and see who can clean it faster. Winner get a sticker.
• Use puppets and have them pretend to eat the toys as they clean them up
• Play I Spy and have children try to guess what you are looking at. Once they find it they need to put it away.
• Use The Freeze song by Greg and Steve. Have kids clean up while the music plays but then they need to freeze when it stops.
• Make it fun. Don't show your frustration about the mess, simply make it a fun time and your kids will pick up on your attitude.

Learn the Signs, Act Early

If you have been involved in our Early On or Infant Development program, here is an opportunity to share your experience:

“ Learn the Signs. Act Early .” announces a new project to highlight the importance of early awareness and identification efforts through the experiences of individual families.

These spotlights will provide an opportunity to recognize individuals who demonstrate the importance of acting early through diverse voices and perspectives (family member, early educator, health care professional) and to develop a resource of ‘family stories’ that may be useful to state policy and advocacy activities and in presentations to a variety of audiences.

Over the past years, “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” Partner Spotlights have presented the work of dedicated partners and campaign champions who support the campaign goals of early awareness and identification. Champions for Families Spotlights will recognize individuals nominated by families. Each Spotlight will focus on the child and family, describing how the Champion helped the family learn the signs and act early .

Champions for Families nominations can be submitted by completing a simple nomination form. Information about Champions for Families and the nomination form are posted on the campaign website at www.cdc.gov/actearly as a downloadable PDF for fax or mail submission.

For more information contact Cheryl Rhodes at crhodes1@cdc.gov .

 

Upcoming Love and Logic Classes

Objectives: Learn simple, practical techniques that can help eliminate stress and arguments often associated with child discipline. Learn how to provide choices that empower children to be responsible and to make better choices.

Love and Logic Motto: LOVE allows children to grow through their mistakes, LOGIC allows children to learn from the consequences of their choices.
All classes are FREE!

Wednesdays: February 9-March 9, 2011
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Providence Church, 821 Ottawa Ave, Holland
Registration Required: Call Julie Leeson at Pathways (616) 396-2301 ext. 145

Wednesdays: March 2-30, 2011
6:30-8:00pm
Herrick District Library, Upper Level Activity Room
Registration Required: Call Julie Leeson at Pathways (616) 396-2301 ext. 145

Thursdays, January 27-February 24, 2011
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Second Reformed Church in Zeeland, 225 Central Ave, ZeelandRegistration Required: Call 616-772-2153

Preschool Fair

Snow Dough

Recipe for "SnowDough"- a fun adaption to playdough
2 cups water
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 teaspoons cream of tartar (in spice aisle)
4 tablespoons cooking oil

Add 1/4 cup of clear glitter 
You can also add peppermint extract for scent in desired

Combine all ingredients in heavy saucepan.  Whisk together until blended well.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until mixture thickens and pulls away from the sides of the pan.  Remove from pan and knead with your hands until smooth.  Store in an airtight container.

Why is playdough important?
Using playdough on a regular basis helps strengthen little fine motor muscles that are important for writing, zipping, pincher grasp and buttoning.