Parents As TeachersMay 2007 Newsletter—Rice

CountyPlaygroups *Lyons Tuesday, May 1st 10:00-11:30 a.m.

Lyons Rec. Center

Sterling Wed. May 2nd Sterling Library9:30-11:00 a.m.

Little Wed. May 9th River 10:00-11:30 a.m.

Cong. Church Activity Groups *(Ages 3-5 years old)Sterling Friday, May 4th Library 9:00-9:45 a.m.

Corner- Friday, May 4th stone 10:30-10:45 a.m.

PAT Friday, May 11th Center 10:00-10:45 a.m.

*There is only one 3-5 Activity Group and Playgroup for each location this month. Summer activities will begin in June. Look for more details in the Summer Newsletter next month.

Dates to Remember:May 1 May DayMay 5 Cinco de MayoMay 13 Mother’s DayMay 28 Memorial Day

Mommy, Mommy (sung to “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear”)Mommy, Mommy, let’s sweep the floor. (pretend to sweep the floor) Mommy, Mommy, let’s go to the store. (pretend to drive a car) Mommy, Mommy, let’s bake a cake. (pretend to mix ingredients) Mommy, Mommy, let’s take a break. (wipe brow and whisper “whew”) Mommy, Mommy, watch me grow. (stretch arms up high) Mommy, Mommy loves me so. (put hands on heart) Mommy, Mommy, turn out the light. (make a click sound and pretend to turn off) Mommy, Mommy, say good-night. (lay head on hands like a pillow)

Plant PalsYou will need:*One 9 or 12 oz. clear plastic cup *About 1 cup potting soil *1 Tablespoon of grass seeds *Decorations such as office dot stickers, markers, and ribbonDirections:1. Let your child create a funny face on the cup with stickers and markers. 2. Fill the cup halfway with soil. Divide the remaining soil in two, then have your child measure the seeds and stir them into one of these halves. 3. Spoon the seed-filled soil into the cup, then top it with the remaining soil. (This final layer should be about 1/8 inch deep). Water the soil well.4. Finally, leave the plant in a warm, sunny spot to sprout. Water as needed to keep the soil about as wet as a damp sponge.

Sandwich on a StickTurn an ordinary sandwich into a fun and special snack or lunch!Cut up cubes of bread, cheese and thick lunch meat.Slide the cubes onto a skewer with other foods your child likes such as grape tomatoes, pieces of lettuce, a pickle or and olive.Set out a side of mayo or mustard for dipping!

The Key to High-Quality Care by Kyle Pruett

Of all the important aspects of childcare, none is more important than the relationship between your child and his caregiver. Whether you are seeking someone to work in your home or choosing a center, the caregiver’s training, patience, warmth, and enjoyment of your child is critical to his well-being.

IN YOUR HOME

Look for someone who is warm, loving, and responsive, and who can pay close attention to him and respond to his individual needs, praising his achievements and supporting his development. This kind of relationship teaches a child that other adults (aside from his parents) can be trustworthy and enjoyable. It also provides the level and variety of stimulation that is essential for healthy brain growth and development on all fronts during this critical early childhood period.

A good caregiver can be a wonderful resource for you—an excellent source of information and helpful observations of your child’s progress. It pays to get to know your child’s caregiver, to brief her in the mornings about anything eventful, to get an update from her at the end of each day, and to arrange periodic meetings to discuss your child.

AT A CHILDCARE CENTER

Look for:

*Strong encouragement of parental involvement.

*Exceptionally warm, patient, and attentive staff that stay for years.

*Caregivers who have training in early childhood education and practice age- appropriate activities.

*Discipline that is grounded in talking through and re-direction, not punishment and shame.

www.scholastic.com From Me, Myself and I: How Children Build Their Sense of Self—18-36 Months by Kyle D. Pruett, M.D.

Here are some tips from a mom who’s been there that can help make the experience more enjoyable for the whole family.

1. Try to keep your daily routine (wake up time, meal times and nap times) as close to your normal schedule as possible. This will be comforting to your toddler, especially one who strongly relies on schedules or rituals.

2. But...be prepared for deviation from your normal routine. Naps may be shorter or non-existent as there is a lot more going on and the kids want to be awake for it!

3. Bring favorite toys, blankets, etc. along for comfort.

4. Invest in a couple brand new toys or books so you can occasionally pull out a “surprise” when boredom or crankiness strikes.

5. Pack plenty of healthy snacks and drinks in the car and try to stick to normal snack times like you would at home.

6. Make plenty of stops so everyone can get out and run around.

7. If there is room, bring along a playpen for your toddler to sleep in. That way, no matter where you go, you’re sure to have a safe, clean place for him to sleep.

8. Keep your toddler’s interests and attention span in mind when planning your vacation.

9. Be prepared for emotional breakdowns. All the changes and unfamiliarity can be overwhelming for your little one. Try to stay calm and consistent, just as you would at home.

10. Take along your sense of humor! Things may go wrong but focus on the good and remember—your on vacation!

HAPPY TRAVELING!!www.epinions.com

A Poem for Moms --www.amandashome.com

A weary mother returned from the store, Lugging groceries through the kitchen door.

Awaiting her arrival was her eight-year-old son, Eager to relate what his younger brother had done.“While I was out playing and Dad was on a call,

T.J. took his crayons and wrote on the wall!It’s on the new paper you just hung in the den.

I told him you’d be mad at having to do it again.”

She let out a moan and furrowed her brow, “Where is your little brother right now?”

She emptied her arms and with a purposeful stride, She marched to his closet where he’d gone to hide.She called his full name as she entered his room.

He trembled with fear—he knew that meant doom!

For the next ten minutes, she ranted and raved About the expensive wallpaper and how she had

saved.Stressed over all the work it would take to repair, She condemned his actions and total lack of care.The more she scolded, the madder she got, Then stomped from his room, totally distraught!She headed for the den to confirm her fears When she saw the wall, her heart flooded with

tears.The message she read pierced her soul with a dart. It said, “I love Mommy,” surrounded by a

heart.Well, the wallpaper remained, just as she found it, With an empty picture frame hung to surround it.A reminder to her, and indeed to all,

Take time to read the handwriting on the wall!

“She’s not MY mother. I don’t need to get her e Mother’s Day gift.” If you’re a guy who thinks this way about your wife, you’d better be smart enough not to actually say it. While it’s true that guys have plenty of other moments to shine—such as birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, etc.—it would be a mistake to ignore Mother’s Day altogether. If nothing else, at least make sure your children don’t forget about Mom. But a gift from you isn’t a bad idea, either. Ok, fine, so you’re convinced that you’d better get your wife a gift, but what? A 2001 survey of 300 women from wishlist.com found that the most popular romantic Mother’s Day gifts were flowers, a weekend getaway and jewelry. But your gift doesn’t have to come wrapped in a box. Here are five ways to show your wife that you appreciate the job she does as a mother.1. Get the kids out of her hair. Take them out of the house and let your wife have some alone time.2. Send her out of the house for a while. Encourage her to go to lunch with friends or go to the spa. You can take charge of caring for the kids and fixing dinner.3. Finish that home project she’s been asking you to do. It might not seem romantic, but it’s a huge gift.4. Clean the house for her. If your wife is the one who generally does the cleaning, surprise her with a spotless house! Get the kids to pitch in.5. Get a sitter. When’s the last time you had a date night? Even if it’s just dinner and a movie, get your lady love out of the house and into some adult conversation. Or, if you really want to “wow” her, book a hotel room for an overnight adventure.If you still scoff at the idea of getting your wife a gift on her special day, just remember: Father’s Day is right around the corner...and she could ignore you, too.

--Laura Kruse, www.wsbtv.com

Lexi Bryce Braden Isaac Evan Cole Tessa Andrea Emma Nora Cade Lauryn Kaz Tessa Teah Faith

May 2007Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1Final Lyons Playgroup10:00 a.m.

May Day

2Final Sterling Playgroup 9:30 a.m.

3 4Final 3-5 Sterling 9amCornerstone 10:30 a.m.

5

Cinco de Mayo

6 7 8 9Final Little River Playgroup 10:00 a.m.

10 11Final 3-5 Lyons 10:00 a.m.

12

13

Mother’s Day

14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24Last Day of school for USD 405

25 26

27 28

Memorial Day

29 30 31

MAY BASKET

A tisket, a tasket, I made a May basket.

Flowers are a sign of spring, And all the joy

that it can bring.

Parents As Teachers (620)257-5293 1-877-808-9639

Shannon Buckman, Coordinator ext. 152 Tracy Suhler, Educator ext.128

Kari Troyer, Office Assistant ext. 142

Parents As Teachers 800 South Workman Lyons, KS 67554

WANTED: Gently used baby dolls and baby doll accessories for our Lyons playgroups. We are also on the look-out for a child-sized kitchen table and chairs set. If you are cleaning out your

child’s toy closet and need to get rid of some toys, check with us—we may be able to use them! Thanks!