Toddle Towne

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Important Bits & Pieces – OCTOBER

Concerned?
If you would like to talk to your child’s teacher but your schedules do not match, feel free to call and talk with her at nap-time (12:00 – 2:00). Please identify yourself as a parent when you call.

At the Library
The Witch has an Itch by Donna Guthrie illustrated by Katy Keck Arnsteen mixes a child’s fascination with spooky creatures with their delight for repetitive phrases. Gromelda was a wicked witch and proud of it but when she becomes allergic to evil magic….”The Witch has an itch! Oh, where does the witch have an itch?” In the end, her only choice is to change her reputation – starting from scratch.

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In The Kitchen – OCTOBER

Pumpkin is more than just something to make jack-o-lanterns with; it is a great source of vitamin A. You can of course take the easy way out and just buy a can of pumpkin, but it is so much more fun and educational too, to make a pumpkin pie from scratch – starting with a real pumpkin. I can guarantee that this is not something you will want to do often, but if you look at it as an educational activity to do with your kids, it would be fun to do just once. Start with one of the small pumpkins; they have been developed to be meatier with less moisture just for pie making. Cut off the top and dig out all those seeds along with the rest of the gooey stuff inside. The seeds can be dried on layers of newspapers for planting, feeding birds this winter, roasting with seasonings for a tasty snack, or…you can just wrap the whole mess up in the newspaper and throw it away. Cut the pumpkin into wedges and put it in a roaster with just a little bit of water, then bake at 350 until the flesh of the pumpkin is soft. Let it cool and then scrape it from the rind and run it through the food processor. Now you have pumpkin pulp just like in a can – only better! Two cups equals one can in any of your favorite pumpkin recipes…pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin cakes…don’t forget all that great vitamin A you will be getting!

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From Ms Peggy – OCTOBER

SLEEP TIGHT

It seems impossible that fall is here, but the changes are all around us. Leaves are turning color. Birds are flying south and many animals are going into hibernation for the winter. We like to think that humans are the most intelligent of all species, but their attitudes towards sleep make me wonder.

Animals instinctively go into the deep sleep of hibernation to make it through the long cold winter. Humans also have specific sleep needs but they aren’t quite as good about meeting these needs. At birth, infants sleep 18 – 20 hours a day. Their sleeping and waking behaviors are much alike and they usually sleep for only about two hours at a time. As children grow their sleep behaviors change. They are more alert during their wakeful periods and they sleep sounder during their rest periods. By pre-school age they should be sleeping through the night. Their need for sleep has decreased, but emotional and physical health still requires 10 hours of sleep at night and an additional 2 hours during the day. Children, not having the instincts of a bear, may resist going to sleep for reasons which have nothing to do with need. Serious sleep problems should never be ignored as they are frequently a symptom of a problem in some other area of a child’s life. It is more likely, however, that sleep problems are just a result of adult attitudes and expectations.

Sleep problems start on that first night home from the hospital. New parents frequently assume that every night cry requires food and attention. Legitimate needs should never go unmet but night time fussing may just be practice of self-comforting skills. Parents frequently go to great lengths to keep infants up during the day hoping for an early bedtime but infants increase their sleep periods gradually during both day and night. Shortening daytime sleep periods also keeps them from extending their night time sleep periods. Unnaturally long periods of wakefulness over stimulate the infant so that relaxation and falling to sleep are difficult.

When older children refuse to go to bed, or to stay in their bed, it is not usually a special problem needing a special solution. It is the same challenge to authority and routine that is repeated by the child in other areas throughout the day. Tired parents, however, feel they just don’t have the energy to handle this pint-sized rebellion and they give in to tantrums. A firmly enforced bedtime is necessary for both children and parents to get the rest needed to cope with life.

A commonly held myth among parents is that refusal to sleep is proof of a very bright or exceptionally mature child. Parents brag that their child hasn’t taken a nap since he was a toddler. They worry that school time is being “wasted” on naps and use boredom as an excuse for naptime misbehavior. Learning to rest is as important a skill as anything else learned throughout the day. Rested children play and learn better. Lack of sleep is in fact related to lower grades. In a survey of 3000 high school students, those getting mostly A’s and B’s got 7 hours, 21 minutes of sleep. Students getting mostly C’s were getting 7 hours, 4 minutes and those getting mostly D’s or lower were getting only 6 hours, 48 minutes. Every parent is aware that tired children have more behavior problems and scientists are now researching a link between too little sleep and Attention Deficit Disorder and Hyperactivity.

A quiet non-intrusive naptime provides time for children to mentally rehearse all the things experienced throughout the day, increasing the probability that the child will retain concepts. There is no excuse for boredom – a quiet, darkened room is the perfect setting for creative thinking and daydreaming.

With all the emotional baggage that sleep brings with it, it is not too surprising that naptime is not the most popular activity in the preschool schedule. Naptime, like every other part of the school day has rules and expectations which must be followed. Children are not required to sleep, but they must rest quietly and respect the rest of others. Even the child who doesn’t need to sleep does need time to emotionally recharge.

Naptime not only provides a time for rest but also encourages children to relax, let go of the day’s stimulation, and enjoy a time of quiet contemplation. If all adults had learned this lesson as children, doctors and drug companies might go out of business. Sleeping pills are the most frequently prescribed drug. The cost of doctor consultations for sleep-related problems just might pay off the national debt!

Why not move bedtime up a few minutes for everyone and see what happens?

 

MsPeggy

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In The Kitchen: September

THREE BEAR PORRIDGE

Oatmeal is more economical and nutritious than any of the pre-sweetened cold cereals on the market. If it is introduced as “porridge” and if the children get to make it themselves, it just might become a favorite. If you think oatmeal is yucky and that only pink marshmallows and lots of sugar can make a cereal good, then your child will probably copy your attitude. So buy some instant oatmeal, turn on the tea kettle when you get up. Then, while you’re getting ready, your children can be stirring up their own choice of hot cereal. If you buy the unflavored variety, sprinkle with cinnamon, brown sugar or stir in your favorite jelly or fruit.

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COVID Update: July 1

Dear Parents,

As we come to the end of our first month back I can honestly say it could not have gone any better and in many ways went better than we could have hoped for.  All of our parents, kids, and teachers have done a fantastic job of adapting to all of the new rules and regulations with a positive attitude and cheerfully went along as things changed week by week.

Going into our second month we have seen a slowdown in rule changes being handed down by the State of Illinois.  The month of June felt a little like a whole new ballgame each day but now for July, we feel like we are really going to be able to start creating our “new normal” for the duration of this health crisis.

You will still see a few changes as we streamline the rules and procedures that we need to continue and eliminate things that no longer apply to us now that we have proven we can safely reopen to provide care and education to our TTLC children.

Although we will continue to do drop off and pick up outside we will move back to our normal sign-in sheets for parents and the staff will conduct and fill out the health screening each day.  We have already moved to sanitize shoes on arrival rather than changing shoes each day.

Masks will continue to be required of all adults and children during drop off and pick up.  In addition, staff will continue to wear a mask or a shield at all times inside the building and children will wear a mask or a shield whenever they are in a common area but not in the classrooms.  No one will wear any face covering when eating, drinking, napping, or outside.

The State of Illinois has issued new DCFS licenses for childcare centers with reduced capacities allowed.  These reduced capacities reflect how many children we can care for each day while following the rules for reduced class sizes and not using rooms for more than one group.  Our Alton center will be operating at 52% of their former capacity and our East Alton center will be operating at 60% or their former capacity.

In addition to decreased capacity, we also have to deal with increased staffing requirements.  So we have to have more teachers to care for fewer children, because of this we have to be extremely rigid about scheduled days and times of attendance.

We used to allow parents to drop off and pick up whenever they liked but that is no longer the case and won’t be for the foreseeable future.  All parents will be required to schedule specific days and times and will be required to stick to them and not allowed to come early or stay later.

We are also required by the Illinois Department of Public Health to verify the reason for every single absence so if you child is not going to attend a scheduled day we need to know at the soonest possible time so that we can adjust staffing and if we do not hear from you we will have to call until we reach someone to verify the reason for the absence

Since parents are still not coming inside the building we will continue to post daily pictures and videos so you can see what we’re up to each day.   We hope you are enjoying seeing them as much as we enjoy taking them for you.

 

 

Susan Berry

Executive Director