January Newsletter

Inservice on MLK Day: Our staff will be participating in a recertification course for CPR for adults, children, and infants. Our staff will also engage in best practice training for early childhood education. This training will focus on updated classroom skills and techniques as well as additional health and safety practices. This is a valuable opportunity to enhance our skills and ensure your child receives the best care and education.

Minimizing Germs: As always, we appreciate your continued vigilance in helping us minimize the spread of germs. One effective way to do this is by washing your child's hands at drop-off and pick-up times. This helps with transferring germs from school to home.

Outdoors During Winter: As a licensed childcare provider, we are required to go outside daily, weather permitting. Our guidelines are above a wind chill factor of 32 degrees, below a heat index of 89 degrees, no active precipitation, and no active air quality alerts. Therefore, children will continue to have outdoor play throughout the winter months. Please ensure they come prepared with coats, hats, and gloves or mittens to keep them warm. If you need any assistance with these items, please let us know.

Thank you for your cooperation and support. Together, we can make this a great month for our children!

Infants

The goal this month is to help children become aware of others in the room. Infants who have been in the classroom for a while now may have formed bonds with teachers and rely on their caregivers for security. Because of this trust relationship, caregivers can help children become interested in other children and begin to form social relationships with peers. Younger infants will seek out social relationships by making eye contact with others. Older infants will begin to learn the names of other children in the room and will begin to feel a sense of affiliation with the group.

Toddler/Twos

At this stage, toddlers are beginning to recognize their role in a group and to participate in cooperative group activities. Young children show increasing understanding of simple rules but may need adult guidance. Toddlers show interest and enjoyment in others and recognize family members and friends by name. They are beginning to be able to express themselves and rely less on adults to solve conflicts.

At this stage children are beginning to learn how to play appropriately with others. This skill can be challenging for 2-year-olds. Children enjoy being with one another; however, they are often not prepared to handle the complexity and the newness of relationships with others. This month the focus will be on providing children with opportunities to play alongside each other and to develop friendships.

Preschool

The goal this month is focus on the ways we can work toward getting along with others in a group. The character traits of acceptance and forgiveness are essential for establishing a peaceful community. Loyalty ensures that there is support. And, finally, learning how to work together as a team helps the community to be successful.

• Acceptance: treating everyone with respect and understanding regardless of differences; understanding how we are alike and different
• Forgiveness: letting go of negative feelings toward a person who has caused hurt or harm
• Loyalty: feeling devotion or faithfulness toward family members, friends, country, or a cause in which one believes
• Teamwork: working together with other people to get a shared result

What You Should Know about RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)

You’ve probably heard Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases are rapidly increasing in Pennsylvania and nationwide. Levels of RSV are higher than usual for this time of year, so families need to know about RSV because some children can get very sick and need hospitalization.

RSV is a virus that usually causes common cold symptoms in most children and adults. Both children and adults can get it, but RSV is not available for vaccination. While it usually causes mild illness, it is essential to know that younger children are at much higher risk of severe complications requiring urgent treatment and, in some cases, hospitalization.

Factors increasing children’s risk for severe RSV infections include:

• 3 months of age or younger (due to difficulty clearing mucus from smaller airways)
• Being around other children in a school, childcare setting, or at home
• Living in crowded housing situations
• Exposure to secondhand smoke
• Children with a history of weakened immune systems, preterm birth, or heart or lung problems

How to Make Frozen Bubbles

All you need is some bubble solution, a bubble wand, and freezing cold temperatures outside. So, if you’re looking for something to do on a cold winter day, make some frozen bubbles! It’s a fun activity the whole family can enjoy.