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May 2016
Volume 1, Issue 1
A Child’s Place
Family Newsletter
2016 WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD
Every year we early childhood educators set aside a week to recognize and recommit to
the young learners and families we work with each day. This week is an important opportunity to reconnect with each child in our care and to be sure we are meeting the
needs and interests of all to ensure their future success. This year the “Week of the Young
Child,” sponsored by the National Association of the Education of Young Children
(NAEYC) was April 10-16. Teachers and staff at all centers prepared extra special projects
and events to engage and interest their students. Some projects included tapping into our
creativity by finger-painting on “Artsy Monday,” preparing and serving both real and
fabric pizzas on “Tasty Tuesday,” celebrating our inner wild side on “Wacky Wednesday,”
exploring and experimenting with volcanoes on “Science Thursday,” and celebrating
those most important in a child’s life– their families– on “Family Friday.” Learning was
made extra fun this week and all seemed to enjoy it very much!
QUOTATIONS
“Play is often talked
about as if it were a
relief from serious
learning. But for
children play is
serious learning. Play
is really the work of
childhood.”
-Fred Rogers
NEW SERVICES COMING TO A CHILD'S PLACE
A Child’s Place will begin partnering with The Therapy Tree to offer developmental
screenings and assessments for children from birth-5 years of age. Licensed therapists
will be provided to assess the children in areas of movement, play, language, feeding,
behavior, and/or emotional regulation. Our hope is that through the vast range of
screenings The Therapy Tree provides, we will be able to help recognize difficulties a
child may have early on. From there we may begin a plan of therapy and/or education to
ensure the highest level of success for all children in our care.
The Therapy Tree also offers many other programs and services for children and adults
including occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech & language therapy, counseling
for all ages, pediatric wellness programs, and adult wellness programs.
For more information you can visit their website at http://www.thetherapytree.org or
email at [email protected]
“Between a third and a half of all toddlers in day care are bitten by another child, studies indicate; in fact, epidemiological studies peg that
number at closer to half of all children in day care.” (Law, B. M. (2011). When a toddler bites,
how do you handle the biter, the victim — and both sets of parents? American Psychological Association, 12(2), 50. Retrieved March 29, 2016, from http://
www.apa.org/monitor/2011/02/biting.aspx)
REFRESHING
We’d like to take this space to
touch on a policy that we all may
need a little “refreshing” on.
With summer just around the
corner and warm weather within
our reach it’s time to remember
the policy for footwear. We ask
that all children wear closed-toe
shoes while at school at all times.
These may be close-toed sandals,
crocs, tennis shoes, etc., as long as
your child’s toes are covered.
We’d like to reiterate that for
safety reasons children must wear
appropriate shoes not only while
outside on the playground, but
also while indoors as well.
HELPFUL HINTS-TIPS-AND RESOURCES
When thinking of issues that parents of young children face most, biting often comes to
mind. Biting is a behavior most common in infants through two-year-olds, even threeyear-olds at times. Typically children grow out of biting once their verbal and problemsolving skills have further developed, but it is very important to address biting when it
first begins.
The reasons children bite can vary greatly in every case. Some possible reasons for biting
might be teething or satisfying an oral need, self-defense, attention, learning control,
communicating feelings of anger, frustration, hunger, or fear; although the reason for a
child’s biting can often be unclear.
There are a few things parents can try if biting seems to become a habit. One is to observe
the child and see if any patterns arise concerning when or where the biting occurs. If no
pattern is observed, it is still important to pay attention and quickly intervene if it appears
a child might bite. Another important and powerful thing parents can do is help children
to find and use the appropriate words. “No” is often one of the first words children learn
to use in context, and can be the building block for their verbal self-defense. By giving
children the words to say “Stop,” “That is mine,” or “I don’t like that,” parents and educators are giving children the tools to also help prevent biting on their own. And once children start to use those appropriate phrases, they should be given positive attention for
doing so.
There are also some prevention strategies that are not helpful to biting children, many of
which may be natural reactions. These include, yelling, punishment, biting the child
back, giving too much attention to the biting child, or labeling that child as a “biter.”
Although biting can be a very frustrating behavior, remember it is just that. Children who
bite are not bad children and it is important to remain calm and be supportive in biting
situations.
For more information go to www.zerotothree.org, keyword biting.
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RECOMMENDED READING
Not A Box By: Antoinette Portis
Summer is an excellent time of year to go outside and use the imagination. Whether
you’re making a tree fort into Rapunzel’s tower, turning clouds into bunnies and birds, or
pretending to be pirates in the pool, the possibilities are endless and often require little to
no expense.
In Not A Box the main character, a creative little rabbit, uses his imagination to turn a
basic box into many fun and exciting creations; and in doing so, transforms himself into
various roles as well.
This Theodor Suess Geisel Award honoree playfully uses a question/answer format to
encourage children and adults alike to stretch their minds and view things as a little more
than what they see on the outside. By thinking outside the box (pun intended!) we can
offer a world of possibilities to our children and build long-lasting memories in the process.
“The American Academy of Pediatrics says [reading aloud to children]
stimulates early brain development and helps build key language, literacy and social skills.” ("PBS Newshour." I Is for Infant: Reading Aloud to Young Children Benefits Brain Development 24 June
2014. Print.)
HANDS-ON FUN!
If you find yourself looking for something for you and your little one to do this summer,
and are hoping to also save some dollars, why not try painting with eggs? It’s an easy,
fun, and creative way for your child to create a unique piece of art. The best part about
this project is you can do it again and again and never get the same product.
You will need the following supplies:
-eggs
-washable paint in a variety of colors
-tissue paper
-glue stick
-paper, cardboard, or canvas
The first step is to clean out the eggs. By using a butter knife, you can gently break a hole
in the top of each egg and empty the shells. From there you will want to carefully rinse
the eggs with warm water and anti-bacterial soap. Allow the shells to air-dry in the carton before moving on to the next step. The next step of course being, filling the shells
with paint. Allow your child to choose the colors he/she will use and help him/her to fill
each egg, or fill them yourself and let each egg be a surprise! Once you have filled all your
shells, you will take a piece of tissue paper, large enough to cover the hole at the top, and
using your glue stick, you will apply the tissue paper to the shells. Once all eggs are ready,
you will want to set up your canvas somewhere you wouldn’t mind temporarily painting,
such as the backyard or driveway, and be sure your child is wearing something that can
get messy. The final step is the best part, tossing the eggs. You can stand as close or as
far away as you like, based on your child’s ability to aim., then– let ’er rip! After the pain
has dried, you will have a lasting piece of art sure to brighten up any room.
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UPCOMING PROGRAMS
AT THE SPORTSPLEX
NEWS FROM THE VOLO SPORTSPLEX
The Volo Sportsplex, located just behind A Child's Place Early Learning Center in Volo,
has been open for just over six months now, and offers a substantial number of activities
for children and adults alike! The sports complex and event center houses an 8,000
square foot gym which has a full-size basketball court, two volleyball courts, and dropdown batting cages with pitcher’s mounds. There is also an 800 square foot dance and
fitness studio, a multi-purpose/party room, a concession stand, and multiple viewing
areas.
The Sportsplex will be able to host many events such as sports programming, birthday
parties, craft shows, and concerts, just to name a few. Just recently a two-day volleyball
tournament was held for the McHenry County Juniors Volleyball Club, and children from
A Child’s Place Early Learning Centers spent part of their Spring Breaks decorating cakes
in the Party Room and playing volleyball in the large gym.
Membership to the Volo Sportsplex is free to all registered families of any of
our A Child’s Place locations. Th is m em ber sh ip w ill pr ovide fam ilies w ith
discounts on programs, rentals, open gym, fitness classes, and parties/events.
The Sportsplex will also function as an open venue for our Summer Camp and schoolaged children. They will be able to utilize the facility when weather does not permit outdoor Camp activity, as a large-group space for field trips, and to have in-house field trips
featuring performers, coaches, entertainers, and more!
Yoga– Tuesdays at 7:30pm.
$80 for 8 classes or $12 drop-in
Zumba– Wednesdays at
7:00pm. Summer special- $50
for 10 classes or $5 drop-in
Boot Camp– Mon. Wed. Fri. at
8:30am; Wednesdays at
5:30pm. $45 for the week or
$155 for 4 weeks
Personal/Group Training–
Mon. Wed. Fri. 9:30am-1:00pm
by appt. 1 person $45 for
30min.; $60 for an hour. 2 people $45 for an hour; 3-4 people
$30 for an hour
Kickboxing–Tuesdays
6:30pm; Saturdays 9:00am
(starting May 3rd).
Speed & Agility Training–
TBA
Intro to Soccer– TBA
More Summer Training
Camps to Come!...
*Member pricing listed. For non
-member prices, please visit
www.volosportsplex.com
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In addition to these wonderful services the Sportsplex will also offer a number of programs for children and adults such as yoga, Zumba, personal training, and more. We are
very proud to be able to provide this facility to our families and community. For more
information about the Volo Sportsplex, how to reserve a space, or other upcoming programs, you may visit the Sportsplex website at www.volosportsplex.com, or call
224.814.4265.
CAMP THEMES
Summer is just around the corner, ask your children-they know! It also means A Child’s Place
Summer Camp is also set to begin. Although individual start dates may vary, we are excited to have
more total weeks of Camp this summer than ever
before! With more weeks comes more field trips
and fun learning experiences. To better organize
the trips this year and be sure there is plenty of
variety of activities, Ms. Jenny Putzell, Camp Director, has come up with exciting weekly themes
for the campers.
Week One (May 23-27): “Welcome to Camp”
The first week of Camp is going to be
all about getting to know one another and making
summer-long friendships. In addition to the great
fieldtrips that have been planned, children can
look forward to making friendship bracelets, working together on a camp scavenger hunt, arts and
crafts, and other fun team-building activities.
SUMMER “CAMP ADVENTURE”
We want all our campers to have a fun and successful summer this year. We
have a lot of great new activities and adventures this season for all to enjoy. In
all the excitement, it is easy to sometimes forget the rules of Camp. Here are a
few reminders:
Sunblock– Please bring your child to Camp with sunblock already applied.
Each child will require his/her own lotion sunblock to also keep at Camp to be
reapplied by the teachers when necessary.
Electronics– Campers are welcome to bring personal electronic devices to
Camp, but use will be limited to bus rides, meal times/”down time,” or any time
the teachers feel it is appropriate. All children are expected to participate in all
planned Camp activities. Should overuse of electronics become a problem, children will be asked to leave all electronics at home. Please note that A Child’s
Place is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
Camper Conduct– We ask that all children behave appropriately and conduct
themselves with respect at all times. Should teachers feel a child is not being
considerate of him/herself, others, or his/her surroundings, they will give the
child a warning and communicate with the parents. A second offense will warrant a call home and an appropriate consequence to the camper. Should a third
offense occur, it would be up to the discretion of the Camp Director whether or
not that child will be asked to leave our Summer camp program.
Week Two (May 31-June 3): “Around the World”
Children will have the opportunity
during this second week to explore their own heritages and those of their peers! Campers will be
creating their own passports for the week, as well
as exploring global foods in dramatic play. Children will be creating and decorating Japanese fans
and international flags together, and everyone will
have the opportunity to participate in a personal
heritage “show-and-tell!”
Week Three (June 6-10): “How Does It Work?”
Week three is all about science and
exploration! Campers will be participating in a
variety of science experiments involving physics,
chemistry, biology, and more, and will even be
developing some of their own. They will all be
traveling to the Milwaukee Discovery Museum this
week for even more incredible hands-on activities.
Week Four (June 13-17): “Nature Week”
Campers will become one with the
earth during this exciting week devoted to nature!
Starting with a trip to Veteran Acres Park in Crystal Lake, children will begin exploring and appreciating their outdoor surroundings. They will be
able to make imprints in clay of all the natural
things they find, make sun-catchers using dried
flowers, and will round out the week with planting
a Camp garden at the Volo Sportsplex.
Week Five (June 20-24): “Oceans and Deserts”
Clothing– Please remember to dress your camper in our Summer Camp t-shirt
on the designated days. If your child is especially sensitive to the sun, please
consider a light t-shirt for swim days. Be sure to have appropriate footwear for
your child, and consider sending an extra set of clothes in his/her backpack.
This week the children will be learning
about the great contrasts in these environments
and also the animals that dwell within those habitats. They will be creating an ocean in a bottle, tide
pool art, and artistic sand creations.
Sack Lunch– There are a few days this summer that parents will be asked to
send a lunch to Camp. Please be mindful to avoid any products containing nuts
of any kind.
Week Six (June 27-July 1): “Freedom Week”
We sincerely appreciate all parents’ support and cooperation in making this our
most successful Summer Camp season yet!
This week leading up to Independence
Day campers will be learning about our country
and its many symbols of freedom and patriotism.
They will enjoy making Statue of Liberty/Uncle
Sam hats, painting American flags, and creating a
confetti launcher!
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“Give a Little Bit”
Parents may be wondering, “How can I
contribute to my child’s learning experience while at school?” The staff at ACP
have come up with a few items they’d love
to have donated (new or gently used) to
their classrooms to help enhance the
curriculum.
Outdoor & Water Play Items:

Sponges of all shapes/sizes

Pool noodles

Colanders

Small kiddie pools

PVC piping
UPCOMING EVENTS
May
2-6 Teacher Appreciation Week– A week-long celebration of our teachers and staff. Please
see your center director for specific themes.
6 Muffins with Mom 6:30-8:30am– Moms come spend that extra special time with your little
one and enjoy breakfast on us! Hosted at individual centers.
6 Painting with Mom 5:30-6:30pm– Create a masterpiece while you create lasting memories
with your child. Hosted at individual centers.
Home-living Items:

Kitchen towels

Pots & pans of varying sizes

Bakeware

Oven mitts

Placemats

Cooking spoons, spatulas, whisks

Mixing bowls
Building Items:

Safety goggles

Scrap lumber

Small lightweight hammers

Large machine screws (flat-tipped)

Short chubby screwdrivers
See your child's classroom teacher for
more fun ideas!
12/13 Train Conductor Visit– Children will love learning about trains and train safety.
McHenry 9:30am, Volo 10:30am, Antioch 5/13 at 10:0am.
20 Parent’s Night Out 6:00-9:00pm– Parents will have a chance to RSVP to our first
“Parent’s Night Out” hosted at the Volo Sportsplex. Portions of the proceeds from this event will be
given to support “GiGi’s Playhouse,” a local achievement center benefiting individuals with Down
syndrome.
23 Summer Camp Begins– Summer “Camp Adventure” kicks off for Volo & McHenry centers.
Big Hollow will begin the 26th, and Antioch June 6th.
30 Memorial Day– All Centers Closed. Have a happy and safe holiday!
June
1 & 2 Parent-Teacher Conferences 6:30-8:00pm– Sign up with your child’s individual
teacher to discuss the progress he/she has made so far this year.
11 PreK Graduation– Celebrate all your preschooler’s accomplishments with your family,
friends, and teachers. The children have worked hard to succeed while at ACP and it’s time to
recognize them! Hosted at the Volo Sportsplex Volo center 9:00-10:00am, McHenry 11:00am12:00pm, and Antioch 1:00-2:00pm.
17 Donuts with Dad 6:30-8:30am– It’s Dad’s turn to spend a little time with your child while
enjoying a sweet breakfast treat! Hosted at individual centers.
17 Building with Dad 5:30-6:30pm– Channel your inner “Bob the Builder” while you work
together with your child to construct and create. Hosted at individual centers.
CONTACT US AT:
Antioch– 1410 N. Deep Lake Rd.
Antioch, IL 60002
847.838.7669
28, 29, 30 Summer Kickoff BBQ 4:00-7:00pm– What better way to officially say “Hello!”
to Summer than with a fun outdoor picnic? Join us for dinner and fun with family and friends,
hosted at individual centers; Antioch 6/28, McHenry 6/29, and Volo 6/30.
July
4 Independence Day– All Centers Closed. Have a happy and safe holiday!
Big Hollow– 33315 N. Fish Lake Road
Ingleside, IL 60041
815.354.8136
14 Ice Cream Truck Visit 3:00pm– Beat the heat with a delicious icy treat! Once again this
summer we will be inviting our local ice cream truck to each center for the children to enjoy a fun
summer treat. Hosted at individual centers.
McHenry– 1159 Adams Drive
McHenry, IL 60051
815.385.3311
24 McHenry Fiesta Days Parade 1:00-3:00pm– Come show your support for A Child’s
Place at the annual McHenry Fiesta Days Parade. Teachers and staff will be marching through
downtown McHenry showing ACP pride. All families are welcome to participate as well!
Volo– 26705 W. Commerce Dr. Unit A
Volo, IL 60073
847.201.1760
Volo Sportsplex– 26705 W. Commerce
Dr. Unit B
Volo, IL 60073
224.814.4265
http://www.achildsplacedaycare.com
http://www.volosportsplex.com
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