APRIL NEWSLETTER!

What’s Happening This Month

                Spring is a time of changes.  The weather changes…getting rid of the snow, turning it to rain.  The trees change, budding with new life!  All around us there are changes.  Last month we had a change in our group and said goodbye to Lorelei and welcomed Talon, and his parents Matt and Lindsey, into our group.  Now we have also said goodbye to Isabelle and will be searching for another great addition to our “family!”

                With all the changes going on around us, it seems like the perfect time to be learning about baby animals!  This month is full of fun activities and songs all about those irresistably cute animals!  We will be working on the numbers 8 and 18 and the letters Y, G, and Q.  The  colors for the month are brown and green and the shape is the OCTAGON!

                I am extremely low on recordable CD’s, so if anyone sees a good deal on them at a store and would like to donate them to daycare so I can make copies of our songs for everyone, I would love that!

                CALENDAR:

April 1: Travel Tots- 9:15-10:15

April 6: Anna Turns 5!!! 

April 8: Music Class- 10:00

April 8:  In honor of the Twins home opener, wear your favorite Twins apparel!

April 15: Travel Tots- 9:15-10:15

April 17:  Henry turns 7!  AND Isaac turns 3! 

April 25-30- DAYCARE CLOSED FOR PAID VACATION WEEK.

*I would really like to take the kids out to the MN Zoo to see the baby farm animals this month.  I will look at the schedule and let you know.  I also may need a parent chaperone to help with this one, so I will keep you updated about dates.

Since the backyard is WET and MUDDY…and its only going to get worse before it keeps better…please continue sending snow pants and boots until it dries out a little.  Even if it warms up, we can always just wear a sweatshirt with the snowpants so they don’t over heat.  It is that tough time of year where the weather changes on a daily basis, so just keep an eye on the forecast and dress your children appropriately for each day.

Welcome to Gretchen's Family Childcare!

Partnership

They bring their child to me
and hope I'll come to know.
How much the offspring means to them,
their trust in me bestowed.

They bring their child to me
with love and hope and pride,
looking for a helping hand,
a teacher who will guide.

They bring their child to me,
and our partnership is clear:
To nurture and allow to bloom
a life we both hold dear.

They bring their child to me,
a step toward letting go
and trusting in our special plan
to help the child grow.

~ By Gloria Weber Henbesst ~

It's time to join the 21st century...with a daycare blog!

I'd like to welcome all my current daycare families to track what their children have been up to during the week, and welcome prospective new families to check out all the fun we have here!


Gretchen's Family Childcare is located in New Brighton, about a mile south of 694 and Silver Lake Road. Convenient to both Minneapolis and St. Paul. The Elementary school for my neighborhood is Bel Air Elementary in the Mounds view School district, and I have a bus stop at my driveway for school age kids.

I enroll children 18 months and up in my Childcare. I do offer a daily preschool program which is why i stick with the toddler and up age group. We spend about 40 minutes in the morning doing school time. Our curriculum is delivered from Mother Goose Time, and offers monthly themes with crafts, songs, games, activities and special days each month. We do the calendar and weather daily as well. There are typically 2 or 3 letters for the month that we focus on, as well as a number, a shape and 2 colors. All activities are based on these concepts and themes.

Along with our monthly curriculum I offer 3 classes a month. Our music classes taught by Growing With Music once a month. The children really enjoy their fun time with Tasha! Then we have 2 visits from Tee, our Travel Tots teacher, who rotates between science, spanish, world culture and movement. A favorite for most of the children!

As a member of the Providers choice food program, I offer healthy well balanced meals and snacks. Breakfast, AM snack, lunch and afternoon snack are included in my weekly tuition rate. I try to use fresh produce whenever possible and have the children help me prepare foods whenever possible to help teach them about healthy food choices and safe food handling.

Structure and routine are a very important part of a child's day, but so if free play. I allow children to work on their imagination, social skills and problem solving skills. We also head outside at least once a day weather permitting. During the warm summer months we spend many hours outside, usually once in the morning and again after naptime!  We even head down to the neighborhood park, or go on walks to feed ducks at a pond around the block!

 My main goal is to work with the parents to help prepare their children for entry into kindergarten.  I help facilitate social, emotional and academic growth so they are ready to make that transition into school.

Once a month I like to plan a special day.  Whether it is here at daycare having a special party- beach Day, Crazy Hair Day, Pajama Day, Show and Tell, etc. or the occasional field trip!  One of the kids favorites was our visit to the New Brighton Fire Station!

If you are a current parent with children enrolled in my childcare already feel free to check back weekly as I will update what we have going on for the week, and will occasionaly post new pictures of the fun activities we have done to pass the time while you are away at work!