ELC Parent NewsletterOctober 2015

S.E.E.K. Early Learning Center

1848 N. 52nd Street

Phoenix | 85008480.902.0771

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Dear Parents, The school year is off to a great start. Thestudents have hit their strides and areaccustomed to their new schedules and friends. This month the students will learn about autumnand everything associated with the season. Fall,pumpkins and leaves changing colors are someof the topics their teachers will discuss with them.If your children have books that relate to theaforementioned topics, they are more thanwelcome to them to share with their class.

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor,

summer an oil painting and

autumn a mosaic of them all. - Stanley Horowitz

Fall is Here

earn a free day of childcare.The reviews show ourteachers how proud you areof them and their impact onyour little ones. Let us knowafter you've shared yourexperience on our Yelppage and we will credit youwith ONE FREE DAY ofchildcare (Limit one perchild, please).

Friendly Reminders

The ELC is open 7am-7pm, teachers are notpermitted to acceptstudents outside ofthese hours.

Please applysunscreen prior toyour child arriving toschool each morning.Please, sendsunscreen with yourchild as well.

Please send refillablewater bottles to schoolwith your child. Labelthese items with yourchild's name.

Please send a changeof clothes.

Please do not openthe ELC's frontdoor for anyone you

Cooler weather is on its way. Classes willcontinue to play outside. Please be sure yourchild has a change of clothes that is appropriatefor the season. Please label all jackets, hats,gloves, scarves etc. with his/her name. We arelooking forward to enjoying the beautiful weather!

Community Helper Lieutenant Bryan Chapman of the Phoenix PoliceDepartment stopped by S.E.E.K. Early Learning Centerfor Community Helpers week. The children enjoyedlearning about safety, what to do in an emergency andsitting in the front seat of the patrol car. Thank you Lt.Chapman.

A Peek into the Infant Room

Oct. 12th Teacher In-Service:Closed

Oct. 19th-23rd

ParentTeacherConferencesand SpiritWeek

Oct. 30th HalloweenParade

are unfamiliar withduring drop-off andpick-up.

We request thatgirls wearshorts/pants/ tightsunder theirdresses/skirts. Itmakes outdoor play,especially on theslide, much safer.

October Themes

Fall 10/1 - 10/16

Pumpkins&Halloween

10/18 -10/30

Important Dates

FREE EVENT

The children exercised the artistic and tactile parts oftheir brain through mess-free finger painting. Thisactivity also explored texture and cause-effect with

colors.

A Peek into the Toddler Room

Lacing and stacking was the name of the game in the

toddler class. The children practiced eye-handcoordination, fine motor, cognitive, and visual perception

skills.

A Peek into the Preschool Room

Left Photo: The children learned about healthy eating

habits and then scrubbed artificial fruits and vegetables.Right Photo: The children used geoboards to create

shapes, designs, colors, and patterns.

Need Drop-In Care?

We need 24 hours' notice of all "drop-ins" as our

forELC Families

ASU Outdoors Club,in partnership withKIND Snacks and

S.E.E.K. Arizona, arehosting the 2nd

KINDAwesomeMorning on November7th, from 8am-10am forS.E.E.K. families only. The event will be heldat the Phoenix Rock

Gym located at 1353 E.University Dr. Tempe,

AZ. The entire family iswelcome to join us!

We will see you there.

Taking a Vacation?

Each family who attendsS.E.E.K. will receive 10days of credit for vacationper year, August 1st to July31st. The credit of $20 forhalf day and $35 for full andextended day children willbe applied to the followingmonth's invoice. Pleasenote: credits for vacationdays are per child, not perfamily. Any credits not usedby July 31st of each yearwill expire. Pleasecomplete and submit to theAssistant Directora Vacation Request for twoweeks prior to vacationstart. Please contact

enrollment is now at capacity. If needed, pleasecomplete the drop-in form and leave it at Kelsie'sdesk. You can also email it to Sara Van Winkle. We will then determine whether or not we havethe staffing and/or space for an additional studentto attend. Drop-in/unscheduled services are available on afirst come, first served basis. Payment is due atdrop off or the credit card on file will be chargedaccordingly. Your child will not be permitted toattend class without advance payment in full. Anadditional $2 fee will be charged for all drop-ins. Thank you in advance for adhering to this policy.

Potty Training Bootcamp

Author Ari Brown, M.D. discussed in ParentsMagazine, potty training tips and the four mostcommon potty-resistant personalities.

Chances are if you have a toddler, you havechanged at least 5,000 diapers so far -- and youlikely have another 2,400 more to go. And by nowyou're probably wondering when your child willever decide it's time to use the potty.

Three signs your child is readyBody awareness - He/She senses the urgeto have a bowel movement and often hidesbehind the couch or waits until he's alone atnaptime to do his business.A desire for cleanliness - He/She dislikessitting in a wet or soiled diaper. She alertsyou when she needs a diaper change.Muscle mastery - He/She can walk to thebathroom independently, pull down hispants, and sit on the potty unassisted.

Potty-Training Boot Camp

Margaret Irwin withquestions.

Scholastic Books

Buy Books and Help theELC! The S.E.E.K. Early LearningCenter now has an accountwith Scholastic Books. Ifyou would like to orderbooks for your own library,as gifts, or if your client'swould like to order books,just visit the Scholasticwebsite. Once you createan account, put in the codeMBJRR. Then all of yourpurchases will be linked tothe S.E.E.K. Early LearningCenter and our teacherscan earn books for theirclassroom libraries. Formore information, pleasecontact Sara Van Winkle.

Things to do in October:

Ballet Under theStars: Various parksin the GreaterPhoenix Area Oct.1st & 2nd

Sideways StoriesFrom WaysideSchool: Tempe

Toilet training takes a weekend. You just have topick the right weekend! Once your child showsthe signs, hang around the house for two daysand focus on the process.

Step 1 On Saturday put your child in trainingpants. These are reusable, specially designedcotton underpants with extra layers of fabricbetween the legs. (Department and baby-specialty stores usually stock them in theunderwear section.) If he/she has an accident inthem, they will definitely feel wet!

Step 2 If he/she is not intimidated by the potty,he/she can practice using it with his/her trainingpants off (or use a kid-size toilet-seat insert; bothwork well).

Step 3 Coax your child to listen to his body andsit on the potty when he knows that pee or poopis coming.

Step 4 Throughout the weekend, direct your childto the bathroom first thing in the morning, beforeand after naps, after meals, before bedtime, andevery two hours if he/she doesn't already do soherself.

Don't punish your child for accidents, and praisesuccess--that's the best reward. Your child doesnot need a new toy or a piece of candy every timeshe uses the bathroom! Bribery rarely works--thedesire to be clean is what truly motivates a childto stop playing and go to the bathroom.

If by end of day Sunday your child still leavespuddles on the floor or couldn't care less abouthaving numerous accidents in her training pants,he/she's not ready. Go back to diapers onMonday (or as soon as you admit defeat) and tryagain another weekend. He/She won't transitionto the toilet any faster if you keep her in trainingpants. It only results in more cleanup andfrustration for you--and a sense of failure forhim/her.

If he/she wears training pants for the weekendand regrets having an accident or two, missionaccomplished! He/She can wear them every dayand graduate to big-kid underwear once sheuses the potty regularly.

Here's my philosophy: It is a privilege to wearunderwear, so save the pretty panties and the

Center for the ArtsOct. 1st - 18th

Pumpkin Days andCorn Maze: GlendaleTolmachoff FarmsOct. 1st - 31st

Maricopa CountHome and GardenShow: Arizona StateFair Grounds Oct 2nd- 4th

Pumpkin PatchTrain: Williams,Grand CanyonRailway Oct. 3rd -18th

Little Bunny'sHalloween: PhoenixGreat ArizonaPuppet Theatre Oct.7th - 31st

Arizona DanceFestival: TempeCenter of the ArtsOct. 9th & 10th

Arizona State Fair:Fairgrounds inCentral Phoenix Oct.10th - Nov. 2nd

Susan G. KomanRace for the Cure:Wesley Bowlin PlazaOct. 11th

Diwali Mela Festival:Kiwanis Park Oct.11th

cool undies until your child uses the pottyindependently and rarely has accidents.

Five Ideas for Kids' Artwork

1. Turn It Into Keepsakes: Take digital pictures ofyour child's creations, reduce the images to aboutthree inches square, and print them onto ShrinkyDinks plastic sheets. These bake down to becomefun little charms that we make into jewelry. Largerimages become key chains or ornaments.

2. Make it Work: Laminate your child's artwork for coasters and place mats.

3. Maximize Your Wall Space: Dedicate a wall in your house and paint it with magnetic paint and usemagnets to hang your child's artwork from floor toceiling. It's like having a really big refrigerator!

4. Make it a Sweet Surprise: Have your child write "thinking of you" notes on the backs of theirartwork to mail to relatives. The artwork is out ofthe house, but would bring smiles to others!

5. Employ a Clipboard System: Hang four clipboardson the wall, and your child can pick what goes upon their clipboard. The child can change it as often asthey like.

Ten Family Conversation Starters DuringMeals

1. If the zoo were to send you a pet, whatwould you ask for and why?

Apple Festival:Crown King Oct. 17th

International Gemand Jewelry Show:WestWorld inScottsdale Oct. 17th -19th

Walk Now for AutismSpeaks: TempeBeach Park Oct. 25th

Earth and SpaceExploration: ASUTempe Campus Oct.25th

Chandler's Day ofPlay: TumbleweedPark Oct. 25th

Easy Homemade BabyFood Recipes

The great thing aboutmaking your own baby foodis that it doesn't require azillion steps -- just two! Firstyou cook the food, thenpurée it. Here are a few tipsto make the process gosmoothly:

Make quick work ofmost vegetables bysteaming them, butsome -- like sweetpotatoes, beets, and

2. Which superhero would you most want tobe and why?

3. Which book character are you most like? Why?

4. What is one thing you don't know how to do that you wish you could?

5. If you were to redecorate your bedroom,what would it look like?

6. If you were sailing to a deserted island,what three things would you take? Why?

7. Which three words describe you best?

8. What is the funniest thing that happened to you this week?

9. What can you do if you don't feel good about what you see or hear?

10. What makes our family special?

Carseat Safety

The National Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration (NHTSA), works to save lives onour Nation's roadways.

NHTSA knows it's not an easy task to find theright car seat. After all, there are several types ofseats-from infant to convertible and booster-depending on your child's age and size. Evenafter you find the right one, it's important to knowhow to install your car seat correctly and when totransition your child to another type of seat as

carrots -- are deliciousroasted if you havetime. And poaching isa good way to cookmeat, fish, and poultrybecause the liquidkeeps them moist.

Some fresh fruitsrequire no cooking atall -- includingbananas, avocados,and blueberries -- butapples and pearsneed steamingbecause their fleshisn't as tender.

Whether you'resteaming, roasting, orpoaching, cut all thefood into similarlysized chunks, so thepieces cook at aboutthe same rate.

You'll need to becareful when puréeinghot food. Let it coolslightly before addingit to the blender. Thenremove the plasticinsert from the blendertop and replace it witha towel. This reducesthe pressure insidethe blender so yourkitchen doesn't end upa spattered mess.

Easy Fruit and VeggiePurées:

your child grows older.

Select a car seat based on your child's ageand size, and choose a seat that fits in yourvehicle and use it every time.Always refer to your specific car seatmanufacturer's instructions (check heightand weight limits) and read the vehicleowner's manual on how to install the carseat using the seat belt or lower anchorsand a tether, if available.To maximize safety, keep your child in thecar seat for as long as possible, as long asthe child fits within the manufacturer'sheight and weight requirements.Keep your child in the back seat at leastthrough age 12.

To learn which car seat is appropriate for yourchild's age and size, click on the seat typesabove or check out NHTSA's complete list of carseat recommendations.

ABCs of Water Safety

Adult Supervision

-Never leave anychild alone aroundany body of water-Always designatea water watcher tomake sureeveryone in thewater is safe

Barriers to Water

-Maintain barriersaround all bodies ofwater-Keep pool gatesand house doorssecurely closed

-Enroll all family

Butternut SquashSweet PeasAppleRed LentilSweet PotatoCarrot and YamWhite BeanBlueberry andSpinach

Four Toys: Great forKids With Special Needs

The editors fromParenting.com share funtoys that will help childrenwith special needs.

1. Speak to MeFor kids with autism, focuson cause-and-effect toys(push a button, get aresponse), especiallythose that promoteinteraction by encouraginga verbal reply. Vtech'sTote & Go Laptop Plusdoes just that, teachingletters, words, and morethrough fun games andfriendly characters.

2. Tunnel They'll Love There are two sides tosensory integrationimpairment: It makes somekids feel overstimulated by

Classes members inswimming lessons-Learn CPR as afamily

S.E.E.K Early Learning Center HappilyExcepts Donations!

ClothesShoesToysPuzzlesAnd, even play dough!

the world and causesothers to seek out moreinteraction. For those wholike to escape, a tent-and-tunnel combo is ideal.

3. Spin DoctorAnything that spins is oftena draw for children withautism, as they tend to likerepetition; gear sets are asmart choice. The Gears!Gears! Gears! Lights &Action Building Set byLearning Resources has amotor, lights, glow-in-the-dark stickers... heaven!

4. Just Say DoughGlow in the DarkPlayFoam can besquished and formed intoluminescent creatures. Butit doesn't stick to handsand offers tactilestimulation -- bonuses forkids with sensoryintegration impairments.