JULIE'S HOME DAY CARE ~ NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2004

Note From The Provider

The school year is coming to an end on June 21 with a half day. Summer schedules will be in place by then and I am working hard to get a great summer program put together. We will once again be going to the Cheshire Play Ground to play and support the AT Hikers passing through our area. We are working on our hiker poster, journal and goody box to bring with us to the park and we are continuing to follow the journey of a select few hikers on our wall map. Margaret Lindly Swim Area in Williamstown will be our water play area again this year, we have been going there for the past two summers and it is one of our favorites. For those of you who will not be enrolling your children for the summer months, check the calendar on the website to see where we will be going and feel free to give me a call if you would like to join us. Please be sure to have extra clothes in your child's cubby and also include a bathing suit and towel. Reminder to you: When dropping off or picking up your child(ren) to please lock the gates both in and outside of the house so that none of the children find their way beyond them where they could get hurt or fall down stairs.

Summer Themes - Diversity, Gardening, Our Community & Animals

Visit my website at www.geocities.com/julies_day_care

During the months of June, July and August our focus will be on the following themes: Diversity, Gardening, Our Community and Animals. We will include a number of activities and books throughout the month with these themes in mind. We will continue working on our colors, alphabet and number concepts as well as our daily skills such as potty training, getting dressed, washing up, brushing teeth and other regular daily routines. During the summer months we will also incorporate into our schedule the following field trips/community events to go along with our themes:

May - Cheshire's Diversity Day

June - George's Rocks Dinosaur Dig

July - Look Park, Butterfly Conservatory, Pittsfield Library Puppet Show, Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

August - Zoo at Forest Part, Yankee Candle, Look Park (End of summer picnic)

If more community events come up I will let you know by sending home notices as well as posting them on our weekly calendar on the website. When I have confirmed the above field trips I will let you know the dates and fees if applicable.

Paid Holiday Closures

Monday, May 31 - Memorial Day

Monday, July 5 - Independence Day

Please be sure to return your vacation schedules to me as soon as possible and note my vacation time on your calendars.

Community Activities & Training/Workshops

Visit the Berkshire Museum at www.berkshiremuseum.org

Exploring the Science of Art

This is an interactive exhibition created by the Berkshire Museum that unlocks the science hidden in a work of art.

On display through June 13, 2004, this one-of-a-kind exhibit uses hands-on activities to explore the world of art from different perspectives inspiring visitors to learn more about the often unseen relationship between art, science, math and ancient history.

Visit Kid's Space at MASS MoCA at www.massmoca.org/kidspace

Wind Farm March 4 - September 6, 2004

Who knows which way the wind blows? The artists featured in Wind Farm sure do!

This exhibition presents their different views and interpretations of wind as expressed in unique sculptures and photographs.

Visit the Kids Space to share this experience with your child and let their imagination soar with the wind.

Spring Hours (effective March 4 – June 20):

Saturdays and Sundays, 12 to 4pm Free admission to Kids Space

VISIT THE PITTSFIELD LIBRARY - CHECK THEIR CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR UPDATES

PARENT'S AND KIDS TOGETHER

With summer approaching flowers are sprouting up all around us decorating the earth with a rainbow of colors. As you fill flower beds and boxes with a variety of different flowers let your child help and talk to them about how things grow. Let them take care of it by giving it water on a daily basis and continue to talk about the changes he or she sees.

A Booklet of Flowers

[20 Minutes]

Help your child to create a booklet of flowers that tickles the senses!

You'll need:

• flowers • scissors (ADULT USE ONLY)

• construction paper

• crayons or markers

• stapler • cotton balls

• perfume or cologne

• soft fabric scraps • glue

What to do:

First with your child look at flowers - real ones or in pictures in a book.

Cut flower-shaped pages for the booklet. Make at least four pages.
The first page is the cover. Invite your child to decorate the flower with crayons and markers as she wishes.
The second page encourages your child to explore her sense of smell. Help her glue a cotton ball in the center of the flower. Spray the ball with a sweet smelling perfume.
The third page features the sense of touch. Challenge your child to help you look around the house to find "soft" things to glue onto the flower. Have fabric scraps available for her to feel.
The fourth page is the back cover. To this flower, add your child's name and date. Again let your child decorate this page.
As you construct this booklet, sing a song about Spring flowers. (Tune: "Did You Ever See A Lassie"):

Did you ever see a flower,
A flower, a flower.
Did you ever see a flower
So pretty in Spring?
The colors are glowing,
In the sunshine they're growing.
Did you ever see a flower
So pretty in Spring?

Staple the pages together. It's fun to look back at your little one's artwork from year to year.

Let's Talk: Ideas to Explore Together.

Where do flowers grow? Do flowers smell good or bad? Tell me about them. How do flower petals feel?

Useful information:

While you are having fun together, this activity helps your child develop small muscle skills and an understanding of cause and effect.

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