Summer Sessions: CAMP PEACHES! (Sneak Peek)

Wellness Wednesdays!

There are a total of 8 VEGETARIANS associated with us here at Peaches Happy Daycare, we just want to know: What's your favorite way to "Go Veg?!"

Miss Rozelle has been a vegetarian for almost 7 years now! What's some of her favorite "Go Veg" things to do? :

-Always shop local! Local Farmers Markets are a great way to try new foods!

-Menu planning will save your life! No one likes to get home from work and not know what's for dinner. I have a chalkboard in my kitchen and list a simple menu for the week every Sunday, then go shopping shortly after writing the list. I also cook extras so there will be something yummy for lunch the next day!

-PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD! I always like to "get bored" in the kitchen, this allows me to be creative with what I have in the pantry.

-I promote ALL animal safety by donating to ASPCA, ARF, and local humane societys, & I also hand out Peta2 flyers to dog owners about the dangers of leaving your dog in the car. Would you leave your child in the car on a hot day? NEVER! So why leave your pets in there? No one wants to be in a hot car wearing a sweater!

On your next trip to the grocery store or farmers market, let your child pick out a new fruit or vegetable, and let yourself (and your kids!) get creative in the kitchen!

What We Learned In June!

Here are some of the things your children said when asked "What did you learn about Transportation this month?"

-Sailboats use sails
-Lightning McQueen is a racecar and he drives on a track
-Some trucks carry dirt, some carry mail, and some carry food
-You get gas at the gas station and spray your car with water
-Airplanes need to turn on wheels so they can fly up
-We can travel by: walking, running, crawling on the ground, hopping like a bunny, jumping and spinning!

Special Storytime With Hercules Author, Laura Lee!

Join the Hercules Library for a special storytime from a local Hercules author, Laura Lee!
She'll be reading from her new book, Little Laura and the Birthday Surprise--learn some Mandarin Chinese, sing along, hear a story! Everyone is welcome to come out and have fun and meet the author.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 14th, 7:00pm @ the Hercules Library

Relax, Recharge, Revive!

Volunteering

Can volunteering really help with everyday stress? Many current and former volunteers will say “Absolutely!” By giving the gift of your talents and time, you elevate your spirits, helping you to better cope with stress in your life.

Research has shown that volunteering offers many benefits, including building your sense of self, strengthening the immune system, and boosting self-esteem and self-confidence. Volunteering also allows you to meet new people, increasing your social network and circle of support. By volunteering, you are provided with opportunities to practice and develop your social skills by meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests.

But where do you start? You may want to ask yourself some of the following questions.

• How much time can I realistically devote based on my personal schedule?
• Should I volunteer individually or with my family?
• Would I like to work with people or would I rather work in solitude?
• Am I better behind the scenes or would I like a more visible role?
• What skills can I bring?
• What causes are important to me/my family?

Choose an organization or cause that interests you or that you are passionate about. You may choose to volunteer at a nursing home, animal shelter, art gallery or museum, library, hospital, soup kitchen or food bank, or your local airport. You may choose to use Volunteer Match, http://www.volunteermatch.org/, to help you find the right opportunity in your community. Visit different organizations to get a feel for what they are like and to get a sense of the work you’ll be doing when you volunteer. Ask questions to make sure you know what is expected and that the opportunity is right for your skills, goals, and time you want to spend. The more satisfaction you have as a volunteer, the more likely you are to continue and make a difference. Do what you can and most importantly, have fun.

The saying “It’s better to give than to receive” is never more true than when it comes to volunteering. Not only will you brighten your own little corner of the world, but you will make a difference in someone else’s life and in your community.

-from High Reach Learning

My, my, my! Where has the time gone?!

We here at Peaches Happy Preschool and Daycare are so sorry that we've been missing out on providing you parents with a plethora of information on your kids, what they're up to..and what we're up to! But we're back! Give us some feedback if we're vacant again, (hopefully not), and feel free to ask questions! Always ask questions, when in doubt, ASK! We'll be happy to do all the research for you, and answer and questions or comments you may have. And where do you send your questions or comments you may ask? Well, to Rozelle@PeachesHappyDaycare.Com

Hope to hear from you soon!

What We're Learning This Month: March!

This month, we will be highlighting on our theme of "Diversity and Communication." We will learn all about many people, foods, and ways of diverse cultural backgrounds, as well as the many different ways that people all over the world communicate!

Also:

Letters: C and D
Colors: Green and Yellow
Shapes: Octagons and Ovals
Number: 2
...and more Rhyming, Spanish, and Sign Language!

March 2011 Activity Calendar - Click to enlarge.

March: "Relax, Recharge, Revive!"

Get Lost in a Book

Reading is a great way to unwind after a long, busy day. Taking your mind off your own problems can have a therapeutic effect. Not only does reading stretch your imagination and open your mind to new possibilities, it helps maintain a sense of self by being alone in your thoughts. Picking up a book allows our minds to relieve the stress of everyday life as our imagination is guided through a new and exciting world. Escape with some recommended books from the HighReach Learning staff.

Fiction Titles
The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan
A Stopover in Venice by Kathryn Walker
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner by Alan Sillitoe
Bergdorf Blondes by Plum Sykes
Split Second by David Baldacci

Non-Fiction Titles
Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Undaunted Courage by Stephen E. Ambrose
The Innocent Man by John Grisham

"Green" Tips!

In the month of February, we will be learning all about Environmental Awareness! Your little kiddies will be learning all about how to care for plants and animals, how to be smart with water, learn all the many differences in the weather changes, and learn what it's like to work at a zoo or live on a farm.

So, if the kids are going to be learning how to save the earth, I feel like you parent's should be doing your part too! Here are some fun tips from www.epa.gov to help you get your green on!

1 - Reduce your carbon footprint! Leaving your car at home twice a week can cut greenhouse gas emissions by 1,600 pounds per year. Save up errands and shopping trips so you need to drive fewer times. If you commute to work, ask if you can work from home at least some days, and you'll reduce air pollution and traffic congestion - and save money.

3 - Don't idle! Remind your school system to turn off bus engines when buses are parked. Exhaust from idling school buses can pollute air in and around the bus, and can enter school buildings through air intakes, doors, and open windows. Constant idling also wastes fuel and money, and school bus engines really need only a few minutes to warm up.

9 - Shower power! A full bathtub requires about 70 gallons of water, but taking a five-minute shower saves water by using 10 to 25 gallons. Put a little timer or clock near your shower so you can see how fast you are. Save even more water, and money on your water bill, by installing a water-efficient showerhead, or ask your landlord to install one if you rent.

18 - Make it a full load! The average washing machine uses 40.9 gallons of water per load. If you buy a a new washer, shop for a high-efficiency washer that needs less than 28 gallons of water per load. To achieve even greater savings, wash only full loads of laundry or be sure to choose the appropriate load size on the washing machine.

22 - During hot weather, don't top off your gas tank. Refuel your car or truck in the early morning or the evening when it's cooler. A small fuel spill may not seem like much, but every spill evaporates and adds to air pollution, and fuel pumps with vapor recovery systems can feed a spill back into their tanks – after you paid for it. So, in hot weather – don't top off!

25 - Just bag it! Help protect the environment when you shop. Keep reusable bags on your car seat or near your door so they are easy to grab when you go. And you can even combine shopping bags - just tell the cashier that you don't need a bag, then put all your purchases together in one bag… just be sure to hang on to your receipts!

30 - Play it safe! Children are curious but they are also more sensitive to substances in the environment. Protect children from accidental poisoning by locking up your household cleaners, pesticides, paint thinners, and other substances. Household products are safe and effective when used properly. Remember to read the label.

(I chose my top seven favorites, to view the rest, visit http://www.epa.gov/earthday/podcasts/ )

Tidbit Tuesday!

Here are some "TidBits" of fun activities we have done!

Learning about Eyes and Sight!



Polar Express Day!

Riding the Polar Express!

Pictures for our Passports!
Decorating Train-Krispies






........more to come soon!

Monthly Parenting RELAX Tip!

Journaling

Begin the new year by journaling. All you need is a pen and paper. To be most beneficial, write in detail about your thoughts and feelings related to stressful events or successes and challenges you are experiencing. Journaling is a wonderful problem-solving tool as well. Oftentimes you can hash out a problem and realize a solution more easily on paper than by talking it out. There are also several health benefits to journaling, including improving cognitive functioning, strengthening the immune system, and most importantly, counteracting the negative effects of stress. Journaling allows you to take time to work through the day's stresses and celebrations on paper. Reflecting through journaling is a healthy strategy to ease daily stresses and begin tomorrow with a fresh outlook!

Happy 2011!!

Hello Peachy Parents,

First of all, we'd like to wish all of you a Happy New Year, and we hope it was a great one that you and your family will remember for years to come! I would also like to apologize for the lack of newsletters as of recent, but things have been SO busy and exciting with the holidays, that it's almost impossible to sit still long enough to type up a newsletter! We all had lots of fun at our Annual Cookie Exchange Party. Santa was a hit with the gifts, and Buddy the Elf was a "luminous" act for the kids to enjoy. Polar Express Day was also train-loads full of fun with the children, as they re-learned about the magic that fills your heart when you Believe!

What we're learning this month: Your kids will be learning lots of new Spanish words and accompanying Sign Language words as well, all about our five senses, and how much fun it is to be an Arctic Animal! We will be playing like polar bears on icebergs, making icicle artwork, and having penguin races with fishy snacks at the finish line (sugar free Swedish Fish ).

Events: January 5th was Zachary's 3rd Birthday! Happy Birthday Zachy!
On Monday, January 17th, we will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
This month's Parent's Night Out Event will be on January 21st. ($40/per child, $25/ea. for siblings. Please RSVP by January 19th, bring Pj's and a security toy or blanket if needed.)

Don't forget! I (Rozelle) offer babysitting, just call up and set a date at least a week in advance!

We all hope that you had an amazing start to the New Year, and remember, just because you didn't start your new resolution (or yearly to-do list, as I say,) on January 1st, doesn't mean it's too late to start!



-Miss Rozelle and Mommy Peaches

Click and check for more updates!

Holiday Helping Hints!

Recycling: Recycling is not just for fair weather; you can recycle items you wouldn’t normally think can be recycled. Consider these:

* Blankets and towels can be used at your local animal shelter. They will provide animals a soft, warm place to sit.
* Instead of throwing away seeds from your fruits and vegetables, try growing them?
* Recycle old books and magazines; donate them to the library or center, or a school.
* Donate your old paint and household construction items by donating them to a local charity; specifically Habitat for Humanity.
* Food safe airtight glass containers are great for storing rice, pasta, sugar and flour.

Stress Relief: This time of year is stressful for everyone. These are some of our favorite stress relieving tips.

• Keep a journal – you can call it an organizer too. Jot down what you need to do and how you feel about it. Or, you could just open it up, and do a "free-write," where you just write whatever is in your head, it doesn't have to make sense, it just has to get off your chest! This is a great way to learn to journal.
• Relaaaaax! You do not need to make everything perfect – it only needs to be done with love.
• Be kind to strangers – you would be amazed how good it feels. Just a friendly smile can change someone's day!
  
• Have someone close to you that you can talk when you need to.

In the Kitchen: Holiday cooking is upon us! Be mindful of these suggestions as you plan your holiday menu:

• Do a quick inventory of your groceries – check expiration dates.
• Make a thorough list including staples. There are many download-able lists on line and in current magazines.
• If you are planning on serving a new dish, make it now so you will know what to expect when you make your sharing dish.
• Ask your family to try it. If they like it, everyone else will too!

Our Annual Cookie Exchange!

Our Annual Cookie Exchange Party was a BIG hit! The children really enjoyed decorating a gingerbread house, meeting Santa, and opening gifts, while the parents enjoyed our special guest Buddy the Elf, getting stuffed on cookies, and raffle prizes!

To view MORE photos from this event, go to www.flickr.com/photos/rozelleadora

And if you yourself have some photos from the party and would like to share, please e-mail them in a compressed(zip) file to me at jacknmarksmommy@aol.com and I will add them to the flickr account!

November 2010 Newsletter!

Exploring Sensational Senses!

Without trying, children endlessly use their senses to explore their ever growing world. This month’s topic focuses individually on the senses and opens opportunities to children of how to use their senses that they may not have yet considered. We’ll feel our way through our familiar environment, touch cold ice, smell sweet fruit, and taste many flavors while we learn with our Sensational Senses!

Also this month, we will be doing tests! Motor skills tests, memory tests, and overall skills tests. Expect to see an evaluation form in your Friday folders soon!

Keep the learning going!

As a parent, we’re sure you know that your child’s learning experiences are endless, so keep the learning going on at home and everywhere you are with your child!

Speak some Spanish!

Eye – ojo See­ – ver Sense – sentido

Body – cuerpo Touch – tocar Taste – sabor

Story time Recommendations

· The Turn-Around, Upside-Down Alphabet Book by Lisa Campbell

· The Eyes Book by Theo Lesieg

· Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? / Oso polar, oso polar, ?que es ruido? by Bill Martin Jr.

Reading Corner

Read to your kids! Studies show that babies read to learn to read and comprehend earlier then children not read to. You do not have to be a skilled reader to successfully read to your baby. It is the act of reading, not necessarily, what you are reading. Babies enjoy being held and listening to your voice. Your baby will learn to speak sooner and they will learn to read and write sooner than babies not read to.

November Events & Theme Days

2 – Happy Birthday Cookie Monster!

4,5 – Daycare closed for Child Care Conference

7 – Daylight’s Saving Time! Be ready to “Fall Back!”

11 – Veteran’s Day

17 – Bread day! The kids will bake and eat lots of different breads!

18 – National Mickey Mouse Day! If your child has any shirts or toys of Mickey Mouse (or Minnie), have them wear or bring it for this Mouse-House day!

19 - *Parent’s Night Out

23-26 – Daycare closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

25 – Mommy Peaches Birthday!

* Parents Night Out Event

Parents! Treat yourself and your spouse to a quiet night, and let your kids have some fun too!

When: Friday, November 19, 2010

Time: 5:30 to Midnight

Where: Peaches Happy Daycare

Fees: $40 per child ($25 for the next sibling)

What to bring: Pajamas and a security toy and/or blanket, if needed.

(PLEASE RSVP at least two days in advance!)