Legacy Academy
515 E Winmore Ave,
Chapel Hill, NC
919-929-7060
www.legacyacademy.com
February
Legacy Lines ~ a newsletter for families
2017
Thoughts from your Director …
This month is filled with such great things; LOVE, LOVE,
LOVE!
It is so
important for all our children (and teachers and everyone!) to feel loved and
appreciated.
We strive to meet each child’s needs and make them feel a part of our family
at ALL times. Each child is an individual and needs to be loved in their own
special way, whether it’s a thumbs up, pat on the back or hugs and snuggles.
Feeling loved makes children more comfortable and willing to try new things as
they are presented with unfamiliar situations.
Make sure to let everyone you know how much you love them this month, not
just throughout February, but every day!!
We are planning many exciting activities this month- see below!
From the Desk of…
Framework For Their Future ~ February
Parenting Tips: Time With Your Child
Family Fun ~ Valentine Arts and Crafts
Happy Valentines Day!
And a special opportunity for all!
p.2 We are celebrating the upcoming birthday of Dr
Seuss this month by collecting Dr Suess Books
p.3 If you would like to donate a favorite Dr Suess
Book, new or slightly used, we would love to
p.4
share them with your child’s classroom!
p.1
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Framework
For Their Future
February
Legacy Lines ~ a newsletter for families
2017
The themes we will be highlighting for February are …
Infants A & B – Dreamers ~ Theme: Lullabies, Love and La! La! La!
We’ll bring peace and calm, through beautiful, enduring lullabies. The babies
continue to master a sense of self through problem solving, exploration and play.
Our routine allows baby to anticipate familiar events and notice the beginning and
the end of a time interval!
Jr. Toddlers – Travelers ~ Theme: Guess How Much I Love You?
Continued experiences include activities that involve puzzles, finger plays, music
and song where Valentine’s Day will take shape. The heart will be viewed as a
symbol of love; and what better way to carry out activities in our loving classroom
during the month of February! We are continuing “animals and the sounds they
make”, colors, shapes, ABC’s-and “Fine Motor”(Spoon and Cup!)
Sr. Toddlers – Adventurers ~ Theme: Hearts, Rhymes & Valentines- what it
is to love our family and friends- Sr B-continues on the “Parts of a book” -watch for
those Valentine lists! We are also working on Dental health, rhyme time
books, poetry and winter activities will delight your child. Language skills,
communication, space and time, all support the key experiences. Ground Hog Day
will also make its entrance as the children learn about this special day that comes in
February.
3s – Discoverers ~ Theme: Circles, Lines and Valentines
Listening is a way of loving as the children are taught this important concept.
Classification to describe the attributes will help the children better understand
concepts of the color red – light and dark. Hearts of many sizes will help them seriate
from small to large. What better way to learn than through “love”. A heart hunt will
add to their familiarity with this shape to round out experiences relative to the
holiday.
4s – Voyagers ~ Theme: Shapes, Signs and Valentines
A wide range of activities will leave room for creativity and interests of the children.
A simple geometry lesson and great sink and float activities will combine the holiday
with science and sensory fun. Continued use of fingerplays, poems, rhymes and
song will provide the balance of early learning that you have come to expect in
your child’s classroom.
School Age Explorers ~ Theme: Community Project
Dependability, Friendship pins, the importance of acceptance and love, Mosaic
Hearts, Community Service Awards – these are but a few exciting activities in which
your child will participate this month. With continued efforts to promote literacy, we
are working on the Letters L, M, N, this month. Your child will delight in what they
experience and bring home-did you see that Valentines List?? Welcome to
February!
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Parenting Tips
February
Legacy Lines ~ a newsletter for families
2017
~ Tips for Spending Quality Time With Your Child ~
Some parents worry that they don’t spend enough time with their children. Have you ever felt guilty
about working full time, or experience anxiety about choosing to work out at the gym or go to dinner
with friends? A recent study in the Journal of Marriage and Family questions the impact the amount of
time mothers spend with their children has on the academic achievement, behavior, and emotional
well-being of their children. Children need high-quality time with parents and caregivers—that is what is
most beneficial to children and what can have a positive effect on them as they grow. It isn’t about
endless hours of time—it’s about how you choose to spend that time that truly matters.
As parents, you can make choices to ensure time spent with our children is high-quality. Here are nine
tips for busy families:
1.
Have a daily “connect” time with your child. Do this face-to-face, if possible; but if this isn’t an
option, create a routine for doing so in other ways, such as leaving a note in your child’s lunch
bag, posting a note by his toothbrush, or writing an encouraging saying on a shared whiteboard
in the house.
2.
Create a special ritual for you and your child—something that can be done every day. For
example, let your child choose and read one book with you at bedtime.
3.
Tell your child you love her every day. And tell her how important she is to you and how she
makes you feel.
4.
Reinforce positive behavior. For example, if your child completes his chores without your asking,
acknowledge it with words of appreciation—even if you don’t have the chance do so until the
next day.
5.
Make and eat meals with your children whenever possible. If time is limited, look for simple meals
that require very little preparation, or grab a healthy snack such as an apple and sit for a few
minutes and chat with your child.
6.
Schedule time for doing an activity of your child’s choosing. Be sure to follow through and
complete the activity without any distractions.
7.
Play with your child, even if it’s during bath time or outside before you drop her off at preschool.
Every little bit of time makes a positive impact!
8.
9.
Laugh and be silly with your child.
Turn off technology when you spend time with your child. Try not to text, answer calls, scroll
through social media, or watch television.
Connections are about quality of time, not quantity of time.
Keep it simple and connect with your child in ways that make sense for your lifestyle and
relationship.
www.naeyc.org
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FAMILY FUN
February
Legacy Lines ~ a newsletter for families
2017
~ Valentine Arts and Crafts ~
Infant Activity: Heart Scribble Art
Materials: Crayons, Paper, Crayon Holder
1.
2.
3.
Draw a heart on the paper.
Let the infant scribble and mark with crayons.
Encourage the infant to use the different crayon colors and place the crayons in the crayon holder after using them.
Toddler Activity: Making Valentine Hearts
Materials: Paper, Pencil, Scissors
1.
2.
3.
Fold a piece of paper in half
Draw a half heart shape along the folded edge of the paper
Help the toddler cut the heart out.
3yr Olds Activity: Heart Person
Materials: Red/Pink Construction Paper, Scissors. Glue, Markers, googly eyes, pompoms and buttons
1.
2.
3.
4.
Cut out a big heart
Make faces on the heart using markers, googly eyes, pompoms and or buttons
Make legs and arms by cutting strips of paper and folding them “according style”
Glue on arms and legs. You can also add “heart-shaped” hands and feet if desired
4yr Olds and Up: Valentine Day Heart Pop up Card
Materials: Markers, Pencil, Glue Stick, Scissors, Pink and White Construction Paper
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Cut out a 3 ¼ inch heart
Trace the shape onto another piece of paper
Cut it out. Fold a 5 ½ by 8 inch rectangle in half-length wise
Trace the heart on the crease. Cut out the shape, leaving a small portion intact on each side
Crease the pop up heart, attach the card to a large piece of paper
Attach the cut out heart to the pop out heart
Add message and hearts to the front of the card
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