All about
POSITIVE PARENTING
Newsletter for Parents
Fall 2010
Fabulous Fall
r
n
Lea ing at Home
T
A simple
recipe for Frozen
Yogurt Pops can
become a science,
math and language lesson.
P
reschool children love to help in the
kitchen and enjoy spending time with
their family while preparing a treat for
themselves. Cooking is an everyday activity
that offers many opportunities for learning,
math, science and language. It is a great
opportunity to introduce new words to the
children as they follow the recipe (e.g.,
teaspoon, tablespoon, cup, measure, blend,
prepare, etc.) Adults can also introduce
measurement and counting as they follow the
recipe instructions (e.g., 2 cups, number of
teaspoons and tablespoons, etc.). Science can
be introduced through observation and
prediction (e.g., “What will happen when we
turn the blender on?”).
T
For example, this recipe calls for two cups of
yogurt. Have the child count with you and
record the number of teaspoons it takes to fill
the first cup of yogurt and then fill the second
cup using the tablespoon. By doing this you
have introduced your child to the difference
between teaspoon and tablespoon, to a
measuring cup to counting and comparing
(less, more). Discuss this observation and ask
your child “Why is there a difference?” Now
is the time to introduce new words to
describe the texture and colour before and
aer you add a cup of fruit (e.g., smooth,
lumpy). e recipe then requires that the
yogurt and fruit be blended, which changes
the texture again. is is a wonderful time for
a taste test! en pour the remaining mixture
into popsicle moulds (or paper cups with a
spoon in each cup) and place in the freezer.
In a few hours both you and your
child can enjoy the Frozen Yogurt Pops
and discuss how the cold temperature
changed the texture of the yogurt – science!
You have just introduced math, language
and scientific methods of observation,
hypothesis/ predicting and drawing
conclusions. And you thought you were just
making smoothies together!
Workshops For Families
he next session of workshops in
the All About Positive Parenting
Workshops for Parents Program will
begin at the end of September and will
run through the end of November. e
workshops are FREE, child care is available
for those that require it and a light meal is
provided for all participants.
For more information about the program
including topics, dates, times and locations or
to register visit www.peelregion.ca/children
or call 905-791-1585.
ake some time to enjoy the
many wonders that fall has
to offer as the change in
season brings with it many new
colours.
Head outside this fall for a nature
walk; take along a bag and collect
leaves of different sizes and
colours; and look for acorns,
pinecones and seeds. When you
get home look through what you
have collected and talk about the
different shapes and sizes of the
leaves, sort them in piles of big
and small or sort them by colour.
Here are some other ideas of
things to do with your collection
of items:
Nature Collage: you will need
paper, newspaper, glue and all of
the items that were collected.
While creating your collage talk
about the items that are being
used, their size, colour, shape or
how many are being used.
Leaf Rubbing: you will need
paper, crayons, pencils or pencil
crayons. Place a leaf underneath
your paper and use your crayon or
pencil to colour or rub across the
area of paper over your leaf. You
will see the outline of the leaf
appear on your paper. Once done
with the leaf, choose another one
and repeat the steps.
Cooks Corner
HONEY APPLE
CARROT CAKE
Kid tested and approved!
What you need:
3
1/2 cup
1/2 cup
1/2 cup
eggs
canola oil
applesauce
honey
2 1/2 tsps
1 1/2 cups
2 1/2 cups
2 1/2 tsps
cinnamon
grated carrot
whole wheat flour
baking soda
What to do:
In a large bowl combine eggs, oil, applesauce and honey. Beat
mixture with electric beater for about 1 minute. Add cinnamon,
carrot and flour and beat by hand for about 2 minutes. Stir in
baking soda quickly and beat by hand 28-30 beats. Immediately
pour mixture into 9x9 pan and bake at 325 degrees for
approximately 50-60 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on
wire rack.
I
Around Tow n
f you have a child between
the ages of 0-6 there are a
variety of different places
in the community where you
can spend time with your child
learning, socializing, having fun
and getting them ready for
entry into school.
e Peel District School
Board has four Hubs and ten
Readiness Centers which are
located throughout the region.
e centres function as drop-in
facilities for children who
are accompanied by a parent,
grandparent or other primary
caregiver so they can learn
together in a welcoming,
stimulating environment. For
more information on the Hubs
and Readiness Centres visit
www.peel.edu.on.ca/early_years
Both the Peel District School
Board and the Dufferin Peel
Catholic District School Board
have Parenting and Family
Literacy Centres. e Parenting
and Family Literacy Centres
are place for parents, caregivers
and children from birth
CHS-0049 10/10
through six years of age to
learn and play together in
their local school. For more
information on the Parenting
and Family Literacy Centres
visit www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/
parents/pflc.html
For more information on
the Dufferin Peel Catholic
District School Board visit
www.dpcdsb.org/CEC/
Ontario Early Years Centres
(OEYC) offer a variety of free
programs for parents/caregivers
and children from 0-6 years of
age. e OEYC’s offer a variety
of activities for parents and
caregivers to participate in with
their children as well as
information on supports and
services within the region. For
more information on the
Ontario Early Years Centres, for
hours of operation or to find a
location near you, visit
www.peelearlyyears.com
And the best part of
all is that it is all FREE!
Plan a family outing to an
apple orchard this fall where
you can pick your own apples
for snacks or to add to your
favourite recipes.
Albion Orchards:
Innis Lake Rd. in Caledon
www.albionorchards.com
Downey’s Farm:
Heart Lake Rd. in Brampton
www.downeysfarm.com
T
Let’s Read
he Family Literacy Program Talk.Read.Play.Sing is a
FREE program for parents and children 0-6 years of
age to participate in together.
e new 9 week program will begin in October at various
locations throughout the region. Each session has stories,
songs, a snack time, and an activity for families to work on
together, as well as information to take home highlighting
literacy and numeracy development.
For more information on the Family Literacy Program visit
w w w. p e e l r e g i on . c a / c h i l d r e n / pr o g r a m s / f a m i l y literacy/index.htm
Family Literacy Program sessions are facilitated
by trained volunteers. The volunteer experience may
help you to develop your facilitation skills, build
your portfolio or to connect with the community
you live in. If you are interested in this volunteer
opportunity or for more information on volunteering
visit www.peelregion.ca/children/working/volunteerdescriptions/family-literacy-facilitator.htm