February 2017
Kidz Chronicle
Serving families since 1999
Discover.... Learn....
Imagine....
Our newsletter is a community connection to our families and staff. Each
month we highlight upcoming events, spotlight a classroom, recognize children
and staff birthdays, celebrate staff anniversaries, etc.
Kindness Counts
A young mother strokes her screaming infant's head as her family waits on what seems to be the slowest restaurant service in the world. A harried waitress approaches the table with a smile and stoops to pick up the napkin
that 4-year-old Samuel has tossed to the floor for the umpteenth time. Samuel sits up tall, kisses his crying sister
on the head, and announces, "Mommy wants her food! Now!"
When you read the paragraph above, what stood out in your mind? Did you notice how the mother offered comfort to her infant, or did you focus on the screaming? Did you notice the waitress offering the gift of a smile while
picking up the napkin, or did you focus on Samuel's antics?
If you focused more on the children's actions, you're not alone. When it comes to children, our attention is often
drawn more to the crying baby, the grabbing preschooler, or the siblings who obstinately sit on top of each other.
We want to teach our children kindness, yet the unkind acts often stand out more for us. That's too bad because
what we focus on is what we value, and that, in turn, leads to more of a similar kind of behavior.
All children misbehave or act up from time to time. But they are also natural-born contributors to the welfare of
others at all ages. Think about it — a baby smiles at an elderly man in the store, bringing them both joy. A preschooler tucks a crayon in his pocket so he and a friend can draw later. An 8 year old scoots over on the couch to
make room for his sister. Children create moments of kindness, helpfulness, and compassion all around us.
The key to raising children who actively demonstrate kindness, helpfulness, and compassion is to train our minds
to notice those acts when they occur. Noticing children's kindness, and praising it, not only encourages more of
that kind of behavior, it has other benefits as well. It expands a child's consciousness, fosters the rooting of a positive value system, and primes the brain for future success in school, society, and life.
What Kindness Looks Like
Noticing is a specific skill that is often confused with judging. A common response to seeing a child being helpful
is to say, "Good job" or "Thank you." Looking more closely, however, you can see how these kinds of phrases are
judgments about a child's behavior, not a "noticing" of the behavior itself.
Under 3 years old: "You picked up your toy. That was helpful." Notice how the kind action — picking up the
toy — is described for the child. The praise is also kept brief so as to be easily grasped.
4 years and older: "Cameron, you held your sister's arm so she could crawl into her car seat and ride safely. That
was helpful." Here again, the action of the kindness is described, but an additional element is added — a description of how the action contributes to another person: "... so she could crawl into her car seat and ride safely."
Can you feel the difference between the phrases above and the casual, "Good job?" Noticing describes the action,
rather than judging it. By noticing helpful and kind acts in this way, we can achieve many developmental goals
that lead our children to embrace our most cherished values.
Describing children's actions helps children become conscious of what they are doing in the moment: "You
picked up the toys"; "You said thank you"; "You set the table." This consciousness stimulates the development of
the higher centers of the brain that are essential for problem solving.
Stating how the action contributes to the welfare of others helps older children understand that they make a
positive difference in the lives of others: "You picked up the toys so no one would fall"; "You said thank you so
your friends knew you cared"; "You set the table, so we'd have the utensils needed to eat."
Adding a descriptive tag gives a name to these actions: "That was thoughtful"; "That was kind"; "That was
helpful." When we do this, we teach our children exactly what these qualities look like, feel like, and sound like.
The Power of Noticing
It is vital that we use moments of kindness to help children learn how their behavior contributes to the welfare of
others.
The long-term impact of focusing on children's negative behavior and how it affects others is apparent. It is one
reason many of us are so clear about our own faults, undervalue our personal worth at times, and underestimate
our value to others.
By reversing this very powerful lesson, we can concretely teach the next generation the
abstract values like kindness, helpfulness, and caring. Noticing kind acts has the power
to do just that.
Objectives Children Learn:
Ms. Tiekiesha
K5
Smyrna
Ms. Tiekiesha is our Early Preschool teacher. She has been working with
Kidz Ink since May 2016 and has been teaching for 12yrs and counting. She
believes that there is never enough education and that there is always room
to learn new stepping stones in life. Ms. Tiekiesha loves spending time with
her daughters, singing, traveling, going to the movies, and playing volleyball.
Her favorite thing about teaching is the huge smile a child gets on their face
when they have understood/mastered a concept they have been working on
and they are so proud of themselves for what they have just achieved. Her
favorite thing about Kidz Ink is the people/friends she works with. “They
are caring, fun individuals and together we make a wonderful team/family
all in one.”
Ms. Jessie took on the challenge of opening a second infant
room as our center rapidly began to grow. She has been
such a wonderful caregiver to our little ones! The children in
her classroom are thriving under her care and enjoy the fun
activities that Ms. Jessie plans for them each week. Thank
you Ms. Jessie for being a fabulous part of our team!
Ms. Jessie
K4 Bear
Infant class
Materials:

1tsp Frozen pink lemonade
concentrate

Ginger ale

Rainbow sherbet

Frozen strawberries

Rainbow sprinkles

A bowl

A cup

Spoons

A straw
Directions:

Measure lemonade into cup.

Add a scoop of sherbet

Add some ginger ale and stir

Count 3 strawberries and add to cup.

Add sprinkles and straw! Enjoy!!
CHILDREN
STAFF
Samiah B. 1/13
Ms. Ashley R. 2/24
Shania B. 1/13
Ms. Tiarra 2/10
Cameron B. 1/16
Evelyn 2/15
Azriel C-J. 1/16
CHILDREN
STAFF
Noah B. 2/9
Ms. Vivi 2/2
Kyla C. 2/5
Ms. Amber 2/18
Grayson C. 2/12
Ms. Nyesha 2/10
Christopher K. 2/26
Ms. Jenna 2/14
Ethan M. 2/15
Aminata S. 2/12
Michael H. 1/14
Hanif B. 2/18
Payton M. 2/13
Victoria 2/22
Saige H. 1/11
Mr. Harmon 2/20
Michael K. 2/1
Samaya M. 2/6
Dhreeya D. 1/22
Kishaun A. 2/1
Kailee J. 2/27
Declan M. 2/15
Cameron C. 1/21
STAFF
Aubrey B. 2/27
Caralyn L. 2/13
Monet C. 1/24
CHILDREN
Ellie T. 2/28
Jaisir W. 2/18
Kiari H. 1/25
Aubree V. 2/11
Aiden H. 1/17
Makeda L. 1/11
Morgan P. 1/10
CHILDREN
Brooklyn S. 2/19
Jasmyn B. 2/15
CHILDREN
STAFF
CHILDREN
STAFF
Macen C. 2/13
Elijah D. 2/19
Ms. Joanna 2/2
Logan E. 2/5
Ms. Linda 2/8
Vivian D. 2/11
Cameron H. 2/21
Ms. Sy 2/13
Zachary G. 2/19
Ms. Ciara 2/6
Jaden S. 2/8
Dev’on J. 2/12
Ms. Darlene 2/24
Grace G. 2/19
Ms. Chiketa 2/21
Madison D. 2/3
Justice J. 2/29
Harper E. 2/1
Zoey S. 2/5
Ava L. 2/15
Sophia F. 2/11
Hazeem M. 2/27
Mackenzie M. 2/27
Levi W. 2/27
K1-Mr. Greg 3yrs, Ms. Latoya 1yr.
K2-Ms. Cheyenne 1yr, Ms. Nyesha 1yr, Ms. Stephanie
1yr.
K3-Ms. Susan 1yr
K4-Congratulations on your 1yr open Anniversary!
Ms. Michela 1yr, Ms. Beth 1yr, Ms. Jessie 1yr, Ms. Dana
1yr, Ms. Sayyeda 1yr, Ms. Jennie 1yr, Mr. Ty 1yr, Ms.
Darlene 1yr, Ms. Samantha 1yr, Ms. Angela 1yr, Ms. Jo
1yr, Ms. Leaira 1yr
K5-Ms. Caitlin 1yr, Ms. Jamie 2yrs
K6-Ms. Sherry 2yrs
The DeVinney-Young Family welcomed Domenica on 12/30/16!
The Brown Family welcomed a 2nd set of twins 1/25/17!
The Fleming Family welcomed Abigail Grace on 1/10/17!
The Price-Czerwinski Family welcomed Liam John on 1/11/17!
K1-Walker-Small Family
Favorite Vacation Spot-Bush Gardens
Favorite Food/Restaurant-Applebee’s
Favorite Thing to do as a Family-Swim
Favorite Game/Movie-Candy Land
Children-Ciele 5yrs
K2-Burley-Pinkard Family
Favorite Vacation Spot-Ocean City, MD
Favorite Food-Burgers and The Cheesecake Factory
Favorite Thing to do as a Family-Go Cart
Racing
Favorite Game/Movies-Captain America
Civil War, The Lego Game 5
Children-Tyair 11yrs
K3-Kressman Family
Favorite Vacation Spot-Florida
Favorite Food-Pancakes
Favorite Thing to do as a family-Go to Lego Land
Favorite Movie/Game-Batman, Flash and Ninja
Turtles
Children-Michael 5yrs
K4– Jones-Petion Family
Favorite Vacation-Disney World
Favorite Food/Restaurant-Hibachi and Fried
Chicken
Favorite Things to do Together-Play board
games and watch scary movies
Favorite Game/Movie-Charades and Alexander and the No Good Very Bad Day
Children-Jamal J. 10yrs and Makylie 7yrs
K5– Nichols Family
Favorite Vacation Spot-Kilens Pond, Sesame Place,
the beach
Favorite Foods-chicken pot pies, lasagna, chicken
wings, pancakes, and smoothies
Favorite Thing to do Together-play games, go to
the park, have dance parties, watch movies, and
cook together
Favorite Movie-ninja turtles, twas the night before
Christmas, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Frozen, and
shark week
Children-Jayden, Jaliyah, and Jahnavi
K6– Seymour Family
Favorite Vacation Spot-The Beach
Favorite Restaurant/Food-Seafood and
TGI Friday’s
Favorite Thing to do Together-Go to the
movies
Favorite Movie-Sing
Children– Malayah and Kyron
Events
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Tuesday 2/14 Class Valentine’s Parties
CLOSED Monday 2/20 for Staff in-service and Presidents Day
Parent Teacher Conferences begin 2/21
2/1 National Freedom Day
2/4 Thank Your Mailman Day
2/6 Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day
2/11 Make a Friend Day
2/17 Random Acts of Kindness Day
2/20 Love Your Pet Day
2/22 International World Thinking Day
2/26 Tell a Fairy Tale Day
Info and Extra News!
During the week of 2/13 Kidz Ink will hold a Random Acts of Kindness Week.
During this week we encourage our Families and Staff to leave a kind note on our
Facebook page. Maybe leave a kind note on the Kindness Tree in your child’s
center. Drop a thank you note in your child’s classroom. All ideas are welcome!
Spread the Kindness!
Congratulations to K4-School Bell! They celebrated their 1yr opening on
2/8!!
Kidz Café February 2017 Menu
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
(B) Kix Cereal & Apple
Sauce
(L) Shredded BBQ chicken
on a whole-wheat bun,
green beans, pineapples
(S) ) Vanilla Wafers and
100% Apple Juice
2 (B) Whole Wheat Toast
Corn Flakes
(L) HM Turkey & Mixed
Vegetable Soup (Peas &
Carrots), Corn Bread
Squares, Diced Peaches
(S) Kidz Mix and Apple
Juice
3 (B) Corn Flakes, Diced
Pears
(L) Baked Fun Fish, Mixed
Vegetables, Orange wedges,
Whole Wheat Bread
(S) Wheat Crackers, Mixed
Fruit and water
6 (B) Corn Bread Squares,
Pineapple Chunks
(L) English Muffin Cheese
Pizza w/Turkey Crumbles,
Peas and Apple Sauce
(S) Graham crackers and
100% Apple Juice
7 (B) Kix Cereal with Banana Slices
(L) Baked Chicken Patty
with long grain brown rice,
Mixed Vegetables, Mixed
Fruit
(S) Kidz Mix and Grape
Juice
8 (B) French Toast Sticks
and Pears
(L) Turkey Meatballs, Noodles, Carrots, Sliced Apples
(S) Mini Honey Wheat Bagel
and 100% Apple Juice
9 (B) Cheerios and Pineapples
(L) Baked Spaghetti w/HM
Turkey Sauce, Green Beans,
Peaches
(S) Pretzels, Soy Butter and
water
10 (B) Whole Wheat Buttermilk Biscuits, Fruit cocktail
(L) Diced Fajita Chicken
and Cheese Quesadillas,
Salsa, Sweet Yellow Corn,
Diced Pears
(S) String Cheese and 100%
Apple Juice
13(B) Pancakes w/Butter
and Syrup, Peaches
(L) Shredded BBQ Chicken
on a whole Wheat Bun,
Green Beans and Pears
(S) Vanilla Wafers & Apple
Juice
14 (B) Cheerios, Diced
Peaches
(L) Turkey & Cheese Sandwich, peas, Pineapples
(S) Valentine’s Party
15 (B) Waffles with Pears
(L) HM Turkey Meat Loaf,
Long Grain Brown Rice,
Carrots, Applesauce
(S) Vanilla Yogurt and 100
% Apple Juice
16 (B) Corn Chex cereal
with pineapples
(L) Chicken Fries, Mixed
Veg., Sliced apples, Brown
Rice
(S) Wheat Crackers, Mixed
Fruit and Water
17 (B) English Muffins with
Apple Sauce
(L) Lemon Zest Baked Tilapia, Peas, Pineapple
Chunks, Corn Bread Squares
(S) Kidz Mix and 100%
Apple Juice
20
Closed: Presidents Day
Staff Development/
Training Day
21 (B) Corn Chex Cereal,
Mixed Fruit
(L) Baked Chicken Patty,
Noodles, Green Beans, applesauce,
(S) Mini Honey Wheat Bagel
and 100% Grape Juice
22 (B) Whole Wheat Toast,
Diced Pears
(L) All American Cheese
Burger on a whole wheat
bun, peas, Applesauce
(S) Strawberry Yogurt and
100% Grape Juice
23 (B) Kix Cereal with Apple Sauce
(L) Soy & Jam Sandwich,
Carrots and Pineapples,
cheese stick, Extra soy butter
(S) Graham Crackers and
100% Grape Juice
24 (B) Whole Wheat Buttermilk Biscuits, Diced
Pears
(L) Fun Fish, Brown Rice,
Mixed Veg. and Pears
(S) String Cheese and 100%
Grape Juice
27 (B) Whole Grain Waffle,
Mixed Fruit
(L) Turkey & Cheese Sandwich, Peas, Applesauce
(S) Wheat Crackers, Mixed
Fruit and Water
28 (B) Oatmeal w/Brown
Sugar & Cinnamon and Orange Wedges
(L) Diced Chicken, Carrots,
Pears, Whole Wheat Bread
(S) Applesauce and 100%
Grape Juice
(B) Breakfast
(L) Lunch
(S) Snack
(HM) Homemade
Taste the Difference!
*Milk is served with Breakfast and
lunch. Whole Milk for Children
under 2 and 1 % for children over
the age of 2.
*100 % Juice or water is served
with afternoon snack.
*Portions meet CACFP requirements for all ages.
*Bread Products are whole wheat
or whole grain.
*Diced Fruits stored in juice (not
syrup)
*Cereal products contain no more
than 6 grams of sugar.
*Turkey Products served. No Pork
or Beef
Healthy Lil’ You!