Stratford Parents’ Place News
Fall 2016
THE PLAYROOM
Ms. Carrie
The emphasis of Parents Place is to provide a supportive environment for
parents to interact in a developmentally appropriate environment with their child. It
is a rare opportunity for parents to support each other in a safe, nurturing
environment. Please respect this experience with your child and take advantage of
this time to get on the floor with them and play!
In the playroom, each activity is intentionally planned using the Connecticut
Early Learning and Development Standards which was created in partnerships with the
Office of Early Childhood and the Connecticut Department of Education. I strive to
meet the needs of all learners and address various learning styles in an attempt to
satisfy each individual children needs and interests. I would like to introduce you to
all the learning that will occur during your playtime with us!
Our playroom has several components starting with the Block Building area.
We have added lots of new toys from last year! This are promotes children learning
basic principles of engineering and gives them the opportunity to practice early math
and science skills, such as balance, measurement, and problem solving.
In the Math and Science area, critical early math skills such as number
identification, number sequence, quantitative counting, sorting, and classifying can
be practiced with our new material. Science discovery of energy, force and motion,
observation of attributes, magnets, and investigation can be explored. Musical
instruments are also available to support music appreciation, sound patterning,
rhythm and movement, as well as proper use of instruments.
In the Library area, the children are exposed to age appropriate books that
support their development and our classroom learning. You will also notice books
within each center that promote the specific goal of that area. For example, in the
math center there will be books focused on early math skills. Letter recognition and
phonemic awareness are simple concepts that will act as a foundation for later
development. Reading to your children not only introduces the concept that print has
meaning but creates early communication skills.
In the Kitchen area, children will have the opportunity to role play. This is a
great area for creating conversation and building concepts around healthy eating and
proper manners.
Our Sensory table will be changing weekly to support the topic or theme of the
week. This is one of my favorite areas to develop! The children will have the
opportunity to manipulate, explore and investigate different textures, and smells
weekly. A lot of the material used will be messy so I encourage you to dress you and
your child ready to get down and dirty.
At the Arts and Craft Table the project will be different every week and the
activity is there for you to work with your child and explore different mediums. Try to
encourage your child to move outside their comfort zone. Many children will not
want to get paint or glue on their hands immediately but the more they are exposed
to it week after week they will begin to not only attempt it but will be enjoying every
moment.
MS. CARRIE’S SENSORY FUN RECEIPES
In each newsletter I will include the recipe for sensory activities that are used in the
classroom. If you do not see it included please ask how I did it. I love to share recipes
and ideas with you. I encourage you to take home the activities you experienced and
use them again at home.
Play Dough recipe:
1 cup All-purpose flour
½ cup salt
2 tablespoons of Cream of Tartar
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
1 cup of water
This is the base recipe for most of the dough I make weekly. I vary them by adding in
JELLO, extracts, or spices.
Pumpkin Pie Play dough recipe:
2 cups All-purpose flour
4 tablespoons Cream of Tartar
4 tablespoons of vegetable oil
2 cups of water
1 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice
1 cups of salt
Food coloring (preferably orange)
Mix all ingredients together in a heavy bottomed sauce pan.
Cook over medium heat until the mixture gets doughy.
Roll out onto wax paper until cool, knead until smooth.
Gingerbread Play Dough recipe:
1 cup of All-purpose flour
½ cup salt
2 tablespoons Cream of Tartar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup water
Mix all ingredients together in a heavy bottomed sauce pan.
Cook over medium high heat until the mixture gets doughy.
Roll out onto wax paper until cool, knead until smooth
Chocolate Play Dough
2 ½ cups of flour
½ cup cocoa powder
1 ½ cups of salt
2 tablespoons cream of tarter
3 cups of water
3 tablespoons of oil
Mix all ingredients together in a heavy bottomed sauce pan.
Cook over medium high heat until the mixture gets doughy.
Roll out onto wax paper until cool, knead until smooth.
Edible Cookie Dough
2 tablespoons flour
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon butter (softened)
2 tablespoons brown sugar (packed)
½ tablespoons milk (with a little vanilla)
Mini chocolate ships or sprinkles
Colored Rice
2 teaspoons of rubbing alcohol
¾ cup of uncooked rice
Zip-lock baggie
Wax paper
To color rice add food coloring to 2 teaspoon rubbing alcohol. Pour into a zip lock bag
with ¾ cup of uncooked rice. Close the bag and shake well. You can also massage the
rice through the bag to make sure the color is evenly coating the rice. Pour the rice
onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper to dry overnight. Occasionally rub around
with your hand to surface the rice that is still wet.
KNOX Gelatin recipe
You can find the gelatin in any major grocery store for about $1.50 a box. Follow the
directions on the box but replace the fruit juice with water. Place in any plastic
container so it can be easily removed. I use pipettes with food coloring to inject the
colors into the gelatin. I typically have to use two boxes of gelatin for one medium
sized bowl. Chill for 24 hours to have gelatin set firmly enough to poke into it.
READ TO GROW
Did you know Stratford Parents’ Place is a Read to Grow site? It means it is a place for
Stratford families to come and visit and select books for their children to take home,
enjoy and keep! The books are located in our FRC office. We have picture books,
toddler books and young readers. Please stop in and visit us and pick out some books
for you and your child to enjoy!
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the
more places you’ll go.”— Dr. Seuss
COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
Until the Thanksgiving Holiday we will be collecting non-perishable food for the South
End Community Center. They are specifically in need of Pasta (except spaghetti),
Jelly, Pasta Sauce, Canned ravioli, Canned vegetables, Tea, Coffee, Rice, Cereal,
Canned fruit. Thank you in advance!
As you begin to clean out the children’s toys for the holiday arrivals please consider
donating them to Midga’s Family, Friends and Neighbor’s program. The toys will be
distributed to Stratford based Family Child Care homes in May, 2017. We will be
accepting donations all year.
GRANDPARENTS GROUP
A group for grandparents helping to care for their grandchildren ages 1-4 years.
Monthly topics are discussed and activities are planned by a Parent Educator.
Join us on the third Tuesday each month from 11:00am—12:00 PM
November 15, 2016
December 20, 2016
January 17, 2017
February 21, 2017
March 21, 2017
April 18, 2017
May 16, 2017
BABY TME
Baby Time is a unique program for Stratford parents and babies birth to one year,
especially first time parents who often have many questions and concerns in their new
role as parents. It also provides a wonderful opportunity for parents to connect with
others and create friendships that sometimes last for many years. Groups are led by a
Parent Educator and include a monthly topic.
Join us on the second Wednesday of every month11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.
November 9, 2016 ‘Safety, at Home and Away!’
December 14, 2016 ‘The Importance of Developmental Screenings’
NEW FACE
You may have seen a new face around Parents’ Place. Ms. Machelle Murray joins the
staff of Parents’ Place as Outreach Worker for a brand new grant funded Attendance
program in Stratford Public Schools. Ms. Murray will be working with families of
Kindergartners who are chronically absent from school. Four schools have been
chosen to participate. Ms. Murray will be providing outreach and support to these
families and helping to develop relationships to help improve attendance. She also
has a background in Early Childhood and is excited to be here! Please help me
welcome her aboard!
DID YOU KNOW? ATTANDANCE MATTERS EVEN IN PRESCHOOL!
Missing 10 percent of preschool (one or two days every few weeks) can:
 Make it harder to develop early reading skills
 Make it harder to get ready for kindergarten and first grade
 Develop a poor attendance patterns that’s hard to break.
 Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
 Start building this habit in preschool so they learn right away that going to
school on time, every day is important.
 Good attendance will help children do well in high school, college, and at
work.
For more information on why attendance matters even at the preschool level, check
out the website www.attendanceworks.org
CLOSURES:
Please note the Stratford Board of Ed is closed on the following
dates so classes will not be held:
November 24, 2016
November 25, 2016
December 26, 2016 through January 3, 2017