Spring..... into Winter?

It's funny to think that Spring begins this month (on the 20th) with the snow we've had recently! We hope you are taking advantage of all the white stuff and having fun with your little ones out in the fluff! The temperatures will soon turn it all back into slush.

March in Vermont is a unique time of year, an in-between month that involves snow, slush, rain and probably a lot of mud puddles. Sugaring season is upon us, and you will see many events surrounding our wonderful Vermont maple syrup! 

SBFC News

Playgroup:

We have been listening to your comments and concerns...

There is now a separate yellow garbage can at playgroup, along with little baggies for soiled diapers. Please be courteous and use this garbage after changing your child's disposable diapers. We all appreciate it!

Please Note: Playgroup on Tuesday March 6 will be at City Hall! (See SAPLINGS below)

S.A.P.L.I.N.G.S Event:

SAPLINGS (Seniors and Preschoolers Linking Intergenerational Needs & Growing Successful Communities) 

The SAPLINGS program is a new collaborative effort between SB Rec. Dept and SBFC, to meet the needs of the early preschool and senior populations in our community. The SAPLINGS meet once per month to participate in a variety of themed activities including craft projects, coloring contests, sing-a-longs, sharing & telling stories, games and more. The SAPLINGS events require no pre-registration and are open and free to all South Burlington Residents. Whether you are a grandparent looking for a fun activity to do with your grandchild, a mom of a preschooler who is looking for an outlet and some adult conversation, or a senior who is longing for the laughter of little ones, this program is for you. 

We encourage all who are interested to join us for our kick-off event Tuesday, March 6 from 9:30-11am, at City Hall as we celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday with a Green Eggs and Ham Party! We will begin by reading the classic children's story "Green Eggs and Ham", then dive right into sampling our own batch of the delectable treat as we meet and greet new faces in our community and work on take home crafts together. It is a festive event sure to be fun for all ages!

Things To Do
Lots of FREE things this month. For more, check out FindandGoSeek!

• Ben & Jerry's Winter Festival: March 3, 11am-4pm
  
• Mardi Gras Parade, Church St, Burlington: March 3, 3pm
  
• Toddler Yoga and Stories: Williston Library 10:15am
  Simple yoga and books for children ages 1-5. Presented by Karen Allen.
  

  • 4-week series.
  • Fridays, 10:15 am. (March 9-30). 
  • Pre-register at 878-4918.
• Teddy Bear Tea Party, Gardener's Supply, Williston: March 10, 10-11am
  Bring your favorite stuffed animal or doll to our conservatory for a Tea Party. They will be serving crackers and jam and tea/juice. You will learn about how plants keep our air clean, take a greenhouse tour and paint a pot. You will even get to take a clean air plant home to plant in your pot.
  Please register ahead of time 658-2433.
   
• Wintervale, Intervale, Burlington: March 11, 10am-2pm
  Winter fun at the Intervale!
  
• Visit a Sugar House:
  Check out the link above for over 40 different sugar houses open to the public! Call ahead to make sure they are open.
  Maple Open House, Various Locations: March 24-25

Parent Workshops and Education:

• Life of the Child Conference-- The Art of Thinking,
  Lake Champlain Waldorf School: March 10, 8am-3pm
  Cost: $75. See link above for registration details.
  
• Building Blocks for Literacy, Discovery Preschool, So. Burlington: March 20, 7-9pm Come and learn strategies to help your child build early literacy skills in:
  • alphabet knowledge
  • shared book reading
  • vocabulary
  • phonological awareness
   This workshop provides information and fun activities for promoting your two-to-five year old's early reading success. To help them prepare, please e-mail them if you plan to attend this FREE event.

Five Positive Parenting Techniques

I've found that even on the best days, there are things that I can learn about how to improve my parenting. Thankfully, the things I learn have helped me during my worst of days! (Because let's face it, we all have them!)

I recently attending a mini-training session with Gail and Kelly from the Early Childhood Program at Howard Center to address various parenting techniques. Of the many strategies they teach and model during their own playgroups, they targeted FIVE positive parenting techniques.

Do you feel like a broken record (err, umm, scratched CD??) Tired of listening to a whiny child? Is your child continuously acting out? Read on and give some of these strategies a try!

Say What You Mean

• Use direct statements when letting your child know something is required of him or her.
  For example: When it's time to leave playgroup: "Please go get your coat and put it on." Or, "Please take my hand and walk to the car with me."
  Don't say: "Do you want to go get your coat and put it on?" Or, "It would be great if you took my hand, OK?"
• Offer choices or end with a question mark only when there really is a choice.
• Respect your child's rhythms by giving some warning before all direct statements.

I try to be polite when asking telling my toddler to do things. I say things like: "Owen, could you please put your bowl in the sink." I think I am giving him a direction, but he clearly sees through this and tells me "No." Now I know why. (Ok, part of it is him being strong-willed.) BUT... I've been really focusing on the strategy above, and I have to say, it's working. Yes, sometimes I hear "No," but more often than not, he magically complies!

Show Appreciation...
... and you will reinforce the behaviors and actions you want to see more often.

• Comment positively often! (and with details)
  For Example:
  • "I love how you figured out how that truck works!"
  • "I thought your play-dough creature was fabulous!"
  • "I really appreciate how you took turns with that doll."
• Thank your children!
  For Example:
  • "Thank you so much for getting your coat on the first time I asked."
  • "Thank you for holding my hand when we walked to the car."
• Catch them doing well! We all love to be recognized when we do well!

I have to pat myself on the back for this one, because it is something we are always practicing at home. Know how I've figured out it works?? Here is a conversation from the other day:
     Owen (to the dog): Piper, out, out of my room, please.
     Piper (the dog) goes out.
     Owen (to Piper): Good job Piper for getting out of my room.

Change It Up! (It's all about perspective)
When misbehavior start rising:

• Get physically near to your child, at their level.
• Say very little. (Keep it short and sweet!)
• Join in to the play, game, or activity.
• Redirect with your own play, introducing a new element (a different toy, character, a song, a silly game, etc).
• Be an appealing alternative that changes the direction of the misbehavior.

I run a home childcare program and have used this technique A LOT. All of my small friends have little minds of their own, and it gets crazy sometimes. I use all of the above bullet points above at various times to channel their behaviors. Let's take throwing toys. When projectiles start to fly, instead of completely halting play, I change it up and replace hard toys with the stuffed animals and soft poof balls (I use shower poofs), get my empty toy basket out and engage the kids in some "basket ball." I encourage their need to throw (great gross motor skill!!) yet, maintain a happy and safe environment.

Establish Routines
Create familiar repetitive routines because:

• You child will learn what is expected more quickly.
• Becoming too hungry, too tired, or too anxious happens WAY less.
• Familiar activities/schedules help our brains relax.
• Exploring new people, places, or activities is easier if baseline routines are in place.
• You will be able to enjoy each other more and reinforce rules less!

 My paternal grandmother had 11 children, and my maternal grandma had 4 children under 2 years old (my uncle, aunt, mom and her twin-- each almost exactly 1 year apart. eek!) When I ask them how they managed, having a routine was what kept them sane. I've noticed the same. Our daily sequence is fairly similar each day. Much of our day revolves around meal and sleep times. Then there are the small routines between. Take, for example, preparation for meal-time. We are big on hand-washing, but in the beginning, one of my small friends was not so keen on doing this. It delayed her meal time and she was not happy about that! After a few days of following through with this (see more about that next!), she now readily hops up on the step-stool and washes up without a fuss!

And lastly....

Follow Through, Follow Through, Follow Through...
... THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL

• Let your child know what is coming next, and then do it.
  For Example: "When I finish talking to my friend, we will be leaving playgroup." Or, "In 5 minutes, it will be your turn to have the truck."
• Promise fun stuff only if you are sure it can happen.
• When you have to set a limit, mean it. Clear, calm consequences are very effective. (Threats or multiple warnings, not so much!)

I am envisioning tantrums. I'm not ashamed to say they happen at my house too (and other places, like the grocery store). I have been working hard with this last strategy. I am a big fan of giving warnings, but I have to make a conscious effort to keep these to a minimum. Owen has caught on, and he will say: "Mama, THIS one is the last time down the slide! (Because he knows all the other "last times" didn't count.)

Here's my success story: He likes to "help" me shop by finding things he wants to buy (books, stuffed animals, etc). Sure, I've bought a couple of these things, but my budget usually tells me not to. I now set the expectation/limit: "That is a nice bear! You can hold it while we shop. It's not on our shopping list, so we are not going to bring it home with us." At the end of our trip, I give him a warning: "It's almost time to leave/pay. We need to put Mr. Bear back." And we do just that. Sometimes it's hard for him. Sometimes he cries, moans, groans, screeches, clutches on to it and says it's "hiding." I put on my super mommy cape (invisible to most) and tell him that Mr. Bear needs to stay at the store. But other times, he is the one who wears the super boy cape..... and he reminds ME to put it back.

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

We hope you have been having a good week with you own little Valentines! We have been taking the time for extra hugs and snuggles..... partly due to sickness (boo! *sniffle*) but mostly because hugs make our day a little happier!

Fun Fact:
Did you know hugs are good for your health? It triggers the release of a hormone called oxytocin, the "feel good" hormone. Aside from making us feel good, "it lowers the levels of stress hormones in the body, reducing blood pressure, improving mood, increasing tolerance for pain and perhaps even speeding how fast wounds heal. It also seems to play an important role in our relationships. It’s been linked, for example, to how much we trust others" (Hugs and Cuddles, Mesrahealth.com).
So.... make sure to hug someone today and every day!!

SBFC News
Playgroup:
Please note, there WILL be playgroup on Presidents Day (Mon. Feb. 20).
Also, due to popular demand and requests, we WILL have playgroup during February school vacation.

Thursday Storytime with Miss Meg at Playgroup!
Miss Meg, the South Burlington Children's Librarian has been joining us on Thursday mornings from during our story, snack and song time (appx 10:30-11am). We have had fun with her little finger puppy friends- Jack and Jill, and have learned all about our body parts with Elmo, singing "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes!" Come join us to see what fun we will have next!

Mother Goose Parent Program
Last week was the first night of a three-part parenting series designed to help parents learn some fun strategies to promote early literacy skills with their children. If you missed out on this opportunity, have no fear! Check back here to find out some of the things we've learned!

Things To Do

• Friday Night Family Clay Drop-In at Burlington City Arts: Fridays, 5:30-7:30pm
  Learn wheel and hand building techniques at BCA’s clay studio while hanging out with the family. Make bowls, cups and amazing sculptures. Staff will give wheel and hand building demonstrations throughout the evening. Price includes one fired and glazed piece per participant. Additional fired and glazed pieces are $5.00 each. No registration necessary.
  FEE: $6 per visit |$5 BCA Member
   
• Bread and Butter at Shelburne Musem: Feb. 18th, 9:30-11:30am
  Do some shaking and singing to make some butter! How do these two things help transform cream into butter? Come find out! And make some bread to serve under the butter! You’ll start with the wheat plant, remove the wheat berries, grind them, and sift! We’ll shape our dough into one-of-a-kind designs, bake, and eat…with butter on top!
  Registration Required: 985-8686
  FEE: Member: $10/parent & child, $5/each additional child | Nonmember: $12/$6
   
• The Great Ice Event in Grand Isle: Feb 10-19th
  Ice skating, Kids fishing derby and more!
  See link above for schedule of events and more details!
   
• Dog Sled Rides by Burlington Parks and Rec: Feb 25, 1:00-3:00pm
  Experience the iditarod at the Miller Community Recreation Center with local sled dog handler (Ingrid Bower and her team) with a ride around the fields. Get to meet the dogs and learn about the winter sport of dog sledding.
  Pre-registration required
  FEE: $35.00 per family
  
  
• Family Cross Country Skiing and Snow Shoeing at Schmanska Park: Feb 25, 1:00-4:00pm
  Enjoy a weekend afternoon snow shoeing and Nordic Skiing at Schmanska Park in Burlington. Burlington Parks and Rec. will outfit the kids with skis and snowshoes and provide hot chocolate and the barn as a warm-up hut! Art activities will be available for the little ones. (Adult skis and snowshoes, when available).
  FEE: Family Rate-$15.00 resident/$17.00 non-resident (Rate covers 2 adults and three children)

Books, Books, Books!

Just when you may be rotating your children’s old toys with new toys acquired from the holidays, be sure that their books do not fall forgotten! The Building Blocks for Literacy website stresses: “research has demonstrated that children who are read to and engage in conversation have greater success in school.” Here are just some of the ways reading can enhance children’s healthy development:

* Children learn words and how they go together.

* Children can explore thoughts and feelings.

* Reading encourages hand-eye coordination.

For more information, check out this bit of information from Child Care Resource: http://www.childcareresource.org/pdf/books_books.pdf

Of course, in a perfect world, we could play and read with our children all day. But what if you have other things to do? Books on tape/CD/MP3, recordable books, Leapfrog Tag, and this new gadget I just found—AnyBook Reader, are all great alternates. Janet Lansbury of Elevating Child Care elaborates on how these tools can be useful for your sanity and your child’s development:

http://www.janetlansbury.com/2010/07/a-creative-alternative-to-baby-tv-time/

Looking for places to get books? Your local library is a great place! And at GoodWill, most books are 99₵!

Would you like more information about how to make reading fun?  

The SBFC and Growing Kids South Burlington are co-sponsoring a Mother Goose Parent Program. 

It is 3 night program. February 8, 15, 22nd. From 7-8pm.

Learn fun activities to do with your child to help promote early literacy skills and a love of reading.

Best of all... parents will receive FREE books for their children. 

For more info or to sign-up, contact Colleen, your other playgroup facilitators, or Miss Meg at the South Burlington Library.

Happy New Year!

 

We hope your holidays were relaxing and memorable! We are excited to see all that 2012 has in store for us! Check out below our January news....

SBFC News

Playgroup:

The SBFC playgroups are up and running again after the holiday break. Again our playgroups meet on the following days and times:

Monday thru Thursday: 9:30-11:00am

If you see the sandwich board outside..... it means we are open!

NOTE: There will be no playgroup on Monday Jan.16 in observation of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.

Thursday Storytime with Miss Meg at Playgroup!

Miss Meg, the South Burlington Children's Librarian will be joining us on Thursday mornings from 9:30-10am for a short storytime and fun activity. (Free-play will resume afterward.)

FREE Parent Workshop:

The SBFC is partnering with Growing Kids South Burlington to offer area parents an opportunity to participate in a Mother Goose early literacy program. Participants will receive: 

• Tips and information on how your growing child learns
• Suggestions for when and where to read to your child
• Fun activities and songs you can do with your child that will help promote reading skills
• FREE BOOKS!

This workshop is a 3-part program that will meet the Wednesdays starting in February at 7pm. For more information, or to sign up- please contact Colleen, talk to your playgroup facilitator, or see Miss Meg at the library.

Things To Do

• Storytime Adventures: Fridays 10:30 
  Join Miss Meg and Mr. Monkey on Friday morning for an adventure in a book. During this program we will read stories, sing songs, play games and create with a variety of materials that our friendly and furry puppet friend Mr. Monkey has hiding in his tree house.
  
  This story time is recommended for children over the age of 30 months who are able to sit and listen to a story and safely create with small materials.
   
• Wee Skii at Sleepy Hollow Ski Center: Wednesdays 9-10am
  A cross country ski program for 4-5 year old children. Meets Wednesday mornings from 9-10am in Jan. and Feb. at Sleepy Hollow Ski Center. It is a great opportunity for you to ski with your child. We will not have a formal "practice", rather it will be a great opportunity to meet up with other parents/children for a fun ski on the trails at Sleepy Hollow.
  
  Cost is $8 per family (free with season pass!). Add $5 per person for rentals. No pre-registration required. Just show up!
   
• Very Merry Traveling Theatre: Various Dates
  See website for dates and details: verymerrytheatre.org
  
  

•  Parent-Child Sign-Language Classes: Fridays Jan 13-- Feb 24, 10-11am
  This 7-week program is intended for kids age 0-5, and their parents. Learn to sign using American Sign Language (ASL).
  
  Call 878-0313 to sign up – space is limited.
   
• Playdate at Shelburne Farms: Jan 14, Anytime between 9am-3pm
  SPECIAL GUEST: Meet a live owl with OFES!
  AGES: 2–5, with accompanying adult
  LOCATION: McClure Center for School Programs
  REGISTRATION: 802-985-8686 WALK-INS welcome!
  Call up a friend and make a play date at Shelburne Farms! Explore lots of theme-based activities in the education center at your pace and schedule, with a staff member present for questions.
  FEE: Member: $3/child; Nonmember: $5/child
  
  
• Movie Screening: "Mother Nature's Child," Jan. 20, 7-9pm at Lake Champlain Waldorf School, Shelburne.
  
  The Lake Champlain Waldorf School is pleased to offer a screening of the movie “Mother Nature’s Child: Growing Outdoors in the Media Age.”  The film examines why children need unstructured time outside, what the place risk-taking has in healthy child development, and how play is a form of learning. It also looks at the ways children growing up in urban areas connect to nature and what it means to educate the “whole” child. Please join us after the screening for a panel discussion.
  

  Please RSVP to Pam Graham pgraham@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.org
   
• Kids Karnival Kaos: Jan. 21, 1-3pm at the Stowe Elementary School.
  Part of the Stowe Winter Carnival - Balloon animals, games, face painting, a DJ and a ton of awesome prizes! After checking in, leave your shoes at the door and receive a set of 20 tokens for the sock hop and game room. Tokens can be exchanged for a chance to win prizes at a variety of game stations or take a turn in one of the bounce houses!
  
  
• Winterfest at Shelburne Farms: Jan 28, Noon-3pm
  Enjoy a day of wintery activities: sledding, snow play, and tasty treats! Bring your warm clothes and your winter spirit! Indoor and Outdoor activities available for everyone!

As always, if there is something that you would like to see, learn, or experience, please let us know!