What's new in November at ?

Fall is in Full Swing!

Look outside and see the leaves falling to the ground. Pumpkin and apple flavored products have filled the stores, and Halloween has come and gone. We could even see some snow in the coming weeks!

With that colder weather comes illness. If your child is sick, please keep them at home to avoid spreading the germs. Continue to send your child with warm outerwear; we are still playing outside.

Self-Feeding at 1 Year

Did you know that most babies are ready to try finger foods between the ages of 6-12 months? Yes, even if they don't have any teeth! It may seem a little scary or messy at first, but there are a few signs you can look for to help you know that your little one is ready to start self-feeding. Ask yourself, Does my child:

· Put objects in his or her mouth?

· Make chewing motions with his or her gums or teeth?

· Grab and hold objects with the thumb and forefinger (Pincer Grasp)?

If you answered yes, your child is probably ready!

Remember that it will be messy and slow at first, and that is okay! It's a learning experience and it takes time to perfect. Start with foods that are small, easy to pick up, and easy to clean up. Some good examples are pasta, boiled veggies, or peeled ripe fruit. Avoid foods that are hard, or sticky.

For more information, check out this article from

healthlinkbc.ca: http://tinyurl.com/selffeeding

Check out this Recipe!

Vegetable Flatbread

Ingredients

1 cup carrots (washed, peeled, and grated)

1 cup zucchini (washed, peeled, and grated)

8 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

2 eggs, beaten

¼ cup olive oil

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

1 teaspoon oregano

1 tablespoon soy sauce

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place all of the ingredients in a large bowl and stir well. Grease a 9 inch square pan. Spread the mixture into the pan and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until lightly brown.

Cut when cool. 12 servings.

How can I help?

All kids over the age of 12 months needs to feed themselves at Stacy's. Self feeding promotes fine-motor skills and self-esteem. You can help us here by practicing at home and by packing foods that your child can feed to him or herself.

We frequently use playdough to work on small motor skills and improving hand strength, but using playdough too long is an easy way to spread germs. We are looking for volunteers to make homemade playdough at home and bring it to Stacy's each month. Check the parent board for the playdough sign up sheet!

Lastly, we are always looking for materials to aid in our fun and learning:

· Tissues

· Art/craft supplies

· Pet/People food (food drive)

Show and Tell on Wednesdays

Every Wednesday, the preschoolers participate in show and tell. This is more than just bringing a cherished object to school; children learn to use descriptive language, practice listening skills, and share something special with others. Please encourage your child to share in show and tell!

Don't Forget!

If you have a child in the infant room, state law requires that each food item be labeled with the child's name. Please help us follow this requirement.

All children over 12 months old need to be able to self-feed, so make sure to pack foods they can eat without assistance.

Due to allergies, Stacy's is a peanut butter free and egg free facility. Please do not pack these foods for your child.

Check out our parent board for more information!