Year-End Contributions
To advance the mission of EC3 and to keep a quality early childhood education accessible to more families, we rely on generous contributions to the General Fund. Please consider including EC3 in your charitable giving by making a year-end gift. You can make your tax-deductible contribution electronically by going to http://ec3kids.org/donate and clicking on the Donate to EC3 button at the bottom of the page.
EC3 Holidays
EC3 will be closed on the following dates in the coming weeks for holiday celebrations:
* December 23 & 26 (Christmas)
* December 30 & January 2 (New Year)
As noted in the Parent Handbook, there is no tuition credit for holidays, sick days, vacation days, or unexpected closings, whether the child is enrolled full-time or part-time.
Tips for Helping Children Cope with Holiday Stress
‘Tis the season to be jolly! It’s also the season to remember that excitement, stimulation, the disruption of daily routines, traveling, and social events all tend to bring out the very worst in young children (and their adults!). To make things fun for everyone, keep the following tips in mind!
* Discuss holiday plans well in advance, and let kids participate in decisions to the extent possible. Kids need some degree of predictability. Prolonged uncertainty, constant changing of plans. or last-minute decisions all can increase stress.
* If you're traveling, leave plenty of extra time and bring child-friendly snacks, books, games, and music.
* Don't overschedule. You may not be able to do everything or see everyone. Kids can easily get "burned out," overtired, and cranky during the holidays.
* Give kids some "downtime." Don't expect them to be "on" all the time. Leave room for some quiet activities, such as listening to music, walking in the woods, or reading a book.
* Make sure kids get plenty of sleep. While it may be exciting to stay up late, lack of sleep often leads to increased irritability.
* Let kids be honest about their feelings. Don't force them to act happy and excited if they're feeling quiet or down.
* Last, but not least, take care of yourself. Try to avoid getting overloaded with obligations. If you feel stressed, it increases the pressure and tension on your children.
For more tips, tricks, and reassurance, go to http://bit.ly/2hfRptd
Why do Babies like Boxes Best?
It is your little one’s first or second holiday opening gifts. You are excited to see how they react to the toy you spent so much time choosing. And then you find that your child seems more interested in the box and shiny paper than in the gift itself. Check out this wonderful article by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) discussing why development plays such a large role in this exchange. http://bit.ly/1yUhl0y
EC3 Weekly Newsletter – Thoughts, Comments, Suggestions?
Writing a weekly newsletter, 52 weeks (or so) a year, can be a little intimidating at times. Our sincere hope is that the newsletter is a valuable source of information about EC3, early childhood education, parenting, and community events. As we gear up for another year of newsletters, please tell us if we are serving you well, and if there are ways we can serve you better.
Weekend Family Fun
This time of year it is important to take some time to relax, hole up in the house, and have a little fun. Check out our Pinterest page for great activities you can do with your children this weekend. http://bit.ly/EC3SnowDay and http://bit.ly/EC3GetsCrafty
Important Dates Coming Up
* Saturday, 12/17/16: Toddler Teacher Krista Besley’s Birthday
* Monday, 12/19/16: Tuition Invoiced Emailed
* Friday, 12/23/16: EC3 Closed for Christmas
* Friday, 12/23/16: Tuition Due
Visit EC3 on the Web!
* EC3’s website: http://ec3kids.org/
* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/EC3-Educational-Child-Care-Center/111696098858348
* Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ec3kids/
* Twitter: https://twitter.com/EC3kids/
* EC3’s weekly menu: http://ec3kids.org/calendar/events
