September 2015

Grandparents DayCelebration

Ready, Set Spaghetti Dinner

Details Inside

Busy?Easy Recipes

How to Keep your kids Safe on their Bus Ride

Bus Safety

Ways to Ease Back into the New School Year5 Essential Tips

Playworks - Learning and fun go hand-in-hand!

The Playworks mission is to provide high- quality education and care to children, build cooperative partnerships with parents, provide meaningful employment, and provide a viable, fun, quality entertainment source for families.

F E A T U R E SBack to SchoolTips for making the best out of a new school year.

Upcoming Events: READY, SET, SPAGHETTI DINNER September 24

GRANDPARENTS DAY September 11

PW CLOSED LABOR DAY September 7

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To Parents:Please remember to get your Playcare Stamp before leaving Dakotah! Sport and Fitness. All Membership Cards must be presented upon check-in.

No outside food or beverages. Remember socks are required in the Atrium.

ENROLL YOUR CHILD FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR

Kids starting school soon? Need that extra help in the morning or after work? Sign them up for the Playworks Educare program. We’ll provide fun, hands-on learning before and after school.

Most schools start Sept. 8, including Prior Lake (grades 6-12), Shakopee, Apple Valley-Rosemount-Eagan, Burnsville-Eagan-Savage (grades 1-10), Lakeville, Jordan (grades 5-12), and Aspen Academy. Those at Prior Lake (grades K-5), Belle Plaine (grades K-6), Jordan (K-4) will start Sept. 10. New Prague begins on Sept. 2.

Playworks will transport children to and from schools in Prior Lake and Shakopee, and from Jordan. Visit playworksfun.com for a list of schools.

You’re Invited to a Spaghetti Dinner!Currently Enrolled Educare

Families POD 1-School AgeWho?

Where?

September 24, 4:30-6PMWhen?

Free to Families Currently Enrolled in Educare

Cost?

No RVSP necessary. Contact Ryan Fritze with Questions at 952-496-6811

September 2015

C H I L D R E NHow to Keep Your Kids Safe Before, During, and After Their Bus Ride

As kids get back into the swing of things at school, it’s important to talk about bus safety. To get the conversation started, here are some tips on what your child should do before, during and after bus rides to stay safe on their way to and from school or child care. Review it with your child, and then keep it on your fridge as a daily reminder.

Plan ahead.•Leave plenty of time to get to the bus stop. Don’t rush. •If a parent meets you at the bus stop, make sure they’re on the same side of the street where you will be dropped off so you won’t have to cross the street.

Pay attention.•Be aware of other moving vehicles.•Avoid listening to music, playing video games, or wearing a hood. They all can make it more difficult for you to see and hear traffic and other potential hazards.

5 Ways to Make Going Back to School EasyWith late-night campouts, lax bedtimes, and unstructured play, summer break is a time to relax. If you don’t plan ahead, the transition back to the strict school-year schedule can bring about “But I’m not tired!” tantrums from your kids. To make the switch easier on your and your family, start with these simple steps.

1. Start reintroducing school habits a few weeks before school resumes. Ease into the new schedule by gradually getting the kids to bed earlier and up in the morning faster.

2. Get ready for the day right away. Instead of lounging around in PJs or playing games in the morning, have your kids get dressed and eat breakfast so it’s less of a shock during the rush of school-year mornings.

3. Bring back routine. Make sure meal times fall in line with school schedules, limit screen time, and enforce

curfew and downtime before bed to help your kid unwind and fall asleep on time.

4. Schedule appointments. Preparing for school to start can mean doctor visits, teeth cleaning, eye exams, and haircuts. Spread the appointments out over the last month so you don’t end up pulling your kids out of class to get everything done.

5. Have a little fun! Make sure you and your kids got the most out of their summer. If there’s something your family hasn’t gotten to do yet but wants to, do it now!

•Stay away from the bus wheels at all times. The driver can’t see you.•While waiting for the bus, keep your distance from the street and don’t play around.• Stay 10 big steps away from the bus as it pulls up. •Don’t pick up anything you drop near the bus. The driver may not be able to see you. Instead, ask the driver for help. •Wait to cross the street until the driver lets you know it’s safe to go.

Behave yourself.•Hold the handrail going up and down the stairwell so you don’t trip. •Find a seat and sit down as soon as you get on the bus.•Be nice and respectful to the driver.•Listen to directions.•Don’t put anything – not your head, arms, or belongings – out the bus window.

Source: National Safety Council

E V E N T S & A C T I V I T I E S

O W N E D A N D O P E R A T E D B Y T H E S H A K O P E E M D E W A K A N T O N S I O U X C O M M U N I T Y

952.445.PLAY (7529) • 2200 Trail of Dreams • Prior Lake, MN 55372playworksfun.com

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EDUCAREWE HAVE CURRENT OPENINGS.

Enroll in EDU today!

FIND MORE INFORMATION AT PLAYWORKSFUN.COM

High quality, hands on school readiness programs for children starting at six weeks of age. Full-time and

part-time contracted childcare is available

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Ingredients:

1 tortilla, whole wheat

1 tablespoon cream cheese, low-fat

2 each baby carrots, cut into quarters

¼ cucumber, small, cut into strips

¼ bell pepper, cut into thin strips

1 tablespoon ranch, low fat

Vegetable Sushi (1 serving)

Directions:• First, spray an 8-inch skillet with cooking spray.• Heat the skillet over medium heat. Place tortilla in the skillet, then top with turkey, cheese and grapes.• Cook for 2 minutes, then fold in half.• Cut in half and serve warm with salsa.

Directions:• Spread the cream cheese over the whole wheat tortilla.• Along the edge of the tortilla, place the carrots and fold over.• Next, place the cucumber sticks beside the rolled over carrots on tortilla and fold over.• Lastly, place bell pepper strips beside folded over cucumbers on tortilla and roll up completely.• Slice into 1 inch rounds and dip “sushi” into ranch dressing.

Grapeadilla’s (serves 1)

Short on time with the new school year? Avoid the pre-packaged foods

and reach for the healthy alternatives instead. You can still

preparethese healthy foods, even if you don’t have all the

ingredients in your refrigerator.

Ingredients:

Cooking Spray

1 each tortilla, whole wheat (7 inch)

3 tablespoons lean turkey, sliced, cut in strips

3 tablespoons Colby jack cheese, low fat, shredded

4 each grapes, seedless, cut in half

2 tablespoons salsa

5-Step, Kid-Friendly Recipes