white earth child care early childhood program newsletter · you look terrific. what did you like...

White Earth Child Care Early Childhood

Program Newsletter

January 2014 www.whiteearthchildcare.com 218-983-3285

Gichi-manidoo-giizis Great Spirit Moon

Live the Life you’ve always dreamed of. Be fearless in the face of adversity.

Never Stop Learning.

BE TRUE TO WHO YOU ARE.

Recognize the Beauty that surrounds you.

Be the Architect of your own destiny.

This life if yours to CREATE.

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Child Care Program Happenings

www.whiteearthchildcare.com 218-983-3285

If you or someone you know would like to be a part of our Parent Mentor program, please contact

Heather at 983-3285 Ext. 1228

or Abby at 983-3285 Ext. 1408

Your Community Parent Mentor collaborates with other programs, elders, and the local community councils to provide traditional educational classes and fun family events within your community.

New Year Resolution Ideas for Families Read at least one book to your child every night

at bedtime.

Eat at least three meals at the kitchen table together every week.

Plan a family fun day once a month. (Such as going to the park, swimming, museum visits, etc.)

When out grocery shopping, allow your children to pick out new fruits and vegetables to try. They’ll be more likely to eat them.

Try a new recipe and prepare it together as a family weekly. Take turns choosing what to make.

Play board games together twice a month.

Make washing hands a brushing teeth a priority.

Commit to drinking more water and milk.

Commit to wearing seatbelts every time you get into your car.

Benefits of joining:

Home Visits, school

readiness, fun activi-ties, and learning

about your child’s de-

velopment.

Parent Advocacy

Our White Earth Parenting Mentor Program serves families/caregivers with children 0-5 years of age in the home. We are looking for families that would like to take part in this

program from the Communities of: White Earth, Naytahwaush, Waubun, Ogema, Callaway, Pine Point, Elbow Lake, Mahnomen, and Rice Lake.

3 www.whiteearthchildcare.com 218-983-3285

As the coldest part of winter approaches, parents everywhere bring out their babies'

winter coats or snowsuits to keep baby warm during travel. However, thick winter coats

or snowsuits can compromise your child's car seat safety. In order for a baby car seat or

toddler booster seat to function properly, the straps need to remain tight against the

child's chest. Winter coats and snowsuits make

car seat safety difficult because they change the

way a child fits into the car seat. When the car seat

straps don't fit the child properly, there is a

chance the child could be ejected from the car

seat.

Check All Winter Coats for Car Seat Safety It's easy to check and see whether a baby's winter

coat or infant snowsuit is too thick to be safe in a

car seat. This test will show you how thick the coat is and how much the coat will com-

press during a crash.

1. Take the car seat into the house.

2. Put the winter coat or snowsuit on the child.

3. Put the child in the car seat and

buckle the harness as you nor-

mally would before car travel.

Adjust the straps to the appro-

priate fit for your child.

4. Take the child out of the car

seat without loosening the

straps at all.

5. Take the coat off your child.

6. Put the child back in the car

seat and buckle the harnesses

again, but do not tighten the

straps.

7. If you can fit more than two

fingers under the harness at the

child’s shoulder bone, the coat

is too think and is not safe for

use with the car seat.

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Heat 1 teaspoon Olive Oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Sauté 1/2 cup thinly sliced red pepper, 1/4 cup frozen corn, 1/4 cup black beans, and 2 ounces diced cooked chicken 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon chicken mixture over 1/2 cup cooked brown rice and top with 1/4 cup salsa and 2 tablespoons shred-

ded Monterey Jack.

Red peppers contain almost 300 percent of your daily vitamin C intake.

Besides being a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C is also needed for the proper absorption of iron. If you are iron deficient, try combining red peppers with your iron source for

maximum absorption.

Red Bell peppers are a great source of vitamin B6 and magnesium. This vitamin and mineral combination shows a decrease in anxiety, especially related to premenstrual

symptoms. Vitamin B6 is also a natural diuretic, so try stocking up on red bell peppers to reduce Bloating and prevent hypertension.

Red bell peppers help support healthy night vision. Red bell peppers are high in

vitamin A, which helps to support healthy eyesight, especially night vision.

Red Bell Peppers are packed with antioxidants. The combined effects of vitamin A and C create a great antioxidant capacity, and with lycopene in the mix, the red bell pepper be comes a top notch superfood. Lycopene is what makes tomatoes and peppers red. Red peppers are one of the highest veggies in lycopene, which has been successfully tested in the prevention of many cancers including prostate and lung.

Burn more calories with red bell peppers. Recent research has shown that sweet red

peppers can activate thermogenesis and increase metabolic rate. Red bell peppers do not contain capsaicin, which is what makes peppers hot and causes us to sweat, but they do have a mild thermogenic action that increases our metabolism without increasing our heart rate and blood pressure like hot peppers do.

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From the Child Care Health Consultant:

Emily Bakken From the Child Care Health Consultant Make sure as your children are home during the holidays or at child care that you keep them dressed for the

safe in the cold weather.

Love Those Layers Dressing in layers is the best way to stay warm and toasty in the cold, because you can start out with lots of

clothes to keep you warm and then peel them off once you start to heat up.

Depending on where you live and how cold it is, some kids may need more layers, some less. But if you're in

doubt, go for more layers to start — they can always come off later. (Whatever you do, always leave your

coat on — that's one layer that should stay!)

For your top half, start by putting on a long-sleeved undershirt (thermal or woolen). Then put on a turtleneck,

one or two shirts, a sweater, and a coat. If you can, pick out clothes that are made of fabrics other than cotton,

because cotton doesn't keep you very warm. For your bottom half, put on long underwear first (thermal or woolen), then pull on a pair of heavy pants. Try

to avoid jeans or light cotton pants (like khakis), because they won't keep you very warm. They will actually

make your legs and behind colder if you fall down and get wet. Waterproof pants (like ski pants) are best.

Finish up with heavy socks and waterproof boots. If you're going to be doing a lot of trekking around, you'll

want to wear boots that have good treads for keeping you steady on snowy and icy areas.

Grab That Hat

You're all bundled up and ready to go, but are you forgetting something? Pull a hat onto your head! You'll

stay much warmer with a hat than without one — tons of body heat escapes right from your head. Scarves,

facemasks, and earmuffs are also great at covering you up so you'll stay comfortable longer.

And don't forget mittens or gloves — the waterproof kind are best if you know you'll be playing around a lot

in the snow. Keeping your hands warm and dry is important because fingers are very sensitive to the cold.


Words that can help build your Child’s Self-Esteem

I love you.

That’s great!

Good job.

You look terrific.

What did you like best about today?

You are very special.

I like your smile.

Let’s talk about you.

I want to help you…

I’m so proud of you.

I can see why you are angry.

Let’s talk about it.

I believe you can do it.

Believe in yourself as I believe in you.

Thanks for your help.

You’re such a good worker.

Don’t give up.

You’re so nice to be around today.

Just do the best you can.

You’re going to be just fine.

How can you/we fix it?

Give it your best.

You are what matters.

You made me happy.


Ojibwemowin

Cabin– Mitgo-waakaa’igan Snow– Goon

Warm by the Fire– Awazo It is Snowing– Zoogipoon

It is Cold– Gisinaa Frostbitten– Mashkawaji

Ice– Mikwam White– Waabishkaa

Katie Olsen, WECC teacher, counting in Ojibwe with the children during circle time.

“Every Child deserves a champion: an adult who will never

give up on them, who understands the power of connection

and insists they become the best they can possibly be.” -Rita Pierson


The “Word Gap”, what is it?

The “word gap” is a phrase that has come to represent the difference in vocabulary amongst children from diverse backgrounds. Children from higher income families arrive

at school knowing approximately 20,000 words. Whereas, children from low income

families arrive with approximately 3,000-4,000 word vocabulary.

Why is there such a difference?

Research proves that most low income parents are worried about day to day living, and have a hard time making literacy a priority. Unfortunately, the first five years of life is

critical to literacy, as children are developing neurologically and cognitively. If they do not absorb the knowledge of language at this stage in life it cannot be easily remedied later

on. Think of it this way, reading a bedtime story to a child is just as important as

changing their diaper.

And what can we do about this achievement gap?

Use new and interesting words in natural conversations. Try this at mealtime, or when

presenting a new toy or material.

Use gestures and facial expressions to help children make sense of new words.

Sing with children and recite poetry and rhymes to playfully introduce vocabulary.

Talk with children and encourage children to talk with one another.

Read to children daily. Take time to go over new words.

Give children ample time to learn the meaning and uses of new words before moving

onto other words.

Americans have always believed that, at our best, we’re a land of equal opportunity; that it doesn’t matter where you come from or who your parents are– you should have the same chance as anyone else to live to your full potential. Closing the “word gap” will help

reduce the inequality in our society and restore a sense of mobility and possibility to American families. All of our children deserve the chance to start life on an equal playing

field. Let’s help them succeed.

Visit talkingisteaching.org to learn more.

“Reading a bedtime story to a child is just as important as changing a diaper.”

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How many times have you started an exercise program and then just quit going? Well... you're not alone!

Many people start with great intentions but soon lose motivation and end up avoiding the gym altogether.

Here are 10 tips found that are useful for starting and sticking with an exercise routine!

The following 10 tips to weight reduction don't involve buying expensive foods or hiring a personal trainer.

Instead, they involve common sense.

1. Choose activities that are fun. Exercise doesn't have to be a chore and the more fun it is, the more

likely you are to stick with it.

2. Variety is the spice of life! Don't just find one thing and stick to it... your guaranteed to get bored

eventually. Find a couple different types of exercise that you enjoy (swimming, biking, weight training,

yoga, group exercise classes, etc.) and mix it up!

3. Keep a record of your activities. Set small "achievable" milestones and reward yourself periodically.

Nothing motivates and keeps you going like success!

4. Make it a lifestyle! Short-term diets and fitness kicks don't work. Lifestyle changes that become part

of your normal routine are important for long-term success.

5. Watch the clock. Pick a time that's convenient and try to stick to it. If you get used to working out

before work or walking during your lunch hour... you're more likely to stick with it.

6. Don't be too hard on yourself. If you miss an exercise opportunity, try to work something else in rather

than feeling down. If a lunch meeting interferes with your regular walk... go for a walk after dinner.

7. Stay entertained. Music is a great motivator and can make exercise more fun. Make your own upbeat

music mix on your iPhone. Many people also like to watch TV or catch up on their soaps while on a

treadmill. Whatever it takes to keep up with the program.

8. Surround yourself with supportive people. Share your activity with others who want to see you succeed

and will be encouraging. It may be a friend, family member, or neighbor. You may run with a

co-worker over lunch or find a workout partner. If you're at the gym at the same time everyday, look

for people that may have similar goals... since your schedules are the same, maybe he/she is looking

for a workout partner?

9. Slow and steady wins the race. Don't risk injury by pushing yourself too hard too quickly. Start with

low to moderate level activities and gradually increase the duration and intensity of your workouts as

you become more fit.

10. But... don't get lazy! While pushing yourself too hard is bad... not doing enough is equally bad! There is

a fine line between staying on a plateau and providing enough stimulus so your body will grow. You

should gradually increase the amount of weight you lift, the length of your cardio exercise, etc. to keep

you moving towards your goal. If your goal is overall fitness, you should work up to exercising three or

four times per week for 30-60 minutes.

2015 Fitness Resolutions Our own personal trainer, Chris Holt has some fitness tips for you!

white earth child care early childhood program newsletter · you look terrific. what did you like...

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