March news from Wilmette Child Development Center

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YOUR TRUSTED PARTNER IN EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION

Wilmette Happenings
April begins Month of the Young Child, so please join us in celebrating for our special activities:
Food Drive April 1 - 26 Breakfast/Snack with your child April 16, 17, 18 & 23, 24, 25 Take your child to work April 8 - 26 Mystery Reader April 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25 Sending Letters April 1 - 26 Coffee Break for Parents April 18 & 19 Literacy Night April 18, 6 - 7 p.m. Parade April 26, 4:30 p.m.

Preschool 112 visits the Art Institute

The visit to the Art Institute of Chicago was the culmination of a month-long study of shapes. Preschool 112 experienced everything from riding on a school bus to walking in Millennium Park to looking at contemporary art exhibit. We departed school early in the morning right after breakfast. The first shapes we noticed were on the houses in the Wilmette neighborhood. My friends quickly concluded that a trapezoid was hard to find, but squares and rectangles were in abundance. Sheridan Road presented us with another opportunity to spy shapes. This time the kids noticed the tall buildings right along the lake. Spontaneously they started comparing their height. The lake was another attraction. Someone pointed out that the lake was always staying on our left side. Then, some children pointed out other familiar landmarks.

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March news from Wilmette Child Development Center

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Wilmette Child Development Center 3013 Illinois Rd. Wilmette, IL 60091 847.256.6600 www.onehopechilddevelopment.org

"Mariya, Mariya, this is my grandma's house!" "That's my daddy's school!" "Are we there yet?" "Ten more minutes, and we will be there." We arrived at the Millennium Park, our feet took us to "The Bean." What a great place for those curious minds. The kids stood under "The Bean," ran around it, hid in the lowest parts where the structure meets the ground. "I look smaller when I look at my reflection." "I am everywhere!!!" After a fruitful exploration of this architectural marvel we headed back. It was time for our visit to the museum. Have you ever taken Nichols Bridge to enter the Art institute? We had such an amazing experience walking up and looking at the buildings on the other side of the park. We could see them becoming smaller and smaller. We also saw the train cars, and lucky for us, there was a train moving toward the station at that very moment! The entered through the museum's revolving doors and we even got to ride an elevator! Once in the lobby, we found our guide who was ready to take us on a tour. Our first stop was the third floor-the contemporary art exhibit. The kids had an amazing time looking at vibrant paintings revealing shapely perspectives on life. Have you ever thought that a painting could be picturing a messy room? The kids thought so. The artwork sparked other conversations as well: "What else do you see?" "A table, a square table." "Where is the room with the table?" "In the basement" "What makes you feel this way?" "Because our basement is messy."

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March news from Wilmette Child Development Center

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To prepare for the visit to the museum, I used a teaching strategy called, Visual Thinking Strategies, by its co-founder Abigail Housen. The nature of the strategy is to engage learners in a problem-solving process that helps them, "cultivate a willingness and ability to present their own ideas, while respecting and learning from the perspectives of their peers." The research conducted by Housen has documented a strong relationship between the Visual Thinking Strategy program and students' academic achievement in math, science and language arts. Our visit to the Art Institute ended in the cafeteria of the museum. We had a delicious cheese pizza that was so good it made some of the children exclaim, "This is the best pizza I have ever had!" Our class received compliments from some of the patrons dining in the cafeteria. Their amazement was great when they found out that the children were only 3, 4 and 5 years old. Thank you! Thank you to Margaret Baum, Sheri Blix, Andrew Falkowski, Matt Jackson, Derek Lewis, Michael O'Malley, Jacky Urban and Valery, for taking time from your busy schedules and helping us make this trip possible!

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March news from Wilmette Child Development Center

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Being in the Moment

In this day and age, we have become accustomed to getting information at record speeds, sending quick messages, getting quick responses, having more, doing more and being in a hurry about everything. We have become attached to many things in this life such as phones, computers, fast food, and being instantly gratified and entertained by things. Slowing down does not seem to be an option in this life, and with this mentality, we seem to be creating less genuine relationships and attachments with one another. When a child is involved, it is vitally important we do slow down and create a genuine relationship with them. Infants and children form bonds and attachments in which they feel secure and safe. Children are aware of the people around them and begin to know these people will feed, change, hug and hold them when needed. When a child's basic needs are being met they will feel a sense of security in their lives. As children grow they learn that an attachment is formed during these basic need times. The relationship and or attachment are of the upmost most importance to a child's development. These attachments are first with the parent and family members and then with a caregiver or teacher. The children also form attachments to other children depending on how well they themselves have formed bonds and attachments. The way we attach to

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March news from Wilmette Child Development Center

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relationships stay with us throughout our lives and the way we form them as children is how we will form them as adults. When we take the time to slow down and be in the moment with our children no matter what moment it is, we are creating a sense of security, self confidence and well-being for that child.

We all have busy lives, but remember the time we invest in our children now can last a lifetime for them. As the saying goes, "stop and smell the roses." Your child is blossoming right before your eyes. Be in the moment with them and help to make that attachment seed a safe and secure one for life.

REFERA-FRIEND Save $25!

We would like to thank you for all of your wonderful words of praise about our Centers to your family and friends! Our program continues to grow through your referrals. Because of this, we are pleased to announce that the Refer-A-Friend incentive will continue throughout the year. For any private pay family that you refer to us, that enrolls in our Center, and stays enrolled for at least six months, you will receive the value of one week's private pay childcare fees FREE for your oldest child. Half of the incentive award will be given at the time of the new private pay family's enrollment, the other half after six months. In order

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March news from Wilmette Child Development Center

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to be eligible for this incentive, they must list your name as the referral on the "New Family" application.
Offer Expires: June 30, 2013 Forward this email

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Wilmette Child Development Center | 3013 Illinois Rd. | Wilmette | IL | 60091

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