SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2020 › 21159... · Asha Robertson – 6/13/2013 Henry Dodge – 6/24/2014 Happy July Birthdays: Vivian Carroll – 7/26/2019 Charlie Gaffaney – 7/6/2018 Cameron

SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2020

Summer News

Dear Parents:

This summer will look a little different than it has In the past, but we are sure that the teachers have fun

activities planned for your children!

Summer months mean that our parking lot gets busier as children use it to travel between our two buildings.

Please remember to use caution while driving in and out of the parking lot!

Please remember to apply sunscreen to your child before you drop him / her off. To be effective sunscreen must be applied 30 minutes prior to going outside. Also, please bring a bottle of sunscreen

to keep at Sandcastle; this will allow the teachers to re-apply it as needed. All sunscreen must be labeled you’re your child’s first and last name and, due to our licensing regulations, we cannot allow

sunscreen in aerosol cans. Please read the information on the following pages about sun safety!

Happy Anniversary!

LuLu Navarro-Jimenez – 06/13/2019 Cheryl Schroeder – 06/17/2016

Leigh Bauer – 06/27/2019

Deborah Salinas – 07/01/1997 Valerie Ford-Jackson – 07/08/1985 Laurelie MacKenzie – 07/08/2019

Angie Frykholm – 07/15/2016 Jody Halverson – 07/21/2016

Nicole Fritz – 08/05/2019

Amelia Karelitz – 08/05/2019 Brandye Huset – 08/06/2018

Janai Dixon – 08/14/2017 Jocelyn Urbanski – 08/14/2019

Jessica Diaz – 08/20/2019 Jonathen Matykiewicz-Stately – 08/27/2019

Meriah Stokes – 08/28/2018 Rosemarie Cook – 08/29/1988

Allison Chapman – 08/29/2005 Molly James – 08/30/2019

Denise Muske – 08/30/2018 Jenna Durst – 08/31/2017

Margaret Gustafson – 08/31/2017 The writings on the following pages are offered in celebration of Father’s Day. We have also included some fun summer activities to do with your child(ren) and a couple of inspirational writings. Enjoy them and enjoy a summer filled with love, laugher, adventure, and happiness. Jennifer, Wendy, Lisa, and Rachael

Happy June Birthdays:

Avery Winge – 6/21/2019 Ernest Jeffery – 6/24/2019

Jack Mobley – 6/1/2018 Thea Mayer – 6/1/2018

Marion Cousins – 6/4/2018 Roman Diskerud – 6/11/2018

Everleigh Urbanski – 6/13/2018 Laine Shellum – 6/19/2018 Teresa Pestano – 6/29/2018 Malin Errickson – 6/3/2017

Benjamin Maranda – 6/5/2016 Martin Lowndes – 6/8/2016 Dylan Halling – 6/14/2016

Lucinda Kimball – 6/15/2016 Emily Leas – 6/15/2016

Maeve Stahlman – 6/16/2016 Ella Clark – 6/21/2015

Joshua Finlay – 6/7/2013 Asha Robertson – 6/13/2013

Henry Dodge – 6/24/2014

Happy July Birthdays:

Vivian Carroll – 7/26/2019 Charlie Gaffaney – 7/6/2018

Cameron Swenson – 7/12/2018 Bradali Priett0 – 7/8/2017

Isabelle Kovaleski – 7/8/2017 Mcintyre Sonday – 7/10/2017

Gianna Cox – 7/22/2016 Samira Ahmed – 7/17/2015 Audrina Winge – 7/17/2015

Happy August Birthdays:

Eliza Klocker – 8/3/2019 Walter Gammel – 8/13/2019 Harvey Erickson – 8/16/2019

John Buri – 8/28/2019 Charlie Clark – 8/3/2018 Jessie Clark – 8/3/2018

Carolyn Seal – 8/10/2018 Cailiani Roberts – 8/11/2018

Alec Legg – 8/24/2018 Murphy Hertz – 8/11/2017

Noah Sonn – 8/17/2017 Sawyer Monatvon – 8/31/2017 Lincoln Forgrave – 8/4/2016

Dylan Hibray – 8/8/2016 James Cousins – 8/11/2016

Macy McGough – 8/18/2016 Amir Johnson – 8/21/2016

Adrianna McGinnity – 8/23/2016 Madeline Marks – 8/5/2015 Madeline Morse – 8/17/2015 Isaac Webster – 8/16/2013

Dolphins Ms. Danette and Ms. Angie

Welcome to summer!

Throughout this summer we will be focusing on two major things, the power of play

and tummy time.

The Power of Play

Play helps with the development of a child’s motor, language, cognitive and social

skills. It also encourages self-awareness. It can be any type of stimulating interaction.

One game is to have your child sit up and look around. Tell them what they see and

repeat the procedure with the same object or picture until they lose interest.

Tummy Time

Tummy time is another important activity for infants. Babies need tummy time to

develop ½ of their physical movements. Those muscles and skeletal development can’t

develop without tummy time. These physical movements also help develop the brain. If

babies are left in carriers, seats, etc. for too long a time, it interferes with their physical

requirements of movement. The benefits of tummy time include:

• Physical development

• Muscle and bone strength

• Digestion

• Coordination

• Ability to maintain balance

• Helps child progress from lying to sitting… to crawling… to walking.

Tummy time supports an emerging sense of self because of a balance of rest and

activity and the results of hard physical work.

Healthy reflexes, nerve pathways to the brain, and brain connections are all dependent

upon movement.

We wish all of our father’s a very happy Father’s Day!

Seahorses Ms. Jody, Ms. Sarah, and Ms. Leigh

Welcome to summer!

We will be working on some fine motor skills. Doing are, playing with links, and balls

with help us. At home you can do this by pacing a toy just out of reach, so they have to

stretch to reach it.

We will be working on gross motor skills too. Sitting and tummy time, are both helpful

ways to strengthen your child’s core muscles. Pulling up to standing and crawling help

us explore the toys and our environment.

Over the next few months, were going to work on looking at books, basic sign language,

and singing songs to foster language development.

We will also be getting outside for lots of walks.

Balancing brain stimulation activities for infants and toddlers:

Offering choices:

“Throughout the day, create ways for me to make choices. For example, offer two toys

and let me choose, or have me pick between two books to have read. When I have

opportunities to make choices, the development of the thinking areas of my brain grow

stronger. My brain feels less stress when I don’t have a chance to make choices during

my day.”

Talk with me:

“Use many different words as we go through our day together. I need you to use lots of

words when we are interacting directly with each other, so I can make connections in

my brain to understand and use language. But remember, when I’m focused on

developing a skill or figuring something out, too much talking will distract my attention

and will over stimulate my brain.”

Enjoy your summer!

Clownfish Ms. Emily and Ms. Katie

Welcome to summer!

We will be getting outside daily, weather permitting, please send lotion sunscreen in for

your child. You have done a great job washing hands upon arriving at the center and

into the classrooms, please continue to do so.

We should be starting water play days once our play yard is finished being painted. We

will be updated when we know more so you will have enough time to bring in your

child’s swim gear. When the play yard is finished, we will ask that your child comes

dressed for the sprinkler with their swimsuit on, a towel, and shoes that can stay on

when they are playing in the water. Please make sure that you have brought in

sunscreen with their first and last name labeled on them. Remember, we ask for only

lotion sunscreens, spray sunscreen can’t be used at Sandcastle.

Since we will be outside more often, we ask that your child has shoes here or comes in

wearing shoes. Many of our friends are emerging walkers and shoes will help them with

this new skill.

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. I look forward to spending the

summer with your children.

Balancing brain stimulation activities for infants and toddlers:

Rattle and shake:

“When I am alert, gently shake a rattle and slowly move it to each side, or up and down.

Have me follow the movements with my eyes until I get tired of this activity. I need to

have visual experiences to make connections from my eyes to my brain. Quick

movements or loud shaking will be too over stimulating, so I will look away.”

Have a fun and safe time!

Sea Lions & Sea Turtles Ms. Jenna, Ms. Dayna, and Ms. Theresa

Wow, May went by super fast and even though it did, we sure packed a whole lot of fun

and excitement into it! May was full of creepy crawlies and flowers as we learned about

the gardens! We went on so many walks in search of flowers, we picked dandelions that

we were so proud of and we enjoyed looking for bugs. We sure are fascinated with ants

and spiders; we got so excited to see them, but are still pretty cautious when it comes to

touching them.

This month, we also read so many books about gardening and bugs. Our favorites were

The Big Hungry Caterpillar and The Itsy Bitsy Spider! We love singing along to The Itsy

B itsy Spider and learning the actions that go along with it. We laughed over how big

the caterpillar got. May was a great month, but we are so excited for summer and all of

the fun it brings!

June is going to be all about “Outdoor Fun”. We are going to be spending so much time

outside, enjoying the warm weather and the fresh air! Summer brings back so many

new ways to learn, whether it is through sensory, getting dirty, or just having fun

exploring outside. We love summer! Now that summer is back, we get to start having

sprinkler days again! We love sprinkler days because we get to splash in the water and

have fun with our friends! We ask that you bring your child dressed in their swimsuit

and have sunscreen already applied. We are so looking forward to all the new and

exciting learning experiences this summer!

Things to do at home:

• Play in the mud, get a little dirty!

• Go on walks

• Pick flowers

• Look for bugs (we love bugs!)

• Play in a sprinkler or a water table

• Enjoy the time outside with your child

Sea Crabs

Ms. Laura, Ms. Myesha, and Ms. Rosa

Summer is almost here, and we have so many fun and exciting things planned! First,

we have sprinkler day every Friday! We ask that you please bring your child in their

swimsuit, with sunscreen already applied. As well as a pair of clothes for them to

change into after water day is over! Our theme for June is “Backyard Detectives”. We

will be learning all about different types of bugs. We will be making lightning bug art

and ladybugs! We will even be going on a bird watch and making Dirt and Worms for

K.I.T.K. Our color of the month will be yellow, and our shape of the month is a star.

2 things you can do at home during the month of June:

• Go on a bug hunt

• Make Dirt and Worms

o Pudding

o Oreos

o Gummy worms

Our theme for July is “Water Fun!” we will be learning all about water and fun

activities you can do in the water. We will be making seashell art, beach ball art, and

even a classroom aquarium. Our color of the month will be blue, and our shape of the

month will be a triangle.

3 things to do at home during the month of July:

• Play outside in a sprinkler or water table

• Pretend to fish in the bath tub

• Make fish art

Our theme for August will be “Camping!” we will be learning all about the fun things

you can do while camping. We will be making tents, and even be making s’mores for

K.I.T.K. We also will be bringing in sleeping bags. Our color of the month is brown and

our shape is a pentagon.

3 things to do at home in the month of August:

• Camp out in your back yard

• Make s’mores

• Go bird watching (make binoculars)

Whales Ms. Patti and Ms. Giovanna

Sprinkler Day: Our class will have sprinkler day on Wednesday! We will begin to get

the kids ready at 9:00 AM. Please have your child dressed in their swimsuits

underneath their clothes when you drop them off in the morning. Also, please provide

your child with a towel and shoes that they can wear in the water (can be flip flops).

Please be sure to label your child’s swimsuit and towel.

Ball Park Day: We will be having ball park day once a week throughout the summer.

We will be leaving for the park at 9:00 AM. Please have your child wear appropriate

shoes for park day. (i.e. – tennis shoes or sports sandals) we will go to Palace ball fields

and run, exercise, and kick balls. We will not be playing on the equipment. We can no

longer bring in water bottles, but we will have our classroom water jug and plastic cups

at hand when needed!

Our theme for the summer will be “Summer Fun Has Begun”. We will focus on having

fun during the summer months while being outside and exploring nature.

To extend our summer theme at home:

o Remember to have fun and enjoy the beautiful weather!

o Take advantage of the weather and spend some time in the water! Sprinklers,

water tables, etc. is a great way to have different activities than what they are

used to during the rest of the year.

o You can take your child to the park and explore different aspects of nature

o Scavenger hunts around your neighborhood are always fun

o A fun way to incorporate our color, number, letter, and shape of the week is to

point them out or talk about them with your child at all the fun places you decide

to visit!

Have an amazing summer!

Penguins Ms. Allison and Ms. Tiffany

Yay! Summer is finally here! It is time to get outside, enjoy the nice weather, and a little

bit of normalcy.

Our theme for the month of June and July is “Over in the Garden”. During these

months we will be exploring nature. Some activities we will be doing are:

o Planting flowers

o Talking about the importance of growing fruits and vegetables

o Walk around our neighborhood to explore nature, watch flowers bloom and the

leaves come back to life.

o Look for insects outside with our magnifying glasses.

Starting this month, we will be having sprinkler/water day every Thursday! Your child

will need:

o Swimming suit

o Water shoes

o Towels

o Please come with sunscreen already applied

o A change of clothes for afterwards

We also will be taking trips to palace parks fields this summer to run free and enjoy

trips away from the center. Please make sure your child wears tennis shoes on these

days. We can no longer bring in water bottles, but we will have our classroom water jug

and plastic cups at hand when needed!

To wrap up the summer, our theme for August will be “Beach/Water”. We will be

spending lots of time outside and enjoying the summer sun and fun summer activities!

Have a great summer!

Sea Stars Ms. Brianna and Ms. Tracy

May was a busy month for the Sea Stars! We are all loving our outside time we have

been having. Our theme for the month was “Backyard Detectives”. We learned all about

the critters and bugs we can find right outside our doors! We explored the world

around us by going on a scavenger hunt. The kids absolutely loved this activity and we

would recommend doing scavenger hunts at home with your child! We searched for

flowers, bugs, rocks, and more! The start of warmer weather also means the start of

bike season; we had our first bike day of the year and can’t wait for many more! Make

sure to bring a helmet for your child to wear as they participate in bike day. As well as

bike day, we will be starting water/sprinkler day back up! Make sure to keep an eye out

for water day. Your child will need to have a swimsuit, towel, water shoes if possible, as

well as sunscreen. Please have your child come into Sandcastle with their swimsuit on

under their clothes as well as sunscreen already applied. They will also need a change

of clothes for after we finish water day!

We welcome two new students into our classroom, Kamiah, and Greyson! We also

welcomed two old friends back into our room, Macy and Dylan!

June is shaping up to be one busy month for the Sea Stars! We will focus our lessons on

farm life. The highlight is sure to be our barn in dramatic play! We were lucky enough

to have a huge box donated to our room from Ms. Brianna’s aunt and grandpa, which

we are turning into a barn for dramatic play! To keep the theme going at home, check

out the Minnesota Zoo’s website for more information on their farm babies! Not only is

it informational, but the babies are adorable!

Other fun activities to do at home with your child:

o Reading books that have farm animals in them

o Show pictures of farm animals and practice the sounds they make

o Make a dirt box outside for them to play with farm animals toys

Enjoy your summer!

Jellyfish and Stingrays Ms. Val and Ms. Margaret

Dear families,

Welcome back to the Jellyfish and Stingray classroom. Valerie and Margret are grateful

and happy to see you all. During this pandemic we will continue to clean and sanitize

the classroom, guide hand washing, and making sure to cover coughs and sneezes to

keep everyone safe and healthy. We are all in this together!

May’s theme was, “Knock It Down, Build It Up”. We took neighborhood walks looking

at different buildings. This included building construction sites. We talked about

bulldozers, wrecking balls, planes, cranes, etc. Our art project was house building. We

made cardboard buildings and straw buildings which we painted.

The theme for June is “Backyard Detectives”. In the coming weeks, your child will be

exploring nature. We will go on outdoor walks, view nature artwork, and listen to

nature stories. We will also explore insects, flies, birds, squirrels, and animals. Our

class will develop literacy skills through dramatic play, a campsite for our children in

the roles of detectives.

Things to do at home:

o Look for rocks of different shapes and colors

o Go on a nature outing talking about insects and animals

o Plant garden vegetables

o Develop conservations to build skills and literacy

Informational Dates:

Tuesday: Sprinkler Day (bring a towel, suit, and change of clothes)

Wednesday the 17th: Bag lunch day (please remember no nut products)

Thursday: Bike Day

Friday the 26th: Movie Day

Please remember to bring in sunscreen and extra clothes. Write their names on the

items as well!

Manatees and Puffer Fish Ms. Sara and Mr. Cody

FIRST, THE NITTY-GRITTY STUFF:

• SUMMER IS HERE! We will be applying sunscreen daily, please remember to bring sunscreen in. *NO aerosol

sunscreens are allowed*.

• We’d like to remind you to check the monthly calendar for special days and activities. Thank you to all of you who

do this each day.

• Please make sure you have extra, weather-appropriate clothing in your child’s basket, marked with your child’s

name. A note on clothing: flip-flops are cute but very impractical for young children who spend much of their day

running. We’ve had several children fall because of their shoes. We would prefer tennis shoes or regular sandals.

• Thursdays will be our sprinkler day (weather permitting). Please remember to bring a swimsuit and a towel with

your child’s name on it.

NOW, THE GOOD STUFF: May was a super fun month. We did activities, pretended we were doctors in dramatic play, had our first bike day, and

enjoyed the warm weather that May offered us. We hope you all enjoyed the Mother’s Day gift that your child made. Here

is a look at the months ahead.

June: Camping Out

The month of June is National Camping Month, so we are going to learn all about camping this month. We will talk about

different ways to camp, what people do when the camp and even taste a camp favorite; S’mores!

In honor of Father’s Day, we’ve included an inspirational poem. We hope you enjoy.

What Makes A Dad Author Unknown

God took the strength of a mountain,

The majesty of a tree,

The warmth of a summer sun,

The calm of a quiet sea,

The generous soul of nature,

The comforting arm of night,

The wisdom of the ages,

The power of the eagle’s flight,

The joy of a morning in spring,

The faith of a mustard seed,

The patience of eternity,

The depth of a family need.

Then God combined these qualities,

When there was nothing more to add,

He knew His masterpiece was complete,

And so, He called it … Dad.

We also have a fun tie-dying activity planned on June 30th please bring in something white for your child to tie-dye.

July: Commotion in the Ocean

We will be spending the month of July talking about all thing’s ocean. We’ll learn the names of the oceans, who has been

to the ocean, what lives in the ocean and of course we will learn all about manatees.

Don’t forget that Sandcastle is closed on July 3rd in observance of Independence Day.

Below is a fun recipe to try at home for an edible flag.

INGREDIENTS

Strawberries

Blueberries Frosting or Cool whip

Graham crackers

DIRECTIONS:

Assemble flags onto the graham cracker using

the frosting or cool whip as glue.

Add blueberries for the stars

Add the strawberries for the stripes.

Enjoy!

August: Up, Up, and Away

During the month of August, we will be learning about things that fly. From hot air balloons to kites, we will talk about

them all.

August 16th is National tell a joke day. Below are some kid friendly jokes sure to make you laugh!

1) Q: What kind of key can never unlock a door?

A: A monkey

2) Q: What do you call cheese that is not yours?

A: Nacho cheese

3) Q: Why did they bury the battery?

A: Because it was dead

4) Q: What kind of tree can fit into your hand?

A: A palm tree!

5) Q: Why did the golfer wear two pairs of pants?

A: In case he got a hole in one.

We have such a fun summer ahead of us and cannot wait to spend each day with your kiddos! As always, please let us

know if you have any questions or concerns! Thank you!

Sun Safety: Information for Parents About Sunburn & Sunscreen

Follow these simple rules to protect your family from sunburns now and from skin cancer later in life.

• Keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight. Find shade under a tree, umbrella, or the stroller canopy.

• When possible, dress yourself and your kids in cool, comfortable clothing that covers the body, like lightweight cotton pants, long-sleeved shirts, and hats.

• Select clothes made with a tight weave - they protect better than clothes with a looser weave. If you’re not sure how tight a fabric’s weave is, hold it up to see how much light shines through. The less light, the better.

• Wear a hat or cap with a brim that faces forward to shield the face. • Limit your sun exposure between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, when UV rays are strongest. • Wear sunglasses with at least 99% UV protection (look for child-sized sunglasses with UV

protection for your child). • Use sunscreen. • Set a good example. You can be the best teacher by practicing sun protection yourself. Teach all

members of your family how to protect their skin and eyes.

Sunscreen for your baby

Sunscreen can help protect the skin from sunburn and some skin cancers, but only if used correctly. Keep in mind that sunscreen should be used for sun protection, not as a reason to stay in the sun longer.

How to pick sunscreen

• Use a sunscreen that says “broad-spectrum” on the label - that means it will screen out both UVB and UVA rays.

• Use a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. The higher the SPF, the more UVB protection the sunscreen has.

• Look for the new UVA “star” rating system on the label. o One star is low UVA protection. o Two stars is medium protection. o Three stars is high protection. o Four stars is the highest UVA protection available in an over-the-counter sunscreen

product. • For sensitive areas of the body, such as the nose, cheeks, tops of the ears, and the shoulders,

choose a sunscreen or sunblock with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. While these products usually stay visible on the skin even after you rub them in, some now come in fun colors that kids enjoy.

Sunscreen for babies

• For babies younger than 6 months. Use sunscreen on small areas of the body, such as the face and the backs of the hands, if protective clothing and shade are not available.

• For babies older than 6 months. Apply to all areas of the body but be careful around the eyes. If your baby rubs sunscreen into her eyes, wipe the eyes and hands clean with a damp cloth. If the sunscreen irritates her skin, try a different brand, or try a sunscreen stick or sunscreen or sunblock with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. If a rash develops, talk with your child’s doctor.

How to apply sunscreen

• Use enough sunscreen to cover all exposed areas, especially the face, nose, ears, feet, and hands and even the backs of the knees. Rub it in well.

• Put sunscreen on 30 minutes before going outdoors. It needs time to absorb into the skin. • Use sunscreen any time you or your child might sunburn. Remember that you can get sunburn

even on cloudy days. Also, UV rays can bounce back from water, sand, snow, and concrete so make sure you’re protected.

• Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours. Sunscreen wears off after swimming, sweating, or just from soaking into the skin.

It's good for children and adults to spend time playing and exercising outdoors, and it's important to do so safely.

Simple Rules to Protect your Family from Sunburns

• Keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight. Find shade under a tree, an umbrella, or the stroller canopy.

• When possible, dress yourself and your children in cool, comfortable clothing that covers the body, such as lightweight cotton pants, long-sleeved shirts, and hats.

• Select clothes made with a tight weave; they protect better than clothes with a looser weave. If you're not sure how tight a fabric's weave is, hold it up to see how much light shines through. The less light, the better. Or you can look for protective clothing labeled with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF).

• Wear a hat with an all-around 3-inch brim to shield the face, ears, and back of the neck. • Limit your sun exposure between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm when UV rays are strongest. • Wear sunglasses with at least 99% UV protection. Look for child-sized sunglasses with UV

protection for your child. • Use sunscreen. • Make sure everyone in your family knows how to protect his or her skin and eyes. Remember

to set a good example by practicing sun safety yourself.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen can help protect the skin from sunburn and some skin cancers but only if used correctly. Keep in mind that sunscreen should be used for sun protection, not as a reason to stay in the sun longer.

How to Pick Sunscreen

• Use a sunscreen that says "broad-spectrum" on the label; that means it will screen out both UVB and UVA rays.

• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 (up to SPF 50). An SPF of 15 or 30 should be fine for most people. More research studies are needed to test if sunscreen with more than SPF 50 offers any extra protection.

• If possible, avoid the sunscreen ingredient oxybenzone because of concerns about mild hormonal properties. Remember, though, that it's important to take steps to prevent sunburn, so using any sunscreen is better than not using sunscreen at all.

• For sensitive areas of the body, such as the nose, cheeks, tops of the ears, and shoulders, choose a sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These products may stay visible on the skin even after you rub them in, and some come in fun colors that children enjoy.

How to Apply Sunscreen

• Use enough sunscreen to cover all exposed areas, especially the face, nose, ears, feet, hands, and even backs of the knees. Rub it in well.

• Put sunscreen on 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors. It needs time to absorb into the skin. • Use sunscreen any time you or your child spend time outdoors. Remember that you can get

sunburn even on cloudy days because up to 80% of the sun's UV rays can get through the clouds. Also, UV rays can bounce back from water, sand, snow, and concrete, so make sure you're protected.

• Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours and after swimming, sweating, or drying off with a towel. Because most people use too little sunscreen, make sure to apply a generous amount.

Sunscreen for Babies

• For babies younger than 6 months: Use sunscreen on small areas of the body, such as the face, if protective clothing and shade are not available.

• For babies older than 6 months: Apply to all areas of the body but be careful around the eyes. If your baby rubs sunscreen into her eyes, wipe her eyes and hands clean with a damp cloth. If the sunscreen irritates her skin, try a different brand or sunscreen with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. If a rash develops, talk with your child's doctor.

Sunburns

When to Call the Doctor

If your baby is younger than 1 year and gets sunburn, call your baby's doctor right away. For older children, call your child's doctor if there is blistering, pain, or fever.

How to Soothe Sunburn

Here are 5 ways to relieve discomfort from mild sunburn:

• Give your child water or 100% fruit juice to replace lost fluids. • Use cool water to help your child's skin feel better. • Give your child pain medicine to relieve painful sunburns. (For a baby 6 months or younger,

give acetaminophen. For a child older than 6 months, give either acetaminophen or ibuprofen.) • Only use medicated lotions if your child's doctor says it is OK. • Keep your child out of the sun until the sunburn is fully healed.

The History Of Father’s Day

Father’s Day is the 3rd Sunday in June.

The idea for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington by a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd. She thought of the idea for Father’s Day while listening to a

Mother’s Day sermon in 1909.

Since she was raised by her father, Henry Jackson Smart, after her mother died, Sonora wanted him

to know how special he was to her.

It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a

courageous, selfless, and loving man.

Since Sonora’s father was born in June, she chose to hold the first Father’s Day celebration in

Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.

President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day in 1924.

Roses are the flowers for Father’s Day: …red to be worn for a living father, and

…white if the father has passed on.

A Father's Day Prayer

Let us praise those fathers who have striven to balance the demands of work, marriage, and children with an honest awareness of both joy and sacrifice. Let us praise those fathers who, lacking a good

model for a father, have worked to become a good father.

Let us praise those fathers who by their own account were not always there for their children, but

who continue to offer those children, now grown, their love and support. Let us pray for those fathers

who have been wounded by the neglect and hostility of their children.

Let us praise those fathers who, despite divorce, have remained in their children's lives. Let us praise

those fathers whose children are adopted, and whose love and support has offered healing.

Let us praise those fathers who, as stepfathers, freely choose the obligation of fatherhood and

earned their stepchildren’s love and respect. Let us praise those fathers who have lost a child to death and continue to hold the child in their heart.

Let us praise those men who have no children but cherish the next generation as if they were their

own.

Let us praise those men who have "fathered" us in their role as mentors and guides.

Let us praise those men who are about to become fathers; may they openly delight in their children. And let us praise those fathers who have died but live on in our memory and whose love continues to

nurture us.

Bookworm Game Summer reading lists can be daunting even for avid readers but turning the list into a game will make this task more enjoyable. For each book your child reads, he/she earns a segment of the bookworm; every fourth or fifth segment hides the promise of a prize, such as an ice-cream cone or stickers. Glue construction-paper segments onto paper or poster board (cut a worm pattern from plain paper first); for prize segments, cut segments from folded paper, glue down the back, then open and draw a picture of the prize inside. Tack down flap with a sticker. No Glue Scrapbook The receipts, ticket stubs, maps, and postcards you collect on a trip paint a picture of vacation fun, but assembling an album can be a chore. To simplify the process, fill a three-ring binder with plastic sleeves meant for business and baseball cards. Slide souvenirs into compartments, or if they don't fit, use a paper clip to attach them to a pocket. Trim maps and slide them into the binder's outside sleeves (even on the spine). Nature Walk Bracelet Cut a piece of wide masking or colorful electrical tape to fit around the wrist, plus 1/2 inch more. Wrap tape around child's wrist, tacky side up, overlapping ends to secure. Press treasures picked up during outdoor walks and hikes onto tape. Later, with sticky side up, fold both ends under a few times. Lay plastic wrap over sticky part of bracelet, and trim excess. With a small hole punch or needle, make a hole through ends; tie a 5-inch piece of string through each hole. Pressed Leaves Place two paper towels on top of a piece of cardboard. Lay a single layer of leaves on paper towels, and top with another paper towel. Repeat with remaining leaves. Top last layer of leaves with two paper towels and the second piece of cardboard. Secure tightly with bungee cord. Once home, remove the cord, and place a heavy object on top of press; let sit for at least a week. You may need to change the paper towels after a few days if leaves were wet or freshly fallen. Bookshelf Terrarium Cover the bottom of a jar with gravel and add 1/4 inch of ground charcoal. Mix 2 parts potting soil, 2 parts peat, and 1-part builder's sand; add to jar. Dig small holes for plants, such as sweet flag or Chinese elm. Spray completely with water before putting on lid. The terrarium should retain moisture, so re-watering won't be necessary, but check the soil periodically to be safe.

Shell Wind Chimes Starting with two sticks 6 and 3 inches long and cotton string of varying lengths, tie one end of a string piece around a shell or piece of sea glass and the other end to one of the

sticks. Use same-size pieces of string to connect the two sticks, and tie a 24-inch string to the top stick for hanging

Eggshell Flowerpots Using eggshells as pots, your kids can grow a tiny garden right inside of an egg carton. Plant seeds according to package instructions and nestle planters in an egg carton on a sunny windowsill, where they can be watered easily. The first leaves to sprout will be the cotyledons or seed leaves, which supply nutrients to the young plant until the first true leaves (resembling those of the parent plant) appear. When plants have grown to about 3 inches and have at least two sets of true leaves, they are ready to be transplanted to the garden. (Remove them from the eggshells first.) Sun Prints Have kids cut shapes from paper, spread restickable glue on the back, and then stick them to a piece of construction paper. Tape the paper to a sunny window, facing out, and leave for at least a week (longer for higher contrast), then peel off cutouts. You can also lay three-dimensional objects (try rickrack, toothpicks, or buttons) flat on a piece of construction paper in a sunny place where they will not be disturbed. Protect final prints with a UV-resistant spray so the images don't fade.

Starfish Author Unknown

Once upon a time there was a wise man who had a habit of walking on

the beach before he began his work.

One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach,

he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He began to walk faster

to catch up.

As he got closer, he saw that it was a young boy, and the boy wasn’t

dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up

something and very gently throwing it into the water.

.

As he got closer he called out, “Good morning! What are you doing?”

The boy paused, looked up and replied, “Throwing starfish in the ocean.”

The man replied, “Why are you doing that?”

“The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t put them in, they

will die.”

The man then said, “But young man, don’t you realize that there are

miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it? You can’t possibly

make a difference!”

The young boy listened politely.

Then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it carefully into

the sea and said, “It made a difference for that one.”

Big Mud Puddles and Sunny Yellow Dandelions

Author Unknown

When I look at a patch of dandelions,

I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over my yard.

My kids see flowers for Mom and blowing white fluff you can wish on.

When I look at an old drunk and he smiles at me,

I see a smelly, dirty person who probably wants money and I look away.

My kids see someone smiling at them and they smile back.

When I hear music I love,

I know I can't carry a tune and don't have much rhythm, so I sit self-consciously and listen.

My kids feel the beat and move to it.

They sing out the words. If they don't know them, they make up their own.

When I feel wind on my face,

I brace myself against it. I feel it messing up my hair and pulling me back when I walk.

My kids close their eyes, spread their arms and fly with it, until they fall to the ground laughing.

When I pray, I say thee and thou and grant me this, give me that.

My kids say, "Hi God! Thanks for my toys and my friends.

Please keep the bad dreams away tonight. Sorry, I don't want to go to Heaven yet.

I would miss my Mommy and Daddy."

When I see a mud puddle I step around it. I see muddy shoes and dirty carpets.

My kids sit in it. They see dams to build, rivers to cross, and worms to play with.

I wonder if we are given kids to teach or to learn from.

No wonder God loves the little children!

Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.

I wish you Big Mud Puddles and Sunny Yellow Dandelions