CFCE Daily Activities and Resources
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Dear CFCE Families,
Today is Patriots' Day and what would've been the 124th running of the Boston Marathon. Like everything else in our world today, the Marathon has been put on hold until a future date. So what is Patriots' Day, why does only Massachusetts celebrate it, and what does it have to do with the Marathon? To learn more about this Mass holiday check out the article "What is Patriots' Day" and learn more about our unique history.
As always We would love you to share any photos of you and your kiddo's doing something fun! (You can send them to
ldunn@selfhelpinc.org
). You can also share ideas for our newsletter or resources that you have come across.
All of the CFCE staff miss seeing everyone at our playgroups and can't wait to get back to what they love best!!! I am happy to share that ALL CFCE staff are healthy, and we hope the same for each of you! Stay connected and If you need anything please email one of the
CFCE staff
. We are available to help you and your children through these unusual times!
Sincerely,
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Please help inform CFCE's Plan for Next year,by clicking the survey link below!
**everyone that completes the survey and enters our FREE RAFFLE will also receive a FREE access code to an online digital library from
Open eBOOKS!!
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What is Patriots’ Day?
To most Massachusetts residents—and long distance running enthusiasts—the third Monday in April is “Marathon Monday.” The Boston Marathon has shared the limelight in the Bay State with another celebration for the last 120 + years: Patriots’ Day. So what is Patriots’ Day, and what does it have to do with the marathon?
Read More
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Don't Miss, Ms. Marsha's LIVE
'Music and Movement' ON ZOOM!!!
Tuesday April 21, 2020 at 10:30am
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ZOOM CIRCLE TIME WITH MISS LESLIE EACH
WEDNESDAY AT 3PM
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Cute read a loud book for infants and toddlers
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PLAY ACTIVITIES FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS
Freeze! Toddlers love freeze dancing
Play music and encourage your child to dance or move in whatever way They like. Then instruct them to stop when the music ends. This kind of activity encourages listening skills and self-regulation as they practice stopping and starting. (This is a very useful skill for when they go to school and has to follow a lot of directions!)
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Pop Some Popcorn
Take a receiving blanket and have your child hold one side while you hold the other. Place some foam balls (“popcorn”) on the blanket and then shake the blanket so the balls bounce (or pop!) off. Your little one might like singing “POPCORN! POPCORN! POP, POP, POP!” while you shake. Once all the balls have “popped,” have your child race to grab them and put them on the blanket to do it again.
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Fill and Dump
Make 5-10 homemade balls (wad up waxed paper or newspaper and cover with masking tape). Put the balls in a shoebox or basket. Give your child another box and show her how she can move each ball from one box to the other. If your child is walking, place the baskets a few steps apart so that your child can toddle from one to the other. Games like this encourage toddlers to move their hands across their bodies as they transfer the balls, which helps them later on with many skills from athletics to handwriting.
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25 Surefire Indoor Play Ideas from a Preschool Teacher's Bag of Tricks
Dance, move, create, sing, make music and have a blast!
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Scavenger hunt
Take any theme, such as patterns, letters or colors and hunt around the house. Make it official with a clipboard and check off items as you go. Crawl around, reach up high and get down low!
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Interactive Stories on PBS learning with
Clifford the Big Red Dog!
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I
ce cube tray sorting and pattern-making
Here’s another way to mix math, art and fine motor skills. You’ll need an ice cube tray, egg container or muffin tin, plus small items to play with, such as various dried beans, buttons, coins or marbles. Jewelry, like plastic rings or earrings have that lost their partner, makes it extra exciting.
Your child can sort the items (by color, size, pattern or any way they like), make patterns with them or invent their own game. There are tons of possibilities and no right answers; this type of play blends logical thinking and mathematical reasoning with creativity.
For extra fun and challenge, use tweezers or clothespins to pick up the items.
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Self-portraits
Using a mirror, let the child draw themselves. Point out facial features like eyebrows and eyelashes. If they draw their whole body, add in some fashion design! Don’t be surprised if your child takes some liberties, i.e. “Yes, I do have rainbow hair!”
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Abacus
Use art supplies to practice math and fine motor skills. You just need string, scissors, tape, paper and beads. Cut a piece of string, tape one end of the string onto the paper and begin stringing the beads. String 10 beads on and tape down the other end of the string. That makes one row. Your child can make as many rows as they like.
Tip: Circle-shaped cereal (like Cheerios) or candies (like Lifesavers) can replace beads in a pinch. Keep the abacus for counting practice.
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Want your kids to learn more about Patriots Day?
This Liberty's Kids episode is about the events at Lexington and Concord which led to the celebration of the first Patriot's Day.
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87 Energy-Busting Indoor Games
&
Activities For Kids (Because Cabin Fever Is No Joke)
Tape Games
A simple roll of low-tack Painter’s tape will be your new best friend once you try these genius ideas that get kids exerting their energy in all sorts of creative ways.
Tape Shape Game:
Use tape to put a variety of shapes, letters and/or numbers on your floor. Have your child stand on their favorite one then give them instructions to follow that will lead them to their next destination (for example: “bear crawl to the square”, “hop like a Frog to the T”, “Run to the rectangle”). We love that this game
from Toddler Approved
keeps your child moving, but also helps them learn their shapes, letters and numbers!
Tape Lines:
Make 5–10 separate lines of tape, each about a foot apart, on your floor or carpet. Label the first one the “start” line and then give your kids simple instructions:
- Long Jump: See how many lines they can jump over. Have them try and beat their best score each time. Experiment with arm swinging vs. arms behind their backs.
- Run ‘n’ Jump: Now let them take a running start and see if they can jump even further!
- Long Jump Backwards: Increase the difficulty by performing the tasks jumping backwards.
- Hop: How far can they jump on one leg?
- Reach ‘n’ Stretch: How far can their leg reach with one foot on the “start” line?
Create a Race-Car Track:
Use your
painter’s tape
to make a huge road system for your kids’ matchbox cars. Think outside the box and have the track scale furniture and other obstacles (just make sure it’s something you don’t mind toy vehicles being “driven” over). The key to making it active is to make it large-scale, so they are engaging their core muscles while crawling all ove
r.
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RECIPE: Looking for something different for lunch?
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Make Turkey Wafflewiches
Ingredients
- 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce
- 1 tablespoon maple pancake syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 8 slices white bread
- 3/4 pound sliced deli turkey
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, cranberry sauce, syrup and pepper until combined. Spread over 4 slices of bread; top with turkey and remaining bread. Spread butter over both sides of sandwiches.
Bake in a preheated waffle iron or indoor grill according to manufacturer's directions until golden brown, 2-3 minutes.
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Tax Day Now July 15
On March 20, 2020, Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin announced that Tax Day has been moved from April 15 to July 15. All taxpayers and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties, regardless of the amount owed.
The Treasury Secretary encouraged taxpayers who might have a tax refund to file now to receive your refund.
FREE Online Tax Filing Options (simple returns)
***The Self Help Inc. VITA program is currently suspended, but we are working on a file upload system, so we can prepare your taxes over the phone. Check our
WEBSITE
for all updates
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Stay connected to
Mass.gov
for the most up-to-dates information and resources
NEW STIMULUS CHECK INFO! If you haven't filed taxes in the last 2 years,
CLICK HERE to update your bank account information for your Stimulus Check
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Make sure EVERY MA Community has the funding and resources it needs for the NEXT 10 YEARS!!!!
COMPLETE YOUR CENSUS TODAY!
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COVID-19 Information and Resources
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NEW!! Text
covidma to
888777 to get text updates from the state about the most recent Covid-19 news
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