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Welcoming a New Year of Smiles and Snowflakes!
Happy New Year! As we turn the page to 2025, I hope you all enjoyed our year long celebration of Wee Watch’s 40th anniversary – here is a video looking back on all the fun! We loved celebrating with you all, starting with our donations to various children’s charities, to our contests for Providers and children – we had great fun in 2024! We are planning to build on the excitement in 2025! For parents, we know that you must all be excited about further childcare fee reductions. As of January 1, for CWELCC eligible children, your fees will be capped at $22/day. Additionally, we are launching our 2025 Together Wee Can Programming – the theme this year is “A Provider Take-Over”! We have amazing childcare Providers in our 1400+ homes across Ontario and we have collected the best ideas from them and are sharing them for all to implement in their homes! Look to our socials to see all the great programming that will encourage the development of your children.
As January is a time for fresh beginnings, and what better way to start than by embracing the magic of winter? This month, our newsletter theme is "Smiles and Snowflakes"—a celebration of the beauty of the winter season and the joy it brings. Our activities are designed to encourage your little ones to bundle up and explore the wonders of winter. From painting ice crystals to creating snow volcanoes, each adventure will inspire curiosity, creativity, and, of course, plenty of smiles! Winter’s magic is fleeting, so let’s make the most of it! We can’t wait to see all the fun your little ones will have as they discover the beauty and wonder of the outdoors this January.
Sincerely,
Lisa
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Learning is Fun with Wee Watch | |
Embrace the Winter Outdoors for Better Health | |
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As the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, many of us find ourselves huddled indoors, seeking warmth and comfort. While cozying up inside has its benefits, spending time outdoors during the winter months is essential for our overall well-being.
Winter can sometimes bring feelings of isolation, stress, or even seasonal depression. However, getting outside can help combat these effects. Exposure to natural light, even in the winter, stimulates the production of serotonin, the "feel-good" hormone that helps improve mood and mental clarity. Fresh air and outdoor activities like playing in the snow also help reduce stress and anxiety, giving our minds the break they need from the demands of daily life. Spending time outside with loved ones strengthens relationships and creates positive shared experiences.
Cold weather encourages our bodies to burn more energy, which can improve circulation, boost metabolism, and keep us active even during the colder months. Activities like skiing, snowshoeing, or simply walking in the winter air provide cardiovascular benefits, strengthen muscles, and support our immune systems. In addition, sunlight exposure - yes, even in winter - helps our bodies produce vitamin D, which is vital for bone health.
Consistently spending time outside in the winter months is linked to increased energy levels, and reduced risks of chronic illnesses. Additionally, outdoor exposure helps with mental sharpness and emotional stability, creating a well-rounded foundation for overall health throughout the year.
Winter offers a quiet, peaceful connection to nature—think of the beauty of fresh snow, the calm of a frosty morning, or the crisp air on a winter hike. Connecting with nature in this way can provide a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
This winter let’s make it a priority to step outside, even on the coldest days. Embrace winter for all its benefits and let it nourish your body, mind, and spirit. Get outside this winter - your health and happiness will thank you!
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Every Provider and child has access to our Wee Learn educational curriculum! Wee Learn and all its associated programming was designed by a team of childcare experts to help children meet their developmental milestones and to prepare them for success in school and beyond! Our program is focused on play based learning for all ages and stages!
Try some of these activities which align with our program:
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Together Wee Can Read, Learn & Grow | |
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Each year Wee Watch organizes exclusive and educational events and activities around a theme that all Providers across Ontario participate in called "Together Wee Can".
Our Together Wee Can program is carefully thought out and planned with our Providers and children in mind. With a network of 1,400+ Providers, we thought why not go straight to the source, ask the experts, our Providers!
We wanted to collaborate to develop this year’s program, a program for our homes, created with our Providers. This year’s program, “Together Wee Can 2025 – A Provider Takeover”, is a compilation of some of our Providers favourite activities, activities their children love, encompassing all areas of development – fine motor, gross motor, cognitive, language/speech, social/emotional, sensory, and imaginative.
To learn more about our exclusive educational programming, visit our website.
Take a look at what's coming up in our homes...
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This month, we will be focusing on the development of gross motor skills – using the large muscles in our arms, legs, and torso, which are essential for movements such as walking, running, jumping, throwing, lifting, and kicking. Since winter weather can sometimes limit outdoor activities, we will be emphasizing indoor gross motor activities. Our Providers have shared four engaging activities that they have successfully implemented in their own homes. | |  |
In February, we will focus on the development of fine motor skills – the ability to make precise movements using the small muscles in our hands, wrists, fingers and toes as well as the development of hand-eye coordination. Fine motor skills are essential for everyday tasks such as writing, brushing teeth, and tying shoelaces. Our featured Providers this month have shared some creative fine motor activities using common household items such as Cheerios and pom-poms. | | | |
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Cooking with kids isn't just about recipes, it can be a delicious learning experience for everyone! Cooking encourages literacy skills, harnesses imagination, empowerment, and creativity.
Check out this months recipes for kids:
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There is always so much happening in our homes, be sure to check out our slideshow to experience some of the fun & learning.
Click here to view our slideshow
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Congratulations to our wonderful Providers on their milestone anniversaries!
We thank you for your ongoing commitment to the families in your care, your community, and Wee Watch.
See who we are celebrating in January & February
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We have so much to share with you... | |
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Easy colour recognition activity with popsicle sticks & half stickers with Ramapraba and Wee Ones from Wee Watch Kitchener!
Looking for a fun and simple way to help your little ones learn colours?
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Why playing in the snow is amazing for little ones
Snow play isn’t just fun—it’s fantastic for kids’ development!
Boosts Physical Health: Running, jumping, and playing in the snow strengthens muscles, coordination, and balance.
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Celebrating Family Literacy Day & the Power of Early Literacy - Wee Watch | Literacy is the foundation of all future learning, and it's never too early to start fostering a love for books and words in children. | | | | | | |
