The Family Connection
Respect of Self ~ Respect of Others ~ Respect of Environment
February 5, 2018
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In this Issue
The Gift of White Space
Research Update
Protection from the Flu
Child Find Information
Summer Camp
Family Fun
Plug into UD
Contact Information
Upcoming Events
ELC Newark
Feb. 16 Open all day for CSD and NCS
Feb. 19 Open all day for CSD, NCS and AA
ELC Wilmington
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I often wondered when I was a working parent of young children if I was doing the right things for my children. I came to realize that although my children are now adults, it is a dilemma for all of us, whether we work or not. My children were lucky to have many opportunities, both in school and outside of school, to take part in a variety of activities - and of course, we wanted our children to have the advantages of a multitude of experiences. However, in “
Great Expectations”
by Johann Christoph Arnold (part of the book
Endangered: Your Child in a Hostile World
), we are reminded that there is an important part of childhood that involves just in being a child without any time restraints and structure. He applies this idea to the beautiful concept of "white space."
Visual artists are familiar with the concept of white space, the unmarked portion of a page. To an artist, white space isn't considered blank space.
Instead, it's an important element of design which enables the very existence of the objects - the key to aesthetic composition.
Arnold compares this artistic idea to the white space we all need in our lives,
“As an author I became aware, after completing my first book, of something I had never noticed previously: the importance of white space. White space is the room between the lines of type, the margins, the extra space at the beginning of a chapter, a page left blank at the beginning of the book. It allows the type to “breathe” and gives the eye a place to rest. White space is not something you’re conscious of when you read a book. It is what isn't there.
Just as books require white space, so do children. That is, they need room to grow. The
ancient Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu
reminds us that “it is not the clay the potter throws that gives the jar its usefulness, but the space within.” Our tendency to overbook children, emotionally and time-wise, robs them of the space and flexibility they need to develop at their own pace. They need stimulation and guidance, but they also need time to themselves. Hours spent alone in daydreams or quiet, unstructured activities instill a sense of security and independence and provide a necessary lull in the rhythm of the day.”
We all, adults and children alike, need that time that keeps us replenished for our busy lives and the space to enrich our lives in ways we haven't even imagined. As I wrote in my
original blog
about this concept, I did not understand the true importance of this gift as a child when my mother told me to choose only one after-school activity, but it is a lesson I'm now grateful for.
-Linda Zankowsky
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Research Update
How do children organize the world?
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Recently Dr. Anna Papafragou, Professor, Psychological & Brain Sciences and Linguistics & Cognitive Science along with PhD candidate, Sarah Fairchild, from the UD Language & Cognition Lab, conducted research at the ELC. Click on the
link
for details regarding their research.
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Protect Yourself from the Flu
Don't wait to protect you and your loved ones from the flu. The CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has shared three steps to fight the flu. To view the full article click
here.
1. Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them.
2. Take every day preventative actions to help prevent the spread of germs.
3. If you have not gotten a flu vaccine yet this season, get vaccinated now – it’s not too late!
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Child Find Information
Preschool/PreK families, please be on the look out for information in your child's cubby from Christina School District's Child Find. Child Find is a federally funded program that assesses the needs of children before they enter kindergarten. If you find this paperwork in your child's cubby, please
fill it out today. The assessors are here this week and again in March. Click
here for more information.
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Summer Camp Information
What: The UD ELC Summer Camp offers a comprehensive nine-week camp focused on supporting the whole child, by nurturing his/her interests.
When: June 18
th through August 17
th
Who: School age children who have completed kindergarten through the third grade.
Cost: $325/week for nine weeks. Campers must register for the entire nine weeks. This fee includes breakfast, lunch, snack and all field trip costs.
Registration: Registration opens to our current ELC SA children on January 29, 2018. Registration opens to the public on February 12, 2018. A non-refundable $300 deposit is required at the time of registration.
Camp
letters already went home with current school age families and were sent to last year’s campers. If you did not receive a registration packet, please stop at the front desk. If you have questions, please contact Jessica Peace at
jpeace@udel.edu.
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FAMILY FUN
Simple Acts of Kindness
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Love, kindness, respect...what do these characteristics look like and how do we teach these values to our young children? Opening a door for others, smiling at a stranger, helping to clean, drawing a picture for someone and giving a hug to cheer someone up. Our actions do not have to be big to speak volumes to others. During the month of February let's teach our children through simple acts what it means to have great character! Stop by the blue winter wonderland bulletin board in the lobby and write on a heart how your family shows love, kindness and respect!
- We All Sing With the Same Voice by J. Philip Miller and Sheppard M. Greene
- Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud
- How Kind! by Mary Murphy
- Baby Be Kind by Jane Cowen-Fletcher
Five Valentines
Five cheerful valentines from the ten cent store-
I sent one to ____________; now I have four.
Four cheerful valentines, pretty ones to see-
I gave one to ____________; now I have three.
Three cheerful valentines with flowers pink and blue-
I gave one to ____________; now I have two.
Two cheerful valentines-my story’s almost done.
I gave one to ______________; now I have one.
One cheerful valentine-one and only one-
I gave it to _______________; now I have none.
(Insert a friend from your child's class for a home/school connection!)
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Early Learning Center Newark
489 Wyoming Road
Newark, Delaware 19716
Phone: 302-831-6205
Fax: 302-831-1829
email: ud-elc@udel.edu
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Early Learning Center Wilmington
1218 B Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19716
Phone: 302-654-1420
Fax: 302-652-1796
Email: ud-elc@udel.edu
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