Dear Angie,

It's Summer T-Shirt Time! Each year, EFC designs a summer t-shirt for optional purchase to celebrate the season. Check out this year's shirt here. (Quote on back: "We could never have loved the earth so well if we had had no childhood in it." -- George Eliot)

If you wish to order, please do so by Monday, June 10. Happy Summer!

It’s LGBTQ+ Pride Month, an annual commemoration of the Stonewall riots in New York City on June 28, 1969, and continued activism in pursuit of LGBTQ+ rights. Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBTQ+ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Pride Month presents an opportunity for visibility and community which is something we like to celebrate year-round, but especially this month!

CENTER HAPPENINGS

June 14 - Father’s Day Ice Cream – Come on over dads! We will be serving ice cream for snack between 3:30pm and 4:00pm for all of our super cool dads and special men in the life of a child!

June 28 - Rainbow Day – come dressed up in rainbow colors to celebrate Pride Month!

FAMILY RESOURCES

In 2021, Juneteenth became recognized as a federal holiday in the United States. For some Americans, it’s a new holiday to learn more about. But for many Black families and communities across the nation, it’s a well-known time to celebrate liberation, culture and joy.

What is Juneteenth?

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared a formal end to slavery in the United States. However, change was not instant after the proclamation. Nearly two and a half years later, on June 19th, 1865, the enslaved African Americans of Galveston, Texas got the news by way of the Union army troops that freedom had come at last. The next year, the people of Galveston commemorated that day as Juneteenth, a celebration of freedom. Since then, it’s been observed in communities and states as a holiday, but officially recognized as a federal holiday in 2021. Why is the holiday called Juneteenth? The name blends the month and the day this news reached the people of Galveston: “June” plus “nineteenth” is Juneteenth. It’s also often called Emancipation Day or Freedom Day.

How do you explain Juneteenth to a child?

When talking about Juneteenth with children, it’s important to remember that Juneteenth is a celebration – a celebration of freedom and the joyful recognition of the perseverance and spirit of Black people in this nation. With that in mind, adjust your conversation to your child’s personal development, maturity level and what they’re learning about. For young children, you can share that Juneteenth is a holiday that celebrates freedom for all people in the United States. Define the word “freedom” and talk about what freedom means to them.

For more ways to celebrate Juneteenth at home, please visit www.bgca.org/news-stories/2022/May/what-is-juneteenth-information-for-kids-and-families.

FAMILY REMINDERS

Please be sure to bring in sunscreen for your child labeled with their first and last name. If you drop your child off after 9:00am, please apply sunscreen to your child before dropping them off.

We just want to remind families that we will be closed on July 4 and 5 for Independence Day.

STAR WELLNESS

Playing Outdoors Helps Children Grow Healthy and Strong

Playing outdoors is important to the healthy growth and development of children. Research shows that children who play outside regularly are healthier and stronger.

Taking play outside helps children connect with the natural world. It also improves coordination, encourages active imaginations and can help reverse childhood obesity rates.

Starting a child’s appreciation of nature can begin early, with walks in a stroller. As the child grows, visit playgrounds and parks, or spend time exploring the backyard.

Unstructured outdoor play can be especially beneficial because it encourages social skills, too. Children create games, take turns, make decisions together and learn about sharing as part of unstructured play.

Here are ideas to boost a child’s interest in nature and playing outdoors.

Set up an outdoor play station: Use buckets, shovels, spoons and plastic containers while playing in sandboxes, water tables and wading pools. As children pour water or sand from one container to another they begin to learn about cause and effect. They also enjoy sensory play, as they recognize different textures, such as rough sand or wet water. These play areas can provide hours of unstructured fun.
Create a water wall: This is a perfect activity for a fenced play area or backyard. Gather plastic bottles, food containers and twist ties. Cut off the container bottoms to form tubes. Poke holes through the plastic for the twist ties. Tie the first container near the top of a chain link fence. Attach other containers to the fence so water will trickle through the water wall as children pour water into the containers. Place tubs at the bottom of the wall to recycle water.
Enjoy classic outdoor activities: Sidewalk chalk, bubbles, rubber balls and hoops encourage imagination and movement. Children can use a block of sidewalk as a canvas for chalk art or create a hopscotch board to jump across. Chasing bubbles and rubber balls or twirling hoops builds motor development and coordination skills while releasing energy.
Talk about what you see: Talking about what you see when outside encourages children to interact with their world. Ask them what they see, like a bird flying or a squirrel in a tree, or plants growing. Include all the senses, too. Talk about feeling the wind or the hot sun, smelling flowers or hearing birds.

*helpmegrowmn.org/HMG/HelpfulRes/Articles/PlayingOutdoors

ESPECIALLY FOR PARENTS

LONG TERM EFC EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION

We were honored to recognize our long term employees (those who have been with Especially for Children for 5 years or longer) at our Professional Development Day in May. They are pictured below!