Judy Center Early Learning Hub
At Church Hill Elementary School
Let's Play⛄
As we slide into December, the Judy Center has lots of fun activities planned before we take a much need break to celebrate the holidays with our family and friends!
First up, we've partnered with the Infants and Toddlers Program to bring you another awesome Move-It Monday at The Edge Arena on Monday, December 2nd at 10:45am. This is a "meet you there" field trip! The Edge Arena is located at 325 Log Canoe Circle, Stevensville, MD. See the flyer below for all the details. Check your email to sign up! The field trip is FREE!!
Next, we hope you'll join us on another fun adventure to the Sultana Educational Center on Wednesday, December 11th at 10:00am! The Sultana Educational Center is an interactive, hands-on learning experience for children. On this visit, we will be learning all about SNOW!!⛄
This is a "meet you there" field trip. Check your email soon to sign up! The Sultana Educational Center is located at 200 South Cross St., Chestertown, MD 21620. This field trip is FREE! See the flyer below!
Finally, all playgroup families are invited to attend Pancakes with Santa on Thursday, December 12th from 5-7pm. The event is sponsored by the Church Hill Elementary School PTO! Join us for a pancake breakfast for dinner, pictures with Santa, holiday crafts and a sing-along! The event is FREE!
EVENING PLAYGROUP FAMILIES: YOU ARE INVITED DOWN TO THE JUDY CENTER FOR SPECIAL VIP ACTIVITIES DURING THIS EVENT! KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR MAILBOX FOR A SPECIAL INVITATION!
Our regular day time playgroups will be filled with plenty of holiday fun through out the month of December! We will have a holiday celebration for each of our play groups on December 17th and 18th! Come dressed in your holiday attire...anything goes from fancy dresses, pajamas or ugly sweaters!
Teamwork makes the train work!
Turkey Time
Family Engagement
Getting involved with the Judy Center Early Learning Hub is a great way to meet other families and to get to know our CHES community!
Pre-K 3
We love bringing story time and activities to the Pre-k 3, Pre-k 4 and Kindergarten classrooms!
The Queen Anne's County Mobile Library will be visiting our Judy Center on December 17th at 11:00am! The mobile library will be filled with books for children of all ages, as well as books for adults. No library card? No problem! The mobile library staff can sign you up on the spot! Hope to see you there!
Tips for Picky Eaters
Who doesn’t know a toddler, young child or even an adult who is considered a “Picky Eater?” There can be many reasons why people resist eating certain foods. Perhaps a taste that is too strong. A texture that is odd. Or, even a negative association that influences a person’s food choice. It’s important to eat a variety of foods to get enough vitamins and minerals for good health. If you happen to have one of these little food critics, there are several creative ideas you can try to encourage them to taste and try new foods.
Start early - Habits are hard to break, so it’s best to help kids develop good habits around food choices when they are young. Once it’s developmentally appropriate, offer a variety of foods so little ones have early and repeated exposure. This CDC (Centers for Disease Control) article "What, When and How to Introduce Solid Foods" provides guidance on starting solids and exploring possible food allergies.
Be a good Role Model - One of the most effective ways to encourage kids to taste and try new foods is for the adults in their lives to model the desired behavior. Older siblings, Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents can also be great role models. Kids look to adults for guidance, so when they see others choosing and eating a variety of foods, little ones are more likely to join in. Make sure to place the same foods you are offering kids on your plate too. Describe what you like about the food and try it together.
Make it Fun! - Eating is a social behavior and can come with a lot of fun and enjoyment. Spark some excitement into snack and meal times by introducing colorful utensils, word games and even stickers to reinforce good choices. Games can include coming up with silly names for a particular food such as “Tasty Trees” for broccoli spears or “Moon Squirters” for juicy cherry tomatoes. Inspire kids to try new foods when you share this "I Will Never, Not Ever, Eat a Tomato" read aloud book with them.
Family Time - Kids love to help in the kitchen. There are a variety of skills to be learned which can inspire a healthy interest in food. Families can spend time together choosing recipes, shopping, preparing and cooking food. Check out this blog on "Cooking with Young Kids" for fun ideas and yummy, kid-friendly recipes.
Don’t Give up! - Fortunately, taste buds, interests and openness to trying certain foods can change quite a bit throughout a lifetime. Keep offering various foods to children as they are growing. They might not like a particular food at first, but might like it later in life. Some experts say it can take eight to fifteen times of offering a new food before the food is accepted. This blog, "Liking New Food Takes Time", outlines what to expect when offering new foods and provides several fun recipes and ideas you can try with your kids.
Secure Relationships
When children have a warm and secure relationship with their caregiver, they get along better with others, explore the environment more earnestly, develop better thinking sklls and build a foundation for secure relationships with future teachers.
-Work as a partner with your child's caregiver. Exchange important information and anything that will help your child feel more secure.
-Do not think of the caregiver as a replacement. The best available research supports the notion that caregivers can and need to become a secondary attachment that will not replace the bond between parent and child.
-Talk about the caregiver fondly when away from them. Ask your child about the caregiver and what things they did together that day.
-Don't let your child see your distress when you leave them with a caregiver. Help your child know they are in a safe place with someone who will care for them.
-Say "good-bye" and always let your child know you will be back soon.
The Judy Center Early Learning Hub provides resources to help parents and caregivers prepare their children for success in school and life. We serve children and their families living in the Church Hill Elementary School zone from birth through age five. We also serve children who reside anywhere in Queen Anne's County IF they have an IEP/IFSP.
We provide home learning kits, playgroups, home-visits, field trips, and parent/caregiver support. All of these services are FREE!
In addition, we can connect families to other services such as adult education classes, childcare support, healthcare services, food assistance and much more.
Contact us to learn more!
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) does not discriminate based on age, ancestry, color, creed, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religious affiliation, belief or opinion, sex, or sexual orientation in matters affecting employment or in providing access to its programs and activities.
Judy Center Early Learning Hub at Church Hill Elementary School
631 Main St.
Church Hill, MD 21623
410-556-6187
Stacey Woodworth
Site Coordinator
Jenny Poulin-Gay
Liaison
Judy Center programming is developed with funds form the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Early Childhood.
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) does not discriminate based on age, ancestry, color, creed, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religious affiliation, belief or opinion, sex, or sexual orientation in matters affecting employment or in providing access to its programs and activities.
