The Weekly Update #4

Winter months can be a great time for families to bond indoors with fun, creative, and cozy activities. Here are some ideas for things to do with kids indoors during winter:

1. DIY Craft Projects

• Snowflakes & Winter Decorations: Use paper, scissors, and markers to make snowflakes, ornaments, or winter-themed garlands.
• Salt Dough Creations: Make salt dough (flour, salt, water) and shape it into festive ornaments, then bake them and paint.
• Handprint Art: Create winter-themed handprint art—turn handprints into snowmen, trees, or reindeer.

2. Baking & Cooking Together

• Cookie Decorating: Bake cookies and decorate them with frosting, sprinkles, and other fun toppings.
• Hot Chocolate Bar: Make a hot chocolate station with different toppings like whipped cream, marshmallows, cinnamon sticks, or crushed candy canes.
• Snowman Pancakes: Make pancakes shaped like snowmen and decorate them with fruit, chocolate chips, and syrup.

3. Indoor Winter Olympics

• Mini Skiing: Create an obstacle course using cushions, furniture, and blankets. Kids can "ski" over it using socks or towels.
• Snowball Toss: Use soft cotton balls or white pom-poms and see who can throw them into a basket or container from a distance.
• Ice Cube Bowling: Roll ice cubes down a smooth surface and try to knock over plastic cups or small objects.

4. Indoor Camping

• Build a Fort: Use blankets, pillows, and furniture to create a cozy fort. Spend time inside reading books, telling stories, or playing games.
• Flashlight Fun: Turn off the lights and use flashlights to create shadow puppets or tell spooky (but not too spooky!) stories.

5. Board Games & Puzzles

• Family Board Games: Break out classic board games like Monopoly, Candy Land, or newer ones like Ticket to Ride and Catan for some friendly competition.
• Puzzle Challenge: Work together to complete a large jigsaw puzzle. It’s a great way to work as a team.
• Charades: Play a few rounds of charades or “Guess the Word” with family-friendly categories like animals, movies, or winter activities.

6. Winter Science Experiments

• DIY Snow: Create fake snow with baking soda and shaving cream for sensory play.
• Frozen Bubbles: Go outside for a moment and blow bubbles—watch how they freeze and form beautiful patterns in the cold air (if it’s freezing outside).
• Icicle Science: Make "icicles" by filling balloons with water and freezing them outside. Once frozen, cut the balloon away for a fun icy sculpture.

7. Movie or Book Marathon

• Winter-Themed Movie Night: Watch family-friendly winter movies like Frozen, The Polar Express, or The Chronicles of Narnia. Don’t forget the popcorn!
• Cozy Reading Session: Have a family reading hour where everyone reads their favorite books in cozy blankets. Or read a winter-themed book out loud together.

8. Indoor Treasure Hunt

• Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of items related to winter or the holiday season (like a mitten, a snowflake, or a candy cane) and hide them around the house.
• Treasure Map: For older kids, draw a treasure map and hide a "treasure" (a small prize or treat) to find.

9. Dance Party

• Winter Dance-Off: Put on some festive or winter-themed music and have a family dance-off. You can even turn it into a fun freeze dance game!
• Karaoke: Use a karaoke machine (or make your own with a YouTube karaoke playlist) and have a family sing-along to favorite songs.

10. Interactive Games & Challenges

• Memory Game: Create your own memory game by drawing winter-themed pictures on cards or using photos of family members.
• Minute to Win It Games: Try fun challenges where you complete tasks in under a minute, like stacking cups or balancing marshmallows on spoons.
• Guess the Object: Blindfold one person and have them guess winter-related objects by touch.

11. Winter-Themed Sensory Play

• Snow Sensory Bin: Fill a bin with fake snow or rice and hide little winter-themed toys for the kids to find.
• Frozen Toys: Freeze small toys or figurines in a block of ice and let the kids figure out how to free them using tools like plastic spoons or warm water.

These indoor activities not only help pass the time during winter but also encourage creativity, teamwork, and family bonding. Plus, they’re a great way to make the most of those colder days when outdoor play isn’t an option!

Hobart is all about helping the community! If you ever need any resources or support, please feel free to reach out and I will do my best to help find you the resources you need!

The Early Learning Center does a weekend food assistance program! Your child should have gotten a paper copy of this in their folder. If you need returned the form back to the school, then you are all set! If you haven't filled it out and would like to participate, please fill out the link below and we will make sure your child is added to our program!

There is also a list of resources that can be beneficial to you as well! You can click on the link below and see what resources there are. If you don't find what you are looking for or have further questions, please reach out!

You can also go to www.findhelp.org for even more resources!

Every week I go into classrooms to work on social emotional skills! Every month you can check out what I am doing here! This month we have a special guest, Nurse Lisa!

Talking about germs and how to stop their spread with kindergartners is a great way to promote healthy habits in a fun, understandable way. It is also so important because it helps with their attendance and coming to school! The key is to keep the conversation simple, interactive, and engaging. Here are some ideas for continuing the conversation at home:

1. Use Fun Analogies

Help them understand germs by comparing them to things they can easily relate to.

• “Germs are like little invisible bugs that can make us sick. We don’t want them to spread, so we wash our hands to keep them away!”
• “Germs are like tiny little pirates that want to sneak onto our hands and into our bodies. We can stop them by washing our hands before we eat!”

2. Show How Germs Spread with Hands-On Demonstrations

A fun, hands-on demonstration can help them visualize how germs spread.

• Glitter Germs: Sprinkle a little glitter on their hands and have them shake hands, touch objects, or rub their eyes. Then show how the glitter spreads to everything they touch, helping them understand how germs can spread in the same way.
• The “Germ Cloud”: Use a water mist bottle or a fan to simulate how coughing or sneezing spreads germs. You can say, “When we cough or sneeze without covering our mouth, the germs can fly through the air and land on other people.”

3. Create a Germ-Fighting Superhero Theme

Encourage them to become “germ-fighting superheroes.” This makes the process of stopping germs feel exciting and empowering.

• “You’re a germ-fighting superhero! What can you do to stop the germs from spreading?”
• “Let’s make sure we wear our superhero masks (facemasks) and wash our superhero hands to keep everyone safe!”

4. Practice Proper Handwashing Together

Make handwashing a fun activity with a catchy song or a special routine.

• Sing a song like the “Happy Birthday” song twice to make sure they wash long enough.
• Use foam soap or colored soap to make it more visually exciting.
• “Let’s pretend the soap is magic and it makes the germs disappear when we wash!”

5. Talk About Healthy Habits

Reinforce healthy habits they can do to stop the spread of germs.

• “When we cough or sneeze, we cover our mouth with a tissue or our elbow to keep the germs from flying out.”
• “Remember, we need to wash our hands after using the bathroom, before eating, and after we play outside. That way, we stop germs from coming in our bodies.”

6. Read Books About Germs

Reading books on germs and hygiene is a great way to keep the conversation going. Here are a few great options:

• “Germs Are Not for Sharing” by Elizabeth Verdick
• “The Germs Adventure” by Ruth Spiro
• “The Berenstain Bears Learn About Germs” by Stan and Jan Berenstain

After reading, you can discuss the story: “What did the Bear family do to keep germs away? What can we do at home to stay healthy?”

7. Use Visual Reminders

Create a "Germ Stopping" chart or poster with easy-to-follow steps that they can refer to.

• Make a colorful poster with pictures showing the steps: washing hands, using tissues, covering coughs, and using hand sanitizer.
• Post this chart somewhere visible (like on the fridge or bathroom mirror) to reinforce the behavior.

8. Play a “Germ Stopper” Game

Turn germ prevention into a game they can enjoy.

• Have a “Germ Stopper Challenge” where they practice washing hands or using tissues after sneezing. Time them and see how quickly they can do it while following the steps.
• You could also use stuffed animals or toys and “pretend” they are spreading germs. Then, show how the toy can “fight off” the germs with handwashing or using a tissue.

9. Discuss the Importance of Rest

Teaching them that germs can make us sick is important, but also talking about how rest helps our bodies stay strong against them can be valuable.

• “When we’re feeling tired, our bodies need sleep to fight off germs. So getting a good night’s sleep helps us stay healthy!”

10. Ask Questions to Reinforce Learning

Encourage them to talk about what they learned and apply it to their daily routines.

• “Why do you think we need to wash our hands before eating?”
• “What should we do if we need to cough or sneeze?”
• “How do we know if we’ve washed our hands for long enough?”

11. Praise Their Efforts

Whenever they practice good hygiene habits, be sure to praise them.

• “Great job covering your mouth when you sneezed! You’re stopping those germs from spreading.”
• “You’re doing such a good job washing your hands after playing outside!”

Example Conversation Starters:

• “Did you know that germs are too tiny to see, but we can stop them by washing our hands? What can we do to stop germs from making us sick?”
• “What happens when you sneeze without covering your mouth? How can we make sure the germs don’t spread?”
• “Let’s pretend we're little germ fighters! What can we do today to stop germs from spreading?”

By making the conversation interactive, fun, and easy to understand, you’ll help your kindergartner build the healthy habits that will keep them and others safe from germs.

Hello! I’m Miss Taylor Louie, and I’m thrilled to be the school counselor here at the Early Learning Center. My role is to support students in their academic, emotional, and social development, helping them navigate the challenges of school and life with confidence and resilience.

I’m passionate about creating a safe and inclusive environment where every student feels heard and supported. Whether it's helping with academic planning, providing guidance on personal issues, or facilitating group counseling sessions, my goal is to empower students to reach their full potential.

If you or your child ever need someone to talk to, whether it's about school, friendships, or anything else, I’m here to listen and help. Feel free to reach out to me via email at tlouie@hobart.k12.in.us and let’s work together to ensure a positive and successful school experience!

Looking forward to a great year ahead!

Hello! I’m Ryan Williams, and I’m in my second year as the Behavior Interventionist at the Early Learning Center. My role is to support students in managing their behavior while promoting social and emotional growth through personalized strategies that foster meaningful opportunities for development.

Before stepping into this role, I taught middle school math for 17 years. I earned my master’s degree in School Counseling and am excited to serve the Hobart community in this new capacity. Having been a Brickie myself since kindergarten, I’m passionate about helping our young Brickies grow and thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

If you’d like to discuss how we can partner together to support your child’s continued growth, I’d love to be part of that journey. Feel free to contact me at rwilliams@hobart.k12.in.us or 219-942-7263 ext. 8822.

Thank you, and I look forward to the great year ahead!

Hi, everyone! My name is Mrs. Lyndsey Deaton, and I am the Wellness Supervisor at the ELC. I work closely with Miss. Louie, the school counselor, and Mr. Williams, the behavioral interventionist. My goal is to help students form their own tools and goals necessary to help self-regulate their emotional and behavioral choices in a safe and positive way. This ensures a better learning experience for not only themselves, but those around them. A few examples of how I achieve this would be providing support within the classrooms, talking students through their emotions with calm down techniques, weekly goal checks and collaborating with teachers in weekly meetings. I am passionate about seeing students progress and grow throughout the year as they hit their behavioral goals and seeing the joy that it brings them. Feel free to contact me at 219-942-7263 x8818 or at ldeaton@hobart.k12.in.us for any questions or if you'd like to work together to ensure a positive school experience! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your child's learning journey!

As always, please feel free to reach out if you have any questions, concerns, or need anything. I am here to help!

Take care,

Taylor Louie

tlouie@hobart.k12.in.us

(219) 942-7263 ext. 8804