March begins the season where seeds and locally grown produce will start to be available in our part of the country.

There are many benefits to serving locally grown produce to your family.

Please see the attached article to learn about some of these benefits!

Click link for more information https://www.superkidsnutrition.com/benefits-locally-grown-produce/

Did you know that you can find locally grown produce nearby at the Pinelands Produce Farm Market?

They also offer CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Farm Share Boxes.

The Farm Market is located just .5 mile from PECEC.

Please visit Facebook, Instagram or learn more about their offerings at https://pinelands-produce-farm-market.square.site/

For even more information, PECEC’s community liaison Michelle Walker interviewed farm owner Diane Gabler.

Please use the link below to enjoy this informative interview!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UbpqHM8DGHhgkD2PXKjEGCI9I3BHHJtK/view

Public libraries are very important to children and families, even during a pandemic.

 This month, we will spotlight the amazing resources available to PECEC families through the Burlington County Library System!  Even though some offerings have changed due to social distancing guidelines, the BCLS still has much to offer!

First, meet our local children’s librarian, Theresa Preziosa, who can be reached at: tprezios@bcls.lib.nj.us

In this clip, Theresa is interviewed by PECEC’s own community specialist, Michelle Walker.  In addition to talking about children’s programs, you’ll be interested to hear what Theresa has to say about  printing capabilities and free Wi-Fi access!

Here is the interview, which can also be found on our school website:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/16DlsSVvSFFwWXm-sDKQawkCJ4fPFYgUS/view?usp=sharing

Wordless books are often recommended for young children as a way to increase imagination and vocabulary.  BCLS has the following wordless titles available:
https://www.bcls.lib.nj.us/wordless-stories-visual-literacy

Our article of the month also recommends using wordless books with young children, and even includes a video clip of a family modeling how to use a wordless book together.
https://illinoisearlylearning.org/videos/videos-parenting/dads-read/

You might even want to check out the BCLS Events Calendar, which  not only offers a live virtual story time for kids, but adult workshops on topics such as meditation, home-buying, and decluttering.  Additional events, including more children’s story times, will be added in February.
https://bcls-nj.libcal.com/calendar?cid=14103&t=m&d=0000-00-00&cal=14103&inc=0

Have fun reading together!! For more information, call the Pemberton Branch at 609-893-8262 or visit the website at https://www.bcls.lib.nj.us/pemberton.  HAPPY READING!

No matter what holiday is celebrated in your home, the holiday season can be stressful. But it can also be a time to strengthen your family ties. Here are some tips that you can use to make your own holiday season memorable and meaningful:

Holidays

One fantastic local resource for helping to strengthen family ties is the Pinelands Family Success Center!

Our Pemberton Early Childhood Department has been working in partnership with this organization for years, and we are currently working together to plan our upcoming Grandparents’ Event.

Keep an eye on our website and your class weekly newsletter for more details.

The mission of the Pinelands Family Success Center is to build stronger families and communities by enriching the lives of children and adults through relationship focused and culturally responsive activities.

To learn more about the Pinelands Family Success Center, you can go to their website:

https://www.pembertonfsc.org/

Attached please find their December calendar, filled with lots of FREE fun (and socially distant) activities, such as gingerbread house kits to make at home, Youtube holiday storytimes, and FREE gift wrap!

Registration is sometimes necessary, but is FREE, available to everyone, and can be done online!

Calendar

For more information, call  609-261-5847 or email Jenn at  
jennmedvesky@prevplus.org

Early Childhood is an important time to develop healthy eating habits.

November’s Family Tips give ideas and resources regarding nutrition.

Children need to move their bodies and eat healthy foods. Families can promote healthy habits by encouraging children to eat nutritious foods and get some exercise every day.

Using the link below, please see some tips for healthy eating.

Click Here for Website

We are also pleased to announce that ALL students will be eligible for FREE breakfast and lunch this fall. Due to the national pandemic, the USDA has extended funding for this program through December 31, 2020.

 All meals will be distributed Monday through Friday at the following locations:

Harker-Wylie:  9  am – 7 pm

Busansky:  4 pm – 7 pm

Meals will be available to pick up for all 7 days, however, hot meals will be available only on the day of pick up.

Click here to view a video explaining details of the Free Meal Program

Attached please find a flyer with information on the Burlington County Emergency Food Distribution which will take place on November 7.

Click here Burlington County Emergency Food Distribution

 

What can we do to help children who may be traumatized by Covid-19 happenings? Make time for unstructured play!

The following article describes how unstructured, child-directed play can help your child during these unusual times

 

Click here for more information

Ready or Not Kindergarten, Here We Come!

While many of us focus on the basics of letter and number recognition or reading skills, kindergarten readiness encompasses more than a few isolated skills. We need to look at the whole child and all the skills and strengths each child has developed. That’s what makes them unique. This resource gives you some tips to help you prepare your child for Kindergarten.

Click Here For More InformationClick Here For More Information

The preschool years mark your child’s first introduction to the characteristics that have long grouped and divided humans: race, ethnicity, gender and physical ability. During the preschool years, you have perhaps the greatest impact on your child’s perceptions and attitudes about difference than at any other time in her childhood. The manner in which you treat and discuss others based on similarity and difference — and the manner in which you respond to your child’s natural curiosity about these matters — provides the blueprint for her reactions to them. Biases that you and other adults convey, both positive and negative, tell her who is safe and who is dangerous, who is strong and who is weak, who is beautiful and who is ugly. These messages have the power to turn her “how” and “why” questions into judgment statements. Left unchecked, such judgments can become precursors to poor self-esteem and social interactions based on prejudice or bias. Fortunately, there are ways to discourage this. Here is a resource you may find helpful.

 

Click here for more information

Boredom can be a powerful incentive. Along with quiet time, boredom will stimulate a child’s creativity. Imagination and creativity—ideas—arise from having time to think, to ponder and reflect, or just let the mind go. A child with time on his hands will make up games, create dramas to act out, build a fort, or discover the joy of reading.

Click here for more information

The coronavirus (Covid-19) is a major epidemic. Luckily few young children have fallen ill. Most of the sick children have had mild cases. However, young children are highly affected by the quarantine and the anxiety of their parents and other adults, they are very sensitive to what is going on. Here are some of the ways children react to the stress and some of the things you can do to help them.

Click here for more information

Read Across America is an initiative on reading created by the National Education Association that began in 1997. You may hear about Read Across America during the first week of March.

The Read Across America website offers resources for parents as well as for schools.  Below, please find a link to an article with 20 tips to help families create a sense of enjoyment, wonder, and a passion for reading.

https://www.readacrossamerica.org/raising-readers-what-parents-can-do/