March 2008

This issue's newsletter sponsor:


http://www.nurturecenter.com/

Camp and Class Sign Up

Spring Break Day Camp
March 24-28; 9:15 am -12:00 pm
Wondering what your young child could do during spring break week later this month? Sign up for a day -- or a week -- of Habitot spring break camp! Children 3-5 years will enjoy egg decorating, parachute games, cooking activities, planting seeds, storytelling and much more. $30/day $135 for all five days. Lunchtime option with museum visit available for an additional $10/day fee. Enrollment is limited. To register, please call 510-647-1111 x17. spring camps '08

Spring Children's Classes
Six-week series classes begin April 14
Discovery Playgroup, Let's Do Lunch, and Breakfast Club classes will begin the week of April 14. These popular classes for parents and children together are a great way to introduce your 2-4 year old child to a preschool type setting. Discovery Playgroup offers children free play, art, science and cooking activities, storytelling and a circle time. Parents benefit from socializing with other parents; early childhood staff can assist parents in dealing with behavior issues, children's friendships, and parent stress. Hands-on cooking activities in Let's Do Lunch, and Breakfast Club are great fun for parents and children to do together, help introduce your child to new foods, and lay the groundwork for nutritious eating. Enrollment limited to 8.
To register, please call (510) 647-1111 x17.

Summer Day Camps for Tots
10 Weeks of Summer Fun, June - August
Each week, a different theme, from Mayan Mysteries (a Spanish immersion camp) to Cars, Boats, Planes and Trains for kids on the go. The half-day morning programs for 2.9 to 5 year olds begin in June and run through August. The last two weeks of August offer both a morning and afternoon program for a full day of summer camp! Sign up for one week or many. Enrollment is limited. Registration deadline, May 31. To register, please call 510-647-1111 x17. summer camps '08 flyer   

New Hours Coming Soon

Monday Hours Mondays from 9:30 - 12:30
Expanded hours begin in April
Back by popular demand, Habitot will re-open on Mondays from 9:30 - 12:30, beginning April 7th. Please help spread the word to members and non-members alike!

This Month's Special Events

Shamrock Day
Tuesday, March 18th; 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Dress in green! Make Shamrock collages in the Art Studio and join our popular Hunt for Gold at 10am, 11am, and 12pm. You might even see a leprechaun!

Persian New Year, Norouz
Thursday, March 20th; 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Persian New Year or Norouz is traditionally celebrated in Iran, Afghanistan and other middle eastern regions and features springtime rituals such as egg painting, food, storytelling and dancing. Children and families visiting Habitot today will dance in traditional satin scarves, plant “sabzeh” wheatgrass and paint “tokhme-morgh” eggs, symbolically bringing fresh life to a new year.

Egg Days in the Art Studio
March 21st; 9:30 am - 1:00 pm
March 22nd; 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
In the Art Studio fill and decorate colorful eggs, the traditional symbol of spring. Small baskets of living grass will be on sale all day (while supplies last). Take advantage of special "Make-a-Plate" sessions to be offered on these days in anticipation of gifts for Mother's and Father's Day (fee applies).

March Storytimes
Enjoy storytelling every Friday from 12:00 - 1:00 pm in the Multicultural Reading Tent.

• March 7 - Rhymes and Rhythm
• March 14 - New Things Growing
• March 21 - Persian New Year
• March 28 - Baby Animals

Gift Store Discount of the Month

Through the end of March, all Puzzles — wooden, magnetic, floor puzzles, and more — will be on sale for 20% off regular prices, while supplies last.

Ask Ada

Ask Ada - Milestone Madness

Q:
I can't help worrying when my child isn't doing things on the same schedule as other children, and find myself wanting to help him catch up. Some other parents have a particular way of making me feel inadequate about my child. What can (or should) I do?

A:
At some point, most parents find themselves comparing their child’s ability to the abilities of other children. Unfortunately, some parents find themselves preoccupied with making sure that their child meets developmental “milestones” at the same time (or sooner than) children of the same age. To further complicate this stressful reality, parents are often bombarded with competitive parents who are obsessed with comparing children’s achievements at every stage of development.

Here are some hints about how to deal with “milestone madness” and competitive parents:

• Know your child and remind yourself that children grow at different rates. Educate yourself about what the 'normal' range is for each new skill and do not be alarmed if your child falls at the late-normal end. Your child is probably busy learning other important skills.
• Children often reach developmental milestones for physical, emotional and cognitive skills on their own internal timetables. Ask yourself questions like, what are my child's unique abilities, needs, accomplishments? What is her temperament? Appreciate you child’s individual personality and enjoy what your child is doing at the moment.
• Keep in mind that being a highly intuitive and responsive parent can negatively influence your child’s ability to do things on his own. For example, a child whose parents anticipate his every need or desire may not be as motivated to try things on his own.
• Resist the urge to compare or compete. If you are aware that you are constantly preoccupied with whether your child is more or less advanced than other children, make a concerted effort to stop. Remember that competitiveness is only human but that it is unhealthy to get caught up in competing when it comes to children.
• If you feel like you might be the target of competitive parents, try to diffuse their comments with humor or kindness. For example, if a fellow parent makes a remark about how your child is not so steady on her feet, yet their child is already walking with confidence, make a comment like, “Yes, it is amazing how different and special they are, don’t you just love watching them grow?”
• Surround yourself with positive parents who are not focused on how quickly their child is developing.

The following articles and books are available this month in the museum's Family Resource Center and on the "Purple Parenting Cart." Parenting education support generously funded by an Anonymous Foundation.

Articles:
The Pitfalls of Comparing Children read online
Set Reasonable Expectations and Goals for Your Child read online
Age-by-Age Growth: Milestone Madness read online
Baby Development: The Competition Trap read online

Books:
Becoming the Parent You Want to Be: A Sourcebook of Strategies for the First Five Years - Davis, L & Keyser, J. (1997); Broadway Books

Mom Cliques: Where Do You Fit In? - Wiseman, R. & Rapoport, E. (2006); Parenting Magazine, April 2006

Contribute to "Ada's Families Fund!" C
A special Habitot fund has been established in Ada's honor to purchase children's books for our Reading Tent and parenting references for our Family Resource Library. All donors will be recognized with a permanent book plate. Click here to Donate Now!.

Do you have a question for Ada?
Email AskAda.Habitot@gmail.com

Habitot at Home

Habitot at Home: Hot and Cold Painting

Materials:

• washable tempra paints
• several plastic bowls & spoons
• access to a microwave or stove top
• ice cube trays
• trays, plates or larger paper

1. Divide the tempra paint into the ice cube trays and place in the freezer and let sit for an hour, or until frozen.
2. When cubes are ready take out of the freezer and break into bowls or onto plates.
3. Take the rest of the regular tempra paints and divide into bowls and heat in microwave until slightly warm..not too hot.
4. When finished, let your kids play with the warm paints and the paint cubes on plates, trays or paper. They will have a blast mixing the colors and feeling the warm and cold paints.

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