​Typically, babies will be more interested in the box a gift came in, the shiny ribbons they can grasp and wave, the paper they can tear or a piece of sticky tape! 

We suggest toys that encourage open-ended play and meet the needs of children at their ages and levels of development. Please share these suggestions with anyone buying or making holiday donations to young children:

• Birth through 6 months: rattles, squeeze toys, teething toys, soft dolls, textured balls, vinyl and board books, books with nursery rhymes and poems, unbreakable mirrors
• Older infants 7-12 months: large beads, balls, and nesting toys, large soft blocks and wooden cubes, low, soft things to crawl over; baby dolls, plastic and wood vehicles with wheels.
• One-year-olds: board books, toy phones, dolls (doll beds and strollers), dress-up props, puppets, stuffed toys, plastic animals, plastic and wood vehicles, blocks, puzzles, large pegboards, toys with parts that do things (dials, switches, knobs, lids), large and small balls
• Two-year-olds: wood puzzles (with 4 to 12 pieces), objects to sort (by size, shape, color), blocks, sturdy transportation toys, construction sets, child-sized furniture (kitchen sets, chairs, play food), dress-up clothes, sand and water play toys, washable crayons and markers, large paintbrushes, fingerpaint, large paper for drawing and painting, colored construction paper, chalkboard, large chalk, rhythm instruments, picture books, large and small balls for kicking and throwing, ride-on equipment (but probably not tricycles until children are 3)

Important Note: Always keep in mind the safety of toys, especially for children under age 3.  Toys that may pose a choking hazard may not be labeled as such, so do your own testing before giving toys to infants and toddlers:  Pull on all the parts of the toy to see that they are securely fastened together.  Then check every piece for size.  If you don't have a small parts test fixture that "measures 1 inch to 2.25 inches in height, slanted on a diagonal plane, and 1.25 inches in diameter"(NIH.gov), a toilet paper roll may be a good substitute.  Keep any toys that fit completely into the tube away from children under 3.  Recent research shows that occasionally choking can happen even for larger toys, so use your best judgment and always supervise children's play vigilantly. (NIH.gov)

​Here are some suggestions for gifts that encourage open-ended play for young children (approximately 3-5 years old):

For more toy suggestions for young children listed by ages and stages, visit: naeyc.org/resources/topics/play/toys

You don't have to spend a bundle to give gifts of love and learning for preschoolers!  Providing open-ended activities with household objects and creative materials (such as wrapping paper scraps, boxes, and ribbons) can also keep your child engaged and learning throughout the holidays.

If you are planning to do some online shopping, please visit our website store to purchase our own EEPWORM® picture books and comfort toys.  They were designed to help children deal with big feelings, so they can help with self-regulation!

​If you set any similar goals at the beginning of the school year, now is a good time to reflect on how far you have come.

• Revise those goals if necessary, now that you know your class and each child's needs.
• Share your goals for children with their families during parent conferences. 
• Suggest resources that may help your children succeed in school and ask about the families’ goals as well.  (Remember, part of developmentally appropriate practice is partnering with parents!)

​If you did not set goals when the school year began, now is a great time!  You know your children, their accomplishments, and the adjustments that may be necessary for success!
-Set goals.
-Revise as needed.
-Remember why you became a teacher and remind yourself - and others - often!

When we share with children the story of the first Thanksgiving, we help them begin to understand an event in history and to learn about people who shaped our nation.  We must be careful to provide accurate and age-appropriate information.

For parents and teachers of young children, I highly recommend the children’s book, One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims by B.G. Hennessy.  Predictable text makes it fun to read and rich illustrations encourage children to “read the pictures."  Help kids notice what the children - and turkeys! - in the pictures are doing, as they work and play as children likely did in 1621. Much of what we know of the first Thanksgiving and the Wampanoag people who joined Pilgrim separatists for that first three-day gathering  is illustrated in Hennessy’s children’s book.  Also included is back matter that explains Thanksgiving facts as we know them.

As you plan Thanksgiving activities and participate in them with children, don’t teach anything that they will have to “unlearn.” If you plan to have a program or feast or to act out the first Thanksgiving, keep in mind that stereotypical images can be lasting and hurtful. Strive for accurate and respectful images and information.

The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian website offers many resources about Thanksgiving, including:

• a professional development webinar entitled “Giving Thanks: Telling More Complete Narratives About the First Thanksgiving.”
• Children of the Morning Light (informational resource book - Wampanoag Tales) as told by Manitouquat
• 1621-A New Look at Thanksgiving (informational resource book - ​National Geographic)

-​Through conversation, storytelling, play and creativity, you will be providing age-appropriate information that will lay the groundwork for understanding the history and traditions of Thanksgiving. Here are some ideas:

​Here are some more tips from Child Mind Institute on "Raising Grateful Kids" (See the article for all 10 tips):

• Set an example - model showing appreciation for others, including your children
• Find fun ways to show gratitude - draw or take pictures, use gestures if words are hard
• Let children choose how to get involved in group projects that help others

By the way, we at ECS are grateful for all of you who are helping young children thrive - thank you!

Being prepared helps ease children’s anxiety - and behavior - during the holiday season!

We all feel better - and behave better! - when we know what to expect!  Here are some ideas to help your children prepare for and understand the upcoming changes in daily routine:

• Include young children in family holiday planning. Some families may travel, others may cook; children may see family members that are not familiar to them. Talking with children about what will happen helps them 

During holiday travel and activities:

• Tell your children what to expect and how the day will unfold
• Practice hellos and goodbyes, and greeting family members
• Don’t force affection. Respect children's boundaries and guide friends and relatives to do so
• Provide car/travel activities appropriate for your children
• Travel with a favorite blanket or pillow for naps and comfort in unfamiliar places
• Having a comfort item may also help at times when your children may become overwhelmed in unfamiliar situations
• Provide an “out” if the holiday situation is too stimulating, like taking a walk or doing breathing exercises together
• Help your children make conversation with adults when appropriate, like “Tell Grandma about the bird’s nest we found!”
• Be mindful of your own level of stress. Provide your children with a model of calm, even when travel, family, and meal stress put you to the test!
• As your schedule allows, balance physical activities for kids to move and play, with downtime for quiet/resting
• Keep routines such as naps, bedtime and meals as close to normal as possible. Recognize when it is time for little ones to “wind down” for the day 

We at ECS wish you a calm time of holiday preparation!
Check out our blog posts on emotional support and mindfulness if you'd like some helpful calming strategies!

I hope these quotes will inspire you to use mindfulness to take care of yourself as well.  Try focusing your attention on your breath, your body, or your surroundings.  Or use awareness as you do an activity you find relaxing, such as walking or jogging; dancing or listening to music; journaling, drawing, or painting; sewing, baking or gardening.  You may also want to focus your mind on positive thoughts, like the people and the things you are grateful for and the things you've been able to accomplish.  

When the stress of the holidays - or life in general - gets you down, try a few mindfulness practices.  Perhaps, as they did for me today, they will help you feel a little calmer.
​
All of us at ECS are wishing you peace and happiness this holiday season!