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Montcalm County Great Start Collaborative 1 www.GreatStartMontcalm.org
News for Parents in
Montcalm County Volume 6, Issue 1 NEWSLETTER October 2017
It used to be that eating out at a restaurant was reserved for special occasions and usually involved a table for 2, a white tablecloth and leaving the children at home with a sitter. But not anymore. If yours is like most families today, eating out1 has become a way of life. Americans have been dining out in droves – spending roughly half of their families’ total food budgets and consuming nearly a third of all calories away from home. Along with this convenience-driven movement comes the added pressure of getting our children to perform. It is generally easier to treat the task of teaching children healthy, safe, and socially acceptable eating habits as a work in progress in the privacy of your own home. At a restaurant, however, your family’s mealtime matters will be on exhibit, and your child’s diet, his developing dining skills, and your patience are much more likely to be put to the test. With this in mind, we have taken the liberty of ordering for you our top 10 tips to help keep your child’s eating habits from turning into frustrating public displays of disaffection and make your family’s meals out on the town both healthier and more enjoyable for everyone involved.
Maintain a Healthy Attitude. Eating out requires a lot of social skills that children must be taught and given the chance to practice. Remind yourself that being quiet and sitting still throughout an entire meal doesn’t come naturally. Pick a Restaurant that Caters to Kids…at least when you’re first getting started. If there’s a “Kids Eat Free” sign in the window, the hostess is ready and waiting with a box of crayons, and the level of background noise is high enough to drown out any unexpectedly loud outbursts, it’s a safe bet the setting will better suit your needs. Don’t forget to check the menu to make sure you’re not having to sacrifice all hopes of nutrition. Remember, as your child’s mealtime manners develop, so can your level of restaurant. BYOB. Although you may feel the need for the alcoholic version, this BYOB is a reminder to bring your own backup. *Food. It is acceptable to bring food for your child as they wait for the meal to arrive, for infants2,3, and for very picky toddlers4. Simply anticipating your child’s needs can go a long way toward making the meal go smoothly for everyone.
*Toys. When faced with a wait, have a couple of books and/ or toys available to pass the time. *Accessories. Bring bibs and bottles or even a sippy-cup. You may also want to bring toddler-friendly utensils. Keep in Mind That It’s About Time. Many of the problems stem from boredom and/or waiting. We recommend: *Calling Ahead. Reservations or Call-Ahead Seating. *Going Early. Beat the rush. *Ordering Efficiently. Order your food when you order your drinks to eliminate that extra wait time. You can also request that they bring the check with your meal. Clear Your Own Table. Leave the after-meal cleanup to the staff. Clear the table BEFORE the meal by removing potential frustrations such as candles, knives, packets and shakers. Make sure drinks are safely away from the child. Don’t Just Say No. Regardless of what spectacle your child is making, there should be ramifications that were defined before you went out. No follow-through is not helpful. Take a Healthy Approach to Kids’ Meals. While most restaurants have kids’ top food picks, they are not always the healthiest option. You can swap out5 fries for healthier sides or order milk instead of pop. You can also expand their palate by offering some of your food or even sharing an adult entrée, which is also cost-effective. Downsize. Ask if you are able to order your child a scaled—down serving of an adult-sized entrée at a reduced price. Avoid the natural temptation to teach your child that he needs to clean his plate just because you paid for it. Take the approach of encouraging your child to eat only as much as he’s hungry for, and then take the rest home for later.
For more information, go to
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/preschool/nutrition-fitness/Pages/Eating-Out-
Without-Reservations.aspx 1/English/healthy-living/nutrition/Pages/Eating-on-the-Run.aspx 2/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/default.aspx 3/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Switching-To-Solid-
Foods.aspx 4/English/ages-stages/toddler/nutrition/Pages/Picky-Eaters.aspx 5/English/ages-stages/teen/nutrition/Pages/Healthy-and-Unhealthy-
Choices-at-Fast-Food-Restaurants.aspx
Eating Out Without Reservations Adapted from healthychildren.org
Montcalm County Great Start Collaborative 2 www.GreatStartMontcalm.org
Wellness Committee Tips for a Healthy Halloween Party Halloween is a day full of costumes, imagination and, of course, tons of candy. Don’t fear, your spooky soiree can be both fun and healthy with a few simple tips. Remember Balance. “Halloween is just one day a year, and it’s what kids eat every day that has the most impact on their nutrition and health,” says Karen Ansel, MS, RDN, CDN, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Instead of making candy and sweet treats off-limits, serve healthy snacks first, and bring out the sweet treats later when the kids have already filled up on more nutritious foods. Practice Portion Control. For those special sweet treats that you do allow, provide small portions. Serve each child rather than leaving treats out on a table. Make Your Own Healthier Treats. Traditional Halloween candy is high in calories, sugar and fat, and provides little nutrition. Make your own treats that have some nutritional value by including a source of fruits, vegetables, whole grain or low-fat dairy. Get Everyone Up and Moving. Make sure it isn’t all about the food. Plan fun activities and games to get kids moving. Limit Leftover Candy. Try putting the candy away in a place that is out of sight and you may find that the kids forget about it after a few days! Make this Halloween an opportunity to teach your child
to enjoy special treats in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet.
For more information, recipes or ideas, visit www.eatright.org/resource/health/lifestyle/holidays/have-a-healthy-halloween-party where this information was adapted from an article by Jessica Cox, RD.
Parent Coalition Did you miss the last meeting? No worries! We will be having our next meeting Monday, October 9th, from 5:30 – 7pm at the MACC. Ashley from J&L Apiaries will be presenting on Natural Skin Care and Healing – with some help from the bees. Musikgarden will also be there to share some fun music with us! As always, the meetings are free, will have FREE dinner for the family, free childcare and a free children’s book! We look forward to seeing you there – and bring friends! Please RSVP to [email protected] or call 616.225.6146.
Early Care and Education Reading aloud to children is one of the best ways to help them discover the joy of reading. It’s never too early —or too late—to start. All children, even infants and teens, can benefit from listening to you read aloud. Reading aloud can be done anywhere, anytime, with almost any book. A few things you can do to get started:
✽ Make a commitment to read aloud at least once a day.
✽ Select a time to read aloud. It can be morning, after school, bedtime; try to make it the same time every day.
✽ Choose a favorite place to read aloud. It can be a bedroom, living room, or any place you can read together comfortably.
✽ Remember to have fun! The more fun kids have reading aloud, the more they will love books and want to read them. *Guide to Reading Aloud to Your Children, Reading Is Fundamental, www.RIF.org
Dolly Parton Imagination Library "Keep Calm and Read a Book"
Committee Updates
Montcalm County Great Start Collaborative 3 www.GreatStartMontcalm.org
C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S
Below is a listing of all Montcalm County Great Start
activities this month. We have many more activities hosted
by our Community Partners listed on our website calendar.
Visit often as this calendar is constantly being updated!
www.GreatStartMontcalm.org
MOPS – (Mothers of Preschoolers) October 5th & 19th, 10 – 11:30 am, Greenville Community Church, 6596 Vining Road, Greenville, MI 48838 MOPS will be held on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. This is for ANY mother, prenatally up to the kindergarten year. Cost is $31.95 for the entire year and covers day care, snacks, your material and a gift. Go to www.mops.org/join and use code TB4A. You will love it! Playgroup for Children and Parents – FREE! MacNaughton Elementary – Tuesdays 9:30 -11:00 am Vestaburg Elementary – Tuesdays 9:30 – 11:00 am Montcalm Area Career Center – Thursdays 9:30 – 11:00 am Seiter Education Center – Fridays 9:30 - 11:00 am EightCap, Great Start, and MAISD’s Parent Child Learning Group/Early On are continuing to provide 4 collaborative playgroups during the school year months. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. Any family with children birth to 4 years of age living in the Montcalm Area Intermediate School District is welcome to attend. For a registration form and more information, see the attached flier, or call 616.225.6146. You and Me Time - FREE Fridays 11:30 am – 12:30 pm, October 6th – November 10th Seiter Education Center, 1401 VanDeinse, Greenville, MI Babies and their special someone will interact together while doing fun massage, tummy time activities, social games and exercise to help their brain learn and grow. Caregivers will learn fun facts about their child’s development and learn techniques and ideas to do at home with their child. This is for children who cannot walk yet. Contact Kelly Taylor for more information and to register at [email protected] or 616.225.4868. Heritage Village Trick or Treating Saturday, October 28th, 4-6 pm, Heritage Village, MCC 2800 College Drive, Sidney, MI 48885 Come join us for a family, fun-filled afternoon with Trick or Treating and several fall activities. We would love to see you there – and wear your costume! Free Family Film Festival Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October at 9:30 am at NCG Cinemas. Seats are first come – doors open at 9 am. Movies are free, concessions are not. For shows and more information, visit https://ncgmovies.com/free-family-film-festival/.
Parent Coalition Meeting Schedule October 9th, 5:30 -7:00 pm, Montcalm Area Career Center, 1550 W. Sidney Road, Sidney, MI 48885 (next to MCC) The Parent Coalition Meetings are a great way to meet with other families, discuss and learn topics that are relevant to you and your family, have dinner, free childcare and a book for your child. Meetings are free to attend for any family within the Montcalm Area Intermediate School District. If you have, or spend time with, a child, you are welcome! October 9th – “Natural Skin Care and Healing (with help from the bees!)” and Music with Musikgarden November 13th – “Gratitude, the NEW attitude! Creating ‘Gratitude Warriors’ at Home” December 11th – Holiday Potluck with a Special Guest and activities Greenville Expo 2017 October 26th, 5-8:00 pm, Greenville High School, 111 Hillcrest FREE Entry with a non-perishable food item donation. There will be free flu shots, door prizes, Touch-a-Truck, games, face painting, balloon animals by Rusty the Clown, free eye screening for Pre-K – 7th Grade, food ($1 per person), shows and interactive vendor booths. You won’t want to miss this! Robin Hood November 3rd & 4th at 7:00 pm, November 5th at 2:00 pm Greenville Area Community Center Theater, 900 Kent Rd The Hans Christian Andersen Theater players (grades 3-12) will be presenting Robin Hood. This will be an exciting time for the family. Tickets are $9 in advance or $12 at the door. All seats are reserved. Advanced ticket purchase recommended. Contact the Greenville Area Community Center for more information at 616.754.9163 or go to http://gvcomrec.com/hcat-fall-production/ to purchase tickets. Love and Logic Early Childhood Parenting Made Fun! Free Parenting Classes November 9th & 16th, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Vestaburg Community Schools, 7188 Avenue B, Vestaburg Or January 11th & 18th, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Alpha Family Center, 705 N Hillcrest, Greenville, MI, 48838 A five module parenting program designed by the Love and Logic Institute. This parenting program is designed to give you practical skills that can be used immediately! Childcare will be provided to those that register. Class size is limited to 20 people, to register call (616) 225-6146.
Montcalm County Great Start Collaborative 4 www.GreatStartMontcalm.org
Parent Engagement Pumpkins and apples are in full swing! So many great experiences can be created with those simple foods. The only limits are your imagination and tolerance for messes! Pumpkins and apples are a wonderful way to explore all your senses. You can go to an orchard or maybe your own yard and experience the smells, or smells after apples or pumpkins have been cut open. You can use your eyes to notice the different colors of each one. When you cut them open, does the inside look different? You can feel the smooth outer skin of an apple and compare it to the tougher, bumpier skin of a pumpkin. You can compare the inner and outer textures of pumpkins and apples. You can explore the inside of a pumpkin and sort the seeds. How do they feel? You can taste the apples and see if different colors have different tastes. You can listen to the sound a pumpkin makes when you knock on it before and after you carve it. You can incorporate math skills by comparing sizes, weights, measuring, and counting the seeds in both apples and pumpkins. If your children are getting older and ready for more, you can expand on to math skills with apples and pumpkins. You can measure the circumference and practice estimating. You can weigh them. You can cut apples in a cross section to find the star pattern. You can paint/stamp with them. You can count pumpkin seeds. You can weigh the pumpkin before and after carving. You can choose shapes to carve a jack o lantern face. You can explore the thickness in skins. Experiment and explore your own way! You can expand into cooking and make your own apple sauce, pies, pumpkin seeds, apple cider and other things that catch your fancy. Please go to our FB page and post pictures of your favorite apple or pumpkin activity! We'd love to see what you do and maybe learn something new. Most importantly, have fun and make a great memory with your children!
Where we need help
We need preschoolers! It is not too late!
Our GSRP classrooms are still looking for 4-year-old children to join us. Applications are available at the schools, on our website at http://www.greatstartmontcalm.org/wp/ or can be mailed to you, just call us at 616.225.6146.
Families needed to join us for our Parent
Coalition meetings. Free dinner, childcare and a children’s book provided at each meeting for the family. We look forward to meeting with you! Check out the attached Parent Coalition flier for more information.
Birth to 3 year olds needed! Early Head
Start is still looking for prenatal moms and birth to three-year-old children. To learn more about home-based and center-based child development support services, visit https://www.8cap.org/ .
Have Material to Add? Do you have information to share about an event or resource in Montcalm County? Send it to [email protected]. We would be happy to include information in our newsletter and on our website!
Contact Great Start Montcalm County 621 New Street, PO BOX 367
Stanton, MI 48888 Phone: (616) 225-6146
Mindy Train Parent Liaison
Cassie Davis Parent Liaison
Christine Mann-Munger Parent Liaison
Cari O’Connor Director
Website www.greatstartmontcalm.org
www.facebook.com/greatstartmontcalmcounty www.facebook.com/MontcalmImaginationLibrary