Preparing for Winter: What You Need To Know

It's almost October, which means it'll start getting a bit colder outside. Here's how to prepare for the worst of Michigan winters:

1. Bring snow pants, hats, boots, and waterproof mittens:

          We will keep your child's belongings in the back for the winter season. We always have extra pants, hats, boots, and mittens, but we only have so many. If you could bring your child's cold weather gear once it starts getting too cold for light jackets, that'd be best. Make sure the clothing is waterproof to ensure that your child doesn't get uncomfortable while playing outside. If your child is in the IT room, there are enough waterproof mittens so you don't have to bring those. But if you'd like to bring some lightweight mittens for the warmer winter days, that'd be helpful. When it comes to boots, we can keep their waterproof boots here at Jellybean to use each day or you can bring them in their boots each morning. Either way, please label all of your child's belongings. This is vital so we don't lose any of your child's stuff or misplace it in Jellybean stuff. 

2. Bring your child in a weather appropriate coat in the mornings.

          Whatever coat you bring them in in the mornings will be the coat they will wear for an hour in the morning and the afternoon recesses. Therefore, please bring your child in something that is appropriate for the weather and the temperature outside. If you would like, we can also keep their winter coat here at Jellybean for them to use for recess.

3. Stock up the cubby with extra pants, socks, and a sweatshirt or two.

          In addition to switching out the summer clothes in their cubby for winter clothes, be sure to have even more socks and pants ready to be used. Some days will be extra wet outside, so having those extra socks and pants stocked up in the cubby will be extra helpful during those busy transitions. 

4. If your child is prone to chapped lips, put some chapstick in their lower cubby.

         Most children will remember that they have chapstick and will visit their cubby throughout the day when they feel they need it. If you know your kid gets it bad during winter time, feel free to keep chapstick in their cubby.

5. If your child is prone to excessive dry skin, and you'd like them to use a certain lotion other than what we have here at Jellybean, bring that in.

          We can put this lotion or other topical cream in the bathroom and put it on them when they come inside from recess. Just let us know when you bring it in so we can make sure all the bathroom teachers know about it.

6. Slippers.

          Winter is a very popular time for slippers. You don't need to bring your child slippers, but many kids do so if your child asks about it, it's completely okay for you to bring some in. Just be sure to label them both in sharpie so we know whose slippers are whose.

Have any other questions about how we prepare for winter here at Jellybean? Ask away.

Letter from Ms. Jenn: Family Fall Activities

September is such a hectic month, trying to get back into the swing of things and realizing winter is right around the corner. I thought I would share some fun ideas that I used to do with my kids during this season. Most of these are free things to do, if not they are pretty cheap!

1. Take a fall walk: the park right next to the center on Willis Rd. has a pretty cool path where you can walk and look at all the leaves changing colors. There are also a couple spots you can stop and picnic.

2. Have breakfast for dinner: dress in your jammies and make some new flavors of pancakes. Adding apples was always one of our favorites.

3. Have a board game day: play some games you have at home or borrow one of your child’s favorites from school.

4. Visit an apple orchard or farm: Talladay Farms has a great preschool area for young children and a corn maze and Wasem’s Orchard is right next door if you are up for picking apples.

5. Have a camp out: if you are feeling adventurous set up a tent in your backyard and roast some marshmallows. If you are not feeling the outdoor thing, make a tent in your living room with blankets and chairs and have some indoor s’mores by using marshmallow fluff, Nutella, and graham crackers.

6. Donate items to the Huron Valley Humane Society and pet the animals.

7. Make an indoor obstacle course: use just one room or your whole house. You can use crepe paper to make an obstacle in the hallway for the children to climb over and crawl under. Get creative!

8. Make muffins: you can try Mimi’s chocolate zucchini recipe, they are one of the kids favorites!

9. Show and Tell: share with your children some of your special things from the past or present. Encourage your children to do the same.

10. Check out some local papers to see what is happening locally. There are lots of free things to do in the Ann Arbor area.
• Metro Parent
• Ann Arbor Observer
• Ann Arbor Family Press

11. Be a scientist: check out our I/T and Preschool science boards on Pinterest and try some of the activities. A lot of them can be done with things you already have around your house.

12. Pizza & Movie Night: prepare a homemade pizza and let the kids help. Or you can try Mimi’s pizza quesadillas. Use tortilla shells and add pizza sauce, cheese and any toppings you like, fold tortilla in half and heat in oven. Eat your pizza while you watch your favorite family movie.

13. Color: get a poster board and everyone can contribute or print off some easy coloring sheets for those who want to work separately.

14. Play Hide and Seek: we still do this at my house. :)

15. Create a Treasure Hunt: make clues and have your child follow the clues to find the next clue. The treasure can be anything you want it to be: a book or a coupon for a special day with Mom or Dad.

16. Dance Party: turn the lights down and the music up. Dance like no one is watching!

17. Bubbles: have a bubble bath and blow bubbles.

18. Put on a Concert: set up a stage area and let your littles perform anything they want. Standing ovations are always welcome!

19. Do some art: check out our I/T and Preschool art boards on Pinterest for some fun ideas to do at home with the kids.

20. All about Me Day: let your child plan a day. When my family did this we made up some rules like you can only pick one thing that costs money or if we were planning a day at home that would be the rule, everything has to be done at home. But they can pick what we do, how we do it, what we eat for dinner, when we wake up and when we go to bed!

Hope you have fun with some of these things. Happy fall!

-Ms. Jenn

POTM: Rates & Payments

The following text was taken directly from the updated Jellybean Parent Handbook. The rates are changing as of Fall so please take note.

Jellybean Daycare & Preschool charges $220/week for full time (Monday-Friday, all day), $44/day for part time (at least 2 days/week, all day), and $26/day for preschool program only (at least 2 days/week, 8:30-12:30). Infants and toddlers are $245/week for full time (Monday-Friday, all day) or $54/day for part time (at least 2 days/week, all day). There are no half days in the infant/toddler room. This payment is due on Monday for the week and required for your child to come to care. Payment will also be accepted on the first Monday of each month for the entire month if preferred. Payment forms accepted are cash or check. Checks should be made payable to Jellybean Daycare & Preschool. In the memo line of your check, please indicate the period the payment is covering. You are required to pay for days your child is absent due to illness, vacation, or any other absence. The only time you are not required to pay is the week between Christmas and New Year. If you are receiving money from DHS, whatever money the state doesn’t cover will be covered by the parent or guardian of that child. When you first start you will be responsible for payments until DHS begins to pay then you will receive a credit for the amount you have paid. Parents are also responsible for: a yearly registration fee of $40/child which is due at the beginning of each contract year (September 1st), the price of family field trips, and a one time fee of $10 for your child’s cot or crib sheet (if they are full day). If you do fall behind on payments, you will receive a reminder notice. If you fall behind more than 4 weeks, you may be asked to keep your child at home until you can get you account current or Jellybean may terminate the contract.

If you have any questions, let us know!