Greetings From

Queens Childcare Network!

Volume 2, Issue 4

summer newsletter

Summer has set in and with it comes hot weather and an

abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables for sale around the
block and in all the supermarkets. To help you take advantage of
this, this issue will focus on the activities and nutrition that will
keep the children moving and eating well, all while having fun.

Summer activities
Activity starts with the provider, especially when it comes to the youngest members of the
day care, infants. To encourage rolling over, crawling and walking, as well as cognitive development, try these activities:

Spend part of each day with active baby games.

Hold playtime on the floor and help your infvbant explore his or her surroundings.

Choose activities that allow movement of arms, legs, hands and feet, avoiding rough play.

References: http://www.eatright.org/resource/fitness/exercise/family-activities/exercise-with-your-baby

For those who are older, play this game called: 1,2, 3, Mums!

Have the children stand in a circle.

Begin the game by saying 1, 2, 3 Mums!.
From that point, on they cannot talk.
Anyone caught talking is out of the game.
Now toss a ball to a child in the circle, letting them pass it to one another
or even back to you since you are part of the game.
They cannot pass it back to someone who has just passed it to them, unless there are only a few children left.
If someone drops the ball they are out.
Once there are only 2 children left, they stand in the middle of the circle, pass the ball to each other, and must keep one hand behind their
back.
Whoever drops the ball loses.
Try these other fun games and more!

Drip, Drip, dunk!

A variation of Duck, Duck, Goose, you dribble water on everyones heads as you walk around
the circle, until you choose someone to Dunk and completely dump the cup of water on. They
must then chase this person around the circle, trying to tag them.

Fishing for Marbles

Do not play with children under 3 years old. Keep careful supervision. Play on grass if
available. Fill a tub with cold water and some marbles. 4 children, using one foot
each, use their toes to fish out the marbles & drop them in their own pitcher.
Whoever collects the most marbles in their container in 2 minutes, wins!
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mallorymcinnis/let-the-games-begin#.maLJ8yJ8y

Kids Chef
The following two recipes can be completed by the children who
are 3-12 years old, with some guidance from you. Arrange all the
materials for them prior to beginning.
Childrens tools: Paper Towels and or Salad Spinner, Large Bowl, 6
plates, serving spoon.
Prior preparation by adult: Cook and slice chicken. Slice tomato.

Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps

Ingredients:
1 Cooked and sliced Chicken Breast

1 Tbsp Fat Free Salad Dressing

1 Sliced Tomato

6 Lettuce Leaves

Guide the children through these steps:

1. Wash hands and clean your work area
2. Rinse lettuce leaves under running water and dry thoroughly using
paper towels or a salad spinner.
3. Combine the chicken, tomatoes, and salad dressing in a bowl and
mix well.

4. Place equal amounts of salad mixture on each lettuce leaf

5. Roll from one end of the lettuce leaf to the middle. Fold in the sides
and continue to roll.

Resource: The Great Garden Detective Award

Spinach Strawberry Salad

Ingredients:
2 cups raw spinach
1/2 cup sliced strawberries
1/4 cup olive oil

3 tablespoons vinegar
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Childrens tools: paper towels and or salad spinner, 5 bowls

Prior preparation by adult: Slice strawberries into quarters. Mix olive oil, vinegar, salt, and
pepper in a jar with a lid.

Guide the Children through these steps:

1. Wash hands and clean your work area.
2. Rinse spinach and strawberries under running water, dry thoroughly.
3. Tear spinach into bite pieces. Add to Strawberries in your bowl.

4. Shake the jar. (Have the children take turns shaking the olive oil mixture vigorously)
5. Pour salad dressing over salad and mix
thoroughly.

Yields: Five
Serving Size: 1/2 cup
Note: Grilled Chicken can also be added
to this recipe.

Resource: The Great Garden Detective

Adventure

Vegetable and Fruit Plan

When it comes to providing the daily amount of the vitamins and minerals children need, it
takes some careful planning. Providing these nutrients through variety and combinations of
vegetables and fruits ensures that where one vegetable is lacking, another can compensate. By looking at page 14 of Crediting Foods in CACFP, you can see that not every vegeta-

ble or fruit provides al the vitamins or minerals that the CACFP recommends, which are Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Iron, and Calcium.

Below is a sample chart to use when trying to decide which combinations complement
each other when it comes to making menus.

Day
Monday

Asparagus

Broccoli

Peas

Tuesday

Brussels Sprouts Beets

Plums

Wednesday

Asparagus

Collards

Strawberries

Thursday

Cauliflower

Spinach

Cantaloupe

Friday

Asparagus

Kale

Grapefruit

Saturday

Tomato

Beets

Prunes

Sunday

Broccoli

Tangerines

Parsnips

Apricots

Hitting the Market

Below you will see one of the vegetables mentioned on the previous page as
well as one of the fruits the children have now experienced through their Kid
Chef experience. By reviewing this information with them, the children can learn
the basics of food purchase, storage, and preparation. This is not only a learning
experience for them, but a quick review for yourself.

Early Summer Produce

Asparagus

Choose: Asparagus spears that are, crisp, round and straight, with tight pointed
tips that have not begun to flower. Choose asparagus spears that are the same
thickness so that cooking time will be similar. Spears that are flat are usually
tough. One pound makes about 3 servings.

Store: Asparagus should be stored in the refrigerator in a plastic bag and used
within 3-5 days.
How to use: Wash well and trim off about and inch at the end of the spear if it
is tough. Asparagus are best when steamed until just tender. They can be laid
flat in a steamer or stood upright in a tall pot in about 1 inch of water. Cook
them for 4-7 minutes or until they are tender. Asparagus spears are great served
as a hot vegetable, in salads or vegetable and dip platers.
Explain to the children that certain vegetables such as asparagus can come in
different varieties such as white asparagus (left side picture) or green asparagus
(right side picture).

Seleccione: Esprragos duros, de tallo redondo y derecho, con puntas cerradas que no
hayan comenzado a florecer. Elija esprragos que tengan el mismo grosor para emplear el
mismo tiempo de coccin. Los que son planos generalmente se han endurecido. Una libra
rinde para unas 3 porciones.

Modo de almacenar: Los esprragos deben almacenarse en el refrigerador en una bolsa

de plstico y usarse en 3 a 5 das.

Modo de preparar: Lvelos bien y crteles aproximadamente una pulgada del cabo si
est duro. Los esprragos quedan major si se cocinan al vapor hasta que se ablanden un
poco. Se pueden colocar acostados en una canastilla o parados en una olla alta con 1 pulgada de agua aproximadamente. Djelos cocinar de 4 a 7 minutos o hasta que se ablanden.
Los esprragos son muy sabrosos servidos calientes, en ensaladas o como estremeses con
salsa aparte.

Explicar a los nios que ciertos vegetales como los espragos pueden venir en diferentes
variedades as como los espragos blancos de la izquierda o los verdes de la derecha.

Strawberries
Choose: Berries that are brightly Colored, firm and have hulls attached. Avoid
boxes that are leaking, or show signs of mold. A pint equals 2 cups of sliced berries.

Store: Berries should be stored in the refrigerator and are best if used within 23 days.

How to use: Wash berries and remove hulls just before using. Eat plain, with
cereal or mixed in with yogurt.
Have the children compare and contrast the old strawberries (picture #1) with
the fresh strawberries (picture #2).
************************************************************************

Seleccione: Fresas de color vivom duras y que tengan las hojas de la cabeza. No
compres cajas que goteen o que estn mohosas. Una pinta equivale a 2 tazas de
fresas tajadas.

Modo de almacenar: Las fresas almancenarse en el refrigerador. Permanecen

frescas 2 3 das.

Modo de preparar: Lave las fresas y quteles las hojas de la cabeza apenas las
vaya a preparar. Se pueden comer solas, con cereal o mezxladas en el yogur.
Haga que los nios comparen y contrasten las fresas de la foto #1 con las fresas
de la foto #2.

Picture 1

Picture 2

Sweet Treats
Try these sweet yet healthy snacks.
One cold and one hot.

Cream y Chocol ate and Avo cado Pudding

Ingredients:

1 avocado

1 banana

1/4 C 0% Chobani Greek Yogurt

2 Tablespoons unsweetened coco powder

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

softened dates to taste

Remove the skin and pit from the avocado and add the flesh to the blender. Add
the remaining ingredients and blend until completely smooth. Store in an airtight
container and chill. Serve plain or with banana slices.

Resource: http://healthfullyeverafter.co/blog/2013/5/8/avocado-chocolatepudding?crlt.pid=camp.fLGCJDppmtgB

Apple quinoa
Ingredients:

1 c. red or white quinoa, rinsed

2 c. water

2 TBSP honey, plus more for drizzling

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon, plus more for sprinkling

1 large or 2 small honeycrisp apples, cut into bite-sized chunks

1. In a large saucepan, bring quinoa and water to a boil. Reduce heat to low, then cover and simmer
until quinoa is tender and tails come out, about 15-20 minutes.
2. Remove quinoa from heat. Stir in honey, and cinnamon. Top with apples, then drizzle with
additional honey and sprinkle with cinnamon. Serve immediately.
Note: If serving to any child under 1 year old, do not include honey.
Yields: 4 servings

Resource: http://kelseysappleaday.blogspot.com/2013/10/meatless-monday-peanut-butterapple.html

Juices and Sugar Content

When shopping for juice for the children, grabbing the first bottle that is on sale might
seem sensible. However, many 100 % fruit juices can have very high amounts of sugar. By
comparing a few flavors from just one brand, we can see the differences in the amount of
sugar for each. Below is chart of Apple and Eve 100% brand juices listing their flavors, serving sizes, and sugar content. 8 fluid ounces is equal to 1 cup and 6.75 fluid ounces is the
standard size of a juice box. On the next page is a list of more juices with brands and flavors to compare and contrast by sugar content. Use this as a personal reference, adding in
the amount of sugar for those that you commonly purchase by reading the nutrition label
on the back of the product. Source: http://www.appleandeve.com/our-juices/
Of Note: 4g of sugar is equal to 1 tsp

Brand

Flavor

Serving

Sugar

Apple and Eve

100%

Apple

8 fl oz

22g

Apple and Eve

100%

Orange

8 fl oz

27g

Apple and Eve

100%

Cranberry Apple

8 fl oz

30g

Apple and Eve

100%

Natural Style Apple

8 fl oz

24g

Apple and Eve

100%

Grape

6.75 fl oz

28g

Apple and Eve

100%

Fruit Punch

6.75 fl oz

21g

Apple and Eve

100%

Cranberry Raspberry

6.75 fl oz

18g

Apple and Eve

100%

White Grape Raspberry

6.75 fl oz

18g

Sugar(grams)
Apple and Eve100%

Apple Juice - 22g8 floz

Cranberry Apple 30g8 floz
Fruit Juice (Sesame Variety)

Orange 27g8 floz

Very Berry
Grape 28g6.75 floz
Florida's Natural 100%
Apple Juice
Grape Juice
Grapefruit Juice
Orange Juice
Juicy Juice 100%
Apple Juice
Apple Raspberry Juice

Berry
Grape
Kiwi Strawberry
Orange Tangerine
Punch
Strawberry Banana
Tangerine
White Grape
Minute Maid 100%
Apple Juice
Grape Juice
Orange Juice

Sugar (grams)
Welch's 100%
Apple Juice
Grape
Orange Juice
White Grape
Motts 100%
Apple Grape
Apple Punch Juice
Motts Medleys Apple
Motts Medleys Grape
Motts Medleys Tropical
Apple
ShopRite 100%
Grape
Organic Apple
Orange
Tropicana 100%
Apple Juice
Fruit Juice (Fruit Punch)
100% Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice

V8 V-Fusion 100%
Peach Mango
Goji Raspberry
Acai Mixed Berry
Resource: http://
dedoe.schoolwires.net/cms/lib09/
DE01922744/Centricity/
Domain/141/
FoodsMeetDECACFPDelacarRules2014.pdf

Potty Training: Is your child ready?

Behavior to look for

Interest in the bathroom or wearing underwear

Child expresses through words, facials expressions or gestures the need to use the bathroom
Child complains about dirty diapers

How to Begin
1. Make a plan
Potty training takes time, patience, and practice. By making a plan you can prepare yourself and the
child for a successful move from diapers to their potty toilet.

2. Take it Slow
Do not rush the toddler, or allow others to rush him/her through potty training faster than he or she
is ready. Your child will move from one stage to another at their own pace. He or she will need time to
learn to recognize the urge to go.
Be patient and encourage your child to help build his or her confidence in using the potty alone. If the
toddler resists using the potty or isnt getting the hang of it within a few weeks, he or she may not be
ready.

3. Praise the Toddler Often

Offer the child verbal praise and attention. Compliment your child frequently when he or she has a dry
diaper. Use phrases like Youre a big boy/girl now! and you did it! Some children may be motivated
by special treats or rewards such as a toy or trip to the park.

4. Accidents Are Ok
Do not get angry or punish your child if he or she has an accident.
This may hurt his or her self-esteem. Remember that your child has only recently recognized the urge to
go but doesnt have the muscular control necessary to prevent accidents.

We are happy to welcome our new Childcare

Providers!
Toadlers Pond II Inc.
Danette Corcino

108-16 64th Avenue

Forest Hills, NY 11375

Estrellitas Day Care I

Fanny Hernandez

91-28 84th Street

Woodhaven, NY 11421

Estrellitas Day Care II

Maria Lopez

97-56 105th Street 1st Floor

Ozone Park, NY 11416

Susanna Isakova

Pedro Chervoni Jr.

97-10 62nd Drive Apt. LF

Rego Park, NY 11374
83-09 Myrtle Avenue 2nd Floor
Glendale, NY 11385

108-25 62nd Dr.

Forest Hills, NY 11375