PARENT NEWSLETTER
October 2021
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Building Literacy Skills Parents are the first teachers of their children, and the most important. Teaching rhyming skills to preschool children can be fun and helps build the skills needed to begin reading. Some of the reasons for using nursery rhymes include: 1. They are good for the brain. Nursery rhymes follow letter patterns so a child can easily memorize them. Memorization helps build memory pathways in the brain.
2. Rhyming familiarizes children with sound structures. They start to notice how words are divided into syllables. 3. Rhymes span generations. Children can say nursery rhymes with other children, their parents, their grandparents, etc! 4. Most important is that nursery rhymes are fun to say! Practice saying nursery rhymes with your child. When they have memorized the rhymes, try the following variations.
October SAFETY
Fill in the Blank. Say a familiar rhyme but leave of the ending work and have child fill it in. Hey Diddle Diddle, The cat and the fiddle, The cow jumped over the moon. The little dog laughed to see such sport, And the dish ran away with the________. Mix it Up. Say the rhyme again but substitute a word to see if your child can find a new rhyme. Clap it Out! When saying nursery rhymes together, encourage your child to clap to the words. This helps children understand words are separate units from each other.
Get Your Flu Shot Autumn is the start of flu season, and it's recommended that everyone 6 months and older gets vaccinated against the flu. Learn more on flu prevention and check out common myths about the flu vaccine at : https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/misconceptions.htm Fire Prevention Week, October 3-9, 2021: “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware fire can happen anywhere.” The latest statistics from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) show that if you have a reported fire in your home, you are more likely to die today than you were a few decades ago. This startling statistic is behind this year’s Fire Prevention Week theme: “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware - fire can happen anywhere.™” Through three simple calls-to-action, this year’s theme identifies basic but essential ways people can reduce their risk to fire and be prepared in the event of one: 1/ Look for places fire can start 2. Listen for the sound of the smoke alarm 3. Learn two ways out of each room. Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware – fire can happen anywhere.” works to remind the public that fires can and do still happen – at home, as well as other locations - and that there are basic but vitally important steps people can take to remain safe. For more information, visit firepreventionweek.org
IN THE COMMUNITY
RESOURCES
Autumn Fest October 2nd 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Camp Eagle - Fincastle, VA
Fall Fesitval at Melrose Library October 16th 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Free
Craig County Fall Festival October 9th 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Go Outside Festival October 15th - 17th visit roanokegofest.com for full schedule
Bedford County Fair October 15th - 17th Bedford Moose Lodge
Blue Ridge Folklife Festival October 23rd 10:00 am Ferrum College
SUGGESTED READING
DID YOU KNOW?
Our website is full of great resources including developmental milestones, links to parenting classes, and tips and activities to engage you and your child! Don’t forget to look us up on Facebook too! https://www.facebook.com/smartbeginningsroanoke Check your child’s development using the Ages & Stages Questionnaire https://www.asqonline.com/family/f51923 or Ages and Stages Social and Emotional Questionanaire https://www.asqonline.com/family/d37cba
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United Way of Roanoke Valley
Smart Beginnings Greater Roanoke United Way of Roanoke Valley 325 Campbell Ave, SW, Roanoke, VA 24016 P: 540-283-2786 | F: 540-344-4304 www.smartbeginningsroanoke.org