December 2024
Hi, I’m Dawnielle! I’m a proud mom to two energetic boys, and I’ve been with PlayDate for one amazing year. With years of experience in the field, I’m currently working as an RBT (Registered Behavior Technician). What makes working at PlayDate even more special for me is that it’s a place where my own family thrives. I am able to bring both of my children to work with me to participate in activities, outings, and the childwatch program. It’s a perfect balance that allows me to focus on my career while knowing my children are well taken care of. I’m so grateful to be part of a company that supports working parents and is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of children and families. I’m excited to continue growing with PlayDate and contributing to this wonderful, caring environment.
Fun December Dates
December 1 – Advent Begins
December 3 – Make a Gift Day
December 6 – St. Nichols Day
December 7 – Pearl Harbor Day
December 12 – Gingerbread House Day
December 13 – Ice Cream Day
December 14 – PlayDate Holiday Party
December 20 – Ugly Sweater Day
December 24 – Christmas Eve (PlayDate closed)
December 25 – Christmas Day & Hanukkah Begins (PlayDate closed)
December 26 – Kwanzaa
December 28 – Card Playing Day
December 31 – New Year’s Eve (PlayDate closed)
Monthly Celebrations
World Food Service Safety Month
Write a Friend Month
December Outing
The holiday season has rolled around again, and we can’t wait to deck the halls with our amazing families—that’s you! Our Annual Holiday Party is just around the corner, and we’re inviting you and your loved ones to join in on the merry festivities. It’s a time for togetherness, but if you can’t make it, don’t worry! We’ll miss you, but there’s no pressure to attend.
Party particulars:
Date: Saturday, December 14, 2024
Location: Center
Festive Frolics (pick one):
Morning Merriment: 10 AM – Noon
Afternoon Amusements: 1 PM – 3 PM
Email to let us know who’ll be there, and if you’re bringing any kiddos who aren’t currently our little clients, let us know their ages too. Plus, say cheese! We’re offering a family photo option, so feel free to dress to impress!
This is a zero-cost celebration because joy should never come with a price tag. If you’d like to add some extra sparkle to our event, feel free to contribute via our Amazon wishlist. https://a.co/7PvxRI3
Thank you for being part of our caring community. We’re excited to share this special time with you!
Spirit Week
PlayDate Giving Box
Throughout December, we’re gathering vital resources for our amazing kids. In the spirit of this giving season, we warmly invite your family to contribute to our PlayDate Giving Box each day.
December Themes
Early Intervention
We are excited to bring some holiday cheer to our Early Intervention group with a theme that’s all about “Festive Fun!” This month will be filled with engaging activities that celebrate the magic of the season while supporting children’s developmental goals.
Storytime Adventures: We’ll be diving into delightful holiday stories that celebrate winter traditions, friendship, and sharing. Reading not only promotes literacy but also encourages imagination and social skills. Feel free to share your family’s favorite holiday books with us!
Music and Movement: Prepare for some joyful noise! We’ll be singing holiday songs and doing fun movement activities. It’s a great way for our little ones to get moving while developing rhythm, coordination, and listening skills.
We encourage you to discuss these themes at home and participate in our upcoming events that promote kindness within our community. Thank you for your continued support!
Elementary
Happy December! As we approach the end of the year, we are excited to announce that our theme for this month is “Holidays Around the World!” This is a wonderful opportunity for our elementary group children to explore, learn about, and celebrate the diverse traditions and festive customs practiced in different cultures across the globe.
Cultural Exploration: Throughout December, children will participate in various activities that highlight the significance of different holidays, including Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, and more. We’ll be using stories, crafts, and music to immerse them in the richness of these celebrations.
Creative Projects: Children will have the chance to create holiday-themed crafts from various cultures. We encourage you to support their creativity at home by discussing your family traditions and how they relate to what they are learning in class.
Teens
This quarter, we’re shining a spotlight on “Creating Timetables and Taming Stress” for teenagers. As they navigate through the academic year, juggling schoolwork, extracurricular commitments, and personal time can be quite the challenge. We’re here to offer useful tips and strategies that will empower teens to design effective timetables, prioritizing their responsibilities whilst making room for rest and self-care. Join us on this journey of discovering stress-management techniques and improving productivity, paving the way for a healthier, more balanced lifestyle amidst their bustling schedules. Keep an eye out for resources and dialogues geared toward equipping our young ones with the tools they need to flourish!
Scheduling
As the leaves turn and the holiday season draws near, we’re here to make sure that we’re adapting to your family’s unique needs. Whether you’d like to schedule extra sessions or need to cancel an appointment, we’re only an email away. Please try to let us know at least a week in advance. The sooner, the better. Your child’s progress is our priority, no matter the season.
If you have any requests to adjust your child(ren)’s schedule, please email [email protected].
Appointments and Meetings
Your child’s journey is important to us. That’s why we offer a range of services to support you and your little ones every step of the way. Need someone to accompany your child to a medical or dental appointment? Our PlayDate team is ready and excited to help. This collaboration keeps us in tune with your child’s needs and ensures we’re delivering the highest quality care.
And remember – we’re thrilled to join in on your child’s IEP meetings. To facilitate effective communication and preparation, please coordinate with your consultant several weeks in advance. This will allow us to make sure we’re all working towards the same goals. We’re in this together, and we’re here to support you.
Holiday Closures
This is a friendly reminder that we will be closed on November 28, 2024, December 24-25, 2024, December 31, 2024, January 1, 2025, and January 11, 2025.
PlayDate Holiday Party – Be a Part of the Magic
Ready for some holiday cheer? Our 17th annual PlayDate Holiday Party is around the corner! This heartwarming event is a testament to our supportive community and their generosity. But we still need your help – there’s a place for everyone:
Gift Giving
Volunteering
Financial Contributions
Craft Supplies
Food Items
Sponsorship Opportunities at various levels
If you’re as excited as we are, or if you want to learn more, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] or call us at 719-465 3989.
With gratitude!
Sick Child Policy
The majority of parents are quite careful about children’s health matters, following policies that are more likely to ensure their health, and having therapy only when the child is well. This policy provides specific guidelines so that everyone, including therapists, can be sure of when to cancel/reschedule therapy and so you can be confident in your child’s limited exposure to other sick individuals.
In the event that your child is diagnosed with a communicable disease, please notify your Senior Therapist or Consultant so that we may provide warnings to other families and report to the Department of Public Health as appropriate. Your child’s confidentiality will be safeguarded.
Our policies are based on our commitment to helping families and employees stay well so that children can attend and derive the most benefit from therapy. It is equally important for us to protect other children and our employees, whose good health is directly related to their ability to maintain their therapy appointments.
Please read the information and keep these guidelines for your reference:
Children may only participate in services (in-home or center) if they have NOT had a fever WITHIN THE 24 HOURS PREVIOUS TO THE APPOINTMENT.
This means that even if a fever breaks, services must be canceled until 24 hours have elapsed since the fever broke. This is standard medical policy and parents may verify this with their medical advisor. Since energy levels or fevers alone are not always accurate indicators of illness, our employees may advise you that your child appears to be getting sick even in the absence of a fever. A child can be very contagious and quite sick before a fever appears. Because our employees are careful, they know they are required by law to be aware of each child’s individual health “picture”, to watch children they suspect of illness, and then to advise parents of their judgment.
If, in the judgment of the therapist, a child is deemed ill, a parent must pick up the child within a reasonable amount of time. A therapist may also end a session early if the child appears too sick to actively participate. This is important, to safeguard the ill child and to safeguard other children and employees from being exposed to an illness unnecessarily. This also ensures that service time is used when the child can receive the most benefit.
Cancel services for one (1) calendar day if your child:Is being treated with AUGMENTIN – as this drug creates explosive diarrhea symptoms
Is being treated with antibiotics
Has vomited and/or has diarrhea
Has persistent cough or nasal drainage
Has a greenish discharge from the nose – as this is an indication of an active infection in the child’s respiratory system
Amazon Wish List
Shop for a Cause
Join us in contributing to a positive change. Explore the items needed at the center by following the link provided below. We appreciate your support.
https://a.co/eu2jZuD
Support PlayDate with Your King Soopers Card
Thank you to all the families who have registered with us as their Community Rewards organization! If you have not signed up yet, here is the information on how you can:
1. Log into your King Soopers Account online or via the app
2. Search for the Community Rewards Page
3. Click on “Enroll Now”
4. Then Search for PlayDate or YN927
Success Stories
We are absolutely giddy to spill the beans on our latest triumphs! Sharing is caring, after all. Do you have a success story to shout about? Drop us a line at [email protected]. We’re all ears and delighted to spread the good vibes! We love to celebrate victories, big and small!
A three-year-old mastered a family hike in new orthotics, tripping less according to mom.
A six-year-old made meaningful eye contact with his dad in response to his name.
A fourteen-year-old is gaining independence, navigating their home property without mom’s assistance.
A 17-year-old conquered a quarter mile walk, steadily working towards a half-mile goal.
