November 2024
My name is Neal Shipley and I am the Therapeutic Director. I recently celebrated my 8-year anniversary with PlayDate, and I can’t believe how quickly time flies! I started in 2016 as a Senior Therapist, and have been able to serve in other positions including Consultant and Administrative Director before my current role. Something I have always celebrated about PlayDate is the ability all employees have to pursue their career goals and the way our Executive Director, Christina, empowers every team member to achieve those goals. I have enjoyed every moment of my time with this company, and look forward to many more years!
We also recently celebrated our 6th annual Trunk-or-Treat, and are gearing up for the rest of the holiday season. To celebrate Thanksgiving, we will be hosting a Chill Night on 11/9/24 from 4-8pm, which will hopefully allow parents and caregivers a chance to have some much-needed “me time” during the evening. Because November is caregiver appreciation month, we will also be holding a special “Thankful for You” caregiver hour starting at 3pm. Join us for an hour dedicated to celebrating your successes as a caregiver, and recognizing the commitment and hard work it takes to raise children within the special needs community. Please contact [email protected] to sign up for one or both of these events!
Fun November Dates
November 2 – Día de los Muertos
November 3 – Daylight Savings
November 5 – Election Day
November 9 – PlayDate Outing
November 11 – Veteran’s Day
November 13 – Caregiver Appreciation Day & World Kindness Day
November 14 – World Diabetes Day
November 16 – Have a Party with Your Teddy Bear Day
November 28 – Thanksgiving Day & Center Closed
November 29 – Black Friday
Monthly Celebrations
National American Indian Heritage Month
Adoption Awareness Month
Diabetes Awareness Month
November Outing
Yippee! We can’t wait to see you at our Harvest-Themed Respite Night! It’s going to be an evening full of autumnal fun for everyone. Siblings are welcome to join in on the festivities, and we’ll have a scrumptious harvest meal ready for everyone. We’re so excited to spend this delightful evening together!
To join the fun, just RSVP at [email protected] or call us at 719-465-3989.
Date: November 9, 2024
Time: 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Cost: $10/child
Location: PlayDate
November Anniversaries
A heartfelt cheer to all our amazing staff! Your dedication to PlayDate, to the families we serve, and to our mission shines through every single day. Thank you for making a difference, for teaching, and for caring. You all are what makes PlayDate truly special.
Dawnielle, Registered Behavior Technician – 1 year
Shay, Senior Therapist – 11 years
November Themes E.I.
As we embrace the month of November, our E.I. theme will focus on the beauty of fall and the importance of kindness. Throughout the month, children will explore the beauty of autumn through engaging activities, crafts, and stories that celebrate the changing seasons while learning about empathy, sharing, and caring for one another. From colorful leaves to harvest celebrations, we look forward to fostering a love for nature and creativity in our little learners.
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
This month, our elementary and tween programs will focus on the themes of gratitude, colors, and numbers. We will engage children in activities that promote appreciation and thankfulness, while also exploring the vibrant world of colors and the significance of numbers in our daily lives. Join us as we celebrate the spirit of gratitude through creative projects and interactive lessons that inspire curiosity and joy in learning. Stay tuned for exciting updates and activities throughout November!
Teens
This month, 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!
Parents of PlayDate
Clear your schedule and join us for a joyous celebration! We’re hosting a get-together to show appreciation for all the wonderful caregivers at PlayDate. Swing by on Saturday, November 9, 2024, from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. (just before Respite Night). It’s a great opportunity to connect with fellow caregivers and engage in an exciting activity. And don’t worry, we’ve got childcare covered.
Kindly confirm your attendance at 719-465-3989 or [email protected].
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
Donation Requests
We are committed to supporting children with special needs and their families. Our efforts depend on the philanthropic contributions of both individuals and businesses to sustain our mission and make a meaningful difference in our community.
Kids Size Large & Adult Size Small Clothing
Wipes
Water Balloons
Water Enhancers (sugar free)
Batteries
Kindergarten Classroom Materials/Decor
Circle Time Rug
White Glue
Markers
Paint Brushes
Acrylic Craft Paint
Glitter
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
Trunk or Treat
Dear PlayDate Community,
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your invaluable contributions in making our 6th Annual Sensory Friendly Trunk or Treat a resounding success. Your support and enthusiasm truly made a difference in creating a welcoming and enjoyable experience for all.
A special thank you goes out to our dedicated staff, particularly Randi, whose exceptional efforts and organizational skills were instrumental in bringing this event to life. We appreciate your hard work and commitment to our community.
Thank you once again for being a vital part of our PlayDate community! We can’t wait to make more memories with you at next year’s event!
Sprouts Farmers Market Healthy Communities Foundation Grant
We are thrilled to share that we’ve been chosen as recipients of the Sprouts Farmers Market Healthy Communities Foundation Grant!
This substantial support amplifies our mission to provide high-quality interventions to children with autism and other disabilities while educating the community, regardless of the family’s ability to pay for services.
The possibilities this grant opens up are immense, and we’re committed to leveraging these resources to create positive ripples throughout our community.
A warm, sincere thank you to our supporters for your belief and collaborative spirit in fostering healthier communities. We would also like to extend a special acknowledgment to Amanda for her efforts in securing this grant for us.
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!
We’re thrilled that a 12-year-old, who we’ve been working with, can now independently recognize when it’s laundry time, and they’ve mastered the entire process, from washing to drying to folding. Their mom tells us that they seem more “empowered” and confident in their ability to take care of daily tasks at home.
And we’ve got a 3-year-old who’s acing toilet training. Just the other day, before leaving the house, they told their mom, “Wait, I have to go potty!”, and made it to the bathroom on time to have an on-toilet void before leaving the house.
Meanwhile, a 14-year-old client who began our services as preverbal recently had an engaging back-and-forth chat with staff at the park about their school week. The conversation went on for an impressive 3 minutes!
Isn’t it incredible what kids can achieve? We’re proud to support them on their journey, making every step a positive experience.
