{"id":822,"date":"2019-01-12T18:16:24","date_gmt":"2019-01-12T18:16:24","guid":{"rendered":"https://theempoweredprovider.com/?p=822"},"modified":"2020-01-13T18:39:53","modified_gmt":"2020-01-13T18:39:53","slug":"february-theme-activity-ideas-for-family-child-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https://theempoweredprovider.com/february-theme-activity-ideas-for-family-child-care/","title":{"rendered":"February Themes &#038; Activity Ideas for Family Child Care"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>February is the shortest month of the year, but can pack a real punch! Today I am sharing <strong>February Theme&nbsp;Ideas<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/PIN-february-theme-ideas-for-family-child-care-.jpg\" alt=\"boy holding valentine heart\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Years ago, I purchased this <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Editable-Calendar-Pack-2697052\" target=\"_blank\">adorable calendar series<\/a> from Lucky to Be In First by Molly Lynch on Teachers Pay Teachers. I paid $4.00 for the calendar set and she has been updating it every year! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"688\" height=\"532\" src=\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/february-calendar-2017-graphic.jpg\" alt=\"february calendar sample\" class=\"wp-image-823\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/february-calendar-2017-graphic.jpg 688w, https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/february-calendar-2017-graphic-400x309.jpg 400w, https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/february-calendar-2017-graphic-200x155.jpg 200w, https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/february-calendar-2017-graphic-319x247.jpg 319w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 688px) 100vw, 688px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Insider Tip:<\/strong> Use as many graphics as possible so that the kids in your program can &#8216;read&#8217; the calendar too! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><strong>Symbols to&nbsp;Add&nbsp;to&nbsp;Your&nbsp;Calendar:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Guitar =&nbsp;<\/strong>Invite specialists into your program like a music teacher, story teller or Spanish teacher <\/li><li><strong>Cake <\/strong>= Highlight birthdays in your group<\/li><li><strong>Chef <\/strong>= Cook with the kids<\/li><li><strong>Tooth&nbsp;<\/strong>= Invite a community helper to talk with the kids.  <\/li><li><strong>Share Day<\/strong> = Allow kids to bring something in for show-n-tell.  <\/li><li><strong>Color Block<\/strong> = Kids can wear a color on a particular day. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/kelly-sikkema-530120-unsplash-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"paper heart accordion \" class=\"wp-image-824\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/kelly-sikkema-530120-unsplash-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/kelly-sikkema-530120-unsplash-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/kelly-sikkema-530120-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/kelly-sikkema-530120-unsplash-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/kelly-sikkema-530120-unsplash-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/kelly-sikkema-530120-unsplash.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3>February Theme Ideas: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>I Love to Read Month<\/li><li>Dental Health Month<\/li><li>Superbowl<\/li><li>Valentines Day<\/li><li>Friendship<\/li><li>Groundhog&#8217;s Day<\/li><li>President&#8217;s Day<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/anna-kolosyuk-551398-unsplash-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"boy holding paper heart on table\" class=\"wp-image-825\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/anna-kolosyuk-551398-unsplash-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/anna-kolosyuk-551398-unsplash-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/anna-kolosyuk-551398-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/anna-kolosyuk-551398-unsplash-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/anna-kolosyuk-551398-unsplash-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/anna-kolosyuk-551398-unsplash-200x133.jpg 200w, https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/anna-kolosyuk-551398-unsplash.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3>Favorite February Theme Ideas:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Valentine&#8217;s Day Party <\/strong>&#8211; Create homemade mailboxes and have kids bring in special Valentine&#8217;s for their friends. Send home a list of names of the kids in your program in advance.<\/li><li><strong>Love Your Teeth<\/strong> &#8211; Set up a pretend dentist office in your dramatic play area and invite a local dentist or dental hygienist to come and chat with your kids about how to care for their teeth. <\/li><li><strong>I Love to Read <\/strong>&#8211; <a href=\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/how-to-teach-kids-to-care-for-books/\">Teach kids how to care for books<\/a>, create activities to go with some of your favorite stories, <a href=\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/mystery-reader-activity/\">invite parents &amp; grandparents to be a Mystery Reader<\/a>, host a reading contest, let kids bring in their favorite books to read all month long. <\/li><li><strong>President&#8217;s Day<\/strong> &#8211; Print off pictures of presidents, read kid-friendly books about presidents, set out Lincoln Logs, use money (toy or real) and point out the president&#8217;s faces and names, make George Washington hats, create penny rub art, shine up pennies (science experiment), <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"548\" src=\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/laura-ockel-194248-unsplash-800x548.jpg\" alt=\"pile of candy hearts\" class=\"wp-image-826\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/laura-ockel-194248-unsplash-800x548.jpg 800w, https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/laura-ockel-194248-unsplash-400x274.jpg 400w, https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/laura-ockel-194248-unsplash-768x526.jpg 768w, https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/laura-ockel-194248-unsplash-1000x685.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/laura-ockel-194248-unsplash-200x137.jpg 200w, https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/laura-ockel-194248-unsplash.jpg 1051w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3>In addition to a calendar, many child care providers distribute a newsletter each month to communicate with their clients. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A good newsletter includes: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Important Dates<\/li><li>Time off<\/li><li>Holidays<\/li><li>Upcoming Events<\/li><li>Policy Reminders<\/li><li>Birthdays<\/li><li>Special Announcements<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>I used several formats until I found one that worked for me. One cute option is this <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"adorable editable newsletter set (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Editable-Newsletter-Templates-1807896\" target=\"_blank\">adorable editable newsletter set<\/a> from Catherine Reed of The Brown Bag Teacher on Teachers Pay Teachers for $6.00. It will save you a ton of time in formatting!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here is one newsletter layout I used on a consistent basis for my crew. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"460\" height=\"573\" src=\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/february-newsletter-image-page-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"829\" class=\"wp-image-829\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/february-newsletter-image-page-1.jpg 460w, https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/february-newsletter-image-page-1-400x498.jpg 400w, https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/february-newsletter-image-page-1-200x249.jpg 200w, https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/february-newsletter-image-page-1-319x397.jpg 319w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"456\" height=\"584\" src=\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/february-newsletter-image-page-2-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"830\" data-link=\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/?attachment_id=830\" class=\"wp-image-830\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/february-newsletter-image-page-2-1.jpg 456w, https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/february-newsletter-image-page-2-1-400x512.jpg 400w, https:\/\/theempoweredprovider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/february-newsletter-image-page-2-1-200x256.jpg 200w, https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/february-newsletter-image-page-2-1-319x409.jpg 319w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 456px) 100vw, 456px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Happy February planning! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A note from the editor: <\/strong>This is my first post about February theme ideas. Check back often to find new links added to this article that will explain how to execute some of the activities I have listed! We are just getting started folks! So glad you are here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>February is the shortest month of the year, but can pack a real punch! Today I am sharing February Theme&nbsp;Ideas. Years ago, I purchased this adorable calendar series from Lucky to Be In First by Molly Lynch on Teachers Pay Teachers. I paid $4.00 for the calendar set and she has been updating it every<\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https://theempoweredprovider.com/february-theme-activity-ideas-for-family-child-care/\">Continue Reading<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2792,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":""},"categories":[136,41],"tags":[168,167],"featured_image_src":"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/FEATURED-IMAGE-NEW_-FEBRUARY-THEME-ACTIVITY-IDEAS.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/FEATURED-IMAGE-NEW_-FEBRUARY-THEME-ACTIVITY-IDEAS.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Roz Addler","author_link":"https://theempoweredprovider.com/author/rozaddler1/"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/FEATURED-IMAGE-NEW_-FEBRUARY-THEME-ACTIVITY-IDEAS.jpg","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https://wp.me/pafW5k-dg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/822"}],"collection":[{"href":"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-json/wp/v2/types/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-json/wp/v2/users/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-json/wp/v2/comments?post=822"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/822/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2793,"href":"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/822/revisions/2793"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-json/wp/v2/media/2792"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-json/wp/v2/media?parent=822"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-json/wp/v2/categories?post=822"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https://theempoweredprovider.com/wp-json/wp/v2/tags?post=822"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}