Although slime seems to be a very messy activity, it is very fun to play with and washes off fairly easily.  Making and play with slime encourages the development of fine and gross motor skills.  Children will also learn about math, science, creativity, language skills and more.  Let them participate in making the slime by doing the measurements, mix the ingredients, choosing the colour…

Here are the ingredients:

4 oz glue (1/2 cup) – Elmer’s Glue is best

2 oz water (1/4 cup)

1/2 Tbsp baking soda

Food coloring

1 Tbsp contact solution

Mix glue, water, baking soda and food coloring thoroughly.

Mix in contact solutions slowly.  You might want to add a few more drops depending on the texture you want for your slime.  Then knead it to a desire texture.

Before incorporating other learning materials to enhance the activity, try just playing with the slime.  What do you notice, how does it feel, what about the smell, what do you hear …

Try playing the slime with other learning materials; scissors, jars, small containers with holes, buttons, rocks

Store the slime in an air tight container.  If it is too sticky the next day, add a few more drops of contact solution.

Let me know how your slime turned out.  Please email me some picture at Lan.Huang@burnabyschools.ca

Have Fun and always wash your hands after playing with slime.

Click here to watch the video.

Here is another recipe

What is storytelling?  Oral story telling involves telling a story from memory without reading a book or a written script.  The story may vary from each telling depending on the audience.   While we know that reading is very important to children’s development, telling stories to your children has a lot of benefits too.  Studies have shown that storytelling enhance the individual’s social and emotional, cognitive and language skills.  Because there are no pictures, children must use their imaginations to imagine what is happening in the story.  Oral storytelling  also provides opportunities for you to share cultural folktales, exchange narratives between you and your child, create new stories and a bonding environment.   Do you remember any stories from your childhood and how you were feeling when you were listening to those stories?  What kind of connections did you make with the stories and the storyteller?

Here are just some tips on oral storytelling:

• use eye contact to capture your child’s attention
• use gestures (body language), intonation, and facial expressions
• engage your child in the story by asking him/her – what is happening in the story, how do you think the character is feeling
• ask them to contribute ideas to the story by asking them what do you think is going to happen?

Click here to listen to a story

Try retelling the story.  What other details would you like to add to the story?

This year has been full of challenges and uncertainties for many of us and there are still challenges ahead.  I will not be celebrating Thanksgiving like previous years.  I will be celebrating it with my own household members, and virtually or social distancing with friends and other family member.

Thanksgiving is about family and being grateful.  I am thankful for my family, friends, StrongStart and for my children doing the dishes… just to name a few.  What are you thankful /grateful for…your child had a good night sleep, dressed themselves, had a good day, give you a big hug?  Ask your children what they are thankful for or what makes them happy.

Focusing on gratitude and the simplest things in our everyday life help reduce our anxiety level.  Despite all the challenges that 2020 has brought, it also brought us a sense of appreciation for things that we may have taken for granted pre-pandemic.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Click here to sing along

Baby teeth are important for eating, talking, smiling and holding a space for adult teeth.  The Fraser Health Dental Program is providing free dental clinic services to families with children under 3 years old.  If your child is 3 years and older and needing help with resources or help with dental issues, you can reach them at their direct dental line at 604-918-7606.

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As many of you know, StrongStart programs collaborate with many community partners to support children and families.

Here are their contacts:

Information Children

http://www.informationchildren.com

Family Service of Greater Vancouver

Infant Development Program

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Wednesday, September 30th – Orange Shirt Day  –  is a day when we honour the Indigenous children who were sent away to residential schools in Canada and learn more about the history of those schools.  Orange Shirt Day — and every day — is a reminder that every child matters.  By educating people about residential schools, we foster respect and mutual understanding with all Indigenous people and all communities, thus helping us fight racism and bullying.  Everyone is encouraged to wear Orange.

Hello Strong Start Families

I hope you all had a safe and healthy summer and had lots of fun outside in the sun.

It is wonderful to back again.  I missed you all and am excited to be connecting with you again.  This year will continue to be an interesting year as we navigate through these challenging times.

I know many of you are wondering what is happening with StrongStart and when is it going to be open for in person sessions.  Unfortunately, we don’t know yet.

Here is a message from the Burnaby School District:

In September 2020, Burnaby StrongStart BC programs will continue to engage in outreach to families via emails, phone calls, and offering StrongStart services online. 

There is currently no in-person StrongStart BC programs in Burnaby Schools.  

We are looking into a variety of options that will enable us to offer in-person StrongStart BC programs. Programs will be at reduced capacity that are consistent with Stage 2 of the K-12 Education Restart Plan. “Reduced capacity” means that we will limit the number of families attending in order to maintain safe physical distancing. We will also reduce the number of hours per day and/or days per week of StrongStart BC operations to accommodate cleaning and disinfecting protocols.  

Please continue to visit our website for the latest updates. We look forward to when we can welcome you back in person!  Looking forward to connecting with you again!

Starting today, September 21st, I will be back to support you remotely. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you want to get in touch with me.  My email address is Lan.Huang@burnabyschools.ca

Stay safe and healthy, be kind, be calm.

With Love and a big virtual hug;

Ms. Lan

Dearest StrongStart Families;

Dearest Daddies;

I want to wish all the Daddies a Happy Father’s Day.  You play an important role in your children’s lives.  Your love, guidance, care and support help them grow and thrive.  They admire and respect you.  Not all super heroes wear capes.  I hope you all spend the day with your families doing the things you all love to do.  Cherish the day and make memorable memories.  Happy Father’s Day.

Click here to listen to a story