With the recent update to the executive order requiring mask wearing for elementary aged students, we'd like to remind our parents that our center is a private center, not a school. We have been working with children to increase their tolerance for mask wearing since our return to therapy, and will continue to do so as that is a necessary life skill at this time.

We ask that if you prefer your child wear his mask all day, you speak to your BCBA and we will work with you to reach that goal.

We also ask that if you prefer your child wear a cloth mask instead of a disposable mask, you send two clean cloth masks daily. One mask will be worn, and the other can be kept in a small plastic bag you send it in, only to be used if the original becomes soiled. We are also happy to provide a disposable child-sized mask if the primary mask is soiled and will provide disposable masks daily for children who do not come with a cloth mask.

Please reach out to your BCBA if you have any questions or concerns.

Of course, the theme for October is pumpkins and Halloween! We are making lots of crafts with pumpkins, enjoying songs about fall and Halloween, and practicing dressing up for Halloween too.

If you haven't sent your child's costume in yet, feel free to do so anytime, and we will help him practice wearing it so he'll be ready for the big day.

One of our favorite songs is this October song by Jack Hartmann.

One of our new Wiggle Dance songs for October is Monster Moves by Koo Koo Kanga Roo - play it and dance along at home!

We are making a small adjustment to our COVID policy and allowing lunch bags and backpacks in the building. If you would like to use them, please go ahead and send your child's backpack and/or lunch box.

Whether you use a lunchbox, or stick with a paper bag, PLEASE make sure the lunch container is clearly labeled. We have an adult access the refrigerator to retrieve the lunches, and you can imagine how confusing it is if the paper bags aren't labeled! Thanks for your help!

Even while we practice social distancing, we want to reassure parents that your children are not socially isolated. Our days are still full of group activities, including:

• Circle time
• Playing outside
• Snack (2 times per day) and lunch
• Group Music after lunch
• Wiggle/Dance time (throughout the day)
• Yoga
• Literacy
• Math

These activities vary in length, but most are 15 minutes at a time, and we do each of these every day. Pre-COVID, we had the children sit right next to each other for these small group activities. Now, we have them sit a little further apart, but we still have one teacher leading the activity and the kids are interacting with each other and their teacher. Our outside play time doesn't look any different at this point - and trust us, the kids are enjoying these opportunities to play.

When our kids eat snacks, they sit at their own tables, but we move around so they can face each other and we encourage them to interact. When they eat lunch, we have all of the children in one large room, but again, facing each other and eating together.

It's hard for us to show pictures of the activities when multiple children are involved, as we can't show their faces in the pictures - so please talk to your BCBA if you'd like more specifics about how your child is doing in these group activities.

Email: info@sc-centers.com
Website: www.sc-centers.com
Location: Burton and Brighton, MI
Phone: 810-344-8082