Kangaroo Kids Celebrates Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is a celebration for one fifths of the world’s population.  This is the Year of the Pig. 

Kangaroo Kids students had the good fortune to celebrate with their Chinese Language teacher Cynthia Yu. 

Preschoolers through Kindergarten children at Kangaroo Kids Child Care and Learning Center have weekly lessons in Mandarin Chinese from Cynthia as a part of their regular curriculum.

As a part of the celebration the Kindergarten Class create their own masks, lanterns and decorations and then performed a typical Chinese New Year Parade as they dance and sang Chinese songs through the entire school.  They learned "Xinnian Kuaile" which translated means "Happy New Year."   Children also learned about the Chinese Culture and landmarks like the Great Wall of China. 

Kangaroo Kids children had opportunity to experiment while working on their fine motor skills with chop sticks as they consumed homemade dumplings that Cynthia brought to school.  They also read Chinese stories, heard traditional Chinese music, and tried on authentic Chinese outfits.  Finally they received a special red envelop from Miss Cynthia.  The color red is believed to be a festive color that brings good fortune and is regarded by Chinese people as the symbol of energy, happiness and good luck.

Cynthia Yu holds a B.A degree, and has had formal music training in New York City and New Jersey.  She is also a certified teacher and has more than fifteen years of teaching.  For further information about Kangaroo Kids Chinese program call 908-231-7800 or email the school at staff@kangarookidschildcare.com.

Creative Connections for February

Below are a few ideas with links to crafts and recipes you can create with your children this February!

Create with your children – If you have trouble opening the hyperlink, left click the link and choose Open Hyperlink

Black History week was started in 1926 by a well known African American historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson. It wasn’t until 1976 that the entire month of February was recognized as Black History Month!

https://celebrationjoy.com/black-history-month

2/1 On the first Friday of every month the nation goes red for National Wear Red Day! Want to help? Wear red to bring awareness about cardiovascular disease and help save lives.

https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/get-involved/give/wear-red-and-give

2/2 Groundhogs Day is Feb 2^nd. Not just known for predicting the spring, did you know that groundhogs hibernate, are omnivores, have a curved spine, are called cubs as babies and are also known as whistle pigs!

https://www.kidsplayandcreate.com/fun-groundhog-facts-and-groundhog-day-facts-for-kids/

2/4 Simple but sometimes complex, a hot bowl of soup on a cold winter day can warm you right up! Do you prefer a hot veggie soup or a cold gazpacho? Whatever your preference enjoy a bowl on today, National Soup Day!

https://anydayguide.com/calendar/848

2/6 Appearing on the scene as a popular alternative to ice cream in the 1980’s, the idea to freeze yogurt came about in the 1970’s! Now with all the frozen yogurt shops around, you have lots of flavor combinations to choose from! On National Frozen Yogurt Day take your kids out for a healthier frozen dessert choice!

https://nationaltoday.com/national-frozen-yogurt-day/

Did you know that Garrett A. Morgan was born to former slaves in 1877 and went on to become an inventor! Between 1909 & 1923 he invented hair straightening cream, the gas mask, and the 3-position traffic light!

http://socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/ushistory/garrettmorgan.htm

2/14 Valentines Day is a fantastic day for kids to go over the top expressing their feelings of love for you! Help provide some positive reinforcement by taking some time to read any one of these Valentines Books with your children!

https://www.thoughtco.com/top-childrens-books-for-valentines-day-627613

2/17 Looking for thoughtful ways to teach children about compassion and doing things for others? Enter Random Acts of Kindness Day! Depending on the age of your child they can help zip a younger child’s coat or help serve meals at your local food pantry. Talk to your child about new ways they can be kind to others!

https://www.coffeecupsandcrayons.com/100-acts-kindness-kids/

2/18 Celebrated on the 3^rd Monday in February, Presidents Day is an American holiday used not just to celebrate Washington and Lincoln’s birthday, but a day to celebrate all Presidents!

https://www.kidsplayandcreate.com/why-do-we-celebrate-presidents-daycool-presidents-day-facts-for-kids/

Born on a cotton plantation in 1867, Madam C.J Walker was the first African American female millionaire. Because of the lack of indoor plumbing, people couldn’t shower often, and they suffered scalp disease which caused hair loss. She created products to help women create a healthier scalp.

https://www.kidsplayandcreate.com/madam-c-j-walker-facts-for-kids-1st-african-american-female-millionaire/

2/23 Ever go to the supermarket, buy some bananas and within a day or 2 they are over ripe? Happens all the time to me! Freeze your bananas until you have enough to bake banana bread! Those bananas are full of vitamin B6, fiber, potassium and various antioxidants. On today, National Banana Bread Day, bake up a loaf and don’t forget to share! 

http://theculinarycellar.com/national-banana-bread-day/

2/26 …and they lived happily ever after is the usual end to a fairy tale. Many fairytale stories have some basis of truth, such as the story of Snow White which was inspired by the real life Margarete von Waldeck of Germany! On National Tell a Fairytale Day, you can make up your own fairy tale by following a few basic story telling steps found in this website!

https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-tell-a-fairy-tale-day-february-26/

February Snacks and Crafts

Bring out the inner chef and artist in your child. Try your hand at these with your children!

Looking for a way to introduce diversity and equality to your young children? Read to them! Familyeducation.com put together a wonderful list of 15 children’s books celebrating Black History Month! Check with your local library and see if you can reserve any of them!

https://www.familyeducation.com/fun/black-history-month/top-15-childrens-books-black-history-month

2/1 It’s a new year, are you taking care of you? While busy helping your kids learn their numbers, do you know yours? Schedule a trip to your doctor or clinic and learn your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and BMI to help assess your risk for heart disease or stroke.

https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/know-your-risk/know-your-numbers

2/4 Have “souper” picky eaters at home? I’ve got 3 so I need to be creative in the ways I’m getting nutritious foods into my family’s diet. Pureeing veggies your child wouldn’t normally eat into a soup is a creative way to have your child eat something they normally won’t! Naming your soup something like Green Goblin Soup might be a fun way for a child to eat a mysterious green soup instead of calling it Spinach soup!

https://www.myfussyeater.com/green-goblin-halloween-spinach-soup-recipe/

2/6 Frozen yogurt can get expensive when you are going out for a treat with your children. It happens to be something you can make at home and customize to your own tastes. While this Frozen Strawberry Yogurt is delicious, imagine the flavor combinations you can create at home.

http://blog.feelgreatin8.com/homemade-strawberry-frozen-yogurt/

2/14 Need a break from the sugary sweets on Valentines Day? Have your kids help make some healthy Valentines snacks like a fruit and yogurt parfait made with strawberries, yogurt and granola!

https://dailymom.com/nest/fun-healthy-valentines-day-snacks-for-kids/

2/17 Looking for an activity that could brighten a mood or even your neighborhood? How about decorating some rocks and leaving them on your neighbors’ steps or around the streets of your neighborhood? Today on Random Acts of Kindness Day it’s a wonderful day to leave smiles on faces!!

https://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2017/08/creating-kindness-rocks-kids.html

2/23 Looking to change up your breakfast routine? Why not bake up this super simple banana bread for National Banana Bread Day to change it up? Add some chocolate chips for an extra taste of sweetness!

https://rare.us/rare-life/food-and-drink/you-defintely-need-this-banana-bread-recipe-in-your-arsenal/?utm_source=TotallyTheBomb&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=MToM

March 1^st – Family Magic Show at Kangaroo Kids http://www.kangarookidschildcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Magic-Show-new-1.pdf

Please take pictures of your activities and share them with your classrooms! We would love to see what you create!!

Don’t forget to check out the Kangaroo Kids Website for information on events like Parent Night Out, Family Magic Show and upcoming field trips!

http://www.kangarookidschildcare.com/family-preschool-events/

http://www.kangarookidschildcare.com/

This is a great website that details fun FREE things to do in New Jersey every month! Call ahead and make sure the activities are happening before you head out for your day!

http://www.njfamily.com/20-Free-Things-to-Do-in-NJ-in-February/

Looking for something indoors to do during the colder months? Check out your local Barnes and Noble and participate in a story time and craft!

https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/2140

If you have not checked out https://hulafrog.com/bridgewater-nj this is another place to look for things happening in the local area!