Tuesday: Jambalaya and Watermelon
Wednesday: Mongolian Broccoli, Rice, ans Sliced Oranges
Thursday: Mongolian Mini Pizzas, Baby Carrots and Ranch
Friday: Borscht with Sour Cream, Rye Bread and Cheese

Monday: Tom Kha Soup and Thai Salad
Tuesday: Bean and Cheese Enchiladas with Jicama Spears
Wednesday: Basil Fried Rice and Watermelon
Thursday: Open-Faced Bagel Sandwiches
Friday: Yellow Curry Veggies and Brown Rice

Monday: Black Bean Soup and Brown Bread

Tuesday: Coconut Curry Vegetables and Rice

Wednesday: Tropical Fruit Salad and String Cheese

Thursday: Mee Cola – Rice Stick Noodles with Pickled Vegetables, Sliced Oranges

Friday: Coconut Rice Pudding and Bananas

Monday: Vegetarian Pho with Rice Noodles; Cucumbers

Tuesday: Green Papaya Salad, Cheddar Cheese Cubes

Wednesday: Rice Vermicelli with Curry, Vegetables and Fresh Herbs

Thursday: Bahn Mi Sandwiches and Oranges

Friday: Carrot Cake Day; Healthy Carrot Muffins with Cream Cheese, and Baby Carrot with Ranch

Monday: Egg Flower Soup and Sliced Cucumbers

Tuesday: Wok-Fried Broccoli and Whole Wheat Noodles

Wednesday: Vegetarian Egg Rolls and Mandarin Oranges

Thursday: Home-made Pizza and Salad

Friday: Fried Rice with Garlic Green Beans

Physical development and overall good health is the foundation for every aspect of child development and learning. Whether your little is playing “Duck, Duck, Goose,” tag or “Old Mother Witch, What Time Is It”, they are practicing counting skills, working on taking turns, and developing gross motor and find motor skills.  When littles are outside, they create games with rules, re-enact what they learned in books, or interpret skills from home.  They develop creatively by dreaming up their own games when they play.  Unstructured outdoor time also encourages independence, reflection, and respect for nature.

While outdoor playtime is incredibly valuable, we also believe that classroom playtime is just as important.  Children have a basic need for both indoor and outdoor play every day. These environments provide significantly different contexts for play. As compared with play indoors, outside play allows for more active play with fewer restrictions on noise and movement, and greater freedom with natural materials like water, sand, snow, and soil.

One surprising problem that researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center found during a recent study, was that outdoor play is often stifled because a child arrives without appropriate outdoor attire. To get help our outdoor playtime be successful, please have your little wear a coat and closed-toed shoes. These are important tools for our littles to run free and safe.

To encourage successful playtime at home, give time to let your little RUN!!  Step outside together and just play a wonderful game of chase and watch your little twinkle.  My fondest memories with my parents were those golden moments when my brothers and I played chase and these words bring a smile to my heart: “You can’t catch me!”

Due to icy road conditions Sweet Pea Cottage will be closed Tuesday, January 17, 2012. For complete details, please check the Seattle Public Schools website, as we are guided by their emergency closure policies. Stay safe and warm out there!