Winter is here and we are determined to celebrate the cold season … even when it is not. I suppose that by the time you read this, we’ll have 8 inches of snow on the ground, apple cider warming on the stove, and the snow plow working overtime. This week we are celebrating winter with our “Everything Snow” night in Kimball. We are making Snow Globes, homemade ice cream, feeding the birds, and lots of fun activities to remind us of the season that wasn’t. “Honk!” the Ugly Duckling Musical is coming up on March 1. Our bus will leave Kimball Elementary School parking lot at 8:30 a.m., and return at 11:30 a.m. Parents and kids can ride to the Paramount Theater to enjoy a live community play for only $10 per person. Call for reservations if you would like to take a special child to the play. (Note: Children must be 4-years-old or older.) Our number: (320) 398-7700, ext. 229. “Our Town” is a fun evening to spend with the whole family. We will be building a town which you are your child can come to visit. Come to the beauty shop for a fancy nail polish job or to get your face painted; shop for your “groceries” in the food store; wash, fix, and gas up your vehicle (bring your own, but tricycles only). Our nursery will have plants to arrange with seeds to plant; visit the library for your own free book to take home. We have a “diner” where your child can serve the family a “meal” of hot dogs, chips and a drink, all included in your entrance fee. Here’s the scoop: Our Town, $3 per person (adults too), March 8, 6:30-8 p.m. Watkins Elementary gym (any family with a preschooler can come to Our Town). Wintertime safety tips for preschoolers and parents Winter or summer, parents always want their children to be safe. Here are some ways to encourage winter safety for your preschool age child: • Dress warmly, but in layers. Cover ears to prevent unnecessary ear infections from windy days. • Non-slip boots are best when walking near vehicles (especially school busses). • Wear brightly colored clothes, especially in the early evening hours. We want to see your child from a long ways off. Use reflective tape for everyone when out after dark. • Wear a helmet when sledding or skating near hockey games. • Sled on approved spaces. Sledding onto parking lots, where there is gravel or rocks invite injury. • Teach your child to walk up the outside edge of the hill, and to get off the end of the hill quickly after sliding down. • Teach children to use mittens and gloves daily, so that when they play out they leave them on. Kids get frostbite most often on little fingers. Have a happy winter!
