Wash Your Hands!

The CDC and the Allen County Flu Task Force have some good suggestions for all of us. We should always remind children to:

• Cover their nose and mouth with a tissue when they cough or sneeze—have them throw the tissue away after they use it.
• Wash their hands often with soap and water, especially after they cough or sneeze. If water is not near, use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
• Remind them to not to touch their eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs often spread this way!

Let's All Work Together to Stay Healthy!

Trains Storytime

Today's Smart Start Preschool Storytime at 10:30 a.m. is all about trains!
Three to six year olds (and their favorite grown-up) are invited join us for fun stories, songs and rhymes about trains.



Find train facts, history, and games at this kid friendly website-
Trakkies - for kids who love trains

A Child's Book Review: Clementine

Clementine by Sara Pennypacker was reviewed by Fiona, age 6:

We read the newer Clementine books before we read this one, but okay fine, we like them all. I love cats just like Clementine does.

Submit your child's book review to me via email and you may see it in a future "A Child's Book Review" blog post.

Healthy Food, Healthy Bodies

The Monster Health Book is a fun, kid-friendly guide for taking care of yourself -- with tips on healthy foods, exercise, and just feeling good about yourself! Mixed in with the information are fun facts, like the number of peanuts it takes to make one jar of peanut butter.
(Want to know the answer? Highlight the area below to read it!)


It takes about 550 peanuts to make one 12 ounce jar of peanut butter.


Playnormous is a website that promotes healthy eating and exercise! Play games like Lunch Crunch, where you have to put together a healthy meal, or Juice Jumble where you have to figure out which fruit drinks REALLY have fruit juice in them. Grown-ups will find tips and lesson plans, as well.

Early Learning Center Mailbox

There are so many things to look at and talk about in this picture. Drawing pictures with your preschooler is a great way to work on narrative skills. Narrative skills include the ability to describe things & events and to tell stories.

Make up a story about this drawing with your preschooler or create a drawing of your own to talk about.

To learn more about the six early literacy skills click here.

Cut Paper Illustrations "All in a Day"

Who could resist the sweet sounding text of Cynthia Rylant
paired with the mesmerizing paper-cut illustrations of Nikki
McClure?

“All in a Day” is the perfect way to welcome a new
day or wish it a dreamy goodnight.

Find more books with Cut Paper Illustrations here!

Healthy Kids Day !

Fun, Free and Healthy!

Visit "YMCA's Healthy Kids Day" on Saturday April 25th from 10:00a.m.-2:00p.m.

This free event will be held at Parkview Field in Harrison Square, home of the Fort Wayne Tin Caps! Stop by the Children's Services table to pick up a calendar of free activities at the downtown library. We'll also have some bookmarks for you to color, and other fun surprises.

Click here to download the flyer for this event!