Welcome to the 2008/2009 school year session at Almost Home. The beginning of each new school year is always an exciting time for children, teachers, and parents. As our children grow and develop, we cross over new thresholds and developmental milestones. When our babies move from the infant room to the toddler room they enter into an environment with more ritual and routine. They begin to learn how to come together for "circle time", they socialize as they share mealtime and snacks together, and they graduate from sleeping in a crib to resting on a cot. While typically the children are ready for the change and do so almost effortlessly, the parents sometimes worry or mourn the passing of the infancy change. As toddlers move to Preschool, and as Preschoolers move to Kindergarten, it is about change.

Change has been a theme we have been hearing about a lot lately during this political season, but change almost always provokes some level of anxiety. If we anticipate change we worry about the consequences. If we project our insecurities, they may effect our children. The important aspect of change is that it is inevitable. Change may be scary, we may feel we are loosing control, but change occurs naturally whether we like it or not! Our children are growing and changing. We do not have the power to either stop this from happening or even slow them down. What we must do, is provide an environment which allows children to flourish as they change and grow. One that encourages their natural sense of curiosity, one that encourages positive risk taking, and one that helps them gain independence and strength of character.

So as we watch the changes that occur so quickly in these early years, lets all remember how change is an important aspect of our daily lives. We can help our children to accept change and be open to new things, as long as we too are willing to look at change in a positive manner.

Almost Home is continually looking to make changes that will improve our programs, help our staff, and assist our families so that we can provide the best programs possible for your children.

To all our new families, welcome to Almost Home, and for those that took the summer off, we are happy to have you back.

Sincerely yours,

Jennifer Soodek