July 2025
Summer is not OVER! Keep enjoying every minute until... the smell of crisp fall weather arrives. We already have pumpkins at HVS. Is it going to be an early fall? Maybe?
Manners and Toddlers
How do we teach kids manners and why is it important?
- Manners give children confidence
- They must have a role model they trust
- Start with early simple habits
- Understand why we have manners
- This leads to good social skills as they age
📺 2 min video: Etiquette & The Story of King Louis XIV – Cindy Post Senning shares how the word “etiquette” came to represent our social customs through a story of King Louis XIV and his summer celebrations at Versailles.
New Class: Gradual Introduction to Preschool
Caregiver and Me Class – Join us for an hour. You choose: story time, snack time, outside play, or learning time.
Sign up on Calendlyhttps://calendly.com/jivins77/caregiver-and-me-class
UPDATE from Miss Jessica
This summer, I took a trip to New Jersey and visited New York with my daughter Marissa. We enjoyed the shore, relaxed by the pool, and even had a pretend “pool boy” (really my husband) bring us drinks. Yes, I still pretend as an adult!
I finally started working out—and I’m enjoying it! I gave the preschool room a makeover, created a new solar system mobile, and installed pulley systems in the classroom. At home, I now have an automatic chicken door—more time for coffee in the mornings!
Marissa, my youngest, will be a senior this year. She bought a moped and has been zipping all over Sandy, Draper, and South Jordan. Give her a wave if you see her!
This year, Daniela will be helping in the preschool on Wednesdays. She’s Spanish-speaking, and I love the diversity she brings for the kids. Hearing another language is such a gift for their developing brains.
The Decline of Unstructured Play
by Michael Patte, Ph.D.
In the past, play was child-initiated and open-ended. Today, for many kids, it’s adult-directed and highly structured—impacting physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth. Michael Patte, professor of education at Bloomsburg University, explains why unstructured play remains essential.
Consistency: A Key to Raising Secure, Well-Behaved Children
Consistency is one of the most powerful tools for helping children grow into emotionally secure and well-mannered individuals. Like a steady compass, it helps kids know what to expect and how to behave.
Benefits of Consistency
- Creates a sense of security
- Builds trust in caregivers
- Reinforces learning through repetition
- Shapes behavior effectively
- Strengthens emotional regulation
Why HVS Excels in Consistency
We’re small, stable, and dependable—always the same teachers, never random substitutes. This predictability makes our environment safe and home-like.
Examples in the World
- Church – studies link religious upbringing with greater success
- The seasons – predictable and reassuring
- Sunrise and sunset
- Flowers blooming and fading
- Evergreen trees staying green year-round
Our Approach to Religion
Religion isn’t part of our curriculum, but if a child talks about church, we listen respectfully. Sometimes a child asks to pray before snack, and they’re welcome to do so.
Living in Utah
It’s common for kids to ask, “What church do you go to?” You can simply reply: “I’m happy you’ve found peace at your church, and thanks for thinking of me. I’m at peace with my choice.”
How Do I Get Through to My Teenager?
Conversations with teens can feel impossible. My creative solution: a picture frame in the bathroom, right above the toilet paper. I rotate the content—jokes, quotes, or reminders. They have to look at it, so maybe they’ll read it!
Sometimes it works, sometimes not—but when they quote something from the frame, I know: mission accomplished. Start this when they’re young so it becomes normal. Change it often.
📄 Printable Top 10 Cell Phone Rules
Emily Post Website
Preschool Hours
This year’s preschool hours: 8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
If you’re in a bind, I can often accommodate. For full-time daycare, my neighbor runs Canny Kids with two locations in Sandy. I can even drop children off there if needed.
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