Read Across America Week February 25 - March 2 and! Dr. Seuss Birthday !!!

Dr. Seuss’s Birthday – March 2

Theodore Seuss Geisel was an American author who, under the pen name Dr. Seuss, wrote and illustrated books that both children and adults came to love. Born in 1904 in Massachusetts, Geisel went on to write some of the world’s best-known children’s books, with sales topping 600 million. He published his first children’s book in 1937, titled “And to Think that I Saw it on Mulberry Street.” “Green Eggs and Ham,” “Horton Hears a Who,” and “The Cat in the Hat” are some of his more well-known titles. He passed away in La Jolla, California, in 1991.

Key Moments in Dr. Seuss's Life

December 1, 1995

Dr. Seuss gets a library

On the fourth anniversary of his death, the library at the University of California, San Diego is renamed the Geisel Library for Geisel's generous contributions over the years.

1957

Banner year

Geisel publishes both "The Cat in the Hat" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

1942

Supporting the war effort

Geisel begins work for the government to support the war effort, including drawing posters and later commanding the Animation Department of the U.S. Army Air Forces.

1934

Big oil

Geisel produces a 30-page booklet, titled "Secrets of the Deep," for Standard Oil. It became hugely popular.

1925

Get that degree

Geisel graduates from Dartmouth College.

How to Celebrate Dr. Seuss's Birthday

1. Get hooked on a book

   There's no better way to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday than reading one or more of his books. Maybe try one or two you haven't read before, such as "The Sneetches and Other Stories" or "Bartholomew and the Oobleck." Make sure to include the kids!

2. Your turn to learn

   Dr. Seuss lived an amazing life and his stories touched children and adults across the globe. There are a number of fantastic biographies that detail his long literary career. You might start with "Who Was Dr. Seuss?" — an illustrated biography by Janet Pascal.

3. This game's not lame

   PBS Kids offers a bunch of fun, Dr. Seuss-themed games online. Try the "Arcade Escapade" or the "Corn Maze Craze." There are hours of free, rhyming fun, and you just might expand your vocabulary along the way.

Dr. Seuss's Bestselling Books

1. Green eggs?

   "Green Eggs and Ham" is Dr Seuss's all time bestseller, selling well over eight million copies.

2. That cat's crazy hat

   "The Cat in the Hat," published in 1957, clocks in at just over seven million copies sold.

3. That smells fishy

   "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" is a children's classic that has sold more than six million copies. That's a lot of fish!

4. Hop on Pop

   The tongue-twister "Hop on Pop" has sold between five and six million copies.

5. Where'd you go?

   "Oh, The Places You'll Go" has sold more than five million copies since it was published in 1990.

Why we love Dr. Seuss's birthday

1. He was a legend

   Perhaps no other American stamped his imprint on children's literature quite like Dr. Seuss did. His books have sold more than 600 million copies and still fly off the shelves to this day. He created some of our favorite children's literary characters including that famous cat and elephant.

2. He got kids to read

   Dr. Seuss made reading fun for kids. His characters, illustrations, and rhyming verse entertained while also inspiring kids to read more. It's quite possible he made kids WANT to go to bed early so they could have story time.

3. He did more than write

   Theodore Seuss Geisel was more than just a children's storyteller. He was a political cartoonist during World War II and won the 1947 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for a film called "Design for Death." His birthday serves as National Read Across America Day, which promotes reading throughout the country.

Want to Earn $50 from QCC?!!

If you refer a child to QCC and they mention you in their application, you will receive $50 once they have attended QCC for one full month. Ask your director for more details. 

Want to Earn $50 from QCC?!!

If you refer a child to QCC and they mention you in their application, you will receive $50 once they have attended QCC for one full month. Ask your director for more details. 

Meet Kylie Parsons

Kylie Parsons is the newest addition the QCC Cabot - East Justice family, where she has been named the center's new Director. She lives in Conway with her fiancée, their 8-year-old daughter Ashlyn, and a pet guinea pig named Lola. She was born and raised in Kingfield, Maine and graduated from Casco Bay College in Portland, Maine with an Associate's Degree in Business Management. She moved to Conway in 2005 where she fell in love with the "southern charm" of the small college town. She has always had a passion for working with children, which led her to become a toddler teacher in 2008. In 2014, she started working at Quality Child Care in Conway and was soon promoted to assistant director. While working to earn her Child Development Associate Credential, she was honored and excited to accept the position of Director at QCC Cabot - East Justice in the summer of 2017. Her favorite part of the day is opening the doors in the morning to greet the smiling faces of the children and staff.

Welcome, Kylie! We are so glad you're here! 

Getting Ready for Kindergarten

Getting your child ready for Kindergarten can be scary; maybe more for mom and dad than for the child. And while school has already begun, it's never too late get your child ready for their first year in "big kid" school. Here a few quick tips and resources to guide you through this milestone transition. As always, your center's director is here to help with any questions or concerns you have about this process. 

1. Check out your child's school's website. Chances are good your child's teacher has posted all the info you need to be sure they are prepared. 

2. Consider letting your child stay with other trusted adults for a few hours a day. This will help him or her to acclimate to being away from mom and dad.

3. Begin introducing concepts like counting, sorting, and identifying letters and numbers. Getting a head start on building these skills will make your child more confident when they are introduced at school.

4. Read, read, read! Make sure you are showing your child just how important and pleasurable reading can be by pointing out all the things you are reading throughout the day. Don’t stop with just their favorite books, but show them how newspapers, road signs, cereal boxes, recipes, and nearly everything else they encounter involves reading in some way.

5. Help them memorize their full name, phone number, and address. This is not only for their safety, but can also give them a sense of identity and self-confidence. Here is a really cool project you can do with your child to help them understand who and where they are in the world.

6. Show them how (and when) to properly introduce themselves to unfamiliar people. Your child will meet so many new people when they start school, so knowing the proper protocol for saying hello and introducing themselves to peers and teachers can go a long way in helping them make friends.

7. Most important, ask lots of questions. Make sure your child knows that you are ready and willing to listen to their concerns and help them with any confusion or problems they may encounter at school.

USDA Team Nutrition Summer Resources

The USDA Team Nutrition has a great website to learn how we can keep our kids healthy and active all year long. They also offer information about their summer food program. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks are being served at locations accross the state all summer long. To find a location near you, click here and enter your zip code. 

If you would like additional info, please contact your Center's Director. 

Father's Day is just around the corner!

Each year on Father's Day we celebrate the men who serve as parents, coaches, teachers, and mentors to children. It takes a heart full of love and generosity to serve in these roles, so to show our appreciation, QCC kids will be doing activities and making crafts this week to honor the men who make such a big difference in the lives of the children they love. 

Having fun in the sun with messy art!

What a fun day! We took advantage of the beautiful weather last week and went outside to make some "messy art."