Bugs, Bugs, Bugs!

After all of the rain we’ve had, I have noticed we are dealing with a lot of bugs. What do you do to guard yourself from the hungry mosquitoes outside? I have been doing some research on how to protect our bodies from the bugs and debating on what methods work best.

Some people are all about their home remedies for pesky insects while others trust the name brands to keep them from getting bitten. I think it is important to guard yourself from overexposure to bug bites because you never know what insect could be caring a virus that could make you sick. Here is a list of some of the diseases bugs can spread: 

•    West Nile Virus- Mosquito
•      Lyme Disease- Ticks
•     Malaria- Mosquito
•     Myiasis- Fly Larvae
•     Typhus- Fleas, Mites, Ticks, Lice

Though most of these illnesses are rare in the United States, we must always be cautious about overexposure to insects during the summer months, especially around bodies of water and wooded areas. 

I have created a list of products you can purchase over-the-counter and a couple of home remedies you may also want to try when venturing outdoors. If you have any remedies you would like to share with us, please leave a comment below. 

Insect Repellants:

•      OFF! Insect repellant- several varieties to suite your needs
•       AVON Skin So Soft/Insect repellant
•       CUTTER Skinsations
•       Burt’s Bees Insect Repellant

Home Remedies:

•       Lavender Oil- Mix 30 drops in water and place in spray bottle. Spray and repeat when needed
•       Citronella Oil- Mix 30 drops in water and place in spray bottle. Spray and repeat when needed
•      Parsley or Basil leaves- boil into a tea and either rub on skin once cooled or add to spray bottle and  spray as often as needed
•      ½ teaspoon of vegetable glycerin, distilled water and witch hazel, and eucalyptus oil- mix in a water bottle and spray as often as needed. The stronger the oil the better it works. 

What is up with Illinois weather?

Illinois is notorious for unpredictable weather and I think Memorial Day topped all of the weather conditions so far for 2013. Our campus, and mainly our center, experienced power outage and major damage to some of the beautiful nature surrounding our campus. We were fortunate enough to have been closed at the time of the storm, but the loss of trees and power resulted in a closing and a lot of cleanup. Check out some of the pictures of the destruction from the storm:

                Have you created a plan of action for situations like this one and other storms that could cross our path? Do you have a basement or safe place to go to in case of a tornado? Our children participated in their annual tornado drill just this morning and this afternoon we received word that there is a tornado watch until 8pm.  In the event that the watch turns into a warning, know that your children are in good hands and know exactly what to do if this ever happens. If we need to evacuate, our plan of action is to head immediately to the PAC tunnel, the safest place on campus.

                Here are a few measures you could take with your family if a tornado warning occurred while you were at home:

http://www.disaster-survival-guide.com/tornado-safety.html

http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4340177_Tornado.pdf

A Week of Celebrating...

What is “The Week of the Young Child”? It is a week- long celebration of us. Who? Read on and see…

·         The child- We celebrate the child because our center would not exist without the little ones who fill our classrooms as well as our hearts, participate in our activities, and remind us of why our jobs are important.  Children are the reason we do what we do!

·         The family- If we didn’t have all of you and your support for what we do, we would fail. Our goal is to share the educational responsibility in your child’s growth and development as well as care for them while you are working or in school. We appreciate your support and your trust in us.

·         The Center- We have an amazing group of people who love and care for the children and their families and we want them to know how much we appreciate them.

Please help us make the “Week of the Young Child” a successful one and join us this April 15-19^th in the activities planned to celebrate YOU!

For more on The Week of the Young Child, you can visit the following:

http://www.naeyc.org/woyc

Pinterest and other cool websites...

Did you know that you can make cool designs on paper using glue, salt, and food coloring? What about making your own birthday decorations instead of spending money on items that can be easily made? In today's world, we have modern technology to thank for sharing ideas, recipes, and kid friendly projects that create hours of fun. (especially on days like our recent snow day!)

The following websites are easy to use and offer a variety of ideas and activities to pass the time, engage in family time, or to just expand our creative experiences.

www.pinterest.com
www.pbskids.org
 http://www.ebizmba.com/articles/kids-websites
www.nickjr.com
www.familyfun.com

These websites offer cool activities, recipes for food and science experiments, art projects, and games. Next time you are home and looking for something to do with your little one, spend some time exploring one of these sites to create a fun filled day!

*Cool Art Activity to Try:

What you will need:  construction paper, glue, salt, and food coloring
What to do: Take the glue and create whatever design you want on the construction paper. Use a salt shaker to sprinkle over the glue design. Make sure glue is covered in the salt and shake excess salt off of the paper. Take the food coloring and drop one drop at a time on the glue/salt design. Watch the colors spread all over the design to create a cool art project. This activity is great for kids who want to make their own name signs for their bedroom door- just hang when it dries!

Being Prepared for an Emergency

In this day and age, we are more prepared than ever for disasters and emergencies. We keep extra supplies around the house for snow days; have flashlights and umbrellas in our cars, and even extra methods of heating and cooling our home in case of power outages. But how prepared can one really be?

In the event of cold weather and possible snow storms and blizzards, it is especially important to review your car and home supplies for emergencies. Do you have a first aid kit in your home or car? How about a flashlight? Or more importantly, what about bottled water in case of freezing pipes or if your car stalls or gets stuck in the snow?

Remember to have items available for your little ones to keep them entertained during the emergency situation. Have flashcards, books, puzzles, battery operated games, and other games stored in a safe location in your car and home that are only used in case of an emergency. These items will work as a distraction for your family while you wait for the situation to become safe or while you wait to return to your normal routines. 

Please take a few minutes to read and check over the lists to help better prepare you and your family for emergencies and disasters.  Remember to have the following numbers available to you:

1. Police/Fire Department/EMT

2. Gas and Electric Company

3. Poison Control

4. Towing/Insurance company for car issues

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2009/12/27/10-ways-to-prepare-for-disaster.html

http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/checklist3.pdf

http://www.ehow.com/list_6682320_emergency-supply-list-car.html

Being Thankful

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and more often than not, we remember the turkey but forget all of the reasons we should be thankful. Just yesterday, we were able to celebrate our freedom and vote for a President. It is never too early to share with our children reasons why we should be thankful. In fact, showing our gratitude and appreciation for things will instill in children just how important it is to remember there are always people less fortunate than we are. During the holidays, take some time as a family to do one of the following activities about being thankful. Each activity is a way to bond as a family, create conversations about others, and allowing children an opportunity to demonstrate their reasons for being thankful.  

•       Talk about the freedoms we have in America and then compare them to other countries that are less fortunate in their way of life whether it be poor environment, limited freedoms, opportunities for health care, jobs, or religious freedoms.  You could create a diagram or chart to show what America has and what others do not.

•       Create a family banner. (We enjoy having families do this for their child’s classroom and if you make one, you could bring it in and share with the class as well.) A family banner shows your appreciation for your family thru pictures, short descriptions of the people who matter most, and even our appreciation for our pets.

•         Create a list of things you are thankful for on one side of a piece of paper and then on the other side create a list of things you could do for others. (During the holidays, there are always ways to donate time, items, or purchase things for the less fortunate. You can learn about these things through charity organizations, local churches, and schools.)

• During Thanksgiving, take a portion of your meal to an elderly neighbor or someone who lives alone who might not have any place to go during the holidays.

We are thankful for YOU and YOUR family during the holidays! Happy Thanksgiving!