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!

Reducing Germs

Did you know that we…..

• Wash hands before and after every meal, water or sensory activity, and after bathroom, art, and when  we blow our noses 
•   Brush teeth after our lunch time meal 
•   Use separate nap sacks for blankets on our cots
•   Have individualized cubbies and storage spaces
•  Use a cleaner and a sanitizer on surface areas before and after use

Do you know why we do all of these things? We want to protect each child and staff member of our center from unnecessary germs. We believe your child’s health and safety, as well as that of the staff, is very important to our center and it is our goal to reduce the spread of germs when possible.

We encourage the children to wash their hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds. It is important to practice this at home too. Your child will understand the hand washing procedure better if they understand that they need to do it at home before and after eating, after petting their animal, after using the bathroom, and after blowing their nose. Ask yourself how often you wash your hands and it will make you think twice about forgetting. 

Prevent Bullying

The month of October is full of areas to observe, learn about, participate in, and be aware of. One of the topics I think is really important to touch on is the National Bullying Prevention Month for October. As child care providers, we often see children resolving their differences with little guidance by their teachers. On occasion, we might have to intervene to offer positive resolution in the conflict. There are moments when we might not realize that bullying could be happening to one or more children. 

As a child care center, we do NOT tolerate any form of bullying by the children, staff, or families. We value everyone as a unique individual. Our value and self-worth is primarily developed by the actions and words of our peers. When bullying occurs, the value and self-worth of a child lowers and can create problems for the child.

                Please take a few minutes to visit the following links on how to recognize, address, and do your part in the prevention of child bullying.

http://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/

http://www.facebook.com/PACERsNationalBullyingPreventionMonth

http://www.nctsn.org/resources/public-awareness/bullying-prevention-awareness-month

                                                                                                                                                                                               

Reading and Books

One of the most important parts of our curriculum at Cox Children's Center is through reading books. Children enjoy learning through books and seeing pictures of things they want to learn about. While at the center, our teachers spend time reading books and looking at books with your children about the current project or other topics of the day. 

Looking at books and reading stories is something you can do at home with your child too. Reading can reduce some of the "busy" moments children have and encourage a calm time instead. You may want to read a book before bedtime, after a lot of gross motor time to transition to calmer/quieter activities, or if your child is interested in something you could find books about the subject to extend their play/interest. 

Another way to link school to home would be to reread the book(s) read in the classroom or to find books with similar subject matter. Our center participates in  monthly Scholastic book orders and book fairs. If your library at home is rather small in size, consider ordering from Scholastic this month. Book orders are due September 20th and order forms have been sent home today.

Five Fun Things to do with Your Kids

There are times, as parents, when we run out of ideas on what to do with our children. We can only do some much playing outside, watching a movie or coloring at the table. Sometimes some of the best things to do is learning how to make homemade items and then getting to play with them. These are great activities for rainy days or days you want to spend indoors. My top five favorite homemade recipes are for the following: sidewalk chalk, pizza, paints, play dough, and bubbles. Check out these cool recipes and "how to" videos to see if your family would enjoy one of these activities! 

• Homemade Sidewalk Chalk- 
  http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/craftsupplies/ht/SidewalkChalk.htm

•  Homemade bubbles- 
  http://babyparenting.about.com/cs/activities/a/bubbles.htm

• Homemade play dough-  http://www.kiddinaround.com/pages/3-Easy-Recipes-for-Making-Homemade-Play-Dough.html  

• Homemade Pizza-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wme_RCxUE4o

• Homemade paints-  
  http://lajollamom.com/2010/12/home-made-finger-paint-recipes-kids-crafts/ 

Transitions for Childcare and/or Kindergarten

Transitions between home and childcare/school can be a very exciting experience. Whether your child has never been in care outside of the home or if they are attending kindergarten for the first time, both parent and child will have mixed emotions about the transitioning period. Here are a few tips to help prepare for the new experiences:

·         Tour the school and make yourself comfortable with the environment. A transition will flow smoother when you know which door to enter, what classroom is your child’s, and who your child’s teacher will be. If there are children present during the tour, try to remember one or two of their names so you can talk about them after the tour to link the classroom children to your child.

·         Ask about materials needed ahead of time. If you are equipped with the school or child care supplies ahead of time, you won’t have to worry about forgetting something that might be necessary for your child’s first day.

·         Talk about the transition before it actually happens. Recall the tour and remember by name the teacher and if you met any of the children. Talk about the new school/environment at the dinner table, before bedtime, or during down times when your child isn’t distracted with other activities. Create a positive approach when discussing the time away from home because if your child is looking forward to their new experience, you won’t feel as nervous about the new transition.

·         Stay informed- check in on your child during their first few weeks. Email their teacher or call to ask how your child is doing and ask for ways to help make the transition a pleasant experience for you and for your child. Ask your child when they get home how things are going and have them list some of their favorite activities.

·         Remember that your child is in good hands! Take a deep breath and enjoy these new and exciting times ahead!

·         http://www.education.com/topic/preparing-for-kindergarten/

·         http://www.babyzone.com/baby/childcare/prepare-child-for-childcare_68363

Finding a Babysitter

Finding a babysitter for your child can become a difficult task. So many people have trouble trusting someone with their child if they aren’t a relative or a close friend. When considering a babysitter outside of your inner circle consider following these helpful tips in order to feel more comfortable with this transition.

·         Ask your friends or coworkers for referrals on babysitters that they use outside of their circle of family or close friends if you do not know anyone outside of your immediate circle.

·         Invite the prospective sitter over to your house for a short “interview” asking them how they would handle hypothetical situations. Be prepared with questions that would relate to your child’s age, ability, and personality. Some examples would be the following:

1)      What would you do if my child tried to run from you while you were outside playing?

2)      What would you do if my child acted like they weren’t feeling well?

3)      How would you handle a phone call or a knock on the door from someone that sounded suspicious or unfamiliar to my child/family?

Remember to ask for references and ask them why they enjoy babysitting.

·         While the prospective sitter is at your house for the “interview” discuss with them your routines at home, show them where important things are kept such as medicine, insurance information, important phone numbers, etc. Use this time to discuss hourly pay for babysitting and transportation if they are under driving age or do not have their own transportation.

·         Do a trial run. Have the babysitter come over for an hour to spend time with your child while you take a quick trip to the store or pick up carry-out. This short visit establishes a relationship and you will be able to see how your child reacts to having a sitter outside of the usual family member or friend and you will know if the sitter is comfortable caring for your child and would want to come back for a longer time.

·         Before you leave the sitter with your child, remember to have the following prepared for them:

1)      A copy of your insurance card in case of an emergency

2)      A list of your numbers and important numbers if they cannot reach you

3)      A list of anything important relating to your child’s routine, health, or how to handle tough situations such as bedtime or potty training

Every parent needs adult time or time away from the home to refresh and relax. Schedule times in advance to look forward to or for things you aren’t able to do with a busy schedule with work, school and family.  View the following websites for other tips on finding the right fit for your babysitting needs.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_using-a-babysitter_44.bc

http://singleparents.about.com/od/childcare/a/babysitter-interview-questions.htm

http://www.care.com/child-care-babysitter-interview-p1145-q22778.html