Posted by Danielle Terlonge on Tue, Jul 05, 2011
Vacations can be expensive to take and a pain to arrange with kids in tow, so why not stay at home this summer but have a lot of fun while doing so? Here are a few ideas to make a stay-cation exciting and fun for the whole family:
1) Visit a local playground.
Here in Northeast Ohio we have a playground about every mile, at least it sure feels that way. Take a break from the playgrounds you and your family always visit and try something that is less familiar and more exciting for your child/children. Don’t know of any new and different locations? Take 5 minutes to search “best playgrounds in (insert your town/location here)” on the internet and I guarantee you will have a ton of choices!
2) Pack a picnic basket and have a picnic in your yard.
Don’t have a lot of money to go out to eat for lunch? It’s amazing what a change of scenery can do to boost your morale. Pack something as plain as peanut butter and jelly and lay a blanket out on the lawn. Your kids will have a blast eating in a new environment!
3) Have a lemonade stand.
Remember trying to make money when you were a kid and begging your parents to let you have a lemonade stand? This seems to have faded away, but why not resurrect an old favorite? Make lemonade, kool-aid or whatever your child’s favorite drink is on a hot day and let them make a little bit of change by selling drinks to their friends in the neighborhood. Make sure your are close by to help with pouring, making change, and supervising those who come to visit!
4) Go to the local Metro Parks.
How often do you take a break to explore nature? Your local Metro Parks are packed full of exciting things to see and discover. Many of them offer a variety of levels of hiking trails to combine family time with a little bit of exercise. Most have grills so that you could enjoy a barbecue with family and friends. Also, some offer playgrounds for young children to play, which could be great if you are busy being the grill master!
5) Make bird feeders and hang them up outside.
Working in a preschool/daycare setting allows me to see a lot of quick and easy craft ideas that are great for learning about nature. The best is a birdfeeder made out of a piece of yarn, a pine cone, peanut butter, and birdseed. Pull a pine cone from your backyard (or ask a neighbor), tie the yarn around it in a loop to use to hang, roll in peanut butter, and stick bird seed to the peanut butter. Then all you have to do is hang it and watch the birds come! If you are feeling very adventurous, stop by your local home improvement store. They usually offer classes for children to build bird feeders or other small projects with their parents – kids love them!
6) Go to local swim parks or splash pads.
This one might be a little bit more difficult depending on where you live. Here in our little corner of Northeast Ohio, I can think of one pool and two splash pads within a twenty mile area that we visit completely free of charge. There are larger splash pads or even swim clubs that offer admittance at a small cost, but either way, a small fee for a day of fun in the sun is well worth it!
7) Campout in your backyard.
Looking for something to do after the sun sets? Make a bonfire in your back yard (if your city laws allow it) and roast some marshmallows or make s’mores. If it’s dark enough grab a few nets at your local store and try to catch fireflies. If you get really adventurous, you can pitch a tent in your backyard and camp the night away!
Posted by Danielle Terlonge on Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Well, this week in daycares and preschools around the country is a type of celebration for those of us in the field of childcare. This coming week is the Week of the Young Child, sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (or NAEYC for short). Every year, NAEYC picks a week to celebrate the children that we serve and the children and families in the community around us. In our centers we choose to make this week a celebration of family events, with a special activity every day of the week. In centers and even communities around the country, there are activities that you can participate in to celebrate the young child in your life.
This year's national theme is "The Early Years are The Learning Years", and that really sums up the general mission of quality childcare centers. A child learns and grows so quickly in their first few years of life, and they need to have as many experiences and opportunities as possible so that their brains can grow and process new information. So many of our perceptions and ideals in life are created early on in life, so as parents or educators of young children, it is vital to expose children to new things and allow them to form their own beliefs and opinions, and allow them the learn from their earliest experiences.
Here in Northeast Ohio, our theme specifically is "A Family is the Spice of Life." Think about your own family, and the various members and characters that are included. There are caretakers, jokers, comforters, pillars of strength, and so many other varied roles that family members play. All of these people help shape you and ultimately your child, into the person that they will be. This week long celebration allows us to focus on those family members who help children learn in their early years.
Look for Week of the Young Child events in your community by checking out your local Association for the Education of Young Children!
The National Association for the Education of Young Children's website
The Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children's website
Posted by Danielle Terlonge on Sun, Mar 27, 2011
Everyone associates springtime with getting a fresh start, cleaning the house, and getting ready for the warmer weather to come. These same ideas should apply to your family and children. As spring arrives, take the time to analyze how your family operates, and what you enjoy about your family practices and what you could work on “cleaning up” this spring season.
1. “I don’t have enough time in the day to spend with my children.”
Many parents say that they are too busy to complete all of their tasks, whether they be work tasks, or things at home. Very often we forget that our children learn through modeling, so we need to show them how to properly manage their time. Children love doing things with you, especially if it means that they get to spend time with you that they normally would not. Need to clean out the garage? Give your child a job, like going through toys that are theirs. Spring cleaning in the house? You’d be surprised how much fun a damp sponge or a cleaning rag can be!
2. “We can’t afford a family vacation, new toys, etc.”
While children love going places and having new toys, they do not know if it cost $1 or $1,000 as long as they have fun! That means everyone can have a blast if you look up the top parks or playgrounds in your area, or look for coupons in the newspaper for area attractions and events. As long as it is different from the normal routine and you make it exciting, your child will love it.
3. “Schoolwork comes first, so we can’t play outside.”
Yes, school is important, but your child has been cooped up inside for the last four months and they are so excited to be able to go out and play for the first time in awhile. As a parent, you set the routine. If you expect your child to do their homework as soon as they get to daycare or as soon as they get home from school, then maybe they can play outside for 15 minutes when they are done. You’d be amazed how much energy they can release in that short time! If your child struggles with homework and there is no way to complete homework and play outside on weekdays, then make sure he or she has plenty of opportunities to release their energy on the weekend.
4. “My child does not have anyone to play with.”
I’ll let you in on a secret – children are GREAT at amusing themselves no matter what materials they have available, as long as they normally exercise their imagination. Think back to your childhood. What did you enjoy playing with? Teach your child games that you liked to play, or show them things that they can do by themselves if no friends are available. Yes, all children need socialization, but they are around other children all day in school and daycare. Sometimes, they need time to be by themselves.
5. “I feel like I don’t know what is going on in my child’s life.”
We all lead such busy lives that it can be hard to keep up with everyone’s plans and activities. However, your child’s happenings should be of high importance to you, so try to find time to ask about their day (no matter how old they are). Your 3 year old might want to tell you about painting with mud, while your 9 year old might be concerned about bullying. You have the ride home from school or daycare, eating dinner, or tucking them in to bed to take five minutes to ask what they would like to share with you.
Hopefully your child will have the ability to lose their winter blues and run around and enjoy the warmer weather that spring brings. Just remember to make time to spend with your child and to let them enjoy their childhood!
Posted by Danielle Terlonge on Sun, Mar 13, 2011
This article was anonymously posted on Parenting.com recently. While the author presents these anecdotes humorously, they are quite accurate for all of us in the childcare setting:
Preschool Confidential: What Teachers Want You to Know
My job is quite entertaining: I get to spend my days with your children, and they never fail to make me laugh. Sure, there are stumbling blocks, but the hurdles with the kids are usually surmountable. It's often you -- the parent -- who presents the biggest challenge. I know it's hard navigating the demands of school (I'm a mom, too), but here are a few things I'd love to tell you. You may find some hard to believe, but I guarantee you: I have made nothing up.
Empty your child's backpack. Yes, it contains a lot of glue and glitter and unidentifiable objects, but your child worked hard on those projects and is proud of them. Even if you're going to toss it all in the trash as soon as you tuck him into bed (yep, I do this, too), at least pretend to be interested enough to look at it with your child.
Don't ask me about any other children. If I tell you that your child is doing well on something, don't ask me if Julian is doing that, too. And don't ask me if your child is the smartest in the class. I won't tell you. Teachers prefer to compare a child's progress to himself, not others: Could he draw a face this well last fall? Could he sit still this long for a story two months ago?
I'm sure your child is gifted. My three children are all gifted, too. Shall I tell you all about them? In mind-numbing detail? Wait, I think I may have a video here on my phone that you can watch -- it's only 12 minutes long.
School clothes can -- and should -- be playclothes. Our job is to keep your children happy and inspired, which often involves getting messy. No one here will judge you unkindly if your child doesn't look like she just stepped out of a Polo ad.
About goodbyes: A kiss, hug, and "Have a super day!" is all that's needed. With the exception of the beginning of the year, when your child is still getting adjusted, you shouldn't linger. If your child likes to know his schedule, one additional line about what you'll do after school ("We'll go to the park") can be helpful. And please don't sneak out. Your child will become more desperate to catch you, which ups the stress factor enormously. It's better to make a clear departure, even if he cries, because then he knows what's going on, which helps him feel more in control of the situation.
Lice can happen to anyone. You needn't be embarrassed. Just let me know so I can prevent an outbreak.
I'd appreciate it if you don't send in talking toys. Perhaps you're hoping they'll get lost, and I'm right there with you. By the way, I can't stand SpongeBob's laugh. There's nothing you can do about that -- I just needed to say it.
If you give me baked goods, please don't tell me that your child helped make them. I bake with your children, too, and I know the secret ingredients that go into their recipes.
Understand other children as you do your own (okay, at least make an effort). When another child is having some behavioral problems, contain the smug disapproval. As a parent, you know that all kids go through difficult phases, and families sometimes experience stress that is out of their control. Besides, your child isn't perfect, either. No one's is. If the other kid is aggressive, have faith that I will keep your child safe, and know that I am doing everything I can to make things better.
Please don't ever tell your child to bite back.
Busy preschoolers often wait until the last minute to go to the potty. Belts and excess buttons may look cute, but even grown-up fingers can fumble when the pressure is on (and you know how they squirm when they really need to go). Aim for easy-on, easy-off attire.
Don't allow your child to come to school in plastic high-heeled shoes. Ever. Even if she screams.
If your child throws up after breakfast, chances are it's not a one-time event. Same goes for explosive diarrhea. Keep her home, and don't bother to tell me the babysitter decided to send her. I've heard that one before.
Try to trust me. If I tell you that your child could benefit from further evaluation in an area of development, realize that I would not say such a thing frivolously. (It is never easy to tell a parent that his or her child might have a problem, however minor it may be.) I see your child through the eyes of a teacher, as part of a group, and I'm not just thinking of him now, but also in elementary school. I want to make sure that if your child needs a little extra help, he gets it sooner rather than later. And it's not a big deal if he does; lots of kids get services like speech or occupational therapy. If you think I'm wrong, go see a specialist and then come back and let me know how off base I was. I'll probably be almost as relieved as you.
Read my notes home. I know they're chirpy and have way too many exclamation points (and, no, I don't talk that way to my husband). But sometimes I have important news about classroom events to share with you, and if you don't keep up, your child will suffer the consequences. There's always one child who comes to Pajama Day in regular clothes or whose parents don't show up for the class play, and we always feel sorry for her. These are not life-altering events, but they mean a lot to your preschooler.
End your cell-phone call before pick-up. It's hard for your child to share the excitement of her day with you if you're on the phone. And trust me -- these joyous greetings won't last.
If you are going to chat with other moms for half an hour after school, please don't think that we are still responsible for your kids. Much as we like them, after pick-up, they are yours.
Tell me if you or your child is unhappy. Don't worry about hurting my feelings -- regularly getting asked if I met Abraham Lincoln has given me pretty thick skin. If you tell me in a reasonable way what is bothering you, I don't think I will take it the wrong way. Remember: We both want your child to be happy and love learning. And, hey, if your child happens to enjoy school, tell me that, too: I could use the ego boost!
Relish these days. Your children grow up and return to visit me with their long legs, grown-up teeth, and first-grade readers tucked under their arms, and the little kid is gone forever. Don't stress about things that will pass, like when she'll learn to tie her shoes or when he'll stop sucking his thumb. Instead, revel in the innocent, fleeting happiness that is life with a preschooler.
Check out the full article at http://www.parenting.com/article/preschool-confidential-what-teachers-want-you-to-know
Posted by Danielle Terlonge on Sun, Mar 06, 2011
We face germs every single day, wherever we may go, but in childcare, we seem to face many different types of germs and bugs. Think of your child. How many times per year are they sick? How many different bugs do they catch? Now multiply that by about 75. That is a huge number of germs that our children are coming into contact with each day. There are many ways that childcare centers try to keep buildings clean and germ-free, but you can help too.
1. Teach your child proper hand washing techniques.
Just like everything else that children learn, they need to be shown and taught how to properly wash their hands. They do not know how much soap to use, how long to scrub their hands (we say they should scrub while singing through the ABCs one time), to turn off the faucet with a paper towel and so on. Very often children think water is enough to wash their hands. We teach them at school how to wash their hands, but home reinforcement is essential as well.
2. Teach your child when to wash their hands.
Sure, knowing how to wash your hands is vital, but if you don't know when to do so, it is worthless. Let's face it - children like to put their hands in some pretty weird places - noses, mouths, fish tanks, sand boxes... the list goes on and on. In childcare centers, we try to abide by the following hand washing guidlines: Children should wash their hands before and after eating any food, after going to the bathroom, after coming in from outside, and any other time that germs seem to have been spread, such as sneezing.
3. You can help stop the spread of germs from home.
I know that we are all busy in our lives and that work is important to help pay the bills. That makes it very easy to look at your child who has a snotty nose and say "It's just a cold, you'll be ok at daycare." Well, it may be a cold, but when your child brings those cold germs into the building, they get passed around. Colds are not too terrible, but imagine if a child is vomiting or has pink eye and the parent still sends them to school. Do you want your child to catch those germs? If you do not want your child to get sick from other's germs, don't send them to school when they are full of germs. Students, teachers, and parents would all appreciate it.
No one can avoid germs completely, but by observing some "germ etiquette" we can all keep our children healthier and safer at school.
Children at Color Our Rainbow Academy Akron learned about germs and how they are spread. Glue (representing mucus) and glitter (representing germs) were put in a child's hand and the children shook hands and interacted to see how they shared germs.
Posted by Danielle Terlonge on Thu, Jan 13, 2011
Picking a childcare center for your child can be a stressful and difficult experience. No matter what center you choose, make sure you go visit it and look for these things:
5. You see children who are happy.
Children are too innocent to understand that they should perform for visiting, potential clients. If the children in the classrooms are happy, learning, and having fun, then chances are that is how the classroom environment is all the time.
4. Teachers are involved and aware.
You are looking for a childcare center that is able to provide quality care for your child(ren). That means that you want someone to take the best possible care for your baby, and a teacher who knows what is going on in his and her classroom, even while welcoming you is one who is a master of classroom activity.
3. The center is clean.
Dirt is a turn off for everyone, especially if that dirt is in an area where your child will be for a long period of time. Sure, many children come through a classroom in a day, but a quality program still cleans and sanitizes to make sure the classroom is clean and safe for children. Children themselves should also be clean - no dirty faces, snotty noses.
2. There is a structure to the classroom.
Children need structure in their day. Every classroom is run differently, but children should know "We sing songs, practice writing our name, play in sensory table, then go outside." To be comfortable in a classroom, children need to know what is going on. This allows them to participate, but also feel like they are a part of a classroom community.
1. You feel comfortable.
Ultimately, the choice of childcare center is yours and yours alone. Since you are the best parent your child could have, you need to go with your instincts. If the center seems like it would not be a good setting for your child, then do not torture you or your child by spending a day there. However, make sure you give the center a chance before you decide it is not for you (especially if it is the only center you have ever seen)!
