The First Day of Preschool

It’s a time when you realize your child is growing up and for many moms and children it is a time of intense emotion, the first day of preschool. Since many moms will be sending their child off to school for the first time, we thought it would be good to collect some tips and share them with you to make this transition easier.

Dealing with fear

• Feeling comfortable – it’s important for you to be comfortable with your decision to send your child to preschool. The more unease your child can sense the more uncomfortable they will become.

• Invest time in the transition – you can’t expect your child just to wake up and be ready on the first day. Start discussing the idea of preschool with your child several weeks prior to their first day, what activities they will participating in, what their day will be like and how their teacher will interact with them.

• Mock-preschool – play preschool with your child throughout the day. Set up desks and chairs and actually complete some activities that will be part of their preschool day.

• Visit preschool prior to the first day – a week or two prior to the first day stop in and visit the school. Let your child spend some time in their new surroundings. Let them play with the toys. All of these familiar things will give your child comfort the first day of school.

• Downplay the significance of this milestone with your child – remember that the more you build the first day up to your child the more they could become scared.

Try to be calm, cool and collected when you drop them off for their first day. The calmer you are, the easier things will go. Children are resilient and they will be playing with the other kids, having fun and learning soon after your departure.

Ditching the Binky

Last week we talked about helping your child to thumb sucking their thumb. This week we are going to talk about the Binky, paci or pacifier depending on what your family calls it. Just like thumb sucking, a pacifier helps babies find comfort. And just like thumb sucking, most kids will give up their binky’s on their own between the ages of 2 and 4.

But if your child is a little

Pop It
I wish I would have figured this out with my own children, But several pinholes in the pacifier. If your child can’t get suction on the binky, in many cases they will not be interested in it anymore. This can be a very successful way to break this habit.

The Binky Fairy or Other Helper
• Like the tooth fairy. Have your child put them under the pillow and replace them with some coins. In the morning you might have smiles instead of tears.
• Agree to give the binkys away to a new baby - Mail the binkys back to binky land or drop the binkys off at the doctors office

The Power of Positive Thinking
• Give lots of encouragement when the child puts down the Binky
• Reinforce the days a Binky isn’t use with small toys, or activities your child likes
• Make your child feel like a big girl or boy whenever the binky isn’t used
• Set a goal of being Binky free and stick to it

Breaking the Binky habit may be sad event at first but your child will soon realize that being Binky free is just part of growing up.

Sources:http://www.everydayhealth.com
http://www.associatedcontent.com/

Back to School Routine

It’s time again for back to school preparations. This time of year is always hectic for parents. The budgets are stretched thin with back to school purchases and everyone is a little sad that summer is ending. Here are a few ways you can make this yearly transition tradition a little easier.

Adjust sleep times

• Start adjusting bedtime and wakeup back to school year time now
• Make this transition easier by adjusting in 15 minute increments until the desired time is achieved
• Practice getting up, dressing, eating breakfast and brushing teeth, before your normal school departure time to make sure they can make the bus.

Verify summer school work is done

• Check all assignments to make sure they have been completed
• Check the reading list to make sure books have been read
• Sit down with your child to review a few assignments to make sure they maintained levels from the end of last school year

Organize

• Have your children help get the house organized
• Buy bins, folder, flip charts and dry erase boards, anything to help you get and stay organized
• Tell you kids what’s expected during the school year. Coats hung up, school bags put away and clothes in the hamper

Following these simple steps will help you make the transition into the school year a little easier for you and your children.


Sources:http://www.modernmom.com/

Thumb Sucking

Parents worry if it is it normal if their toddler is still sucking their thumb, It’s considered normal until a child is 2 ½ years old

Why do kids suck their thumb?

Children tend to let go of this habit on their own, so it's best to let your child to stop on their own. For infants, it is a natural reflex that often begins in the womb. As babies grow, they learn a lot about their bodies and the world around them through sucking. They suck on their fingers, clothing, and toys.

Young children use sucking to soothe and comfort themselves. Since the action is relaxing, it often induces sleep—which is why parents notice children sucking their thumbs when they are tired. In fact, many thumb suckers fall asleep more easily, are able to put themselves back to sleep quicker, and sleep through the night much earlier than their non-thumb sucking peers.

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), after a child's permanent teeth come in, thumb sucking can cause problems. It can interfere with proper mouth growth, teeth alignment, and cause changes to the roof of the mouth.

Here's how you can get your child on track.

Make them Think it was their Idea

The biggest mistake parents make is to nag their child about stopping to suck their thumb, instead remind your child about how they are growing up and becoming a big kid. Talking about ways they can become a bigger kids by doing certain things like helping around the house, not crying all the time, hopefully they will talk about not sucking your thumb, if not talk about it without nagging.

Weaken the Habit
Take note to the times you child sucks their thumb, is it when their tired or watching TV? They keep their hands busy by having them hold the book they want you to read at bedtime. Or have them color a picture while watching their favorite TV show.

Help Them to Notice
Work out a secret single that you can give your child when you see them sucking their thumb, this will help to limit the embarrassment when you say something in front of other.

Seek help from Others
Sometimes you may need to illicit help from doctors or dentist. Because they are authority figures their talks about growing up may be all you need.

Peer Pressure
Peer pressure can help to if friends see your child sucking their thumb they may say something and this might just be the right motivation to get your child to stop

Sources: http://toddler.yeahbaby.com/

Protecting Kids from Sun Dangers

With the hot summer we have been having many of us are heading to the beach, pools or water parks to keep our kids cool, but being outside posses a big risk to our children.

Protecting your child’s Skin
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, even one or two blistering sunburns can significantly increase a child's risk for developing skin cancer later in life, With that said you don’t need to hide indoors during daylight hours to protect your kids

The first thing to consider is to schedule your playtimes before 10 am or after 3pm. Even when you go outside during those hours make sure you apply sunscreen paying close attention to their cheeks, backs of hands, and the tops of their feet. Also try to have kids to wear hats and t-shirts to protect their faces and bodies. Also try to sit in the shade under a tree or an umbrella.

Choose a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15 or higher. SPF refers to the length of time a person can remain in the sun before turning red. The higher the SPF, the longer a person can stay out, but the amount of time is also influenced by skin type.

Just because you have sunscreen on it doesn’t mean you or your children will get burned. Make sure you apply it 30 minutes before leaving the house. Reapply after swimming or perspiring even though it’s water proof or reapply every 2 hours.

Many people don’t apply enough sunscreen a quarter size dollop will cover one toddler arm and during the summer months you will go through a lot of sunscreen to keep the kids protected well. If you start young apply sunscreen you will be protecting and teaching your kids the importance on staying protected


Source: http://www.parents.com

Keeping your Kids Safe in the Heat

With the record breaking temperature we have had this summer, you should be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion. Since children are still developing, their bodies aren't able to adapt to temperature changes the way adults do. Listed below are a few signs of heat distress and heat exhaustion. This is not a comprehensive list. If you suspect your child is having difficulty with the heat, call your doctor immediately.

These are signs that your child should take a break, cool their body down, hydrate and get out of the heat:

• Sweating heavily
• Has a bright red face
• Extremely thirsty
• Feels hot to your touch
• Breathing hard
• Heavy sweating

Pay special attention during super-humid days (when sweat doesn't cool the body down the way it does in drier weather) or during a heat wave.

These are more serious signs that could lead to heat exhaustion:
• Has extreme fatigue that forces them to sit down
• Feels weak
• Feel dizzy
• Fainting
• Nausea or vomiting
• A bad headache

If you notice your child is showing any of these symptoms, get them out of the hot weather right away and seek the appropriate medical care.


Sources:http://www.ccf.wa.gov/
http://www.parenting.com/

Helping toddler curiosity grow

Curiosity is one if the basic fundamentals of learning. As you know from spending time with your children, if your child isn’t curios about something it’s impossible to keep them interested. The key is to help your children be curious about the world and about learning overall. Emphasizing that learning itself is fun and rewarding will help build your child’s curiosity and make them engaged learners and happy students.

Here's a few ways to create a stimulating learning environment

Infant
• Colors, shapes and movement – create an environment with interesting things to look at.
• Placement – putting toys and objects just out of baby’s reach will allow them to stretch and help develop early problem solving skills
• Multi sensory – smell, touch and taste can be a lot of fun. Try flowers, fabric and interesting foods
• Bubbles – another sensory experience that will keep your baby interested for hours
• Sound – musical toys, instruments (chimes and rattles) and games can keep a baby engaged for hours

Toddler
• Offer choices – let your toddler make simple choices such as what pajamas to wear, what activities to do (color or draw), what drink to have at a meal
• Surround them with educational resources - books, music and art supplies. Make easy for them to pick up education all around the room
• Take it on the road – libraries, zoos, museums, toddlers want to be on the move when it comes to curiosity and education

Sources: http://www2.scholastic.com/
http://toddler.yeahbaby.com/