Appletree Day Care, Inc

Child Development

Tips for Crafting with Children

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Crafting provides a great way to spend time with children while enjoying a fun activity together.   Following some simple tips can make it a fun experience for everyone. We hope you will put some of the following suggestions to use.

  1. Find the craft that children want to make and then make a list of all the supplies you will need to make the craft.
  2. If you do not have everything on hand add the supplies you need to your shopping list so you will not forget them.
  3. Put a plastic tablecloth down where you will be crafting.
  4. Have all supplies laid out before you announce craft time.
  5. Use non-toxic paints and glues.
  6. Have wet wipes and paper towels handy for spills.
  7. Always try to have extra supplies in case something is lost or torn.
  8. Let them wear old clothes so you will not be stressed out over ruining what they are wearing.
  9. Show children how to do the craft but let them do it in their way. If you insist on it being perfect, then you might as well do the craft yourself and forget about having craft time with your children. It also makes the children think that everything has to be perfect and that their best is not good enough. Sometimes little hands need help, but you know you have gone too far when you are the only one left at the craft table.
  10. Have fun! Don’t worry about a little paint on their hands & faces, take pictures instead.

We hope you will try these suggestions for stress-free craft time with your children. Show them how to have fun; they will learn how to be stressed out way too soon anyway.

 

Copyright Child Care Owner

Children, the Flu, and the Flu Vaccine

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Children, especially those younger than 5 years, are at higher risk for serious flu-related complications. The flu vaccine offers the best defense against getting the flu and spreading it to others. Getting vaccinated can reduce flu illnesses, doctor’s visits, missed work and school days, and prevent flu-related hospitalizations and deaths in children. Information on this page summarizes vaccine recommendations for children. Visit this page to learn more about vaccine benefits.

Influenza is dangerous for children

Influenza (“the flu”) is more dangerous than the common cold for children. Each year, millions of children get sick with seasonal influenza; thousands of children are hospitalized and some children die from flu.

  • Children commonly need medical care because of influenza, especially before they turn 5 years old.
  • Children younger than 5 years and especially those younger than 2 years are at high risk of serious influenza complications.
  • Children of any age with chronic health problems like asthma, diabetes and disorders of the brain or nervous system also are at high risk of serious flu complications.
  • Flu seasons vary in severity:
    • CDC estimates that since 2010, flu-related hospitalizations among children younger than 5 years ranged from 7,000 to 26,000 in the United States.
    • While relatively rare, some children die from flu each year. Since 2004-2005, flu-related deaths in children reported to CDC during regular flu seasons have ranged from 37 deaths to 171 deaths. Information about pediatric deaths since the 2004-2005 flu season is available in the interactive pediatric death web application.

The single best way to protect your children from the flu is to get them vaccinated each year.

The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. Traditional flu vaccines (called “trivalent” vaccines) are made to protect against three flu viruses; an influenza A (H1N1) virus, an influenza A (H3N2) virus, and an influenza B virus. In addition, there are flu vaccines made to protect against four flu viruses (called “quadrivalent” vaccines). These vaccines protect against the same three viruses as the trivalent vaccine and an additional B virus.

What kinds of flu vaccines are available for children?

Influenza vaccine options for the 2017-2018 season are listed in “TABLE: Influenza vaccines — United States, 2017–2018 influenza season. Different products are approved for different age groups, including children as young as 6 months of age.

Note that while there is a quadrivalent nasal spray vaccine that is FDA approved for the U.S. market, ACIP and CDC recommend that nasal spray vaccine not be used during the 2017-2018 season because of concerns about how well it works.

Your child’s health care provider will know which vaccines are right for your child.

  • CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get a seasonal flu vaccine.
    Keep in mind that vaccination is especially important for certain people who are high risk or who are in close contact with high risk persons. This includes children at high risk for developing complications from influenza illness, and adults who are close contacts of those children.

For the complete list of those at high risk, visit People at High Risk of Developing Flu–Related Complications.

There are special vaccination instructions for children aged 6 months through 8 years of age

Some children 6 months through 8 years of age require two doses of influenza vaccine. Children 6 months through 8 years getting vaccinated for the first time, and those who have only previously gotten one dose of vaccine, should get two doses of vaccine this season. All children who have previously gotten two doses of vaccine (at any time) only need one dose of vaccine this season. The first dose should be given as soon as vaccine becomes available.

The second dose should be given at least 28 days after the first dose. The first dose “primes” the immune system; the second dose provides immune protection. Children who only get one dose but need two doses can have reduced or no protection from a single dose of flu vaccine.

If your child needs the two doses, begin the process early. This will ensure that your child is protected before influenza starts circulating in your community.

Be sure to get your child a second dose if he or she needs one. It usually takes about two weeks after the second dose for protection to begin.

Recommendations on the control and prevention of influenza are published annually, in late summer or early fall. Existing recommendations are available at Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Resources for Health Professionals.

Some children are at especially high risk

Children at greatest risk of serious flu-related complications include the following:

  1. Children younger than 6 months old
    These children are too young to be vaccinated. The best way to protect them is to make sure people around them are vaccinated.
  2. Children aged 6 months up to their 5th birthday
    Since 2010, CDC estimates that flu-related hospitalizations among children younger than 5 years ranged from 7,000 to 26,000 in the United States. Even children in this age group who are otherwise healthy are at risk simply because of their age. Additionally, children 2 years of age up to their 5th birthday are more likely than healthy older children to be taken to a doctor, an urgent care center, or the emergency room because of flu1,2,3. To protect their health, all children 6 months and older should be vaccinated against the flu each year. Vaccinating young children, their families, and other caregivers can also help protect them from getting sick.
    1CDC Influenza Vaccine Program Impact Report 2015-2016
    2Bourgeois F, Valim C, Wei J, et al. Influenza and Other Respiratory Virus–Related Emergency Department Visits Among Young Children. Pediatrics 2006; Volume 118 /Issue 1
    3Poehling K, Edwards K, Weinberg G, et al. The Underrecognized Burden of Influenza in Young Children. The New England Journal of Medicine 2006; 355:31-4
  3. American Indian and Alaskan Native children
    These children are more likely to have severe flu illness that results in hospitalization or death.4,5
    4CDC. Deaths Related to 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Among American Indian/Alaskan Natives — 12 States, 2009. MMWR. 2009;58(48);1341-1344.
    5CDC. Prevention and Control of Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2010. MMWR. 2010; 59(No.RR-8).
  4. Children aged 6 months through 18 years with chronic health problems, including:
    • Asthma
    • Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions [including disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy (seizure disorders), stroke, intellectual disability (mental retardation), moderate to severe developmental delay, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury].
    • Chronic lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and cystic fibrosis)
    • Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease)
    • Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease)
    • Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes mellitus)
    • Kidney disorders
    • Liver disorders
    • Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
    • Weakened immune system due to disease or medication (such as people with HIV or AIDS, or cancer, or those on chronic steroids); and
    • Children who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy

Children should be vaccinated every flu season

Children should be vaccinated every flu season for the best protection against flu. For children who will need two doses of flu vaccine, the first dose should be given as early in the season as possible. For other children, it is good practice to get them vaccinated by the end of October, if possible. However, getting vaccinated later can still be protective, as long as flu viruses are circulating. While seasonal influenza outbreaks can happen as early as October, most of the time influenza activity peaks between December and February. Since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body that protect against influenza virus infection, it is best that people get vaccinated so they are protected before influenza begins spreading in their community.

Additional Information:

 

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Children and Stress – Avoiding a Holiday Meltdown

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The holidays are a stressful time for even the best-adjusted adult. The holiday season for young children is almost a certain situation to cause the toddler meltdown. Think about the way your child sees the holiday season. First of all, the stores where he is used to going with Mommy look entirely different. Everybody keeps asking what he wants Santa to bring him. Mommy and Daddy are running around cooking, shopping, wrapping gifts, making plans, and stressed out. The little one is excited — overly excited — and the excitement continues day after day after day. How do you NOT expect a meltdown?

There are certain things, however, that parents can do to help their young children cope with the holiday season and all that it brings.

  1. Maintain the child’s normal schedule as nearly as possible. Disrupted schedules are an invitation for stress. Try to maintain normal get-up and go-to-bed times. Try to maintain normal meal times and other day-to-day schedule items.
  2. Limit sugar consumption. There is sugar everywhere during the holiday season. Sugar is a stimulant. Limit your child’s consumption of sugar to help him maintain control.
  3. Limit television and video viewing. It seems that the airwaves are overloaded with excitement during the holiday season, and the child “picks up on” that added excitement.
  4. Allow ample “time outs” from the excitement. Sometimes the season is overwhelming for adults, and it is doubly overwhelming for small children. Just take a break — and take a break as often as necessary.
  5. Don’t forget cuddle time. Yes, you are busy but don’t get so busy that you forget to take your little one on your lap and read a story. Include humor in story time. A good laugh can prevent an almost certain meltdown!

Good luck, and remember that the holidays do not last forever.

 

Copyright – Child Care Owner

Childhood Obesity

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Obesity is children continues to increase. The following infographic illustrates the magnitude of the problem, the long-term health impact and things you can do to prevent obesity in children.

Childhood Obesity Awareness by Wheels For Wishes

10 Commandments of Parenting

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Here are the wisest commandments ever commended to parents:

  1. Thou shalt be consistent. Do as you say you will. Children know where they stand when you are consistent, follow through and mean what you say.
  2. Thou shalt expect children to contribute (without being paid). Expect children to help at home but don’t expect them to do so graciously all the time. Here is a question to ask yourself from time to time: What do your children do that someone else relies?
  3. Thou shalt encourage regularly and persistently. Remember that encouragement and praise will get children a lot further than criticism and punishment so be your child’s best encourager rather than his fiercest critic. Encouragement helps a child link his or her self-esteem to the process, rather than the results of what they do.
  4. Thou shalt put responsibility where it belongs. Treat children and young people as you want them to be. If you want responsible, capable children then treat them as if they are responsible.  The best way to develop responsibility is to give it to children.
  5. Thou know that children and young people only see one side of any issue. Thou shalt take everything they say with a large grain of salt. Not that children and young people lie, but they have been known to exaggerate or see facts only from their side.
  6. Thou shalt show love and affection to your children. Thou shalt say you love each of your children at least once a day. Knowing they are loveable is the basis of self-worth, regardless of their age.
  7. Thou shalt catch children and young people behaving well. Pay attention to your children’s positive behavior more than their negative behavior. What you focus on expands so if you focus on the positive behavior that is what you generally get.  Give descriptive feedback so that your children know what they did well. E.g. “That was great the way you two worked out the TV-watching problem without arguing.  You both compromised a little which is smart.”
  8. Thou shalt develop independence in children from the earliest possible age. Never regularly do for a child the things he or she can do for him or herself. Remember, your job is to make yourself redundant.
  9. Thou shalt set limits and boundaries for children and expect that they will push against them. Children and young people need limits and boundaries as they make them feel secure.
  10. Thou shalt keep a sense of humor when dealing with children. This will help you keep things in perspective. It may seem improbable some days but they will soon grow up and be out of your hair and be a living, breathing reflection of YOU.

The 11th (and most important) commandment:  Thou shalt be a good role model for your children. Show rather than tell children and young people how you want them to communicate, to behave and to live.  Children learn what they live and, as parents, your actions speak louder than your words.

Enjoy!

 

Michael Grose’s 10 Commandments for Parenting

10 Reasons to Read to Your Child

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We all know that learning to read is important, but as parents what do we do to facilitate this milestone?

Reading to your child has many benefits one of which is simply having time to snuggle together.

Here are ten reasons to read to your child.

  1. When you read to your child, he/she will learn that reading is important to you; therefore, reading will become important to him/her.
  2. The more your child hears sounds, the better he/she will process these sounds into words.  When a child is preschool/kindergarten age, the listening word starts to become the written word.
  3. Reading has a calming effect on a restless or fussy baby.  Who does not want an easy way to calm a fussy baby?
  4. Reading is a wonderful before bed routine. Studies have shown that a child will thrive in an atmosphere in which routines are present.
  5. Reading will help to develop your child’s imagination.  Have you ever gotten lost in a good book? Your child can do the same while you are reading to him/her.
  6. Reading will foster your child’s ability to listen and pay attention.  With all the problems we here about concerning limited attention spans, this is a great way to avoid that.
  7. Reading to a young child will teach him/her the correct way to hold a book and turn the pages.
  8. Reading to your child will develop in him/her the desire to become a reader.
  9. Teachers will thank you.
  10. When a child is read a personalized story book, he/she will be able to recognize his/her name in print at an early age.

Isn’t it exciting to think that you can have such an effect on your child’s ability to read just by reading to him/her? You have the power to develop a life-long joy of reading and learning in your child.

WOW! Just read.

Copyright: Child Care Owner

A Guide to Choosing the Right Toy for Your Child’s Age

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Choosing the right toy for your child’s age is not just a matter of selecting a toy that will engage, entertain and educate them, it is also a matter of safety.  If you have browsed the aisles of any toy store lately, you probably know that selecting the right toy can be a difficult undertaking.  Not only do you want a toy that you can rest assured will provide no danger to your child, but you also want to select a toy that will help your child develop their full potential.

Research indicates that children provided with age-appropriate toys that are stimulating will help children to develop more fully their physical, cognitive and creative abilities.  By learning which toys are right for your child’s age, you can help them to stimulate the connections in their brains that are responsible for building your child’s future intelligence.

Keep in mind that it is never too early to begin this all-important process. Even the youngest babies can begin responding to bright colors, helping their vision to develop more quickly.

 

Children under Six Months:

  • Mobiles in bright colors will stimulate vision
  • Activity centers to encourage reaching for motor control development
  • Mirrors designed with baby safety in mind to encourage your child to explore faces
  • Rattlers and tethers that will introduce baby to new textures.
  • Board books-even at this young age reading to your baby will help them with beginning language development

 

 

 

 

6 to 12 Months

During this period, it is important to begin focusing on interactive play with your child. This includes introducing the concept of cause and effect as well working on eye-hand coordination. Simple games such as “peek-a-boo” and “pat-a-cake” are fun ways to help your baby discover the wonders of their new world. Also, look for these types of toys to further stimulate your child’s development and learning:

  • Toys that are musical and make sounds
  • Baby gyms and activity courses to stimulate crawling
  • Bouncers to stimulate physical activity
  • Play telephones to encourage communication through mimicking
  • Soft dolls and stuffed animals for kids who love to cuddle
  • Wooden and soft blocks for stacking, filling and dumping games

 

12-18 Months

Around the time, your child turns one he or she may begin to walk or experiment with taking those first steps. Toys at this age should focus on supporting your child’s curiosity in exploration while further developing fine motor coordination.

  • Swing sets and safety trikes encourage physical activity and development
  • Building blocks for eye-hand coordination
  • Nesting cups and shape sorters to improve eye-hand coordination as well as problem-solving skills
  • Storybooks/picture books for language and vocabulary development
  • Toddler appropriate videos and music

 

 

 

 

18-24 Months

By the time they are a 1 ½ years old most children begin to use their imagination in play. This typically takes on the form of make-believe; however, in reality, this type of play is helping them to develop problem-solving strategies. Look for toys that support this important time of development by expanding their exposure to shapes, colors, and the ability to follow instructions and language. The important key to remember at this age is that kids are truly learning with hands-on play.

  • Costumes and dress-up to stimulate imagination
  • Push and pull toys that support both children that are beginning to walk as well as advanced walkers
  • Puzzles easy to manipulate with a small number of pieces
  • Playhouses and other scaled down objects that your child sees every day will give them the opportunity to mimic the world around them.
  • Swing sets to develop physical skills

 

24-36 Months

At age, two children begin to focus on fine motor coordination, even though they do not realize it, of course. By this age, kids can begin working with board games suitable for their age as well as craft type projects and toys. Most children this age are also ready to begin playing with other kids, so you may also wish to look for games and toys that are more structured in nature those previous toys.

  • Simple board games and puzzles to encourage further eye-hand coordination and memory development.
  • Outdoor equipment such as swing sets, riding vehicles and tricycles to build physical skills
  • Beginner musical instruments
  • Playhouses
  • Sandboxes
  • Train sets
  • Dolls
  • Cars/trucks
  • Costumes/dress-up
  • Art sets
  • Storybooks for language development and vocabulary building
  • Videos and music, especially those that expose kids to numbers and the alphabet

By keeping in mind which toys are age-appropriate, you will be in a better position to help support the lightning-fast development of your child’s brain and step up their learning and development.

Baby Sign Language – Communication Before Speech

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Before mastering the art of speech, your baby has great difficulty in communicating his needs to you.  This can cause frustration for you both – yet there is a solution.  Baby sign language is rapidly becoming popular as a means of recognizing – and responding to – a young baby’s needs.

Babies can be taught sign language from any age, but they begin to take notice of the signs from around six months and may begin using them from as early as seven to eight months of age.  As many parents will testify, babies understand an awful lot more than they can communicate through speech at this stage.

Some parents fear that using baby sign language may hamper their child’s speech development later on. Research, however, shows that children taught baby sign-in infancy go on to develop superb language skills.  In some cases, they may learn to speak earlier and often have an increased ability to learn a second language.

There are other benefits to introducing baby sign language – studies indicate that children who sign often develop a higher than average IQ. The major advantage for parents, of course, is to be able to identify their babies’ needs and respond appropriately – easing the frustrations that can lead to tantrums.  Once this channel of communication is open, many parents feel that a deeper bond with their child is formed, creating a great sense of harmony.

There are various methods by which you can learn to sign with your child – no prior knowledge is needed, so learning along with your baby is part of the fun!  It is important to remember to say the word when introducing any signs to your baby and to use the signs consistently – both in the home and outside it.  Also, try to familiarize anyone who cares for your child with the signs they are using.

Some people like to invent their own signs to use with their babies, whereas others prefer to use conventional signs based on formal sign language – the advantage of using these is that they are recognized by a wide group of people.  There are many books, DVDs, and flashcards available, based on formal signing that makes learning this new skill both simple and enjoyable.

Taking into account the benefits that this simple communication can bring, it is no wonder that more and more parents are using baby sign language – and achieving a fascinating insight into their babies’ minds!

 

 

©ChildCareOwner – All Rights Reserved

 

Potty Training – Frequently Asked Questions

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If you are thinking about starting to potty train your toddler, there are a few questions you should ask yourself before you begin potty training.  Being well prepared for this challenging transition from diapers to potty is one of the best things you can do to make this as easy as possible for your child.

  1. Is My Child Ready?

You want to start potty training at just the right time.  You will know that your child is ready when he or she gets more interested in you going to the potty, tells you right away when the diaper is wet or pulls on it and seems uncomfortable with it.  Give potty training a try, if your child does not seem ready despite the signs, wait a few weeks and try again.

  1. Am I Ready?

Just as important as your child being ready is that you are ready.  Prepare yourself mentally for the transition from diaper to potty for your child.  You will need a lot of patience and understanding. There are going to be resentment, tears, and the occasional accident.  Make sure you are prepared for this so you can stay calm and supportive for your child.

  1. Do We Need A Potty Chair?

A regular toilet is very intimidating for a child.  The seat is rather large, and your child will have to hold on to avoid falling into the toilet. Also “things” vanish in there when you flash – which can be a pretty scary thought for your child.  Many kids are more comfortable with a potty chair at first.  After a few weeks, you should be able to move on to a potty seat insert that fits on your regular toilet eliminating the potty cleanup.

  1. Should We Use A Potty Doll?

A potty doll is not a necessity when it comes to potty training, but can be a great tool.  A potty doll will pee like an actual child and usually comes with diapers, panties and a potty chair.  The doll can help tremendously during the pre-potty training phase when you are getting your child used to the idea of going in the potty instead of the diaper.  You can illustrate what’s supposed to happen on the doll and let your child warm up to the idea by playing with the doll in the same fashion.  When you are ready to potty train, put the doll on the potty right next to your child.

  1. Should We Use Potty Training Rewards?

Before you start potty training, you should decide if you are going to use some rewards as encouragement for your child, or if you will simply make your child feel great about his successes by being his cheerleader.  Simple potty training rewards can include stickers, candy like a few jelly beans or M&M’s, or you can use some tracking chart for bigger rewards (i.e. If you use the potty for an entire week without accident, you get a small toy).  Using simple rewards can be a great potty training tool, but it is not by any means necessary as long as you get the message across to your child that you are proud of him.

Take a few minutes to answer these potty training questions for yourself and go over them with your spouse as well to ensure you are on the same page before you start potty training your child.  It will help you give your child a clear picture of what you are both trying to accomplish and will cut down on any confusion.

Copyright © Child Care Owner, All Rights Reserved

Ways to Make Reading Fun

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Learning to read can be a challenging adventure for some children.  It seems that everyone from a child’s teacher to Mom and Dad and even Grandma is excited and waiting for the child to learn to read.  All the pressure and expectations from the adults can sure put a damper on the excitement for the child.  This loss of excitement can lead to a child who loses the desire to read.  If we as parents can find ways to make reading fun and enjoyable, our children will be more willing to sit down and read a book together.

Here are a few ideas you can do to make reading fun for your child.

Popcorn Reading

This is a fun way for a child to be able to read the words he/she knows and pass on the words that are causing frustration. While reading a book together, each of you takes a turn reading aloud. When the one who is reading says the word “popcorn,” it is the other persons turn to read.

Reading Buddy

Pair your reader up with an older “reading buddy” and have them read a book out loud together. We all have had times where an explanation of something made more sense coming from one of our peers or a sibling. This gives you child the opportunity to practice reading without an adults’ watchful eye causing possible nervousness.

Highlight Heaven

Grab an older book and a highlighter and have your child highlight every word one the page that he/she can read.  After all the words your child knows are highlighted on the page, take a moment and have your child look and see how many words he/she can read.  This is quite a confidence booster.

Flashlight Reading

Before your child is too tired at the end of the day, take some time and read in the dark room. Take a flashlight with you and read the book by flashlight.  Little boys especially like this one.

 

 

Secret Hideout

What child has not built a fort at one time or another? If you do not already have a fort in your house or outside in the yard, help your child create one.  It might be a blanket fort, a plywood fort outside, a tree house, or even a simple under to bed fort. (Just make sure you both can fit…being able to get out once you’ve gotten in is helpful too!) Bring your child’s favorite reading book, get comfortable and read away.

Reading Corner

Make a “reading corner” somewhere in your home. Let your child be a part of decorating it and picking just the right spot to place it. Add some beanbags or pillows, maybe a favorite poster on the wall or even some family pictures.

Take a break and just read to your child sometimes.

No explanation needed here.

Picture Detective

Have your child flip through a book and look at all the pictures and tell you what he/she thinks is going to happen in the story. Read the story and see how close he/she was.

Pop-up word

Pick one word that your child particularly has a hard time with and every time your child reads that word, both of you stand up. This will help him/her remember the word because an action is associated with it. This works particularly well with kinesthetic learners. (A child who wants to move all the time and likes to touch and feel everything.)

Star of the Story

Have you ever seen a personalized story book where your child’s name is printed in the story? This is a unique way to get your reluctant reader excited about a book. In these kinds of books, your child’s name and the name of his/her friends are printed in the storyline, making your child the star of his/her very own book! How motivating is that? He/she will have to read the book to find out what kind of adventure he/she will be going on!

Sometimes all it takes to make reading fun is some imagination and a change of scenery.