Proper hygiene practices are of utmost importance in a daycare setting to maintain a safe and healthy environment for children, staff, and families. 

Here are the key reasons why proper hygiene is crucial in a daycare setting:

• Disease Prevention

Daycares can be breeding grounds for germs and infections due to close proximity and frequent interaction among children. Practicing proper hygiene, such as handwashing, respiratory etiquette, and sanitation, significantly reduces the spread of illnesses, including common colds, flu, stomach bugs, and more serious infections.

• Health and Well-Being

Maintaining good hygiene helps promote the overall health and well-being of children. Regular handwashing with soap and water helps prevent the transmission of germs and reduces the risk of infections. It also helps children develop healthy habits that they can carry into adulthood.

• Reduced Absenteeism

By practicing proper hygiene, the likelihood of children and staff falling ill decreases, leading to reduced absenteeism. When children and caregivers are healthy, it ensures consistent attendance and continuity of care, benefiting both the children and their families.

• Role Modeling

Daycares play a crucial role in teaching children about hygiene practices and setting a good example. When children observe their caregivers consistently practicing proper hygiene, they are more likely to adopt these behaviors themselves, leading to better hygiene habits and overall health.

• Safety and Infection Control

Maintaining proper hygiene in a daycare setting helps control the spread of contagious diseases and ensures the safety of everyone involved. Regular cleaning and disinfection of toys, surfaces, and common areas help minimize the risk of infections and provide a clean and safe environment for children to play and learn.

• Healthy Habits for Life

Early childhood is a critical time to establish good hygiene practices that can last a lifetime. By teaching and reinforcing proper hygiene behaviors, daycares contribute to children’s long-term health and instill habits that can protect them and those around them throughout their lives.

• Parent and Caregiver Confidence

Providing a clean and hygienic environment reassures parents and caregivers that their children are in a safe and healthy setting. When daycares prioritize hygiene practices, it builds trust and confidence among families, fostering positive relationships and partnerships.

 

To promote proper hygiene in a daycare setting, it is essential to establish clear policies and procedures, train staff on hygiene practices, ensure access to handwashing stations with soap and water, provide hand sanitizers, encourage respiratory etiquette, and maintain a regular cleaning and disinfection routine. By prioritizing hygiene, daycares can create a healthier and safer environment for everyone involved.

Summer is a great time for kids to engage in fun outdoor games that keep them active and entertained. Here are some enjoyable games for kids to play during the summer!

Fun Outside Games for Kids to Play in Summertime

• Water Balloon Toss

Fill up water balloons and have kids toss them back and forth without popping them. It’s a refreshing and exciting game for hot summer days.

• Freeze Tag

One player is “it” and tries to tag the other players. When tagged, players must freeze in place until another player unfreezes them by touching them.

• Obstacle Course

Set up an obstacle course in your backyard using items like cones, hula hoops, jump ropes, and tunnels. Kids can race through the course, climbing, jumping, and crawling.

• Sidewalk Chalk Games

Let kids unleash their creativity with sidewalk chalk. They can draw hopscotch, create a maze, or play games like tic-tac-toe or four square.

• Water Relay Race

Set up a relay race with buckets or cups of water. Kids pass the water from one person to another using cups or sponges, trying to fill up a container at the end of the line.

• Three-Legged Race

Pair up kids and tie one of their legs together. They must work together to run or hop to the finish line without falling.

• Scavenger Hunt

Create a summer-themed scavenger hunt in your backyard or a nearby park. Give kids a list of items to find or clues to solve, leading them to hidden treasures or surprises.

• Frisbee Golf

Set up a makeshift frisbee golf course using targets like buckets, trees, or cones. Kids take turns throwing the frisbee towards the targets, aiming to reach them with the fewest throws.

• Sprinkler Fun

Turn on the sprinkler and let kids run and play in the water. They can jump through the sprinklers, dance, or play games while staying cool.

• Beach Ball Volleyball

Set up a volleyball net or use a clothesline as a makeshift net. Have kids bat a beach ball back and forth, trying to keep it from touching the ground.

Remember to prioritize safety while playing outdoor games, provide plenty of water and sunscreen, and supervise younger children when needed. These games promote physical activity, social interaction, and fun, making summer memorable for kids.

Every parent likes to see their kids enjoying different activities, and if the particular activity helps their kids grow developmentally, it’s even better! Are you at a loss to figure out what intellectually stimulating activities are there for your children to engage in around your home?  Here are some activities that can help children grow intellectually!

Activities That Help Children Grow Intellectually

 

• Reading 

Reading is a great way for kids to entertain themselves while also growing developmentally. Reading to children or encouraging them to read on their own helps build vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills. 

• Problem-Solving Activities 

Puzzles, games, and brainteasers are great activities for kids that require them to problem-solve. This can help build their critical thinking skills and promote logical reasoning.

• Arts and Crafts 

You can encourage your child’s creativity and self-expression by providing materials for drawing, painting, sculpting, and other art forms. This can help develop fine motor skills and promote imagination and innovation.

• STEM Activities 

Introducing children to science, technology, engineering, and math through hands-on activities such as building with blocks, experimenting with simple machines, and conducting basic science experiments will increase their intellectual development as well. You can easily get activities like kids science and STEM kits and math workbooks or flashcards to encourage these activities at home.

• Music 

Expose children to different types of music and encourage them to create their own music. You can keep toy instruments around the house like toy ukeleles, little drums, toy pianos, and xylophones. 

This can help develop cognitive, language, and emotional skills.

• Role-Playing and Pretend Play 

You can encourage children to use their imagination and creativity through role-playing and pretend play. Examples of pretend play like this could be games like “Family” or “Restaurant”. 

Pretend play can help develop social, emotional, and language skills.

• Outdoor Exploration 

Encourage children to explore nature and the outdoors through activities such as hiking, gardening, and bird watching. This can help build curiosity, observation skills, and an appreciation for the environment.

Overall, these activities can help children develop intellectually by encouraging them to think critically, creatively, and independently, preparing them for success in school and beyond.

Helping children express their feelings is an important aspect of their emotional development. Here are some strategies to help your children express their feelings effectively:

• Create a Safe and Supportive Environment

Create a safe and supportive environment where your children feel comfortable expressing their feelings without fear of judgment or criticism. Be available and attentive when your children want to talk about their feelings and listen actively without interrupting or dismissing their emotions.

• Validate Their Emotions 

Validate your children’s emotions by acknowledging and accepting their feelings as valid and important, even if you don’t necessarily agree with them. Use empathetic statements like “I understand that you’re feeling sad/frustrated/angry” to show that you are acknowledging their emotions without judgment.

• Encourage Verbal Expression

Encourage your children to express their feelings verbally by asking open-ended questions that promote reflection and self-expression. For example, ask questions like “Can you tell me more about how you’re feeling?” or “What happened that made you feel this way?” to encourage your children to articulate their emotions.

• Use Age-Appropriate Tools for Expression

Use age-appropriate tools and activities to help your children express their feelings. For younger children, this could include drawing, coloring, or playing with dolls or action figures to act out their emotions. For older children, writing in a journal, creating art, or engaging in role-play can be effective ways to express their feelings.

• Teach Emotional Vocabulary

Teach your children emotional vocabulary by providing them with the appropriate words to describe their feelings. Use simple and age-appropriate language to help them understand and express their emotions, such as “happy,” “sad,” “angry,” “frustrated,” “worried,” etc.

• Model Healthy Emotional Expression 

Model healthy emotional expression by expressing your own feelings in a healthy and constructive manner. Show your children that it’s okay to feel and express emotions, and demonstrate positive ways to manage and cope with emotions, such as taking deep breaths, counting to ten, or taking a break when feeling overwhelmed.

• Avoid Shaming or Dismissing Emotions

Avoid shaming or dismissing your children’s emotions, even if you don’t understand or agree with them. It’s important to respect their emotions and provide a non-judgmental space for them to express themselves.

• Provide Reassurance and Support

Provide reassurance and support to your children when they express their feelings, and let them know that it’s okay to feel the way they do. Offer comfort, understanding, and guidance on how to cope with their emotions in healthy and constructive ways.

 

Remember that each child is unique, and it’s important to approach emotional expression in a way that suits their individual personality and development. By creating a safe and supportive environment, teaching emotional vocabulary, modeling healthy emotional expression, and providing reassurance and support, you can help your children express their feelings in a healthy and constructive manner.

 

A lot of parents can get stumped when it comes to healthy snacks that they could give to their kids at home. So instead of reaching for that bag of chips because it seems easy, try one of these yummy snacks for your little one’s next snack time! You’ll be surprised at how easy these healthy snacks actually can be!

10 Great Snacks for Little Kids

 

1. Sliced Fruits

Offer small, bite-sized pieces of fruits like apples, bananas, pears, berries, or mangoes. You can even mix and match different fruits to make a colorful fruit salad.

2. Veggie Sticks 

Cut up vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, or celery into small sticks and serve them with hummus or ranch dressing for dipping.

3. Yogurt 

A small cup of yogurt is a great source of calcium and protein. Look for varieties with no added sugar or artificial flavors.

4. Cheese Cubes 

Cut up small cubes of cheese, like cheddar, mozzarella, or Monterey Jack, for a protein-rich snack.

5. Whole-Grain Crackers 

Choose crackers made with whole grains and without added sugars or trans fats.

6. Nut Butter and Banana 

Spread a thin layer of peanut or almond butter on a sliced banana for a filling and nutritious snack.

7. Hard-Boiled Eggs

Hard-boiled eggs are a great source of protein and healthy fats. You can slice them up or serve them whole.

8. Mini Muffins 

Bake mini muffins with whole grains, fruits, and vegetables for a nutritious and fun snack.

9. Smoothies 

Blend together fruits, yogurt, and milk for a delicious and refreshing drink that’s packed with nutrients.

10. Homemade Trail Mix 

Combine nuts, dried fruit, and whole-grain cereal for a crunchy and satisfying snack.

These are some of the easiest and tastiest treats that you can make for your little ones at home! How about you? What are some of your favorite healthy snacks that you and your kids enjoy in your home?

Every parent and child has struggled with listening at some point in their relationships, and it can be one of the most frustrating things to go through for both parties. But there are ways to help reduce frustration on both sides while effectively teaching your child to not only listen the first time, but for them to want to listen the first time as well.

Here are a few things that parents can do as they are teaching their children that will help both of you through this growing pain.

Teaching Your Child to Follow Directions

 

Parents, Remain Calm

When it’s the fourth time you’ve told your kids something and they still won’t listen, it’s really easy to lose your cool out of your own frustration. So try adjusting your mindset and approach from the get-go next time.

Start out by calmly giving them a direction. Be patient but firm, and remember that teaching kids how to listen takes time. Patience will be your friend as you have to repeat these steps.

Parents, Be Direct

Make sure you are clear and concise with the directions you give your kids. If you aren’t, they may not be able to figure out how to execute each step of your instructions, which will cause confusion for both you and your child.

Instead of just saying, “Sit down,” say, “Can you please sit in that chair?” Giving clear, specific directions instead of general ones will help your kids and save your sanity in the long run.

Parents, Keep Directions Positive

Another thing to keep in mind is to keep your directions and commands on the positive end, meaning asking your kids what you WANT them to do or what they SHOULD be doing, not what they SHOULDN’T be doing.

Not to say that you shouldn’t say “No”, but try giving “Do” commands first instead. 

Parents, Make Sure to Give One Command At a Time

Kids can get easily overwhelmed if they are given too many directions at once. So make sure to give them one command at a time in the right order. This will make it much easier for you and your kids on this journey to learning good listening skills.

 

How you handle teaching your child to follow directions can help them either grow in a really healthy way or cause them to develop really mentally and socially unhealthy behaviors. But if you can make sure you are diligently trying to teach with some of the suggestions we have made above, you can help your child succeed well in life by learning how to follow directions.