Engaging in extracurricular activities such as sports, music, and/or clubs has been shown to provide social, mental, and physical benefits for children. Not only that, it can help provide structure, teach time management skills, and allow your child to learn new skills. That said, it can be difficult to find the right activity, and it can also be difficult to find the right balance between structured activities and free, playtime. Here are some tips to help you and your children find the activities that best suit your needs. Make Sure Your Child Is Ready From younger and younger ages, it […]
Fostering Creativity in the New Year
Winter vacation, just like any vacation, tends to start perfectly and then slowly devolve into a “when does school start again?” kind of mood. It’s not that we don’t enjoy the break, but after the holiday festivities and that strange time of Twixmas, it can be challenging to keep everyone happy and entertained. Although the new year brings lots of excitement, it can also be daunting as you try to figure out how to make the upcoming year better for both yourself and your kids. However, this time of year is the perfect time to start developing creativity practices that can […]
Top 5 Tips for Dealing With Picky Eaters
Can you believe it’s already November? As the seasons change and the end of the year approaches a certain kind of restlessness can come along. With days getting shorter and darker and the holidays looming in the near future, this time of year can be exhausting because there’s so much to do and not enough time. Unfortunately, this restlessness can also extend into our meals. It often starts as not knowing what to cook and suddenly finding that you’re a much more “picky” eater than you were at the beginning of the year. Take school lunch for example, when the […]
Making Perfect Attendance a Reality and Not a Dream
There are a lot of mixed feelings at the beginning of the school year. Some kids are excited and love going to school to see their friends and meet their new teachers. However, more anxious and socially reserved kids would much rather stay in the safety of their homes. Most kids will fall somewhere in the middle of this range of extremes, but regardless going back to school is an adjustment that takes time. However, it’s not just our kids who can feel stressed at this time of year. Teachers and childcare workers have new classroom dynamics to work […]
How to Enjoy Summer Without Breaking the Bank
It’s finally summer! That means time for staying up all night, watching movies, enjoying the outdoors, and eating all the frozen treats to stay cool. Rising temperatures and delayed sunsets make this a favorite time of year for many. However, it can also be stressful for parents who have children that are now out of school and need something to do. This time of year can bring up concerns about childcare(especially for working parents), food, and having enough activities to fill up all of the summer free time. Additionally, with rising costs and inflation money can become a concern as […]
Appreciation for Appreciation Days
Every month is chock full of seemingly random holidays and appreciation days you might never have heard of. From the light-hearted National Donut Day on June 2nd to the more serious World Sickle Cell Day on June 19th. The coming months have an array of celebration days that come in all levels of seriousness. The summer months have some exciting opportunities to introduce kids to elements of that natural world as summer is kicking into full gear! Over the next two months celebrations of nature and fun activities include Oceans Week, Rabbit Awareness Week, National Black Bear Day, World Reef […]
Tips on running a childcare business
Tips for Running a Successful Childcare Business Running a childcare business can be a rewarding and profitable venture, but it’s important to have a solid plan in place to ensure success. Here are some tips to help you get started: Create a Business Plan The first step to running a successful childcare business is to create a business plan. A business plan will help you define your business goals, identify your target market, and plan your finances. Your business plan should include a budget, a marketing plan, and an operational plan. Find Your Niche One of the keys to success […]
It’s Time to Get Moving!
April is National Move More Month, a monthly observance created by the American Heart Association to remind us all of the importance of being active. Over time, Americans have developed a more sedentary lifestyle, which has lead to a higher risk of obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, memory problems, and an overall shorter lifespan. Move More Month is a great reminder that physical activity is essential for living a long and happy life. As the weather continues to get warmer, now is the perfect time to reevaluate activity schedules in order to ensure that we’re all hitting our fitness […]
Supporting Children’s Friendships
As spring rapidly rolls in, so do opportunities for outdoor play that have been unavailable in colder climates. With outdoor playdates and summer vacations approaching, it’s a perfect time to consider how you can help support your child’s friendships during school breaks. Friendships are essential to children’s development at all ages, but can also be very hard! Your child might naturally be a social butterfly, winning over every other kid in their class. Or your child might be more introverted and not have as easy of a time socializing. Wherever on the spectrum your child naturally falls, there are things […]
Getting Your Little Ones Ready to Write
February always makes me think of Valentine’s day. Valentine’s Day is often associated with lots of hearts and chocolates, but when I think of the holiday I recall spending hours writing up my Valentines to deliver to my classmates’ special, heart-shaped boxes. At younger ages, this was an arduous task with lots of erasing and struggling to spell names correctly. However, as the years progressed it became more enjoyable and is one of my treasured memories. Every year this holiday tradition continues, and kids of all ages like to participate in sending out their Valentines. But what age is appropriate […]