School-age kids have returned to the classroom, and excitement is already building along with cooler temperatures for outdoor sports, bike rides, and fall festivals! As routines get established with school and daycare during September, most extracurricular programs begin and families have an almost-endless selection of opportunities in which to participate. Football is once again the topic of interest, and Halloween merchandise fills store aisles. Bring on the fun!
Getting kids up and ready for the day...whether it be for school, daycare, or even a sport or enrichment activity is a sure-fire stress builder and typical cause of morning madness. What can parents do to start each day on time and in a positive way? Here are 7 tips to try.
The return to daycare and the classroom means it's nit-picking time again in schools and child care facilities everywhere. And while the nuisances may not be able to be eliminated, educators and care providers are again on high alert to at least control the pesty creatures. The month of September is designated as Head Lice Awareness Month so that parents can inspect their children's heads often and know what to look for as well as how to treat it if they find lice.
Kids may be in school all day, but for most working parents, school hours end long before your work shift does. That's why after-school care is so important. There are many options available, and you'll need to decide what works best for your family and whether your child should complete all homework and studying while in the after-school program or be given a chance to chill, play and unwind. Or, preferably, both!
As a parent, you've most likely been versed on the precautions to take to avoid Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). But before you leave your baby with anyone else, including grandparents, babysitter or child care provider, make sure they are up to speed on do's and don'ts about SIDS. Taking the extra time will be worth your peace of mind for baby's safety.
National Grandparents Day is observed on the first Sunday after Labor Day, and its purpose is to honor grandparents. But why limit it to just that day? There is so much a child can do to build a strong rapport with a grandparent, and parents and providers alike can encourage the bridging of generations through various activities, including having a young child really get to know what it was like when a grandparent was a child. Grandparents add so much history and wisdom and enrich a fmaily's life, so feel free to express gratitude on a frequent and ongoing basis!
September bring a reminder for parents and child care providers to teach young kids 9-1-1 for emergencies. The date was created to coincide with the national Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the U.S. But beyond teaching tots how to dial out in an emergency, parents and child care providers can team together to teach young kids phone safety and their own home number. Here are tips on how to accomplish this!
Whether your youngster attends a preschool or is in regular school, goes to daycare, or is cared for in someone's home, packing a kid lunch each day in lieu of the purchased lunch may be an option that parents on a budget should consider. After all, many kids barely touch their purchased lunch, and picky eaters may not get the nutrition they need from a menu that is created for the entire school or classroom. Here are budget ideas to consider.
September is being touted as the month of making sure that families know what to do and where to go in the event of an emergency or national disaster. Keeping your family safe and sound should be a top priority, so if you haven't already done so, there is no better time to plan for a disaster than right now! Be sure you ask your child's daycare and school for details about their disaster plan as well to stay in the know!
Fall offers all sorts of fun and entertaining holiday actvities for kids. Parents and providers alike should look over this list of events, key dates and lesson plan ideas when planning seasonal fun and enrichment ideas.
