Spring Craft Ideas!

Those of you who are crafty and love doing activities with your children will be especially inspired by the sunny weather! The sunshine seems to give us a renewed energy and a wonder of new things and new ideas!

Here are a few springtime activities to get you started!

Spring Blossom Tree

This one is super cute! Just pop some air pop popcorn (don’t use microwave ones with the buttery stuff on it) Then cut out a tree shape (just the branches no leaves)Glue the tree shape to a piece of colored paper and then glue the popcorn on resembling blossoms! Option – you can toss the popcorn in a plastic/ paper bag with some pink powder paint and give it a shake to make pink cherry blossoms!

Spring Wind Sock

I love this one because it’s so easy and they turn out so awesome!
What you will need:

• stickers,
• construction paper,
• tissue paper (or streamers),
• tape,
• string

What to do:

• Place stickers all over the paper leaving a couple inches on one short side because it will be covered when you roll up the paper anyway (we like spring stickers such as flowers and bugs and sunshines!) When that is all done, turn the paper over and place strips of tissue paper along the bottom long edge of the paper and tape them down.
• Next, roll the paper into a large tube by bring both short ends together and over lapping until you get the size you want, place a long piece of tape along the edge to hold it together.
• Next take a string (approx. 6 inches) and tape each end inside the tube on the top to create a hanger.
• Done! So cute and perfect in a sunny window!

Button Blossoms

This one is super easy and gives you a little start on blossoming blooms before the real ones arrive!
You just need some colorful buttons and some thin wire.http://littlehandslotsoflove.blogspot.com/2011/02/button-blooms.html

Spring Twig

This is so pretty! Put a few small drops of brown watered down paint at bottom of a piece of paper. Blow with a straw up and over a little left and right to create a pretty shaped branch with lots of twigs. Then take spring color tissue squares (such as pink or light green) and pinch in the middle and glue on like a blossom or bud along the twigs, remembering to get some on the ends of the twigs. Really beautiful on your wall! This also looks beautiful if you do it on white paper and then glue it on a larger piece of paper that matches the tissue paper, it creates a really sweet frame! If you are really inspired – I have done this project on a canvas so it’s ready to hang!

Check back throughout Spring to see more ideas popping up!

Other craft websites for Spring ideas!

Love this site!

http://familyfun.go.com/spring/spring-crafts/

New Year’s Resolution: ‘Spend More Quality Time with My Child!’

Have you started this resolution yet?

Life gets busy. As parents we all want to slow down and spend more time with our children. It makes us feel good and it makes them feel good. It creates lasting memories and close relationships with each other.

However, we all know how busy life can be! Work, school, dinners, chores, baths, etc. It’s busy and it’s exhausting!

How do we create time and make this time priority on our list everyday? We make it easy!

Two things often prevent us from spending that time with our children:

1. Exhaustion
2. Busy, busy, busy (checking off to-do lists!)

Exhaustion

You may be feeling like you just want to relax at the end of your day! Not run around playing hide and seek. Well, surprisingly, children enjoy that down time too! It doesn’t matter what you do, it doesn’t have to be a big, thought out project and it doesn’t mean packing up and going out to the park or the pool.

Busy, busy, busy!

I know that some of you are saying, ‘I have too much to do! I can’t sit and play cars or build blocks, or play store. I need to get things done!’ Fair enough, the time for a parent is not enough and the list is always way too long.

So how do you compromise? How do you accomplish tasks or relax and not miss out on precious time with your child?

Let’s figure out how you can be together without exerting a ton of energy that you just don’t have, or delaying things on your list that will take your focus away from enjoying any other activity with your child.

No energy?

Find some things to do that you can sit down and not have to pour a lot of preparation and planning into…

• Sit and read stories, or have your child read to you
• Cuddle together and watch a show or a movie
• Cuddle and talk! Talk about the day – likes/ dislikes. Talk about what you want to do tomorrow. Talk about anything!
• Do a puzzle with a cup of tea and a snack
• Create a sticker book! So fun! (we use a binder with those plastic protectors, then we put stickers on colored paper and just slide them in!)
• Color! Easy, easy, easy!
• Look through cookbooks and sticky note the recipes you want to try together

What’s on your list?

Tasks can easily incorporate your child’s assistance and company if you think creatively about how to do it! It’s also a lot more fun to do together, it gets done faster, sometimes, and your children love being with you, regardless of what you are doing, if it’s together and you are having fun doing it, they will love it and you will to when you realize just how much time you can spend together! Children love to help!

• If the dishes really can’t wait? Let your child stand on a chair and rinse the dishes, or help unload the dishwasher and place things on the counter.
  
• Doing laundry? Children are great at putting clothes in front loading washers, they enjoy putting the soap in the dispenser and pushing the start button. Children can also easily fold face clothes and tea towels (it doesn’t matter if they are not perfectly folded)
  
• Writing out Thank You notes or birthday cards? Bring out the markers and paper and let you child create their own thank you notes!
  
• Need to mail bill payments? Go for a walk to the mailbox together
  
• Making lunches for the next day? Children can help with this! They can pick out fruit to add to each lunch kit, spreading peanut butter on bread, adding juice boxes, etc. Even toddlers can be involved by using step by step instructions (find an apple, pick it up, put it in!)
  
• Getting coffee ready on the timer for the morning? Children love to scoop and pour the coffee grinds
  
• Grocery shopping? Preschool children love to ‘Spy’ the next item! (We are looking for…. Let’s see who can spy them first!)
  
• Dusting? Put on some tunes and slide some socks onto your child’s hands, easy way for them to help with the dusting! Especially those awkwardly low baseboards!

When you make spending time with your child the focus, you will realize how to easily make quality time together a priority! And soon you will wonder how you ever did anything without them! And you will look forward to that down time when you can relax and reconnect with each other after a busy day or week.

Getting to Know Your Child

Has your child had any significant life experiences, such as premature birth, major illness or medical occurrences? What are their likes/dislikes? How do they like to go down to sleep?
It is important when enrolling your child into childcare programs that this information is shared with the caregivers. The significance of knowing your child and what has happened to them prior to enrolling in our care is essential in providing the best possible individual care to your child.
The events of birth and early life experience can affect a child, even if it isn’t an obvious affect right away, such as detectable medical or developmental affects. Some affects can occur in behaviours or reactions, as the child grows and develops in early life.
For example, if a child is born prematurely, and as the child is developing within the childcare program, we notice observations that concern us, such as a slight delay in development, if we know the child was born prematurely we can take note of this. However, if we did not know of the premature birth, we may be more concerned and begin assessments and more observations and continue on with actions that are not necessary for this child. We always want to provide the best, most accurate care for each child based on there individual needs and development. With knowledge we will recognize that this is a completely accurate stage of development for this child and provide care as needed for these needs, knowing that with time and care they will catch up on their own rather than having to involve outside supports.This is true for medical trauma or illness as well, which can affect a child’s development or behaviours.
You are the most valuable primary source of information for your children, and often we don’t get a chance to ask these historical questions verbally throughout caring for your child unless concerns arise. (Which most often won’t be concerns when we find out the history.)
Therefore, we have a ‘Getting to Know Your Child’ form for families, should you want to share this information when enrolling. It’s nice to have these on hand in the child’s file to look back upon and say ‘ah ha!’ that’s why this or that may be happening and begin to respond to the situation with valuable knowledge on your children’s individual or family needs and background. It is often said that knowledge is the key and in the case of caring for children I believe this is truly so. The more knowledge we have about your child, and the history prior to coming into our care, the more we are going to be able to provide the upmost quality and effective care and learning for your child. In this checklist we also ask about likes/dislikes, and other information, to ensure that when your child is enrolled in our program, your child is receiving the best possible care for his/her individual needs. We will have a jumpstart on knowing your child (how do they like to go down for a nap, what food do they like, do they like to feed themselves or are they fed, etc.) and as they continue to grow and learn and explore in the program we will also grow and learn more about your child and be able to continue to provide the best possible care for their development and needs.

It's Raining, It's Pouring, the Kids are Saying 'Boring!'

It’s raining. It’s not just drizzling or sprinkling… it’s down right pouring! Welcome to the fall season on the west coast!
The question is… what do you do with your children when cabin fever is setting in?
Sure, you could dress them head to toe in slickers n’ boots and hope they don’t get lost in some giant mud puddle outside, as you try to get a little bit of sanity in your day. By ‘day’, I mean days, weeks, months, you just never know when the rain will end on the west coast!
Or… you could check out this list of ideas and links, staying warm and dry, and get started on some amazing and fun quality time! Soon, you will be looking forward to these rainy days when you can hibernate inside together and really enjoy some treasured experiences.
Now, I know what you are saying, ‘it’s pouring rain and I’m not going out to get a bunch of crafty supplies,’ no worries! Our first list is a 'No-Craft' list! If you are, however, a crafty parent, we have a second list of some fantastic ideas for crafting with your little ones.
 
• Turn on music! Easy! Music always brightens the day and drowns out the sound of the rain. Once the music is on…
• Dance around together! If you have some scarves, they are a perfect prop for children to dance with. Play ‘follow the dancer around the house’, up onto the beds, down the hall, under the table, where ever you choose!
• Make some hot chocolate or tea and get busy baking your favourite treat! (And dancing of course! No one said you can’t dance with a measuring cup in your hand!)
• Play cards, or make a card house!
• Do a puzzle together ~ hope you are still groovin’ in your seat!
• Get a bowl for each child and fill it up with their favourite snacks. Find pillows and cozy blankets. Turn down the blinds and turn on your favourite family movie! It’s the middle of the morning? No big deal! The kids will love it!
• Play board games! You know the ones that have been sitting and collecting dust all summer? Yeah, those ones!
• Snuggle up in the blankets with some favourite books to read together! Spy Books are fantastic, they are super interactive and create some great early learning opportunities!
• Let your little one have a warm bath with some shaving cream (you can color it with a tiny bit of food colouring) and a paintbrush and let them ‘Picasso’ the bathtub!
• Go online and send e-cards to people, just because! Let them know you are thinking of them. Often we get so busy to remember to let people know how special they are to us. This is a great activity to model caring and giving to others. Making others feel good, just because. And making others feel happy makes us feel good!

Ok, here’s the ‘Let’s get Crafty’ list!

• Tis the season to start thinking about a few new Christmas decorations!
• Gingerbread houses!
• Christmas tree decorations! This is really endless in possibilities!
• Glue sparkle on small pinecones
• Use a baker’s clay (see LittleHands link below for a recipe) and cut out shapes and paint them
• Use white pipe-cleaners and make snowflakes
• Lace red and green buttons onto ribbon or pipe-cleaners
• Lace red, white and green beads on to pipe-cleaners and make candy canes
• Popcorn and cranberry garland!
• Handprint felt wreaths! And so much more! (See LittleHands link below for instructions)
• This is a fantastic facebook page with links to many ideas to keep little ones entertained and craft ideas to do together! Ideas and Inspiration for Crafty Parents
• Here’s is a website that is absolutely endless with ideas! Printable games and pages, crafts, etc. FamilyFun
• Looking for gifts to make together for loved ones? Or just some easy crafts to do together? Little Hands Lots of Love Blog
  
  Whichever activity you choose, take a deep breath and just enjoy this precious time. The rain helps us slow down and ensure we spend much needed time together.

 

 

Winter Songs and Fingerplays

Winter is arriving soon!
Some of us have already witnessed the spectacular sight of snowflakes speckling the ground. The children are excited to see this winter wonder and can’t wait to get outside to play!
If you are looking to keep them nice and cozy inside and still just as engaged by the season, then here are some tried and true favourite songs and fingerplays about winter! Pour some hot chocolate, sit by the window, watch the flurries and sing together. So fun! The kids will love it!

Winter Sky
Way up high in the winter sky,
Two little snowflakes caught my eye. (Point 2 fingers to sky)
Down to the ground they fell without a sound. (Twist around)
And before very long, It was snowing all around. (Hold arms out)

Chubby Little Snowman
A chubby little snowman had a carrot for a nose
Along came a bunny and what do you suppose?
That hungry little bunny was looking for his lunch...
And he ate that snowman's nose. . . .Cr…..r…..unch!

Six Little Penguins
Six little penguins off an iceberg did dive,
One bumped his beak, then there were five.
Five little penguins swam the ocean floor,
One saw a whale, then there were four.
Four little penguins spun around, whee-ee!
One spun off, then there were three!
Three little penguins, with nothing to do,
One went fishing, then there were two.
Two little penguins, having lots of fun,
One fell of, then there was one.
One little penguin, when the day was done,
Went home to sleep, then there were none.

Snowflake Dance

(Sung To: ‘Are you Sleeping’)
Dance like snowflakes, Dance like snowflakes
In the air, In the air
Whirling, Twirling snowflakes, Whirling, Twirling snowflakes
Here and there, Here and there

I'm a Little Penguin

(to the tune of ‘I'm a Little Teapot’)
I'm a little penguin
Black and white,
Short and wobbly
An adorable sight.
I can't fly at all
But I love to swim,
So I'll waddle to the water
And dive right in!

Have You Ever Seen a Penguin

(to the tune of ‘Have You Ever Seen a Lassie?’)

Have you ever seen a penguin? a penguin? a penguin?
Have you ever seen a penguin swim this way and that?
Swim this way and that way and this way and that?
Have you ever seen a penguin swim this way and that?
(move arms like you're swimming)

Repeat, substitute "swim" with:
"slide" (make sliding motions with feet)
"waddle" (take tiny steps and swing body from side to side)
"dress" (bow and curtsy)

"Dear Old Frosty" (tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb) Guess who wears a magic hat, magic hat, magic hat
Guess who wears a magic hat, Dear old Frosty does
Guess who has two eyes of coal.....
Guess who has a carrot nose......
Guess who carries a big yellow broom......
Guess who wears a big red scarf.....
Guess who wears big green mittens....
Guess who wears big black boots.....

Watch for winter activities coming soon!

Potty Projects!

There are those wonderful little toilet-learning children who decide they are just going to go on the potty and they do. No arguments, no accidents, no stress. If you have one of those children then congratulations you really don’t need to read any further. But, for those of you who have a child like mine, a child that needs a little time and encouragement, then read on!
My son, then 23 months old, had been showing a great deal of interest in the potty. He liked to sit there briefly and then say "all done", and carry on with his play. Every once in a while I managed to get him to stay just a few minutes longer and each time we had success on the potty! It was during these ‘quality’ times sitting on the bathroom floor that I realized there had to be something better than the usual staring contest and ‘just a few more minutes’ reassurance. It wasn’t really fun for either of us and I don’t blame him for jumping up and running around half-naked. It was boring sitting on the potty!
Thus, the birth of the ‘potty projects.’ Potty projects are small activities to help keep your child occupied while sitting on the potty. These activities only take a few minutes, which is just enough time to help your child become more successful in ‘producing’ on the potty, as well as turning awkward, clock-watching moments into fun and teachable moments. Let’s face it, you are spending a lot of time sitting on the floor or the edge of the tub, let’s work with this ‘special time.’
If you are thinking about starting toilet training, have already begun, or like me, have already spent many moments on the cold bathroom floor waiting, then let’s get started on potty projects!
Here are 10 projects to get you started, and then you can discover your own potty projects that work for you and your child! Some require a few props or supplies and others are prop-free! It’s good to start with a bin or large basket to carry all the supplies in or simply leave it in the bathroom by the potty if you have room. This way everything is within easy reach when your child is asking to sit on the potty.

1. Stickers- stickers can be used in a variety of ways. One, have a small sticker book on hand and let your child fill up a page with stickers. Or, let your child place stickers on their potty! This creates a personalized potty and a fun ‘I Spy’ game when there is a collection of stickers to look at.
2. Books- store a few books in the bin. Books that your child can only look at on the potty. A great idea is to invest in a few ‘potty’ books. Lift-the-flap books are also great with more interactive play.
3. Toilet paper roll creations- well, you are in the bathroom...why not recycle what is within reach! Have markers or crayons in your bin and let your child color toilet paper rolls.
4. Empty tissue box- Again, reusing what is within reach, fill an empty tissue box with various sizes of material or light scarves. Toddlers love pulling them out one by one and then shoving them all back in again. (Suggestion: place tape around the opening for more strength, then it won’t tear easily). If you so desire, use a box of full tissues and let your child pull them out and put them back in, they may not be as pretty when guests go to use them, but children love playing with tissues!
5. Action songs- Singing and acting! This one needs no props and your children will love doing these songs with you and they are easy to do while sitting on the potty! Itsy Bitsy Spider, Head and Shoulders, If You are Happy and You Know it, Wheels on the Bus, and 5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. There will be tons of giggles filling the bathroom!
6. Magnet boards- There are many places (even the dollar store) that sell small magnet boards. Put a small one in your bin and collect some bright color magnets in a small tin. You can also find the letter and number magnets as well as other fridge magnets made especially for children. I have also found magnet boards that have a scene on them and come with the magnets (such as dinosaurs, construction, farm animals.) Again, very inexpensive at the dollar store.
7. ‘Can you Find...?’- Toddlers are learning so much so quickly and are always eager to show you what they know! Especially body parts! Another project that requires no props. Ask your child to point out body parts to you. Can you find your toes? Can you find Mommy’s toes? Can you find your ears? Carry on with other parts of their body and yours!
8. Beanbag toss- This game doesn’t need beanbags, you can find any soft, or small object to use. Beanbags are easily made by filling socks that are too small for your child, with rice or beans, and then sewing or tying them shut. Use the basket/ bin you have or find another bucket (make sure it’s deep though) or even a plastic stool your child stands on at the sink, turned upside down. Then place the bucket several feet from your child and hand them a couple ‘beanbags’ and let them try to toss them in!
9. Which cup? - This project requires 3 small cups and an object/ toy that will fit inside. Place all cups face down on the floor. Show your child the object and then place it under one of the cups. Move the cups around without lifting them. Ask your child to guess which cup has the object. They will want to guess again and again!
10. What’ missing? – Gather 4-5 small objects and place them on the floor or a plate, let your child have a few minutes to look at the items and then cover it with a face cloth or hand towel, remove one or more of the items without your child being able to see, then remove the cloth and ask them to see if they can guess what is missing! It’s good to start with just one object and working up to all of them!

Let this important milestone for your child, and your family, become a treasured time enjoyed together. Before you know it, your child will be using the potty and you may even miss those moments sitting on the cold bathroom floor!

Mini Pumpkin Craft!

A great little craft for Halloween is to decorate mini pumpkins!

Materials you will need:

• Mini Pumpkins
• White Glue
• Small decorations such as sequins, googley eyes, feathers, buttons, whatever you have on hand!

Hint: The dollar store is a great place to get small craft decorations!

Autumn Songs

The Leaves are falling down

Tune:"Farmer in the Dell"

The leaves are falling down
The leaves are falling down
Red, yellow, green, and brown
The leaves are falling down

Author Unknown

Lots of LeavesTune:"London Bridge Is Falling Down"
Lots of leaves are falling down, falling down, falling down.
Lots of leaves are falling down in a flutter.

Take the rake and pile them up, pile them up, pile them up.
Take the rake and pile them up in a mountain.

Run and jump and roll around, roll around, roll around.
Run and jump and roll around. Whee! It's autumn.

Author Unknown

The Leaves on The Trees

Tune : "The Wheels on The Bus"
The leaves on the trees are falling down,
falling down, falling down.
The leaves on the trees are falling down,
Red, yellow, orange, and brown.

The leaves on the ground go crunch, crunch, crunch
crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch.
The leaves on the ground go crunch, crunch, crunch.
All through autumn (fall).
Repeat verse 1

Author Unknown

Leaf Pile

Tune: "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"

Crunch, crunch, crunch the leaves
Rake them in a heap
Run, run as fast as you can
Into the pile you’ll leap!

I just made this one up!

Have fun with songs and children, use any classic tune and sing about what activity you are currently doing whether it’s crunching in leaves or doing the dishes!

Halloween Songs and Activities!

This is a compilation of classic Halloween Songs/Chants and Activities that
we love as well as some great new ones we found online

Songs/ Chants

5 Little Jack-0-lanterns

5 Little Jack-O-Lanterns sitting in a row (hold up 5 fingers)

5 Little Jack-O-Lanterns faces all aglow (frame your face using your hands and smile) Along came the stormy wind (make swishing movement with arms)

Looking for some fun

Gave a huff and a puff (blow in and out)

And blew out every one (close fingers into fist and put behind your back)

Five Little Pumpkins

5 little pumpkins sitting on a gate.

The 1st one said "my it's getting late."

The 2nd one said "there are witches in the air."

The 3rd one said "I don't care."

The 4th one said let's run let's run."

The 5th one said "Isn't Halloween fun?"

Oooooo went the wind and out went the lights

and the 5 little pumpkins rolled out of sight!

Trick or Treat

(tune-Frere Jacques)

Trick or Treat,

Trick or Treat.

Halloween Night.

Halloween Night.

In our costumes playing

You will hear us saying

Trick or Treat! Trick or Treat!

Scary Witch
A scary old witch was stirring a pot

OOOO OOOOO

Three little ghosts say ‘what has she got?’

OOOO OOOOO

tip toe, tip toe, tip toe…

BOOOOOO!

HALLOWEEN SONG
There was an old lady all skin and bones oooo, oooo, oooo

She lived down at the old graveyard oooo,ooooo,ooooo

One night she thought she'd take a walk ooooo,ooooo,oooooo

She walked on down the old graveyard oooo,ooooo,oooooo

She saw the bones a laying around ooooo,ooooo,ooooo

She went to the closet to get a broom ooooo,ooooo,oooooo

She opened the closet and BOO!

I am the Great Pumpkin
(tune: Did You Ever See A Lassie)

I am the Great Pumpkin, Great Pumpkin, Great Pumpkin,

I am the Great Pumpkin,

Come dance with me.

For your friends are my friends,

and my friends are your friends,

I am the Great Pumpkin,

Come dance with me.

ONCE I HAD A PUMPKIN
Tune: Did You Ever See a Lassie?

Once I had a pumpkin, a pumpkin, a pumpkin,

Once I had a pumpkin, with no face at all.

With no eyes and no nose, and no mouth and no teeth.

Once I had a pumpkin with no face at all.

So I made a jack-o-lantern, a jack-o-lantern, a jack-o-lantern,

So I made a jack-o-lantern, with a big funny face.

With big eyes and a big nose, and a big mouth with big teeth.

So I made a jack-o-lantern with a big funny face.

We're Gonna Make Some Halloween Stew
(Tune of Grandpa's Farm)
We're gonna make, we're gonna make,
Gonna make some Halloween Stew
We're gonna make, we're gonna make,
Gonna make some Halloween Stew

In our Halloween Stew we'll put a round orange pumpkin
In our Halloween Stew we'll put a round orange pumpkin
A pumpkin, we clean it out like this (scoop, scoop)!
A pumpkin, we clean it out like this (scoop, scoop!)

We're gonna make, we're gonna make,
Gonna make some Halloween Stew
We're gonna make, we're gonna make,
Gonna make some Halloween Stew

In our Halloween Stew we'll put a black furry bat
In our Halloween Stew we'll put a black furry bat
A bat, he flaps his wings like this (flap, flap!)
A bat, he flaps his wings like this (Flap, flap!)

We're gonna make, we're gonna make,
Gonna make some Halloween Stew
We're gonna make, we're gonna make,
Gonna make some Halloween Stew

In our Halloween Stew we'll put a warty green frog
In our Halloween Stew we'll put a warty green frog
A frog, he makes a sound like this (ribbit, ribbit!)
A frog, he makes a sound like this (ribbit, ribbit!)

We're gonna make, we're gonna make,
Gonna make some Halloween Stew
We're gonna make, we're gonna make,
Gonna make some Halloween Stew

In our Halloween Stew we'll put a white fluffy ghost
In our Halloween Stew we'll put a white fluffy ghost
A ghost, he makes a sound like this, (woo, woo!)
A ghost, he makes a sound like this, (wwo, woo!)

We're gonna make, we're gonna make,
Gonna make some Halloween Stew
We're gonna make, we're gonna make,
Gonna make some Halloween Stew

In our Halloween Stew we'll put a yummy sweet treat
In our Halloween Stew we'll put a yummy sweet treat
 A treat, it tastes a lot like this (yum, yum!)
A treat, it tastes a lot like this (yum, yum!)

We're gonna make, we're gonna make,
Gonna make some Halloween Stew
We're gonna make, we're gonna make,
Gonna make some Halloween Stew!

Halloween Activities

Halloween Slime!

1 cup cornstarch

1 cup water

Green paint or food coloring

Mix together in a bowl or dish bin, and get 'slimed!'

Gooey Ghosts!

Glue ghost charms to have on necklaces or hang  in the window. Supplies needed are: squeeze bottles, white craft glue, wax paper, googly eyes and paperclips. Fill the squeeze bottles with glue. Children squeeze the glue out onto the wax paper in a ghostly blob. Then they can place their googly eyes. Have the child identify the "head" of the ghost and place one end of the paperclip in the head. When the glue is dry, peel off of the wax paper and string into a necklace. :)

Halloween Safety!

It’s almost dusk, the children look adorable in their sweet little costumes and you can’t wait to see their faces when they receive their first Trick or Treat! To ensure the evening remains a fun night, here are a few tips and the safety rules and expectations to go over with your little ghouls and goblins.

First here are a few helpful tips on ensuring they have a great head start on safety and spooky fun:

• Ensure your child is in a bright costume so others can see them. If their costume is dark in color, use reflective strips or have them carry a glow stick or bright flashlight.

• Ensure your child’s costume isn’t too long, tripping over it in excitement to rush to the next house can be a big hazard and bound to lead to the night getting cut short.

• Instead of masks, have your kids wear make-up so they can see where they are going. It’s more comfortable too! The masks build up sweat and condensation under it and guaranteed that your annoyed child will be ripping it off quickly. Make-up leads to happier trick or treaters.

• There’s a good chance (unless your child has a home-made costume) that other children are going to have the same or very similar costume and when it gets dark, distinguishing on ghoulish ghost, or cackling witch, from another can get difficult. A great thing to do is alter it in some obvious way to ensure you can see your child at all times. This can be anything from a specific design with reflectors on their back, or glow sticks sewn on the costume, anything that will quickly identify your child from the rest.

• Another tip for really little ones (under 3) is to put them in a stroller or wagon, not only will they last trick or treating longer, but it will also ensure they won’t get run over by bigger children zipping around.

And now the safety rules for the little ones!

• Review road safety rules such as, look both ways before crossing, stay on the sidewalk or close to the side of the road if there is no sidewalk, and use crosswalks when available.
  
• Remind them to watch for other people when hurrying from house to house. Bumps and falls can easily happen when there are groups of children running for candy! Keeping their head up and watch where they are going.
• Remind them to not eat the candy before you inspect it for safety.
  
• Here’s a little song that will easily remind them of the rules!

Trick or Treat

(Tune: I’m a little Teapot)

I am a trick or treater ready to go,

Here is my flashlight, I'll walk slow.

When I get all dressed up here me say,

‘Thank you for my treats today!’

I am so excited, ‘Trick or Treat!,"

I always look both ways across the street!

When I get my candy, can’t eat it, no, no

Until it’s check by people I know!

Toddlers, Preschoolers and Essential Social Skills!

Are you concerned about your toddler or preschoolers social skills?

Research suggests that a child’s social skills by age three could predict his or her future social and academic performance.*

Children with a head start on social skills and self-esteem are more likely to be able to focus on school work with out the distraction of peer conflicts and other social behavior problems.

Ask yourself these questions with regards to your child:

Do they have opportunities to build friendships, learn turn-taking and co-operation, effectively communicate with others, problem-solve, share, or recognize boundaries and social cues?

Do they have experiences in building self-esteem and independence, by successfully joining group play, learning self-control while gaining confidence in expressing their needs and wants to others?

The group childcare environment is the ideal learning space to build essential social skills that every child should be developing in their early years. Social skills are important in establishing the foundation of your child’s life experience!

Does your child know how to:

• Play effectively with others
• Build self-esteem in group situations
• Recognize peer boundaries, social cues and communication
• Successfully communicate their needs and wants to others in appropriate way
• Understand appropriate social behaviours – such as managing emotions and empathizing with others who are sad or angry, and learning how to react in these situations
• Discover leadership and following roles, determining group roles and co-operation
• Encounter sharing concepts – turn-taking and waiting, communicating and problem-solving
• Build peer friendships and determine which peers they will find connections with

Ensure that your child is receiving the upmost opportunities to build these important social skills and early learning! Ensure that your current childcare program is meeting these needs, ask:

• Do the programs and caregivers promote early social skills such as problem-solving, turn-taking and group play entry?
• How many children are in the group? Is this group large enough to create valuable group interactions such as building self-esteem in leadership roles, and discovering where they can contribute in group activities?
• Are the children the same peer age as my child? Does my child have daily interactions with children his/her own age to develop these social skills and important peer friendships and experience and manage peer conflict?
• Are there opportunities for my child to gain independence and discover self, as well as be involved in being a part of a group?
• Are they exposed to books and real situations everyday that teach them about peer social conflict situations and how to manage internal feelings, and problem-solve during these conflicts, resulting in a compromise or positive outcome?

• Our experienced educators provide these daily opportunities for your child to grow, learn and build upon all these essential social skills with their peers! We want your child to have these significant experiences! Our licensed childcare facilities provide developmentally age-appropriate programs, toys and equipment, educated caregivers, ensuring a safe and fun environment. Your child has the opportunity to play and create friendships with children their own age, be a part of co-operation activities and learn team-building skills, as well as learn self-esteem by leading groups or voicing their thoughts/ wants/ needs with in a group.

These are all fantastic skills to learn prior to the school years! Children will have team knowledge if their join sports. They will be more confident to stand in front of the class to present school projects because they have had experience voicing themselves in large groups and building the confidence to do so. They will be able to focus more on school work if they have good friendships and less peer conflicts. It’s really an endless list of positive outcomes when children learn early the social and emotional skills that will carry them throughout their lives!

Are you a stay at home parent?

Part-time care is a fantastic way to ensure your child gains important early learning and social skills. These opportunities are not ideally accessible in the home environment. Group care also offers experiences in following gentle routines, learning through play and building self-help skills, all while having fun with friends and our experienced staff!

*Michigan State University. "Childhood Social Skills Linked To Learning Abilities." ScienceDaily, 21 Jun. 2007. Web. 28 Sep. 2011.,

The Leaves are Falling Down!

Autumn is here and we couldn’t be more excited! The air is crisp, the morning is fresh, the cozy feeling has returned and the fall season is such an exciting time with children!

The temperature is not unbearably hot nor is it painfully cold, it’s the perfect time to spend a lot of time outside! We pull on sweaters, we search our drawers for matching socks, that have some how gotten lost over summer, and we head out into Autumn!

Everywhere we look the leaves are transforming into beautiful colours and falling to the ground, the perfect opportunity for a leaf-crunching walk around the neighbourhood or the local parks! The air chills noses and we breathe in deep, crisp air that refreshes and exhilarates us.

We wrap ourselves in warmth and indulge in the festive fall activities!

• Making homemade applesauce ~ Peel and slice apples. Place in saucepan with water and yummy spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves. Cook until apples mash easily. Use a potato masher to mash into sauce. Get a spoon and enjoy!
• Sit by the fireplace with a warm drink and read stories. Fall themed stories about Thanksgiving and Halloween. What great opportunities to talk about what we are thankful for or review Halloween Safety. (Look for up-and-coming blog regarding Halloween Safety)
• Rake up the leaves in the yard as the children jump into the piles! You too, go ahead, we won’t tell!
• Decorate the house with fall items such as acorns, cranberries, pinecones, pumpkins and leaves. Place fall scented potpourri or candles around the house, such as eucalyptus or pumpkin spice!
• Look at pictures of past Thanksgiving celebrations, write down all your family has to be thankful for this year.
• Create Halloween decorations to spook the neighbourhood on Halloween Night! A quick and easy craft to do is: get a tissue and either cotton balls or extra tissue balled up, place the ball in the centre of the open tissue, close up the open tissue around the ball and tie a string or twist tie around the ball and fluff up the excess tissue. Quick and easy tissue ghost! Make a few and hang them around the front of your house or trees (under cover is best to save them from the rain!) If you are concerned about them getting wet, re-use white grocery bags cut into small tissue –size squares.

Take in the season and really welcome it, the children will have warm and cozy memories to cherish as they get older and will look forward to the fall traditions you create as a family!