The week of Boo-Boos….ouch!

May 17th, 2012
Well, what a week!
It apparently is the week of boo-boos!
Which leads me to the discussion that you can never be too prepared and never have too much stuff on hand for emergencies!
Monday, one of the daycare boys showed up with a giant scabbed knee. I mean the entire kneecap was yuck! 2 minutes into playing outside, he had fallen, scrubbed off a chunk the size of a quarter and was bleeding down his leg.
Out came the wipes, the disinfectant, the antibiotic cream and the band-aids.
And apparently Monday night at home, daycare girl fell off her bike and showed up with a sore arm Tuesday. After observing her for the day, not use said arm at all…..I placed a call to Mom that she might need to be seen by a Doctor. Sure enough, she broke a bone in her wrist and came Wednesday with a cast!
Tuesday, scabby daycare boy proceeded to walk into a kitchen cabinet and had a small bump on his head! Out came the kiddie ice pack!
And now we are on Thursday, the last day of this week and I am really hoping that we have a easy day!LOL
Even before my husband became a Medical Assistant, we had a VERY well-stocked medicine cabinet! We had kids, boys…..active and busy boys! I wanted to make sure we had things for almost every kind of incident. I stock band-aids of every kind, shape and size! I have peroxide, alcohol, antibiotic cream, hydrocortisone cream, liquid band-aid, gauze pads, medical tape, ace wraps, ice packs, heat packs, infant tylenol, child tylenol, etc. Like I said, prepared for everything! I also go through it twice a year to make sure all of it is up to date, not expired and replace any missing or used items!
I always urge parents to do the same thing! You never know when this will come in handy!
Glad the week is almost over, crossing fingers that next week is slightly easier in terms of boo-boos!
Stay tuned for further adventures of Preschoolers Day by Day!

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Our Preschool year is coming to an end…

May 17th, 2012
Only a few more weeks of preschool lessons!
These kids have breezed through 10 months of Time 4 Learning lessons and loved it!
It was the best thing I have added to my childcare in a long time!
Saved paper, saved waste, saved the Earth and saved me time and frustration of 4 different schedules and trying to make it all work for everyone.
And I have seen a lot of growth in these kids from using it!
I know that by the time my 2 older boys have completed it, they will be as prepped for Kindergarten as I can make them!
They are advanced, they know their colors, shapes, numbers, sounds, letters, parts of the body, rules for things, how to tie shoes, etc.
Time 4 Learning Preschool will be a continued asset to my childcare!
Stay tuned for further adventures of Preschoolers Day by Day!

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Garden 101!

May 3rd, 2012

The lovely weather we have been having instills that need to garden!

And garden I do! But….I have created a child-friendly garden so that it is accessible for the daycare kids to help me pull weeds, water the plants, pick the veggies so that we can use them for our lunch…..which in turn will create a love of gardening and/or a willingness to eat the fruits of their labor!

There are TONS of studies that show kids are more willing to eat food that they have helped raise!

My husband built raised beds that are 18 inches high, perfect for all ages to reach. Plus 1 GIANT very low raised bed that has stepping stones we can walk through it. We also have a bean teepee for pole beans and at the height of Summer, it is like a little teepee of lush green with pink flowers and fresh green beans! YUM!

This year we have peas, green beans, pole beans, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, and zucchini!

So…. if you have a spot and can add a small raised bed for a garden for you and your child….I say do it! Raise something as simple as beans or a tomato plant or even just flowers! Kids love dirt, kids learn lessons about living things and you get some great one on one time with your child!

Stay tuned for further adventures of Preschoolers Day byDay!

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Learning about our bodies!

May 3rd, 2012

We have been learning about our bodies and ourselves!

Both the older group and younger group have somehow ended up in the same lesson, just different levels!

So…..I rolled with it and we got out the body books and have extended our preschool lessons into a unit study of our bodies!

There are TONS of great books out there and if you check online, you can find preschool level geared unit studies, coloring pages, worksheets to go along with your teachings! Also we have a GREAT teacher store that I have bought a few extras at!

And it was a great time to work in dental hygiene and get out the teeth brushing kits! Did you know you can go online and order a classroom kit for FREE! I did it last year, got a kit for 30 kids which will last me 5-6 years of childcare! It has a whole unit study in itself, online printables and help plus each child receives a new toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and those pink pills for checking your brushing abilities against plaque!

What do kids love to talk about more than bodies and bodily functions!LOL Especially when 99% of the time, Miss Trina tells them not to….but during this week we were allowed during school lessons!

To them, it was a win-win!LOL

Stay tuned for further adventures of Preschoolers Day by Day!

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When in Doubt….get OUT and PLAY!!!

April 23rd, 2012
Is it nice where you live?
The Pacific Northwest has had a nice couple of days and we have 2 more ahead of us!
What does that mean!!
It means we are headed OUTSIDE!
Run, play, burn off energy!
Kids get crabby when they are tired, bored and stuck inside! Their crabby wears off on us! Then sooner than later you have a whole house full of crabby people!
Therefore in Spring, when you get a nice day….forget the schoolwork, whether homeschool or childcare or preschool…head outside! Mow some grass, pull some weeds, plant some seeds, create a birdfeeder, run, play, be silly, and most of all…..enjoy your kids!
Because whether you believe it or not…..before you know it, they will be grown up and you will be like me….wondering where the time went!
I am still shocked that my boys are almost 14 and 15.5! It is scary to me! I want those younger years back! I want to run, play and be silly with them outside one more time!
So….when in doubt….get out…. and ENJOY the day!!!
Happy Homeschooling and Stay Tuned for Further Adventures of Preschoolers Day by Day!!!

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And the preschool year is winding down!

April 23rd, 2012

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Spring has SPRUNG!!!

April 15th, 2012

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And we are on Section 2 of Preschool @ Time 4 Learning!

April 5th, 2012

Love, LOVE, LOVE the PreK 2 section of Time 4 Learning! It is a great addition for the older kids! My 2 soon to be Kindergarteners started this over the last few weeks! The love it! So far we have covered Color Mixing, aka yellow and blue make what? Insects, Seasons and At the Library! Perfect for their final preschool lessons and getting ready for Kindergarten!!! They love it, they feel like big kids! And I am able to incorporate some of our activities around my childcare/preschool to coordinate WITH the lessons!!! I feel really good that they are learning, that they will be confident and ready for Kindergarten and that I have done my job!! So… if you have a preschooler and they are bored with the same old things, check out Time 4 Learning for them and give them something cool and fun to look forward to daily! And stay tuned for further adventures of Preschoolers Day by Day!!

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So your current client is having a new baby…

March 25th, 2012
So…..your daycare family is having a new baby!
Guess what, this means not only a lot of changes for them but for you, the provider!
Especially because you have older sibling in your care!
Despite how great that kid is, crap will be hitting the fan!
I have an almost 5 year old boy whose Mom is due in August with his sibling, whom we learned this past week is a girl!
Now, this little boy has been #1 in his parents and grandparents eyes for 5 years. He has his own room, he is allowed to do almost whatever.
Starting in late Summer, he now has to share Mom and Dad, he has to share his room, he has to share his house, his car, his toys and his dogs! He will also be starting Kindergarten in the Fall so another whammy to the mix.
I know there will be fallout at home, that is for Mom and Dad to deal with.
There will also be fallout here! That is for me to deal with!
It is his safe zone, things havent changed here but he is going to push boundaries, react to things he normally wouldn’t even bat an eye at, rules schmools!
Why, because he is angry and he doesn’t know that he is angry or WHY he is angry. And as secondary Mom figure, I get the backlash! Right now, he is really excited to have a baby sister! But, over the next few months…a crib will invade HIS room. HIS toys will be moved aside to make way for a changing table, baby toys, pink clothes in HIS closet.
With siblings arrival, things change!
So, the best a parent can do is make their world change as little as possible or if you have to do big changes…..then do them slowly! Do NOT change his room while he is at daycare. Allow him to be a part of the process. Yes, you still might have meltdowns but….the fact that HE is included in the changes around him will mean a lot to him.
And from a provider’s standpoint…I deal with it. I know when he chooses NOT to listen to the rules he has known for over 3 years that he is acting out. He gets a little leeway. No, I am not going to let him be a total butt, BUT….he has a reason for it.
So….I guess what I am trying to say is that changes in your kids lives, little or big, make a ripple effect. Like the pebble in the lake!
Congrats on your new bundle of joy that will be arriving soon! Remember to hug your current little one and involve them in the upcoming changes as much as possible.

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Spring is almost here!!!

March 19th, 2012
SUNSHINE and SPRING!!!!
Spring is about to be Sprung!
And boy are we ready! I am ready, the kids are ready, my garden is ready……it cannot come soon enough!!!
Though we have had lots of strange weather lately in our area!
Snow, sleet, rain, hail, more rain, more snow!
But, interspersed with that we have had bouts of SUN!
The trees are budding out, the daffodils are up and there is a scent to the air that isn’t mildew!LOL
That means I will soon be able to get these kids out of the house and our cabin fever will dissipate!
I cannot wait!
I want to get my garden started!
I want to plant flowers!
I want to watch kids run off energy!
I want to smell the sweet smell of blossoms!
I want to watch kids be kids!
I want to not have to yell and fuss at kids for running in the house!
Go RUN outside! Run, Run , RUN!!!
I want Spring!
So…..is it still winter where you are, or has Spring sprung?
Hang in there…..soon we will be enjoying the joys of Mother Nature and Spring!
And we can get those kids out of the house and let them run and be kids!!!
Stay tuned for further adventures of Preschoolers Day by Day!

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