What every toddler needs to be socially and emotionally successfull

Here are a few simple steps that you can take to make sure you are giving your child a great start in life.

Show your love
*Smile, hug, touch, and play with your child.  This will make them feel secure with themselves and will have a huge impact on their physical, mental, and emotional development.

Care for your child's basic needs
*Make sure you are providing your child with a healthy diet.  Children should be taken to the doctor for regular check ups as well.  Keep him as comfortable as you can by making sure his diapers are clean and by providing a safe environment.

Talk with your child
*Even if you think your child is too young too understand what you are saying, it is still important to talk to them.  Studies have shown that children who are talked to more often as infants have a higher vocabulary and higher IQ scores.

Read to your child
*Reading is extremely important to help build a vocabulary.  The socialization that occurs while reading a book is very important as well.

safety tips for swimming pools

It is getting to be that time of year again, the weather is getting warmer and the pools are getting ready to be opened  so I have listed some safety tips for swimming pool.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 260 children under five years of age drown each year in residential swimming pools and spas. The Commission estimates that another 3,000 children under age five are treated in hospital emergency rooms following submersion accidents each year. Some of these submersion accidents result in permanent brain damage.
Nationally, drowning is the fourth leading cause of death to children under five. In some states such as California, Florida and Arizona, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death to children under five.
 

• Never leave a child unsupervised near a pool.
  
• Instruct babysitters about potential hazards to young children in and around swimming pools and the need for constant supervision.
  
• Completely fence the pool. Install self-closing and self-latching gates. Position latches out of reach of young children. Keep all doors and windows leading to the pool area secure to prevent small children from getting to the pool. Effective barriers and locks are necessary preventive measures, but there is no substitute for supervision.
  
  Do not consider young children "drown proof" because they have had swimming lessons; young children should always be watched carefully while swimming.
  
• Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision.
  
• Never use a pool with its pool cover partially in place, since children may become entrapped under it. Remove the cover completely.
  
• Place tables and chairs well away from the pool fence to prevent children from climbing into the pool area.
  
• Keep toys away from the pool area because a young child playing with the toys could accidentally fall in the water.
  
• Remove steps to above ground pools when not in use.
  
• Have a telephone at poolside to avoid having to leave children unattended in or near the pool to answer a telephone elsewhere. Keep emergency numbers at the poolside telephone.
  
• Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
  
• Keep rescue equipment by the pool.
  
  Hope everyone has a safe and fun summer!

Teaching Prayer Part 2

We previously discussed the ACTS acronym for prayer last week, and since it had so much to explain, I opted to save some other models for later.

1. ACTS
2. Praying through Scripture: Sometimes it is beneficial to open up to Scripture and pray it into your lives. It is especially easy to do through the book of Psalms. In the plights that the Psalmist lists you can substitute your own, the same can be done for praises and thanks (things you definitely don't want to skip over).
3. Praying together, one by one: This is simply starting off by praying from your heart, and going around the room all doing the same. This one is very important because it allows your child to see that you are comfortable praying with God, and talking with God, and that they can be also.

I pray that you've found these past couple of weeks informative in teaching your children how to pray and the importance of prayer. Though it may seem that bad habits are easier to make than good ones, the repetition of an action breeds habit. Stay tuned for discussion on selecting a Bible for your child to read and how to keep them interested.

Paths to Quality

Although our program participated in Paths to Quality when it was initially introduced in 2005, when the program went state wide, we were no longer eligible because of the change in requirements of Ministries needing all 4 of the Voluntary Certification in regards to children's Health, Safety, Nutrition, and Infant and Toddler Care.  Although we met many of the indicators on the Voluntary Certification, we had to hold off on our quest of participating in this voluntary rating system due to major remodeling projects that would be required.  We did however focus on the aspect of our program that we could, such as classroom environments, staff training and education, curriculum, work sampling and intentional teaching (all of these items that are focused on level 2 and 3 of Paths to Quality).

Our program has expanded and grown since 2005. We recently remodeled the entire program with new flooring and paint.  We have even knocked out a wall to expand our toddler classroom.  We installed a fire alarm system that is monitored 24/7 and replaced all of the lights throughout the program to meet specific foot candle requirements. Now that we have completed over $40,000 in renovations, we are ready to move forward once more with the Paths To Quality program.  We will begin at a level one, but pay close attention, because we will move quickly through the levels.  Our passion and drive to offer the highest quality childcare will ensure that we will be a level 3 soon. 

To find out more about Paths To Quality, visit http://www.in.gov/fssa/2554.htm

What is the RIE philosophy of child development?

Here at HUMmingbird we strongly believe that infants should not be restricted by swings and bouncy seats but should be offered the opportunity to explore their environment freely.  We respect each infant as an individual human being not just as an object.  This is why we practice the RIE philosophy.  So, what is the RIE philosophy you ask?  Check out their website and discover how truly amazing this approach really is!  http://www.rie.org/

Teaching Prayer

Last week, I discussed the benefits of praying with your children. But the question may have crossed your mind, "But how do I teach my child to pray?" The truth is? You teach your children to pray, but simply modeling that prayer is a form of conversation and that the Person they are talking with, hears them and responds through different ways.

1. The ACTS model of prayer
1. A: Adoration. Spend time talking about the attributes of God. Talk about God creating the heavens and the earth and all that is within them. Talk about how God sees everything all at the same time and that it doesn't overwhelm Him. Discuss that God hears every prayer. This way children experience the many things that God is and begin to understand that He's more than just one attribute that we focus on.
2. C: Confession. It is hard to focus on confession during prayer even as adults. But if you begin to cultivate this spirit within your children at an early age, they will begin to see that when they mess up, they can talk to a Forgiving God about what they have done and He will forgive them.
3. T: Thanksgiving. Through thanksgiving we thank God for the people and things that we have. Our response to all that God has given us should, at the very least, inspire our worship and praise, and should very well inspire us to respond by giving back.
4. S: Supplication. This is where we pray for areas where we long for God to work on our lives, and also in the lives of others. After we have entered into a spirit of awe, humility, and thanksgiving, what we find ourselves praying for very well may change from a laundry list, to just a few things. We soon begin to realize that we can rely on God for who He is and that He has our best intentions in mind.

Inclusive Care

Providing Inclusive Care is something that we believe strongly in at HUMmingbird Day Care Ministry.  We believe that all of God’s children are wonderfully made in the image of God.  We value each child that is a part of our program, regardless of the strengths or weaknesses of the child.  Because we treat all children are with respect, we not only benefit the child with the special needs, but we also benefit the children that are typically developing.  When these children observe our interaction with the child with the special needs, they are able to observe a relationship that encourages an acceptance of all individuals regardless of their ability.  This is important for children to experience at an early age.

your children. our future

At our staff retreat in 2010, we worked on creating a tag line for our program.  There were several really great options, but we ultimately decided on “Your Children.  Our Future.”  I believe that our tag line sums up our program very well. 

We care for your children and understand that the role of the parent as the child’s first teacher is critical.  We work closely with the parent, because we know that they are the expert on their child.

And yet, your children, are our future.  It is our responsibility to give them the foundation to be successful in life.  We not only focus on your child’s future academic success, but we also focus on a generation of children that have the social skills to be successful throughout life, in regards to both their social and spiritual development.

SIDS Risk Factors

SIDS stands for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.  It is not considered a disease or illness but occurs when an infant dies suddenly and there is not an exact cause.  SIDS is the leading cause of death in the United States for infants between the ages of 1month and 1 year.  Approximately 2,300 infants die per year most commonly affecting infants between the ages of 2-4 months and occurs most frequently during the colder months.

What are the risk factors?
*Tummy Sleeping
    -The risk of SIDS is 12.9 times higher if an infant sleeps on his belly instead of his back.
*Soft items in the sleeping area
    -Always use a swaddle instead of blankets
*Having a parent or caregiver that smokes
*Being born prematurely
    -The lower the birth weight the higher the risk
*Becoming overheated while sleeping
*Sleeping on soft surfaces
*Being born to a mother who abused drugs throughout the pregnancy
*Being born to a mother under the age of 20
*Being a boy
    -Boys are at a slightly higher risk by a ratio of 1.5 to 1

While there is no guaranteed way to prevent SIDS, if you take care of yourself during your pregnancy, always place your infant on his back to sleep with nothing in his bed, and avoid your babies exposure to cigarette smoke, you will greatly reduce the risk.  When looking for childcare, always remember to ask if the caregivers are trained in and practice safe sleep.  But always remember BACK IS BEST!
 

Healthy Tips

Did You Know?

> Over 90% of poison exposures happen at home.
> Common chlorine bleach is the #1 household chemical involved in poisoning.
> Organic pollutants, found in many common cleaners and even air fresheners, have levels 2 to 5 times higher inside your home than out.
> Common cleaners give off fumes that can potentially increase the risk of kids developing asthma, the most common chronic childhood disease.
> 1 in 13 school-aged children have asthma. Rates in children under five have increased more than 160% from 1980–1994 and are even higher now
> If your home is anything like the average U.S. home, you generate more than 20 pounds of household hazardous waste each year (the EPA designates toilet cleaners, tub and tile cleaners, oven cleaners, and bleach as hazardous waste).

Prayer

It is said that, "the family that prays together, stays together". The active choice to pray together as a family allows for their to be open conversation about nearly anything spiritual.

Through prayer you are teaching your child several things:

1. That prayer is an open, constant conversation with God that comes from the heart and does not require eloquence or "churchy" words to be effective.
2. That prayer surrenders self and trades self-will for God's will.
3. That prayer, as a conversation with God, allows a continual stream of trust and relationship to be built with the Master of the Universe.

How beautiful and simple are the prayers of the children here at the center. As we've made the move to allow the older children to "pray from the heart" before meals and during circle time, it is often quite convicting to move to praying for only the things that we really need and for which we are truly thankful. (Children are much more honest without reservation than we as adults tend to be.)

Stay tuned for different methods of teaching and modeling prayer to your children!

Does your child's experience change the structure of their brain?

Brain development is "activity-dependent," meaning that the electrical activity in every circuit—sensory, motor, emotional, cognitive--shapes the way that circuit gets put together.  Every experience--whether it is seeing one's first rainbow, riding a bicycle, reading a book, sharing a joke--excites certain neural circuits and leaves others inactive. Those that are consistently turned on over time will be strengthened, while those that are rarely excited may be dropped away. The elimination of unused neural circuits, also referred to as "pruning," may sound harsh, but it is generally a good thing. It streamlines children's neural processing, making the remaining circuits work more quickly and efficiently. Without synaptic pruning, children wouldn't be able to walk, talk, or even see properly.

The more variety of experiences we offer the children in our programs help build these neural circuits.  This is why we offer children a variety of activities early on that focus on the skills that will build upon one another.  The scaffolding of learning is a critical component of your child's future school success.  Children for example can not write there name, if they are not given the experience of first scribbling, then making lines, followed by forming circles, and followed by the skill of making shapes.  Once children are able to make basic shapes, they are able to use this skill to form letters.  These early skills are critical for your child's development and the experiences they are offered at an early age are important.

Current Activities

Spring is a wonderful time for children to learn.  Around every corner the world around them is changing.  Our goal is to allow the children to experience an outdoor classroom experience when outside playing within nature.  It is important for children to explore the world around them. 

At our child care program, we provide the children a variety of experiences outdoors, including planting a vegetable garden and observing the process of the planted seeds growing into plants that then produce food.  As the children dig in the dirt they also discover what plants need to grow, and uncover a world of insects and worms. 

This year the children are also experimenting with the aesthetics of flowers by working collaboratively to create a rainbow garden.  A recent field trip to the local greenhouse allowed them the opportunity to learn more about flowers and select the colors for the rainbow garden. When children are able to learn through hands on experiences their learning becomes more meaningful and personal, which encourages children to become life long learners.

Children prepare to read long before they enter school.

Early literacy skills (listening, speaking, prereading and prewriting) develop during the first five years of life. These skills evolve when parents and caregivers work together to offer an environment with stimulating activities and conversations. A child's early experiences with books and language are a critical foundation for success in learning to read and write.

The focus of your child's development should be on meaningful interactions with your child. Reading aloud together is the single most important thing a loving parent can do to prepare their child for success in school and in life.

You are the key to your child's success in learning to read and write. When you read to your child, you are aiding in the development of listening and speaking skills. When you go about your everyday tasks and explain them to your child as you do them, you are helping them make sense of the world and stimulating brain growth.

Offer your child plenty of opportunities to talk and always listen to what they have to say. Read to your child and let them "read" to you. No memorization, flashcards, workbooks or drills are necessary with very young children. Use your time reading, talking and playing together. Enjoy your days with each other and help your child build skills that will last a lifetime

Welcome

Welcome to the HUMmingbird Day Care Ministry Blog.  I hope that you find our Blog full of important information, not only in regards to our program specifically, but also with practical information for everyday with your children.  You will find information on Brain Research, Spiritual Development, School Readiness, Infant and Toddler Care, Nutrition Activities for you and your children, and Health and Safety information for children.  Be sure to check frequently, because we will be updating often.