Before you face another chorus of “I’m bored” from the kiddos, consider these simple activities you and your child can do together when winter weather or schedules have you stuck indoors.
Simple STEM Activities to Do at Home![]() (Family Features) Winter is the season for family gatherings, snow days and breaks from school and work, but all this time indoors can lead to a serious case of cabin fever for both children and adults. Before you face another chorus of “I’m bored,” consider these simple activities you and your child can do together when winter weather or schedules have you stuck indoors. Each activity idea from the experts at KinderCare can help children build foundational skills they’ll need for success in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) areas so you can combine fun and learning. Infants Toddlers Preschool (3-4-year-olds) Pre-Kindergarten (4-5-year-olds) School Ages For more activity ideas, visit kindercare.com. SOURCE:KinderCare
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The school year should be filled with playing, learning and growing, but for many children who face hunger, even basic staples like milk are missing. From the kitchen to the classroom, kids in your own community may be missing out on essential nutrients they need to be set up for success this fall.Help Kids Falling Short on Nutrients They Need this School Year![]() Milk is one of the most requested, but least donated items at food banks, meaning children in need may be missing out on essential nutrients(Family Features) The school year should be filled with playing, learning and growing, but for many children who face hunger, even basic staples like milk are missing. According to experts, one out of two kids ages 9 and up fall short on calcium, vitamin D and potassium – essential nutrients they need to grow strong. Milk is the top food source for these nutrients, and the likelihood of kids missing out is even greater when they don’t have access to fresh, nutritious foods like milk. More than 46 million Americans – including 12 million children – are served by Feeding America® food banks each year. From the kitchen to the classroom, kids in your own community may be missing out on essential nutrients they need to be set up for success this fall. Here are a few ways you can help kids facing hunger:
Since it began in 2014, The Great American Milk Drive has delivered more than 1.8 million gallons of milk – more than 28 million servings – to food banks across the country. Learn more about milk’s nutrition and the need for milk in food banks at milklife.com/give. Photo courtesy of Getty Images SOURCE:MilkPEP KEYWORDS
Finding the right preschool or care provider for your child doesn’t have to be a daunting process. Because your child’s early years are crucial in his or her development, choosing the right child care facility is one of the most important decisions you can make to prepare him or her for both school and adult life. While most parents start the process by asking friends and family for recommendations, keep these tips in mind when searching for a child care center.How to Choose the Right preschool![]() Things to consider when researching child care providers (Family Features) Finding the right preschool or care provider for your child doesn’t have to be a daunting process. Because your child’s early years are crucial in his or her development, choosing the right child care facility is one of the most important decisions you can make to prepare him or her for both school and adult life. While most parents start the process by asking friends and family for recommendations, keep these tips from the child care experts at KinderCare in mind when searching for a child care center: ![]() Find Locations Along Your Existing Commute. The rhythm of drop-off and pick-up will soon become a reality of your days, so take into account how a new routine will impact traffic and drive times during your commute. Looking into child care facilities near your home or office, or along your route, can be a sanity saver, especially on those mornings when you’re rushing out of the house behind schedule. Do Your Research. Child care has come a long way in the past couple decades, and nationally accredited centers like KinderCare can provide everything your child needs to reach his or her potential. Awarded by an independent organization, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, accredited centers meet rigorous standards in everything from teacher qualifications to curriculum to safety. A simple search online can provide a list of accredited centers near your location of choice. Make a List of Requirements. Before you tour a facility, it can help to find your focus. Make a list about what you need from a program, what you want for your child and any concerns you may have, no matter how large or small. For example, consider potential concerns like kindergarten preparation, teachers’ management of conflict between children and more. Use your preferences to guide conversations when you’re ready to take tours. Take Tours. Once you’ve narrowed down your list to a few preferred facilities or programs, schedule tours to check out the spaces, meet the directors and watch how the teachers interact with the children. Keep your requirements in mind and look for clean, safe facilities that focus on nutrition and encourage exploration and reading while building a sense of belonging. If you’re still on the fence or need more information about one or more centers, don’t be afraid to go back for a second visit and ask more questions to ensure you’re picking the right place for your family. Trust Your Instincts. After taking tours, you may have a lot of information to process. Narrowing down what’s right for your family can seem overwhelming at first, but asking yourself questions such as these can help you in the long run: Did you feel listened to, heard and understood? Was the center warm and welcoming? When in doubt, trust your gut. This is your child, after all, and you know him or her best. Find more tips and information to help pick the perfect child care center at kindercare.com. SOURCE:KinderCare KEYWORDS
For some parents, back-to-school season can be bittersweet as they watch their kids grow more independent each year. Taking on an active role at your child’s school with these tips is a simple way to provide support and stay engaged.
Tips to Get Involved at Your Child's School![]() (Family Features) For some parents, back-to-school season can be bittersweet as they watch their kids grow more independent each year. Taking on an active role at your child’s school is a simple way to provide support and stay engaged. Whether your schedule is relatively open or you’re juggling multiple demands, there are ways for virtually all families to participate in their children’s classrooms. Volunteer in the classroom. Today’s teachers are busier than ever, developing classroom lessons, teaching to rigorous curriculum standards, coaching and chairing extracurricular activities and tackling their own professional development goals. This can leave little down time to coordinate special activities or classroom celebrations, but that’s where parent volunteers can play an essential role. Develop relationships with teachers. Creating a connection with your child’s teacher can be based on more than checking in on performance and behavior. Sharing resources and ideas with teachers makes you an ally and an asset to the classroom. One example is the Tom's of Maine “Green Your School Fund,” which will give $1 million to classrooms nationwide this year so students can roll up their sleeves and tackle hands-on environmental projects to understand the impact they can have on the planet today and tomorrow. Learn more about the program and how you can help your child’s teacher submit a creative environmental classroom project at GreenSchoolFund.com. Join a formal organization. School organizations like the Parent Teacher Association are designed specifically to engage parents in the education system. Members have a direct connection to news about what’s happening in the school, an avenue to share concerns and means for inspiring change and bringing about school improvements. Take part in field trips. Many rich learning opportunities exist outside the classroom, but those activities are often limited by chaperone availability. Both schools and most field trip destinations require certain student-to-chaperone ratios for safety and optimal learning. Joining a classroom field trip not only allows you to share the experience side-by-side with your own child, but makes the outing possible for other children as well. Share your talents. There are ways parents can get involved without straying too far from what they know best. Volunteering to speak at a career day in your child’s class is a simple way to share real-world experiences and help prepare the next generation of leaders. Of course, if you’re looking for something a little more hands-on, many schools welcome community support to help build props or sew costumes for the school play, host a lesson on a favorite artist, share cultural traditions or help run activities like science fairs or field days. If you’re unsure how to get started, contact your student’s teacher or the school’s main office and ask for guidance on where you can make the biggest impact. Photo courtesy of Getty Images SOURCE:Tom’s of Maine KEYWORDS
Each year an estimated 4 million children enter kindergarten. To help pre-K kids improve core learning skills and get them excited about school, it's important to find fun, age-appropriate ways to help them learn. Consider these expert ideas for preparing kids ages 3–6 for kindergarten. (BPT) - When you think back to your own kindergarten experience, it probably involved a half-day program and plenty of fun activities — finger painting, sand play and nap time. Likely the hardest parts were learning the alphabet and counting to 100. Fast forward to today. While kindergarten still offers a fun learning environment, it's certainly more focused on academic achievement. Kindergartners often know the alphabet and have solid counting skills prior to the first day of school. If students aren't reading at the beginning of the school year, they're certainly expected to be doing so by the end. "Kindergarten is the new first grade" isn't just an anecdote, it's a fact. New research from the University of Virginia compares kindergarten and first-grade classrooms between 1998 and 2010, finding that kindergarten classes have become increasingly like first grade, with more time spent on academic instruction and, ultimately, higher educational expectations. Each year an estimated 4 million children enter kindergarten. To help pre-K kids improve core learning skills and get them excited about school, it's important to find fun, age-appropriate ways to help them learn. Consider these expert ideas for preparing kids ages 3–6 for kindergarten. Educational apps Children today have a natural knack for technology. While it's important to monitor and balance screen time, the right technology can help educate kids. Preschool Academy by IntellectoKids is an ideal example. With over 50 educational activities in one app, kids will learn the alphabet and develop important skills like counting, sorting, logic and critical thinking — the foundations for math and reading. Best yet, the learning is rooted in amusing animated puzzles about musical instruments, fun train adventures or whimsical letter/number games. This educational app allows parents to customize for multiple children and select between three levels, increasing in difficulty as they play and learn. Like Preschool Academy, the best learning games are constantly adding fresh new learning activities and are always free of ads or hidden in-app purchases. Fine motor skills Fine motor skills, also known as dexterity, involve the coordination and control of muscles to create small movements. This usually requires hand-eye coordination as well. Being prepared for kindergarten means having a basic ability to complete fine motor actions like holding a pencil correctly, tying shoes and sorting small objects. One of the easiest ways to support your child's fine motor development is by providing lots of opportunities to color and write. Make crayons and paper readily available and let kids' imaginations take off. As they try to draw a bird, write a story or create patterns, they are really preparing themselves for the classroom. Reading and conversation Language is a heavy focus throughout the kindergarten curriculum. One way to prepare your child is to make reading a daily activity, including classics like "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom," "Harold & the Purple Crayon" or "Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus." Fostering a love of books can set the stage for learning important reading skills. Visit your local library, stock your bookshelf and download digital books. Additionally, make time for genuine conversation with your child. Both reading and speaking help children expand their knowledge of the English language. They'll also learn important social skills, and you'll also find yourself developing a deeper bond with your little one. Preschool Want kids to be prepared for kindergarten? Enroll in preschool a few days a week. This experience gives children the perfect foundation to prepare them for their educational journey. Preschools provide introductory education in writing and math, but it's a lot of fun, too. Students have plenty of time to play and learn about the world around them. What's more, kids learn proper social etiquette and how to follow classroom rules. Being able to sit still, listen to the teacher, raise a hand to ask a question and interact respectably among peers are all important skills that kids will need in order to thrive in an academic environment. If preschool isn't possible, consider joining a playgroup or visiting the library for story time, and encourage social interaction with new kids at the playground. Knowing that kindergarten is more challenging than ever, smart parents are taking charge by introducing age-appropriate educational activities now. From smart apps like IntellectoKids Preschool Academy to reading every day, you're helping build the brain power that leads to success in kindergarten and beyond.
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