Congratulations to our grads!
We are so proud of our Developing Toddlers and Transitional Toddlers groups on their recent graduation. We will miss you!
Happy Father’s Day from ECDA !
The children made Father’s Day cards this week and learned a new song to sing to their Daddies.
Happy Father’s Day Song
(Sung to “Farmer in the Dell”)
Oh, Happy Father’s Day!
Oh, Happy Father’s Day!
I’m Sending Lots of Love Your Way.
Oh, Happy Father’s Day.
1st two lines:
Hold your hands over your heart.
Last two Lines:
Extend your arms with palms up.
Travel Tips
Eating
- Keep a beverage available at all times – dehydration can be a problem when flying
- Always bring more snacks, water, milk, and formula that you think you’ll need
- Disposable bottle holder- simply throw the liner away – no more cleaning
- Disposable bottle liners that are pre- sterilized in a roll
- L’ovedbaby 4 in 1 Nursing Shawl or nursing poncho
- Sassy four part formula container
- Similac single packet formula container
- Prince Lionheart On The Go Bottle Warmer- also good for jars
Making the Change
- Some planes have a small changing table
- Ask cabin crew for assistance
- Use place in the rear of the plane
- If at your seat, be sensitive to your neighbors
- Use diaper pins to attach a blanket to your seat and the seat in front of you for privacy
- Wrap soiled wipes in a perfumed polythene nappy sack and dispose in bathroom trash
- Safeline Kids Timberline Diaper backpack are easy to carry
- Munchkin Disposable diaper bags- can easily be packed away Cushie Mat for changing non slip, waterproof and germ free
- Diaper fanny pack or Ziploc bag with essentials- can easily be stored under the seat
- One packet of wipes and diapers in Ziploc bag*
- Soogarbooger by EC for clean and dirty laundry
Comfort
- Grab a blanket and pillow as soon as you get on the plane
- Consider buying child their own seat for your own and your baby’s comfort
- Pack a favorite cuddly in an easily accessible place
- Baby sleeping bag
- Lullabies on tapes or IPOD so they know it is time for sleep
Entertainment
- Wrap toys to add to their entertainment value
- Bring toys out one by one to get the maximum use
- Bring a box of colorful band aids- it will keep them entertained for hours
- Take some old favorites and some new surprises
- Hide away a couple of toys a week or two before trip and re-find them on plane.
- Take a photo album with pictures of people you will see to get them acquainted
- Don’t pack noisy toys or games to avoid bothering neighbors
- Bring a balloon in your pocket for in between transits
- Shakers
- Scarves
When is a good time to fly?
- Morning or evening- stay on their schedule
- Non peak hours- midday and midweek to get better seat and can stretch out
- During the child’s naptime
- Overnight if you have a long flight.
- Non-stop flights to avoid stop-overs
Where should we sit?
- Reserve a bulkhead seat for one or more legroom and playroom
- Some airlines have bassinets in place of bulkhead (for long distances)
- If using car seats, must have Federal Aviation Administration approval sticker.
- Book seat in middle of plane near wings for smoothest ride
- Place yourself between child and aisle to prevent items overhead from injuring child.
- Remember that children are not allowed to sit in exit rows when making a reservation
Ears
- Breast or bottle feed or drink from spout or straw
- Make sure child has no ear infection/pre-flight cold- get decongestant if so.
- Put drops in ears before flying
- Yawning is also good way to help relieve the pressure
- Wake child before you begin descent- landing is usually harder on ears.
Getting ready
- Spend some time reading books with traveling themes
- If you fear motion sickness, talk to your pediatrician
- If you have fear of traveling, be sure not to pass it on to child.
Getting around
- Snap on wheels for infant car seats so child can ride in the car seat
- Kid Keeper or Sure Steps Safety Harness to keep your child close-by
- Small strollers will fit in luggage bins
- Elite cruiser infant front pack so you can carry while push luggage
- Convertible car seat that converts into a stroller is great to have.
6 Ways to Know That Your Child is Teething
The vast majority of babies sprout their first teeth when they’re between 4 and 7 months of age. An early developer may get his first white cap as early as 3 months, while a late bloomer may have to wait until he’s a year old or more.
6 symptoms most likely to trouble a teether include:
1. Drooling (which can lead to a facial rash)
2. Gum swelling and sensitivity
3. Irritability or fussiness
4. Biting behavior
5. Refusing food
6. Sleep problems
7 Ways to Make Babies to Feel Better
1. Give your child something to chew on, such as a firm rubber teething ring or a cold washcloth. If your baby is old enough to eat solids, he may also get some relief from cold foods such as applesauce or yogurt. Giving him a hard, unsweetened teething cracker to gnaw can also help. (Avoid carrots, as they can be a choking hazard.)
2. Simply rubbing a clean finger gently but firmly over your baby’s sore gums can ease the pain temporarily, too. Do this for about 2 minutes at a time. Many babies find this soothing, although they may protest at first.
3. If the pain seems to be causing feeding problems, sometimes a different-shaped nipple or use of a cup may reduce discomfort and improve feeding.
4. Cold objects may help reduce the inflammation. Frozen washcloths and ice cubes can be used for this purpose. Be careful to avoid having prolonged contact of very cold objects on the gums. Also, never put anything into a child’s mouth that might cause the child to choke.
5. Dry the drool. Excessive drooling is part of the teething process. To prevent skin irritation, keep a clean cloth handy to dry your baby’s chin. You might also make sure your baby sleeps on an absorbent sheet.
6. Give your baby a mild pain reliever that is labeled for his or her specific age. For example, acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Advil) may help relieve your baby’s discomfort. Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20, because it has been linked to Reye syndrome, a rare but serious disease. However, before choosing to use any medication, consult your doctor.
7. Never tie a teething ring around a baby’s neck — it could get caught on something and hurt the baby.
Songs About Feelings
Singing about feelings
Parents and caregivers play an important role in helping children learn about feelings. By singing songs, reading books and having lots of conversations about different feelings parents are able to provide an emotional vocabulary that the child can use to understand and communicate their feelings and the feelings of others.
Here are two new songs we have been singing at ECDA to teach our toddlers’ group about some basic feelings.
Songs about feelings….
Feelings
(Sung to – For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow)
When I feel very HAPPY
When I feel very HAPPY
When I feel very HAPPY
My face will look like this_____ (make corresponding face)
Verse 2 – Substitute – SAD
Verse 3 – Substitute – ANGRY
Verse 4 – Substitute – SLEEPY
Feelings Galore
(Sung to – Sing a Song of Sixpence)
Are you feeling HAPPY?
Are you feeling SAD?
Are you feeling QUITE?
Or, a little MAD?
Maybe you’re EXCITED –
You want to JUMP and SHOUT!
There are so many feelings that
We can talk about!
How Do You Feel Today?
Learning about feelings
Today our Mommy and Me Monday Toddler group enjoyed learning about feelings. The children were taught basic feeling words such as happy, mad, sad and scared. We also read “The Story of My Feelings” by Laurie Berkner, learned new songs, and decorated faces to reflect different feelings.
Bye-Bye Butterflies!
Bye-Bye Butterflies!
Our Toddlers and Preschool Prep classes enjoyed watching the fascinating life cycle of the Painted Lady Butterfly! We watched the caterpillars grow, become chrysalids and then emerge as butterflies. We released the butterflies in our courtyard. Bye-Bye butterflies!
Early Childhood Development Associates’s Slidely by Slidely Slideshow
Happy Mother’s Day!
Happy Mother’s Day!
Grandparents visited our Preschool Prep Class and the children planted flowers for Mother’s Day!
We enjoyed having the grandparents of Akshay and Natalie visit last Thursday! We had a wonderful parent/grandparent discussion. The children proudly gave the flowers they planted to their mothers!
Early Childhood Development Associates’s Slidely by Slidely Slideshow
Preschool Prep Classes Plan a Silent Auction
Silent Auction
Our Preschool Prep classes have planned a Silent Auction to raise money for future educational purchases. See below for the auction items. Bidding begins on Tuesday!
For more information about our Silent Auction and our Preschool Prep Program, email us at info@ecdevelopment.org.
Preschool Prep Program: April Recap
Preschool Prep Program
April 2015
The theme for the month of April was “Growing Things ~ Plants”. The concepts of this month were exploring beans and seeds and learning new vocabulary and concepts, such as: roots, seeding, stem, caring for living things, earth day, caring for our environment.
Our goal for the month was to improve skills of listening, following directions and awareness of others in the shared space.
We prepared various creative art, tactile sensory, and manipulative activities to achieve these goals.
Creative Art Activities
-Showing our feelings by making mouths on faces with marker
-Making finger painting and prints
-Making nests out of paper bags and grass
-Painting: egg cookies; cream cheese; food coloring
-Painting caterpillars and balloons with green paint
-Making lady bugs with paper plates, red paper, black paper and glue
-Butterfly: contact; tissue paper
Tactile Sensory Activities
-Playing with play dough, spring cookie cutters, rollers and play dough scissors
-Shaving cream on trays
-Measuring and playing with corn
Manipulative Activities
-People in our neighborhood: farm, school and house
-Baby animals from farm
-“Bug” puzzles and matching games
Snack
Ice cookies, raisins, apple slices, cream cheese, crackers, cheese, grapes, kiwi, honeydew, strawberries, apple juice
If you are interested in learning more about our Preschool Prep Program, contact us at info@ecdevelopment.org or at 323-655-5580. We are currently registering for Summer and Fall sessions. Contact us now to reserve a spot!
Preschool Prep Auction
Does your child’s school have a positive pledge against bullying?
Pledge Against Bullying
In this day and age when school bullying is not unusual, it is wonderful to realize that some schools are being proactive in dealing with this problem.
Here is a pledge that was brought in by one of our young friends who was eager to share it with us, and we want to share it with you!
Preschool Prep Program: Summer 2015 Themes
I Measure Myself
In our Preschool Prep Program we are currently learning a new song about growing up!
Here are the lyrics you could sing with your child at home:
“I Measure Myself”, Sung to: “I’m A Little Teapot”
I can measure myself, from head to toe.
Every day I seem to grow.
When I stand up straight. I feel so tall.
Yesterday I was so small.
Each of us is a Flower
A new catchy song for spring! Here are the lyrics to practice with your child! Google the title to hear the tune on Youtube!
Each of us is a Flower
Each of us is a Flower
Growing in life’s garden
Each of us is a Flower
We need the sun and the rain!
Each of us is a Flower
Growing in life’s garden
Each of us is a Flower
We need the sun and the rain!
Chorus:
Sun, shine your warmth on me
Moon, cool me with your night
Wind, bring the gentle rain
Earth, take my roots down deep.
6 Homework Rituals
6 Homework Rituals
by Amanda Espy, MFT Intern
Supervised by: Marilee Hartling, RN, MFT
One of the questions we hear a lot at ECDA from parents is, How can I make homework time into a positive and enriching experience for my school-aged child instead of a struggle?
Here are 6 ways to create harmony around homework:
- Let consequences come from the teacher. Set the stage for a good homework routine, but do not do it for your child. The consequences from not doing the work should come from the teacher.
- Paint or decorate a special desk. Create a special place for your child to call their own. Decorate the space with the intention of the type of work to be done in the space. This helps your child take ownership over the homework ritual, and can help your child feel proud of his/her space and the tasks to be completed within the space.
- Ask, don’t Tell. (2) While younger children need more assistance with homework routines, as early as possible in your child’s school career, foster responsibility by limiting your role to asking questions. Maui Family Magazine suggests asking questions such as:
- “What homework do you have?”
- “When will you do it?”
- “What do you need from me?”
- Try Transitional Tea & Snack Time. Welcome your child home from a long day at school with some calming, comforting tea. Use the structure of the table setting to get feedback on his/her day and give them their much needed brain-fuel in the form of a snack. Tea time can be a nurturing transition. Find a calming recipe HERE.Added Note: Color Me Mine has a sweet little tea set that you and your child can paint together and use for your ritual (as shown in photo).
- Use Positive Rewards. Remind your child of something interesting or fun that awaits him/her once homework is done. Research has proven that use of positive reward is more effective than threat of punishment. Click here for a helpful list of age-appropriate positive reinforcements. ECDA also love the list from the Kazdin Method.
- Be Consistent with your Homework Rituals.
For more parenting tips, feel free to contact us at info@ecdevelopment.org
Preschool Prep Program: March 2015
Preschool Prep Program
March 2015
The March theme is “Green!! Preparing for Spring”. Our focus this month is green-green-everywhere (growing grass, fruit, garden salad, insects, and animals).
Our goal is to improve motor skills by playing and mixing colors (blue and yellow) to make various shades of green. We will also practice using paint, water colors, tissue paper and shaving cream.
Creative Art Activities
- Making shamrock prints using green pepper (cut in half), green paint and paper, shamrock cookie cutters and three bottle corks.
- Making art with green tissue paper and wax paper
- Making veggie prints using green pepper, green apple and cucumber
- Car track painting (using paper on table and green paint)
Tactile Sensory Activities
- Shaping green play dough with cookie cutters and rollers scissors
Manipulative Activities
- Dramatic Play Area, used for improving social skills
- Block Area, used for cooperative play
- Magnetic Tiles, used for science and math
- Sensory Table (shaving cream)
- Dropping green-colored water with eye dropper on shamrock shaped paper
- Playing with cars and trains
Snack
- Whole wheat crackers, string cheese, fruit (green apples, kiwi, grapes, snap peas), cream cheese, raisins
If you are interested in learning more about our Preschool Prep Program, contact us at info@ecdevelopment.org or at 323-655-5580. We are currently registering for Summer and Fall sessions. Contact us now to reserve a spot!
Sneak Peek: Preschool Prep Program at ECDA
Sneak Peek: Preschool Prep Program at ECDA
February 2015
Our children are learning valuable lessons here at ECDA in preparation for preschool. The theme for this month was “Caring and Sharing.”
Our goal was to improve language skills to solve problems:
-“No, thank you”
-“I’m not finished”
-“Can I have a turn?”
-“Help me please”
-“Let’s play together”
To reach our goal, we created various activities like creative art and tactile, sensory, and manipulative projects so the children would engage with each other.
Creative Art Activities
- Valentine cards using pink paper, red paint and golf balls on trays.
- Making heart shapes using cookie cutters, paint and potato (cut into heart shape).
- Free Art: Gadget printing with potato mashers, paint, and strawberry baskets.
- Making Dragon Puppets using lunch bags and attaching eyes and tongue with the glue.
- Water play: using water, cars and sponges for making bubbles.
- Tissue paper art: This week we will use wax paper, green tissue paper and glue to practice fine motor skills as we make shamrocks for March!
Tactile/Sensory Activities
- Playing with play dough (email us for our homemade recipe!) using heart shaped cookie cutters, rollers, and garlic press.
- Making circle and square shapes out of play dough using cookie cutters.
Manipulative Activities
We have three areas of playing:
- Dramatic play area for dress-up (social)
- Magna tiles for building (science/math)
- Trains, tracks, and cars (cooperation)
Snack
Balanced, yet festive, snacks are always important!
- Crackers, cheese, fruit
- “Special Valentine’s Day Snack” with heart shaped bread, cream cheese and sliced strawberries.
- Fortune cookies, oranges and long ramen noodles for Lunar New Year
If you are interested in learning more about our Preschool Prep Program, contact us at info@ecdevelopment.org or at 323-655-5580. We are currently registering for Summer and Fall sessions. Contact us now to reserve a spot!
5 Reasons to Read Stories to your Children
5 Reasons to Read Stories to your Children
by Amanda Espy, MFT Intern
Supervised by: Marilee Hartling, RN, MFT
- Neurological Benefit. “There’s a clear indication of a neurological difference between kids who have been regularly read to and kids who have not,” says Dr. G. Reid Lyon. (1) Electronic images of the brains of children considered as “poor readers” show little activity in the verbal-processing areas. But after the researchers spent one to two hours a day for eight weeks reading to them and performing other literacy exercises with them, their brain activity had changed to look like that of the “good readers.”
- Strengthens Parent/Child Bond. (4) Reading with your children also provides a perfect environment for snuggles, which makes a child feel safe. Slowing down to enjoy the comfort of a book can model finding safe and healthy self-comfort for the child later in life.
- Communicates Values. (2) Stories are an effective way to transmit important information and values from one individual or community to the next.Choose stories that contain values important to you, and it will surely lead to conversations about the characters throughout the rest of the day.
- Builds Empathy. Relating to the story of a character in a book can stimulate oxytocin production, which is known as the “moral molecule” (2, 3). Children learn they are not the only ones who hurt, get angry, or experience joy, preparing them for navigating the social world of nuance.
- Leads to Helping Behaviors. Positive stories model positive behavior for children. (2) Children understand ways to respond to difficult emotions or how to act in environments in which they have never been exposed.
References:
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Children’s Valentine’s Day Songs
We hope you enjoyed singing “Five Little Valentines” with your children this week. We are sharing a few more of our favorites with you! Enjoy!
H-E-A-R-T
Sung to “Bingo”
To show you like your
Special friends,
Just give them a heart.
H-e-a-r-t, H-E-A-R-T
H-e-a-r-t
Each heart says I love you.
Sung to “Row, row, row your boat”
Yes, yes. I love you,
Be my Valentine
Here’s a heart, just for you
Won’t you please me mine.
Yes, yes, watch me close,
Watch me while I sign.
I love you, yes I do.
Be my Valentine
Sung to “ Mary had a little lamb
You’re a special friend of mine
Friend of mine
Friend of mine
You’re a special friend of mine
Be my Valentine
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