Bottles to books daycare: BOTTLES 2 BOOKS LEARNING CENTER

Posted on May 14, 2018

Some children seem to just be born with a love for reading and will bring books with them wherever they go. Other children are the complete opposite and would rather do just about anything other than read.

A love of reading will benefit your child in countless ways. From empathy to awareness, to knowledge and increased comprehension, your child will develop important skills if he or she learns to love to read early on. And it’s important to note that children who love reading have been shown to do better in school and on standardized tests.

Don’t worry. If your child doesn’t naturally run to books from the get-go, but you can still nurture a love of reading with these six helpful tips.

1. Don’t Dictate Their Choices

Children will enjoy books a lot more if they are allowed to choose the books themselves. While you may wish your child would just put down the knock-knock joke book and pick up something of substance, let your child choose what books her or she wants to read. Most likely, the joke book phase will run its course, and your child will then move onto something else. You can guide him or her to more sophisticated choices (How about a fact book or The Boxcar Children?), but back off if your child resists the idea initially. Let your child enjoy what he or she has chosen.

2. Make Reading Positive and Comfortable

Set up a cozy nook in the corner of your living room. Buy a bean bag chair for your child’s bedroom. Lay out a blanket underneath a shady tree on a hot summer day. Find a library with inviting couches and well-lit aisles that invite exploring of the bookshelves. Make reading time comfortable and cozy so your child looks forward to spending time with a book.

If your child isn’t one for being alone, announce it is family reading time, and everyone must gather to the living room with the book of their choice for 20 minutes of reading. Allow snacks. Read to your children if they can’t, or don’t want to, read to themselves.

3. Read Children’s Books (on Your Own)

If you have a reluctant reader, a book jacket alone isn’t going to be enough to convince your child to crack the spine. Grab a few popular children’s books for yourself to read, and see what you think. If you love them, you can describe a few dramatic plot points, character traits you love, or emotions you felt while you were reading the book. Speak genuinely, and only recommend books you really did enjoy. If your child doesn’t take the bait after your passionate admiration, leave the book somewhere your child will be sure to see. Chances are, your child will pick it up eventually.

4. Read To Your Child

Think back to the preschool programs of your child’s youth. Remember how the children sat on the rug, enthralled by the picture books the teacher read to the group? There’s no reason you can’t continue that tradition. Even older children still like picture books (although, they may not admit it), and if you pull one out, they’ll find themselves mesmerized in spite of themselves. You can also do this with chapter books. How about gathering the family together each night for one chapter? Don’t be surprised if your children beg for more.

5. Keep Books Around

It will be hard for your child to pick up a book if there are no books in your home. That’s why good preschool programs include books in the classroom. During downtime, preschool children are often drawn to toys. However, they also could find themselves with a book in hand simply because the books were left in an accessible place.

6. Require Reading

Set a reasonable amount of time that your child must read each day. 20 minutes is typically a good place to start. Again, don’t criticize your child’s book choices during this time. You can even let older children read comic books and picture books. The point is that your children will come to understand that reading is a daily ritual. Some children will be done after 20 minutes, but many will beg to keep going!

Falling in love with reading is a process for some, and that’s more than okay. Be patient and creative, and your child will thank you later.

Posted on March 20, 2018June 25, 2018

No matter how blissful or difficult maternity leave turned out to be, the thought of leaving your child at daycare can cause anxiety for new moms. Will your baby miss you? Will you miss your baby? What if you don’t miss your baby? Will the daycare provider know how to soothe your baby?

All of these concerns are valid. Taking the time to face the reality and to prepare yourself with the following transition tips will help both you and your baby feel confident, secure, and safe when your child starts daycare.

Find a Daycare Provider You Truly Love

This can’t be stressed enough. If you’re uneasy about your chosen daycare, you’ll never feel at peace. Take the time before or during maternity leave (preferably before) to find a daycare for babies that meets all of your criteria. Visit the daycare to get a feel for how things operate. Watch how the staff members respond to babies. Pay attention to cleanliness and safety at the facility. What is the daily schedule like? How does the daycare provider communicate with parents?

During maternity leave, get to know the daycare staff. Share with the daycare provider the songs and books your baby loves. Tell them how you recognize your baby’s cues and what you do to meet them. Nobody can ever be your replacement, but your child’s daycare teachers can respond to your baby in loving ways that make you comfortable.

Don’t Jump In – Transition

It can be jarring to go from all day at home one day to a full day of work and daycare the next day. Instead, give yourself a week to transition. You can do this by asking your employer to allow you to work half days during your first week back. If this isn’t possible, you can begin dropping your child off at daycare for a few hours a day during your last week of maternity leave. You can even gradually increase the time each day until you’re close to or at a full day at daycare. This will give you both the time you need to adjust to being away from each other.

Plan the Logistics of Daycare & Work

If you can think of logistics a little in advance, instead of when confronted with them head-on, you’ll feel less stressed when you go back to work. Start thinking about what your schedule will look like at work. If you’re pumping, you’ll need to work that into your day. A few weeks before you return to work, speak with your supervisor about where and how you can pump privately and comfortably. Keep an extra shirt at work, and stock up on healthy snacks to keep you going as you meet the demands of pumping and working.

Think about the items your baby will need at daycare and make a list to attach to your diaper bag (it’s easy to forget an item in the early-morning rush). Send plenty of diapers, a couple of backup outfits, pumped milk or formula, clean bottles, pacifiers, and anything else your baby needs each day.

Talk to Your Boss

A lot can happen in the office during your maternity leave. Make sure you’re kept up to date on any changes that have happened in the office that may affect your job. Get on the same page with your boss about his or her priorities for you when you return.

Be Compassionate

Returning to work after maternity leave is bound to be emotional in different ways. If you’re feeling down on yourself about any aspect of returning to work after maternity leave, think about the advice you would give to a friend going through the same thing. Very likely, you’d tell her to be kind to herself and give herself time to adjust to this new transition. Make sure you do the same for yourself.

The Best Daycare For Babies

For the best daycare for your new baby, contact Little Academy of Humble today at (281) 459-3378 or request a free tour of our daycare facility in Humble! We’ll help make the transition to daycare after maternity leave as successful and stress free as possible!

Posted on January 9, 2018January 9, 2018

Academic achievement is critical for opening doors to adulthood success. Not only does academic achievement teach children the skills they need to find success in careers and life, it also provides them with opportunities that would otherwise be denied. More and more, we’re realizing that academic achievement isn’t something a child learns to do in high school. The foundations for that achievement are proving to be laid far earlier – as early as preschool.

One Penn State study has found compelling evidence that children’s executive functioning skills are dramatically improved when they are involved in a quality preschool education, leading to greater academic achievement later on.

Early Learning

On the surface, early learning doesn’t always seem like much. After all, it involves rudimentary principles — ABCs, 123s, colors, shapes, etc. But mastering these concepts, and more, creates the building blocks of future success.

Neuroscience research shows that 90% of a child’s brain develops by age 5. These years are a critical time for the correct connections to be made between brain cells. In fact, at least one million new neural connections are formed every second, leading to more and more complex connections. With that much development and brain activity happening in early years, the right preschool education will set your child up for success and a high quality of life.

Sadly, children who don’t have access to quality education fall behind. A child living in poverty can fall 18 months behind developmentally, as compared to those who are not in poverty.

One thing that is missed when quality early education is not on the table is a focus on executive functions, which Penn State researchers found to be crucial. When early education involves a focus on executive functions – teaching children to focus, prioritize, control their impulses, and more – children are better prepared to thrive in a classroom environment, and more equipped to comprehend instruction and make deeper connections.

Conversely, a child living in poverty who misses out on quality preschool programs falls behind during those critical brain-developing years. As a result, these children often struggle with academics throughout their life.

Imagine a child with access to quality preschool education who learns letters, shapes, sounds, and how they work together. That child will have an easier time learning to read and will meet milestones throughout all of his or her education. A child who is denied the same preschool education, however, will struggle with the fundamentals of reading and will begin to miss milestones when entering the public education system. The child will fall behind further and further as time goes on and concepts are missed. What begins as a little problem in elementary school turns into serious lagging in middle school and potentially dropping out of high school.

The importance of quality early learning and preschool programs that focus on executive functions can’t be overstated. Starting off on the right foot allows children access to countless opportunities.

What Are Executive Functions?

Executive functions are critical for successfully learning concepts. Executive functions are mental skills that help you manage your life and get things done.

These functions are governed by the prefrontal cortex, which is still developing in the preschool years. The preschool years are the ideal time to develop and nurture these functions. Children need executive functions like focus, prioritizing, problem solving, emotional control, working memory, and more to help them pay attention to lessons, interact with peers and teachers, and develop knowledge that sticks.

What the Penn State Study Found About Executive Functions

In the Penn State study, researchers developed a preschool program (the REDI program that worked in conjunction with the Head Start preschool program) to help build executive functioning skills. They then measured the levels and progress of those skills from preschool until 3rd grade.

In addition to regular preschool instruction provided through the Head Start program to low-income children, the REDI program aimed to improve social skills, emotional skills, and early literacy and listening skills. Children were introduced to executive functioning skills – like friendship skills, emotional control, listening skills, and more – through the use of puppets, storytelling, and other methods.

356 children participated in the study, with 192 receiving instruction through the REDI program and 164 receiving instruction through the traditional Head Start curriculum.

Each year the children’s executive function and academic performance was measured and compared. Through five years of research and monitoring, researchers found the children who began in the low executive function group showed greater growth in executive functions if they had participated in the REDI program. Not only that, these children also showed better reading fluency, math performance, and more than the control group.

When executive function is lacking, it’s difficult for children to regulate their behavior, focus on schoolwork, form important connections, make friends, and more. All of this contributes to a difficult time learning academic skills. But as the Penn State researchers found, when a preschool program builds executive functioning, children have a better chance at academic success.

A Lifetime of Success

Quality preschool education not only helps kids learn ABCs and 123s, it sets them up for a life of educational success. Having the skills to remember what they’re supposed to do, how to prioritize tasks, control emotions, and more is undeniably beneficial for a child at any age. It’s especially beneficial when that child can continue into adulthood with these skills under his or her belt.

At Little Academy of Humble, we focus on developing the whole child in our preschool program, including executive functions. We know this path is the best way to start your child off on the right academic foot. Please give us a call at (281) 459-3378, or contact us online for more information.

Posted on December 6, 2017December 6, 2017

Academic standards are rising. More is expected of children in school than ever before. Parents don’t just worry about getting their young preschool children ready for kindergarten, but their entire academic future! If a child isn’t able to quickly learn their ABCs and 123’s, will her or she be able to do division in elementary school? What will happen when it comes time to take college entrance exams?

It’s not hard to make those frightening leaps when it comes to your children. It’s only natural you want the best for them, and you want them to perform at their highest potential level. And as the pressure to achieve increases, some parents (and even teachers) believe the answer is to meet that pressure with a preschool curriculum filled with harder work, longer times behind a desk, and even stricter consequences for children acting like children.

This is actually the exact opposite of what children really need. In a preschool classroom, children need play time and plenty of it. Play offer more benefits than can be counted here, but here are a few of the more important benefits that play offers preschool children.

Language Development

Worksheets are not the only (or even ideal) way for kids to develop their language. In play, children must rely on their words to explain themselves and achieve the outcome they’re hoping for. They must improvise on the spot and use language to problem solve. Talking to other children as they play helps them to develop new vocabulary as they set rules for their play, talk about what they’re doing, and step into imaginary roles. A good teacher creates preschool curriculum that includes play situations where children will have opportunities to develop their language together.

Reading

You may think play does nothing for reading skills, but it actually enriches and enhances your child’s ability to read. Storytelling teaches children pre-reading skills, like following a plot, rhyming, and sentence structure. Children then naturally take storytelling into their playtime, which prepares their mind for reading down the road.

Social Skills

It’s not surprising that play helps to develop social skills in preschoolers. Children learn to take turns, cooperate, build on each other’s ideas, and express frustration in healthy ways. A good preschool teacher helps children find the right words to handle conflicts and provides children with the skills they need to maneuver through rough social situations.

Creativity

The ability of a child to access their creative side is a huge asset for all walks of life. Having time to play in a preschool classroom gives your child the chance to come up with new worlds, new creatures, new scenarios, and more.

This also ensures your child knows how to entertain him or herself. The ability to avoid boredom is one skill many children are losing. Creative play gives your child an advantage in this area. Think how valuable this skill will be not only for a child’s academic future, but for his or her entire life. Dramatic play, free play, crafting, and more all allow your child to develop creativity, gaining confidence in what his or her mind can come up with!

Physical Development

When we consider school and academics, we often forget to think about our children’s physical development, but this is a big mistake. Physical health is essential to proper academic performance, well-being, and happiness. When play is allowed at preschool, children develop both gross and fine motor abilities. In a safe, playful environment, children will push their bodies to do new things, developing gross motor skills along the way. When children use fine motor skills while crafting or playing with small objects, their fingers and hands develop the skills and muscles they’ll need to write.

Self-Confidence

Children with well-placed confidence can achieve whatever they set their minds to. Play helps to develop strong self-confidence in children as they try and try again to master different activities. Building with blocks is so fun that a child will continue to create a tower even after it has fallen over multiple times. As a child fails, but tries again, a child will learn that he or she can improve and succeed.

For a preschooler, play is so much more than play. It’s how a child learns to understand the world. It’s how he or she interacts with difficult situations. When play is properly incorporated into preschool curriculum, your child will grow, develop, and thrive.

Posted on November 14, 2017

You just finished a long day of work, sat through rush-hour traffic, and are now eager to see your child and hear how his or her day went at day care. But when you walk into the daycare center, your child runs away from you or throws a tantrum. Not exactly the greeting you were hoping for after all the stress of your day.

For some kids, the transition from day care to mom or dad’s car is rough. They don’t want to leave behind their friends or the fun toys at day care. And really, can you blame them? But you both deserve to have a happier pickup. You can start using these tips for a better day care pickup.

1. Snack Attack After Day Care

It’s getting close to dinnertime, but it will still be a while before you’re sitting around the table. Your child had snack time hours ago at day care, and now he or she is just plain hungry. Giving your child a small, healthy snack now likely won’t ruin his or her dinnertime appetite. Instead, it will probably give your child the fuel he or she needs to be happy and attentive until dinner.

2. Shake It Off

Your frustrations, that is. Don’t carry your day with you into the day care facilities. Your child will sense your frustrations and tension and will respond in a similar manner. Before you walk in, take a minute to do some deep breathing or visualizations to clear your head and leave negative baggage behind. Walk in with a smile and a clean slate.

3. Provide Anticipation

What will you be doing once you arrive home? Will you be eating your child’s favorite meal for dinner? Will your child get to take a bath and play with bath toys? Will you read a fun bedtime story? Tell your child about what’s going to happen at home to build up excitement and anticipation for the next step.

And it doesn’t have to be something new every day. Telling your child that the other parent is already at home, or that a favorite stuffed animal is waiting for a hug, is enough to make going home a positive event.

4. Don’t Rush to Leave The Day Care Facilities

Sometimes, you’ll be in a rush at daycare pick up, and there’s nothing you can do to avoid that. However, if you don’t have to hurry to the next place, then take your time at pick up. This doesn’t mean you should let your child casually finish up what they’re doing for an extra half hour while you just patiently wait. It just means that you should go through your leaving routine calmly, without any frantic rushing or hurrying. This will provide your child with a smooth, calm transition from the day care center to your next destination.

5. Gather Everything Beforehand

Gather your child’s things before you go tell him or her it’s time to leave the day care facilities. This will allow you to make a smooth exit. If you grab your child first and then run around gathering all of his or her things, your child will have more opportunities to realize he or she isn’t happy with what’s happening and resist.

6. Goodbyes Are Important

Don’t forget that your child has made meaningful connections with the other children and staff at the day care facility. Rather than yanking your child away, allow your child to say goodbye to friends and teachers.

7.

Follow Your Day Care Provider’s Procedures

Different day care facilities have different pickup procedures, so make sure you know, understand, and follow your child care provider’s procedure. Following their routines will create a seamless process your child will anticipate. It will also help the staff to help you, as they can work within their procedures to find solutions if your child is struggling.

With a little planning and preparation, your day care pickups can be a whole lot happier and easier!

Posted on October 10, 2017

Cooperation, negotiation, listening skills, and sharing. Children can learn these skills in a variety of ways, but children often receive enhanced learning in a good daycare setting like Little Academy of Humble where they are surrounded by other children and caregivers each day. Socialization skills set children up to have confidence, to understand how to interact with other people, to have fun, and so much more!

Daycare Builds Confidence

New people. New situations. New activities. New environments. Kid’s daycare programs provide all of this to your child in a safe way, which gives your child the chance to develop confidence with things that are new. When your child realizes he or she can handle a variety of different situations, your child’s confidence will soar. Your child will not be afraid to continue trying new things. Meeting new people and encountering new situations builds self esteem and resilience.

Daycare Helps Develop Problem Solving Skills

In a good daycare setting such as Little Academy of Humble, a child may encounter situations they wouldn’t encounter elsewhere. Another child takes a toy away. Your child takes a toy from another child. They wait their turn to receive a snack. They play interactive games with multiple children. They learn from caregivers who aren’t their parents. And on and on.

And with each of these daily occurrences, your child is faced with a decision. He or she can choose to cry, to hit, or to ask for the toy back. To run to the front of the line or to wait their turn. Most children quickly learn skills that help them get what they want, as well as be considerate of other people. These problem-solving skills transfer to all other aspects of your child’s life. Your child learns not to give up when confronting new problems.

Daycare Teaches Diversity

Your child will be exposed to people from different families, cultures, and backgrounds at daycare. This is especially true at Little Academy of Humble, and what a great benefit this offers daycare children. Considering other people do things in different ways is a valuable lesson for a young child to learn. Appreciating other viewpoints will only help your child more develop compassion and kindness.

Daycare Teaches Sportsmanship

At daycare, kids have to learn to be part of a team which helps them to develop good sportsmanship skills. They may want every red crayon in the daycare facility all to themselves, but they will be gently directed by caring daycare teachers to consider the needs and wants of others. And the reverse is also true. They’ll begin to see that their needs are still important, even in a group setting, and others should be considerate of them as well.

Daycare Develops Communication Skills

Patient teachers who understand children are excellent at giving your child the opportunities they need to communicate in ways that are comfortable to them. They are also skilled at helping your child learn new communication skills as time goes on. And as your child observes other children at daycare, her or she will learn many new positive ways to communicate.

Daycare Develops Language Skills

Daycare offers children so many opportunities to develop language skills through social interactions. From talking to other children to talking to teachers, your child uses his or her own language frequently. In addition, your child’s vocabulary expands as he or she listens to the day care teacher’s lessons and instructions. Add in the hours of story time, dramatic play, and other language-based activities that you’ll find in most good daycares, and you’ll see your child’s language skills blossom.

Daycare Offers a Professionally Trained Staff

Daycare teachers are trained in childhood development. They have experience working with a multitude of children with various personalities. They have seen, and are also often trained to see, various developmental, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral challenges as children interact with other children. Seeing concerning signs and symptoms early on is a huge benefit to parents.

Daycare Offers Fun and Entertainment

The best daycares are fun and entertaining for children. Children who have fun playing with other children are happy. And because children learn through play, children who get the opportunity to play learn valuable skills and lessons they couldn’t learn another way. Daycare facilities are full of age appropriate toys, enriching activities, and plenty of friends to facilitate a truly fun, enjoyable, and social day for your child.

Little Academy of Humble is the place where fun and learning meet. With fun friends, credentialed teachers, enriching lesson plans, and an emphasis on growth and development, your child will love his or her time at daycare with us. And you’ll rest easy knowing your child is in great hands. To learn more about Little Academy of Humble, please give us a call at (281) 459-3378 or contact us online.

Posted on September 9, 2017

Teaching preschool is not for the faint of heart. Managing to teach, encourage, and nurture several small children with vastly different personalities is a huge feat. When you also consider preschool teachers have to communicate effectively with parents, deal with the occasional potty accident, and always ensure their school is offering the best programs for preschoolers, it becomes clear preschool teachers need to have some very specific skill sets and personality traits.

While there are many good preschool teachers around, the very best preschool teachers seem to share these qualities.

Passion

Teaching preschool isn’t just a job. It’s a huge responsibility to shape the minds and emotions of small children. A teacher who just wants to clock in and out each day, but doesn’t truly care about what he or she is doing, isn’t going to give a child the best preschool education or experience.

Preschool teachers should be passionate about what they do. They should be interested in finding new ways to reach and teach children, should find delight when children “get it,” and should look forward to going to work. Of course, teaching preschool has its drawbacks, and bad days can be expected, but the best preschool teachers just roll with setbacks. They’re there because they love what they do.

Organization

Preschool children need structure. When they know what’s coming next, they feel less anxious and more able to engage in their activities. A great preschool teacher follows an organized plan from day to day and keeps to a structured curriculum. He or she also has an organized system for drop-offs and pickups, communicating with parents, keeping the space neat and tidy, etc. Everyone, including parents, knows what to expect at all times.

Patience + a Dash of Humor

The best preschool teachers understand mistakes and accidents happen, especially with toddlers. They patiently handle upsets with a sense of humor, and don’t let minor issues phase them. They keep the end goal in mind, and don’t dwell on frustrations in the moment. Children respond well to these non-judgmental reactions to their behavior, and they feel more confident to try new things when they know they’ll be patiently encouraged or redirected.

Open Minded

Even though children are no longer forced to fall in line and conform to one best way of teaching (the teacher’s way of course) like in the olden days, some teachers still have trouble allowing each child to learn in their own way.

The best preschool teachers know children come from different families, backgrounds, and experiences. They understand neurological differences are often at play, and they observe and interact with their students in such a way that helps them to determine each child’s best path forward. A great preschool teacher doesn’t try to fit every child into one box. If Child A needs to wiggle more than Child B, a great preschool teacher will adapt an activity to make that possible.

Realistic

A great preschool teacher understands when a limit has been reached, and doesn’t try to skirt around it or avoid it. If a child is struggling with a developmental delay, she won’t hold him to impossible standards, and she won’t ignore the issue. She’ll communicate with the parents and come up with realistic solutions that will work for everyone.

Adaptable

Sometimes, a lesson goes over a child’s head. Sometimes, children can’t focus because it’s raining outside. A great preschool teacher will recognize when things aren’t going in the right direction and will skillfully redirect the children. The difficult lesson plan will be abandoned in favor of a wiggle activity that teaches the same concept. The children will be taken to the window to watch the rain and discuss weather patterns. Whatever comes up, a great preschool teacher will be able to think quickly to keep the children engaged and learning.

Observant

A great preschool teacher watches how the children interact, noticing if one child is withdrawn or if a child is monopolizing all the activities. Great preschool teachers get down and interact with the children, giving them a close-up view for understanding how each child thinks, and allowing them to anticipate or even avoid potential troubles.

Loving

Most importantly, the best preschool teachers love their students. This love helps motivate their actions towards kind solutions to problems and joyful learning experiences. When children feel loved and safe, they feel free to learn.

Little Academy of Humble is a child care learning center with the very best preschool teachers who provide a nurturing, loving environment where each child is given the opportunity to thrive. Give us a call at (281) 459-3378, or contact online to schedule a tour.

Posted on August 15, 2017August 15, 2017

The first day of day care is a tough one for most parents. No matter how much you love and trust your baby’s day care provider, no matter how right you feel about your decision, you’ll probably still feel some anxiety about being separated from your baby. You may also worry that your baby will have a hard time with a new setting, schedule, and caretaker. Ease your worries, and make the transition easier for everyone with these baby day care tips.

1. Meet Your Day Care Teacher Ahead of Time

Bring your baby to meet the teachers before the first day. Let them interact with their teacher so they can become familiar with their voices, looks, and smells. Additionally, the teachers will be better prepared to take care of your baby if they’ve already experienced his or her temperament. You’ll feel better on the first day knowing the teacher has already had some interaction with your baby.

2. Drop Off Your Baby’s Items Beforehand

When you go to meet the teacher, bring your baby’s items (bottles, bibs, extra clothes, etc.) with you. This way you won’t be laden down with extra things to carry on your first day. And you won’t have to worry about forgetting anything on a day that is sure to be filled with extra emotions because everything will already be there.

This is also a good time to fill out forms or drop off lists of details the day care teachers will need to properly care for your baby. How much formula or breast milk does your baby need? Does your baby take any medications? Write these things out, and verbally go over your instructions as well.

3. Give Yourself Extra Time

On your baby’s first day at day care, he or she likely won’t eat as quickly as normal and will inevitably have a major blowout just as you’re getting ready to leave. You will also surely remember (at the last minute) that you forgot to drop off extra pacifiers when you went to meet the teachers ahead of time. You’ll burn your toast, and you’ll spill your orange juice on your shirt. It’s just Murphy’s law, so prepare for it. Give yourself an extra half-hour to get through your morning routine without feeling in a frenzy.

Tip: Do a couple dry runs before your first day of baby day care. Wake up and go through an entire morning routine, including getting into the car seat and out the door, in time for work. You’ll get to see the areas where you might have hiccups.

4. Keep It Short

This may be the hardest piece of advice, but keep your day care drop off goodbye short. Prolonging it will only cause more stress and worry for you. Your baby may pick up on the vibe which could increase his or her level of stress as well making it harder for you to feel confident and calm, and the cycle will quickly spin out of control.

Mentally prepare yourself to say a quick, but loving, goodbye. It may be helpful to visualize this moment ahead of time, and then to imagine your child being lovingly taken care of after you leave.

5. Talk to the Other Parents at Day Care Drop-off

Talking to the other parents at your baby’s day care drop off will provide you with a distraction, as well as some clarity. You’ll see parents with older children who are having happy drop-off experiences just like yours. You’ll watch older children eagerly greet their teachers and friends. And you’ll get to have the assurance and sympathy from a parent who’s been there before.

6. Call or Text

A good baby day care will welcome your calls or texts to check in. Day care teachers want you to feel reassured that your baby is in good hands. It’s also not too much to ask for a text picture from time to time.

Dropping by your baby’s day care during the day may or may not be the right thing for you to do. On the one hand, you’d like to see your baby thriving and being well taken care of. On the other hand, it may disrupt your child’s routine and mood, making it harder for the adjustment process to take hold. Think it through for your specific child to determine what is best.

7. Get a Treat

The first day of baby day care is hard for a parent. It’s okay to splurge on your favorite pastry or smoothie. A little comfort treat can go a long way when you’re feeling down and anxious.

8. Be Patient

The baby day care drop-off routine may take some time. This is new for both of you. If your child cries in the beginning, don’t rush to soothe him or her. It’s normal for a baby to cry, and day care workers know how to take care of your baby. Trust them. Give yourself and your baby time to adjust to this new routine. It will get easier for both of you as you go.

9. Return Happy

Make baby day care pick up time a happy occasion. This way, your baby will get used to the familiar, happy return of Mom or Dad, and won’t struggle with being separated as time goes on. Plus, you’ll also appreciate the happy ritual each day.

The professional staff at Little Academy of Humble will help make the transition to day care for you and your baby as smooth and easy as possible. Please give us a call at (281) 459-3378 or contact us online for a tour.

Posted on July 17, 2017July 17, 2017

When it comes to quality child care, most people only consider the relationship between the child and the child care provider. At Little Academy of Humble, however, we believe there is another critical person in the equation, and that person is the parent or other legal guardian of the child.

We believe maintaining consistent, open communication with our parents or legal guardian is critical to the proper growth and development of our children. We want our parents to be aware of the daily activities at our school and how their child is doing. When parents and child care providers don’t communicate with each other in an effective manner, it is difficult to develop the trusting and respectful relationships needed to create the best overall environment for your child to learn and grow.

To keep the most open and consistent communication with our parents, Little Academy of Humble has implemented the Tadpoles program at our school. Below is a look at just some of the many great benefits the Tadpoles program offers.

Benefits of the Tadpoles System

• Our daily reports will keep you well informed of the daily activities and learning experiences your child has throughout the day.
• You can view your child’s curriculum each day on their daily report.
• You receive records of the naps and meals your child has.
• You receive photos, videos, notes, and important reminders via email.
• You can download or share photos and videos of your child as well as view your child’s portfolio online.
• You can view classroom visitations.
• You can easily mark your child as sick or on vacation.
• You will quickly receive any emergency alerts or announcements from Little Academy via text message and email.
• Your child’s emergency contacts and medical information including food allergies and medications will be at the teacher’s fingertips.

To learn more about the Tadpoles program, please visit http://www.tadpoles.com/.