Child Care: What's Hot Now: Fire Safety and Fun CAN Occur

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Fire Safety and Fun CAN Occur Jan 31st 2012, 11:03 Fire safety does not necessarily need to be a serious or scary topic for kids. The key is for the kids to learn how to escape from a fire safety; not to become scared of being in a fire. By tailoring activities and lessons to the age of the child, lessons can still be taught...while kids have fun in the process. Here are 10 fun activity ideas that child care providers, parents and teachers alike can utilize to get the safety message across while still having fun in the process. 1. Field Trip Time Since kids are sometimes frightened by fire fighters and may even hide from them (as some do to any individual in uniform), adults can plan a special trip to take them to a fire station and introduce them to uniformed fire fighters. Call the station and schedule an appointment in advance, so that staff can be on hand to spend special time with the children. Of course, plans could change if a fire call takes them away from the station. 2. Create Your Own Fire Safety Poster Contest Establish a fire safety poster contest at daycare, school, or at home. Ask children to create a safety picture of kids doing the right thing in escaping from a fire. Display the posters and talk about them. 3. Book It! Fire Safety Books Teach Lessons Well Read children books on fire safety or, for the youngest kids, about fire trucks and their purpose, and fire stations. There are many on the market, such as “No Dragons for Tea: Fire Safety for Kids (And Dragons),” “Stop Drop and Roll (A Book About Fire Safety),” “Fire! Fire!” and “Home Safety” (Adventures in the Roo World â€" Young Roo Series No. 4). 4. R-E-D, Red: Fire Trucks Are Red Choose the color RED as a theme and build on fire safety through the use of red fire trucks. Have them draw a red fire truck, a red fire extinguisher, and any other red elements and have kids wear red clothing. Consider providing a treat of red hots, red suckers or red apples and drink red punch or juice as a reward for a day well-done. 5. Exit, Exit: Where Are You? Take a walk around the daycare or school, or if at home plan a simple outing, and hunt for EXIT signs. Keep tally marks of all the signs found. Turn it into a game. If possible, turn the lights off in a building and let kids see the EXIT signs remain lit and then discuss why. As a follow up, have kids create their own special EXIT signs as a project. 6. Role Play Games of Stay Low & Go, and Stop, Drop & Roll Play a game of “Stop, Drop and Roll.” This is a fun game for kids and the lesson taught can be invaluable. Also, create a game with “Stay Low and Go.” A teacher can press an alarm (use anything with sound) and then kids practice these skills as fast as they can. Be sure to explain when they should “stay low and go” and when it would be appropriate to “stop, drop and roll.” Children should be encouraged to cover their faces when rolling. 7. Alarm! It's Drill Time Plan a fire safety evacuation drill. In-home providers should practice this as well. Assign one child each day to hold a bell or other “alarm” and let them choose the time anytime throughout the day to ring it and shout “Fire! Fire!” and for the other kids to evacuate. Providers/teachers of older kids can create some unexpected roadblocks/obstacles from time to time such as taping up an imaginary fire that means kids cannot leave the building through that route. 8. Hats Off To Fire Fighters Create fire fighter hats for kids and have them pretend to be firefighters. Discuss equipment that a fire fighter needs and why. Let kids see and learn how to use a fire extinguisher. Older kids should know where a fire extinguisher is located. 9. Find the Meeting Spot Have kids brainstorm where they should go once they leave a burning house or building. Have parents provide this information so that teachers can reinforce it. A fun game is to have kids sit in a circle and the first whispers to the the first kid, who then passes it to the next one, and so on, as to the meeting place. Sound the alarm, have kids meet at the place, and then the provider or teacher must find them. 10. Detect the Smoke Detectors Let children look, touch, and experience a smoke detector alarm. Make a counting game of having them count the number of detectors in a building or at a home. Have them ask their parents if the batteries have been changed recently. For older kids, turn the hunt into a scavenger hunt, complete with fire-safety related clues.

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Child Care: What's Hot Now: Afterschool Options

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Afterschool Options Jan 31st 2012, 11:03 Millions of school-age kids are going home to an empty house after school, and the number of kids home alone has actually increased over the past five years even as afterschool care is more plentiful. The Afterschool Alliance conducted a national household survey of early 30,000 families in 2009 to learn how many children participate in afterschool programs, how many are unsupervised after school, and how these numbers compare to five years ago. The America After 3PM study sponsored by the JC Penney Afterschool Fund essentially found that while afterschool programs today are serving significantly more children than in 2004, more children today are home alone after school, and that the demand for safe, quality and affordable options is higher than ever. [ Key findings About 26 percent of America's school-aged children are on their own after the school day ends until a parent returns home from work. The percentage of children left on their own in the afternoons has increased in the past five years from 14.3 million in 2004 to 15.1 million in 2009. There is a growing awareness that children are at particular risk during the afternoon hours from a safety and "poor choices" point of view. In addition, kids who are home alone and remaining inside the house (which most are directed to do) often spend the time eating junk food, watching television, and not participating in any physically-active or academic work during these hours. A lack of healthy eating and physical exercise is contributing to the childhood obesity epidemic, which is starting at an earlier age than ever before. Today, 30 percent of middle school students (3,722,219) and 4 percent of elementary school children (1,133,989) are unsupervised after school. Increasingly, older-age children may be responsible for caring for their younger siblings after the end of the school day. The availability of afterschool programs has improved in the past five years. This is another example of how child care trends are changing across the nation. But the report indicates that there are still not enough programs to keep pace with rising needs. Some program directors say it is a juggling act to provide safe and affordable after-school care with activities that are enticing to the middle-school age with enough participants to make it cost effective. Fifteen percent of children currently participate in afterschool programs, a 4 percent increase from 2004. Parents of 18.5 million children not currently participating in afterschool programs say they would enroll their children if a program were available to stem--a significant increase from the 30 percent who responded similarly in 2004. Cost, especially during today's tough economic times, makes paying for afterschool child care programs more challenging. Some parents don't put their kids in afterschool care programs--even though they know it would keep their kids more safe--because they simply can't afford to do so. On average, parents who pay for afterschool programs pay $67 per week, up from an average of $44 per child per week five years ago. Parents need to carefully consider the pros and cons of having a child stay home alone after school and to know whether a youngster is truly old and mature enough to be unsupervised after school. Additional information about the report can be viewed by going to the Afterschool Alliance website.

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Children's Books: What's Hot Now: Children's Valentine's Book

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Children's Valentine's Book Jan 31st 2012, 11:04 Simon & Schuster, Inc. The children's Valentine's Day picture book Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch wonderfully illustrates the power of love and would make an excellent Valentine's Day gift for a four to eight year old child. The author is Eileen Spinelli, who has written more than 20 children's books. The illustrations are by Paul Yalowitz. His whimsical, textured artwork is, according to the publisher, "...first drawn with ebony pencil on bristol plate paper and then colored over with Derwent color pencils." Mr. Hatch and His Lonely Life The main character in the picture book is a very lonely man, Mr. Hatch. The story begins with a description of Mr. Hatch's lonely daily life. He lives alone, barely knows or talks to anyone, works all day in a shoelace factory, buys a fresh turkey wing for supper each day, eats, takes a shower, and goes to bed. In his neighborhood and at work people say the same thing about Mr. Hatch, "He keeps to himself." Mr. Hatch's loneliness is illustrated with drab colors and by the way in which the artist depicts him: shoulders slumped, head down, manner subdued. A Big Change for Mr. Hatch All of this changes when the postman brings Mr. Hatch a huge, heart shaped box of chocolates along with a card that says, "Somebody loves you." Mr. Hatch is so happy he does a little dance. Because he thinks he might meet his secret admirer, Mr. Hatch puts on a colorful tie and some old aftershave. He takes the box of chocolates to work to share. He even talks to Mr. Smith at his newspaper stand, notices he looks sick, and offers to watch the newsstand while Mr. Smith goes to the doctor's office. Mr. Hatch continues to talk to others, to help those in need, and to share with his neighbors. In fact, Mr. Hatch bakes brownies and holds an impromptu picnic for his neighbors at which he plays his old harmonica for them. His neighbors enjoy being with Mr. Hatch and like him very much. The more Mr. Hatch is friendly and kind to his neighbors, the more they reciprocate. When the postman tells Mr. Hatch that the candy had been delivered to his house by mistake and that he doesn't have a secret admirer, Mr. Hatch becomes withdrawn again. The postman tells the neighbors what has happened. The neighbors get together and throw a big surprise party for Mr. Hatch, complete with candy, a new harmonica, and a big sign that said, "Everybody loves Mr. Hatch." Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch: The Power of Love and Kindness This is a charming book with a powerful message. The importance of love and kindness comes through loud and clear. Even very young children will understand how good it is to feel loved and how important it is to help others feel loved. While this is an excellent Valentine's Day book, the story is one children will enjoy year round. Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch was first published in hardcover by Simon & Schuster in 1991 (compare prices). It was published in paperback by Simon & Schuster's Aladdin imprint in 1995 (compare prices).

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Children's Books: What's Hot Now: Children's Books by Dr. Seuss

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Children's Books by Dr. Seuss Jan 31st 2012, 11:04 The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins is a good read-aloud. It will tickle your funny bone. Poor Bartholomew gets in trouble with the king for not removing his hat as a sign of respect. As Bartholomew tells King Derwin, he has removed his hat. However, there is also another hat on his head, and when he removes it, there is another hat under it, and on and on and on. The king calls in all kinds of experts to try to figure out a way to remove the hats. They can't. The king is so angry, Bartholomew is afraid for his life. However, as he removes each hat, each one becomes fancier than the one before, with surprising results. I recommend this picture book for four- to eight-year-olds. Compare prices. (Random House, 1989. ISBN: 039484484X)

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Children's Books: What's Hot Now: Cloudy With a Chance of....

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Cloudy With a Chance of.... Jan 31st 2012, 11:04 It’s no wonder that Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett is a bestseller, with more than three million copies sold since it was first published in 1978. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is a children’s picture book that features an imaginative and amusing story, which is made even more enjoyable because of the illustrations by Ron Barrett. Barrett’s artwork expands the story with a great many humorous touches. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs: The Story in Words and Pictures One of the things I particularly like about this picture book is the way the tale is framed at the beginning and end. The book begins with a young girl's description of a family breakfast at which her grandfather accidentally flips a pancake onto her brother Henry’s head. According to the girl, "That night, touched off by the pancake incident at breakfast, Grandpa told us the best tall-tale bedtime story he’d ever told." Up to that point, all of the illustrations in comic-style are sketched in black ink only. However, once Grandpa’s story starts, all of the illustrations are in color, with the black sketches filled in with watercolors. This is very effective in moving the reader from reality to fantasy. It reminds me of the classic movie version of The Wizard of Oz in which Dorothy’s life in Kansas is in black and white, but when she reaches Oz, it’s all in color. Grandpa’s story is full of drama, adventure, and humor as he tells the story of the tiny town of Chewandswallow where there aren’t any food stores because all the food the residents need comes down from the sky at mealtimes. Instead of rain or snow, for example, soup or mashed potatoes might come down. In order to be prepared, everyone in the town carries their dishes, forks, spoons, and knives with them whenever they go outside. Everything is fine in Chewandswallow until the weather starts getting worse and worse. Violent storms bring giant servings. A huge pancake covers the school, giant meatballs damage homes, and the residents finally decide they have to leave. They make rafts out of giant peanut butter sandwiches and sail to a new land. There they have to get used to going to the store for food, but they never again have to worry about getting hit by a giant meatball. As the story ends and Grandpa tells the children goodnight, the illustrations revert to black ink on white pages. However, at the book's end, there's a touch of color. The morning after the story, when the children are out sledding, the illustration shows a yellow sun starting to rise behind the snowy hill. To the children it looks like a giant serving of mashed potatoes with "a giant pat of butter on the top." The use of color to show the children exercising their imaginations as a result of hearing Grandpa’s story is an inspired touch. The Illustrations Ron Barrett’s imaginative illustrations expand the story greatly. For example, the story only states that "something flew through the air headed toward the kitchen ceiling . . . and landed right on Henry." However, the illustration shows the dog running after the cat, bumping into Grandpa and knocking over a chair, so now we know not only what happened but why Grandpa lost control of the pancake he was flipping. The most fun comes with Ron Barrett’s illustrations of Chewandswallow. One of my favorites accompanies a simple description of some of the foods that blew in one day at lunchtime. The illustration shows the dining room of a restaurant. The sign on the door says, Ralph’s Roofless Restaurant. The maitre d' greets a family at the door while diners frantically try to catch the frankfurters that are falling from the sky. What fun! The Author and Illustrator Author Judi Barrett and illustrator Ron Barrett have collaborated on several books, including Pickles to Pittsburgh, the sequel to Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, and Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing. Never Take a Shark to the Dentist: and Other Things Not to Do, Which Witch is Which? and Things That Are Most in the World are among the other picture books written by Judi Barrett. Ron Barrett is both the author and the illustrator of The Nutty News. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs: My Recommendation I recommend Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs for 4- to 8-year-olds, as well as for older kids. It’s a wonderful book to read aloud. You’ll find it sparks kids’ imaginations, and they will come up with all kinds of food-related happenings after enjoying the book. The book also serves as an excellent starting point for a creative writing unit for tweens (ages 8-12) and young teens, as well as an excellent addition to a creative writing and/or visual art unit for tweens and teens on storytelling through a combination of words and pictures. (Aladdin Paperbacks, Simon and Schuster, 1978. ISBN: 9780689707490). Add to the Fun with a Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs Story Sack After you and your kids enjoy the book together, extend the fun by making a story sack. Sherri Osborn, the Guide to Family Crafts, provides all the information you need to make your own Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs Story Sack, including directions for a spaghetti and meatball hat, a paper apron, a food collage and much more.

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Children's Music: What's Hot Now: YGG Musical Guests Season 1

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YGG Musical Guests Season 1 Jan 31st 2012, 11:07 The ground-breaking kids' show Yo Gabba Gabba! has been host to a number of indie rock bands since the program's inception in 2007. In fact, the lineup announcement of Yo Gabba Gabba! musical guests is one of the most anticipated and interesting, and sometimes head-scratching, aspects of the show. Almost all of the songs that are performed during the "Super Music Friends Show" segment are written by the Yo Gabba Gabba production team, most of whom have performed with, or still perform with, indie bands like The Aquabats or Majestic. Here are the Top 10 Yo Gabba Gabba! Musical Guests from Season 1. 10. The Wolfgramms - "YGG Medley" Photo Copyright Amelia Lyon The Wolfgramms are five siblings, all under the age of 13, who play their own tween pop. They also happen to be the children of Haini Wolfgramm, former member of '80s R&B group The Jets! On this episode, they perform a medley of songs normally sung by characters on the show. from Season 1, Episode 10: "Greetings" 9. Smoosh - "Pajama Party Time" Photo Copyright Matt James This female musical trio of sisters (duo on the show) play a live in-studio version of their original tune "Pajama Party Time." from Season 1, Episode 5: "Sleep" Watch a video of "Pajama Party Time" 8. The Aquabats - "Pool Party!" Photo Courtesy The Aquabats The Aquabats, whose front man is Yo Gabba Gabba! co-creator Christian Jacobs, enthusiatically invite everyone to their pool party, via high-energy pop punk ska. This version of "Pool Party!" is a remake of the original that appeared on the band's Myths, Legends, and Other Amazing Adventures of The Aquabats!, Volume 2 album. from Season 1, Episode 2: "Summer" Watch a video of "Pool Party!" 7. Supernova - "Up and Down" Photo Courtesy Nick Jr. Two things make this performance stand out for Yo Gabba Gabba!'s audience: the band perform "Up and Down" while jumping on trampolines, and guitarist Jodey Lawrence repeatedly slings his guitar all the way around his body. "Up and Down" originally appeared on Supernova's 1995 album Ages Three and Up. from Season 1, Episode 8: "Careful" Watch a video of "Up and Down" 6. The Aggrolites - "Banana" Photo Courtesy Nick Jr. Ridiculously upbeat ska from Los Angeles' Aggrolites. Simple? Yes. Effective? Definitely! from Season 1, Episode 3: "Fun" Watch a video of "Banana" 5. The Postmarks - "Balloons Make Me Happy" Photo Courtesy Nick Jr. Balloons, like the music of The Postmarks, are wistfully beautiful, lighter than air. So, it makes perfect sense that The Postmarks should perform this quiet ode to a favorite toy of kids everywhere. from Season 1, Episode 19: "Love" Watch a video of "Balloons Make Me Happy" 4. Cornelius - "Count Five or Six" Photo Courtesy Nick Jr. Cornelius (aka Keigo Oyamada) and band thunder through a live in-studio version of this 6/4-meter song from his 1998 album Fantasma. This may be the coolest counting song for kids ever! from Season 1, Episode 15: "Share" Watch a video of "Count Five or Six" 3. The Salteens - "I'm So Happy I Can Dance" Photo Courtesy Nick Jr. This Motown-influenced handclapper guarantees full dancefloor participation! And the Phil Collins/"You Can't Hurry Love" multi-image video style is fun, too. A perfect encapsulation of The Salteens' super sunny sound. from Season 1, Episode 6: "Happy" 2. Shiny Toy Guns - "House of Spooks" Photo Courtesy Shiny Toy Guns Let's see, a tiger, a lioness, a knight, and a banana playing a song about a haunted house...no, wait, it's Shiny Toy Guns! Renamed "The Shinys" for this episode, the band bring by their buzzing electropop sound just in time for Halloween. from Season 1, Episode 13: "Halloween" Watch a video of "House of Spooks" 1. The Shins - "It's OK, Try Again" Photo Courtesy Nick Jr. They may or may not change your life, as Natalie Portman famously claimed they would in the movie Garden State, but The Shins definitely changed the face of Yo Gabba Gabba!. Their live in-studio performance on the last episode of Season 1, featuring The Shins' chiming guitars and high-register vocals (and a rockin' banjo!), set the musical bar even higher for Season 2 of Yo Gabba Gabba. from Season 1, Episode 20: "Imagine" Watch a video of "It's OK, Try Again"

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Children's Music: What's Hot Now: Irish Music for Kids

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Irish Music for Kids Jan 31st 2012, 11:07 What better way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with your kids than to explore the world of Irish music for children. These five CDs are full of traditional tunes, story songs, dances, and sing-alongs performed in both English and Irish. Sláinte! Various Artists - 'When I Was Young: Children's Songs from Ireland' Courtesy Shanachie Entertainment Don't let the album title fool you: these songs are not childish at all, but are definitely superb sing-along tunes, fascinating folk story songs, and danceable jigs. Boasting an impressive 28 traditional Irish songs, all sung in English, When I Was Young features the vocals of Len Graham and Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin. Producer Garry Ã" Briain provides much of the music, along with Mairtin O'Conner's accordion, Nollaig Casey's fiddle, Ronan Browne's uilleann pipes, and Tommy Hayes' bodhrán. If you want to go deeper into the culture of Irish children's songs, check out Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin and Garry Ã" Briain's A Stór 's A Stóirín, featuring Irish language kids' tunes. Released February 16, 1999; Shanachie The Clancy Children - 'So Early in the Morning' Courtesy Tradition Records/Rykodisc Recorded in the late '50s and early '60s, this album contains an amazing 46 tracks of Irish songs, chants, and singing games. The CD features not only the children of the Robert Clancy family of County Tipperary, but different generations of the same clan, with help from Seamus Ennis on uillean pipes and penny whistle. Most of the tunes are sung a cappella, and some are very short snippets of songs, but you get an idea of the spirit of traditional Irish folk music for kids. The CD includes favorites like "Dance to Your Daddy," "Tom, Tom," and a spirited version of "The Rattlin' Bog," as well as regional songs like "Are You Ready for a War?" Originally released 1961, Tradition Records; Rereleased July 22, 1997, Rykodisc Caera - 'Traditional Irish Gaelic Children's Songs' Courtesy Grá is Stór Caera is a Massachusetts-based performer with deep Gaelic roots. She's recorded several albums of Celtic music, including this a cappella collection of traditional Irish songs for children. The 11-song CD comes with a book that includes lyrics and translations, a pronunciation guide, and sheet music for each song. This hauntingly quiet and beautiful CD/book combo is a great resource for exploring Ireland's native language with your children. Released June 20, 2006; Grá is Stór Dan Milner - 'Irish Pirate Ballads and Other Songs of the Sea' Courtesy Smithsonian Folkways How cool is this: 13 maritime songs about pirates, smugglers, and hard-living sailors from Ireland. Let's put it this way...if your little ones like Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island or James Fenimore Cooper's The Red Rover, they'll love Irish Pirate Ballads and Other Songs of the Sea, an aural version of the stories and characters found in those classic novels. Vocalist Dan Milner is joined by an all-star list of musicians too numerous to mention, and the CD comes with extensive liner notes about the story behind each song. Released February 10, 2009; Smithsonian Folkways Golden Bough - 'Kids at Heart: Celtic Songs for Children' Courtesy Golden Bough Golden Bough are an Oregon-based band who specialize in Celtic music, and Kids at Heart is their English-language collection of Irish folk songs. The album contains traditional favorites like "The Rattlin' Bog" and "The Tailor and the Mouse," and Bill Staines' classic "All God's Creatures," along with a couple of band originals. Margie Butler, Paul Espinoza, and Kathy Sierra all contribute vocals and accompany their singing with fiddles, mandilons, and harps. Released June 26, 2001; Golden Bough

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Childrens Music: Kids' World Music Two-fer

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Kids' World Music Two-fer Jan 31st 2012, 05:32 Tired of the same ol' same ol' when it comes to kids' music? Check out these two off-the-beaten-path releases that explore the world music genre. Rhythm Child's Drum Circle Sing-A-Long and Mariana Iranzi's Aventura Collage utilize polyrhythms, traditional dances, and entertaining songs in bringing diverse sounds to the ears of young listeners. While Rhythm Child's Norm Jones is based in L.A, and Iranzi calls Boston home, the sounds they create on their respective albums span the globe. Read a full review of Rhythm Child's Drum Circle Sing-A-Long Read a full review of Mariana Iranzi's Aventura Collage Image Courtesy Mariana Iranzi

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Childrens Music: Review - Gustafer Yellowgold's Have You Never Been Yellow?

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Review - Gustafer Yellowgold's Have You Never Been Yellow? Jan 30th 2012, 11:03 In anticipation of Morgan Taylor's latest chapter in the Gustafer Yellowgold saga, we revisit a blast from the past. Gustafer Yellowgold's Have You Never Been Yellow? was the second CD/DVD in the story of our friend from the sun, and this April will see the release of the fifth Gustafer package, Gustafer Yellowgold's Year in the Day. Taylor has been busy lately with Gustafer Yellowgold activities, from partnering with the educational resource Speakaboos, to a second Off-Broadway run at New York City's DR2 Theater. Check out the Gustafer Yellowgold official website for more info, and read a review of the classic Gustafer Yellowgold's Have You Never Been Yellow? Read a full review of Gustafer Yellowgold's Have You Never Been Yellow? Image Courtesy Apple Eye Productions

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Child Care: What's Hot Now: Pros and Cons to Decisions

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Pros and Cons to Decisions Jan 30th 2012, 11:03 Should you or shouldn't you start your youngster in kindergarten in the fall? Parents are increasingly mulling over the decision based a child's birthdate, social skills, or overall readiness. "Redshirting" a kid, as often describes the practice of holding a child back to develop stronger academic readiness, is utilized for kids with late birthdays and social immaturity. Its merits are debated, and parents need to ultimately decide what is best for their kid. Age Should Be Considered If your state says a child must be 5 by a certain date and your child just barely makes the cut-off, this could be a reason for waiting a year. Children with birthdays in the latter half of the year, and particularly for boys, are often held a year from starting kindergarten. But experts urge that age should not be the only consideration used. Many young kids are ready to begin school, while older ones may not be. Kindergarten Readiness Ready or Not? Consider Kindergarten Readiness Tests or Screenings If you're unsure, ask your child's preschool teacher to administer a kindergarten readiness screening. There are tests available that parents can do with their own child as well. Some schools even screen kids and offer some thoughts to consider when making the important decision as to whether to start kindergarten or wait a year. Consider attention span, motor skills, socialization, overall behavior, independence, and interest in learning. Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten? Preschool Tips at a Glance Parent Teacher Conference Is The Ideal Time To Learn About Your Child Find Out School Expectations School expectations can help parents make informed decisions. Consider whether the kindergarten program is full-day or half-day, for starters. Are there clearly-defined academic expectations? Some programs have a more strenuous kindergarten curriculum including reading, basic math, and logic, while others focus more on "soft skills" the first year and transitioning from home to school. Consider a Transition Approach Some parents see kindergarten as a "one-two" plan. A child's first school year is spent in a private, half-day or even transition kindergarten program. A child then attends a full-day kindergarten program at public/private school, hopefully with the advantage of the transition year and entering school with more academic readiness and self-confidence. Some programs are specifically geared for 5-year-olds who are delaying school one year. Be Open to Repeating Some educators urge parents in doubt to go ahead and let the children enter kindergarten, but with an open mind that their child could possibly repeat the year. Why? With a different teacher the next year, the child still receives a full-year of academic instruction and will gain a year of self-esteem and readiness to boot. There is typically little-to-no social stigma with repeating kindergarten; kids are often all too happy to get to do so. Emphasize Positives of Kindergarten to Child Children should be told what they can realistically expect to do and know in kindergarten. Parents should not sugar coat the experience as all fun and games. Kindergarten does offer lots of social development, but self-control, academics, phonics, math and even basic science concepts are often included as well. Kids will make new friends and will start their path of academic learning this first year. Beginning Kindergarten: A Bittersweet Milestone Ways To Strengthen The Relationship Between Parent and Child Keep Kids Safe During 'Breaks' From School Routine Ask How You Can Reinforce Learning at Home Teachers emphasize how vital parental participation is in their child's learning, and never is there a time more important to be involved than with kindergarteners and early reading. If your child seems to be struggling, ask for specific advice as to how you can help reinforce basic learnings at home. Spend dedicated "homework" time with your child every night to start them on the right path of learning. Keep it positive, and reward strong focus and attention to detail. Reading Activity: Making It Fun For Kids When Kids Fail: Parents Can Help Create Learning Experience Choose the Right After-School Program Follow Your Gut Instinct In the end, parents know best for their children. If you think your child is ready, then go for it! If you have nagging doubts or have received feedback from a child's provider or pre-school teacher that your child may be too socially and academic immature to begin kindergarten, carefully consider that advice as well. The key is to make decisions that provide your child with the best chance to succeed throughout school and life, and deciding to hold or go is only one step along the way.

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Child Care: What's Hot Now: tablemanners

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tablemanners Jan 30th 2012, 11:03 Your youngsters may know how to sit still, use a napkin, and how to cut with a knife and fork, but do they really know proper table manners? The holidays, weddings, anniversary celebrations, school dances, and other social events are prime occasions for kids to demonstrate appropriate table manners. However, far too many parents somehow assume that their kids will know how to act, what to do (and not to do), and how to exhibit proper table manners--only to be embarrassed by a youngster's double-dipping, slurping, or demonstrations of finger-lickin' good! You've taught them most everything they know up to now, so take time and teach them table manners basics that will dazzle at the next occasion. Here's how to get started: Teach kids how to greet relatives and guests. Many kids simply don't know what to say or the appropriate action to take. If the occasion is at your home or you're serving as host, instruct your kids about properly opening the door and taking any coats. (Show them how to hold them and not to roll them up in a wad.) Teach them how to properly shake hands and how to appropriately hug relatives, especially elderly or individuals with disabilities. If you're serving appetizers, ask your youngsters to act as a host/hostess. Instruct them what to ask, how to not interrupt conversations, and to tell them what the choice is. If they are on the receiving end of an offering of hors d'oeuvres, be sure to tell them how to say hors du'oeuvres and what it means to avoid the normal kid reaction of "what's that?" Instruct them how to take one or how to graciously refuse. If it is an item that sounds unappetizing to a kid's palate (and many do), tell them to simply decline without offering any commentary about how it looks, smells, or seems to taste. At the table, show them how to pull out a seat for a guest and to hold it and help them scoot to the table. Boys can do this for ladies or girls, and boys or girls can do the same for older guests as a sign of respect. Teach kids how to place the napkin in the lap and how to sit up straight and near the table. Be sure to let youngsters know not to plop their elbows on the table. Practice table manners such as passing food, asking for something rather than reaching across the table to get it (and risk spilling a drink or worse), and to take only as much as they know they'll eat. The proper table manners protocol is to pass food from left to right (counterclockwise). Talk with kids about how tables are set up, where forks, knives and spoons go, why sometimes there are utensils above the plates and what particular order means (using the outside utensil first). Emphasize that proper table manners are for everyone to be served and the host/hostess to pick up a fork to begin eating. Talk about the no-no's of "double-dipping," slurping, licking fingers, or the ever-tempting dragging a finger across the side of an item to taste it (i.e. icing on the cake). Practice sitting up straight and not hunched over, and remind them to bring food from their plate to their mouth and not hunker down over it. Explain bread etiquette and how bread plates are positioned to the upper left of a dinner plate. Kids need to learn not to butter the entire piece of bread; rather, butter is placed on the bread place, and then a bite-sized piece is to be buttered only. Explain how some breads are to be "torn off" with your hands while other types may need to be cut. Younger kids won't be apt to understand the differences, but older ones should be able to make a distinction. Practice napkin use about how they should wipe their mouth appropriately, and where to put the napkin if they need to get up or go to the bathroom. Offer your kids some conversation ideas, and be sure to emphasize that they are not to talk with their mouths full or too stuff too much in their mouth, or chomp with their mouths open, or other disgusting kid habits. Kids should be reminded to eat slowly and to not gobble down their food. Use utensils and only eat with fingers if it is meant to be eaten with fingers. Explain to youngsters the difference, and how french fries are even meant to be eaten with a fork and dipped into ketchup rather than with hands during certain occasions. Tell kids to always thank the cook for the delicious meal--even if it wasn't to your youngsters. Someone put forth an effort, and kids should be taught to find at least one or two things they did like, and to praise those items in particular. Kids should stay seated until the dinner is concluded or until there becomes an obvious point where kids are being excused and going elsewhere so that adults can linger. Adults should set the stage for success through practice. A "fancy table" can be set up at home and kids can ask questions and practice so that they are comfortable and familiar enough to wow everyone with their great table manners when it truly counts!

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Child Care: What's Hot Now: Parent-Child Relationships

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Parent-Child Relationships Jan 30th 2012, 11:03 Just like with any relationship, building a positive relationship between parent and child is one that requires work and effort to make it strong and successful. Parenting is a tough job, and maintaining close relationships and open communications helps to ensure parents and their children stay connected through all ages of their upbringing. Here are 10 simple tips for enhancing the bond between parent and child. 1. Say I Love You Tell your child you love him every day -- no matter his age. Even on trying days or after a parent-child disagreement, when you don't exactly "like your child" at that moment, it is more important than ever to express your love. A simple "I love you" goes a long way toward developing and then strengthening a relationship. 2. Teach Your Faith Teach your child about your faith and beliefs. Tell him what you believe and why. Allow time for your child to ask questions and answer them honestly. Reinforce those teachings often. 3. Establish A Special Name Or Code Word Create a special name for your child that is positive and special or a secret code word that you can use between each other. Use the name as a simple reinforcement of your love. The code word can be established to have special meaning between your child and you that only you two understand. This code word can even be used to extract a child from an uncomfortable situation (such as a sleepover that is not going well) without causing undue embarrassment to the child. 4. Develop And Maintain A Special Bedtime Ritual For younger children, reading a favorite bedtime book or telling stories is a ritual that will be remembered most likely throughout their life. Older children should not be neglected either. Once children start reading, have them read a page, chapter, or short book to you. Even most teenagers still enjoy the ritual of being told goodnight in a special way by a parent--even if they don't act like it! 5. Let Your Children Help You Parents sometimes inadvertently miss out on opportunities to forge closer relationships by not allowing their child to help them with various tasks and chores. Unloading groceries after going to the store is a good example of something that children of most ages can and should assist with. Choosing which shoes look better with your dress lets a child know you value her opinion. Of course, if you ask, be prepared to accept and live with the choice made! 6. Play With Your Children The key is to really play with your children. Play with dolls, ball, make believe, checkers, sing songs, or whatever is fun and interesting. It doesn't matter what you play, just enjoy each other! Let kids see your silly side. Older kids enjoy cards, chess, computer games, while younger ones will have fun playing about anything...as long as it involves you! 7. Eat Meals As A Family You've heard this before, and it really is important! Eating together sets the stage for conversation and sharing. Turn the TV off, and don't rush through a meal. When schedules permit, really talk and enjoy one another. It can become a quality time most remembered by young and old alike. 8. Seek Out One-On-One Opportunities Often Some parents have special nights or "standing dates" with their children to create that one-on-one opportunity. Whether it is a walk around the neighborhood, a special trip to a playground, or just a movie night with just the two of you, it is important to celebrate each child individually. Although it is more of a challenge the more children in a family, it is really achievable! Think creatively and the opportunities created will be ones that you remember in the future. 9. Respect Their Choices You don't have to like their mismatched shirt and shorts or love how a child has placed pictures in his room. However, it is important to respect those choices. Children reach out for independence at a young age, and parents can help to foster those decision-making skills by being supportive and even looking the other way on occasion. After all, it really is okay if a child goes to daycare with a striped green shirt and pink shorts. 10. Make Them A Priority In Your Life Your children need to know that you believe they are a priority in your life. Children can observe excessive stress and notice when they feel you are not paying them attention. Sometimes, part of being a parent is not worrying about the small stuff and enjoying your children. They grow up so fast, and every day is special. Take advantage of your precious time together while you have it!

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Children's Books: What's Hot Now: Aesop's Fables

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Aesop's Fables Jan 30th 2012, 11:04 North - South Books, Inc. Although the history of Aesop is somewhat obscure, the fables associated with the sixth century B.C. slave in Greece have been told and retold for over 2,500 years. While dictionary definitions differ somewhat, they are generally in agreement that a fable is a brief story that illustrates a moral truth. Fables often feature animals who talk to one another and otherwise behave in a manner that would not be found in reality. The moral of the story generally appears at the end of the fable. You may not be aware that many common sayings come from Aesop's fables. "Look before you leap." "Don't put off for tomorrow what you should do today." "Appearances can be deceiving." "Slow and steady wins the race." "Don't count your chickens before they're hatched." "There are two sides to every story." There are a great many versions of Aesop's fables available. When I began looking at picture books of Aesop's fables, I found three that stood out for the quality of the illustrations and the readability of the fables. The interesting thing about the fables themselves is that they are suitable for both young and older children. While younger children will enjoy the stories and begin to grasp the moral of each story, older children will be able to relate and apply them to their own lives. With younger children, you can expect to reinforce the fables with further explanations. With older children, you can expect some lively discussions as they talk about how the moral of a particular story relates to them. In either case, the illustrations in the following picture books will add greatly to your enjoyment of Aesop's fables. Jerry Pinkney is an award winning artist, who has illustrated more than 75 children's picture books. His Aesop's Fables (compare prices) is a beautifully designed and illustrated book. The artwork ranges from thumbnail to full page in size and was created with pencil, colored pencil, and watercolors. The people in the fables represent a variety of racial and ethnic groups. With his illustrations of animals, Pinkney has an uncanny ability to express the emotions each animal is feeling. His artwork is filled with color, movement, and life. Pinkney's Aesop's Fables was published in 2000 by SeaStar Books, a division of North - South Books, Inc. The book contains more than 60 fables. Some, like "The Tortoise and the Hare," you will instantly recognize. Others, like "The Children and the Frogs," may be as new to you as they were to me. Another excellent Aesop's Fables (compare prices) for children is the one compiled by Russell Ash and Bernard Higton. It was published in 1990 by Chronicle Books. If you would enjoy seeing how a variety of nineteenth and twentieth century artists interpreted the fables, you will particularly enjoy this book. There are more than 50 fables in this collection. The illustrations represent a number of different styles and eras. The artists include many well known names: Randolph Caldecott, Arthur Rackham, Walter Crane, Milo Winter, and Alexander Calder, among others. Fulvio Testa was born in Verono, Italy. Testa's books have been translated into 13 languages and published in 17 countries. Fulvio Testa's Aesop's Fables (compare prices) has vibrant and engaging illustrations that reflect both European and Middle Eastern influences. His book was published in 1989 by Barron's. There are 20 traditional fables, each illustrated with a bordered painting that catches the essence of the fable. After reading a number of versions of Aesop's fables, I picked these three as favorites. All three contain well written versions of the fables and distinctive artwork that complements the text. I also came to the conclusion that adults as well as children should have their own copies of a picture book version of Aesop's fables and promptly bought myself a copy of Jerry Pinkney's version.

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Children's Books: Wonderstruck, A Remarkable Book

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Wonderstruck, A Remarkable Book Jan 30th 2012, 00:01 Wonderstruck, by Brian Selznick, who won the 2008 Randolph Caldecott Medal for The Invention of Hugo Cabret, is another remarkable book by the talented author and illustrator. Like Hugo Cabret, Wonderstruck is "A Novel in Words and Pictures" for middle grade readers. However, instead of one story, in Wonderstruck, Selznick tells two stories. One is set in 1977 and told in words only, and one is set 50 years earlier, in 1927, and told exclusively in illustrations until near the end of the book when the two stories come together. Brian Selznick won a 2012 Schneider Family Book Award in recognition of his "artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences" in his portrayal of each of the main characters in the two stories, a boy and a girl, both of whom are deaf. See my review of Wonderstruck for more about the book, which is 600+ pages long, with more than 450 of Selznick's dense pencil illustrations covering the pages. It's number 1 on my personal list of the Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2011. Do you have a facorite illustrated children's book that was published in 2011? If so, please click on "Comments" below and post a message about it. (Cover art courtesy of Scholastic) Subscribe to my newsletter | Follow me on Twitter | Connect with me on Facebook

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