Parenting & Child Care Blog - CareLuLu

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10 House-hold Items That Make Great Stocking Stuffers for Kids

by Evgeniya (Jen) Usmanova, Co-founder & Mom-in-Chief at CareLuLu

Last year I wrote a post about affordable items that can serve as 10 Fun Stocking Stuffers Your Kids Will Love for Under $5. That blog post got me thinking of other great gift ideas for 2014. This year I decided to come up with a list of objects that we as adults consider ordinary, but which will arouse children’s curiosity, and most importantly for us as parents, will keep them busy! ;)  Here’s my new list of household-items-turned-toys as stocking stuffers that will definitely not break your wallet!

Retractable Tape Measure Initially, your little one will be fascinated by the retractable feature of the tape, but after they understand the measuring concept behind it, they’ll be all too excited to measure the table, their toys, their sibling’s feet… you get the point. It’s also great for learning numbers! (Home Depot or Joanne’s)

Bubble Wrap This one is going to be a favorite since not only kids love to pop these things, but so do grownups! Once you start, it’s hard to stop… As you can tell, we’ve moved quite a bit this year! J (Home Depot)

Flashlight Flash lights are awesome, even grownups love them! Besides enjoying turning it on and off, children will go on explorations and pretend all sorts of things! (Dollar Store, Home Depot, Target)

Zip Lock Bags With Disney Characters Whatever it is that you put for your kids in that Frozen zip lock bag with Elsa and Anna on it is guaranteed to taste a hundred times better! (Walmart, Target or Dollar Store)

Cookie Cutters Cookie cutters are versatile, they can be used for cookies just as much as to cut playdough or trace shapes with a pencil. (Home Goods, or Target)

Water Beads Water beads come in beautiful colors and various sizes. They are great household items for plant owners who forget to water their plants regularly, or who use them when they are out of town. But water beads also make terrific toys for sensorial play. Young children can be tempted to put these babies in their mouth, so be sure to have them under constant supervision while playing with these. (Walmart or Tuesday Morning)

Colorful Rubber Bands Kids love stretchy things, remember the measuring tape? If you get them colorful rubber bands, they’ll be thrilled to stretch them, make them into a ball, or do their doll’s hair with it. (Staples)

Straws These can be colorful and bright, plastic or paper, with cute attachments and funky shapes. Your children will love them! (Target)

Umbrella Umbrellas are beautiful and children love opening and closing them, twirling, hiding behind it or putting it down on the floor and pretending it’s a little tent. It’s also quite functional on rainy days, assuming they don’t break it right away! (Target)

Chop Sticks Your kids will practice picking up all sorts of things with chop sticks. They will also function as drum sticks and  a stick to poke things.  (Amazon)

Are there any other household items that would make terrific toys?

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Introducing a New Pet to the Family

by Carly Ronayne, Blogger at CareLuLu

Bringing home a new pet is a very exciting time for your family! However, even after you have dealt with all the necessary steps prior to bringing it home, with a family there are some other things to think about. Dog or not, no matter what kind of animal it is, many of the same rules apply. Here are some things to think about prior to your new loved one’s arrival:

Be prepared to never leave a new animal alone with your children unsupervised. Dogs need time and patience to adjust to a new environment.

Do not place the responsibility of caring for the pet on your children. It is wonderful for them to learn to assist you, but children aren’t capable of the maturity required to care for all of a dog’s needs.

Set time aside to teach your children how to properly handle and respect their new dog, especially if this is your family’s first dog.

Warn your children that it may take time for the dog to warm up to being hugged and cuddled, as kids commonly like to do. If it is an older dog it may not be used to being touched, it could be startled and bite in defense.

Taking your new pet to an obedience class can be extremely helpful! It’s a great way to have your children help to train the dog as well and learn how to properly interact with it.

We hope bringing your new member of the family home is stress free and goes smoothly. Let us know what works best for you and if you come across new tips of your own, please share we’d love to hear them!

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8 Car Seat Safety Tips for Safer Travels

by Cherlyn Jenkins, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician & Creator of Cozywoggle

Did you know that there is a 75-90% misuse rate for car seats? With statistics that high the odds are that you are making at least one mistake that could compromise the safety of your child during a car accident.  This week marks Child Passenger Safety week and we would like to share 8 tips that you can use to reduce the misuse of car seats.

Read your car seat and vehicle manuals. There is a great deal of force placed on a human being during the course of an accident. Car and car seat engineers have worked to design cars and car seats to reduce those injury causing forces on the human body. The manuals are the best resource you have to make sure that you are using them together for maximum protection during an accident. Each manual is sure to contain a few facts that you didn’t know.

Make sure your child is in the right seat. The right seat is one that fits your child, fits your car, and will be used correctly each and every time. -  Your child should be within the weight and height limits of the seat. That information can be found on the stickers on the sides of the seat. Your child should be rear facing to a minimum of 2 years old, optimally until 4 years old or whenever they outgrow the rear facing limits of the seat. -  A child should remain forward facing with a harness until they outgrow the limits of their seat and/or they have the maturity to sit up properly, not lean, not reach, can stay awake for the entire ride and not slump, and meet the height and weight requirements of a booster seat. This usually occurs between the ages of 5-7. -  A child should continue to use a booster seat until the seat belt fits properly and they can sit all the way back on the vehicle seat, bend knees comfortably at the edge of the vehicle seat, the seat belt is centered over the collar bone, the lap portion of the belt is low and touching the thighs, and the child can stay seated this way for the entire ride, every ride.

Make sure the harness is in the right position. When your child is rear facing the straps should come from at or below the shoulders. When forward facing, the straps should come from at or above the shoulders. Check your child today.

The chest clip should be at arm pit level each and every time your child rides in the car.

For the harness to do its’ job, it must be snug.  Once the harness is in place, try to pinch the straps at the collar bone level. If you can pinch any slack in the harness it is too loose and needs to be tightened.

Do not place your child in their car seats with winter coats or bulky clothing. The harness will appear tight and in the event of an accident will compress leaving space between your child and the harness.

Check the installation of the seat. Put your hand on the seat near the belt path, give it a tug with the force of a firm handshake. If it moves more than an inch, the seat is too loose and needs to be reinstalled.

Top tether must be used in a forward facing position. The top tether is found at the top of the back of the car seat. Read your vehicle manual to know where in your vehicle to attach it.

This is not intended to be an exhaustive car seat safety checklist. There are many other things to be looked at to ensure the car seat is being used correctly. I suggest a visit to http://www.safekids.org/car-seat-events  to find a check- up event or tech near you to have your seat checked. One never plans on being in an accident, therefore, it is important to put your children in their car seats each and every time as if you are going to be in a car accident during that ride.

Cherlyn Jenkins is a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician who designed the Cozywoggle, a winter coat that is safe to be worn with the car seat.

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How to be involved now that my child is in preschool/daycare

by Carly Ronayne, Blogger at CareLuLu

For many full-time working parents, whose children are in day care for long stretches of the day, your child’s activities are somewhat of a mystery. How can you know what your little one has been up to? The best way to know is to get involved.

A quality daycare encourages parents their utmost involvement both at preschool/daycare and at home. The way the center is set up should reflect that and welcome you to build a sense of community there to support your child. Here are some ways to help your involvement:

Communication: Make sure that there is a reliable communication method between home and preschool/daycare. Whether it is a verbal recap of the day, a written note that is sent home with them, or an app that allows you to stay in touch, it’s important to know the highs and lows of your child’s day. Many centers have bulletin boards and weekly emails to keep parents in the loop of general information. Some child care providers are adopting new high-tech communication apps that allow them to communicate via email or text. Communication however goes both ways; make sure you are sharing relevant information with the child care provider too, like potty-training progress. If your daycare doesn’t use one  yet, talk to them about signing up with a program such as Kinderloop, that allows you to know about your child’s activities throughout the day.

Visits: Drop in occasionally, even ten minutes here and there can help you feel more in tune to what is going on. Look for child care programs that have an open-door policy. If visiting is not an option a new high-tech trend may be a good alternative, online video streaming that allows you to check on your kid any time of day. If your child care program doesn’t have video streaming, ask them about it and see if they would be open to installing one.

Committees: If there is any sort of parent committee make a conscious effort to join even if you can’t make every meeting. Joining a group of parents who are just like you can be extremely helpful and you could gain access to resources you didn’t even know were available. If your preschool/daycare doesn’t have a parent committee, start one!

Events & Activities: Ask to volunteer and offer your help at daycare. If your time doesn’t allow it, befriend a fellow parent who can volunteer and who would keep you in the loop. Also, keep in mind that many preschools and daycares organize special events in an attempt to involve not only the parents, but the entire family. It is crucial that your family makes a conscious effort to attend these fun events and open houses to support your child.

Benefits: There are endless benefits to being actively involved with where your child invests their time everyday. As a parent you can use the cognitive and behavioral strategies used by the teacher at home. When a teacher gets to know a child’s parents and family better, the teacher is able to connect better with the child, which can greatly improve their performance and attitude.

Have other suggestions, tell us how you are involved at your child’s preschool.

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DC Parents, Don't Miss the Sing, Talk & Read (STAR) Family Festival!

DC Parents, Don't Miss the Sing, Talk & Read (STAR) Family Festival!

On Saturday, September 13, round up your kids and visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library for a day of family fun, food, prizes and most importantly, free resources!

The Sing, Talk & Read (STAR) Family Festival, which will be held at 901 G St. NW, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., is part of DC Public Library’s Sing, Talk & Read DC Campaign, which encourages parents to play an active role in their child’s early education by singing, talking and reading to their babies and very young children.

This year’s festival will feature live children’s performances with Two-Time Grammy Award Winners Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, character appearances by Super Why and other surprise guests, a photo booth, free book and prize giveaways, workshops for parents, lunch and interactive crafts and games for children. To connect families to vital health and educational resources, the Library partners with other children’s organizations and D.C. agencies. The event is sponsored by Radio One, and emceed by radio personalities Shorty da Prince and Angie Ange.

This is the DC Public Library’s second annual STAR Family Festival. Last year’s event was a big success with over 400 D.C. families in attendance. For more information, visit dclibrary.org/starfestival.

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Tips for Transitioning from Preschool to Kindergarten

by Carly Ronayne, Blogger at CareLuLu

So you’ve gotten through daycare and preschool, now what? Kindergarten can be a big transition for your little one, especially if they are going from a private center to a public school. They are leaving everyone that has become familiar to them behind and have to learn how to cope with the higher demands that come along with being a kindergartener. Here are some ways to assist you as a parent in guiding them along the way:

Communicate: Make a point to talk and answer questions with them as much as possible about their new school and the transition they are making. The best thing you can do is stay positive and encourage your child to develop an eagerness to learn. You are the biggest influence in their life, so if they can sense your excitement they will follow your lead.

Familiarize: When everything is brand new, it can be very scary and intimidating. Make sure to schedule a time to tour the school and meet with their teacher beforehand. Becoming familiar with where they will be spending their days will ease their nerves. If possible, reach out to other parents in their class to set up a play date, making friends prior to their first day will make them more comfortable.

Practice: Establish a routine, have them wake up and go to bed at the time they will be for school. Do your research on the content and pace of the curriculum, have them complete readings and exercises similar to those they will be doing in class. Get a feel of what will happen at what time throughout their day and begin to prep them so there are no surprises. For example: circle time is followed by snack time and nap time is after music time.

Connect: Make a conscious effort to get involved; it is just as much your new school as it is your child’s.Join committees, even if you can’t make every meeting. Joining a group of parents who are just like you can be extremely beneficial and you could become aware of resources you wouldn’t have otherwise. Volunteer in the classroom, even if you can’t make a continuous habit out of it. It is important for your child to associate you with their new environment and you supporting them while being there is something that they will remember as they grow up. If possible, be sure to stay connected with the school’s website and social media accounts too!

Educate: There are a number of basics that your child should know before entering kindergarten. It is your job to educate them and make sure they are both aware and capable of these things. They should be able to take care of their personal needs, listen to an adult, follow directions and cooperate and play with other children both alone and in small groups.

Kindergarten readiness means making sure your child has the skills needed to be successful in school as well as working together with your child care provider and new teacher to meet your child’s social, emotional, physical and intellectual needs. Use these tips to prepare your child and be sure to let us know if you have anything to add or find something that works better!

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What's the Best Teaching Style for Your Child’s Personality?

by Sarah Boolba, Blogger at CareLuLu

We all know that children have individual personalities of their own and that everyone learns differently. Some of us are more hands on than others, some prefer the abstract world, and some would like tangible puzzles to solve. Let’s take a look at some different personality combinations in children based off of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Knowing your child's personality type will help you figure out the teaching philosophy that suits her best. After an overview of different personality traits, you'll see a list of teaching philosophy options and how they best match your child's traits.

Essentially, there are four letters that go into making up an MBTI personality type and each of these letters corresponds to one of four categories.

One can either be:         -  extroverted or introverted         -  sensing or intuitive         -  thinking or feeling         -  judging or perceiving

Extroversion, iNtuition, Thinking, and Perceiving give me my type as ENTP. But what do all of these letters mean?

Below is a list of personality traits (identified by letters), try to recognize which letter in each set describes your child best. Keep in mind that it can be very difficult to assign all four letters, so even if you can only pick one, it’s a good start!

Personality Traits

Is your child introverted or extroverted? (E) Extroversion: Extroverts tend to have a marked tendency towards interacting with and being very expressive about their thoughts and feelings; may be dramatic or over-reactive. (I) Introversion: Introverts tend to focus on an inner world; process and internalize information, will likely prefer to work alone rather than in a group; slow to approach people.

Is your child intuitive or sensing? (N) Perceive world through patterns, connections, may not always be aware; aloof. (S) Perceive world through five senses, like facts, uses common sense.

Is your child more of thinking or feeling type? (T) Things must make sense to them, may be preoccupied with winning or being right. (F) Will have a tendency to be less composed and enjoy harmony over disruption.

Is your child perceiving or judging? (J) Take information in, process it and draw conclusions, typically neater, prefer structure and regulations. Do not like fast change or unexpected routine changes. Planners. (P) Take information in and likely create with it, typically messier, and like to take their time; likes a flexible schedule.

Now that we’ve put at least a few letters together, let’s go through the different personality types.

The Rationals: Let’s keep calm and carry on

The Puzzle-Solver (INTJ) “I want to figure this problem out, no matter what.” Young INTJs are perfectionists who always wonder “why.” INTJs are independent, focused, serious and intense. When given a problem to solve, INTJ will attack it relentlessly until they understand it. They want to be intellectually stimulated and may find themselves debating with others on ideas.

The Leader (ENTJ) “I’ll show you how to do this efficiently.” Young ENTJs are systemic and concerned with being right and tend to find themselves in positions of leadership, whether they choose to be in that role or not. ENTJs are careful, orderly, and methodical. They dislike arbitrary rules and regulations.

The Scientist (INTP) “I looked to the stars and wondered how they were formed.” Young INTPs tend to keep to themselves and are typically focused on the abstract world, be it writing and literature, science, or art. They like to discover new facts and think about possibilities.

The Inventor (ENTP) “I just discovered a new mushroom!” Young ENTPs dislike following or being ordered around. They enjoy getting reactions out of people (even out of teachers) and may talk loud or fast. If a rule doesn’t make sense to them, they will likely break it and wonder why they got in trouble.

The Artisans: Let’s discover the physical world

The Tinkerer (ISTP)  “I took apart a watch today and almost got it back together.” Young ISTPs are curious problem solvers and tend to focus much on logic. They are independent, unstructured and shy, and may be easily pushed around. They tend to enjoy working with physical puzzles like Legos.

The Go-Getter (ESTP) “Look at how fast I can run!” Young ESTPs are very gregarious and frequently athletic. Although they can be extremely competitive, they also want everyone to get along even when they want an established “winner” and “loser.” They value teamwork immensely and like making an impact with their accomplishments.

The Artist (ISFP) “Sometimes, I prefer to be alone and express myself through art.” Young ISFPs tend to keep to themselves and focus on concrete forms of expression; they typically greatly enjoy finger painting, talking with one or two friends, and going on calm walks. Disharmony upsets them greatly, although they might not express their discomfort immediately.

The Impact-Seeker (ESFP) “I bet you I can squirt milk out my nose!” ESFPs are spontaneous, unstructured and flamboyant. They love to get reactions out of people and will typically be the “class clown.” They are good natured, naturally love people and focus on in-the-moment sensations. They typically prefer hands-on, creative and collaborative group activities.

The Guardians: Let’s keep order

The Dutiful (ISTJ) “But the rules say…” Young ISTJs are quiet, dutiful, and don’t like treading on toes (unless someone is doing the wrong thing). They enjoy concrete facts and specific feedback. They can be very sensitive and closed to experimenting as they tend to prefer using established methods.

The Manager (ESTJ) “This worked before, why won’t it work now?” Young ESTJs tend to adopt positions of managing others willfully. They tend to think they have the best system for doing things “right” and have a natural ability for seeing what has worked in the past and what hasn’t.

The Nurse (ISFJ) “I’ll take care of anyone, because everyone deserves to feel good.” Young ISFJs are typically very concerned with how other people feel. If another child gets hurt, an ISFJ will likely be the first to be quietly on the scene, attending to the wounds (physical or emotional). They tend to do their duty to their peers and be on their way.

The Cheerleader (ESFJ) “You can do it! I believe in you!” Young ESFJs thrive on everyone getting along harmoniously. They tend to like gossiping and can accidentally hurt other people’s feelings, although they don’t try to. When they discuss others, they view their information as factual. They like to cheer others on and see them to success.

The Idealists: Let’s keep the peace

The Protector (INFJ) “Sometimes, my fantasies seem more real than real-life.” Young INFJs are very quiet, dreamy individuals. They may not always be aware of what is going on around them because they are so focused on their individual perception of the world. They will likely develop a very strong emotional attachment to a few things and people, and protect them no matter the cost.

The People-Pleaser (ENFJ) “Let’s not fight, please.” Young ENFJs are inherent people-pleasers who do not like criticism that can be construed as offensive. They are very sensitive to others’ wants, are warm and caring, and will typically have a large circle of friends with whom they make sure to always feel comfortable and secure.

The Dreamer (INFP) “I wrote a poem for you today about my feelings.” Young INFPs are a shy, dreamy and sensitive group. They tend to be very peaceful, and prefer one-on-one contact and discussion. They like activities and communication to be consistent with their value and prefer cooperation over competition.

The Creator (ENFP) “I stapled a giraffe to some stars because maybe animals can go to space one day.” Young ENFPs tend to have a diverse, large group of friends and like to fantasize about all kinds of things. They like harmony and exploring new people. It’s been said that an ENFP has never met a stranger. They will typically use their large imaginations to create wonderful works of art.

It is important to also identify other values such as the child’s need to:

Get along with others in harmony (especially “feelers”)

Have healthy competition (commonly seen in extroverted thinkers or ExTx’s)

Have a project or puzzle-based learning environment (common in Rationals, Idealists, and Artisans)

Have a structured environment (Guardians)

Have concrete information relayed to them and sensory activities to participate in (common in Artisans and Guardians)

So now that you have (hopefully) established your child’s personality type, what method  works the best for them?

Montessori and Play-Based Methods: iNtuitives and Creative Artisans

If your child is an intuitive (INTJ, ENTP, etc.), or a creative Artisan (ISTP, ESTP, ISFP, ESFP), it is important to place them in an environment where they can solve problems at their own pace. Testing child’s capabilities through solving problems will also make them feel more accomplished.

Extroverts and introverts alike thrive in play-based environments, although introverts in particular do well as they have a high need for one-on-one contact. There is just enough interaction in a Montessori school that the young introverts will be socialized, and extroverts will be satisfied and still able to focus on work.

Academic and Traditional Methods: Guardians and Practical Artisans

Most children learn better through play and hands-on activities than through rigid learning; however, there are benefits to the more traditional styles of learning for SJs (ESTJs, ISFJs, etc.), who like order, structure, and predictability. Some SPs (ISTPs, ESFPs, etc.), who are concrete, factual learners may also benefit from traditional academic methods.

This particular method has a lot of stability (which is necessary for the young Guardian to feel secure) and has enough practical application that all sensors (ESFPs, ISTJs, ISTPs, etc.), will feel a degree of satisfaction. It is important to remember that Artisans can fall into either category of method, and it is important to establish whether they are more creative and hands-on or practical and factual.

Remember that every child is an individual, and that it is important to take the time to assess their individual needs and wants. As a parent, it can be hard to understand a child who is very different from you, but hopefully the information provided in this post will help you better assess your child and put them into a learning environment that will allow them to learn the best while still enjoying themselves.

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How to Announce to Your Child They'll be a Big Brother or Sister!

by Carly Ronayne, Blogger at CareLuLu

As you have more kids there is added fun in announcing it to your children. This is an exciting time for you and your family, so throughout all the craziness and remember to enjoy it! Here are a few of our favorite ideas in breaking the news to the kiddies.

 Apparel That Says It All Giving them something to wear is a great idea because they will love to show it off to all their friends and family! For your daughter you could either make or purchase a t-shirt that says, “I’m The Big Sister” and for your son a baseball hat that reads “#1 Big Brother!”

A “Sweet” Surprise Yummy treats are always a good idea for any occasion. You could make a cake, a giant cookie, cupcakes or their favorite candy. You could write a message in frosting or color them pink and blue and have them try to guess what they mean.

Not Your Average Greeting Card Create a card with the sonogram picture on the inside with a special message like, “I can’t wait to meet you! Love, your little brother or sister.” Tell them you have a card for them from someone special and watch them light up as they read it!

A Special Celebrity Appearance This one requires a little more creativity, but anything that includes music is instantly more fun. Making a music video for your kids would be a blast that no one would forget! Take a fun song, tweak the lyrics and record a short video. Be careful if you do it as well as these parents you may have some paparazzi in the near future!

Ultimately it doesn’t matter how you tell them, all that really matters is that your family is growing! It is important that your children know they are not being replaced and that they are just as much a part of this as you are. Don’t forget to record their reaction, it’s a priceless moment you are going to want to look back on!

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4th of July Family Fun

by Carly Ronayne, Blogger at CareLuLu

It’s almost that time of the summer again when fireworks and red, white, and blue take over! With young kids your plans may have changed a little since when you were young but we’ve got you covered on all the family- appropriate fun there is to be had!

A Colorful Breakfast Start your independence day off together in the kitchen to fill your tummies with American goodness! Get the kids involved and let them help make their own breakfast. Be sure to stock the house before with all the ingredients you’ll need for patriotic parfaits and yummy red, white, and blue pancakes that everyone will love!

A Patriotic Puzzle Educate your little ones on the importance of this holiday while they have fun helping you put the pieces together. Purchase a puzzle of the 50 states or cut out the shapes and make your own! Puzzles are a great memory game for kids and it’s a cool way to show them what the 4th of July is all about.

A Very American Bike Ride Grab the neighborhood kids and tell them to bring their bikes! Have a decorating party in the garage or have everyone decorate their bikes at home and then meet for a 4th of July parade! Get creative, think streamers, painted cans, balloons, Christmas lights -- anything goes!

Get Your Red, White & Blue Groove On Not all songs about America are boring, pick up or download a fun mix to jam out to! The Wee Sing series is always a hit with the young ones and you’ll like it too. So what are you waiting for? Bust a move!

4th of July Movie Time Settle down after an eventful day before watching some fireworks with a cozy movie night. Grab a family appropriate film like Disney’s American Legends, and some popcorn, dim the lights and dive right in!                                                                       

Whatever you decide to do this holiday weekend, remember it’s not about what you’re doing, it’s about the memories you’re making! Have a blast celebrating your independence and don’t forget to tell us how you spent your 4th of July with your family!

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Child Care Centers Go Green: How to choose a healthy environment for your kids

by Carly Ronayne, Blogger at CareLuLu

Going “green” and becoming more sustainable has grown to become an attractive and popular trend for many companies and organizations. Not only is it great for the environment, but those things that are harmful to the environment can also be unsafe for your children. When looking for childcare, things like wall paints, pest control practices and cleaning supplies are likely the last to cross your mind.  However, making sure that your center of choice is conscious of these things is important.

Put your mind to ease and assure that you are dropping your little ones off somewhere that will help them grow and keep them healthy. Here’s a list of things to consider:

Flooring: Believe it or not, area rugs on hardwood floors are much better than wall-to-wall carpeting, especially if infants or toddlers are spending lots of time on the ground. The glue that is used to seal carpets can be toxic.

Wall paint: If a building is particularly old, it may contain lead paint. It isn’t harmful unless it is peeling or chipping, but it is something to keep in mind.

Aerosols: These chemicals linger in the air and can be bad for children’s lungs. Direct sprays or wipes are a much safer alternative, even better inquire about the products the center uses and suggest that they be eco-friendly!

Cleaning Supplies: Cleaning supplies that are green can greatly improve indoor air quality. Floor polish, bleach and other common cleaners can contain dangerous chemicals and fragrances.

Activities: Many centers and preschools are integrating eco-fun lessons into everyday activities. There are an endless amount of possibilities when it comes to these activities and the more creative the better. For example, children could learn a song about butterflies and then craft them out of sustainable materials while learning about their habitat and how they can help the planet.

Meals and Snacks: A great way to enforce healthy habits at a young age is to allow the children to be hands on. Local farms can deliver organic produce and the children can learn to identify them and help wash them.

Waste: An average school generates 99 pounds of waste per student every school year. Schools and centers should be conscious of their carbon footprint and recycling.

Kids are never too young to learn how to appreciate and care for the environment. A nontoxic learning and play space is important, so send your children to the healthy environment that they deserve.

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Great Father’s Day Ideas

by Carly Ronayne, Blogger at CareLuLu

As I was checking out the greeting card aisle, searching for the perfect Father’s Day card, I came upon a particular realization.  I picked up one after another that looked just like the last and I realized that society has completely conditioned us into associating our fathers with ties, a symbol that strictly reflects the working world and yet has nothing to do with what the holiday is actually about, family

We are accustomed to believe that ties, cufflinks and another pair of socks are the way to Dad’s heart, but what if what he really desires is something that costs less money and requires more thought? A present and a card will never compensate for quality time with the man who brought you into this world. Here are a couple ideas to get your wheels turning.

Dad’s Favorite Things Have the kids brainstorm what he enjoys most. Is he obsessed with hockey? Does he constantly crave pepperoni and ham pizza? Is he a movie guru? Does he love to jam out to AC/DC and Rick Springsteen? Make today all about Dad, play his favorite radio station, prepare his favorite foods, go see the movie he has been dying to see and let him know how well you really know him.

A Breath of Fresh Air Take the family bounding outside! Get some fresh air and take advantage of what’s right outside your door. Play catch, have a picnic, make a tree house, shoot some hoops, go fishing, cover the driveway in sidewalk chalk or make a mini golf course in your backyard and have Dad help you with your swing. These days no one gets outside enough, take advantage of the day and make some memories in the great outdoors.

Guy’s Night All men love time with their friends. Have the kids help arrange a night strictly for him and his boys. Get in touch with his friends’ families and have everyone work together to make their special night a success!

Take Me Out To the Ballgame If Dad’s a sports fanatic what better way to celebrate him than by planning a trip to one of his favorite games? Get out of the house and spend time bonding over peanuts and Ballpark hotdogs. Even if you can’t make it to an actual game, you could always pretend by throwing on a jersey and watching the game at home on the big screen!

Remember that this day is not about competing and trying to outdo each other, it’s about appreciation and recognition. Whatever you decide to do, if it’s done with your whole heart he’s bound to love it. Let us know how you spent your Father’s Day and how much fun you had with dad!

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Why Choose a Montessori Preschool?

by Sarah Boolba, Blogger at CareLuLu

Typical care times: 9am - 12:30pm, with afternoon or evening care Ages: 3-5 years old, preferably potty trained Philosophy: "Play is a child's work"

Overview If you’re starting to look for a preschool, you have undoubtedly come across the highly popular Montessori program, but what exactly is it? The Montessori method of teaching was developed in the early part of the 20th century by Maria Montessori of Rome who developed a method of teaching that places a great deal of emphasis on individual-based creative, hands-on learning and student independence, all while allowing the students to be academically stimulated.

In a Montessori program, kids ranging in age from 3-5 all share the same room, with the older kids acting as role models for their younger peers. The students will typically have the same teacher (or “guide” as they are frequently known in Montessori schools) for several years which allows students to develop a closer relationship with their instructor.

Why do parents choose Montessori? There are many reasons parents might choose Montessori, including:

Children develop independence, leadership skills, and self-esteem

Learning happens naturally and at the child's own pace

Teachers act as guides for the children, as opposed to strict authority figures

Children can work in small groups

Special needs children tend to do well in a Montessori setting because they receive special, individually-tailored attention

Students are able to study materials in a way that works with their individual style of learning. For instance, a student may be asked if he is ready for a particular task or lesson at hand. Children can also choose what kind of work they would like to do.

Montessori is a great method for establishing independence and well-roundedness.

The Teacher's Role As mentioned earlier, the teacher is not so much a strict authority figure in a Montessori school as a guide for the child's learning and understanding. Teachers allow children to make their own choices and encourage them to be responsible and independent by preparing their own snacks, pouring themselves milk, and looking after their belongings.

  Academics in Montessori In a Montessori classroom, a strong emphasis is put on the academics. If your child is in a Montessori program you can expect them to:

Learn at their own pace:In the classroom, toys and learning materials are arranged such so that a child can see all the possible options and select a task according to his interests. As a result, each child learns at his own pace.

Develop independence: Aside from cultivating creative problem-solving skills, a child in a Montessori program will also develop skills to help them practically and academically. Students learn how to look after themselves by having to go through routine activities such as cleaning up, putting on their own coats, and going to the bathroom without assistance.

Gain sensory awareness: Instead of simply intellectually knowing something, a child in a Montessori program will also feel, smell, taste, hear, or touch what they are learning about.

Develop language abilities: Children will learn how to express their thoughts and feelings with their words, and are given the tools to understand written language and grammar through activities which teach them to recognize letters.

Understand math concepts: Mathematics and geometry are also taught with the hands-on method. Rather than memorizing numbers, a student may be given tangible objects or manipulatives that represent different numerical values.

Appreciate cultures: Finally, students are also taught to understand and appreciate different elements of culture and aspects of other places, such as studying places where different animals live, or cultural subjects such as the science, art, music, and history.

If you are in the Washington DC area and are looking for a great program that exemplifies all of the best qualities of a Montessori school, then check out The Boyd School of Reston. This school has a beautiful learning environment with plenty of open space for the students to learn and play in. Lead teachers have over 10 years of experience and provide children with an exciting, hands-on learning environment. The Boyd School is one of only a few schools in the DC metro area that have undertaken getting an AMS accreditation (American Montessori Society). Learn more here.

Do you know of other terrific Montessori programs? Tell us!

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7 Fun Ideas for Memorial Day Staycation

by Carly Ronayne, Blogger at CareLuLu

We hope you are just as excited as we are to officially kick off the summer with some family fun this Memorial Day. If going away for the weekend isn’t feasible this year, we’ve got you covered! We have some fun, inexpensive ways for you to celebrate patriotically with your kids.

Young Picassos:  Educate your little ones on why we have this holiday in the first place. Explain to them its purpose and whom we are honoring. Print off coloring pages such as this one of a U.S. Marine or the American flag, for the kids to decorate while they learn and then hang them up around the house!

Sharing is Caring: It is so important that we set the best example for our kids and show them what it means to be a good citizen. This is a perfect opportunity to give back and support your troops! Put together a care package to send to a deployed solider that isn’t able to spend the holiday with loved ones. Include items like snacks, toiletries, and thoughtful notes written by the entire family. Visit Any Soldier for more information.

Backyard Water Park: Grab the sunscreen and the hose and transform your backyard into a waterpark, without the cost or the crowd. Have the kids help design their personal park and set it up. Think slip –n- slides, sprinklers, water balloons, water guns, a kiddie pool, and obstacle courses. The whole neighborhood will be jealous of your water park that has all the fun, without the lines!

Living Room Luau: Choose a theme for your family fun and decorate the house and yourselves (yes the dog too!) to give it the full effect. Allow the kids to help in creating a VIP guest list and invite cousins, neighbors and friends to come celebrate with you. Have everyone bring a different appetizer or dish to pass and encourage everyone to dress up by having a costume contest! Whether you’re jetting off to Hawaii for a luau, blasting off to the moon, diving deep down underwater or jumping right into the set of your kids’ favorite movie, it is sure to be a Memorial Day no one will forget.

Memorial Day Olympics:  Divide adults and kids up evenly into separate teams and have them compete in a number of events like a sand castle contest, a sack race, a three-legged race, a tug-of-war tournament and different relay races for some fun and friendly competition.

Outdoor Theater: When the sun goes down and it’s time to relax, turn your backyard into your own personal theater. Make some popcorn, grab some blankets and use a projector or an old TV to wind down the kids with a family appropriate film.

Whether you decide to extend an invitation to the entire neighborhood or keep it just in the family, take advantage of your time off and make it a holiday full of memories you and your kids will never forget! Tell us how you celebrate Memorial Day with your family!

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Is Daycare Bad for Kids?

by Raquel Anderson, EdD, LMHC, NCC , Behavioral Health Specialist at Bundoo

For years, parents have debated what seems like a simple enough question: is daycare bad for kids? Unfortunately, there is still no definitive on the long-term effects of daycare, but there are steps parents can take to give their children the best daycare experience.

The research so far on the effects of daycare has been mixed. Children in daycare have been shown to demonstrate better language and cognitive skills, and they seem to do better academically during the early school years than children who never attended daycare. Furthermore, if the home setting is stressful or unstructured, attending a daycare can offer more opportunities to learn and socialize with their peers. On the other hand, there is some evidence that kids who receive 30 or more hours per week of non-parental care may be more likely to exhibit stress-related behavioral problems like aggression and disobedience. Hyperactivity is also sometimes linked to children in day care settings.

Some parents keep their kids home out of guilt, thinking it’s better for them to care for their children than anyone else. But you should be aware that even if you work from home, it may not be in your child’s best interest to keep them home. Being home and bored is not necessarily better than allowing a very qualified childcare provider to care for your child in the busy hours of your day.

So what's a concerned parent to do? First, it's nearly impossible to make across-the-board conclusions about the long-term impact of daycare. Each child is unique, and parents—even those who rely heavily on outside help—play the most significant role in a child's development.

All daycare providers are not created equal either, and research consistently shows that children who receive "high quality" care fare best. There is solid evidence to support the idea that spending substantial time in a good daycare program has little bearing on whether a child will exhibit problems like defiance and restlessness.

Although quality can be subjective, there are steps parents can take to help them choose the best possible option for their children. When you're considering a daycare facility, pay attention to the caregiver-to-child ratio, the caregiver's level of education, and whether the center is accredited by a group such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children or the National Association of Family Child Care. You should also look for a provider who is friendly; prompts communication by talking, singing, and asking questions; and encourages the kids in the group to laugh, play, and interact with each other. 

Raquel Anderson, Bundoo Behavioral Health Specialist, has 14 years of experience as a mental health provider in institutional and private practice. Aside from her work with Bundoo, she is an advisory board member for the Mental Health Association of Palm Beach County’s Be Merge Initiative and is a contributing author to Raising Boys with ADHD.

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Gift Ideas for Child Care Provider Appreciation Day

by Sarah Boolba, Blogger at CareLuLu

Provider appreciation day is here Friday! Founded in 1996, Provider Appreciation Day is a good way to show your child’s caregivers and teachers just how much you appreciate them. Being a teacher takes a lot of effort, and many of them see your child more than you do. This May, you can show your child’s teachers how much you appreciate their efforts.

Some parents don’t quite know which teacher to buy gifts for or who to show their appreciation towards: lead teacher, assistant teacher, preschool director, and the list goes on! The best rule of thumb, to avoid hurting any feelings, is to get all of your child’s teachers something. You can always do something extra special for a teacher that has had a significant impact on your child and their education. Below are some ideas for what to do for your child care provider on their special day.

Include your child. Your child probably appreciates their teacher greatly. Having them decorate a card, draw a picture, or deliver gifts to their teachers can be a great way for both you and your child to show appreciation for all the hard work that goes into educating children.

Have your child deliver snacks to the teachers to celebrate

Take time to paint or draw with your child

Make a CD of different songs for the teacher to play during class time that both the teacher and the students will enjoy

Decorate and personalize a coffee cup sleeve

Buy Providers Necessities. Bringing functional gifts is a good way to show appreciation. It can be as simple as replenishing the paint and art supplies closet. You could even create or buy some games for the classroom that your kid and their peers can play with. Some things teachers may need include:

paint or other art supplies

printer paper & printer ink

wall decorations

pens and pencils

books for the classroom

Work with other parents. If you’d like to get something a bit pricey, try pooling together some money to give your provider a paid day off, or money for a nice dinner. Gift cards are also a great treat. You can even get a gift for the teachers that centers around their interests or hobbies. Some examples of things to to with other parents include:

Dedicate a day for you and other parents to help organize and clean the classroom

Bring “breakfast buckets” with the teachers’ favorite foods or drinks

Create a basket of nice materials the teachers can use on a daily basis

Pool money together for a useful gift card to a place like Amazon, Target, or a school-supply store

Remember, it’s the thought that counts. You don’t have to buy expensive presents to show that you appreciate your child’s teacher and the work they do. Cards and handwritten notes are a very simple, affordable, yet powerful way to show appreciation. Take some time to personalize them and show that you are sincere in your sentiments.

Tip: maybe your child’s teacher has a particular theme they really like (such as ocean themes, Dr. Seuss themes, bird themes, etc.). To add an extra degree of thought into the project, try to make it centered around a theme you know they would particularly enjoy.

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What Moms Really Want For Mother’s Day

by Evgeniya (Jen) Usmanova, Co-founder & Mom-in-Chief at CareLuLu

Of all the privileges that come with being a woman, the greatest of them is to be a mother.  There are no existing words to describe the bond between a mother and her child.  Mother’s Day comes only once every 365 days and every mother deserves to feel special and appreciated.

To many people, Mother’s Day equals dollar signs, but buying expensive things isn’t the only way to show Mom you love her.  Mothers want something that will stay alive long after the day has passed.  So Dad, if you are struggling to come up with what the kids can do for Mom this year here are some gift ideas that will last a lifetime, both in her heart and memory:

A Clean House: Moms slave away to keep the house clean on a daily basis, it’s the least you can do for one day.  Have the kids help do the dishes; do the laundry and you want to make her really happy? Three little words- not “I love you” but ”Clean your rooms.”

A Meal Cooked for Her: She’s constantly in the kitchen, allow the roles to reverse and let Mom sit back and relax today while you make her favorite meal. What a concept, right?

A Homemade Coupon Book: Print out coupons with different things that Mom can use later on like “mom’s chore of choice” or “special helper for the day” and then have the kids decorate them!

Peace and Quiet: Twenty-four hours of no fighting, no whining and nothing but kind words said to each other. If you have nothing nice to say then don’t say anything at all, this one will go farther than you think.

You: She loves you! Spend quality, uninterrupted time with her. Be silly, laugh and let her know how important she is!

The love a mother has for her children is endless; give her something this Mother’s Day that fails to end too.