Tag Archives: live in childcare

Don’t forget the sunscreen!

 

Americans take suncare for children VERY seriously.  Take time to learn these sun safety tips and prevent sunburn.

APPLY SUNSCREEN DAILY. Kids will fuss when you try to apply sunscreen.  Remember, you are the adult in charge and responsbile for their well being.   Apply sunscreen daily.

REMEMBER EASY-TO-MISS SPOTS. The most vulnerable parts of the body are often the ones that get overlooked when applying sunscreen. To make sure your kids are covered, teach them “BEENS.” This useful acronym stands for Back of knees, Ears, Eye area, Neck, and Scalp (if visible).   Bottom line: For a handy reminder, write “BEENS” on your sunscreen bottles.

BE GENEROUS.   We may all use sunscreen, but most of us aren’t putting on enough.  If you apply a third of the recommended dose of SPF 30 product, the protection is more like SPF 10.  Bottom line:Adults should apply an ounce (about a handful; see above), and kids half that much, of a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every two hours, and more frequently if they’re swimming or sweating.

COVER UP. To avoid burns when the sun is strongest (between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.), take frequent shade breaks, wear a UV-protective shirt while swimming, and use a sunscreen with zinc oxide.  Bottom line: You probably can’t keep kids out of the mid-day sun completely, so it’s important to be all the more vigilant about protection during those hours.

SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR YOUR KIDS. If your child sees you following sun-safety rules, he’ll take them for granted and follow suit. Skin protection is important for every member of the family, so team up with your children to stay protected when venturing out in the sun.  Trust me, you will be thankful when you are 40 years old you applied sunscreen.

Photo from channel3000.com

Let’s visit the library!

Image may contain: 3 people, people smiling, people sitting, tree, child and outdoor

If you have not visited the library with your children, this would be a great week to do it. Check out books to read with your children and find out when the library offers story hour or other special activities for children. Help older children to discover research opportunities to help them with their homework.

Check out local library news at  http://www.librarypoint.org/

Dinosaurs in Culpepper?

 

Triassic Culpeper: The Dinosaurs of Stevensburg

Trek through Culpeper’s Triassic period with the dinosaurs.

Learn about our dinosaurs, their habitat, and the science of Paleontology.

Examine a locally excavated pair of 215 million year old tracks.

M U S E U M   O F   C U L P E P E R  H I S T O R Y      803 South Main Street       Culpeper, VA 22701        540-829-1749

www.culpepermuseum.com

Hours:   Monday through Saturday 10am to 5 pm      Sunday 1pm to 5 pm

Explore the outdoors

bug on handPhoto by D Sharon Pruitt

It is great to see the world through the eyes of children.  There are simple things in day to day life that can be a thrill for young children.  Below are a few ideas to get you started thinking.  Try to take time for them to marvel at the world and see new things.

  • A car wash (the drive through kind or a bucket and a water hose in the driveway at home)
  • Parking on the street near a construction site to watch the big trucks
  • Feeding ducks bread at the park
  • Collecting leaves, pinecones and rocks
  • Driving across a bridge where they can see the water
  • Driving past a place where you can see animals
  • Any place that has something out of the ordinary, like a fountain or sculpture

 

Building positive self esteem in your children

Most American parents want their children to be independent and responsible, and have a positive image of themselves. A child’s self image is based on how the child sees himself or herself. This is called self-esteem. It is defined by the judgments children make about their own self worth. Self-esteem can be positive or negative. In America, positive self-esteem is very important.

A child may have positive or high self-esteem at different points in his/her life and negative or low self-esteem at other times. Most preschool-aged children typically have very high self-esteem. As children get older, their peers become more critical of each other and can affect a child’s self-esteem. As children move into the elementary school and middle school their self-esteem can decrease for a period of time due to the criticism from their friends.

There are several ways for parents and au pairs to build positive self-esteem in children and have them feel good about themselves. The suggestions include:

  1. Providing warmth, support and praise
  2. Using positive discipline
  3. Being responsive to a child’s needs
  4. Having reasonable, age-appropriate expectations of a child
  5. Developing and enforcing consistent limits
  6. Providing opportunities for a child to make choices
  7. Providing opportunities for a child to explore, investigate and problem-solve
  8. Encouraging a child to be responsible for their actions
  9. Expressing interest in a child and his or her activities.
  10. Helping a child handle disappointment and failure.
  11. Providing opportunities for a child to succeed.
  12. Providing opportunities for a child to help other people.

Take time to read a book today!

It is never too early to start reading to children.  Children of all ages enjoy having stories read to them.  Reading, cuddling up on a couch or reading before a child takes a nap or goes to sleep at night, is comforting for the child.  This special time together builds a bond, take the time to read to the children in your life.

  • Read slowly, this gives children time to think about what you are reading.
  • Change your voice for different characters, or read in a softer voice from some characters, louder for others.   A sing song voice is fun for young children.
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  • Share a picture book with a child and have them tell you a story from the pictures!
  • Read every day!
  • Children have favorites, so don’t worry if they want the same story every day, but add a few others so they can develop new favorites.
  • Talk about the story, ask the children what was their favorite part.  Let them share the story back to you or their parents!
  • Do arts and crafts about the story.  Have them draw you a picture about the story.
  • If the children are old enough to read themselves, have them read you a story.  Alternate, you read, they read.  This will encourage them to read more!
  • Have fun, read stories about subjects you and the children enjoy!
  • Turn off the TV and computer and read!

 

Celebrate National Bubble Day!

Celebrate National Bubble Day! Kids and adults of all ages enjoy the colors, shapes and possibilities of bubbles.

Create a beautiful portrait or just make homemade bubbles for an afternoon of fun and adventure.

Bubble Burst Paintings

Blowing bubbles never seems to lose its charm for little kids, but here’s a colorful way to make a good thing even better. To start, stir 2 tablespoons of tempera paint or 15 drops of food coloring into a 1/2-cup of bubble solution. Then tape a large piece of paper to a fence or between two trees and have your child blow the bubbles against it. The end result will likely be more about the process than the final product, but he’ll love watching the bubbles hit the paper and burst into vibrant circles and splatters.

Homemade Bubble Recipe

This recipe is a winner. It’s easy to mix up–and inexpensive to boot. Simply stir together 6 parts water, 2 parts Joy dishwashing liquid (this brand works the best), and 3/4 part corn syrup. Store in a covered container.

Have your kids try experimenting with a variety of homemade bubble wands: pipe cleaners bent into interesting shapes, cookie cutters, yogurt lids with the centers cut out, and so on. For a giant bubblemaker, cut off the top and bottom of a large metal can with a can opener and hammer the inside edges until they are smooth (a parent’s job). Dip either end in the solution and wave through the air.

For more fun, try these additional bubble-making techniques.

Welcome winter!

Animals handle cold winter weather in a variety of ways. Some travel to a warmer climate. Others grow thicker fur coats so they can stay warm and active during the winter. Many animals hibernate during the coldest weather – they spend the warmer months eating and storing as much body fat as they can and then live off this extra weight as they sleep. Learn about hibernation as winter starts:

At the library!

  • The Story of Jumping Mouse: A Native American Legend by John Steptoe
  • Time to Sleep by Denise Fleming
  • When Will It Be Spring? By Catherine Walters
  • The Valentine Bears by Eve Bunting
  • Bearymore by Don Freeman
  • Bernard Bear’s Amazing Adventure by Hans de Beer
  • Wake Me in Spring by James Preller
  • Every Autumn Comes the Bear by Jim Arnosky
  • Chipmunk Song by Joanne Ryder

Play “hibernation” – pretend to be one of the animals you have researched. Curl up and “sleep,” then wake up HUNGRY for snack time!

Why should you choose an au pair?

Tips for Host Families

Why do families choose to use the services of an au pair? There are lots of reasons.

First of all, au pairs provide experienced, loving, live-in childcare. Every au pair has hours and hours of experience caring for children. Families can look at their applications and see exactly what ages and what kind of care and match that experience with their needs.

Second, au pairs bring cultural awareness and diversity to American families. Many families enjoy learning about different cultures and traditions. It is also common for people to want their children to be comfortable with people of different backgrounds, particularly in today’s international business world.

Third, au pairs can be much more economical than traditional childcare, particularly for families with multiple children.

Au pairs coming through Au Pair in America are carefully vetted, go through a state-of-the-art orientation upon their arrival in the US, and have ongoing, local support in the person of a local Community Counselor. The CC also provides ongoing support to the host families from their initial contact with the agency, through the selection process, and during the year. Our counselors have an average of about 12 years experience and are very familiar with the visa requirements, the educational opportunities in the area, and how to deal with possible issues, such as homesickness. The agency provides health insurance and liability insurance, and 24 hour emergency support.

Having live-in childcare is definitely not the right option for every family, but if your family is considering it, look into having an au pair. It could be the answer you’re looking for!