February 2020

Quality daycare learning activities set a lifelong foundation for well-being and success.

We often hear or see in the media that children are not getting enough physical activity these days. Some spend most of their time playing computer games and watching YouTube videos instead of enjoying the beautiful weather outside. But what does being “physically active” mean for infants, toddlers and preschoolers?

[button text=”Book a Free Tour” color=”alert” style=”shade” size=”larger” radius=”10″ depth=”4″ depth_hover=”5″ expand=”0″ link=”https://inquiry.discoveryvillagecenter.com/landing-ld-gen-ppc-tarrytown-v1?utm_medium=PPC&utm_source=outbrain&utm_campaign=signups&utm_content=—-kw-learningactivitiesblog-pos-tp-lt-btn-msg–img-carousel-cta-signup” class=”tour”]

Daycare learning activities nurture children’s development.

For young children, physical activity does not mean lifting weights in the gym and running for 15 minutes on the treadmill. It is about active play and having the opportunity to move and explore their environment. A child’s physical activity will vary depending on their age and development. For instance, infants can move around through supervised, floor-based play during the day. Tummy time can also help them strengthen their muscles needed to crawl and walk. While toddlers still need supervision they are able to walk or even run as you chase them around your home.

Aside from physical activities, it is also essential to develop children’s cognitive and social skills. Quality daycare learning activities powerfully support that development. If you are a parent who is about to enter the workforce and wants their child to learn and grow while you are away, it is time to consider enrolling your little one in a daycare center – and there is no need to feel guilty about it. Daycare does not only give parents the time they need to provide for the family; it also allows children to hone their creative juices and social skills. That is why parents and early childhood educators must choose the right activities, so that young children can develop to their full potential.

5 Simple Kids’ Activities to Try at Home

You can only let your child run through the grass and sprinklers so many times before they get bored. During early childhood, kids are willing to try new activities. If you’re looking for new exercise for your child to enjoy, let them explore the world around with these hands-on activities designed to engage and excite your little learner.

Painting with Bubbles

Your kids will have a blast combining colors, blowing bubbles and making imaginative prints with this bubble painting activity. To begin, you will need small plastic containers, non-toxic tempera paint in different colors, liquid dish soap, water, plastic straws and a piece of paper. Mix your paint with a little water, stir in a squirt of dish soap, then put the straw into the mixture and blow to create lots of bubbles. Gently press the paper over the bubbles and watch how it will leave swirly patterns and splatters on the paper.

Doing this activity will not only bring out the creative side of your child; they also get to explore the properties of bubbles and build oral motor strength through controlled blowing.

Sink or Float Experiment

The sink or float experiment is a play-based learning activity that will encourage kids to observe and predict whether the object floats or sinks. Start by grabbing several objects with varying weights and materials as well as a large container to fill with water. Let your child drop the objects one at a time and guess if they will float or sink. This experiment is a fun way to explain density to children.

Musical Activities

Like all early learning experiences, musical activities promote development in many domains. Imagine six toddlers banging on different musical instruments; it is a team effort that can nurture cooperation and build positive peer relationships. Not only will they learn rhythm, they will be encouraged to share and take turns. Passing instruments will get them to feel the beat as their rattles go “chicka chicka,” and their little drums go “boom chicka boom.”

Learn about Recycling

As parents and educators, it is essential to teach children the importance of taking care of the earth. You can set up a recycling center where children can learn how to reduce, reuse and recycle. It will provide an opportunity for them to learn where the products came from and how they can reuse them. If you are a teacher, you can invite the kids to bring in some disposable household materials to combine with items in the classroom and transform them into creative art projects.

Dressing Up Role Play

Every child needs an engaging and fun way to learn. Role-playing activities will deliver just that. It is an activity where kids use their imaginations, gain confidence, build vocabulary skills and develop ideas about how the world works. With dress-up play, your child can be anyone – from a superhero to a doctor, a fashion model to a policeman, even a princess or a frog!

These activities will keep your little ones entertained, especially if you have a budding Picasso on your hands or the next Albert Einstein. Don’t let your child miss out on the fun! Choose a daycare center that combines different fun activities with an educational twist that will benefit them in the long run; choose Discovery Village Center! If you have questions, visit our website and don’t hesitate to call us at (914) 631- 1009!

[button text=”Book a Free Tour” color=”alert” style=”shade” size=”larger” radius=”10″ depth=”4″ depth_hover=”5″ expand=”0″ link=”https://inquiry.discoveryvillagecenter.com/landing-ld-gen-ppc-tarrytown-v1?utm_medium=PPC&utm_source=outbrain&utm_campaign=signups&utm_content=—-kw-learningactivitiesblog-pos-bt-lt-btn-msg–img-carousel-cta-signup” class=”tour”]

Kids are energetic, unpredictable and curious. Whether they are under the care of a small in-home provider, a large daycare center or even in their own home, countless dangers are around every corner. However, one of the most common risks for children is food allergies.

Food allergies are on the rise and have been for some time. It can be frightening to see a child’s face swell and realize that they are having an allergic reaction. The reaction is a result of the body’s immune system thinks that a particular food product is harmful. When someone has a food allergy, the body reacts by releasing chemicals, including histamine, when exposed to that food. These chemicals trigger allergic symptoms which range from mild to life-threatening.

You have spent their early years protecting your child from allergy-causing foods. However, as they grow and become more sociable, you will realize how challenging it is to keep your child away from food allergies at school or camp. After all, you can’t be with your child 24/7.

If your child does have food allergies, the idea of sending them to childcare centers can make you feel scared and nervous. Therefore, it is essential to choose a child care facility that knows how to deal with food allergies and can recognize a reaction since some children don’t know how to explain what is happening to them.

What foods often cause allergic reactions?

A child can be allergic to any food. However, the most common food allergens include eggs, cow’s milk, peanuts, wheat, fish, shellfish, soy and tree nuts. Peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, and fish are usually the most life-threatening allergies that cause severe reactions. Some schools even implement “Peanut-free” policies to avoid the grave implications of peanut exposure to peanut-allergic students.

There is still no medication to treat food allergies. All you can do is avoid the foods that trigger the allergic reaction. However, avoiding the allergen altogether is not always possible, especially when caring for young children.

You can treat mild to moderate allergic reactions, including diarrhea, eczema and hives with antihistamines or topical steroids. For severe reactions, such as loss of consciousness, shortness of breath and chest pain, inject epinephrine to keep the blood pressure up. If an epinephrine injection is necessary, but the child does not have an epi-pen take the child to an emergency room or call 911 immediately.

5 Ways to Protect Your Child from Allergic Reactions

Anyone working with young kids should know about the basics of allergic reactions. If you are entrusting your child to a childcare center, make sure that your chosen provider knows how to identify and respond to an allergic reaction. Of course we would rather there be no allergic reaction in the first place, so here are five ways to avoid an allergy trigger:

Read the label

When grocery shopping, it is essential to read the label of every product you buy, especially as a parent or a caregiver. The innocent-looking fruit roll up might have trace amounts of common allergens, so check the ingredient lists and advisory statements like “may contain peanuts” or “processed in a shellfish facility.” Moreover, if you encounter a product without an ingredient list, do not buy it – it is not worth the risk.

Make a list

If your child has food allergies, make a list of what they can and cannot eat. You can also request a letter from your child’s doctor that outlines their food allergy triggers, ways to avoid these allergens, along with medications and treatments in case of an allergic reaction. Having this handy list can be a lifesaver, especially if your child is in a childcare center.

Determine the symptoms of food allergies

Since no two people react the same way to foods, it is challenging to determine food allergies. What’s tolerable to some might be a nightmare to others. Therefore, knowing the traditional symptoms can go a long way. If your child experiences diarrhea, hives, vomiting, difficulty in breathing, swelling of the mouth, tongue or lips, or sudden blood pressure drop, it’s time to take them to the nearest doctor.

Talk to school staff

Another way to protect your child is by reaching out to the school’s administration, nurses and teachers about their condition. This should happen at the beginning of the year to ensure that everyone is on the same page and protocols are in place.

Always keep an emergency medication on hand

If your child starts having severe allergic symptoms, give them an epinephrine auto-injector right away. In addition, carrying an over-the-counter antihistamine for your kid can also help treat mild allergy symptoms. But remember that antihistamine is not a replacement for the epinephrine shot.

Taking care of kids with food allergies is a challenging responsibility. At Discovery Village Center, we make sure that every child gets the nutrition they need in a safe manner. We keep strict records of all food allergies and intolerances. If your child requires a special diet, we will work closely with you to make sure that your little one gets the nutrition they need and deserve. Call (914) 631-1009 today!