Tag: Discovery Village Childcare

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How to Get Your Child Eat Healthy with a Childcare Provider in Sleepy Hollow

featured image of blog titled "How to Get Your Child Eat Healthy with a Childcare Provider in Sleepy Hollow"
How to Get Your Child Eat Healthy with a Childcare Provider in Sleepy Hollow

Kids either love or loathe veggies – there is usually no in-between. Most parents experience an uphill battle with feeding their little ones due to peer pressure and TV commercials. Once you factor in their hectic schedules it is no wonder that their kids’ diet includes takeout food and meals with little nutritional value. 

Food is a vital part of life, especially for kids – a time to nourish their bodies and minds. But what’s the harm a burger or fried chicken? And what’s wrong with keeping a pack of chips or even crackers in the cabinet? While these choices might seem harmless, it turns out that poor eating habits tend to stick with kids as they grow up. Thus, it is essential to teach your kids how to make healthy food choices at an early age.

If you’re a busy parent with loads of tasks on your plate, childcare is a fact of life — and this is where a childcare provider in Sleepy Hollow comes into play. When parents choose trusted people to care for their kids in their absence, they are valuing their child’s early development. Nutrition should be as vital to parents since your kid may never outgrow poor eating habits.

How Healthy and Nutritious Food Benefits Your Kids

It is challenging to feed children nutritious food. Then if you have a picky eater on your hands that challenge becomes even greater. They tend to refuse foods based on color or texture that doesn’t seem pleasing to their eyes. 

However, children need to receive the necessary nutrients in their body for growth and development. When your little ones start a life with healthy meals, they can avoid several health issues. This can have a massive impact on both their childhood and adulthood years. 

Aside from avoiding health problems, children under a balanced diet also see benefits in brain development. A child who is not receiving an adequate amount of iodine and iron may experience both motor development and cognitive delays. 

5 Ways to Promote Healthy Eating Habits 

Is your kid hooked on junk food? Does your little one turn up their nose when they see the salad and casserole on the table? They would probably ask for macaroni or chicken nuggets. As you tear open the bag of frozen chunks, you ask yourself: “What can I do to get my child to eat nutritious foods?”

Whether you’re a childcare provider in Sleepy Hollow or a frazzled parent, you need a few tricks up your sleeve to get your kids to eat healthily. Here are five simple tips on how you can get your child to eat better without turning mealtimes into a battlefield: 

Sneak in some greens

If you’re tired of arguing with your child about eating vegetables, you can sneak in servings of greens without them knowing it. If they love eating pizza, you can make your version and spice it up a bit by making the tomato sauce even healthier by adding unseasoned pumpkin puree. You can also make homemade french fries by baking the potato instead of buying them deep-fried from fast-food chains. 

Talk to them about eating healthy

You can talk to your kids about eating healthy even if they can barely understand it all. By teaching them where the food they’re eating is coming from, how to make and how to grow them, they can develop a frame of reference about making healthy choices. In addition, give your kids praise and encouragement when they try new foods.

Involve them in food choices

When you’re grocery shopping, make it a habit to involve your child and create a healthy food shopping list with them. You can also present them with some healthy snack ideas and have them pick the ones they want (avoiding unhealthy options). By doing this, your kids will acquire the habit of searching out and selecting nutritious foods.

Please don’t force it

As you expose your children to different foods and flavors, always encourage – not force — them to eat healthy food. Pressuring or bribing them to eat a particular food will do more harm than good in the long run. 

Be a role model

We all know that learning does not only happen inside the four corners of the classroom. If you have a picky eater, you can be a positive role model by eating nutritious and balanced meals as well. Drink water with your kid, eat your greens and try new foods with a smile on your face to encourage them to do the same. 

Now that you have an idea of how to get your child to consume healthier foods, put them into good use. Childcare providers should prioritize children’s health and wellness. Children under care should have regular healthy meals, snacks, and fluids while at the same time enjoy positive meal experiences. So if you’re looking for a childcare provider in Sleepy Hollow, let Discovery Village Center help you in getting your little one to eat better. We support families in the process of ensuring good health for future generations. Call (914) 631-1009 today!

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Why Preschool Matters for Children in Tarrytown, NY

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Why Preschool Matters for Children in Tarrytown, NY

Although some parents consider kindergarten as a stepping stone for their child’s education, the early years of their lives are critical in the long run. Many parents would agree that the first years of their child’s life seem to pass in the blink of an eye. Before they knew it, they are already thinking of enrolling their kids in preschool. However, choosing the right preschool for your child is not a simple task. Some parents tend to lose sleep over finding an environment where their children can learn and grow. With all the daycares and preschools to choose from in Tarrytown, NY, it can be downright overwhelming. 

A preschool is an exciting place for children to learn the ABCs and 123s, but there is much more that happens during these early years. As parents, the thought of sending your kid to preschool, into a new environment, is both nerve-wracking and heart-wrenching. However, it is in this warm and secure setting where children develop crucial skills, interact with others and learn through play time that nurtures innate curiosities. So how do the children from Tarrytown, NY, benefit from a high-quality preschool program? 

What is a High-Quality Preschool Program?

The young mind is wonderfully malleable. It can develop new habits with relative ease. For young learners, every experience and encounter is a unique learning opportunity. In a high-quality preschool children learn numbers, shapes and letters. It is the first time they become part of a structured learning environment and large group learning. These kids begin to develop a positive relationship with their peers and learn to respect authority.

While no preschool is the same, high-quality preschool programs have some things in common. They have warm and caring educators who get to know every child and family personally, as well as help kids interact with each other and make friends. In addition, teachers help preschoolers develop their thinking skills by asking open-ended questions and offering suggestions. They also provide new materials and plenty of time for children to explore new things and make sense of their world. 

5 Importance of Preschool for Your Child’s Development

Preschool matters for several reasons. Experts believe that attending a high-quality preschool program can help kids thrive in kindergarten and beyond. However, finding the best option for your child takes time and research. There is no doubt that early childhood education matters and here is why: 

It serves as a foundation for learning

In preschool, your child will learn to strengthen not only their academic minds, but also develop their social and emotional skills. They are in a secure and warm environment where they can explore, gain a sense of self and build self-confidence. For instance, your kids will learn how to get their teacher’s attention by raising their hands or how to spend their time away from their parents without getting anxious. 

It nurtures a child’s creativity and natural curiosity

Early childhood is the peak time to nurture a child’s imagination. Preschool teachers use children’s interests and ideas to create activities. Since preschoolers have an active imagination and learn through make-believe play, even simple events can be an exciting opportunity to learn.

It structures learning through play

Children need an opportunity to pretend, create and tell stories. If you are trying to get your child to pick up a few foundational skills before formal school starts, structured play is your kid-friendly solution. Similar to curiosity, play is a natural thing for young learner, especially in today’s society. Thus, using games and attention-grabbing activities is an effective way for kids to develop new skills and have fun. 

It builds social skills

When children start preschool, they are introduced to a new environment that allows them to develop social skills. Although they are more comfortable in their homes, a preschool setting can help them solve problems, listen and learn how to take turns. While these skills are not the natural strength of a preschooler, these skills can be grown and developed in preschool.

It helps in developing motor skills

Enrolling your child in preschool can help them develop motor skills and improve their physical coordination. High-quality preschool programs provide opportunities for kids to establish excellent motor skills. It may include building a tower of ten blocks, completing puzzles, cutting out simple shapes or even clapping their hands. 

You cannot deny and overlook the long-term benefits of enrolling your children in a preschool. Allowing them to thrive in these communities can propel them to fun-filled and positive experiences later in life. At Discovery Village, we can help your young scholar shape their academic, social and emotional success. Each day with us gives you peace of mind and your child the opportunity to embrace new experiences and learn new skills. Call us at (914) 631-1009 and get your preschooler enrolled today!

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How to Choose a Childcare Center in Tarrytown, NY?

choosing a childcare center
How to Choose a Child Care Center in Tarrytown, NY?

With favorable geography and climate, Tarrytown is indeed one of the best places to live in New York. In addition to its growing economy that caters to many employment opportunities among its villagers, the town also sets a high standard when it comes to education. For parents who are seeking an ideal place to raise their children, Tarrytown is an excellent place to consider as it stands toe-to-toe with other cities that prioritize education. 

While giving precedence to middle schools, the town believes it is still essential to look after children in their early years. With many childcare centers emerging around Tarrytown, busy parents find it challenging to choose the right childcare service provider. Each of them hopes to select a childcare center that offers a rich and fun-filled experience for their kids. 

What’s the Deal with Early Childcare Services?

Childcare and early childhood education play a significant role in an individual’s development. The first years of one’s life are the foundation or the building-block of their future. While the opportunity for a parent to entrust their child to a childcare center so they can work is a wonderful reason in itself, these places serve a lot more than that which makes them an investment. 

Early childcare centers offer a safe learning environment for young children. They aim to develop a child’s emotional, social and cognitive skills. Sharing with others and following instructions are some of the values that can be learned in these settings, which cannot always be learned at home. Childcare facilities also provide great opportunities, by using the right tools, to prepare children for future schooling. 

5 Features to Look For in Choosing a Quality Childcare Center 

When it comes to early childhood development, investing in a quality childcare service is a necessity, especially for busy parents. While there are many childcare centers, daycares, and preschools that promise exceptional care for children, it is like a parent to look for the best among them. After all, it is a significant and heart-wrenching decision to make since it involves the welfare of their little ones. So before you select a childcare center to entrust your child, below is a list of characteristics that you should consider in choosing a quality childcare center:

Caters to your child’s interest

There is a significant impact on a child’s learning capability if a center’s curriculum caters to the needs of a child. Moreover, it is also a good thing if early childhood educators can come up with new teaching methods to stir the curiosity of the children. In this way, they are more eager to learn and will retain the knowledge they have acquired effectively. 

Boosts child’s self-expression and creativity

Children would need plenty of opportunities for self-expression and creative thinking. Having a trusted childcare center by your side can help your kids engage in creative activities. Thus, it helps to express their feelings and develop their sense of self and imagination. Moreover, unleashing creativity in little kids can promote emotional growth and social development, as well. 

Provides a stimulating physical environment

Since young children are still in the process of brain development, having a safe and conducive environment for them to learn can help in preventing challenging behaviors of these children. However, many practitioners are unsure of how to create an environment that would best fit the children’s learning process. So it is essential to make a careful observation of which setting provides to your child’s interests and needs.

Provides a healthy and well-balanced meals

Before picking a childcare center, get a few sample menus from the center. Thus, make sure that their meal options would satisfy you and your child. Since kids are picky eaters, you should assess if your chosen childcare center provides a nutritious and healthy food menu for your child. Moreover, if your child is under a special dietary requirement, the learning center should know in advance so they can cater to the needs of your kid. 

Documents and shares student’s successes

Parents appreciate it more if they can see the progress of their children. Photographs, artworks, or transcript of conversations displayed in classrooms, are some documentations that showcase a child’s learning. While this feature is the last thing you should consider in choosing the best childcare service for your kid, it is an essential feature that you should not overlook. 

Learning starts before formal education officially begins. The knowledge and experiences that a child receives at a young age contribute to their overall development. So providing a quality childcare center for your children gives them opportunities. This is to develop and learn in a healthy environment while gaining positive experiences in the long run. If you want a unique environment that can expose your children to a wide variety of learning opportunities, learn how Discovery Village can leave your kids happy, stimulated, and safe. Make sure to check out our website or call us at 914-631-1009 for positive developmental outcomes.