Tips to Prepare your Children for the New School Year

Prepare school essentials in advance

It’s August, summer is finally coming to an end and the new school year is right around the corner. Time for  parents and students all over the country to start their back to school preparations. Whether your children look forward to this event or they dread the regimented school days ahead, one thing is for sure – back to school entails another big transition. Help your kids cope with the biggest adjustments and make those first weeks of school easier for them with the following tips:

Start talking about the upcoming school year

Before summer break ends, find opportunities to talk to your child about the upcoming school year. Instead of allowing them to dwell on the post-holiday blues, get them excited about going back to school. Think of the things your child will love about school. It could be spending time  with friends, having time to play with other kids, or about a subject they are interested in? Highlight these topics during your conversation so that they’ll have something to look forward to.

Help your child get familiar with the school

If your child is starting school for the first time, it would be good to get them familiar with it first. Take them to the school so they can get a feel of the school’s setting and the environment. If you can, visit  the school grounds, buildings and playground and take time to check out the classrooms, library and other areas. Allow your child to play in the playground and explore the grounds of their new school. Doing this will help them see what school is like and help eliminate their fear of the unknown.

Organize school supplies in advance

There are plenty of things to organize before school starts. There are  uniforms, books, stationery, and a lot more. Start organizing as early as possible. Not only will it reduce the back-to-school related stress, but it will also help your child look forward to heading back to school. It is good to get them involved in the process, too. Take them shopping with you and let them choose their own school supplies. The more new things kids get , the more excited they will feel about school.

Introduce new routines

Introduce new routines to your child before the school year starts. Move bedtime up a bit earlier if they have been staying up late during the summer months. Get them on the right routine based on their class schedule at school. Doing this will make the transition a lot easier and help ensure that their first weeks in school won’t be too overwhelming.

Go to the school for orientation programs

Prepare your child for the new school year

Many schools conduct orientation sessions before the new school year begins. If this is something that’s being offered in your child’s school, take advantage of this program and join in. However, if the school does not have this, ask when you can drop by the school so your child can meet their new teacher. Taking a few minutes to introduce your child to the new teacher will help them feel comfortable before the school year officially starts.

Facilitate your child’s meeting with the teacher and other kids

It would help to make your little student feel more comfortable in their new school and classroom, if they felt connected with their teacher and the other kids.  If possible, make some arrangements for your child to meet the teacher and other kids in advance. Once they meet, the learning process becomes easier. This way, they will have new peers to play with once school starts, getting them more excited and reducing their back to school jitters.

Getting ready for a new school year can be daunting and overwhelming. But, whether they are starting school for the first time or heading back after the summer break, you can always refer to these tips to make the transition easier for your children.

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7 Things a Daycare can Teach your Child

Daycare is the first kind of learning facility your child is going to experience. This is their time of learning so many things are crucial for them to survive formal school. This is when they begin to learn some important life skills. They will grow in social, physical, emotional, and intellectual development. Daycare may look like fun and games but young ones learn through playtime and creative activities. Every activity that kids do in daycare teaches them important life lessons. Building blocks teach them problem-solving, story time teaches them listening skills and creativity.

Good habits, proper conduct, and positive self-esteem are being developed in daycare or preschool. Daycare teaches children that it’s okay to make mistakes. They learn from their mistakes and won’t do it again the next time. Here are other things a daycare can teach your children.

They Learn the Alphabet and Phonics

One of the basic things that a preschool will teach children is the alphabet and how each letter sounds. Children in daycare will learn  all 26 letters in upper and lower case. They will also learn to recognize the letters of their first name. Along the way, they will be taught how to write them.

Learning a language and reading may be taught in school but these things can be started at home. Daycare will strengthen the lessons children already have and hone them for school.

They learn how to count

Daycare providers help the children learn the basic numbers from one to 10. They will also teach them how to count them in the correct order. This is the basic building block of math. Counting is a different skill. This starts with memorization until the numbers and objects they count corresponding with each other. Yet, daycare is not the only place where they can learn about numbers. Children can learn numbers at home, too.

They learn about Colors and Shapes

Preschool teachers will teach children the names of basic shapes and colors. Children will learn to differentiate the colors of different objects. They will also recognize them by their correct names.

They will learn how to socialize

Social skills are as important as intellectual skills. Developing this is necessary before children start formal school. Having social skills will teach them how to cooperate and share with other kids. They will also learn how to wait for their turn and to take part when there are group activities. Daycare will teach the kids how to follow simple directions and how to communicate their wants and needs.

They will learn how to make friends

In daycare, children will meet new faces. They’re going to be introduced not long afterward, they are going to be playing together like best of friends. It’s crucial to let your kids develop friendship. Interacting with their peers will help with their social growth. Children learn how to solve problems, share things with other kids, and play and learn together.

Kindergarten has the necessary tools to make you kids excel

They will learn how to interact with adults

The only adults children have endless interactions with are their parents and other members of the family. Daycare is a place where your children can see and interact with other adults. Having your kids connect with other adults can be good for them. They will learn trust and respect.

They will learn independence

In daycare, children will be left for hours in the center. They will learn how to function even when they are apart from their parents. They’ll learn how to figure things out with the help of another adult and their peers. They’ll learn how to be independent of their parents. This is a good thing. Children learning how to be independent when they are still young will develop strong analytical thinking.

Putting your children in daycare will give them the education and skills they need later in life. Daycare will also help the child’s transition to kindergarten become smoother. There are a lot of benefits your child can get from attending daycare. Some of them are listed above. If you are looking for a school, maybe a kindergarten in Eatontown will do. Research and ask around. Parents will always want what’s best for their kid.

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Celebrate National Picnic Month by Going on a Picnic with the Family

A picnic with family is a great way to spend time with family

Everybody celebrates Independence Day in July. But, what many people don’t know is that we also celebrate National Picnic Month in July, too! Going for a picnic is an excellent time to embrace nature and breathe in fresh air. It is also a great opportunity to bond with friends, family and loved ones. While a picnic is understood as a simple excursion with meals eaten outdoors, there are some interesting facts about the origin of picnic that not many of us are aware of.

•  The word picnic was taken from the French word “pique nique” which refers to an outdoor meal. The first picnics took place in the Middle Ages when the members of the upper class society would “dine out” or eat their meals outdoors during a hunt.
• The first recorded use of “picnic”, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, was in a letter written by Lord Chesterfield to his son in Berlin in 1748. The word picnic here was used in the sense of a social gathering.
• In the early 1800’s, picnic was already being used to refer to a social meal eaten outdoors.

The lovely, warm weather of July gives us another reason to celebrate National Picnic Month.  If you are looking for ideas on how you can celebrate this national holiday, here are some ideas to help you get started.

• Get outside for a BBQ party! Prepare your favorite meats and side dishes like coleslaw and potato salad. Enjoy family bonding time while you grill your BBQ to perfection and dig into the sumptuous outdoor meal together!
•  Have a traditional picnic. Fill a straw picnic basket with your favorite foods and drinks. Find that perfect spot in a park and don’t forget to bring the plaid blanket. Bring some board games or just savor the moment as you celebrate the open air.
• Play some outdoor games. After eating, it’s a perfect time to play some outdoor games. You can throw a Frisbee and play ball games where everybody can join in.

For fun and exciting activities like picnics, safety and health should remain a top priority. Avoid foodborne illnesses and make the most of the National Picnic Month by taking note of the following tips.

Be conscious of the food temperature and time.

Have everything ready when going on a picnic

Protect your food from getting spoiled by keeping hot food hot and cold food cold especially when you’re traveling or during your outdoor gatherings.  Bring plenty of ice.

Use a food thermometer.
Make sure that your food is safely cooked by using a food thermometer. Before removing meats, especially whole cuts, from the heat source, measure the internal temperature and make sure that they are cooked to 145 degrees F. Let them sit and allow 3 minute rest time before consuming.

Choose healthy foods for your picnic.
Picnics are all about enjoying delicious foods. But delicious doesn’t have to be unhealthy. You can certainly pack satisfying, yet healthy meals for your picnics. For example, you can add a twist to your traditional sandwiches and vary your bread choices. Try using tortillas, flat breads and whole grain products. Then experiment with fillings instead of sticking to the same old ham and cheese. Incorporate oven roasted vegetables such as tomatoes and eggplants to make it healthier.

Bring more non perishable foods.Limit the number of your perishable foods and bring more non-perishable foods. Aside from your salads and sandwiches, you can bring pretzels, oatmeal cookies, or baked potato chips. Other snacks like nuts and sunflower seeds are also excellent food choices.

Keep it clean.
Avoid food contamination by keeping everything clean and sanitary – from the food handling to preparation and packing. Don’t forget to wash your hands before and after handling food. Make sure that all utensils are clean. Don’t use the same utensils for raw and cooked food to avoid transfer of harmful bacteria.  Also bring paper towels, disposable cloths and clean water for cleaning hands and surfaces before and after eating at your picnic venue.

July is a perfect time to take vacations and spend more time outdoors. Make the most of the beautiful weather and celebrate National Picnic Month with your family!

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