What are the ways to have a great deal to do with your child’s overall health?

HEALTHY HABITS

According to a survey conducted by The Academy of Pediatrics Association, 89.9% of pediatricians believe that the diseases we get as adults (heart disease, hypertension, obesity and diabetes) may be prevented by emphasizing physical fitness in childhood. 

Active play is the key to children’s lifelong health and fitness.  There are simple fitness strategies that are preventative, effective and can even be fun.  In the parenting book Your Active Child, author Rae Pica identifies five fitness factors that affect anyone’s health – child or adult’s.  They are cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility and body composition (percentage of lean body tissue to fat).

Your child can develop positive fitness factors if you provide the following each day:

• Wholesome, nutrient-filled meals and snacks
• Reasonable amounts of developmentally appropriate physical activity
• Adequate hours of sleep

Your child will need daily playful activity that engages both large and small muscles.  He or she will build body, mind, and self-esteem while discovering all the amazing things the body can do.

At Crème de la Crème preschools we help you set the stage for the fitness factors listed above.  During outdoor time as well as in the Creative Movement Studio or Gym, we provide space for children to creep, crawl, roll, walk, run, hop, skip and jump.  We encourage them to move over, under and through things; pivot to change direction and twist, bend, balance, stretch, sway and dodge. We also provide opportunities for active play with balls, beanbags, trikes, hula hoops, sand and dirt digging tools, Frisbees, plastic and foam bowling pins, scarves for dancing to music and toy musical instruments for marching.

In addition to physical activity, nutrition and sleep have a great deal to do with your child’s overall health.  Those topics will be addressed on pages three and four.

HEALTHY SNACKS

Cheese and Flour Tortilla Wrap – Let your child sprinkle a whole wheat tortilla with grated low fat cheese like mozzarella or provolone.  Microwave for 30 seconds or until cheese melts.  Fold tortilla in half or roll like a burrito.

Crackers with Tuna, Chicken or Ham Salad – Provide whole grain crackers and encourage your child spread a thin layer of tuna, chicken or ham salad on top.  A little bit or grated cheese can be added to the top and it can be put in the microwave for 10 seconds for added protein.

Ants on a Log – Cream cheese can be spread on celery that is cut into 4-inch logs.  Let your child add carob chips or raisins for added flavor and to represent the ants on the log.

Apple Shake – Have your child help you mix 1 cup of chilled applesauce, ¾ cup of milk, ¼ tsp. of vanilla and 1/8 tsp. of cinnamon in a blender.  Blend for one minute.

Trail Mix – Combine 2 cups of Rice Chex, Corn Chex and Bran Chex in a large bowl.  Let your child add dried fruit, raisins, coconut, sunflower seeds, carob chips or other items that she likes.

Banana Boats – Slice banana lengthwise and have your child roll in yogurt.  Then he can sprinkle with wheat germ or crushed graham cracker crumbs.

BUILD GOOD EATING HABITS

Children need to be well nourished to support their very rapid brain development.  At this young age about 48% of the calories they consume are fundamental to brain function.  In addition, only when children get the required nutrients can they reach their potential in physical growth and motor coordination. 

Although adults (parents and teachers) have primary responsibility for children’s nutrition, we must help children become responsible for their own eating habits so they can make good choices throughout their life.  Making wise food choices is most easily learned in childhood.  When good nutrition is consistently practiced throughout childhood, children are much more likely to adopt the habits for life.

The following list includes ideas to help your child acquire healthy nutritional habits:

• Be a good role model to build positive attitudes toward all foods.  Offer a variety of foods to your child.
• Set a predictable, scheduled time for snacks and meals. Children love routine and as you know will get grumpy if they are overly hungry.
• Make mealtime a family ritual that your child looks forward to.  Make conversation the focal point instead of evaluating the food and dissecting it.
• Keep snack portions modest and avoid high fat and high sugar foods.
• Teach your child to eat until he is full, not stuffed.  He will learn to regulate his fuel needs early on and there will be less chance of overeating.
• Introduce new foods one at a time with favorite foods.
• Serve foods that are steamed, broiled, baked, roasted, or toasted.
• Avoid foods that have strong spices or are too hot.  Taste buds are very sensitive at a young age.
• Involve your child in food preparation.  Participation builds pride so your child is more likely to try a food she has helped to prepare.
• Be matter of fact about having your child try new foods.  Don’t make any deals; simply state that you expect him to try a bite and leave it at that. 
• Try not to be offended if your child thinks what you have made is gross.  Calmly tell her that she doesn’t need to like it, she just needs to try it and explain how it fuels her body to do all the things she likes to do.
• Using food or fast food restaurants as a reward could set the stage for eating problems. Food is fuel, not a bargaining chip.
• Plant a garden or fruit trees.  Children are more apt to try foods they have planted and harvested.
• Address your child’s picky eating issues by reading Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban or Gregory the Terrible Eater by Mitchell Sharmat.

ASK THE EXPERT

PARENT QUESTION:  What is the normal amount of time a preschooler should sleep at night? Because my husband and I work all day, we want to spend some time with Andy at night and don’t get him to bed until round 9:00 pm.  It seems like he is always tired and cranky in the morning.

Dear Crème de la Crème Parent:

You are not alone in this dilemma.  Studies show that 85% of young children are staying awake much too late at night.  As you have noticed, children need to get an adequate amount of sleep each night otherwise their bodies and minds just don’t function very well.  Just as food and water nourish our bodies, sleep plays a major role in nourishment.  Children with less sleep have less stamina for dealing with life’s everyday stresses.  These children may have a lack of curiosity and a disinterest in learning new things.  This of course interferes with school performance because they have a hard time paying attention and following directions.

By establishing good sleep habits including reasonable bedtimes and naps, children will learn to listen to their body’s internal sleep cues.  The younger the child, the more sleep he or she needs to fuel very rapid growth.  Each child could be different, some need a little more, some a little less so you need to closely observe your child to see what suits him.  The chart below gives average amounts of sleep for a child’s age.  This includes night time sleep and naps.

Age                                                      Daily Hours of Sleep____________

1 month                                                15 ½ to 17 hours

6 months                                              14 ½ hours

12 months                                             13 ½ hours

18 months                                             13 ½ hours

2 years                                                 13 hours

3 years                                                 12 hours

4 years                                                 11 ½   hours

5 years                                                 11 hours

6 years                                                 10 ½ hours

8 years                                                 10 ½ hours

10 years                                                9 ½ hours

12 years                                                9 ½ hours

18 years                                                8 ½ hours

Parents                                                 Whatever you can get!              

                       

Please feel free to visit Crème de la Crème Pre School at CremeDeLaCreme.com or call 800 374 5715 to set up a tour today!

Other Crème de la Crème pre schools, childcares and daycares can be found in:

Greenwood Village CO, Buckhead Atlanta GA, Nesbit Ferry Alpharetta GA, Marietta East Cobb GA,  Haynes Bridge Alpharetta GA, Peachtree Corners Norcross GA, Sugarloaf Duluth GA, Warrenville IL, Westmont IL, Glenview IL, Romeoville IL, South Barrington IL, Lincoln Park Chicago IL, Leawood KS, Mt. Laurel NJ, Bridgewater NJ, Mason OH, Allen TX, Colleyville TX, Coppell TX, Frisco TX, Plano TX, Sterling VA and Woodbridge VA.

How to build children’s self-esteem?

PATHS PROGRAM RECIEVES HIGHEST POSSIBLE RATING!

Promoting alternative thinking strategies is the objective of this premier social and emotional learning program that was developed and refined through nearly 30 years of research.  The PATHS program used by Creme De La Creme pre schools children 3 years and older is the only universal classroom-based social and emotional learning curriculum to achieve the highest possible rating from the elite Blueprints Project of the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, University of Colorado.

Scientific research has determined that children experience and react to strong emotions before developing the cognitive abilities to verbalize them.  The PATHS program’s practical, effective strategies teach children how to label their feelings and apply self-control strategies leading to significant improvements in coping skills, classroom behavior, and verbal fluency.

In rigorous clinical studies, the PATHS program has been shown to:

• Reduce aggressive behavior by 32%
• Increase self-control in students by 36%
• Increase vocabulary for emotions by 68%
• Increase scores on cognitive skills tests by 20%
• Significantly improve students’ ability to tolerate frustration plus their ability and willingness to use effective conflict-resolution strategies

The PATHS program covers the following five domains of social and emotional development:  self-control, emotional understanding, positive self-esteem, relationships and interpersonal problem-solving skills.   Certain elements are continually reintroduced throughout the year to integrate the various domains.  To ensure continual reinforcement of key skills from the PATHS program, supplemental activities and a variety of at-home activities will be available for parents and children to do together.

Directors and Team Members at Creme De La Creme pre schools have commented that by using the PATHS program in their classrooms it saves them significant instructional time that used to be spent on students conflicts, tantrums and other classroom disruptions.  They have noticed that the children are making great strides in solving small problems on their own, exhibiting self-control by using the Turtle calm-down techniques when angry or upset, and encouraging their friends to do the same.

PATHS ACTIVITIES

Complimenting Your Child

The PATHS curriculum is designed to build children’s self-esteem and encourage children to support and respect others.  Your child is learning the meaning of the word “compliment.”  Children who hear compliments from their teachers and parents know they are valued and respected.  You can teach your child about compliments by using them at home.  There are four types of compliments that we will address this year:

The way you look – “Wow, you look very pretty or handsome today!”

Things you have – “I like the new hat that you are wearing.”

Things you do well – “You really cleaned up your toys quickly.”

The way you are – “I like the way you petted the dog gently.”

How To Do Turtle

If your child is having a hard time with something and you see him or her starting to get upset, remind him or her to do Turtle.  Follow these three steps for doing Turtle:

1.         Tell yourself to STOP!

2.         Take a deep breath.

3.         Say the problem and how you feel.  (For example, “I feel angry because my sister is not sharing her toys.”

You can model doing Turtle for your child.  Your child learns best from you.  In addition, be sure to read the Twiggle Learns to Do Turtle book provided by your child’s teacher.

POSITIVE GUIDANCE AND DISCIPLINE

Every parent and caregiver struggles at one time or another with how to set limits on children’s behavior.  The goal of positive discipline is to teach children to develop safe, socially responsible behavior that promotes self-respect and respect for the feelings and property of others.

Remember that discipline and punishment are not the same.  Discipline is guidance and teaching that promotes positive behavior.  Punishment is a penalty imposed in reaction to unacceptable behavior.  Positive discipline is more effective than punishment because desirable behaviors that last a lifetime must come from within the child rather than be imposed by external force.

When guiding your child, always make sure she understands that she is accepted and loved, but the behavior is not.  Keep rules simple and specific and avoid power struggles especially with 2 to 4 year olds.  Save using “no” for when you really need it so that it does not get overused.  You can rephrase your sentence to convey the message for example, if your child asks for a cookie too close to meal time you can say “Yes, you may have a cookie right after we finish dinner.”  Try to give a warning first, and then follow through.  “The next time you throw sand, you will have to leave the sandbox.”

Since children prefer positive attention rather than negative attention, you can set the stage for success and encourage desirable behavior through the following positive techniques:

• Make sure your expectations for your child are developmentally appropriate for his or her age.
• Model desirable behavior.  Your child will learn from your example.
• Be consistent.  Your child needs to know what the rules are, and that he can trust the rules not to change.
• A child-proof and appropriate environment can reduce behavior problems.
• Provide age-appropriate materials and a safe place where your child can use them.
• Maintain a balance between quiet and active play.
• Empower your child by providing choices and decision-making opportunities whenever possible.
• Acknowledge your child’s feelings, especially when you must set a limit on behavior.
• Establish regular routines for busy times like meals, getting ready in the morning, and going to bed.  Children need structure.

*Taken from the Children’s Home Society of California’s brochure on Positive Discipline.

ASK THE EXPERT

My child is new at Creme De La Creme pre schools and I hope that she will make lots of new friends.  How can I help?

Dear Parent,

Children today are beginning earlier in social situations, and they are spending more time with peers than they used to.  Recent studies have found that some friendships formed in the early years of childhood are second only to family relationships in importance. 

You are already off to a good start with helping your child make friends. Enrollment in Creme De La Creme pre schools offers your child social experiences that might not be available to her with siblings or other adults in her life.  With many friends her own age, she will encounter lots of opportunities to negotiate and compromise.  She will be encouraged to express her opinions and ideas, as well as to respect others. In addition, she will develop social competence in three main areas:  initiating interactions, maintaining on-going relationships, and solving conflicts with other children. 

Another way you can help your child make friends is to allow her to play with a friend outside of school which often gives the two children a level of comfort with each other that carries over to their time at school. In the early years, you need not be too concerned if your child frequently changes best friends; a friendship may only last for an afternoon of play, but the interaction with and acceptance by peers will have long-term effects on your child’s life.

Please feel free to visit Crème de la Crème Pre School at CremeDeLaCreme.com or call 800 374 5715 to set up a tour today!

Other Crème de la Crème pre schools, childcares and daycares can be found in:

Greenwood Village CO, Buckhead Atlanta GA, Nesbit Ferry Alpharetta GA, Marietta East Cobb GA,  Haynes Bridge Alpharetta GA, Peachtree Corners Norcross GA, Sugarloaf Duluth GA, Warrenville IL, Westmont IL, Glenview IL, Romeoville IL, South Barrington IL, Lincoln Park Chicago IL, Leawood KS, Mt. Laurel NJ, Bridgewater NJ, Mason OH, Allen TX, Colleyville TX, Coppell TX, Frisco TX, Plano TX, Sterling VA and Woodbridge VA.

[MUST READ] How to Build Children’s Self-Esteem?

FOSTERING SELF-ESTEEM IN YOUR CHILD | Child Day Care Texas

 Children need to develop positive self-esteem to feel good about whom they are.  We know that young children gain confidence as they accomplish difficult tasks.  As they work through the stages of development, new challenges and tasks present themselves every day.  Confidence is built as children learn to tie their own shoes, spell their names, or complete a puzzle.

 Self-confidence is fostered at Crème by providing children challenging activities that they can master and giving them real decisions and choices about their learning.

 One of the ways we do that is by offering different interest areas throughout the classroom.  In each of these areas is a variety of materials and activities.  In the Primary Classroom for example, children can choose the area they would like to play in and the materials they would like to play with. They might choose to paint at the easel or put a puzzle together. When they play in the block area they may choose to build a tower with the blocks or create a road to drive a toy car along.  Through this freedom, they begin to understand that their decisions have value.

 As a parent you can be a partner in building your child’s self-esteem.  Giving your child responsibilities at home and increasing the responsibilities with age help to build a child’s self-esteem.  Encouraging a child by giving specific feedback is also effective.  An acknowledgement of a job well done - for example, “I’ve notice you carefully folded all of your socks and put them away” – has more meaning to a child than a quick, general “Good job.”

 Early childhood expert Lillian Katz reminds us that esteem is conveyed to children when adults treat them with respect.  We respect children when we ask them for their views and preferences and when we provide opportunities for real decisions and choices about those things that matter to them.

 PAGE 2

 INFANT ACTIVITY

Giggle Time

Laughing is contagious and makes you feel good.  Make funny faces at your child and try to make her laugh.  Make funny noises with your lips and see her smile get bigger.  See if you can coax her into a giggle or even a full blown belly laugh. 

TODDLER ACTIVITY  

Silly Plate Faces

Cut different facial parts (i.e., eyes, nose, mouth, chin, ears, eyebrows, and mustache) out of a magazine and let your child arrange them on a paper plate.  Mix and match the features to make silly faces. Extend the activity by talking about happy, sad, and angry faces to make.

PRESCHOOL ACTIVITY

Compliments Galore!

Explain that a compliment is a nice thing to say to someone to let them know what we like about them.  Create a compliment list that you can add to for your child.  You might like to place this list in a prominent location so others can see what your child has been complimented on too.  Children who hear compliments feel valued and respected. Some starters might be:  “You can really kick that ball far!” or “I like the way you were gentle with your baby bother.”

SCHOOL-AGE ACTIVITY

Reach for the Stars

Work with your child to set goals.  The goals could be for homework, physical fitness, chores at home, books read in a certain period of time, etc.  It’s fun to see your child’s progress by charting his accomplishments.  Talk about privileges or prizes that can be earned as your child successfully accomplishes each goal.

PAGE 3    

LAUGHTER, THE BEST MEDICINE

 We’ve known for a number of years that laughter is good for us.  When we laugh, serotonin is released in our brains.  When we laugh, we fell less stressed and more relaxed, and our immune systems are strengthened, allowing us to fight diseases better.  Laughter also connects us with others and makes us feel more comfortable and a part of the group.  And you might have noticed that laughter seems to be contagious – when we’re around others who are laughing, we’re apt to laugh too.

 You can get the contagious laughter started in your family by reading funny books and singing funny songs.  Dr. Seuss was a master at writing funny books.  Shel Silverstein perfected funny, laugh-out-loud poems in A Light in the Attic and other books.  Common songs such as “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly” help everyone lighten up.  Ask your child’s teacher to share the songs, finger plays and poems he/she is learning in class.

 In addition to funny books, jokes and riddles, funny movies, cartoons and comedians, friends and family members, and pets can make you laugh.  Take the quiz below to determine your family’s fun quotient:

Family Fun Quiz

• Is there a comic strip in the newspaper that makes you think of your family?
• Do you remember a time when you couldn’t stop laughing?
• What’s your favorite rough and tumble game?
• Do you use humor to make tense moments less stressful?
• Are birthdays and other family celebrations fun?
• What’s your favorite funny pet story?
• Have you played the game, “I love you more than…..”?
• Do you take time to ask “Who’s there?” to knock-knock jokes?
• Have you created a special hug, handshake, or sign of affection?
• When have you seen a funny movie together?
• Can you tell a funny story about each family member?
• Is a little slapstick a frequent occurrence?
• Do you read humorous books or the comics together?
• Do you know at least two riddles or jokes that bring on smiles and giggles?

Joke:  Why are Teddy Bears never hungry?

Answer:  Because they are always stuffed.

ASK THE EXPERT (JODY Martin)

Question:  My child is shy and afraid to join other children when I drop her off at Crème in the morning.  It breaks my heart to think that she is not playing with her classmates.  What can I do to help her be more confident?

Dear Parent,

Children today are beginning earlier in social situations, and they are spending more time with peers than they used to.  While some children easily join a group at play, others have difficulty.  If your child is having a hard time forming friendships at school she might benefit from one-on-one time with one of the other children outside of the early childhood setting.  Playing together a few times outside of school often gives two children a level of comfort with each other that carries over to their time at school.

Reviewing all the fun things your child did at school that day and preparing her ahead of time for the fun she will have the next day sometimes eases the anxiety. You can also model for your child appropriate, friendly behavior in social situations. Children learn appropriate behaviors best by observing how significant adults in their lives interact with others.

In addition, you can help her feel more confident by allowing her to make choices and solve problems on her own before stepping in.  Be specific in your praise or encouragement of her accomplishments for example “You placed your toys neatly on the shelf” instead of “Good job cleaning up.”

Lastly, give your child time to warm up to the other children.  Your Crème teacher will continue to try to help your child join a group after you have left.  Some children want to observe and assess the situation before they dive right in and this is something we are happy to work on with your child.

Please feel free to visit Crème de la Crème Pre School at CremeDeLaCreme.com or call 800 374 5715 to set up a tour today!

Other Crème de la Crème pre schools, childcares and daycares can be found in:

Greenwood Village CO, Buckhead Atlanta GA, Nesbit Ferry Alpharetta GA, Marietta East Cobb GA,  Haynes Bridge Alpharetta GA, Peachtree Corners Norcross GA, Sugarloaf Duluth GA, Warrenville IL, Westmont IL, Glenview IL, Romeoville IL, South Barrington IL, Lincoln Park Chicago IL, Leawood KS, Mt. Laurel NJ, Bridgewater NJ, Mason OH, Allen TX, Colleyville TX, Coppell TX, Frisco TX, Plano TX, Sterling VA and Woodbridge VA.