Having quality time with your child is a good reminder of why you decided to have children in the first place. These are the moments when you bond with your child—and they really can’t be replaced by anything else. It’s when you allow the child’s interests to take the lead, and you support what they want to do. Scheduling out quality time is a great idea so you don’t miss these special moments with your child.
That said, it can sometimes feel hard to find fun things to do with your kids when you feel like all your usual favorites have been exhausted. Read on to find out about the best quality-time activities.
Take a walk together
These days, most families pile into the car to go to essentially any activity. But while you might gain a bit of time, you actually lose out on bonding moments with your child. The next time they want to go to a neighborhood park or to a friend’s house, consider walking there instead. It’s sure to slow down the pace of your life, and it’s a great way to see what your kid notices in the environment around them.
Have dinner together
It’s a simple but tried-and-true way to have family time. With adults—and many kids—constantly using technology, sitting down to eat dinner together each night is a surefire way to spark conversations. To make it more fun, you can do a weekly, themed dinner around foods your kids enjoy like taco night or pizza night. Getting the kids involved in meal prep will make them more invested and provide additional quality-time opportunities.
Pretend play
For preschoolers, pretend play is a way of life. You may tire of playing the same game over and over again, where you’re chasing your child across the house or using blocks to build a castle that will quickly be knocked over. But remember: Pretty soon, that sweet, little child will be a teenager who will want nothing to do with you. Take the time to appreciate this quality time with your child while you still have this close relationship.
Take a pajama walk
Every parent of a young child dreads that bit of time right before bed. One way to calm your child down while providing some bonding time is to take a short walk. Get them all ready for bed—teeth brushed, PJs on—and take them around the neighborhood for a little stroll. It’ll give you a chance to have some mellow time together while putting them in a relaxed mood for sleep.
We hope this guide to fun things to do with kids has been helpful. If you’re looking for supportive childcare, turn to Kids Kingdom Early Learning Center. Our Christian childcare center and preschool fosters a welcoming atmosphere for all students regardless of background. Let us become part of your family and teach your child the life skills they need to grow and thrive. Contact us right now to learn more about how we can help your child.
As with so many things in parenting, it’s difficult to tell how your child will react the first time you drop them off at day care. Some kids may be perfectly fine and will jump right in to this new environment. Others may experience separation anxiety to varying levels. This ranges from brief feelings of sadness when you leave to full-on meltdowns. Luckily, there are steps you can take for adjusting to day care.
Prepare your child for the big day
Whenever possible, it’s best to get your child accustomed to the new space before their first day of school. Schedule an appointment to have them meet their teachers and other students. Give them time to explore their new classroom, and tell them all about the fun activities they will get to take part in.
Doing a tour of the school will also give you the chance to speak to the teachers and staff about your child’s particular needs. If your child does suffer from separation anxiety, this is a good time to discuss this with their teacher.
Create drop-off routines
You’ve probably heard this one before, but it bears repeating: Children are creatures of habit. As much as possible, create a morning routine that will take them step by step to day care. This may include doing things in a specific order, like eating breakfast, then brushing their teeth, getting dressed and getting in the car.
Keep the goodbye at the childcare center brief; while it may be difficult to say goodbye, often separation anxiety worsens if you hang around. You do want to hug and kiss your child before you go (don’t lie and say, “I’ll be right back”), but keep it quick and don’t drag it out.
Get them excited
Before you send them off, talk with your child about what their day will be like at the childcare center. There should be quite a number of activities for them to be excited about, from arts and crafts projects to playing with other children outside. There are also plenty of books about what it’s like to be away from parents that may be comforting to your little one as well.
Make it work
Let’s say you’ve taken your child in for their first day, and it didn’t go well. Don’t give up. The fact is that you’ll have to do this at some point. Work with the childcare team on ways to ease the transition—and remember that these things take time. Your child will adapt to the new schedule and routine in the coming weeks.
We know it can be tough for you and your child adjusting to day care. At Kids Kingdom Early Learning Center, our dedicated team is here to help your child feel safe and comfortable. We provide a welcoming learning environment for children of all skill levels and abilities. As a Christian childcare center and preschool, we follow Biblical principles in everything we do. Give us a call right now to learn more and set up a visit.
It’s never easy to let go of your child and to allow someone else to take over. But the reality is that your child can thrive by being with other children and being in the dynamic environment of a childcare center.
However, it’s important to know how to prepare for daycare in Greenwood, IN—for both your child and yourself. Read on to find out about planning for childcare for a baby.
When is a good time to take my child to daycare?
This depends on your family’s particular circumstances. With many families having both parents working full time, you may start daycare before you really feel ready. That said, transitioning your infant to daycare can happen from six weeks to six months of age. When you decide to make the switch will be dependent on a range of factors, including whether you have family around to help, your financial situation and parental leave policies.
What should I expect from my daycare?
More than ever before, childcare centers are prepared to handle the emotional and developmental needs of infants. A high-quality program will provide a caring and supportive environment for even the youngest children. You should expect your daycare to do all the following:
Talk to the baby
Comfort the infant when they’re upset
Read stories to the baby
Sing songs to the infant
How do daycare facilities handle feeding?
If you’re bringing an infant to daycare, you may be wondering how they handle feeding, as this is the number one task of many new moms. It’s a good idea to start by establishing a regular feeding schedule and then inform the childcare facility about this routine.
You also want to try to get your child accustomed to a baby bottle before they’ll be going to daycare. Then you want to make sure to establish the amount of breastmilk to send with the child each day and arrange for storage.
What will I need to send to daycare with my baby?
As you may have already discovered, packing for a baby can be complicated. Make sure to write out a list ahead of time, then double-check it before you head to the childcare center in the morning. Here are some basics you’ll need:
Feeding supplies like bottles and milk or formula
Extra clothes
Diapers, baby wipes and diaper cream
If you’re planning for childcare for your baby in Greenwood, IN, turn to Kids Kingdom Early Learning Center. We offer Biblically-based early childhood learning, and our team is dedicated to providing nurturing care for the children of our community. We’re excited to be able to teach your child the life skills they need to grow and thrive.
All our programs are individually tailored to students, allowing kids to grow and discover at their own pace. Give us a call today to find out if Kids Kingdom Early Learning Center would be a good fit for your family. We look forward to meeting you!
Every parent has been there: you need to leave the house at a specific time for a specific thing. It doesn’t seem to matter whether it’s taking the child to a doctor’s appointment in Greenwood, IN or out for ice cream—your toddler will find a way to make this difficult. Maybe they will do everything they need to do but will not put on their shoes. You’re left thinking, “Don’t you want the ice cream? How is this the thing that’s stopping us?”
This is when it’s helpful to figure out how to know what toddlers are thinking. The fact is that by getting into your toddler’s point of view, you can better empathize with them and—just maybe—get them out the door without a half-hour meltdown.
Your and your child’s stress levels
One reason it may be so difficult to get your child out in a timely manner is that you’re worried about being late. It’s easy to assume that, if the child isn’t doing what you asked, the blame rests with them. But oftentimes, children are responding to your mood. If you want to hustle and get going quickly, you’re likely to be anxious—which could lead to your child being anxious as well.
One potential solution is to simply begin getting ready far, far earlier than you need to. Take things step by step—first, brush the toddler’s teeth, then help them with their clothes, etc.—and never assume they’re going to do any of it quickly.
Set expectations
Golfers always say the number one thing you can do to improve is to keep your head down when you take a swing, but it’s one of those things that’s easier said than done.
The same goes for the old parenting mantra of “setting expectations.” Everyone knows to do it, but remembering to follow through and do it well is another thing. If, for example, you’re going to a restaurant, don’t assume your child knows how to behave in this situation.
Be specific about how the child will need to stay seated and won’t be able to dump the sugar packets all over the table. And, of course, let them know that if everything goes well, they’ll get yummy food!
Mix it up
Let’s say your day is going poorly. Your kid’s bouncing off the walls and seems determined to make everything difficult. This is when you need to try new things. It’s time to play a new game, read a new book or take the child outside. It’s amazing how simple novelty can flip a child’s mood.
Are you looking for quality childcare in Greenwood, IN? Kids Kingdom Early Learning Center is the premier Biblically-based early childhood learning center in the area. Our supportive and dedicated team is comprised of members of the community who provide a safe and loving space for your child to thrive in, not to mention possess a keen understanding of a toddler’s point of view. We offer a welcoming atmosphere for children from all backgrounds. Contact us today to learn more and start the registration process for your child!
No matter what age your child is, you’ll want to know as much as possible about the daycare you’re planning on sending them to. Finding the right childcare center for your child is no simple task. You’ll likely call several centers and weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each. You’ll want a place that supports your parenting philosophy and will feel like a second home for your child. With that in mind, here are some questions for a childcare center in Greenwood, IN that you’ll want to be sure to ask.
What is your daily schedule?
Any childcare center should be able to provide you with a daily schedule showing exactly what your child will be doing each day. Daycares typically run on a structured schedule that keeps the kids in a routine. Knowing the schedule will allow you to see whether the activities the center is providing seem like a good fit for your kid.
What is the center’s approach to discipline?
Parents differ in their approaches to discipline, just as childcare centers do. For example, some parents may be okay with using timeouts as a penalty, while others are not. Some parents may want stricter discipline for their kids, whereas others prefer a more relaxed approach. Ask about discipline to make sure you’re on the same page as the center.
Do the kids get time to go outdoors?
You know your child better than anyone—how do they respond to being indoors all day? For many kids, getting outside is an ideal release. It allows them to play, run around and get their energy out. If this is the case for your kid, you’ll want to make sure the center has an outdoor space like a playground and that, weather permitting, they get time outdoors each day.
What is the school’s educational curriculum?
This is especially important for children in pre-kindergarten. Kids should be building basic skills in terms of shape recognition, letter recognition, fine motor skills and number recognition. You want your child to be prepared for kindergarten, and your childcare center will play a key role in this.
How does the center handle potty training?
Even if your little one isn’t quite to toilet training age yet, before you know it, they’ll be out of diapers. Childcare centers have a range of policies on potty training. Some may require that two-year-olds be out of diapers, or that three-year-olds use the toilet independently.
We hope this daycare questions list has proven helpful. For parents who are looking for caring, supportive childcare in Greenwood, IN, Kids Kingdom Early Learning Center is the best choice. We offer Biblically-based early childhood learning. We’re proud to teach the youngest minds skills that last a lifetime.
Our dedicated team is made up of members of the community. Let us become part of your family and teach your child the life skills they need to grow and thrive. Contact us now to learn more and find out if Kids Kingdom Early Learning Center is right for your child.
