Is A Well-Prepared Breakfast That Important for Children?
If you want to perform at your best level, then your body needs the best fuel to energize fully. It is the same for your children. Your children will be able to learn and participate at their best when a well-prepared breakfast is the start of their day. Here are a few reasons why breakfast is so important:
Eating breakfast helps control appetite
With a healthy appetite, children can better focus on learning throughout the day. Additionally, it’s believed children’s smaller stature causes them to be more susceptible to the effects of overnight fasting than adults, such as decreases in mental acuity.
Eating breakfast in the morning has beneficial effects on memory and attention
A good breakfast allows children to more quickly and accurately retrieve information. In a learning environment, children who eat breakfast perform better on reading, arithmetic, and problem-solving tests. Eating breakfast also positively affects endurance and creativity in the classroom.
Eating breakfast impacts behaviors surrounding learning in the classroom environment Consistent breakfast consumption is linked to better attendance, classroom behavior, and vigilance, which facilitates learning. Children who go hungry are more inclined to become distracted from learning at school or give up more easily when faced with challenges.
Eating breakfast helps children get essential nutrients they should be consuming every day
Children who skip breakfast every day are less likely to get enough iron, calcium, iodine, and folate when compared to children who eat breakfast daily. This daily nutrient intake plays a pivotal role in growth and development, especially the rapid growth and development of children.
At Heaven’s Elect, we understand the importance of a healthy diet to learning. We provide daily snacks and lunch to keep our children fueled for their daily activities. Please feel free to ask us any time about our healthy and great-tasting meals if you have any questions.
Heaven’s Elect Christian Learning Center and Daycare is a Non-denominational Christian childcare center fully licensed by the state of Michigan. Our Midland daycare center has been serving the community since 2000. Please contact us at heavenselect.com.
And Baby Makes Three! How to Keep Marriage Solid After a Newborn
The house is a mess, and so is the new family. Making the leap from coupledom to baby-makes-three status is exciting, exhilarating, and wonderful. It’s also exhausting, exasperating, and worrisome. This combination can be toxic to the romantic relationship that made you parents in the first place. Maintaining a marriage post-baby takes a lot of time and energy, exactly what you’ve have the least of now. Here are some ideas that will help your family during this transition period.
Never stop communicating
As the domestic duties suddenly become more than you can handle at any given moment, the nagging and bickering will inevitably increase. It is helpful to keep a list visible of what needs to be done. However, keeping score and continually reminding your partner, “well I’ve done this, so you do that,” is not exactly positive communication. Both of your nerves are on edge due to lack of rest and increased worry. You can communicate positively by simply saying “please” and “thank you” to each other. Even though your partner has been with you through thick and thin, politeness goes a long way – even when you’re feeling drained.
Juggle “you” and “us” time as best as you can
You’re always together, but no longer alone. Whether you’ve been a couple for years or just met and wanted to have a baby quickly, the transition to a family is challenging. Try and schedule time for only the two of you and avoid baby topics. You don’t want all your time together to be spent talking about the upcoming doctor appointment or what laundry detergent you should use. In this way, your dates won’t be baby talk. You can share the stuff you used to, like current global issues or the latest neighborhood news.
Overcome new and challenging financial choices
While there are many new stressors for new parents, money is top most of the time. Often, the decision centralizes around whether or not you can afford childcare so both partners can keep working full time. Whatever your financial choices happen to be, decide them together. Keep in mind, that you’re probably spending less money in some areas, such as on movies, eating out, clothes, and vacations. Work together to come up with reasonable solutions that allow both of you to have a life outside of parenting.
Remember, it’s the love you have for each other that created this new family. It is that love and working together patiently and considerately.
Heaven’s Elect Christian Learning Center and Daycare is a Non-denominational Christian childcare center fully licensed by the state of Michigan. Our Midland daycare center has been serving the community since 2000. Please contact us at heavenselect.com.
Why Children Need Play and Recess at School
Breaks are a welcome downtime for both children and teachers. A structured, rigorous academic schedule is necessary for teachers to teach and children to learn. However, a good source of learning also takes place during recess, allowing children to do what they want (to an extent) in an unstructured, safe environment. Here’s why:
Hard work in short stretches is better
Work that includes breaks and downtime proves more effective than working in long stretches. Children tend to be less able to process information the longer they are held to a task. It’s not enough to switch from math to English. You have to take a mental break.
Recess reduces stress
Playing is a great way for children to take a break and let go of negative feelings and regain control. Recess is a way for children to focus on creative thinking, which allows them to forget what is troubling them. They are much happier after unstructured play, which helps to improve their behavior, increasing participation in the classroom, and be a better listener.
Recess develops social skills
A recess may be the only time during the day when children have an opportunity to experience socialization and real communication. Playtime’s benefits extend beyond the physical. It helps children practice conflict resolution through unstructured play.
Exercise is healthy
While many children suffer from obesity, children at healthy weight levels benefit from physical activity as well. Outside is the best place for children to burn calories, practice emerging physical skills, and experience the pure joy of movement. Additionally, natural light improves wellness, which is vital to the immune system and makes us feel better.
Gym class is not recess
There needs to be a distinction between the two. While gym class offers children a chance to stretch their legs and get their heart rate up, it is still considered instructional time. It is a class with very different goals from those of the unstructured downtime of a recess. Likewise, it’s important to let children play what they want. Playground monitors shouldn’t try to organize groups to play a structured game. When it’s structured, it’s not a break in the day.
At Heaven’s Elect, we practice fun and safe recess time outdoors when the weather is cooperative. When it’s not cooperating, we take breaks indoors and still manage to have a good time.
Heaven’s Elect Christian Learning Center and Daycare is a Non-denominational Christian childcare center fully licensed by the state of Michigan. Our Midland daycare center has been serving the community since 2000. Please contact us at heavenselect.com.
Tactics For Dealing With Tantrums
Tantrums are a frustrating part of parenthood. However, as strange as it may seem, tantrums are normal. They are a part of children’s development, allowing them to express themselves if they are angry, frustrated, or upset.
Tantrums are common during the second year of life when language skills are starting to develop. Because toddlers can’t yet speak using many words to express what they want, feel, or need, frustration may cause a tantrum. As language skills improve, outbursts tend to decrease. Here are some helpful techniques to remember if your children are close to, or in the middle of a tantrum:
- Keep your cool when responding to a tantrum. Don’t complicate the problem with your frustration or anger. Since your job is helping your child learn to calm down, you need to be calm too.
- Do your best to understand why your child is upset. If your child is tired or hungry, it’s time for a nap or a snack. Sometimes, you may need to provide comfort. Other times, its best to ignore an outburst or distract your children with a new activity.
- If a tantrum is to get attention from parents, one of the best ways to counter this behavior is to ignore it. If a tantrum happens after your child is refused something, you need to stay calm. Don’t give a lot of explanations why your child can’t have what he or she wants. Move on to another activity with your children.
- If a tantrum happens after your child is told to do something he or she does not want to do, it’s best to ignore the tantrum. But be sure that you follow through on having your children complete the task after they are calm.
- If a safety issue is involved and your child repeats the behavior after being told to stop, use a time-out for several minutes. Be consistent and don’t give in on safety issues.
- Preschoolers and older children are more likely to use tantrums to get their way if they’ve learned that this behavior works. For school-age children, it’s appropriate to send them to their rooms to cool off while paying little attention to the behavior.
As parents, we want to do everything we can to help our children feel better and good about themselves. But it is important to remember not reward your children’s tantrum by giving in. This action will only prove to your little ones that the outburst was effective. Instead, after the tantrum storm has passed, verbally praise your children for regaining control. Use statements such as “I like how you calmed down.”
Heaven’s Elect Christian Learning Center and Daycare is a Non-denominational Christian childcare center fully licensed by the state of Michigan. Our Midland daycare center has been serving the community since 2000. Please contact us at heavenselect.com.
Why Do Children Most Misbehave Around Their Moms?
All primary caregivers of young children are blessed with moments that may not be a “blessing.” These activities can include whining, high-pitched shrieking, and being witness to catastrophic temper tantrums over virtually nothing. They are also familiar with cleaning vomit, diapers, and rushing to bandage scraped knees. We work through these tough moments because we love our children. But why does it seem that children are the most misbehaved when they’re around their mothers?
Children behave differently to get the attention they crave
If your children seem to be prone to throwing fits and generally not listening, you’ve likely been shocked when others rave about their good behavior. Maybe it’s the babysitter reporting that your children were perfect angels and ready for bed by 8:00 p.m. sharp. Or maybe their teacher has nothing but good things to say about their listening skills and interactions with other children. Do you ever wonder who on earth this is that they’re talking about? Because they certainly can’t be yours. The reason – children naturally act up to get the attention of those they love most.
Children save the best and worst for us
Children’s true selves come out with parents. It takes energy to be good and follow the rules, especially for young children. When they get home, they let it all out. The good news is that their most profound love, affection, admiration, and goofiness are reserved for you, too.
Why does their worst side show most often in front of mom?
Your children act up more in front of you because they feel comfortable, safe, and supported. If you think about it, you don’t like to display your worst self in front of strangers. You likely reserve the breakdowns for your spouse, close siblings, or your mom. The same goes for your children. You make them feel loved and secure to know you’re still going to love them unconditionally even when misbehaving in front of you.
All in all, there are going to be moments of childhood chaos reserved only for you. But there are also going to be moments when your children shine the brightest for you, and those moments make all the screams, tantrums, and fiascos worth it.
Heaven’s Elect Christian Learning Center and Daycare is a Non-denominational Christian childcare center fully licensed by the state of Michigan. Our Midland daycare center has been serving the community since 2000. Please contact us at heavenselect.com.
Outdoor Water Safety Tips
Keeping your children safe around water is tricky but important. Water activities are a huge draw for families seeking summer-time fun or relief from the heat. Children need constant supervision around water—whether the water is in a bathtub, a wading pool, an ornamental fish pond, a swimming pool, a spa, or a lake.
Drowning can happen where you’d least expect it
Believe it or not, accidental drowning can occur in a sink, toilet bowl, fountains, buckets, inflatable pools, or in small bodies of standing water around your home such as ditches filled with rainwater. Always watch children closely when they’re in or near any water. Young children can drown in less than two inches of water.
Don’t assume that a child who knows how to swim isn’t at risk for drowning
All children need to be supervised in the water, no matter the depth of their swimming skills. Infants, toddlers, and weak swimmers should have an adult swimmer within arm’s reach to provide “touch supervision.” Children four years old and over should learn to be comfortable in the water. If you’re not a swimmer yourself, it’s a good idea to take lessons and learn how to swim.
Install a secure fence around the perimeter of your home pool
Having a fence that surrounds the pool and is situated between the water and your house is the best safety investment you can make to help prevent pool-related drownings. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), fences should meet these standards:
- Fences should stand at least 4 feet (130 centimeters) high with no foot or handrails for children to climb on.
- The slats should be less than 4 inches (110 millimeters) apart so a child can’t get through, or if chain link, should have no opening larger than 1¾ inches (50 millimeters).
- Gates should be self-closing and self-latching, and the latch should be out of children’s reach.
Choose a proper-fitting life vest approved by the U.S. Coast Guard
For children younger than five years old, choose a vest with a strap between the legs and head support. The collar will keep the child’s head up and face out of the water. Check the weight and size recommendations on the label, then have your child try it on to make sure it fits snugly. Inflatable vests and arm devices such as water wings are not adequate protection against drowning.
Protect from the sun with waterproof sunscreen
Don’t forget the sunscreen and reapply often, especially if the children are getting wet. UV sunglasses, hats, and protective clothing also can help provide sun protection.
Signs and Symptoms of Dehydration
With summer weather and its fun-filled activities around the corner, it is important to be aware of the causes and signs of dehydration in children. A combination of high and low impact movement facilitates water evaporation from our bodies. While a regular diet maintains healthy levels of salts and fluid that evaporates, our bodies can experience a chemical imbalance when exercise causes excessive sweating. This chemical imbalance can sometimes lead to dehydration, which can be dangerous for our children. Signs and symptoms of dehydration include a dry or sticky mouth, few or no tears when crying, eyes that look sunken, dry and cool skin, unusual irritability, drowsiness or dizziness; and in babies, the soft spot on top of the head appears sunken or fewer wet diapers than usual.
If you think your child is showing signs of early dehydration, you should act immediately. Children who are mildly dehydrated because of activity will be thirsty and should drink as much as they want. Plain water is the best option. They should rest in a cool, shaded spot until the lost fluid is replaced. A breastfed infant should continue to be nursed, even during rehydration, unless repeated vomiting occurs. Do not give a dehydrated child, soda, ginger ale, tea, fruit juice, gelatin desserts, or chicken broth. These don’t have the right mix of sugar and salts and can make the dehydration worse. Older children who are dehydrated can have sports drinks, but an oral rehydration solution (ORS) is best for young children and infants.
However, some dehydrated children do not improve when given an ORS, especially if they experience persistent bowel movements that are forceful or are often vomiting. When fluid losses cannot be replaced for these or other reasons, children might need to get intravenous (IV) fluids in the hospital. If you’re treating your child for dehydration at home and feel that there’s no improvement or that the dehydration is getting worse, call your doctor immediately or take your child to the nearest emergency room.
At Heaven’s Elect, we take precautions to assure your young loved ones remain comfortable and hydrated, especially on hot summer days. Our procedures to help with help with dehydration include:
- Children under 1 do not drink water unless we receive a doctor’s note.
- Children 1 to 3 years of age have sippy cups in the room and are given drinks upon request.
- Children 4 years of age and up to school age children bring in their own water bottles or we supply cups. They also have complete access to the two drinking fountains within the facility.
- Supply children with hats to help keep them cooler in our warm summer days.