Christmas Break Activities
With Christmas break right around the corner, many parents will be looking for some fun activities for their children. Here are a few you could give a try:
Create a snowman
Even a little snow is an opportunity to sculpt a snowman using the traditional carrot nose and button eyes. Or you can be creative and craft your snowman out of unique material. If there is no snow, build an indoor snowman using pillows or cotton balls. The important part is to have fun and use your imagination.
Craft a tree
You might have a real Christmas tree or a pre-lit artificial beauty to put presents under, but why stop there? Put your craft skills to work and create a holiday tree by cutting a tree and decorations out of unused material or making a tree out of holiday photos and cards on a wall.
Organize a cookie swap
Is your home filled with the aroma of fresh cookies? Your neighbors’ houses probably are too. Share some holiday goodies by hosting a neighborhood cookie swap. This event lets you spread cheer, share recipes, and taste a variety of tasty cookies!
Read a story by the tree
Everyone loves the Christmas tree, and what better place to gather the kids for a story. Of course, there are old favorites, like The Grinch Who Stole Christmas or The Night Before Christmas, but why not visit the bookstore and try some new Christmas-themed books? You might discover a new favorite bedtime story.
Hold a tacky Christmas sweater contest
Ugly Christmas sweaters have become almost as much a tradition as the Christmas tree or wreath. A “tacky Christmas sweater” party is a perfect way for family and friends to show off their fun finds. And don’t forget to include long-distance loved ones via Zoom or FaceTime!
Heaven’s Elect Christian Learning Center is a Non-denominational Christian childcare center fully licensed by the state of Michigan. Our Midland childcare center has been serving the community since 2000. Please get in touch with us at heavenselect.com.
Read MoreBenefits of Childcare for Childhood Development
The decision to send your little one to childcare can be a difficult one, no matter their age! You may be weighing the pros and cons of whether childcare is the best fit for your family and researching different options in the area that best align with your goals and values. Here are five of the top reasons that childcare can be beneficial to your child’s emotional, social, and behavioral development.
Consistent Routine
Childcare is an excellent way to incorporate daily routines into your child’s life. Their day follows a regular schedule with structured time for snacking, napping, playing, etc. Not only does this make it easier to maintain a routine in your child’s life at home, but it can also regulate their behavior day-to-day, including when you pick them up.
Social Development
Children flourish best when they have consistent and healthy social interaction, and childcare is a wonderful place to foster this! Important skills like manners, sharing, communication, and friendship are encouraged when your child interacts with other children and childcare workers daily.
Physical Health
Believe it or not, childcare has been linked to more positive physical health for children of all ages! Not only are little ones’ immune systems strengthened by constant interaction with others, but they are also given the opportunity to engage in consistent play and outdoor activities that can be massively beneficial for building a healthy lifestyle early.
Independence
Transitioning from spending all day every day with your child to routinely dropping them off at childcare can be a difficult one, but it can also be instrumental to their development as they begin to experience independence and autonomy! Your child will learn basic skills like putting their coat on themselves, cleaning up after snack time, etc. and take over many of the daily tasks you may be used to performing as their parent. This is an important stage in their development into a self-sufficient adult.
Easing Transition to School
No matter what age your little one is, they will one day transition into some form of out-of-home program or experience. Starting your child in childcare earlier in life has been shown to ease the transition into later programs such as Kindergarten and grade school. Mastering routines and communication styles can make it much easier for your child to ease into less laid-back school settings because they’ve already developed basic skills.
Heaven’s Elect Christian Learning Center is a Non-denominational Christian childcare center fully licensed by the state of Michigan. Our Midland childcare center has been serving the community since 2000. Please contact us at heavenselect.com.
Read MoreHalloween Festivities with Kids
As October 31st gets closer and closer, it’s likely you and your family are getting into the spooky spirit of Halloween. You might be just getting over the transition into the school year or daycare routines, and your child is likely excited to take part in the holiday festivities!
Here are a few ways to celebrate Halloween at home with your kids before trick-or-treating even starts:
Pumpkin Painting
Carving pumpkins is usually a Halloween must, but with small children it’s not always the safest activity. Using paint, sequins, glitter, or googly eyes is a fun and safe alternative that your kids are sure to love!
Scary Movie Marathon
There are plenty of Halloween movies to choose from (The Addams Family, Coco, etc.) that are family-friendly and spooky enough to get you and your kids in the holiday spirit. Pop some popcorn, grab a few blankets, and have a movie marathon!
Put on a Costume Fashion Show
Trick-or-treating just not a tradition in your family? No problem! Let your child(s) design their own costume and give you a fashion show in the living room – no walking around the neighborhood required!
Make Halloween Treats
There are hundreds of options for Halloween-inspired treats – pumpkin-shaped cookies, popcorn balls, pretzel ghosts dipped in white chocolate, marshmallows dipped in orange and yellow chocolate to look like candy corn. Pick a recipe off Pinterest and have a baking day with your kids!
Trip to the Pumpkin Patch
Nothing gets you and your family more into the autumn spirit than a trip to the local pumpkin patch. Pick out a few mini pumpkins or gourds, snack on some cider donuts, and try out a kid-friendly corn maze! There are many options in the Tri-City area: Leaman’s Applebarn, Johnson’s Pumpkin Farm, Grandpa Tiny’s Farm, etc.
Halloween-Inspired Crafts
Decorating your home for Halloween is a staple in many households, and your kids will love to take part by making a few crafts! Use leaves from outside for an autumn garland, paint paper plates to look like pumpkins or spooky monsters or make recyclable spiders using empty toilet paper tubes and construction paper!
Heaven’s Elect Christian Learning Center is a Non-denominational Christian childcare center fully licensed by the state of Michigan. Our Midland childcare center has been serving the community since 2000. Please contact us at heavenselect.com.
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Beating Childcare Jitters – Parents’ Edition
The first day of childcare can be a little overwhelming as a parent, especially if this is the first time you’re leaving your child in someone else’s care for long periods of time. This stress is normal, and some might say even a little healthy! That’s why it’s so important to take deep breaths, prepare in advance, and check out these 4 tips for beating childcare jitters:
Visit
It’s likely you went through extensive research to choose the childcare center that would fit best with you and your family’s needs and wants. So you’ve narrowed down your choices, chosen the best fit, and now are anxiously awaiting the first day of childcare. Visiting the childcare center in advance can help alleviate some of your nervousness. Often you’re most afraid of change – of not knowing what to expect or how your child will react to this new environment. Scheduling a visit in advance, and maybe even bringing your child along, can help begin the acclimation process early!
Get to know the childcare workers
As with visiting the childcare center before the first day, getting to know the adults your child will be spending time with can be hugely beneficial for calming your nerves! Learn their names, and use their names when talking to your child! This can help to demystify the whole childcare experience for you and your child.
Communicate with your child
It’s likely your child is just as nervous about starting childcare as you are, maybe even moreso! Depending on the age of your child, communicating with each other about what will be happening, how long they will be there, and reassuring them that you’ll still see them everyday can help ease the transition. Sometimes the most fear comes from being worried that your child will feel as though you’ve left them – continuously reminding them that you’ll only be gone for a few hours and they have nothing to be afraid of can help with both of your nerves!
Prepare in advance
Childcare can be stressful just due to transitioning out of your summer routine and into an entirely new day-to-day routine. Preparing in advance can help make this transition smoother! Preparing in advance might look like establishing new bedtimes weeks in advance, practicing getting ready in the morning or packing a lunch or making checklists to work on leading up to the first day. This makes the logistics of day care so much less scary for both you and your child if you’ve started getting used to these routines before you have to!
This might be a big transition for you and your family, but it’s also an important step. There will likely be a transition period, and that’s okay! There might be some tears and it might be hard to say good-bye to your child at first, but before long your child will be excited to go to childcare, play with other children, and participate in fun activities. Enjoy the adventure together!
Heaven’s Elect Christian Learning Center is a Non-denominational Christian childcare center fully licensed by the state of Michigan. Our Midland childcare center has been serving the community since 2000. Please contact us at heavenselect.com.
Read MoreBeach Day Must-Haves
As August winds down, now is the perfect time to make the best of the warm weather and sandy beaches to take your children on a beach day! Trips to the beach can sometimes be a hassle – sand in your car, treating sunburns for days after, etc. – but with a few of these preparations, you’ll be ready for a carefree and fun day in the water!
Before your outing, make sure you prepare in advance to avoid any missed items that you’ll regret later:
Hydrate!
While playing in the summer heat is a blast for your kids, it can also be very dangerous. Long days in the sun, especially if you and your child are being very active and playing, can cause serious dehydration. Pack plenty of water bottles, and even double check if there’s a visitor center on the beach that has a water fountain for refills, if needed.
Sun Protection
Sunscreen is a must have outdoors, but especially at the beach where there’s very little shade. Apply a sunscreen of at least 30 to yourself and your children 15 minutes before going outside. Re-apply every few hours, or as-needed if your child has been in the water and has washed some off.
Protective Clothing
Sunscreen isn’t the only way to prevent too much UV exposure! Bring along extra sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat to protect yourself while relaxing on the beach. If you or your children are especially fair-skinned, it doesn’t hurt to throw on a light t-shirt or cover-up to minimize exposure as well.
Snacks
No summer outing is complete without snacks, but they can especially be important after sweating and playing on the beach all day. Be sure to bring along some non-perishable snacks (crackers, chips, etc.) that won’t melt in the sun, and fuel up!
Hand Sanitizer & Wipes
It’s normal, and even healthy, for your children to make the most of your beach day and play in the elements, but safety is important too! Bringing along hand sanitizer and wipes ensures you and your children stay clean and healthy, even after swimming in the water and digging through the sand.
Heaven’s Elect Christian Learning Center is a Non-denominational Christian childcare center fully licensed by the state of Michigan. Our Midland childcare center has been serving the community since 2000. Please contact us at heavenselect.com.
Read MoreChild-Friendly Local Summer Field Trips
Having free time and beautiful weather to get out and about is one of the best parts of summer vacation! Here in the Tri-Cities, there are numerous fun, child-friendly, and affordable attractions for summer field trips to remember. Plan ahead, pack a bag of essentials for your day, and enjoy one of these Midland, Bay City, or Saginaw outings!
Dow Gardens
Dow Gardens features tons of paved walking trails, beautiful gardens in full bloom, and even the Dow Canopy Walk where you can hike through the treetops! This is a great spot to enjoy the outdoors and allow your children to stretch their legs and get some energy out. Dow Gardens also features a discounted price for children 6-17 ($2), and children 5 and under get in free!
Saginaw Children’s Zoo
Spending hours viewing animals is a blast for many children, and the Tri-Cities are lucky to have their own small Children’s Zoo in Saginaw! This zoo features over 150 animals, attractions, rides, and learning programs. This is an affordable trip, and you can even pick up a zoo pass to visit multiple times this summer!
Bay City State Park
Tucked into Bay City is its very own State Park on the shores of the Saginaw Bay. Close to home, plenty of space on the sand to set up camp for the day – this is the perfect location for a beach day getaway with your kids! Snag a Michigan Recreation Pass and access not only the shoreline, but also the playgrounds, miles of trails, and the local wetlands!
Great Lakes Loons
Many Midland residents know how much fun a summer ballgame can be, and a day at the Loons Stadium is the perfect outing for you and your kids! Throughout the summer the Loons Stadium features numerous promotions just for kids such as Kids Eat Free, Christmas in July, and numerous costume games.
Putt-Putt
Do you have a budding golfer in your home? There are numerous mini golf outing locations throughout the Tri-Cities: Kokomos (Saginaw), Valley Lanes (Midland), Buoy 18 Miniature Golf (Bay City). Escape the summer heat by playing an indoor game, or enjoy the sunshine outside on a mini course!
Heaven’s Elect Christian Learning Center is a Non-denominational Christian childcare center fully licensed by the state of Michigan. Our Midland childcare center has been serving the community since 2000. Please contact us at heavenselect.com.
Read MoreCreating Structure for Your Summer
The first few days, or weeks, of summer vacation are what your children likely look forward to all year. No early mornings, no hours at school or daycare, and no homework. However, as the summer goes on you may find your kids, and yourself, getting a little stir crazy. Check out some of these ways you can make the most of your summer with a little structure!
Take Advantage of the Outdoors
Summer is the perfect time to soak up the sun and play in the water as much as possible. For many children, exploring the outdoors is a highlight of their day! Encouraging your child to play outside at least once a day is a great way to not only support healthy exercise, but also channel that youthful energy into something productive outside of their normal school or daycare routine.
Create a Chore Chart
Depending on the age of your child, summertime is the perfect time to introduce chore charts and let your child help around the house in ways they may not be able to during the school year. Starting off with age-appropriate chores (setting the dinner table, sweeping the kitchen, watering flowers, etc.) provides great structure in your child’s day and encourages lifelong habits. Creating this type of structure during the summer also makes it much easier to transition these habits into the school year.
Get Crafty
What better way to keep you and your children occupied during the summer months than with a few homemade crafts? Younger children are likely used to being a bit artistic at daycare or school, and continuing these activities through the summer is a great way to encourage creativity and self-expression.
Get Out and About
A good way to add versatility and fun into your summer is to make an effort to go on at least one outing per week. Whether it’s a trip to the zoo, a beach day, a mini vacation, or even just a drive to a friend’s, getting out of the house once in a while will add some variety to your week!
Heaven’s Elect Christian Learning Center is a Non-denominational Christian childcare center fully licensed by the state of Michigan. Our Midland childcare center has been serving the community since 2000. Please contact us at heavenselect.com.
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