The Impact of "Imagination"

Remember the original Mastercard commercial that took us on a parent's journey of buying that special toy for their child.  We witnessed the late-night wrapping and the precise placement under the holiday tree.  Yet, once the present was opened, it was the experience with the packaging box that was ‘priceless'.
Children see the world without limitations.  With every new endeavor, their minds begin to spin and their imaginations run wild.  Soon enough, they will turn in their creative juices and imaginative thoughts for assigned desks, pencil boxes, word families and art class only once a week.  So why not foster an environment of expressive creativity while we still have the chance?
Sparking a child's imagination is quite easy once the perceptions that expensive, store purchased toys are superior to any that are self-constructed.
To begin, gather an array of simple materials.  Sort the supplies according to similar attributes (such as color) and place each group in a small container.  Next, throw away all your preconceived ideas of what is ‘right' and ‘wrong'.  Present the containers, and, finally, HAVE FUN YOURSELF!
Children may choose to only open one container or only play with the items that they consider ‘soft'.  They may pick items of only one color or decide on a similar object that is offered in various colors.  The possibilities are endless! 
Introduce an idea, theme or feeling such as a tower, the beach or happiness.  Each child's interpretation of this particular suggestion will be original and extraordinary.  You will find that each child internalizes your invitation and will portray your idea according to the pictures in his or her imagination.   
Allowing children to freely create has multiple advantages to their development.  Through creative and imaginative play, children will have the opportunity to explore self-expression, cooperation, balance, trial and error, abstract thinking, sorting, communicative skills and literacy, fine and gross motor skills, among many others.  When ready for clean-up, simply ask the children to sort the items back into the containers.  Toddlers should be prompted to sort according to color or specific attribute to reinforce color recognition or attribute and literacy descriptive awareness.  Preschoolers will typically choose their own characteristic.  This activity has just as much importance in clean-up as it does during play.
Attached is a list of household, inexpensive supplies you can start with.  Now it's time to have some fun and let your imagination run wild!!!
The following is a list of items that can be included in your ‘Imagination ‘Station'.

• Toilet Paper or Paper Towel rolls
• Scraps of material
• Wood pieces*
• Ribbon / Twine
• Tissue Paper
• Cotton Balls
• Q-Tips
• Index Cards
• Straws
• Pipe Cleaners
• Buttons*
• Pom-poms
• Clothespins
• Marbles / Stones*
• Seashells*
• Styrofoam Peanuts
• Construction Paper
• Crazy cardboard pieces from various packaging (electronics, etc)
• Shower Curtain Rings
• Silk Flowers
• Shower Caps*
• Sponges

Any item can be added.  Think ‘outside the box'!  Once you have a good amount of supplies, present the boxes to your child(ren).  Invite them to freely construct whatever they can imagine out of the objects.  Set the example, of course, by playing and unlocking your imaginative juices too!  Presenting a theme or idea will enhance the experience.  Be sure to ask your child to tell you about their creation.  You never know-that clothespin with the pink tissue paper wrapped around it could be YOU from the beach last year!!

*Be sure to check ALL materials for age-appropriateness and safety.

Halloween Tips

Halloween is always a child’s favorite day-long celebration and has all the ingredients for building special family memories. Of course, we all know that although children dream and plan for Halloween throughout the year, parents worry about their child’s safety and physical well being.
Here are some helpful hints that will hopefully make your Halloween safer, less stressful and more enjoyable for your family:

When picking out a costume:

* Keep in mind the weather. Bulky costumes can be difficult for children to walk in. Make sure costumes are light and are made of material that allows children’s skin to breathe.

* Make sure materials are strong and sturdy. Children’s costumes see a lot of use during the day between school, parties and trick-or-treating. Make sure the costume cannot tear apart easily or get caught on anything.

* Check masks for breathing capabilities. This sounds like a no-brainer, but even if the mask has air holes, it does not mean holes are large enough or in the correct locations for your children to see clearly and get enough air. Make sure to test masks before buying them.

* Check make-up for skin allergies. If you are considering a costume that requires face or body painting, remember to test it on a small portion of your child’s hand to check for allergies.

When Trick-or-Treating:

* Younger children should always go with an adult and older children should never travel alone.

* Make sure children only visit houses with lights on.

* Bring a flashlight for areas that are not well lit or for emergency situations.

* Avoid dark-colored costumes and wear reflectors if crossing streets is necessary.

* Stay on sidewalks and only walk across streets at crosswalk locations, if possible.

* Never let children eat treats until packages are checked by an adult for suspicious alterations to a candy’s packaging.

When Decorating for Halloween:

* Children should never be allowed to use a knife to carve a pumpkin.

* Never let a child light a pumpkin or play with matches.

* If you leave lit pumpkins outside, make sure to extinguish them when they are not being observed. Also, keep lit pumpkins away from other decorations that are flammable, such as garland, fake cob webs or festive paper signs.

While Halloween is fun and brings neighborhoods together, it is important to remind your children that talking to strangers and taking candy from them without their parent’s or guardian’s knowledge is never okay. Remind them that it is never alright to talk or take candy from a stranger when you are not there and that it is NEVER permissible to travel with a stranger. Make sure to explain to your child that what you are explaining is for safety reasons and not to frighten him or her.
I hope that these tips help make Halloween more safe for your little princess or superhero, filling this Halloween with memories to last a lifetime.

Happy Halloween!

Winter Weather

With the temperatures quickly falling, this is the time of the year when parents are in an all-out war against the common cold. Children are coming home from childcare or school with the sneezes and the sniffles; parents need to know when it is appropriate for their children to stay home.
It is certainly a constant struggle balancing an ill child’s needs with job responsibilities and other daily commitments that adults must deal with. Of course, it is important to note, that sick children should be seen by a pediatrician. Below are some suggestions that should be used simply as a guide to help answer the age-old question: “My child is sick. What do I do?”

• Listen if your child says he does not feel well enough to go to school, especially if he is always eager to attend.
• If your child is sick at school and needs to come home, develop a back-up plan if you can’t pick her up within an hour.
• Stockpile a couple of sick days or vacation days in case you need to stay home with your child.
• When your child needs to be home, and you need to be at work, see if a friend or relative can be relied upon to watch the little one.
• Make sure your child has enough sleep, as it helps ward off illness and speeds recuperation.
• Dress your children adequately. Several thin layers will keep them dry and warm. Clothing for children should consist of thermal long johns, turtlenecks, one or two shirts, pants, sweater, coat, warm socks, boots, gloves or mittens, and a hat.
• Follow proper hygiene, such as frequent and thorough hand washing, sanitizing toys and doorknobs, etc.
• Inform your child’s teacher if you gave her any medication before school.
• Tell your child’s teacher if he is on a new diet or had eaten food that could cause stomach problems.

Don’t send your child to school if he has severe pain or a temperature above 100.5 degrees, or has any flu-like symptoms, such as vomiting, a sore throat and severe coughing. Other ailments, such as acute diarrhea, yellow eyes with discharge, infected, untreated skin patches, rapid breathing, skin lesions that are weeping or bleeding, and blood in the urine, calls for an immediate visit to a pediatrician.
And, never, ever send your child to school with over-the-counter medication without a doctor’s prescription and or prescription medication that has not been prescribed for the current illness. Staff will not be able to administer any medicine without up-to-date/current authorization.
Whether this winter brings severe storms, light dustings or just cold temperatures, I hope these tips will help keep your child safe, warm and healthy. And, perhaps, give you a little peace of mind.

**Reminder: it is important to note, that sick children should be seen by a pediatrician.

 

Kids in the Kitchen

Kid's In The Kitchen

When we think of kid's in the kitchen, the first thing that comes to mind is a big mess!
Believe it or not, kids and cooking go hand in hand and to them it's an edible craft project. Being able to prepare their own food builds a child's self esteem and will also get them to try different foods.  I always tell them "when you make it, it tastes better!"
First, always review safety, you must set boundaries in the kitchen. Second, review cleanliness including hand washing and covering their mouth when coughing or sneezing.

Try this at home!

Recipe of the month- Pizza-dillas
1 8 inch flour tortilla
3 tablespoons of your favorite pizza sauce
4 tablespoons of shredded mozzerella
Spread, sprinkle and fold. Place tortilla on hot griddle for 3 minutes and flip.
Then serve for a yummy tasty treat:-)

Scribbles and Giggles Child Care: Referral Program

Scribbles and Giggles Child Care: Referral Program: "ATTENTION PARENTS: Don't forget about our referral program. For every parent that you refer to us for a tour your child and their child ge..."

Referral Program

ATTENTION PARENTS:


Don't forget about our referral program. For every parent that you refer to us for a tour your child and their child get special gifts. If the family enrolls their child you will receive a $50.00 gift card to a store or restaurant of your choice. Word of mouth is the best form of advertising.


Thank you for being a loyal Scribbles & Giggles Fan!

What is play and why is it so important?

WHAT IS PLAY AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?

At dinnertime, your 6-month-old prefers grabbing the spoon to eating. When you unload the dishwasher, your 20-month-old wants to put the silverware away. In both situations, your child is pursuing what he does best: playing. Play is monumentally important to all aspects of child development -- it's how children of all ages learn. "I always tell parents, if you could see inside your child's brain you'd notice that every time he plays, connections are being made," says Roni Leiderman, PhD, coauthor of Gymboree Play and Learn: 1001 Fun Activities for Your Baby and Child.

As babies approach their first birthday, brain development and advances in motor skills (especially with their hands) fuel the next level of play. The senses are still important, of course. But instead of just wanting to know How does it feel, sound, and taste? they also want to know What happens if I drop it? What reaction will I get? If I do the same thing twice, will the exact same thing happen again? As your baby experiments with banging, throwing, and dropping, she's absorbing lessons in cause and effect. When she does something like knock over a tower of blocks she's just built, this is an important "aha!" moment. She realizes she can make things happen, and that delivers a strong message of empowerment and independence. For a child who has spent most of her life being carried around and told where she's going to sit and when she's going to nap, this is incredibly exciting. Suddenly, she has some control over her environment. She can choose where things will go. And she will conduct the same experiments over and over again. "Repetition gives children an opportunity to practice, and every time they do something they get better at it," says Betty Bordner, early childhood educator at the Strong National Museum of Play, in Rochester, New York.

Play Activities: Birth to 6 Months

• Rub baby's arms and legs with different fabrics such as satin and flannel.

• Faces fascinate babies. Place a mirror near baby's changing table, or draw faces on paper plates for baby.

Play Activities: 7 to 12 Months

• Create a crawling obstacle course out of different-size pillows.

• Place a favorite toy under a blanket, and encourage your baby to find it.

• Give baby a spoon and a pot, and let him bang away.

Play Activities: 1 to 2 Years

• Take your toddler on a nature walk. Let him fill a pail with the leaves, twigs, and pinecones he sees along the way.

• Create a photo album with portraits of people he loves or different animals, vehicles, or foods. Then encourage him to name each one.

Play Activities: 2 to 3 Years

• Children this age love to jump, climb, throw, run, dance, and do somersaults.

• Building block towers -- the taller the better -- is a favorite pursuit.

• Pretend play becomes a very important and common activity.