Aimee's Playhouse Infant Care and Preschool

Welcome Friends Family and Parents! This site is a forum for anyone who has children in their life, as well as a peek into what Aimee's Playhouse is all about. We foster life long learners. Some great features about care at our facility are: Homemade meals (3 snacks & 1 hot lunch).
We serve mostly vegitarian food. Children are encouraged to be choice makers, risk takers and to expand their creativity through an environment that is carefully created to achieve these goals. We offer children long periods outdoors so they have enough time to become fully engaged in play and have a overhang in the back yard in order for us to play outdoors in poor weather. 6 seat Buggy rides are part of our weekly activities. There are no dittos offered, instead we learn through hands-on, meaningful experiences (ex: cause and efffect -using items in the water table- some float and some sink). The more experiences children have with their surroundings, the more they learn. We also prepare children for preschool by helping them develop empathy and concern for others. Pre-math, Early literacy and appreciation of the arts (music and mixed media) are incorporated into our curriculum. Preschool is M-F/9:30-11.

We are open M-F from 7am to 6pm. At this time we are full, with the next opening available in June (06). I encourage all parents who are looking at care to schedule and interview and at that time be placed on our waiting list. I also have referrals to other quality facilities in the area.

One Step Ahead (for ages 1-3) www.onestepahead.com

One Step Ahead is a great resource for new parents. when you visit their site you can find:

1. The Pac Back (carry your carseat--hands free) $39.95.

2. The Cradle Me Receiving Blanket (This blanket supports your newborn's head) $29.95

3. The Breastbottle Nurser (Comfoting nurser that infants accept more readily) $14.95

4. Clean and Comfy Shopping Cart Cover (Covers all of that dirty shopping cart seat) 29.95

I apologise for not rounding it off and giving you five, it just looks better. Some other cool items are Snuggle Sacks (they cover your child's car seat(hole for head) as they ride in the car, leaving them cozy, the 3 stage teethers (they develop to the needs of growing mouths and a huge assortment of safety items (magnetic door locks, stove knob covers, power strip protectors). 

Stress and Mixed Age Groups

I heard from a Mother/Care Provider recently who was becoming "burnt out." The message I heard was "How can I care for younger children and at the same time keep the school age child I care for entertained? We have been taking trips to the park, visiting the "jumpy houses." Now he's been saying he's bored. I don't know how to keep every one happy. I'm so stressed out!"

This is my experience with mixed age groups; It can be challenging. If you have one older child and 2-3 preschool/toddlers, your school ager might become dependent on you to entertain him/her.

Here are some ideas that might work:
1. Take good care of yourself first. Physically, emotionally and spiritually. Make some time during your waking hours to do for yourself. Even something little like playing the music YOU like while you're with the children, taking up a hobby in your free time, joining a gym or what ever pleases you the most. You wont have anything to give anyone else if you have given it all away. Have a good support network of friends to share your day with when things get tough; if you do not, try journaling -- its a nice release.

2. Explain to your school age child in care that there will be times during the day when you are not going to be available to "play" because the younger children who cannot tend to their own needs need you. This is not to say you wont be there, it is just that you're asking this person to understand your responsibilities. Life is not always about entertainment. You can let this person know that their will be active and quiet times through our each day.

3. Ask your school ager to pack an activity bag from home for the quiet times during the day. this can include books, lessons/homework, and other toys that you and the parents have okay'd.

4. Encourage your older child to assist you; lead an activity; pass out snack; host a circle time, or ask him if he would like to read the children a book or help them with a book-on-tape. This gives him leadership skills and builds empathy. Let the parents of the child know that this is your goal, they're sure to appreciate it.

5. If you have an opportunity, invite or enroll a child of the same age and same sex. Developmentally speaking, school age children gravitate toward their own sex when choosing friend. Peers are begining to become an important part of their lives as independent individuals. In turn, this will not only build a friendship between them, but take a little pressure off of you to be the "entertainer."

6. Ask family members what interests this child. Ask the child himself. Books on subjects that entertain him can be purchased or checked out from the library. Craft sets, model sets,
games, puzzles.

Last summer I began enrolling school-aged children. I found out first hand by trial and error what worked for me and the individuals who attended. We made soap (when the toddlers were taking a nap), Beaded safety pins and strung them onto an elastic band (this was a great one--that engaged them for at least 2 hours).

It's not always easy to say exactly what will work. When you observe and connect with the parents you can tailor your activities to meet the needs of everyone in the group.

 

The Importance of Friends 

Having Friends

These are the most important teachers in your childs early years (0-6):

1. Parents (Mother, Father, Siblings, Extended family and guardians --and any combination of these.
2. Environment (what is offered for child to explore)
3. Care givers (their relationship with your child and how they choose to arrange the environment, what is placed in the environment, and how they role model and how they handle conflict).

Number 3 is really dear to me as social relationships with others ARE THE ONE DETERMINING FACTOR IN SCHOOL AGE SUCESS. A provider's environment should offer activities which promote friendship and cooperation. Here are some great ones:

* Water table, Cooking in groups, Table Activites, and other activities which promote organization and sharing.
* Group art activites in which children have the opportunities to take turns/share.
* Opportunities for older children to assist younger or less experienced children such as group games, fingerplays, songs, caring for animals, etc.
All of these types of activities build MEGA SKILLS:
*Confidence: feeling able to do it
*Motivation: Wanting to do it
*Effort: Willing to work hard
* Responsibility: Doing what's right
*Initiative: Moving into action
*Perseverance: Completing what you start
*Caring: Showing concern for others
*Teamwork: Working with others
*Common Sense: Using good judgement
*Problem Solving: Putting what you know and what you can do into action
These are the values, the abilites, the inner engines of learning that determine success in school and beyond. We know they are important. Mega skills are not about getting an A on tomorrow's test. It's about getting an A in life.

Tips for Picky Eaters

Does your child act like you're trying to poison him everytime you offer broccoli?? Here are my favorite strategies to get your child interested in healthy foods.
First of all it is almost impossible to compete with the fast food industry when it comes to advertising. Aha! Parents posess something that they don't -- power to keep the T.V. to a minimum. I know, It's virtually impossible to filter out all the sources that push the "bad-for-you-food-that-tastes-oh-so-good": the grocery store's favorite place to put the candy is where? You guessed it-- right at the eye level of the kid in the cart at the check out lane.

Parents are the first and most important teachers in their childs life (oh, and you thought it was me--your friendly child care provider). Nope. Parents are role models; everything you do and say is being teletaped by your tot. Relax. You're a great person, with great habits. So what if your child still doesn't want to touch his goat cheese and spinach quiche? Weeelll, here are those tips I promised you;

1. As we grow older, our taste buds--well how do you put it--don't work as well as they did when we were younger. Ever see gram overload her soup with salt?? Aha... and it works in reverse for junior: plain, non-seasoned foods are probably just fine for your child. However, my daughter, she's an odd one; since she was 2 she's been able to eat purple onions like apples. Lucky for her, but not for me! Your child will give you cues, usually facial expressions indicating their like or dislike of the food offered.

2. We eat with all of our senses. Such is so true for junior; he even learns through all of his senses. If you offer a variety of colors and textures in small amounts your child is more likely to sample, and who knows, even like it!! And by the way, not alot of young people like their foods to touch. Separate please.

3. And this is a fun one because it also teaches your child some self competence skills; offer a mini buffet. when I say mini, I mean teeny. You're child's stomach is the size of her fist. Don't expect her to eat a whole lot of what is offered -- the fact that your child is even tasting it is reason for you to lavish them with all kinds of encouragement.

4, Don't forget to eat what the child is being offered. If you are eating cheetos and a coke, and they are being offered chicken stir fry you're not going to get the deal sealed! Now c'mon thats not really fair, is it??

5, Okay. Francine/Talulah/Mica/Shawndella/Esperanza/Miko will not touch a bite. You've been a good sport; what gives?? This is a great piece to understand: Your child grows in spurts unique to her (his) developmental needs. Therefore, there are going to be times when they just are not very hungry for lunch--even though they skipped breakfast! And in those times they may cling to some old standards. Did I hear anyone in the background say, Waffle?? Uh, oh. It's okay. In the worst case senarios, consult your pediatrician. They may recmmend a supplemental drink such as Ensure. You may need one yourself after all of the time invested in trying to get them to eat. Just kidding. Oh, and they'll probably give you the thumbs up for offering different healthy foods. Keep it up!!

6. Some times an oversion to a particular type of food can mean your child is allergic to it. I'm talking to you, milk, peanuts, legumes, wheat, eggs, soy... you know who you are. Do some research on what, if any, food alergies run in your family.

After a while children will eat some of what is on their plate. Be patient. One psychological trick that worked with my boys was "It's okay if you don't like it now, when you're bigger, you'll be ready to try different foods." One day my youngest said, "Look, Mom, I'm getting older; I ate some of my salad." So, I guess I only kinda tricked him?

I'm good but not that good. If I forgot any tips or you'd like to add some of your favorite strategies, please comment. I'll get 'em posted.

The Benefits of Painting for Ages 2-5

Painting is one of the simplist activities for young children that offers the most benefits. Painting with simple colors, brushes purchased at a discount store, scrap paper, and small containers for paint are easily available and not expensive. Remember; to minimize messes, choose a place that children are free to create without too many restrictions. We chose a table outside where we can use a hose to spray any paint from concrete after the project and old tee shirts to protect their clothing. Parents; a great idea for the small budding artist in your family is bath tub painting. this involves the child (in clothes that you don't mind paint getting on), non-toxic paint, and sponges or brushes. I used to let my daughter sit in an empty bathtub in her diaper only with these items and paint away (always supervised). They love the experience, and the clean-up is easy.

Here are some huge benefits children experience from painting in a group setting:
*Children gain small muscle control
*Children become familiar with color("I made a
yellow sun")
*Children begin to experiment with color (I found that yellow and blue make green) Children also begin to create expressively ("I made a poison zucchini"). Children also learn to cooperate, share and learn the dynamics of working with a group.

School Age Children Knit

knitting is a great skill which is easy to teach children between the ages of 6 and 12. It is something that they can do in the car on long trips, in a restaurant, or while waiting in the doctor's office. I can testify that as a Mother of three children between the ages 9,10 and 11, knitting relieves tension and illiminates bickering because they become so engaged in it. It also brings your family together; instead of everyone being in their bedrooms playing video games or entranced in T.V., knitting allows everyone to be in the same room doing the same thing.
Children are proud of their accomplishments and enjoy the process as well as the product of their efforts. A bonus is the confidence they feel as they teach their peers to master this skill.

For a great book ($17.95) to help teach children how to knit a host of fun and easy projects see www.astitchaboveknitting.com