Can Your Child Express Their Feelings Well? Try this Activity at Home!

Is your child vocal about their feelings?
 
Can they explain critical parts of a story?
 
Can your child recognize feeling words like sad, hurt, confused, loved, etc.?
We recommend this great activity to practice vocabulary and expression that we found on FamilyEducation.com:
 

Materials
•  Your child's favorite book

Directions
•  You can take a favorite story a step further after you read it by asking the child what a particular character felt like at some point in the story.
•  Help to extend vocabulary as your child searches for ways to explain feelings.

Extensions
•  Make a list of words together that describe what a character felt.
•  Ask the child if there is another way the story could have ended.
•  Ask if there is another way a character could have acted.
•  Ask the child how they feel about a particular part of a story.

This is a fun activity to do toward bedtime to boost your child’s understanding of the characters in their favorite story. The earlier your child develops analytical and logical thinking skills, the easier reading will become!  

Little Angels Preschool in Ypsilanti have been serving Saline, Ann Arbor, Milan, Pittsfield Township, and the surrounding areas for more than 20 years. Your child will gain positive self-esteem, confidence and a healthy sense of value through Experienced-Based-Learning at our daycare center. Call (734) 998-0233 to schedule a tour!

Shape Matchup Activity!

Want to set your child up for success by teaching him or her all about shapes?
 
Can your child already recognize certain shapes because of everyday items found around your house?
 
Is your child aware of different size objects around your home?
 
We recommend a great activity to practice shapes and sizes by Trish Kuffner, found on FamilyEducation.com:
 
Materials

• Colored construction paper 
• White construction paper 
• Pen or marker 
• Scissors 

Directions

1. Cut basic shapes (circle, square, rectangle, triangle, heart, and so on) out of colored construction paper. 
2. Trace all the shapes onto a piece of white construction paper. 
3. Have your child match the colored shapes to those drawn on the white paper.  

This might seem like just a fun playtime activity, but you’re really helping your child to be set up for success. Want your child to be the next great mathematician? The earlier fundamentals are learned, the better your child will perform in school and beyond! This shape matchup activity helps develop your child’s cognitive senses for math concepts from geometry to sorting and patterning.

Little Angels Preschool in Ypsilanti have been serving Saline, Ann Arbor, Milan, Pittsfield Township, and the surrounding areas for more than 20 years. Your child will gain positive self-esteem, confidence and a healthy sense of value through Experienced-Based-Learning at our daycare center. Call (734) 998-0233 to schedule a tour!

Baby Talk or No Baby Talk That is Thee Question!

Yay or nay for baby talk?
 
Do you believe that imitating your babies babbling can be beneficial to your child’s vocabulary growth?
 
Or, do you think that speaking in a regular tone rather than a sing-song voice would be just as beneficial for your child, and that’s why you don’t baby talk?

According to PBS Parents, “Experts call this musical way of talking “parentese” and report there’s a true value to it. Parentese helps parents and caregivers connect to their babies and helps babies develop language skills.” If it can help benefit your child in the long run, why not try speaking baby talk every now and then. It couldn’t hurt!
 
With baby talk every child is exposed to drawn out vowels and exaggerated facial expressions, which allow a baby’s brain to remember the sounds they hear to help better recognize language. Before you know it, your baby will be rolling out sentences and performing in the school play!
 
Has baby talk worked for your children? Why are you for or against baby talk? Let’s start the conversation on our blog in the comment section.

Little Angels Preschool in Ypsilanti have been serving Saline, Ann Arbor, Milan, Pittsfield Township, and the surrounding areas for more than 20 years. Your child will gain positive self-esteem, confidence and a healthy sense of value through Experienced-Based-Learning at our daycare center. Call (734) 998-0233 to schedule a tour!

11 Ways to Grow Family Time!

Do you want to spend more time bonding as a family?
 
Day-to-day tasks that need to be done at home would be a great place to start! Chores can teach your child the valuable skills and lessons they need for their future. In addition, chores give children a connection and a sense of purpose in your family.  

Our teachers at Little Angels Preschool in Ypsilanti have compiled a list of chores you can do as a family around your home, including:

1.    Fold laundry
2.    Dust shelves
3.    Wash dishes
4.    Make beds
5.    Clean up toys
6.    Pull weeds
7.    Plant flowers
8.    Shovel snow
9.    Bring in light grocery items
10.    Cook or help prep dinner
11.    Clean spills and dirt
 
Imagine how fulfilled you’ll feel when your family feels a sense of closeness after you’ve added bonding time. The more time you spend together, the closer the family bond you’ll have for years to come!
 
Have you tried implementing something like this already in your home? Do you notice a difference in your family’s closeness or your child’s skills? If you decide to try some of these chores as a family, we’d like to know how it worked for your family.

Little Angels Preschool in Ypsilanti have been serving Pittsfield Township, Saline, Ann Arbor, Milan, and the surrounding areas for more than 20 years. Your child will gain positive self-esteem, confidence and a healthy sense of value through Experienced-Based-Learning at our daycare center. Call (734) 998-0233 to schedule a tour!

Looking for Family Groups in Ypsilanti or Ann Arbor?

Are you looking for parent or family support groups in Ypsilanti or the surrounding areas?
 
There are many parents in the area who have similar interests and children at the same milestones as your family. Many groups in the area provide opportunities for parents to mingle, get advice, and support each other in their parenting endeavors.

Some groups in the area include:
 
1. Hike it Baby
2. La Leche League
3. Ann Arbor Parents Without Partners
4. Ann Arbor Parents Meetup Group
5. Lamaze Family Center
6. Saint Joseph Hospital Breastfeeding Club
7. Ann Arbor Baby Wearers
 
If you need a few more suggestions on family groups in the area, feel free to ask our staff. We’re always willing to help support and guide our Little Angels parents and guardians.
 
If you decide to try some of these parent groups, we’d like to know how they work for you. In addition, are there any other alternative parent groups that you’re already a part of that you’d like to suggest to other parents? Please let us know in the comments! At Little Angels Preschool in Ypsilanti serving Saline, Ann Arbor, Milan, Pittsfield Township, and the surrounding areas, we’re dedicated to our students’ health and well-being. (734) 998-0233

13 Tips to Help Your Child Eat Their Veggies at Home & at Their Preschool in Ypsilanti

Children go through phases of what they will or will not eat, this is normal. We know as parents that we want our children to have a diverse palate and nutritious meals.

Our teachers at preschool in Ypsilanti suggest the best thing to do is not force your child to eat veggies, but make it a fun experience!

According to WebMD, a few proven ways to get kids to eat more veggies include:

1. Take your child to a farmers market and have them pick a veggie.
2. Try to offer a selection of different foods for salad night, taco night or pizza night.
3. Make it fun by making faces with cut up veggies.
4. Avoid battling over veggies.
5. Offer new veggies with a familiar one.
6. Don’t give up! Children’s appetites change over time.
7. Make veggie popsicles and smoothies.
8. Take advantage of peer pressure. If their friend is bold enough to try veggies, your child may follow.
9. Try roasting veggies! It helps bring out their natural sweetness.
10. Serve veggies with dip!
11. Have veggies ready to eat as a go-to snack.
12. Set a good example! Make sure your child sees you eat your own veggies. They will be more likely to do the same.
13. Sneak veggies into baked goods.

If you decide to try some of these tips to help your child eat more veggies, we’d like to know if it was successful. Imagine clean plates and no complaints at dinner time! We hope that your child becomes more adventurous in their eating habits, as well as, a better health role model for the future.

Little Angels Preschool in Ypsilanti have been serving Saline, Ann Arbor, Milan, Pittsfield Township, and the surrounding areas for more than 20 years. Your child will gain positive self-esteem, confidence and a healthy sense of value through Experienced-Based-Learning at our daycare center. Call (734) 998-0233 to schedule a tour!

The Ultimate Guide to the Right Car Seat for Every Age & Stage

Are you overwhelmed by the abundant selection of car seat choices?

Don’t worry! We have the 411 on car seats!

Whether your child is an infant or toddler, there’s a special car seat made just for them! 

According to Consumer Reports, “about 80 percent of parents and caregivers experience some level of misuse when using seats that include a harness, so it's important to carefully read the owner's manual for both your vehicle and your child's car seat.”

At Little Angels Preschool & Daycare in Ypsilanti, we like to ensure the safety of our students and their families. So, we have a few suggestions on how to pick the right car seat for your child including:

Infant Car Seats: (4-25 lbs.) Unless your baby is born before 37 weeks, you’ll buy this car seat when your baby is first born. These car seats have a comfy cushion surrounding every corner to embrace your baby.

Car beds: (born before 37 weeks or have special needs) These car beds are perfect for preemies because they feature a slant, enabling your baby to ride safely lying down. 

Convertible Car Seats: (25-100 lbs.) These car seats grow with your child, so you’ll only have to buy one car seat in your child’s lifetime. However, they are typically not compatible with strollers and can’t be used as a carrier.

 

Booster Car Seats: (30 to 40 lbs., maximum weight 70 to 120 lbs.) The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children ride in safety seats until the age of seven, and if your child is small, it may be wise to keep your baby in one even longer.

We hope this information will help you become more aware of the car seat options at your disposal. At Little Angels Preschool & Daycare Ypsilanti, we’re dedicated to our students’ health and well-being. We want to ensure the safety of our students and their families.

Do you know of a parent looking for a quality daycare in Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor or the surrounding areas? Please encourage them to contact us to schedule a tour of Little Angels Preschool & Daycare.

5 Tips to Improve Communication with Your Child

Many parents feel that communicating with their child can become a struggle. Something to keep in mind; a child’s brain can keep only four ideas in short-term memory at one time (even less in younger children). With our Little Angels Preschool in Ypsilanti’s 5 tips to improve communication, you’ll be on the fast track to smoother days with your child!

According to Psychology Today, the four most common methods to avoid in communicating with children are the following:

1. Talking too much
2. Nagging
3. Listening poorly
4. Failing to apologize

Here are a few suggestions to try in your communication with your child:

1. Limit the conversation (short and simple) – this helps them absorb the information better.
2. Allow your child to manage the situation better by loosening the reins (give choices you both would accept).
3. Try turning off your electronic devices when you come home from work.
4. Set an example on how to fess up after making a mistake and learn the proper way to apologize. State the mistake, apologize, and explain how to improve the relationship/situation.
5. Limit tasks – younger children may only retain 2-3 things at a time. Good rule of thumb is one task for every year old for 5 years and younger.

Give these recommendations a try. Your child will be more responsive and you will strengthen your parent-child relationship at the same time.

If you decide to try some of these things with your child, we’d like to know how it works for you. In addition, are there any other alternatives that already work for you that you’d like to suggest to other parents? Please let us know in the comments!

We hope this information will help you become more aware of your parent-child interactions. At Little Angels Preschool in Ypsilanti, we are dedicated to our students’ health and well-being.