How to End the Pacifier Habit with Your Toddler

Pacifiers, or “binkies” are your child’s first loves. For many parents, this is the first tough decision you’ll have to make – when to introduce a pacifier, and when to take it away. Pacifiers are often used to soothe colicky babies, and it’s okay to feel relief when you hand your child a binkie mid-meltdown.

So, how do you know when the right time is to take a pacifier away? First, you should make sure you’re making safe choices when using a pacifier in the first place, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics:

• Look for a one-piece model because two-piece models can break apart
• The shield should be at least 1 inch across so your baby can’t swallow it
• Get a dishwasher safe pacifier for regular washes
• Inspect pacifiers regularly for damage and replace them when the rubber starts to change color or tear

Weaning Your Child Off of Pacifiers

Richard Dowell, PhD, a pediatric neuropsychologist at Evangelical Community Hospital in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania says, “Ultimately, children develop higher strategies to manage their distress – usually beginning at around age two. They phase out their pacifiers as they develop skills to replace them.”

Parents.com recommends to start removing the pacifier in “zero-distress” situations, like when you and your child are at home, and happy. Once he or she is used to not having the pacifier at home, try to eliminate use outside of the home.

Try to replace the pacifier with a blanket, or family photo – something that will bring your child comfort as you try to get them to only use the pacifier at home.

Remember: this will be a trying time! Be patient, and don’t give in to temper tantrums. Giving the pacifier back after a tantrum will teach your child that all he or she needs to do to get their way is throw a fit.

For other tips about toddler development, check out our other blog posts and visit our website!

How to Spend More Quality Time with Your Child

You lead a busy life when you have a toddler, and the hectic, noisy days can seem to go on and on. However, while the days with your babies or toddlers can seem long, the years will fly by! How can you make sure that you’re spending enough quality time with your children?

Harley A. Rotbart M.D., from Parents Magazine, writes, “Every day brings new growth, new milestones, and new wonderment, but the challenges of juggling our adult lives often prevent us from fully appreciating the delicate nuances of childhood.”

Rotbart recommends these ideas to optimize the time you spend with your kids:

• Practice parenting meditation: When you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s easy to switch into auto pilot with your kids. To try to stay in the moment with your kids, focus on really seeing them, hearing them, understanding them, and really take a minute to be amazed by the little one you’ve created.
• Take pajama walks: The hour before bedtime can be chaotic, especially with young children. To help them calm down, weather permitting, take a walk in your pajamas! Not only will it give your kids time to decompress, it will also give you time alone with them that might otherwise be spent in front of the TV.
• Don’t drive everywhere: If you’re able, try to go to the park, or a friend’s house by foot. Walking with your kids is a great way to get exercise, and spend some quality time together.
• Have a special treat day: Create traditions like having ice-cream sundaes after dinner on Friday nights, or a movie night once per week where you have popcorn. 

The key to all of these tips is to focus on turning every minute you spend with your children during a busy day into a memorable moment, rather than worrying about how much time you can spend each day with them.

At Little Angels, we spend a lot of time promoting friendship, creativity, imagination, and exploring nature. At our preschool in Ann Arbor, we know that every minute your child is learning and growing is important! To learn more about our teaching approach and curriculum, schedule a tour of our facility! Visit our website to learn more.

Fun Activities to do in the Snow

Enjoying another Michigan winter? Around here, snow and cold is a way of life. When the temperatures aren’t bitter cold, and the sidewalks are shoveled, it’s time to play!

There are so many great ways to enjoy the outdoors even in cold weather, and Parents.com has come up with some great activities to make sure you and your child are getting outside for fresh air every day.

Remember: bundle up! Exposed skin in temperatures 20 degrees or below is susceptible to frostbite! Make sure to layer your kids’ clothing. Avoid cotton, as it tends to hold moisture. Keep their body heat up by properly covering their little feet, hands, and heads.

Next up: fun in the snow!

1. Cool snow critters: take a break from the everyday snowman, and try making animal sculptures out of snow! Long caterpillars will come to life when you use sticks for antennas and pine cones for eyes.
2. Ice maker: when the temperature drops below freezing, you can blow bubbles with your child and watch them freeze on the end of the wand.
3. Tic tac snow: Draw a grid in the snow and use crisscrossed sticks and pine cones as game pieces.
4. For the birds: String cranberries, popcorn, and cereal onto fishing line and decorate the trees. Watch as the birds come for a snack!
5. Build a fort: You can use sand buckets, loaf pans, and even cut-up empty milk cartons to form the shape of a snow castle!

At Little Angels Preschool & Daycare, we go outside every day (except in the bitter cold, when we utilize the large play space in our building)! At our preschool in Ann Arbor, we’re always trying out fun new games that allow the children to use their imagination.

To find out more about our nature-inspired curriculum, schedule a tour today! You’ll meet our team and see our one of a kind outdoor play area. In addition, make sure to check out our friends at Hike It Baby Ann Arbor, a parent group in the Ann Arbor area focused on getting families outdoors together in a supportive and safe environment.

Arts & Crafts: Capture the Colors Of Spring

Spring is on its way! The weather is getting warmer, the grass is finally turning green again, and that gray color that’s been sticking around all winter is finally giving way to bright, spring colors!

At Little Angels, we go outside every day (even in the winter!), and spring coming back is one of our favorite times of the year. We do a lot of activities to celebrate spring, and want to share one that you can do at home with your child!

Observational Painting

Observational painting is a great way to let your kids use their imagination to describe how they see the world around them, and a way for them to practice matching colors to things they see in real life.

Take your kids outside and have them point out their favorite colors in things they see. You can even take a few photos on your phone so they have something to look at while they paint or draw.

Later, have them recreate the colors and designs they saw outside! To keep it clean, Crayola has a line of paints that are totally washable. If paint is still too messy for your kids, try colored pencils, crayons, or markers.

To add a craft element to your art project, clip some leaves and flowers from your garden and your kids can trace them to have more realistic leaves on their painting.

For the inspiration for this craft and to see more ideas, visit An Everyday Story!

To learn more about how we use arts and crafts to encourage freethinking and creativity at Little Angels, visit our website! As the trusted and preferred preschool in Ann Arbor, parents like you trust us to provide a safe and positive learning environment for toddlers in the Ann Arbor area. Join our family today!

5 Ways to Prep Your Kids for Daylight Saving Time

If you have small children at home, chances are your sleep schedule is already a bit irregular! Throw in daylight saving time, and it can be really hard to adjust everyone’s schedules, including your own.

Daylight saving time can act like jet lag, leaving you feeling groggy for a few days after the change. Whether it’s “springing forward” or “falling back,” the lack of sleep that usually occurs with this time change can be especially hard on your kids.

According to Parents.com, “Young children need more sleep and don’t tolerate sleep deprivation as well as adults. The loss of just one hour can really affect a child’s attention span, appetite, and overall mood.”

There are some easy ways you can help your kids adjust to this big change in their schedules, and help everyone in your home be in a better mood!

1. Take Baby Steps – Try making the adjustment gradually rather than just setting the clock forward or backward one night and expecting your child to adjust. Prepare the week beforehand by making bedtime a little bit earlier each night until your child is going to bed an hour before they usually do.
2. Control the Lights – Melatonin is a hormone that helps regulate the body’s internal clock, and it increases in the evening when it gets dark out. Daylight saving time can alter this schedule a little bit, and that’s when it gets hard for kids – they don’t want to go to sleep when it’s still light outside! To fix this, make sure your kids stop using electronics about 30 minutes before bedtime, including watching TV. This will help their brains relax before it’s time to sleep.
3. Stick with a Routine – It’s important to stick to a routine at bedtime. Even when you have to change the clocks, remember to keep the bedtime routine of washing up, reading, listening to music, or whatever relaxing activities they like the same even if their bedtime is changing.
4. Get Enough Sleep Now – Going into daylight saving time well-rested can greatly help your child because he or she won’t be cranky, which can make falling asleep even harder. 
5. Be Sympathetic – If your child’s mood is bad after daylight saving time, try to be more forgiving. Parents.com says, “The time change can cause such short-term changes in your child’s mood, but your understanding and support will help him or her adjust a little better.” 

Don’t forget – daylight saving time this year is on Sunday, March 12th! We hope these tips will help you, and your child have a smooth transition into the spring.

For more tips on how to deal with other behavioral issues with your child, check out our website! We’re the trusted and preferred preschool in Ann Arbor and work hard to provide children with a positive, encouraging learning space.

Practicing Words With Loose Parts

An interest in reading and writing may start early in some children, but developing small muscles may lead to frustration when the children can not accurately produce the symbol of their choosing. If your child likes to do puzzles or work with blocks and shapes, there’s an activity that could help them learn to spell at the same time!

Our friends at An Everyday Story are raving about Spielgaben, which is essentially a set of materials in curved and straight lines to mimic parts of letters. Your son or daughter can look at a word in front of them, and then re-create the word using these pieces.

Instead of spending money on a kit like this, you can use natural materials and craft materials, such as sticks, pipe-cleaners and even cut pieces of thick construction paper.

This activity encourages freethinking and requires your child to use their problem solving skills to choose the correct shaped pieces to form the word. Once they create it using the materials, try to get them to write it on a lined piece of paper.

If your son or daughter likes to create patterns, this activity would be perfect for them!

To find out more about how to encourage your kids to be creative while learning, visit our website! We believe in a natural play philosophy at Little Angels and want to encourage your child to use his or her imagination at all times.

Call us today to schedule a tour of our preschool in Ann Arbor!

7 Best Small Pets to Consider For Your Child

If you have small children and are trying to figure out a creative and fun way to teach them responsibility, consider getting them a pet!

Pets are a great way to teach values such as compassion, caring and responsibility, and having a pet will give your child a friend to spend time with.

We’ve compiled a list of seven small pets that are good for children, with help from Parents.com. Remember, when considering a pet for your child make sure to get your son or daughter tested for pet allergies before deciding. Long hair and short hair can make a difference!

1. Hamsters are easy to care for and can be trained to use litter. However, hamsters have a tendency to be rather nippy, and females can sometimes be aggressive. Larger breeds, such as the Syrian hamster, can adapt easier to being handled and would be better for small kids.
2. If you’re worried about hamsters being too aggressive for your kids, consider a guinea pig! These small animals have a gentle demeanor and don’t mind being handled as long as it’s done correctly. Guinea pigs also have a longer life span (5-7 years) so consider that and your child’s age when deciding to get one of these cuddly pets.
3. If you want to teach your child responsibility, get him or her a gerbil. According to Parents.com, “unlike hamsters and guinea pigs, gerbils have a relatively short lifespan -- about two years. Gerbils are not usually aggressive, so they can also be held, but they are very fast, so it won't be easy to hold them for long. This quickness means a lot of activity in the cage, which could pique your child's curiosity.”
4. If your child wants an interactive pet to form a bond with, a rat is a good choice. Rats are small pets that can learn tricks, are calm and laid back, and don’t mind being handled. Rats are easy to feed and are easily occupied by basic toys, but they also have short lifespans (2-3 years), so consider that when choosing this pet.
5. Rabbits are good for young children as long as there is also adult supervision. Like guinea pigs, rabbits are good for younger kids because they usually have a very gentle and sociable nature. This is especially important if you want to keep more than one rabbit in the same space. A rabbit can live from 8 to 12 years, can be litter-trained, and is easy to care for.
6. Chinchillas are a more exotic option for kids who want to watch what their pet does rather than have direct interaction with it. Although they're gentle, chinchillas can be very agile and quick and may not be appropriate for young children who aren't able to handle them. A chinchilla needs a dust bath two to three times a week, given outside of its cage; the cage should be multilevel so it can climb up and down. With a lifespan of around 12 to 15 years, chinchillas tend to live much longer than guinea pigs and other rodents.
7. Fish are also a great pet for small children, especially those who aren’t comfortable with a hands-on experience, but want to observe, instead. Feeding the fish and learning to clean the tank will teach them responsibility.

For more ideas, talk to your child’s teachers to find out how they can learn responsibility through having a pet!

At Little Angels Preschool & Daycare, we believe that experience-based learning is the best way to let kids grow. To find out more about why we're the most trusted preschool in Ann Arbor, schedule a tour of our facility today!

Discovery Bottles For Your Favorite Bedtime Story!

Does your child just LOVE a great story? They may love it even more brought to life in a discovery bottle!
 
Discovery bottles are an easy activity to go along with a story to make it more fun. We found this awesome activity on TeachPreschool.org.

Example provided by TeachPreschool.org

Materials:
Well it depends on which story you choose. But, it’s recommended that you use a Voss plastic water bottle, water, baby oil, and a drop of dish soap, and/or food color. Depending on the story you can put things in it that relate back to the story’s theme.
 
Directions:
While you read a story to your child have them look at the discovery bottle and describe what they see. You can also display the bottle with the book in their room.
 
For discovery bottle examples visit TeachPreschool.org for more information!
 
This activity lays down the building blocks needed for reading and comprehension development. This discovery bottle activity helps develop your child’s cognitive senses for memory, reading and analyzing. If you try this activity at home, please share pictures of your discovery bottles in the comment section below. We’d love to see the kind of fun you had while putting these discovery bottles together!

Little Angels Preschool in the Ann Arbor area has been serving Saline, Ypsilanti, 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!

Preschool Children and Grief in Ypsilanti

Have you lost someone recently?
 
Has a major tragedy cast a shadow over your life?
 
How do you cope with grief?
 
This is an important issue. Equally important is how the children in your life are coping with that same grief. When you lose a friend or family member, it can be hard to find time to deal with your feelings and to help your children do the same.

Little Angels is proud to serve preschool Ypsilanti children and their families, and we understand that it can be a stressful process to counsel a grieving child. However, there’s always a lesson that can be learned. As a parent it’s important that you let your child know as a family it’s important to be there for one another. This is a teachable moment for children on how to deal with stress and to teach sympathy/empathy.
 
Grief is as natural for children as it is for adults, but it can often show itself in different ways and for different amounts of time. According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, preschool age children usually view death as temporary and reversible. It may be some time until they accept the loss in their life as final.
 
Avoid the temptation to keep the truth from your children, as painful as it may be for you and them. Children can pick up on subtle signs, and often know when you’re lying. Being truthful with your child builds a connection of trust and allows you to be there for them to talk about their feelings.
 
Children’s grief can display itself as anger in the form of rough, aggressive play, irritability, and nightmares. The child may also temporarily “regress,” speaking and acting younger than they are, while demanding food or attention. Young children believe they are the cause of what happens around them, and may blame themselves for the death, leading to depression and withdrawal. Just remember that each child copes in his or her own unique way. Negative behaviors can be expressed but you should discourage them from becoming long term habits.
 
You only want the best for your child. We want the best for them too! The National Alliance for Grieving Children reports that grieving children often feel less alone when they can be with other kids who have experienced loss. For preschool Ypsilanti children, we recommend Ele's Place, a healing center for grieving children and teens. Four branch locations support families throughout the Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Flint and Lansing areas and beyond. You can learn more about them on our Online Resources page, under the “Parents” menu.
 
If you’re looking for more resources to teach your child about grief read these books recommended by The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).