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!
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!
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).
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
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:
- Take your child to a farmers market and have them pick a veggie.
- Try to offer a selection of different foods for salad night, taco night or pizza night.
- Make it fun by making faces with cut up veggies.
- Avoid battling over veggies.
- Offer new veggies with a familiar one.
- Don’t give up! Children’s appetites change over time.
- Make veggie popsicles and smoothies.
- Take advantage of peer pressure. If their friend is bold enough to try veggies, your child may follow.
- Try roasting veggies! It helps bring out their natural sweetness.
- Serve veggies with dip!
- Have veggies ready to eat as a go-to snack.
- Set a good example! Make sure your child sees you eat your own veggies. They will be more likely to do the same.
- 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!
Are you struggling to find time for yourself?
Do you constantly feel stressed?
Do you ever do anything for you?
It’s so important to rejuvenate! The Huffington Post puts this into great perspective, “The reality is that yes, we get to a point where we don’t care if there’s a little spit up on our shirt – but we also know that we need a break every now and then, too.”
Being a Parent is one of the coolest and most rewarding jobs on the planet! However, being a parent can be overwhelming and stressful if you don’t have the occasional break.
The Huffington Post suggests that “me” time is important because of the following:
- It helps to compartmentalize.
- It lets you see your child differently.
- It reminds you who you are.
- It extinguishes anger.
- It can make your partner appreciate you more.
Have you ever taken “me” time for yourself? Do you notice a difference in your energy or stress level? If you decide to take some “me” time, we’d like to know how it worked for you. Wouldn’t you like to have more sustained energy throughout the day?
Little Angels Preschool 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!
Are you bored of doing the same old thing every night?
Are you looking to do something fun and unique with your family this month?
It’s almost fall, so there are some fun events in town sure to get you excited about the upcoming holidays! Our kids experts here at Little Angels Preschool in Ypsilanti have brainstormed a few great ideas for you:
To name just a few…
- Visit the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market
- Go see “Close Encounters”: a benefit for The Creature Conservancy
- Attend Downtown Storytime at the Ypsilanti District Library
- Check out Wiard’s Orchards and Country Fair
- Go to the 42nd Anniversary Jamboree: Dawn Farm
- Spend some time at “The Littlest Scientist”: Ann Arbor Hand-On Museum
- Run the Corn Maze at Talladay Farms
- Celebrate at the 7th Annual Harvest Festival: Pittsfield Township Parks and Recreation
All of these events are family friendly, with many events, games, and fun for everyone!
For more events in your area visit: Ann Arbor Family.
Happy harvest!
