Friday, December 9, 2011

Monday, December 5, 2011

Money and Young Children

When you’re raising children, one of the most important things you, as a parent, can teach your children is how to handle their money. Children should be taught at a young age that they can't always get what they want, when they want it. This automatically means that you can, and must, say "no" to children every now and then. This is also a good opportunity to teach children that life involves making choices and dealing with money is one of many areas in life where we need to evaluate our options and make a choice.

Get a piggy bank for your preschooler and teach him or her about the different sizes and values of coins. As early as possible, let your child save and spend his own money (perhaps at the dollar store) for certain things that he or she wants to purchase.

Any allowance given to a young child should be small, so he or she will ‘run out’ of spending money and consequently learn how to budget. When you go shopping at the grocery store, give your child a small amount of money for example, $5.00, to buy a certain item and tell her she can keep the change. This will teach her how to get the ‘best deal’ for the item she was assigned to purchase.

One good way to get children to save is to say you will match whatever they save (out of their allowance) if they keep it in the bank for 6 months, 1 to 5 years, etc. Whatever they spend is gone and not matched. This way they will watch their savings grow!

When your child grows older, his needs will change. He may start to nag you for additional money so he can get something that everyone else has! Don't always give in to your child's request without asking for something in return. You may want to give your child some extra chores to earn additional money so he learns that it won’t just be handed out. As a parent, you are obliged to provide the roof over their heads and their meals, but it is also your job to prepare your child for the responsibilities of an adult.

Personally, I also feel there should be certain non-paid tasks that are your child’s responsibility as a contributing member of the family unit. This can start as early as age 2, when your child can help do little tasks like putting her socks in the drawer. It may take a little more time, but you are teaching your child a valuable lesson in helping the family and, in the process, your child will be proud of his or her accomplishments.

Once your child is old enough to understand, sit down and show him or her some of your monthly expenses. Many people keep their financial affairs from their children, but when you share this information with them, they know what to expect in the future.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Thanksgiving Turkey


Here is a fun Thanksgiving Project you can try at home! Get some child safe paint and a few paint brushes and paint each of your child’s fingers a different fall color! Paint his or her palm brown! Have your child press his or her handprint on a piece of paper to create a very special turkey!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Messy But Meaningful

Yes, Kangaroo Kids get Messy! The best learning experiences for children are hands on opportunities where they are truly engaged! Look at the light in their eyes during this hands on experience! They are learning about science and nature as well as expanding their vocabulary and learning social skills like taking turns and kindness to others!


Who would ever have thought so much could be learned from digging for worms!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Make Gathering Leaves A Learning Opportunity

A nature stroll to collect leaves can end with a math, science or literacy lesson! Have your children collect leaves then discuss how the transformation of leaves occur from green to the many beautiful colors of autumn as a science lesson. If you need a little help explaining photosynthesis and the entire leaf changing process visit this website http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html.

For your math lesson count, compare, and match the various sizes, shapes, and colors of the leaves! You can create your very Leaf Books by pasting the leaves into a few pieces of folded construction paper or by placing a leaf under the page and rubbing a crayon over the leaf to create a leaf rubbing book.

Children learn best through song so you can also sing a favorite fall song.

Here is a simple one to try:
Sung to: "Farmer in the Dell"

The leaves are falling down
The leaves are falling down
Red, yellow, green, and brown
The leaves are falling down

Amazing how a beautiful leaf can create so many learning opportunities!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Leaf Painting


Fall is a great time to explore the outdoors! There are endless learning opportunities as well as fitness fun during this season!

Take a hike through the crunchy leaves! Bring a few back leaves to the picnic table in the backyard and do some leave rubbings or put some paint in a pie tin and let your children be creative by painting with the leaves they collected to make their very own masterpiece.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween

Looking to make some homemade Halloween Ghosts with your little ones?

Paint the bottom of your child’s foot with some white child safe paint and let them step on a piece of black construction paper add a few dots for eyes when it dries.


Now, your child has had some sensory fun, a special time with you and you have a memento to store away for Halloweens to come!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

How Does Preschool Help A Child Grow?

What are some of the ways preschool helps a child grow? By Child psychiatrist Joshua Sparrow

For some children this may be the first time they're going into a group setting where the attention by caregivers will be divided among several children. Learning to share the relationship to the teacher will be a major new gain. Also, the child will be learning to make friends, share, take turns, and hold back on impulses, areas in which they're still making progress. Preschool will present them with more opportunities to practice these skills. They'll also have opportunities to learn about other children's feelings, and to discover the joy of being generous. It's very early, but you'll see examples where the child will say, "Do you want to play with this doll?" That's their little gift, and they're learning the internal pleasure they get out of that.

Also, at this age kids love the daily routine of preschool. They get excited about mastering the schedule — they know when storytime and snack and lunch and nap happen — and they're really thrilled with themselves. Their fantasy play becomes stronger around this age, and there are ways of being more elaborate with their imagination when other children are around. They also benefit from their peers in terms of language acquisition, and even motor development. You may start to see them climb up on a slide more readily, for instance.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Separation Anxiety

The transition to preschool is often marked with two steps forward, one step back, as your child grows and learns in amazing ways — but at the same time, regresses in some behaviors, too. In Scholastic for Parents, Child psychiatrist Joshua Sparrow, M.D., is an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School professor and co-author, with T. Berry Brazelton, of Touchpoints 3 to 6 and a former preschool teacher and gives this advice about how to ease your child's transition.

Starting preschool is a big step for many young children. What are some of the biggest challenges they face?
The most common challenge for most kids is saying goodbye to their parents, or trouble separating. For some children this may be their first time out of the home. Others may have separated before, but are now in a new, possibly more demanding situation.

How can parents help soothe their children's separation anxiety?
First, they can look within for whatever ambivalence they have about leaving their child, because he will pick up on those feelings. If there's any hesitation or discomfort or doubt — which there often is; you hate to leave your child when he's unhappy about it — but if you don't feel good about where you're leaving him, or about the fact that you have to leave him, your child's going to feel, "Well, maybe this isn't really a good place or idea." The first thing you have to do to prepare your child is to prepare yourself.

How else can parents help ease the transition for their preschooler?
There are a number of things you can do to prepare your child. Prior to starting school, take your child to visit the classroom and meet the teacher. If there's a way of having a playdate with one of the other children who will be attending the preschool, that's great, because then the children can welcome each other when they begin school. You could give your child a transitional object, like a favorite blanket or teddy bear they can carry around with them all day; or even a story so the teacher can read it. And give your child lots of reassurance that "Mommy's coming back," or "Daddy's coming back."

To reinforce the idea, you can play a little game in which something disappears from sight but your child rediscovers it. Roll a ball under the couch and say, "Look, we can't see it. Do you think it's still there? Let's go look." When your child finds the ball, you can say, "See, even though we couldn't see the ball it's still there, just like Mommy when she went to work." What you're doing is reinforcing "object permanence," a concept that comes earlier (by the end of the first year) but can be threatened by the emotional challenge that separation presents.

At Kangaroo Kids we encourage the parents to visit a number of times with their child before leaving the child on their first day of school. This helps the parent and child to form bonds with the teachers that will help to make the transition on the first day go more smoothly. A familiarity with the environment and new faces provides a more secure foundation for their first drop off at a new school. We also encourage parents to send a family photo that may get lots of wet kisses on the first few days.

Monday, August 15, 2011

What Children can Learn from Gardening?


Because children are naturally curious, they can learn many lessons through gardening and associated activities. What child doesn't like to play in the dirt, make mud pies, or check out the bugs and worms? Aside from this, other educational aspects of gardening might include:

Science - Talk to your child about the life cycle of a plant. What does it need to grow? Ask questions about environmental aspects-what will happen if it gets too cold, rains too much or not enough? Which seeds grow faster?

Math - Many math skills can be involved in planting a garden, such as measuring the space, counting seeds, spacing the seeds or plants, or comparing the sizes of seeds. You can also use a rain gauge to measure the amount of rainfall.

Art - Children can draw pictures of plants or possibly make a series of pictures of the vegetable or fruit from a seed as it grows to a full plant. They can make their own row markers by drawing a picture of the plant on a piece of paper or cardstock, then covering it with clear contact paper and gluing to a popsicle stick.

Language & Reading - Many libraries have books about gardening that parents can read with their children. Look at seed catalogs and let children help choose what to plant. As it gets closer to harvest time, help them look for recipes that might use items they have grown.

Gardening can teach children how to be responsible and care for something (feeding, weeding and watering) and give them a sense of accomplishment as they watch what they nurture grow.

Gardening also teaches patience, as they must wait and watch as plants thrive in their well tended garden.

Some great things to plant for children are Sunflowers, lettuces, radishes, snow peas, cherry tomatoes, squash and pumpkins.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Shaving Cream Fun!


Here is a great way to work on literacy skills and shape recognition in the summer, while enhancing creativity, too.

Put a big squirt of shaving cream on your picnic table and let your young artist explore.

You can add to the sensory fun by making shapes with the shaving cream or the letters of your child's name.
Painting – Be creative! Instead of just using a paint brush, let your child paint with different instruments such as rollers, matchbox cars, q-tips, or even their fingers!

You can even use those old apples to do stamp painting by cutting the apples in half and dipping them in paint.

If messy projects aren’t your favorite just give your child a new paint brush and a bucket of water and let them do their water art on the sidewalk!

You never know, you might be encouraging the next Picasso!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Playdough Fun

Sensory play is play that involves the use of one or more of the five senses, touch, sight, smell, taste and hearing. Children learn best when they can experience the world through all their senses. All week at Kangaroo Kids Summer Camp we are doing Messy But Meaningful projects!

Play dough is a good old standby, even for the toddlers! Mix the ingredients below and get out the cookie cutters and a rolling pin and let your child explore. Make a pretend birthday cake or form shapes and letters with the dough!

Play dough
1. 3 cups flour
2. 1 cup salt
3. 3 Tablespoons oil
4. 1 cup of water

You are involving your child’s sense of touch by allowing them to feel the soft flour and gooey mixture, their sense of smell by adding a little cinnamon to your playdough, their sense of site by all the creations and tools they use to make their playdough projects or mixing in different colors, their hearing by the discussion you have while creating the mixture and at times even their sense of taste as you redirect them from experiencing the taste of playdough.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Rover will like this Sensory Fun!

Here is an activity that will give you a sense of accomplishment while your child is having a fun sensory experience. Get a big bucket of water and the doggie shampoo and wash the dog together! You can teach your child about the fascinating chemistry of how the bubbles form (if you need a little help visithttp://chemistry.about.com/od/bubbles/a/bubblescience.htm ), or give your child a lesson in kindness to people and pets to reinforce social skills during the bathing!

Monday, July 25, 2011

Messy But Meaningful

Remember “Silly Putty” and “Slime?” If you enjoyed playing with either of these as a child here is a homemade version called "Goop" that you can make with your child. You may be encouraging a future scientist!

Goop
1. Two cups white glue
2. One cup liquid laundry starch

Mix together to an even consistency and have fun! Store Goop in the refrigerator.

Here is another recipe for a similar substance to Goop called "GAK". For those inquiring minds, see http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/00000039> for an explanation of the scientific principles involved in creating "GAK".

This week is “Messy But Meaningful at Kangaroo Kids,” so watch for lots of sensory activities you can do at home for some good educational fun!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Messy But Meaningful

If your child comes home from preschool looking picture perfect everyday, it is time to delve into the kinds of activities the class is doing during the day! Young children learn with all their senses and should have a variety of opportunities for exploration.

There will be times when children may get a little paint on their clothes or play dough under their fingernails, but in the process they are increasing their knowledge as well as developing their sense of creativity.

Children learn by mixing paints to create their individual artistic treasures, by splashing and playing in water to discover which objects sink or float, and by mixing the ingredients of their own special play dough to see how various substances integrate and how the combination changes the properties of the ingredients.

Next week’s theme at Kangaroo Kids Summer Camp is “Messy But Meaningful.” Log in all week to Kangaroo Kids Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kangaroo-Kids-Child-Care-and-Learning-Center/301126633639 to learn a little more about these wonderful projects, many of which you can do at home!

Monday, July 18, 2011

Healthy Snacks

This is Celebrity Chef Week at Kangaroo Kids so here are some healthy snack tips!

In our house, we always cut juice with about ½ amount of water, which cuts down on the sugar… and the best juices are the 100% variety, without sugar (not the diet kind). Of course, you can also freeze these as pops too, in an ice cube tray with popsicle sticks stuck in the middle. If your kids crave sodas, you can use sparkling water, in place of the ½ water as ‘replacement’ soda.

Unsweetened yogurt, with lots of berries mixed in is a great snack and can be eaten using low salt or unsalted pretzel sticks as ‘dippers’! This mixture can be frozen into popsicles with a pretzel used as the ‘stick’.

Fresh fruit smoothies are filling and nutritious and kids usually like them. Just fill up that blender with some ice and some of the fresh summer fruits, push the button and enjoy! Here are a few more smoothie recipes to keep you healthy all summer long! http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Drinks/Smoothies/Top.aspx

Muffins can be baked with bananas, carrots, zucchini and even sweet potatoes, so your child doesn’t even know they’re eating vegetables!

Kids usually like veggies with dips such as ranch dressing, hummus, and guacamole!

Popcorn with a sprinkling of nutritional yeast, gives the popcorn a ‘cheesy’ flavor, and adds B vitamins!

This spinach ball recipe is a great way to gets kids to eat their greens! And you can freeze them, and pop them in the microwave as needed - http://kidscooking.about.com/od/snacksdipsappetizers/r/Spinach-Balls-Recipe.htm. You can cut cheese into shapes with cookie cutters to make them more interesting to your kids!

Happy Snacking!

Friday, July 8, 2011

A Great Day for Water Play!

In the Waddler Room children enjoyed water adventures! Water play is good for children’s physical, cognitive, & social-emotional growth. When children pour water, they improve their physical dexterity & eye-hand coordination. By playing with others they develop social skills. They explore why certain objects sink in water and others float. Children learn concepts such as empty/full, before/after, shallow/deep, and heavy/light in a hands-on way. Children learn new words that go along with water play, such as funnel, surface, float, and strain.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Stranger Danger Education

‘STRANGER DANGER’
Summer is a time of adventure and outdoor activities and it is a good time to teach your child safety tips around strangers.
It is important to realize that children who have been shown pictures of grandmotherly, or pretty women, or kindly looking men, do not often consider these people strangers. Children only thought of the pictures that were made to look scary or dangerous as ‘strangers’. Here is a link for a quiz for children to recognize ‘strangers’: http://pediatrics.about.com/od/parentingquizzes/l/bl_strngdngr.htm
Also, a child is much more likely to be hurt by someone they know rather than a stranger, so it’s important to teach them ‘safe’ boundaries. i.e… When a relative/friend comes to visit, do not force your child to kiss or touch the person, unless they want to. They can be polite to adults, say hello without allowing physical contact. There are many ways to politely greet another person such as a hand shake, a wave, or a high five. If the child feels comfortable with the person/friend, they will naturally go to that person. ALLOW them to politely decline physical contact. This way they learn that there are times when it is okay to just say No to touching.
Teach your child to be polite, but that they have the right to say no, if something makes them really uncomfortable.
As far as strangers go, teach them the basics. Let them be aware not to speak to, go with, or accept gifts/candy from ANYONE they don’t know, even if that person is beautiful, kind looking. Let them know that it’s okay if you are with them to wave to or smile at a stranger in the grocery store, etc, but that if you are NOT present, it is important for them not to interact with strangers.
Let them know if they ever get ‘grabbed’ that it is important to make lots of noise; falling on the ground, kicking, screaming, fighting as hard as they can is okay in such a situation.
Also let them know that if someone threatens to hurt their parents or loved ones, if they say anything, that it is only an empty threat, and that their loved ones will be safe and protected from the ‘abuser.’
Practice scenarios with them at home. Giving them cues, i.e. . . . verbally saying “Will you help me look for my lost puppy?” And show what they should do. You can make a game of it, and have them ask you to help look for the puppy and you can run away screaming, so they laugh but get the message. Don’t just do this once, practice makes perfect!
Be calm and explain that the likelihood of this happening to them is small, but that it does not hurt to be aware just in case. Do not let your fear frighten them. Let them know that worrying won’t keep them safe, but knowing how to act can help protect them. An excellent video for children on Stranger Danger is produced by The Safe Side. It teaches about stranger danger without being scary and is presented in a fun, light manner. For more information you can go to http://www.thesafeside.com/?gclid=COCsgq3t0akCFcFo4Aodykt_6g

On a final note: If the child is lost in a store, let them know it is okay to go to a register and ask a store clerk for help, and if they are lost in the woods on a camping trip or something, that a fireman, policewoman, may be trying to help them. There have been cases where a child is so afraid of talking to strangers, that they will hide from ‘rescuers’ unless it is someone they know.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Learning A Second Language Can Boost Brain Power!

Did you know that bilinguals may have an advantage beyond just communicating with more diversity? Research shows that it may be better for your brain. Some preliminary evidence shows that being bilingual may actually physically remodel parts of the brain.

Knowing two or more languages truly gives kids so many advantages in life. Bilingual kids have the advantage of knowing two cultures, of being able to communicate with a wider variety of people, and the possibility of economic advantages in their future. An acquaintance of mine has a 28 year old son who just got passed over for a promotion because one of his competitors (who didn’t have the stellar business record that her son did) got the promotion solely because his advantage was speaking two languages.

There used to be a common misconception that children exposed to two languages from birth would become confused, or fall behind monolingual children. But new studies show that it may actually boost your brain power.

The advantages of bilingualism may be more than just ‘mental fitness.’ It may enhance the ability to multi-task. And there has been recent research that being bilingual may help stave off Alzheimer’s by at least 4 or more years!

http://www.npr.org/2011/04/04/135043787/being-bilingual-may-boost-your-brain-power

Research has shown that second language study offers many benefits to students in terms of improved communicative ability, cognitive development, cultural awareness, and job opportunities. Society as a whole also profits economically, politically, and socially when its citizens can communicate with and appreciate people from other countries and cultures. Parents and educators would be wise to take advantage of the many available opportunities and resources for second language learning for the benefit of children coming of age in the 21st century. http://www.childhoodaffirmations.com/general/child/5-6/language-1.html

Monday, June 20, 2011

Good Nutrition

Summer is a good time to encourage healthy eating! Delicious fruits and veggies are everywhere!
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has revamped their tradition food pyramid to account for the different dietary needs of individuals. You can find out more information at http://www.choosemyplate.gov/
According to the Child Care Education Institute, “Veggies should account for about 30 percent of a meal, as should grains (at least half of which should be high fiber whole grains).
It is worth noting that the USDA and most dieticians, place as much emphasis on calories as on food types. In particular, they warn against giving children sugary beverages, which unfortunately account for a large percentage of many children's daily calories and have been shown to contribute greatly to childhood obesity.
Child care professionals and parents are strongly encouraged to check out the resources available on the USDA website. Experts at the USDA have done the homework for you! They have research-backed information to help grownups make informed decisions and set good examples for the children in their lives.”

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father’s Day!! Did you know…. The idea of Father's Day was conceived slightly more than a century ago by Sonora Dodd! There are an estimated 70.1 million Dad’s across the nation, 16,010 hardware stores, and 22,116 sporting goods stores! Wishing all Dad’s a wonderful day!

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Flag Day

Today is Flag Day! Do you know why our flag is red, white and blue? To the original members of the Continental Congress, red stood for hardiness and courage, white for purity and innocence, and blue for vigilance and justice. To learn more about our flag go to http://www.usflag.org/history/flagday.html

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Save Our Oceans

New Jersey is a coastal state and it is important for us to take care of one our most valuable natural resources, the ocean! The world’s oceans not only provide spectacular views as you watch the rhythmic tranquil waves of a calm day or the fierce crashing waves of a stormy day but it also provides much of the food we eat and generates most of the oxygen we breathe. It is an endless recreational resource for swimmers, boaters, and surfers and provides a career for many people throughout the world. It helps to regulate our climate and offers us a pharmacopoeia of potential medicines, not to mention those soothing seaweed wraps that many companies offer as an option for good health. The ocean has inspired artists and poets, and soothed the nerves of many everyday folks as they stroll through the gentle ocean breezes.

Our seas provide a wealth of diverse kinds of life but unfortunately due to the destruction of our coral reefs and some destructive fishing practices this diversity of life is being greatly reduced.

How can we help to protect our oceans?

We can help by reducing our carbon footprint, so turn off those lights and bike when possible or try to carpool or take public transit.

Choose to eat fish that are in abundant supply or are fished without harm to our oceans and coastline. You can visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium website http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/download.aspx to download a pocket guide of sustainable seafood.

You can also take care of our oceans by not polluting, properly disposing of trash, and avoiding the use of pesticides that run into our streams and oceans.

World Oceans Day will be celebrated on June 8th, and hundreds of aquariums, zoos, museums, conservation organizations and Kangaroo Kids Child Care and Learning Center, as well as thousands of individuals around the world will participate with fun, inspirational, and educational events. The 2011 and 2012 theme is Youth: the Next Wave for Change

So join Kangaroo Kids and wear blue on June 8th and spread the word about the importance of our oceans and how we can protect them.

World Ocean Day.org has provided a few ways we can do our part to protect our blue planet:
Take the The Seven C's Challenge for Ocean Conservation:
• Commit to making a real difference
This year create a vision for a sustainable future and strive to achieve it!
• Conserve in your home
When replacing appliances, upgrade to “greener" options and install compact fluorescent and LED light bulbs.
• Consume consciously
Rethink what you “need”, purchase “green” products, and buy locally grown foods and locally caught sustainable seafood.
• Communicate your interests and concerns
Share your interest in a healthy ocean with a child, with friends, family, colleagues, and the local media or social networking sites.
• Challenge yourself daily
It’s not always easy but try to walk, bike, carpool, and take public transportation to cut down your coral-reef harming carbon emissions.
• Connect in your community
Meet new friends and make a difference by getting active as a volunteer with a local watershed or ocean group.
• Celebrate our ocean!
Take part in a World Oceans Day activity near you or plan your own for June 8th.

Find more information and inspiration at: www.WorldOceansDay.org and www.SeasTheDay.org

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Caterpillar's Get a Haircut

The grand finale of the caterpillar project was a haircut! It was great fun plus a wonderful fine motor activity to enhance writing skills!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

PANTY HOSE GRASS CATERPILLAR PROJECT

With all the rain we have been having lately Kangaroo Kids Prekindergarten class has resorted to some indoor gardening! It has been a valuable lesson in science and literacy as children used their journals to document the changes their grass caterpillars went through at each stage of their growth!

Here is how you can make a grass caterpillar at home:
Put some newspaper or an old plastic table cloth on your work surface.

Get a bag of soil and some grass seed and mix them together in an old bowl or tin pan.

Find an old pair of panty hose and cut it so you have one leg available for the caterpillar.

Fill the panty hose with the mixture of soil and grass seed.

Twist and tie off the open end so your mixture stays inside the stocking.

Use some string to tie off a few section of the caterpillar.

Now you just need to care for your caterpillar by spraying it with a little water every day to keep it moist. Have fun observing the changes! Find a notebook and have your child draw or write about what they see as an old stocking transforms into a lovely grass “caterpillar.”

Monday, May 23, 2011

“May is Fitness Month. Get Moving, America!”

Set the stage now with your children for a lifetime of fitness! With the rising rates of obesity, heart disease and depression, now is the time to role model a healthy lifestyle for our children. Sports and fitness activities not only increase fitness levels and keep weight down, but can also provide a hobby for life, and build lasting friendships. Here are a few tips to “Get Moving!”

1. Put exercise on your calendar! Making an appointment with yourself to exercise is just as important as your other commitments. Schedule time for exercise and it will soon be part of your routine.

2. Find a cause! The summer provides many opportunities for walks-- 5K or one mile family runs -- or bike rides for charities. Your family will be getting fit and helping others at the same time! What a valuable lesson for children stay fit and be involved in your community. Most states have running associations that list all events. Here are links for New Jersey to get you started: http://www.raceforum.com/ or http://www.runwalkjog.com/newjersey.htm

3. Get up and dance! Just turn on the music and have some fun in your living room. In addition to dancing being great exercise, the music can be uplifting as well. Create a “Dancing with the Family Event,” instead of, “Dancing with the Stars”! Have a family dance contest. It’s sure to get some laughs as well as providing a good source of exercise! Don’t forget to add some impromptu costumes to liven up the performance! There are many opportunities now for Moms and Dads to learn to dance. Interest in both ballroom and country western dancing has grown tremendously, so you can find lessons in studios and clubs in your area.

4. Join a team or sign up for some type of lessons as a family. Play softball, take a karate lesson or go to a Zumba or Jazzercise class. Many of these organizations have family events where parents and children can participate together. Park and Environmental Centers like http://www.somersetcountyparks.org/parksfacilities/eec/EEC.html provide many outdoor activities in hiking, kayaking, and outdoor education opportunities.

5. Exercise with your dog. But first, just like making sure you are healthy before taking on a new exercise routine it is also important to make sure Fido is fit for the new program whether it’s the addition of Frisbee or fetch sessions, or gradually increasing your daily walks. Remember a pet is a long term, year round commitment regardless of the weather or other events in your life. So if you don’t have a pet make sure your ready for the all the added responsibility before adding a dog to your exercise regimen!

6. Just get outside! In today’s high tech world, families spend so much time on computers, I phones, and television, reducing time devoted to exercise and socialization. Turn off the electronics and get outside. You can go for a walk or just play catch in the backyard or if you feel these activities are not productive enough, have your child help plant a garden or pull the weeds. This will help you accomplish something while everyone is increasing their (arm, back and core) strength bending, digging and weeding!

For more information about fitness month and national statistics on fitness visit the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sport at http://www.fitness.gov/

Friday, May 13, 2011

Outdoor Classroom

Spring is a great time to use the Outdoors as a classroom. Sensory experiences are in full bloom with trees budding and flowers emerging. Large motor skills which are so crucial in today’s high tech computer focused world can be developed by visiting the local playground, taking a nature walk or going for a bike ride. It is also good time to appreciate nature and to discuss ideas for how we can save our earth by taking care of the environment.

Don’t forget to dig for worms on one of those rainy spring mornings, it will not only enhance the fine motor skills children need for writing but will be a wonderful science lesson. Did you know Charles Darwin spent 39 years studying earthworms more than 100 years ago? We always hear they are good for our gardens but do you know why? Worms tunnel deeply in the soil and bring subsoil closer to the surface mixing it with the topsoil. Slime, a secretion of earthworms, contains nitrogen. Nitrogen is an important nutrient for plants. So there you have a science lesson for your child.

If you are not the type to dig for worms just take a picnic lunch and a blanket in the back yard and lie down and talk about the different types of clouds and weather patterns. Here is a kid’s site to review the different types of clouds before you venture out http://eo.ucar.edu/webweather/cloud3.html.

Don’t forget those hand eye coordination activities of throwing and catching! You may be developing a future Olympian! There are so many ways children can learn as you create an “Outdoor Classroom.”

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Happy Mother's Day

The most important gift you can give your Mom is time! Offer to give her a few hours to read a book or just relax! Volunteer to fix that leaky faucet or paint the room she has wanted to paint! Take her to her favorite activity whether it is a round of tennis, a walk on the beach or a trip to a special play! Make her day special!

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Children Learn Through Play

Children Learn through play! They are Explorers, Problem solvers and Inventors and love to learn through discovery. It is important they learn to ask their own questions and figure out answers rather than becoming passive, dependent learners.

At Kangaroo Kids we are building the foundations for future learning and encouraging a love of learning that will last a lifetime. Here are some tips to encourage a love of learning through daily activities. Encourage your child to join in family events like cooking. They will learn mathematical skills regarding fractions as they use your measurement tools. They will learn scientific principals as they see solids and liquids combining and changing to make new substances. They will add to their vocabulary as you use different words like spices, peeling, nutrition, and culinary. Cooking provides endless sensory experiences, fine motor skills and most importantly the time together will help to build lasting family bonds. It will also enhance your child’s self confidence as they successfully complete a task. In the next blog we will explore some of the ways children can learn through other everyday activities.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Garbage-Less Lunches

It is important to take care of our Earth everyday! Last week the Pre-K classroom at Kangaroo Kids collected and saved all of their garbage. “Sounds disgusting I know, however, the reason for this was so the children can visualize how much “stuff” we throw away and waste,” said Pre—K lead teacher Miss Misse. They also had a special day where every family packed a “Garbage-less" lunch!

Why not help the environment and pack “Garbage-less,” lunch every day! I know it’s a challenge, but here are some hints from Miss Misse so we can all pitch in to Save the Earth!

Instead of disposable juice boxes, pour your favorite drink into a leak-proof bottle. Reuse yogurt, margarine, dip, and hummus containers to hold snacks. Declare an end to soggy, squished sandwiches, crumbled cookies, and broken chips by keeping them safe in a solid, resealable container. Cloth napkins save forests, and you can use them hundreds of times. Real silverware can replace plastic spoons and forks. Pack it all up in a reusable fabric or plastic lunch bag, instead of brown paper or plastic grocery store bag. This will also to keep your hot food warm and cold food cool. Misse always role models activities that protect our natural resources as she even sips her daily beverages from a mason jar! These are just some suggestions; get creative! Hopefully, some of these creative ideas will inspire you to have a garbage-less lunch everyday!

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Children Learn Through All Their Senses

Children learn by using all their senses! Hands on learning is the best method for them to acquire new knowledge. All aspects of learning should be taken into account in planning a developmentally appropriate program, as well as, an awareness of individual learning styles. The environment is very crucial and should be stimulating yet supportive and encouraging. Children learn from every object they touch and every interaction they have with others. Interactions with children should include engaged conversation that extends their thinking, active listening, and eye contact because it says I value you and what you are saying. As any teacher or parent can tell you, they also learn a great deal by example, as they mimic or repeat some of our actions and choices of vocabulary.
Spring is the perfect time to take children outside to enhance their senses! They will use all their senses to see, smell and touch the beautiful flowers growing and trees budding. They will hear the birds chirping. Why not pack a healthy snack and take a nature walk to stimulate all their senses and have a great bonding experience.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Celebrate Week of the Young Child at Home!

Celebrate the Week of the Young Child April 10th to 16th with your children! Take a moment to read a special book or work on a cooperative craft or art project. Children love helping in the kitchen and will be thrilled to help prepare dinner or dessert for the family. If you are going to bake something with your child, perhaps you can even make extra and bring the baked goods to a local nursing home, shelter or other community institution! Community outings are always special and places such as libraries and children’s museums may be participating in special events to celebrate the week. Please don’t forget that the best possible way to connect with your child is simply to talk to them. Drop the cell phone, put away the computer, get at their eye level and engage your child in sustained conversation. A free and invaluable way to get into the mind and heart of your child!

Friday, April 8, 2011

Week of the Young Child - April 10th -16th

Week of the Young Child is an annual event sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). NAEYC, the world’s largest early childhood education association, has nearly 90,000 members and is committed to providing and promoting excellence in early childhood education. The primary goal of the Week of the Young Child is to celebrate and bring attention to the unique qualities and needs of young children and their families. Also, the Week of the Young Child is a time to honor the educators and other professionals who nurture and provide safe, loving educational environments that can greatly impact the lives of young children. This year’s theme is “Early Years Are Learning Years,” and celebrations will begin April 10th.

The Week of the Young Child was first established by NAEYC in 1971 and honors more than 35 million children nationwide, and the families, teachers, caregivers, and other adults who help children make the most of the opportunities of their early years. The event was created to focus on the fact that a child’s future academic and professional success has its’ foundations in the care the child is afforded during the formative years (birth through five). Popular literature illustrates that during these early years children develop essential social, physical, cognitive and communicative abilities and that the level of these abilities are greatly advanced in the presence of constant, responsive and consistent care. In today’s economic times, where many families have two working parents, the importance of high quality early childhood programs is critical. High quality interactions include, but are not limited to, sustained and engaged play, open-ended conversations, individualized learning experiences and recognition of the importance of family involvement.

Approximately 13 million infants, toddlers, and preschool children are regularly in non-parental care in the United States, including 45% of children younger than one year. Young children and their families depend on high-quality education and care, which help children get a great start and bring lasting benefits to New Jersey. The Week of the Young Child is also a time to recognize the importance of early learning and early literacy, and to celebrate the teachers and policies that bring early childhood education to young children.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Oh my NO TV?!?!

Here are a few ideas of other things to do during Turn Off Your TV:
1. Volunteer in a school to teach reading, math, computer skills.
2. Learn to play the guitar or other musical instrument.
3. Attend community concerts.
4. Organize a community clean-up.
5. Put together a puzzle.
6. Visit the library. Borrow a book. Attend library activities.
7. Go ice skating or roller skating.
8. Listen to the radio.
9. Visit the zoo.
10. Paint a picture, a mural or a room.
11. Attend a high school sporting event.
12. Find out about your area's community center or park's activities.
13. Go swimming. Join a community swim team.
14. Read a book aloud to your younger sister/brother.
15. Plan a picnic or barbecue.
16. Go bird watching.
17. Volunteer for a community organization or charity.
18. Play with your pet.
19. Go dancing.
20. Write a letter to a friend or relative.
21. Learn to cook.
22. Plant a flower, vegetable or herb garden.
23. Read magazines or newspapers.
24. Plan a slumber party.
25. Start a neighborhood basketball, soccer, or kickball game.
26. Go camping (even if it's just in the backyard!).
27. Join a choir.
28. Go through your closets and clothes. Donate surplus items to Goodwill, the Salvation Army or a local rummage sale.
29. Start a diary/journal.
30. Go to a museum.
31. Take a nature hike. Collect seeds and leaves. Make a collage with the materials you collected and post it on the refrigerator.
32. Play cards.
33. Start a community exercise group that power walks, runs, or bikes.
34. Read a story to your younger brother or sister.
35. Get out the family photo album. Research your family history.
36. Go listen to a local band.
37. Make crafts to give as gifts.
38. Make up a story and write it down.
39. Learn to say simple phrases in a few different languages.
40. Ask an older family member to tell you a story about his or her childhood. Write about it.
41. Learn some new riddles or jokes.
42. Bake two batches of cookies; one for your family and one for a neighbor.
43. Watch the night sky through binoculars; identify the different constellations. Observe the moon.
44. Visit a local bookstore.
45. Go to a movie with your family or friends.
46. Walk to work or school.
47. Start a kids bowling league.
48. Train for a 5K race.
49. Teach a neighbor about a computer program.
50. Go fishing.
51. Begin a family project.
52. HAVE A PARTY TO CELEBRATE A TV-FREE WEEK.
These were prepared by tvturnoff.org. You can find more information at http://www.turnoffyourtv.com/turnoffweek/TV.turnoff.week.html

National Turn Off The TV Week

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT TV from tvturnoff.org
•Number of 30-second commercials seen in a year by an average child: 20,000

•Number of minutes per week that parents spend in meaningful conversation with their children: 38.5

•Number of minutes per week that the average child watches television: 1,680

•Percentage of children ages 6-17 who have TV's in their bedrooms: 50

•Percentage of day care centers that use TV during a typical day: 70

•Hours per year the average American youth spends in school: 900 hours

•Hours per year the average American youth watches television: 1500

•Percentage of Americans that regularly watch television while eating dinner: 66

ABOUT TV-FREE AMERICA AND THE NATIONAL TV-TURNOFF WEEK
TV-Free America is a national nonprofit organization that was founded in 1994 to raise awareness about the harmful effects of excessive television-watching and encourage Americans to reduce the amount of television that they watch--and replace TV time with activities that lead to more literate, productive lives and engaged citizenship.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Choosing A Good Book For Your Child

How to Choose Good Books For Your Child

“One approach is to look for award-winning books. There are two famous awards for children's literature made each year by the American Library Association that are good indicators of quality work: the Caldecott Medal for illustration and the Newbery Medal for writing. But these are given to only two of the approximately 2,500 new children's books published each year,” according to Kathryn Perkinson from the United States Department of Education. Your local librarian can give your recommendations of books best suited to your child’s age and interests.

You can also go to http://www.parents.com/fun/book-gallery/ to find some of the best books for your child, organized by age. Scholastic also has many suggestions for books to read with your infant and toddler at http://www.scholastic.com/resources/article/choose-books-for-your-baby-and-toddler/.

Reading a variety of books to children including alphabet, number, narrative, predictable, rhyming, fiction, non-fiction, and poetry books give children a vast experience with books.

Reading books with a plot also teaches children that stories have a beginning, middle, and end which helps with their recall and their ability to comprehend sequences of events.

For young children you want to make sure the books are durable, so choosing a cloth book for babies and a cardboard book for toddlers is a helpful so they can explore the books on their own.

Happy Reading!

Monday, March 21, 2011

Literacy

Literacy is the growing ability of children to construct meaning from print. The ability to read and write begins at birth as parents talk and read to infants and toddlers. Literacy skills, which are the ability to listen, speak, read, and write are all interdependent. These skills open to door to academic achievement and provide lifelong opportunities for learning, exploring, personal expression and pleasure.

Partner's In Education Conference

Don't miss our conference, "Partner's In Education," April 2nd at RVCC!! The keynote will be presented by nationally renowned, Gigi Schweikert. The topic will be “The Power of One Positive Person,” Have you ever thought about the incredible power you have to make a positive difference in the lives of those around you? The positive ...choices you make each day, the ways in which you help others, and even your smile can change the course of a day, and in some situations, the course of a life. Join the NJCCA for this informational and humorous keynote session that will renew your spirit and affirm your commitment to working with young children and their families. One positive person does make a difference. Is that positive person you? It can be you!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Benefits of Reading

Benefits of reading!
It’s rewarding. Reading to your child can be one of the most rewarding activities you share. There’s an emotional closeness and connection that comes from a shared interest. That connection will change through the years, but the times spent together reading will have helped to establish it and ensure that it grows.

It’s an active mental process. Reading makes you use your brain! While reading, you engage your mind in thinking and reasoning to understand things which are unfamiliar to you. You become smarter! Children’s books often include many pictures which give the child a viewpoint on what is happening in the story. Children enjoy the activity of pointing out the shapes and pictures they recognize. Activities that involve identifying items helps increase a child's image recognition skills.

It can help improve your vocabulary. Reading can introduce new words you wouldn’t be exposed to otherwise (especially in challenging books). You also learn to infer the meaning of new words by reading the context of the other words in the sentence. Toddlers who are developing speech patterns and verbal recognition often prefer the same books over and over again. The language and pictures appeal to them and the repetition of the same stories and rhymes can be very beneficial to their acquisition of language.

It gives you a glimpse into other cultures and places of the world: You can learn about the lives of other people by reading about them. Reading increases awareness and gives you insight into the diversity of people, their customs, and their lifestyles.

It can help improve concentration and focus. Reading books requires you to focus for longer periods than when you read magazines, Internet posts or e-mails. Those are necessarily smaller chunks of information, but books tell the whole story. Since you must concentrate to read, with practice, your ability to concentrate will get better.

It helps build self-esteem: The more you read, the more knowledgeable you become. With more knowledge comes more confidence. More confidence builds self-esteem. Five year olds who are starting to read often want to read the same stories over and over because they recognize the words and this creates a level of comfort. When children practice on new books and new words, they build their confidence.

It can help improve memory: Many studies show if you don’t use your memory, you lose it. Reading helps you stretch your memory “muscles” by requiring you to remember details of facts and figures and, in literature, plot lines, themes and characters.

It can help improve your discipline. Making time to read is something we all know we should do. Add book reading to your daily schedule and stick to it.

It can help improve creativity. Reading on a variety of subjects exposes you to new ideas and more information. It helps develop the creative side of your brain and adds to your thinking process. Reading with children fosters an appreciation for the entertainment and educational values of books. Books can fire the imagination by introducing new concepts and experiences. Most children enjoy playing make believe and pretending. Reading with them provides new ideas for their pretend play.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

30 Ideas To Encourage Reading

What you can do to help your child be successful at reading:
1. Babble back to your infants
2. Use “parentese” with your infant (high pitched voice)
3. Encourage conversation
4. Teach site words. e.g., McDonalds, Lucky Charms, Barney
5. Dramatic play and using props such as puppets can be great opportunities for conversation
6. Speak another language you are wiring the brain for a lifetime of multiple languages
7. Encourage drawing and inventive spelling
8. Script – write their story and make it into a book
9. In addition to reading stories, include rhymes, songs and other languages (Frere Jacques)
10. Place labels on furniture and objects in your child’s environment to create a print rich environment
11. Make shopping lists with your child
12. Read and cook recipes together
13. Look for letters on the Menu when you go out to eat
14. Look in magazines for pictures that begin with the letter you are studying and cut them out.
15. Make an alphabet book
16. Read a book and then ask children a few questions to test their comprehension
17. Glue letters from an alphabet cereal on a piece of paper.
18. Put alphabet cereal on a plate and help children make their names out of the cereal
19. Keep magnetic letters on the refrigerator.
20. Make up silly songs starting with the letter you are studying.
21. Talk to your child
22. Sing with your child
23. Read to your child everyday
24. Make up silly rhyming songs with your child
25. Provide writing materials
26. Limit television watching and when you do watch, be sure to guide your children to appropriate shows
27. Role model reading
28. Visit libraries and bookstores
29. Select a quality child care program
30. Read to children and ask them to predict what will happen next.

For more information, visit the “Reading is Fundamental” website at:
http://www.rif.org/us/literacy-resources/articles/getting-your-child-to-love-reading.htm

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Read Across America

Schools all over the world will celebrate Dr. Seuss’s Birthday on March 2nd. It is also the start of “Read Across America”, the National Education Association’s annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss.

Reading is one of the key components for academic success!

Help your child fall in love with reading by making it a special time with you!

Here are a few tips to help your child become a reader:

• Talk with your child — even infants — this increases language development.
• Make reading time fun by being animated and dynamic when you read!
• Role model reading.
• Ask open-ended questions that encourage a sense of wonder, imagination and creative thinking. Typical open-ended questions are “How” and “Why” questions and questions that don’t have one specific answer. They teach children to think and be creative!!

Upcoming Conference on Early Childhood Education by RVCC & NJCCA

Check out our flyer for this conference on April 2nd, 2011.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Parent Partnerships

Parental Involvement

It is important, regardless of the age of your child, to stay involved!  When you’re involved, you send the message that your child is valued and that his/her activities are worthy of your time.  It also helps to keep the avenues of communication open and builds lasting bonds. 
  1. Parent partnerships are crucial to a high quality educational program.
  2. There should be an open door policy where parents are welcome to visit at anytime.
  3. Parents should be encouraged to be involved and participate in the program.
  4. There should be a respectful environment for all cultures.
  5. Ask what type of communications parents can expect to receive?  Here are a few possibilities:
Tracking sheets
Newsletters
Parent Conferences
  1. Are there events that involve the family?
  2. Is the school involved in any community service projects?

Make sure the programs you child is involved in value the importance of creating a partnership with parents.  Whether it is at school with the teachers, or with the coaches on a sport team, or group leaders in other activities, working together creates the best environment for your child. 

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Playdough Recipe

Winter Fun!  There is nothing like the family gathering to build a snowman or to go sledding down the local hill.  When it is time to come inside for some warm cocoa and indoor activities, here is a recipe that will keep those young explorers busy.  Make some homemade playdough!
Playdough
  1. 3 cups flour
  2. 1 cup salt
  3. 3 Tablespoons oil
  4. 1 cup of water
In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients together.  You can add food coloring to make the playdough more colorful. 
Then have fun rolling, shaping and cutting the playdough.  Children can use cookie cutters, or, for a learning experience, have them form the playdough into shapes or letters.  Just for fun, create a playdough birthday cake and use straws for the pretend candles. 

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Preschool Curriculum

Curriculum

What is important in a Preschool Curriculum?  At Kangaroo Kids Child Care & Learning Center we believe that if children enjoy the process of learning it has lifelong benefits!  The preschool age is such an important window of opportunity in the learning process so make sure your child is in a program that values education and presents the material in a developmentally appropriate manner. 
  1. Curriculum should be stimulating, creative and developmentally appropriate so children are challenged but not frustrated.
  2. Curriculum should be individualized.  Children have different learning styles and the program should be designed to meet the needs of each individual.
  3. There should be a variety of hands on experiences.  Children learn by doing.
  4. Development of the total child should be taken into account.  All the domains of learning should be covered in the curriculum:  intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development.
  5. What constitutes Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum (DAP)?
    • Age appropriate activities
    • Hands on learning
    • Many opportunities for sensory experiences
    • Child-directed activities where children have choice.
  6. You should see evidence of planning, including a written educational philosophy, curriculum, and lesson plans.
  7.  You should see evidence of multicultural aspects to the curriculum.
  8. Outdoor play is crucial for a child’s development and there should be time spent outside every day.
  9. There should be an assessment system in place where portfolios are kept on each child documenting their learning and developmental milestones. 
  10. Artwork should allow children to express individual flair as opposed to a cookie cutter project where each one is identical.
  11. You should see children enjoying the process of learning.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

What Is Important in a Preschool Environment?

This is the 3rd in a 5 part series on Choosing a Preschool or Child Care Program for your child.  The most important aspect to consider when selecting a school is the staff.  See the blog, Choosing A Preschool – “Who is Teaching My Child? Making A Decision: What is Best of My Child?” for information on what to look when observing teachers.  The next topic was safety.  Today we will cover what to look for in the environment. 
The best environment for children is where they can function most of the day in small groups.  This environment provides children with many opportunities for choice and a variety of activities and experiences.  The environment can be a great tool for learning and a resource for information if it is print rich and has high quality materials easily accessible to children.
1.       The room should be set up in “centers” where children can chose varied activities.  For example, some of the centers you should see are a reading center, a science center, a dramatic play area, an art center.
2.       Children’s artwork should be displayed in manner pleasing to the eye.  This shows that the children’s work is respected and appreciated.
3.       There should be soft areas in the room where children can cuddle up with a good book.
4.       There should be high quality books available for children.
5.       The toys and materials should be age appropriate to avoid frustration or boredom.
6.       The younger the age group, the more important it is to have duplicate toys, as children are just learning to share.
7.       Shelves should be organized and well labeled.  Even toddlers can learn to be helpful in keeping their environment neat if the shelves are well labeled with pictorial labeling as well as words.  The added benefits are that children learn that they are competent individuals and that cooperation is important.  They also develop pride in a job well done.  Labeling also helps to facilitate their literacy experiences. 
8.        The environment should be Interesting and stimulating, without being overwhelming.
9.       Although there will be large group activities like circle time or morning meeting, most of the day children should be in small groups.  This gives them more time for quality interactions with the teachers and more opportunity for language experiences. 

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Is My Child's School Safe? Choosing A Preschool or Child Care

First and foremost, is the facility you are considering safe?  Here are some of the aspects you should consider regarding safety:
1.        The facility should be clean, bright and safe!  Look for or ask about these areas of safety:
          Is the facility secure from strangers?
          Are the doors secured, yet parents have free access?

2.         Are Emergency Plans and procedures posted?
          What are the emergency pick up procedures?
          Are there procedures notifying parents of early closing or weather delays?
          Do they conduct monthly fire drills? 
          Look for posted logs – schools are required to post a log of their fire drills.
          Are there Emergency Evacuation plans?  You may have to ask about this as some plans are confidential.  Schools should a plan even if they can’t divulge the specifics.

3.           Is the environment safe?
          Proper ratios are key to good supervision and safely monitoring children.  Infant rooms should have a maximum of 1 teacher to 4 children and preschool classes should have a maximum of 1 to 10. 
          Is there an open door policy?  Parents should be able to visit at anytime. 
          Are there viewing windows?
          Are all the electrical outlets covered?
          Are all hazardous materials, including medications, out of reach of children?

4.        Playground surface
          Is the playground surface soft?
          Is the playground area protected by a fence?
          Has the playground been inspected?
          Is there adequate and engaged supervision on the playground?

5.            Clean
          Is the facility clean?  A preschool facility is an active place and you may see a little paint on the floor or playdough on the tables, but the overall appearance of the facility should be clean.  If it is too sterile, you might question if developmentally appropriate activities are happening.
          Are children and teachers required to constantly wash their hands?
          How are toys cleaned?
          How often is the facility cleaned?

6.         Credentials
           All schools in NJ must be licensed; is the school licensed?
          Accreditation is the gold standard of quality; is the school accredited?
          All schools should be inspected by the fire inspector and health department.  Has the school been inspected?

7.         Health policies
          Are medical records kept on all children including current immunization records.
          Are there policies for dealing with sick children?
          Are there policies regarding giving children medications?

8.          Staff
          Is staff trained in CPR and First Aid for young children?
          How are staff credentials checked?
           Does the school require fingerprinting, Cari Check, references and health records?
           Do the teachers receiving ongoing training and continuing education opportunities?

Give Kangaroo Kids a call at 908-231-7800 or send an email if you would like to receive a checklist to use as you visit schools.