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.”

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!

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

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