Minimizing Holiday Stress!

Dos and Don’ts of Minimizing Children’s Holiday Stress

By Barbara Thornton

During this holiday period, there are lots of fun activities and events going on both at home and at school, and while this is a good thing, holiday stress does cause varying degrees of anxiety in children.

Routines are important! Loss of sleep, change in diet and over stimulation can result in unhappiness for everyone, but these effects are often greater for children.  So DO keep your child’s eating, sleeping and activity schedule as close to regular as possible. And when a change in routine is inevitable, try to get back on track as soon as you can.  And DON’T let your child overdo on sweets.

DON’T over schedule your child.  Don’t say yes to every invitation or request, or you will end up with more activities than your family can happily handle.  DON’T forget – less is more.

If you are the type who must plan, then -

DO plan quiet time:

Reading stories

Hot cocoa and popcorn

Movie night at the house

Writing Holiday cards with a grandparent

DO plan activities to keep your child moving:

            Going skating

Swimming at the YMCA

Outside play dates

            Nature walks

DO watch your child’s cues. If you see your child starting to get tired or acting cranky, changing your plans may save you lots of grief in the long run.  You may need to take a snack break, or add a nap on a day you didn’t expect it would be needed.

DO remember that you are the most important role model for your child.

Set a calm example. Keep things in perspective. Don’t set unrealistic expectation for yourself or your family members.  Don’t compare the present with romanticized memories of holidays past.

DON’T blow things out of proportion.  Even when things don’t go the way you had hoped, remember that a disaster now results in a funny story later.

DO take care of yourself.  This may seem counter-intuitive with the holiday season messages, but being at your best is the most important gift you can give your family. Pay attention to your own needs and feelings during the holiday.  One way to help alleviate your own stress is to take advantage of Parent’s Night Out at Kangaroo Kids.

DO accept that there will be stress. But DO live in the moment, DO appreciate every moment you share with your child, and DO be thankful for all you have.

Happy Holidays!

Avoid Common Mistakes When Guiding Children's Behavior

Common mistakes we make when guiding children’s behavior:

1.       Not setting clear expectations in advance

Example:  “We are going shopping. Remember, we are only buying food for breakfast, and you can help me make some healthy choices.”   It also helps to review healthy choices.

2.       Not setting boundaries

Think of how you would feel driving in the right lane of the Brooklyn Bridge if there weren’t any guard rails?  You child needs boundaries which will grow as the child matures. 

3.       Lack of follow through and inconsistency

      Ask yourself - Are you willing to leave the cart if you give a warning to your child that you are leaving the store if he or she doesn’t stop a specific behavior? 

• Mean what you say or don’t say it.
• Don’t say no but then give in after much pleading, it only creates an environment for longer pleading.
• Choose your battles.  Ask yourself does it really matter?
• Turn off the cell phone so you can focus on follow through.

4.       Confusing loving with indulging

5.       Not letting our children experience consequences

6.       Not creating a yes environment.  A yes environment is created by setting parameters that are age appropriate such as avoiding long waiting periods for young children, and giving children time to transition as opposed to rushing from one activity to another.  

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from the entire staff at

 Kangaroo Kids! 

Have a "Hauntingly"  Good Day!

Halloween Safety

Halloween can be a fun day for the whole family!  Here are a few great tips from the Center For Disease Control to help make your Halloween adventures fun and safe!  http://www.cdc.gov/family/halloween/

Principles for Effective Guidance and Discipline

1. Discipline is not punishment, but an opportunity to help children behave appropriately.
2. Discipline includes preventing problems and helping child succeed.
3. Discipline helps children learn self-control and how to get along with others.
4. It is appropriate and necessary for children to be curious, experiment and test the limits.
5. The environment and routine should prevent crowding of children and other frustration or situations that lead to discipline concerns.
6. All children, at all times, including their most challenging moments, deserve respect.
7. Labeling children negatively affects everyone, especially the child.
8. Role-modeling appropriate behavior is more effective than telling children how to behave.
9. Before intervening, give children an opportunity to work out their struggles themselves, when possible.
10. Limit the use of the word, “No.”
11. Having a consistent adult response is the norm to redirecting behavior.
12. Praise good behavior and efforts or attempts at trying to behave appropriately. 

5 Things to Look for When Choosing a School for your Child

1. Staff is key!  Look for attentive and caring teachers.  You should see lots of smiles and warm, patient interactions.  Ask about the longevity of teachers as consistency provides a secure base for children.

2. Is the facility safe?   Are outlets appropriately covered, is there a procedure for security at drop off and pick up times, is the playground fenced, are the teachers backgrounds checked, and are teacher’s first aid and CPR certified?

3. Is the school clean?  You may see toys around the room and that is a good sign that children have many opportunities for learning in different environments and with different materials.  What you want to look for: are the floors clean, is there a system in place for toys that have been in children’s mouths, is the facility cleaned on a regular basis?

4. Ask about the curriculum.  Are lesson plans posted, do teachers assess children, are there a good supply of materials available to children?

5. Trust your instinct!  You should hear happy sounds, respectful communications, and warm interactions regardless of the room you visit! 

You can email staff@kangarookidschildcare.com for a complete checklist of what to look for when visiting a school.  

Children Learn Through Play

Did You Know…

·         When children identify and recognize shapes they are practicing simple geometry, an important early math skill!

·         When children squeeze playdough they are developing the fine motor skills they will need for writing!

·         When you read nursery rhymes to your child you are helping him or her with their ability to sound out words!

·         When children play with blocks they are learning engineering skills!

·         When children play with water they are learning science concepts like being able to identify which objects sink and which float as well as make experimenting with making predictions!