Robin's Child Care Blog

Turning my calendar to July has made me realize that while summer vacation is in full swing, the new school year is approaching more quickly than I realize. I've also slipped on my goal of having my kids read every day, so I'm taking steps to remedy that by building reading into our remaining summer fun!

At what age are you comfortable with letting your child go by himself to a public bathroom? For most of us, the answer is pretty well "never"--or at least until they can show their driver's license! It makes me nervous to allow my 10-year-old daughter or 8-year-old son go to the bathroom without me in a restaurant or other public bathroom. However, as long as I know they are safe, then I try and minimize my helicopter hover and prepare so that a solo kid bathroom trip can be a stress-free success.

My friend and I have boys the same age, and we've been busy as of late negotiating turns at watching our kids. She has an opportunity to work some extra hours and I have two other kids with crazy summer schedules. For us, the swap-outs work well and our boys love spending time together. But, sending a child over to someone's house for an extended period of time or a playdate isn't always a fair deal for the family on the receiving end. Parents need extra food, must watch kids even more closely, and often serve as referee and counselor to kids who grow tired of one another. But there are ways to make sure your child isn't a burden, and the experience is a positive one all around!

I simply can't believe that the month of July begins next week. Next week??? Wasn't it just yesterday that I noted (half with excitement and half with dread) that I had three whole months of summer vacation with my three kids? Now, a full month has already come and gone. But there is so much to do in the ultimate summer month of July, and I for one am already lickin' my chops for our family's annual 4th of July weekend celebration.

I've pulled out my summer recipe books in search of tasty new dishes for our annual 4th of July celebration at a local lake. Fireworks are everywhere on this special weekend, and my kids are already eagerly planning their family fun complete with a spectacular show and the roasting of s'mores to follow. We're always careful to maintain "safety first" practices through careful planning and prevention to avoid any injuries while celebrating our beloved Independence Day.

Early childhood educators have a tough job of balancing healthy food choices combined with food that kids will actually eat. Most everyone knows that helping kids to develop healthy eating habits early in life can help minimize the growing concern of obesity and weight-related problems. But when it comes to best practices, what child care provider or parent couldn't use additional help? Together with Delaware’s Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), Nemours Health and Prevention Services (NHPS) is offering a free online nutrition guide, Best Practices for Healthy Eating:A Guide To Help Children Grow Up Healthy. Inside are items like healthy food guidelines, portion sizes, rationale to explain recommendations, and even sample policies child care providers can use with their programs and families. Delaware residents can request a printed version.

Father's Day has come and gone, but having dear ol' dad fresh on our minds makes it a good time to reflect on how family roles and fatherhood responsibilities continue to change. In hard economic times like we're experiencing today, both parents need to work fulltime outside of the home to make ends meet. As such, who does what in the household and with child-rearing continues to change as well. Of note is that more fathers are increasing their child care duties. Researchers have noted more fathers at school conferences and meetings, chaperoning or attending child activities or field trips, and being the one to drop off or pick up kids. The good news is that involved parents mean happier kids, so thanks mom AND dad!

Sometimes it's the very kids who can't simply wait to sign up for overnight or day camps, enrichment clinics, and summer activities that become the first to be afflicted with the dreaded homesickness. When homesickness strikes, parents feel guilty, and sometimes too-quickly give in to letting their kids come or stay at home--often denying their youngster a chance to adjust to a new experience. No two kids or bouts of homesickness are alike, and I've even had a child who had acute homesickness from morning vacation bible school one year. But fun and learning prevailed, and we both were stronger by the end of the week!

Have you ever noticed (and who hasn't if you've been around kids for long) how some children are typically happy while others seem downright miserable most of the time? While some kids seem to never stop smiling, it's a sad reality that the "happy factor" isn't true for every kid. That's because harsh events in their lives, their environment, and even their base personality can influence a child's outlook and overall mood at a very young age. But there are things parents and care providers can do to help encourage a child to be fulfilled, happy or even joyful much of the time.

Ask ANY child care provider or teacher about kids arriving for a day of fun at daycare or even school inappropriately dressed, and you're certain to get that all-knowing look of dismay. Early childhood educators have lamented for years about how parents don't dress their kids appropriately for outdoor fun, nature hikes, physical excercise or sports camps, and yet get angry when their kids are either left out or returned home with blisters or injured feet. And, then there are those who arrive to camp wearing fancy clothes, dresses or even expensive jewelry. Get out of here! Everyone is talking about how childhood obesity is on the rise; we need to support every effort to get our kids to act like kids and get outside more and play!