Travel Quick Tips

It's the peak of travel season and many of us are on our way to see family or taking a vacation. Here are some quick tips for easy travelling with children.

• Assemble a travel kit in a small, easy-to-grab bag—this can make unexpected situations like emergent dashes to the rest stop or airplane bathroom, and other daunting places, that much easier to deal with. Include items like potty seat covers, a small pack of wipes, small trash bag, mini first aid kit, child-friendly hand sanitizer, mini coloring book and a few crayons and some age-appropriate snacks.


• If traveling by car, leave room in your itinerary for “zoomie” breaks. It can be difficult for a young child (and parents, too!) to sit in a car for hours on end. Take a 15-minute break now and then at a family-friendly rest stop or park to stretch, run off a little energy or make silly noises.

• Try to maintain some likeness to your child’s typical schedule. A child with a general sense of what to expect and when is generally a happier child!

Your Toddler's Development - Hitting, Kicking & Biting

It is important to understand the reasons behind your child’s developmentally appropriate—yet unacceptable—hitting, kicking or biting behaviors. Try to consider your child’s point of view.

Some frustrations may include:

• She cannot fully verbally express her feelings.

• She does not have fully developed self control.

• She is defending herself from an “attack” from another child, whether it is hair pulling, toy grabbing, etc.

• She is experimenting with cause and her effect on the world.

• She’s tired.

• She’s hungry.

• She’s over stimulated.

• Sometimes, she may not even have a reason.

These are just some scenarios that may prompt your toddler to believe that hitting is a justifiable response to her frustration. And, toddlers may not always realize that hitting or other inappropriate behaviors hurt, or she just may not be able to control herself. As a parent, your job is to safely redirect her away from those behaviors. Here are some ways to do just that:

Respond immediately. Acknowledge your toddler’s feelings and provide a lesson in positive behaviors. Using a firm, nonthreatening voice, tell her, “No! I know you want a turn but we do not hit! Hitting hurts! Use your words.” And then redirect her attention. If your child still feels the need to hit, perhaps provide a “Mad Pillow.” Purchase a silly looking pillow that your toddler is allowed to hit when she feels the need to physically express her frustration. This will allow her to experiment with hitting, though it will typically evoke giggles as soon as it surfaces.

Focus your attention on the victim—even if that’s you! This demonstrates compassion, teaches your child that bad behavior does not gain attention and helps her to understand her actions. Be sure to provide plenty of praise and positive reinforcement when she does use her words to express feelings instead of negative behaviors, and be specific with your praise. (“You shared nicely with your sister. That makes me happy!”)

Don’t allow your child to benefit from negative behaviors. If your toddler used negative behaviors to take a toy from another child, don’t allow her to keep it. If she finds that her approach results in her benefit, she’ll do it again.

Don’t force an apology. Doing so removes value from the apology. Instead, model the appropriate behavior. Tell the victim, “I am sorry that you are hurt.” Use words that describe feelings, “I am sorry that your sister took your toy and made you sad.”

Learning positive behaviors and self-control can take time. In the meantime: Be consistent. Stay calm. Look for teachable moments and opportunities to prevent negative behaviors. And most importantly, always keep a sense of humor—your child won’t be two forever!

Baking Holiday Memories

Bake up some warm holiday memories with your children this season. Put on those aprons, the mess is part of the fun! Older children can crack the eggs and measure wet/dry ingredients, while the younger children participate by pouring the pre-measured ingredients into the mixing bowl (be sure to point out that oil and water don’t mix) and by stirring and creating cut-outs with cookies cutters.

Be sure to encourage creativity and imagination when it is time to decorate! Festively colored frostings, sparkly sanding sugars, pre-cut fondant in holiday shapes (or make your own), gumdrops and more are perfect for little fingers, and make for wonderful holiday cookie decorations. Don’t forget to taste test your creations! Giving and sharing provide a feeling of joy that you can reinforce by having your children deliver a plate of cookies to a neighbor or the local senior center.

Naptime Tips

Consistency is the key when it comes to your child’s naptime. It is an important part of their day, and a regular naptime routine will ensure that your child gets the sleep he/she needs. Below are a few tips that can help make naptime a breeze:

• Choose a regular, daily naptime and stick to it—early afternoon is best.

• Have your child visit the potty before heading off for their nap.

• Naps should occur in the same place your child sleeps at night.

• Choose a calming activity to do for a few minutes before naptime to help your little one wind down, e.g., they can practice a few yoga poses or flip through their favorite book.

• Enter the room with the lights off or dimmed low.

• Play soothing music or sing a soft lullaby to help them fall asleep.

• Provide a “lovey” for naptime snuggling.

Thanksgiving and Giving Thanks

We see our family and friends, eat too much pie, enjoy a few extra days off from school and work, but beyond that… How can we demonstrate to our children the importance of both Thanksgiving and giving thanks?

The first Thanksgiving. First, let’s start by making sure our children know the story of the first Thanksgiving. Pick up a developmentally-appropriate book or find information online. It is important to discuss this story of hardship, friendship and sharing in an age-appropriate way.

A new tradition. Establish a new family tradition revolving around what your family is thankful for. This Thanksgiving, have everyone write or draw what they are most thankful for. Together, decorate a shoebox or journal to everyone’s answers. Make a point of adding to this box or journal throughout the year, and by next Thanksgiving you will have an amazing record of thanks. Add to this year after year—what a great treat it will be for the family to read through each Thanksgiving as your children grow!

Share. What are some of the things your children are most thankful for?

Food Drive Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who donated non-perishable food items to the Monmouth & Ocean County Food Bank. We collected 786 lbs of food - the most ever by The Goddard School of Wall!!

Here is a picture of HALF of what we delivered...

Make Food Fun

If you have a picky eater on your hands, one great way to entice little ones to try new foods is to make eating them fun!

1. Try turning everyday foods into shapes and animals, such as slicing a bagel and arranging it on a plate to look like a slithering snake or using cookie cutters to cut sandwiches into hearts, stars or dinosaurs.

2. Shrink family-size recipes into personal-size versions. Children will feel special having their very own bite-size pizza.

3. Make a face! Use fruit and veggies to spruce up a boring sandwich with eyes, ears and a mouth.

4. Let your child help you prepare the meal. If they have a hand in making it, they’ll be more inspired to taste it.

5. Encourage your child to play with their food! They can build a mountain out of their mashed potatoes or a veggie train out of their peas and carrots, and then have fun eating them up!

Encouraging Good Table Manners

With holiday meals soon to be in full swing, our younger diners may benefit from these simple tips for minding their manners when dining with others.

• If the meal is not buffet style, wait until everyone has been seated and has their food before beginning to eat.

• Place your napkin in your lap before beginning to eat and use it to dab your mouth, when necessary.

• If you have to blow your nose or pick your teeth, excuse yourself to go to another room or restroom.

• Always say “excuse me” should you burp.

• If you don’t think you like something that is being served, try a bit and then move on to the rest of the food on your plate.

• Always eat with utensils unless the food is meant to be eaten with fingers.

• Do not put your elbows on the table. (This rule is okay to break if you’re not actually eating.)

• Chew with your mouth closed and do not talk with your mouth full.

• Always say “thank you” when you are served.

• Politely ask that items out of reach be passed to you. Do not reach over other people’s plates.

• Eat slowly.

Food Drive for The Monmouth & Ocean County Foodbank

Our Food Drive for The Monmouth & Ocean County Foodbank officially starts today! We’re collecting non-perishable food items in each classroom and in the main entrance of the annex building.

The class (in the main building) that has the most donations will receive a pizza & ice cream party on November 23^rd!

The Food Drive is November 1st - November 18th.

Thank you!

TIPS FOR A SAFE AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Halloween is a happy, fun-filled holiday for families and provides inspiration for children to express creativity and manners! Parents balance this enthusiastic learning opportunity, however, by providing safe and dependable environments – both at home and “on the trick-or-treat road.”


Pumpkin Decorating

Encourage your children to participate in pumpkin decorating activities.

• A child-friendly and safe alternative to pumpkin carving is to provide children with markers or paint to decorate their pumpkins.

• Use child-drawn outlines to carve the family pumpkins. This is a ‘parent-only’ activity and should be conducted on a flat, stable surface.

• Children can help remove the pumpkin insides using their hands or scoops. Clean up the messes as you go – slimy pumpkin insides can cause slipping hazards.

• Use small, battery-operated lights designed for carved pumpkins in lieu of candles.

• Families who choose to illuminate their pumpkins with candles should use votives or tea-light candles.

• Candlelit pumpkins should never be left unattended and should be placed on sturdy surfaces, away from flammable objects.


Costumes

Children should let their imaginations go – this is the ultimate creative activity! Resist ‘buying’ a boxed costume for your children (and don’t be afraid that you’ll have to roll out grandma’s sewing machine). In order to make costumes safe, consider the following:

• Costumes, masks, beards, wigs and other accessories should be flame resistant.

• Masks may obstruct vision and could restrict breathing. Consider applying face paint or cosmetics instead.

• Ensure masks fit securely and have eyeholes large enough to allow full vision.
• Avoid hats that could slide over children’s eyes.

• Knives, swords or similar costume accessories should not be sharp or rigid; rather they should be made of soft, flexible materials.

• Avoid loose, baggy or long costumes to prevent tripping.

• Children should wear sturdy, fitted footwear - oversized shoes and mother’s high heels are not ideal for safe walking.

• Trim costumes and trick-or-treat bags with reflective tape to make them visible to motorists.


Treats!

Before the ‘treats,’ plan an easy and filling dinner. Pasta with veggies or macaroni and cheese with a salad will fill tummies before the evening takes off.

You’ll remember this one, “Do not eat any candy until you bring it home and we have thoroughly inspected it.” Times haven’t changed much – same credo for your children!

• All treats should be carefully examined by adults for evidence of tampering. Any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items should be discarded.

Interested in making the evening more memorable and less scrutinized for the children in your neighborhood? Be a role model:

• Avoid distributing treats considered choking hazards (e.g., gum, peanuts, hard candies and small toys).

• Non-food giveaways such as coloring books, notepads, stickers, crayons and toothbrushes are all good ‘candy’ alternatives.


Trick-or-Treating

Trick-or-Treating is a two-way street. Neighbors are responsible for each others’ children and parents are responsible for their own children.


Your Children’s Safety:

• Young children should always be accompanied by parents or other responsible adults.

• All children and escorts should carry flashlights with fresh batteries.

• Only homes with outside lights ‘on’ should be visited.

• If you allow older children to go trick-or-treating with a group of friends, discuss safety precautions and agree upon a specific time when they should return home.

• Remind children to stay on sidewalks and not to cross through yards or between parked cars, to only approach well-lit homes and to never enter a home or car for a treat.


Your Neighborhood’s Safety:

• Prepare your home to receive trick-or-treaters. Clear your lawn, sidewalk, steps and porch of obstacles or potential tripping hazards.

• Sweep wet leaves away from stairs and walkways to prevent slipping.

• Candlelit pumpkins should be kept away from areas where costumes could brush against flames.

• Pets should be restrained to keep children from being jumped upon or bitten.


After-Party
Host a post-‘treating’ event at your home. Invite neighbors (parents and children) and serve hot chocolate and dessert. This is a wonderful opportunity to socialize and build memories!

Additional Resources: The American Academy of Pediatrics (www.aap.org), National Safety Council (www.nsc.org) and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (www.cpsc.gov)

From the Mouths of Babes

The first time your preschooler blurted out “bad words” or other unacceptable language you were probably pretty surprised—and may have even laughed out loud. We may wonder: what happened to our eager-to-please, angelic sweethearts? As our little ones grow bigger, their curiosity to test and push boundaries grows bigger, too. As parents, we know that rude language and other maddening behavior will quickly lose its charm and humor. Instances like this provide the perfect time to lay the foundation for better behavior. Here are a few simple steps to curb the rudeness.

Establish the rules. Let your child know that “bad words” or rude behavior are unacceptable and will not be used again—and that they will have consequences if they are.

Pre-determine the consequence. Decide in advance on a consequence that you will use if this rude behavior should happen again. Choose something that has a fairly immediate effect such as, “No more playing outside right now,” or “Snack time is over,” as opposed to something you would be more likely to rescind such as, “You are not going to Grammy’s house next week.”

React with confidence. Next time your child speaks impolitely, respond with certainty. Calmly, but firmly, say, “We do not use that sort of language. For that reason, you will not be riding your bike this afternoon.”

Follow through. Do not negotiate or justify the consequences of rude behavior. It is important to set consistent limits by following through with your decision. If you cave in or offer multiple chances, your child may believe that what is acceptable and what is not is up for discussion.

Reward the good stuff. Recognize when your child uses “nice” language. Provide lots of praise, love, affection and positive feedback when they behave well.

Gather ‘Round Our Table

For most parents, getting the family to the dinner table—and keeping them there—takes some creativity. Here are a few secrets to help your little ones (and bigger ones) stay put, eat something other than mac-n-cheese and even look forward to family meals together.

Cut yourself some slack. The goal is to keep your family mealtime a positive, happy experience. Think about lowering your expectations for what a "sit-down" meal with little ones and bigger ones means. Real life can be hectic—balancing work, soccer, piano lessons, play dates—and getting the whole family to the table at the same time can be so challenging that many families just give up. Most of us believe that family dinner is important—we simply lack the patience, energy or tools to pull it off. And then we feel guilty.

Why not make dinnertime fun instead of a chore? Include an unexpected ingredient such as purple carrots or star fruit, serve the kids’ juice in fancy glasses—or enjoy pancakes, eggs and OJ instead of your usual dinner fare. Have a picnic: pack up a basket, spread out a blanket on the living room floor, move a couple potted plants over and enjoy dinner in “the park.” Is your fridge full of leftovers? Dish them up, put out some soft taco shells and let your family enjoy making their own “wacky wrap” creations.

Make it a group effort and give everyone a responsibility. Your spouse could get the salad together while your daughter sets the table. Let your youngest supervise from his booster seat while your son takes the drink orders. Your 10-year-old can feed the baby while you get the rest of dinner on the table. This is the perfect opportunity to provide your children with a valuable sense of involvement. Ask your family for their own ideas and allow them to choose the side dishes for the week. Remember that while some of their requests may be a bit off the wall, they are (generally) doable.

Start a tradition of “Family Happy Hour.” Before you start preparing dinner, serve healthy appetizers such as chopped veggies with hummus or baked whole grain tortilla chips with mango salsa while listening to a fun playlist. These healthy options take the edge off their hunger, and you may find your children happier and more willing to try new foods when you do sit down together.

Dinner is not your only option. Sometimes the demands of real life can get in the way of this important commitment—so, we need to be flexible. Family mealtime is about connecting with your family—if dinner is impossible, why not connect over lunch or a snack? And, take advantage of some shortcut ideas. On the weekend, why not prepare a few meals in advance so that everything is ready to be heated when you get home from a long day at work? Learn to make some compromises—crock pots can be wonderful, and not every meal needs to be Coq au vin!

Family dinner is a good idea. “Mealtime is often the only time in the whole day when everybody's in the same room having a conversation," says William Doherty, Ph.D., author of The Intentional Family (Addison Wesley Longman, 1997), "so it's where the family's culture gets created." Family dinner helps demonstrate to our children that they are important enough for us to spend this valuable time with. And we often hear experts say that consistent family mealtime improves nutrition, table manners, communication skills, family relationships and bonding.

COOKING WITH CHILDREN

Sharing the kitchen with your child can not only create a lifetime of happy memories, but can also instill valuable life lessons from a young age. Through baking, cooking and even cleaning up, children can develop and express their creativity and independence; explore new foods; learn about nutrition; enhance their math, reading and science skills; and, most importantly, spend valuable quality time with mom, dad and siblings.

Below are a few tips to help make kitchen time with your little one fun, safe and memorable:

1. Always stress cleanliness and safety in the kitchen.
• Wash hands before, after and as-needed during the process.

• Provide your child with a sturdy, non-slip step stool to stand on so they are at your level.

• Use kid-friendly wood or plastic utensils.

• Let them choose their own apron or buy a plain one that they can personalize with fabric markers. Covering up will help cut down on the cleanup afterward.

• Keep sharp knives, graters and other dangerous tools/appliances away from small hands.

• Explain that only mom and dad can use the stove, oven and other electrical appliances.

• Supervise your child closely. Stay in the room until the cooking is complete. If you need to leave for some reason, take them with you.

2. Include your child in the preparation.
• Decide together what to make.

• Read the recipe together thoroughly and gather all ingredients before beginning. Take them shopping with you for the ingredients and/or have them help select what you need from the cupboard.

3. Start out easy.
• When first introducing your child to the joy of baking, use simple recipes with basic ingredients and uncomplicated instructions.

• Box mixes are a great way to get started. They usually ask for only two or three added ingredients and provide easy-to-follow, detailed instructions right on the box.

• As your child learns more about the cooking and baking process, feel free to introduce more complex recipes.

4. Let them do it.
• This is a great learning opportunity for your little one, so let them measure and pour ingredients into the bowl. It’s not only a good math lesson, but also bolsters their confidence.

5. Taste and praise!
• Learning to cook and bake should be a fun experience for your child, so always be enthusiastic about tasting their masterpiece and praise the effort and the outcome, no matter what. They’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment and be excited for their next cooking adventure!

Parent-Teacher Communication

Establishing a strong, open line of communication between parents and teachers is an essential part of any child’s education. Doing so allows parents to always remain apprised of their child’s progress and, should a problem arise, allows for easy discussion on ways to address and remedy the situation.

Never hesitate to get the lines of communication flowing. As your child’s teacher greets each new student on the first day of school, take advantage of the situation to introduce yourself as well. Ask how and when would be the best time to contact them if you have questions or just want to check in on your child’s progress.

Try to communicate with your child’s teacher regularly. Frequent chats help build your parent-teacher relationship and allow for a constant flow of feedback so you both can better understand and address your child’s needs.

Becoming involved in school events and/or parent-teacher organizations offers another great forum for developing parent-teacher communication. Make an effort to attend open houses, social events and/or join the school’s PTO.

Once the lines of communication are established, you and your child’s teacher can work together throughout the school year to monitor and guide your child’s educational goals.

FITNESS AND CHILDREN

What counts as exercise for youngsters? Anything that involves moving!

Children exercise all the time without even knowing it. Running, jumping, dancing, touching their toes, crawling, playing sports or outdoor games; all of these are forms of exercise. Exercise can also be a great way for families to spend quality time together. Research has shown that families who regularly eat dinner together are happier and their children have more self-confidence; this also applies to families who participate in activities together. Going hiking or playing games together is a good way to exercise.

Keeping children’s muscles and bones healthy is especially important because they are growing. A healthy combination of diet and exercise in childhood generally leads to adults with healthier lifestyles. Although children should never be told to “watch their weight,” parents should ensure that that their children are eating well-balanced diets rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits and lean protein.

An added benefit of exercise? Children who play sports and are physically active develop higher self-esteem and do better in school.


Ten ‘Family Fitness’ Suggestions:

Wash the car

Take the dog for a walk

Plant a garden

Go on a nature hike

Fly a kite

Throw a Frisbee

Play Ring-Around-the-Rosie

Build a sandcastle

Swing, see-saw or slide at the park

Dance your sillies out!

Balancing Breakfast: Quick, Creative Tips for Busy Families

Though we’ve heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day—especially for children—it is often a casualty of morning mayhem. Start your child’s day off with a nutritious and energy-boosting breakfast. Children (grown-ups too!) who consistently eat balanced breakfasts have more energy, better diets, perform better and are less likely to be anxious or irritable.

We’re busy with our daily routines and sometimes it seems difficult to find healthy foods that children enjoy. Serving up a balanced breakfast is actually easier than it seems!

Trying these nutritious breakfast tips and easy ideas can help make mornings cheerier, keep tummies fuller and help provide lots of energy.

• Cutting foods into fun shapes with seasonal, animal or other cookie cutters is a quick way to turn a boring breakfast into a tummy pleaser.

• Whip up a mixed fruit smoothie using crushed ice, yogurt, fresh or canned fruit and add brightly colored frozen juice concentrate. Garnish with an orange wedge. This can be made the night before to save time in the morning.

• Toast a whole grain toaster waffle, top with low-fat berry cream cheese. Create a flower or other fun design on top using sliced strawberries and peaches.

• Spread peanut butter in a whole wheat tortilla. Add raisins and banana slices, roll up tightly and slice to create yummy pinwheels.

• Serve up a ‘breakfast sundae’ by layering low-fat yogurt with fresh fruit and crunchy granola cereal in a fun, see-through container. Top with a cherry or grape and use colored cereal bits for “sprinkles.”

• Turn an ordinary bowl of whole grain cereal with milk into something more exciting by topping with sliced star fruit, pomegranate seeds or other unexpected bright fruit.

• Scramble egg whites with low-fat cheese and diced, colorful veggies. Add tomatoes for eyes, a baby carrot for a nose, a slice of turkey bacon for the mouth—even broccoli for hair!

Create a ‘breakfast pizza’ using a whole wheat English muffin. Spread the English muffin with low-fat flavored cream cheese and top with diced fruits or veggies.

Welcome Back to School!

Welcome back to school everyone!  We spent our first week back at The Goddard School of Wall getting to know our new teachers and classrooms. Mr. Scott the Music Man visited us on Tuesday and we were so excited to have him back! We sang, danced, jumped and clapped away. All of the students had a blast! It was a rainy week, so all of our classrooms in the main building also spent some time in the exploration room. On Thursday, the Lobsters class had fun with play doh and the Whales class made a huge welcome sign to hang up in their classroom. On Friday, the Dolphins class painted school bus name cards to decorate their classroom walls and we had our first delicious pizza day of the school year.

Grandparents

Grandparent’s Day is this Sunday, September 11th!

Grandparents

By Kyle D. Pruett M.D.

Love and time…need we say more? How about wise historian, mentor, confidant, elder, counselor, spiritual guide, financier, playmate or parental antidote? These are all roles that grandparents play in the lives of their grandchildren. And grandparents are a growing force! The number and percentage of the population that grandparents account for has grown dramatically in the last 15 years - from 58 million to 78 million.

Here are a few ways that you can help foster a healthy relationship between your parents and your children:

 • When planning a visit, talk about how you can help and what you should bring to help things go smoothly. Discuss recent routines and help your parents childproof their house - more to keep your child safe than to protect the crystal. This communication provokes less defensiveness in grandparents, and helps them be a part of the solution from the start.


• Relax some rules, but don’t compromise your core values. For instance, sweets seem to be a generational prerogative, but television monitoring should continue according to your child’s habits and your beliefs.


• Children and grandparents are so close because they share something in common - you!  They can share stories, secrets, etc. that allow children the experience of close relationships with a loving family member who is not wholly responsible for their future happiness, homework or well being.


• Spoiling is not a helpful approach to grandparenting and most of them know it. Positive expectant attention is best. Interestingly, today’s grandparents are so busy, I think this is less of a problem these days.


• Enjoy the relationship your children are developing with your parents. 
When misunderstandings or problems occur (and they are bound to), it’s better to figure out a way to talk about them than to avoid each other. That is too steep a price for your children. We all want this relationship to work because the benefits are forever.

Kyle D. Pruett, M.D. is an advisor for The Goddard School®.  Dr. Pruett is an authority on child development who has been practicing child and family psychiatry for over twenty-five years.  He is a clinical professor of child psychiatry at Yale University’s Child Study Center

Survival Tips for Returning to Work

The Goddard School of Wall school year starts next week. We know that many of our parents may be returning to work after a summer off or maternity/paternity leave.

Going back to work can be tough, but here are a few survival tips to get you through.

It’s the moment of truth. You are getting ready to go back to work. Maybe your maternity/paternity leave has come to an end or you took time off from your career to be a stay-at-home parent. In these economic times, you may have even been home due to unexpected circumstances. No matter the reason, juggling parenthood while reentering the workforce can be quite the challenge-- just getting out the door in the morning can be a logistical nightmare! Here are some survival tips for the savvy parent.

Before You Go Back

A week before you go back to work, wake up at the new time and practice getting everybody ready. Do you need to get yourself ready before the rest of your household wakes? How long do you need? What can your children do while you are getting yourself ready? Will they play in a pack-n-play, feed themselves cereal, take care of their own potty needs or have cuddle time with your spouse? Make it a team effort and brainstorm with your spouse. Get specific about who will pack lunches, feed the children, pour the milk, give the vitamins, etc. Decide whether you will take turns or divvy up the responsibilities. Make sure you each have time to take care of your own needs, too. Hashing all of this out upfront and writing up a schedule will help you to figure out realistically how long it actually takes to get everybody ready in the morning, and then work your timeline backwards from when you’re due at work. Changing diapers, potty time, breakfast, getting dressed and tooth brushing may take a lot longer than you think! And be sure to leave plenty of extra time for traffic or the occasional extra-long good-bye with your child.

Start the Night Before

Pack up everything you and your child need for the next day before you go to bed: diaper bag, lunches, laptop bag, permission slips and bottles. Have the coffeemaker set to have that much needed java brewed and ready. If you weren’t a list maker before you had children, there is no better time than now to start! Jot down even the smallest of details and necessities that need to be packed or prepared. Sticky notes are a working parent’s best friend. Put a small bin in the fridge for each member of your family who packs breakfast, lunch or bottles and label with names. Fill each bin with all lunch box items so in the morning you can just transfer the contents of each into a thermal bag with ice packs, etc. If something can’t be pre-packed, jot down a note and stick it in the bin so you know at a glance what is missing in the morning mayhem. Choose outfits the night before—if you are super savvy, you might even check the weather and select your children’s outfits for the whole week!

Back to the Grind

You may be shocked at how busy you will be when you go back to work. Plan time before or after work to spend with your children so you don’t feel like you are missing the details. Ease up on the idea of keeping the house clean 24/7. Your children won’t remember if the house was always sparkling clean or not, but they will remember the quality of the time they spent with you. Maximize your lunch breaks: go on a quick walk to boost your energy levels and be sure to pack healthful snacks. You may find it energizing to be back at work—you may be filled with new ideas, and be excited to spend your day with grown-ups! Don’t feel bad about leaving the office as soon as your workday officially ends--parenthood has taught you to be decidedly efficient, and to get more accomplished in less time. And, be sure to get as much sleep as possible--no matter how prepared and organized you are, going back to work and still maintaining a productive household can be exhausting!


You Deserve a Reward!

After all of the planning, organizing and hard work it takes to go back to the grind while also creating a happy and healthy work-life balance, treat yourself! Plan that rewarding lunchtime mani/pedi, a happy hour with your BFF or schedule some Saturday morning cuddle time with the little ones. You deserve it, and it will help reenergize you so you can do it all again next week.

Flying Into The Future

We’ve been “Flying Into the Future” all week, with daily themes about space, planets, the moon and astronauts. On Monday, Storyteller Ken Kaplan visited us.  All of our campers enjoyed singing along to his songs and stories. Our school age campers had a very creative morning on Tuesday. They created their own TVs out of cardboard boxes and lots of art supplies! The TVs came out brilliantly. Wednesday’s theme was Astronauts & Aliens! Our campers made outer space artwork and talked about what they would find in space!  We had a spaceship bounce house on Thursday that we all enjoyed bouncing around in! Amazing Athletes visited us on Friday and we had a great time bowling!

Establishing a School Day Routine

School starts at The Goddard School of Wall on September 6th! Here are some helpful tips to establish a daily school day routine in the last weeks of summer.

• Set a school-night bedtime. The entire family will probably need to start waking up earlier than usual once school begins, so set an earlier time for you and your child to hit the sack each night. This will ensure you all get the proper amount of rest needed to tackle the busy morning routine and be bright and alert for the school/work day.

• Prepare the night before. Pack lunches, backpacks and choose clothes for the next day the night before. Check notes from the school/teacher to make sure your child has everything they need for school the next day. Find a location near the door to set shoes, backpacks and other school necessities so everything is ready to go when you leave the house in the morning.

• Create your own “Have a great day!” signal. Involve your child in developing a special way for the two of you to say good-bye to each other when you drop them off at school in the morning. It could be a funny handshake, secret phrase or even just a wink and smile. Only the two of you will know you really mean, “Have a great day! I love you.”

• Allow unwind time. Set aside some time to allow your child to unwind at the end of the day. Children need this, especially during the first few weeks of getting into the back-to-school routine. The change in schedule can be overwhelming, so having some time to relax or play quietly when they get home from school can be beneficial.

• Recap the day together. Whether around the dinner table or during one-on-one time with your little one each evening, ask them about their day and share yours with them. You’ll both benefit from the special time together to listen and share.

A week of fun visitors!

We had three fun visitors this week at The Goddard School of Wall. A rock-n-roll cowboy stopped by the school on Monday. He played his guitar and harmonica and sang lots of fun songs. We got to join in with some “yee-haws” and “woo-hoos” and even tried a bit of yodeling! On Tuesday, John Carlson the Magician visited our school. The children all loved his funny show and his amazing ventriloquist skills! On Friday, Amazing Athletes taught us how to play volleyball. Even though it was a rainy week, we still had a great time at camp!


Here are a few pictures of our visitors…

Back to School Prep

Parents can help make the “back to school” transition much smoother for their child if they prepare in advance. Try to add activities or planned outings to your child’s day. This structure helps prepare them to be on a schedule when they return to the classroom. If the child will be going to a new school, parents may want to schedule a visit with their child before the first day. Consider taking your child on a fun shopping trip where they can help pick out their clothes, lunchbox and supplies.

Ensuring your child has adequate sleep and proper nutrition is very important. Your child will do their best if they get to sleep early and eat a healthy breakfast each day before school. A daily diet of junk food is not compatible with learning. It can cause listlessness and hyperactivity which can impair a child’s ability to learn. Skipping breakfast especially is a detriment to a child’s education.

Adjust your child’s sleep schedule a few weeks in advance to help avoid struggling to get them out of bed for school. Set up a consistent daily routine so that your child wakes up and goes to sleep at the same times each day. If you have not created one already, start a bedtime routine, including bathing, selecting clothes for the next day, cuddling together for a bedtime story and a kiss goodnight. Begin a regular morning routine that includes a healthy breakfast, packing a nutritious lunch, grooming and getting dressed for the day.

Community Service

Commitment to family and community is characteristic of Goddard Schools. We make a difference in our communities by participating in local sponsorship as well as charitable outreach programs. The children in our schools learn about the importance of helping others and the significance of giving and being a part of their communities.

To build a foundation of good citizenship with your children, foster the essential skills of friendship, compassion, cooperation and kindness. Lead by example and teach your children the significance of helping others. Although there may be some limitations, children of almost every age can give back by participating in their communities every day:

• Teach children to love and respect nature - plants, animals and even insects. It’s okay to catch crickets, butterflies and tadpoles as long as they are set free after a reasonable observation time.

• Respect the property of others. Be a good role model and remember to clean up after the family dog in your neighbor’s yard.

• Protect the planet and encourage your children to recycle.

• Your local library can be a great resource for community information. Ask the librarian if they have a list of community events and service organizations that are child friendly and in need of volunteers.

Look for ways to give back to your community that can empower your children. Let them learn to create change in their own lives and the lives of others.

Colonial Times

This week’s theme at The Goddard School of Wall was Colonial Times!

On Monday we celebrated Thanksgiving in August! The Get Set campers talked about what they were thankful for and created some turkey art. Our school age campers had fun with spin art and made some very cool paint designs. Tuesday was “Stars & Stripes” day and Ms. Amie’s class made their own American flags out of construction paper and discussed how many stars are on the flag and why. Ms. Kristen’s campers learned the Pledge of Allegiance. Colonial Times week continued on Wednesday with “Life on the Farm”. Our school age campers made their own ducks with construction paper and paper plates. Ms. Kristen read her class a great story called Baby Animals on the Farm. Thursday’s theme was “Native American Head Dress” and we discussed Native Americans in Colonial America. Our preschool and school age campers made macaroni necklaces – just like the bead necklaces Native Americans used to trade for goods during Colonial times.

Amazing Athletes visited us on Friday and we had lots of fun with kickball. We can’t believe its August already!

Me Time

As parents, we have so many things on our minds—“Why isn’t my baby sleeping though the night anymore?” “Does my toddler eat a well-balanced diet?” “Will my preschooler be well liked by her classmates?” “Have I provided my kindergartener with the tools to succeed in school?”—the list goes on and on. It can be exhausting to plan and prepare for our young children’s day, week, life… You may think that enjoying a little “me time” takes away from your child—but it’s really quite the opposite! Relieving stress is an important part of staying healthy.

To maintain sanity, make it a priority to schedule some “me time” in the busy to-do list that is the modern parent’s day-to-day life. Whether it is just a few minutes to yourself or a weekend getaway, “me time” can help us to “re-center” ourselves.

Feeling the time crunch? Try these quick (but still refreshing) tips:

• Exercise. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and manage your energy levels. A little goes a long way! Have your spouse watch the kiddies and go for a quick solo walk around the block.

• Meditation. Close your eyes and breathe deep. Focus on how each breath flows in and out of your abdomen for one minute, or until you feel more relaxed.

• Phone a friend. Take a few minutes to call that friend whose emails you haven’t had time to reply to. A brief conversation with another grown-up can help regain perspective. Plan in advance to focus on any “non-child-related” topic.

How do you fit a little “me time” into your hectic schedule? How do you enjoy spending this time?

Medieval Madness!

This week’s theme at The Goddard School of Wall was Medieval Madness! We had an amazing Juggler, Brenn, visit us on Monday. She was actually part of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus! We made our own juggling balls with balloons and bird seed so we could learn how to juggle with her. On Tuesday, we were all Kings and Queens for the day! Many of our campers made their own crowns out of construction paper. On Tuesday and Wednesday, we enjoyed time in the sprinklers outside and jumping around in a cool Castle bounce house. We learned about the games Chess and Checkers and Ms. Kristen’s campers made their own checker boards with construction paper.

A Prince and Princess visited us on Thursday and read us a wonderful fairytale, The Frog Prince. After the story, we made our own “royal masks” to take home! Amazing Athletes came out on Friday to end our week with some soccer!

We’ve had a great week of Medieval Madness! Check out some of the photos from our week below…

Routines and Rituals

by Kyle D. Pruett, M.D

 

Ah, routines and rituals…such comforts against the one universal truth that life is nothing but change. Our children seem to get this sooner than we parents. When they struggle as infants to get the day and night thing down, they are teaching us how important and soothing the predictable is when tired, hungry, cranky and the like. As toddlers, we watch in amazement as they doggedly line up their shoes, trucks or dolls in the face of a little uncertainty and in search of the reassuring symmetry of order. These are not simple entertainments, but powerful and effective coping strategies that, if we are lucky, they never quite give up. Some of the uses of the psychological calendar of anticipation and predictability:

• By 18 months:  Children know the routines of everyday life and are very reassured by them: dressing, mealtimes, play, school, bath time, and finally bedtime with a story and a kiss. These are an antidote to the uncertainties of this period of rapid growth.

• By 24 to 26 months:  Children have a reliable sense of the week’s rhythms, and appreciate the difference between a weekday and a weekend.

• By 42 months:  Children begin to anticipate the predictable patterns of the year and its changing seasons, family gatherings, holidays, and birthdays. All the while they are soaking up the beginnings of culture and ethnic diversity in such vital rituals.

Routines and rituals are especially important (and sometimes hardest) to maintain when a child is ill, or the family is going through a stressful time. Routines around food, clothing, bathing, going to school and sleep can be soothing precisely because they don’t vary in the face of change.  The ultimate routine or ritual is mealtime. Children learn about what matters in life in a regular, predictable, culture-rich and (one hopes) nutritious environment. Plan it and protect it.

Ultimately, they (and we) give up most of these early comforts, going the way of the blankie and binkie. The next generation of routine and ritual comforts owe their efficacy to these early and more primitive coping strategies. So honor and promote them while you may. They disappear all too soon.

Kyle D. Pruett, M.D. is an advisor for The Goddard School®. Dr. Pruett is an authority on child development who has been practicing child and family psychiatry for over twenty-five years. He is a clinical professor of child psychiatry at Yale University’s Child Study Center.

All About Ancient!

This week’s theme at The Goddard School of Wall was “All About Ancient”. We started off the week by visiting ancient Rome! Ms. Judi’s class discussed Roman numerals and practiced tracing the new numbers they learned (even though they looked just like letters!).We had another amazing water slide on Tuesday and Wednesday! It was a great way to cool off during this week’s heat wave.

On Wednesday, we talked about Gods and Goddesses in both Greek and Roman mythology! Ms. Amie’s class learned about Greek Gods and Goddesses like Zeus and Aphrodite. Ms. Allison’s class discovered Roman mythology while reading the story of Romulus and Remus and how Rome was built. Our “All About Ancient” week continued on Thursday with our campers learning about the Ancient Olympic Games in Greece. Ms. Steph’s class made Olympic torches by gluing yellow & orange paper onto white paper torches and Ms. Amie’s class participated in their own “Indoor Olympics”! On Friday it was too hot for outdoor sports with Amazing Athletes, but we still enjoyed sports and games inside!


Stay cool everyone…see you next week!

Traveling with Children

Traveling with the family is fun, but it's important to be prepared. Here are some tips and advice for parents to consider before they travel with their young ones.

Infant to One Year

• Plan for an active stretch. A rest stop break or a playground – let them walk or toddle for twenty or so minutes before climbing back in the car.

• Fun: music, mobiles, bubbles and books.

• Pre-measure formula into bottles and carry a room temperature bottle of water to mix on the go.

• Be prepared for a mess – snacks, diapers, spit-up, etc. – small trash bag, wipes, hand sanitizer (for the adults), spare water, tissues, bib and a blanket.

• Even if you are traveling by plane, a car seat can double as a feeding chair or nap location. Call ahead for a crib to be added to your hotel room.

• Be prepared and do not overload yourself. If time allows, buy what you can when you get to your destination.

First Steps (12 to 18 months)

• Many of the Infant travel tips apply here.

• Use “links” to keep toys within your child’s reach.

• Even in the cool weather, crack a window for fresh air. Stale air may make your little one grumpy. Remove heavy jackets and shoes for comfort.

• Fun: Music, books, stuffed animal, play mirror and foam shapes that will “stick” to the car seat. In an airplane – purchase headphones for music and rest it on your child’s shoulders instead of over their ears.

• Have some active playtime just before leaving and plan for frequent stops. In an airplane, let children walk down the aisle periodically at their own pace.

• Airports can be a bustling place. This may be the one time you check your luggage at the curb. This way you can focus on your little one’s needs without the hassle of luggage in tow.

Toddler and Get Set (18 to 36 months)

• Many of the First Steps travel tips apply here.

• Play window games – count the silos, trucks or red lights.

• Attach a mirror to the front passenger visor so you can see and interact with your toddler without having to spin around.

• Buckle up a toy bin right next to the children so they can help themselves – books, links, stuffed animals and puppets.

• Have your child help you pack a picnic lunch or snack and then serve it to everyone.

• A blanket can make a quick play space in any lobby, airport, etc.

Preschool to Pre-K (36 months+)

• “I Spy” a blue car, a white truck and other objects you can see while moving.

• Laptop desk for drawing with paper and crayons.

• Car-Ride Checklist – make a picture itinerary of landmarks you will see along the way.

• Ask your child to keep score – gas prices, mileage or count out toll money.

• Play “I’m thinking of an animal.” Provide age-appropriate hints to help your child guess a particular animal.

• If you’re using a hotel babysitter: 1. Check the sitter’s credentials, including criminal and/or child abuse clearances. 2. Check the room and the equipment in the room. 3. Carry your phone and check your phone service when you arrive at your destination.

Water Slide Fun!

We have another amazing water slide today at The Goddard School of Wall!

Prehistoric Party!

We had a Prehistoric Party this week! On Monday, Party on with Natalie visited us with a very cool “dino-dig” project. We dug in the sand for dinosaur fossils and then painted them to take home. On Tuesday, we joined the “Future Paleontologist Club”. All of the classes sang a new dinosaur song and also enjoyed time in the sprinklers on a very hot water day! We also made some cool dinosaur art. Many of the classes made “dino-rubbings” by rubbing crayons over stencils on construction paper.

On T-Rex Thursday, Ms. Stephanie’s and Ms. Steph’s class practiced being paleontologists with chocolate chip cookies. They used toothpicks to excavate the chocolate chips and toothbrushes to brush away the crumbs! Amazing Athletes visited us on Friday. We played “Dino Basketball” to close out our spectacular Prehistoric Party week!

Our Hawaiian Luau Open House is next week!

Bring your family and friends!

Wednesday, July 20th 6:00PM – 8:00PM

STAY-CATIONS: Back-to-Basics Family Fun!

Stay-cations may not only provide a more frugal family vacation, they may also provide an opportunity to create and experience a higher level of bonding with your children.

Upsides to stay-cations include nominal packing as well as minimal airplane or car ride entertainment. Stay-cations, however, provide the challenge of getting into vacation mode when the remnants of your day-to-day life are all around – planning ahead is the key.

Fun, frugal stay-cations include:

• Go on nature walks, hikes and bike rides. Collect rocks to paint.

• Organize day trips to zoos and/or museums. Create a family scrapbook to commemorate your experiences.

• Choose a miniature golf outing and enjoy a little healthy competition.

• Plan a family mini-spa day. Prepare a healthy lunch from your vegetable garden.

• Go camping in your own backyard. Don’t forget flashlight tag and S’mores!

• Plan and prepare yummy goodies and enjoy a picnic together in a local park.

• Rainy day stay-cations are fun too! Here are some ideas:

- Play board games
- Assemble jigsaw puzzles
- Watch family movies

Open House July 20th

Bring your family and friends to The Goddard School of Wall for our Hawaiian Luau Open House on Wednesday, July 20th from 6:00-8:00PM. There will be a BBQ, smoothies, moonbounce and all kinds of summer family fun.

During our Open House on July 20th, The Wall Police Department will also be providing FREE Child Safety Seat inspections and help with installation. Seats will be cross referenced with a manufacturer recall list to ensure that the seat is safe. Officers will also provide helpful information regarding seat belts, LATCH systems, air bags and much more. The Child Safety Seat inspection event is open to everyone in the community and will take place from 6:00-7:30PM.

Thinking of enrolling:

We are offering new families 50% off your 1st month's tuition when you enroll. Take a tour of our school and find out more about our full-time and part-time programs!

Existing families:

Refer a new family and receive a $250 tuition credit for each new family who enrolls. A referral is the biggest compliment we can receive!

Telling Time

The ice cream truck visited us on Tuesday to start off Week 2 of our Time Travel Summer Camp! Our camp theme this week was “Telling Time”. On Tuesday and Wednesday, our campers enjoyed water days in the sprinklers and learning all about “time”. The Kindergarteners made their own clocks out of paper plates – they traced the numbers, added dials and decorated! The Guppies and Goldfish classes discussed the different activities you do in the day and in the night. Our campers also learned the differences between the past, present and future. Our Pre-K campers drew pictures of themselves as babies (past), now (present) and in the Kindergarten classroom (future). They also learned how to say “future” in Spanish!

On Thursday we had a huge Animal Ark Bounce outside! All of our campers enjoyed time bouncing around outside. Check out the pictures we posted here. To go along with our theme, the Lobster class made elephants out of paper plates, paint and construction paper. We ended our week with Amazing Athletes where we learned how to play hockey and other fun sports. Another great week at The Goddard School of Wall!

Animal Ark Bounce Fun

We have an awesome Animal Ark Bounce at the school today!

Go Fly A Kite

Kite flying is a great summer family activity. Make your own or buy one, at the beach or at the park; either way flying a kite is enjoyable for both you and your family.

Here are a few kite-flying tips:

Q: What is the best wind to fly a kite?

A: The ideal wind for optimum kite flying is 5 to 25 mph.

Q: How can you make your kite dance?

A: To make your kite dance in the sky - pull in, and let out the line. Repeat this and watch your kite perform!

Q: What is the best flying space for your kite?

A: Your space should be clear and open, giving you enough room to move your kite around. Find a park, a beach or an open field.

Safety Precautions:

• Avoid flying your kite on roads or near power lines and airports.

• Watch out for kite-eating trees! Wind goes over and around trees and buildings so avoid flying your kite near them.

• Never fly a kite during a storm.

Welcome Travelers

Our Time Travel Summer Camp began this week. All of our campers spent time getting used to their new classrooms and making up classroom maps to find their way around. We had our first water days on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the children in the main building enjoyed taking turns on an awesome water slide. All of our classrooms spent time cooling off in the sprinklers. Many classes took time on Wednesday to go on a nature walk and our school age campers discovered that you don’t need a campfire to make s’mores! Their “fire free” s’mores were made with oatmeal cookies, marshmallows, chocolate syrup and sprinkles. Storyteller Ken Kaplan visited our school on Thursday. He brought his guitar to sing songs and tell stories about world travel and discoveries. We clapped our hands, danced around and sang songs in different languages! Our half day on Friday was filled with Amazing Athlete fun.


Happy Independence Day...enjoy your weekend!

Fun Water Activities to Keep Kids Cool

Try these water activities with your children and keep them ‘cool’ in the hot weather!

Water Works:
This game is played like Musical Chairs. Play music while children run, skip and jump through a water sprinkler. After a short amount of time, stop the music. The child in the sprinkler when the music stops is in charge of controlling the music in the next round!


Frozen Toes:
Fill a wading pool with cool water and ice cubes. Give each child a bucket. Ask the children to transfer as many ice cubes as they can from the pool to their bucket - using their feet! The child with the most ice cubes is the winner!


*Safety First: A parent or guardian should always be present when children are engaged in water play. Parents should use their discretion regarding age-appropriate games for their children.

Summer Madness and Graduation!

It was summer madness week at The Goddard School of Wall as we prepared for the end of the school year and the beginning of our summer camp. We discussed the sun and the sun’s rays and the Guppies class had fun making sun art out of yellow construction paper and yellow tissue paper. Wednesday was Bubble Blast day - the Infants and Toddler classes all enjoyed watching, chasing and popping bubbles. The Goldfish class painted bubbles with blue paint and practiced tracing the letter “B”.

Thursday, June 23rd was Graduation Day for our Pre-K and Kindergarten classes. Everyone enjoyed the ceremonies and the children’s performances were fantastic!

Congratulations to all of our graduates!

We are having our school-wide “End of the Year BBQ” today and all of our classes also celebrated the end of the school year with their own parties this week.

**Thank you to all of the parents who provided end of the year party treats for their child’s classroom this week! Everybody had a great time!**

Prepare for Summer Fun

By Dr. Kyle Pruett

Are you planning a summer vacation with your children? Young children are natural explorers and typically adore adventures. But they love them even more when they have been prepared for new experiences. Better-prepared kids are kids who cope better. Here are some suggestions to prepare your children – to get the most educationally and emotionally out of your adventures.

• Talk about where you are going and why.

• Discuss how long you will be there and a few things they can expect.

• Ask them what they think they will see or want to do.

• Suggest some “I Spy” targets to look for at your destination. This makes them better travelers and learners.

• Wrap-up the experience on the way home by discussing the surprises and the discoveries.

When you do this right, it feels like a shared family adventure in which everyone’s experience matters and contributes to its success. It also helps parents feel less like travel agents or teachers, and more like moms and dads who know what their children need. Enjoy first – learn second – remember always.

Kyle D. Pruett, M.D. is an advisor for The Goddard School®.  Dr. Pruett is an authority on child development who has been practicing child and family psychiatry for over twenty-five years.  He is a clinical professor of child psychiatry at Yale University’s Child Study Center.

Dad's & Grad's

We spent this week getting ready for Father’s Day and our graduation ceremony. All of our Pre-K and Kindergarten classes have been practicing walking to “Pomp and Circumstance” for their graduation on June 23rd. Can you believe that graduation is next week already?! We also had a new play house and drum set installed on the playground and the children are having lots of fun with these new toys! Our Father’s Day “Donuts for Dad” celebration was a great success on Friday. We enjoyed some delicious Dunkin Donuts, giving out the special crafts the children made for Dad and spending time with all the special men in the students’ lives.

This summer, we are raising money for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Look in our main entrance for the fish bowl filled with sea life themed Silly Bandz. We are selling them for 10 cents each with all proceeds going to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Start collecting your Silly Bandz today!

Happy Father’s Day from The Goddard School of Wall!

Happy Father's Day!

We are celebrating Dad this week at The Goddard School of Wall! In honor of Father's Day, some  "dad facts" from The Goddard School advisor, Dr. Kyle D. Pruett.

Fathering - by Kyle D. Pruett, M.D

One of the principal behavior changes of American parents in the last generation centers on the wish that fathers be more involved day-to-day with their children. My research on the issue of whether or not this is a good thing comes to two firm conclusions: 1) children raised by involved dads are thriving, healthy kids, and 2) fathers do not mother any more than mothers father.

So, what is unique about the way men parent, and does it matter to children?

• Fathers roughhouse with their kids right from the beginning more than mothers. This is interesting to children, they respond to it, and even seek it out. It helps to build physical confidence in boys and girls.

• Fathers allow frustration to build to elevated levels before intervening when their children are mastering something new. It turns out that dads think this helps children learn to handle frustration at manageable levels - preparing them for life’s uneven playing field. They are right.

• Fathers may give their children more leeway in new circumstances while mothers tend to stay physically closer to their children in the park or at the mall.  Dads want children to explore. Children tend to like it, and learn independence from it.

• Fathers use more real-world consequences to discipline whereas mothers use more social-relationship consequences.  Children who receive both integrate them well, giving them a stronger sense of internal control and self-discipline than children with uninvolved or absent dads.

• Kids with involved dads - dads who have fed, changed diapered, bathed, and comforted (with the support of their spouses) - do better in school, have higher self-confidence, use less violent problem-solving themselves, and have stronger verbal skills.

Children can distinguish the voice of their father from their mother at birth - and their handling styles at six weeks. Any questions? Just ask the kids what they think of fathering. 

Kyle D. Pruett, M.D. is an advisor for The Goddard School®. Dr. Pruett is an authority on child development who has been practicing child and family psychiatry for over twenty-five years. He is a clinical professor of child psychiatry at Yale University’s Child Study Center.

Beach Time Fun!

This week’s theme at The Goddard School of Wall has been beach time fun. We learned all about palm trees on Monday and enjoyed some delicious Hawaiian Punch (oh yeah!) on Tuesday! We imagined the sand between our toes and we all had beach parties with our beach towels. The Guppies and Goldfish classes spent time outside with the sprinklers to cool off on a very hot Thursday morning. We also made all kinds of sand castle and sand art. The Whales class colored and decorated their own paper sand castles and the Lobsters class made sea shells with sand art. We had a great week of beach time fun!

Fun in the Sun – How to Protect Your Family

This week's theme at The Goddard School of Wall is "Beach Time Fun". With the beach on our mind and the scorching hot weather this week, here are a few tips for protecting your children in the sun...

Babies under 6 months:
The two main recommendations from the AAP to prevent sunburn are to avoid sun exposure, and dress infants in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats that shade the neck to prevent sunburn. However, when adequate clothing and shade are not available, parents can apply a minimal amount of sunscreen with at least 15 SPF (sun protection factor) to small areas, such as the infant's face and the back of the hands. If an infant gets sunburn, apply cold compresses to the affected area.

For All Other Children:
• The first, and best, line of defense against the sun is covering up. Wear a hat with a three-inch brim or a bill facing forward, sunglasses (look for sunglasses that block 99-100% of ultraviolet rays), and cotton clothing with a tight weave.

• Stay in the shade whenever possible, and limit sun exposure during the peak intensity hours - between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• On both sunny and cloudy days use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater that protects against UVB and UVA rays.

• Be sure to apply enough sunscreen - about one ounce per sitting for a young adult.

• Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.

• Use extra caution near water and sand (and even snow!) as they reflect UV rays and may result in sunburn more quickly.

Last but not least...Set a good example. You can be the best teacher by practicing sun protection yourself. Teach all members of your family how to protect their skin and eyes.


Source: http://www.healthychildren.org/english/safety-prevention/at-play/pages/Sun-Safety.aspx

Gardening with Children

Teaching your child how to garden is a fun, hands-on learning experience that encourages patience, imagination and environmental awareness.  The best part about learning to garden is that it’s something your family can enjoy together, indoors or out!

 

Before you begin, talk with your child about the whole gardening process to peak their interest and help them become excited about the experience.  You could also pick up a children’s book about gardening or visit a children’s gardening Web site.

 

When you’re ready to start, gather a few supplies and child-appropriate tools—soil, seed cups, watering cans, etc.  Take a trip to the garden center together to pick out your supplies and seeds or seedlings for planting.  Some great plants for children to start their gardening experience with include sunflowers, snow peas, cherry tomatoes and strawberries. Read seed packets and plant tags—anything with easy care and a short growing season are perfect for little ones to plant! Be sure to acknowledge that some non-edible plants can be poisonous.  Check the National Capital Poison Center Web site for a list of some poisonous plants and always supervise your child while gardening.

 

Now that it’s time to plant, choose your location. If you have a large garden, section off an area or, if you don’t, use an old sandbox filled with soil as your child’s own special garden. Encourage your child to care for their plants throughout the entire process—from seed, to seedling, to mature plant, to harvest. How exciting it will be when the whole family is enjoying the fruits and vegetables they raised all on their own!

Life’s a Picnic

This week’s theme was “Life’s a Picnic”. We all spent time exploring different aspects of having a picnic. The Dolphins classroom made picnic baskets out of very large pieces of paper that they painted brown. Miss Tara cut the paper into strips and the class assembled a huge picnic basket to hang on their wall (complete with thumb print ants)! All of the classes enjoyed the beautiful weather we had this week by taking their lunch outside for a picnic. We learned about all the yummy foods you can take on a picnic and discussed our favorite foods. Of course no picnic would be complete without ants so we spent time on Friday making some silly ant art! The Lobsters class made ant hills out of construction paper and painted ants with their finger prints.

Gymboree also visited us this week at the Goddard School of Wall and all of the Infant, First Steps, Toddler and Get Set classes enjoyed spending time singing, making music and playing games with Gymboree.

We hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and see you back at school on Tuesday!

Outdoor Activities & Park Play with Your Children

A day at the park may seem like ‘just another day,’ but learning and bonding experiences flourish at the park!

Pack for Safety
Drinking water, sunscreen, hat, water to wash as well as wipes for hands, sneakers or other closed-toed shoes, a change of clothes or a towel for the seat, small first aid kit for those little scrapes and a small trash bag to keep the earth litter-free are all important.

Expect to Get Dirty
Going outside is about the freedom to explore and the only way to explore is to touch it, and yes, it is dirty – it’s outside! Dirty does not mean ‘germy’. Roll in the grass, stomp in the mud, touch the frog and splash in the puddles.

Infant to Six Months
• Pack for safety: A blanket to crawl on and a sturdy pair of pants for crawling on rough surfaces. Be prepared to change diapers on the go.
• Be prepared to climb and crawl yourself. This is the best way for you to ensure your child’s safety. Watch for items going into your child’s mouth.
• Hydration: the outside air and activity increases the amount of fluids you both need to consume. And while you’re packing the water, pack a snack.
• Point, name and describe: As your child explores, point out the details; name objects and talk about your experience.

First Steps (12 to 18 months)
• Pack for safety: Bring a blanket and a sturdy pair of pants for crawling on rough surfaces. This is not the place for skirts or dresses.
• Plan for breaks and pack snacks, water and a few books.
• Dig and touch: Collect items to further explore when you get home.
• Walk the trail with your little one on a riding toy. Don’t forget the helmet.
• Park Play Etiquette: If your little one finds a playmate, ask the other parent if both of you may join in the play. Your child will learn to ask for your approval before playing with strangers and the parent of the other child will appreciate this overture.

Toddler and Get Set (18 to 36 months)
• Plot the potty path!
• Bring balls to throw and kick or bean bags and a bucket.
• Move beyond the park and walk a trail or explore a nursery. Go to the stream, lake or pond and skip rocks. Turn the rocks over to find creepy, crawly things.
• No breaks required – but pause for a moment to re-hydrate.
• Look through binoculars – even two toilet paper tubes offer a new view of the world.
• Tent it! A pop up tent is an instant playhouse.
• Take an umbrella and put on your galoshes – take a walk in the light rain.

Preschool to Pre-K (36 months +)
• Lie down and look up: Children like to see the world from a different perspective.
• Picnic: Let your child be a part of packing the necessities and preparing the sandwiches.
• Play “I Spy” or “I Hear.”
• Read or draw under the trees.
• Bring a magnifying cup for bugs and objects to view. Research your bugs and objects when you return home to learn more about each.
 
Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend everyone!