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!