The Best Resolutions for You and Your Children

Now that the New Year has arrived, you’ve probably been thinking about little changes to make in your life. While you may have considered resolutions that revolve around personal diet and fitness, have your thought about resolutions you can make with your children? After all, it’s always great to have someone to help you reach your goals — even if that someone is just five years old.

Here are some of the best New Year’s resolutions for you and your children.

Escape from Electronics

It seems like, these days, we can’t go five minutes without be bombarded with some electronic device. From televisions to computers to cell phones, we’re surrounded by technology. This year, set a goal to step away from all the devices and unplug.

Whether that means you have an hour a day of “no technology time” or you take the kids on more outdoor adventures, unplugging can be a great way to bond as a family and wean the kids off all those devices.

Be More Active

No matter how old you are, exercise is very important, so make a resolution to make the family more active this year. You can sign the kids up for more interscholastic sports, center playtime around activities that get everyone moving, or simply go for walks with the family on a regular basis.

Start More Chores

The idea of chores is not always something that gets everyone excited, but they’re essential to teaching your children responsibility and discipline. Maybe you find yourself putting off laundry day until your hamper is ready to burst or never seem to have an empty kitchen sink. Set up a schedule with your children and let them help!

Have one of your children help dry dishes as you wash them or help you fold laundry to be put away. Not only does that teach them responsibility, but, if you set chores up as a game or offer a reward for a job well done, your kids will be jumping at the chance to help.

At Miss Sue’s Nursery School, our prime educational goal is the development of the whole child — socially, emotionally, physically and educationally. A multi-sensory, holistic approach to learning is provided through play, art, music, and physical activities. To learn more about the school and give your child the best pre-k experience, give us a call at 516-938-0894.

Must-Have Bath Items for Toddlers

One of the biggest milestones for your little one is graduating from the baby tub or sink to the full tub for bath time. For them, there is plenty of more room for splashing around and playing, but for you, that’s plenty more space for them to accidentally bump their heads. In order to make bath time fun and safe for you and your child, here are some must have bath items for toddlers.

Non-Slip Matt

Bathtubs don’t provide the most solid surface for safety. Make sure to place a non-slip, rubber bath mat on the floor of your tub that way your little one doesn’t go slipping and sliding. While ones with rubber duckies or cartoons on them are great option for the kids, if you get a neutral-colored one, you can keep it there all the time so no one else who showers slips around.

Faucet Cover

With all the moving around and splashing they’ll be doing in the tub, it can be very easy for your little one to knock their heads on your faucet, so purchase a faucet safety cover to avoid that.

Many faucet  covers come in the form of cute animals or flowers, so they’ll be entertaining for your child as well.

Bath Toys

Bath time isn’t complete without a basket full of toys to play with. If you ask us, you should always have a rubber ducky or two, a few floating boats to play pirate, and some fun sponges the kids can wring out.

Gentle Products

Toddlers and other young children shouldn’t use the same beauty products that you do. Before beginning bath time, make sure you choose gentle, tear-free, products that are meant for young children.

Soft Linens

Your toddler’s skin is more sensitive than ours, so you should aim to use ultra soft towels and other linens when drying them off after bath time. This prevents their skin from drying out or becoming irritated due to scratchy towels.

At Miss Sue’s Nursery School, our prime educational goal is the development of the whole child — socially, emotionally, physically and educationally. A multi-sensory, holistic approach to learning is provided through play, art, music, and physical activities. To learn more about the school and give your child the best pre-k experience, give us a call at 516-938-0894.

Classic Toys That Always Make Good Presents

Christmas is just around the corner, and if you haven’t started shopping for presents for the little ones in your life, we totally get it. With so many toys and gadgets on the market, it can be hard to decide on just the right gifts to get your children.

You don’t have to spend hours scouring the mall trying to gather the latest high-tech toys — especially if you’re trying to hold off on letting your kids play with electronics. There are plenty of classic toys that always make good presents!

Wooden Blocks

There’s a reason these have been around for hundreds of years. Blocks not only give your children the opportunity to use their imaginations to create architectural masterpieces, but they also help instill good STEM skills at an early age.

What size block is needed to hold up two others? Where does a block have to be placed in order for it to balance on the rest of the structure? They may not realize it, but by playing around with the blocks, your children are figuring out those matters completely on their own and learning valuable skills.

A Radio Flyer Classic Red Tricycle

We guarantee you remember riding around your neighborhood on one of these as a kid. The metal used to make these tricycles is very durable, meaning it’ll be able to stand up to all the bumps and bangs your kids may have while riding it. Plus, the classic look offers a very picturesque feel that both you and your child will love.

Twister

A game that gets the kids moving and helps them learn colors? Count us in! Twister is the perfect game to play when bad weather forces you and the kids to stay inside for playtime and is a fun way to tire them out for bedtime.

At Miss Sue’s Nursery School, our prime educational goal is the development of the whole child — socially, emotionally, physically and educationally. A multi-sensory, holistic approach to learning is provided through play, art, music, and physical activities. To learn more about the school and give your child the best pre-k experience, give us a call at 516-938-0894!

Making Winter Playtime Work Indoors

Now that colder weather is rolling in, it may seem a bit harder to fit in your children’s daily playtime. But just because you can’t really send your children outside to play andstay active, it doesn’t mean you have to skip playtime altogether — there’s still plenty of things to do inside.

Gather the kiddos, and try out a few of these indoor activities that make winter playtime all the more fun!

Freeze Dance

This is one of the best, and simplest, activities you can pick — all you need is some music and a space big enough to boogie in! You can choose to play nursery school classics, such as “The Wheels on the Bus” and “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” or you could go with more modern hits like “Baby Shark.”

Once you have the music going, make sure the kids know the one rule: when the music stops, they freeze. Not only does this keep kids entertained during playtime, but all the dancing is good exercise!

Arts and Crafts

Help bring out the inner Picasso in your little ones and schedule a day of arts and crafts. You can decide to set up easels and watercolor paints, use clay to make little figurines, or lay out some pom-poms, pipe cleaners, construction paper, and glue to make collages.

Remember: As fun as this activity is, it’s important to keep a close eye on the children as they craft — you don’t want anyone getting poked in the eye with a pipe cleaner!

Put on a Show

Everyone loves a good play, and kids love playing dress-up, so organize a short show with your children. They can pretend to be princesses or superheroes and make up their own storyline.

Not only does this allow your children to use their imaginations, but it can give them the chance to show off their directing skills, especially if one of them has a dramatic flair.

At Miss Sue’s Nursery School, our prime educational goal is the development of the whole child — socially, emotionally, physically and educationally. A multi-sensory, holistic approach to learning is provided through play, art, music, and physical activities. To learn more about the school and give your child the best pre-k experience, give us a call at 516-938-0894.

Keeping Your Kids Safe from the Flu

No parent ever wants to see their child sick, which is why you always take such good care of them to protect them against any illness. Well, the time has come to take those precautions up a notch because flu season has arrived.

In order to keep your child safe and healthy over the next few months, make sure you follow these tips for keeping your kids safe from the flu.

Understand the Risks

Young children are more susceptible to catching the flu since their immune systems are not as strong as adults’ are. Kids also often put their hands in their mouths and can be around other children who may have the flu, increasing their risk of catching the virus.

Wash Their Hands

One of the best things you can do to keep your kids safe from the flu is to consistently wash their hands anytime that use the bathroom, are around other people, and before they eat. This can help kill germs that would otherwise infect them or those around them.

Teach Them the Sleeve Method

Children are commonly taught to cover their mouths with their hands if they cough or sneeze, but to protect against the flu, teach them to sneeze into their sleeve at the elbow. Other children are less likely to touch that area on their arm, so it prevents against the spread of germs.

Keep Them Home

If you know that the flu or another illness is going around at your child's school or karate studio, keep them home a day or two.  This allows other children to get treated and become non-contagious before your child goes near them again.

At Miss Sue’s Nursery School, our prime educational goal is the development of the whole child — socially, emotionally, physically and educationally. A multi-sensory, holistic approach to learning is provided through play, art, music, and physical activities. To learn more about the school and give your child the best pre-k experience, give us a call at 516-938-0894.

Activities That Will Keep Your Children Entertained During Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of the best times of the year! Between the delicious food and all the family gathering to be together, this holiday is one that truly helps you create memories that will last a lifetime.

However, there is one concern many parents have during all the Thanksgiving hustle and bustle: what are the kids going to do? It’s not safe for them to be running in and out of the kitchen, as they could easily burn themselves on the hot stove, and they likely won’t sit still until dinner’s ready. So what should you do? Well, there are plenty of activities that will help keep your children entertained during Thanksgiving!

Scavenger Hunt

If it’s not too cold outside, hide small toys and treats around your yard for the little ones to find. You can include small packets of crayons, dollar-store toys, and a few candies. Just make sure not to include too many treats so they don’t spoil their appetites for dinner!

Table Cloth Coloring

If the children in your family like arts and crafts, purchase a tablecloth they can draw on. Craft stores carry plastic and paper tablecloths that featuring coloring activities to keep your children entertained.

Thanksgiving Bingo

Print out some Thanksgiving-themed bingo cards and have old of the old cousins or another adult lead the game. You can offer a small prize to the winner, such as a toy or an extra piece of pie during dessert.

Mad Libs

We all loved Mad Libs as kids, so why not use the game to entertain your children? Not only will it keep the kids occupied, but it will help boost their imaginations with all the answers they come up with.

At Miss Sue’s Nursery School, our prime educational goal is the development of the whole child — socially, emotionally, physically and educationally. A multi-sensory, holistic approach to learning is provided through play, art, music, and physical activities. To learn more about the school and give your child the best pre-k experience, give us a call at 516-938-0894.

The Best Superfoods for Your Children

Every parent knows that the foods your children eat every day can have a big impact on their current and future health. However, it’s not always easy to convince kids to choose celery over potato chips. But not the worry! There are plenty of yummy and good-looking superfoods you kids will love.

Eggs

With so many ways to make them, eggs are an easy way to make sure your children get the right amount of protein each day. Plus, eggs are more filling than other breakfast options, such as cereal or granola bars, so they will keep your children satisfied longer and prevent the need for that mid-morning snack.

Blueberries

These little guys have been thought of as superfoods for decades, mostly due to their high concentration of anti-oxidants each one has. Research has also shown that blueberries can protect against heart disease, improve brain function, and target the fat cells that lead to obesity.

If your little ones don’t want to eat blueberries on their own, try blending them up into a smoothy or adding them to a bowl of yogurt.

Greek Yogurt

The good bacteria found in low-fat Greek yogurt is a great digestive aid and helps boost your child’s immune system. Serve it to your children with a small drizzle of honey or a bit of agave to add some sweetness to it, and we bet they’ll eat it right up.

Cocoa

We’re not talking about the fan-favorite winter drink here. Cocoa contains compounds that have been shown to reduce blood pressure and improve oral health. Sprinkle some cocoa powder onto your child’s oatmeal or melt 70% cocoa dark chocolate and dip fruit in it.

At Miss Sue’s Nursery School, our prime educational goal is the development of the whole child — socially, emotionally, physically and educationally. A multi-sensory, holistic approach to learning is provided through play, art, music, and physical activities. To learn more about the school and give your child the best pre-k experience, give us a call at 516-938-0894.