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.

Manners Every Child Should Know

As your child grows up, there are a few things you should teach them: to look both ways before crossing the street, always show people respect, and that manners matter. Children should learn, from a young age, that a bit of consideration and kindness can go a long way, and that they should always use their manners when interacting with friends, classmates, teachers, and the like.

If you’re not sure where to start, these are some of the manners every child should know.

Please

At the very base of all manners is using the word “please.” Whether they’d like a snack or would like to spend some more time on the playground, your child should always say “please” when asking for something.

Thank You

Right after “please,” “thank you” is the next manner your child should learn. Rather than simply walk away after being given something, your child should know to say thank you.

Excuse Me

This one can be a little bit tough to teach young children who like running around everywhere with their friends, but the words “excuse me” can make playtime a bit more civil. Instead of pushing their way to the playground slide, your child can say “excuse me” to politely ask the other children to move.

Don’t Interrupt

Snowballing from “excuse me” is the courtesy of not interrupting. While many children are taught not to interrupt adults, we think this should apply across the board. Teach your child that, if someone is speaking, they shouldn’t interrupt what they’re saying. Instead, they should wait until the person is done talking to comment or respond.

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 moreabout the school and give your child the best pre-k experience, give us a call at 516-938-0894.

The Best and Worst Halloween Candy for Kids

Every Halloween, children of all ages jump at the chance to dress us in their favorite costumes and go door to door for some sweet treats. The thing is, much to parents’ (and dentists’) dismay, all that candy isn’t exactly good for kids’ teeth or energy levels.

But not to worry! While you’d probably prefer your child munch on carrots rather than candy, you can pick out the better options from their trick-or-treat buckets.

Chocolate

Everyone loves a good piece of chocolate! Plain chocolate, such as a classic Hershey’s bar, is one of the best options to let your child snack on around Halloween time because it washes off your teeth more easily than most other candies. Plus, if your child prefers dark chocolate over milk chocolate, that’s even better since dark chocolate has less sugar.

Dissolving Candies

Powdery candies that dissolve quickly in your child’s mouth aren’t too bad because they don’t spend too much time near your child’s teeth. However, the downside to these candies is that they are typically pure sugar — hence why they dissolve so quickly — and that much sugar is never good for your child’s teeth.

Sour Candy

While your child may spit these out after a minute or two because the sour taste is too much for their little taste buds, sour candies can do harm to their teeth quickly. Sour candies are more acidic than sweet ones, and that acid can wear down tooth enamel.

Hard Candy

Not only can hard candy crack your child’s teeth, but it also spends a lot more time in your child’s mouth since they will typically suck on the candy until it breaks down. That gives all the sugar in the candy plenty of time to coat your child’s teeth.

Sticky Candy

Taffy, caramels, and other sticky candies are the worst candies your child could munch on. These candies stick to every surface on your child’s teeth and allow all the sugar to collect bacteria and form cavities on your child’s teeth.

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.

Easy DIY Halloween Costumes for Kids

It’s officially October, so you know what that means, Parents. Time to start helping your child decide what they want to dress up as for Halloween. While this is an exciting time of the year, it can also be expensive — some of those store-bought Halloween costumes can cost an arm and a leg!

But not to worry! There are plenty of unique, easy DIY Halloween costumes that you can make for your child at a fraction of the cost that they are sure to love!

Easy DIY Halloween Costumes for Kids

A Garden Fairy

All you need for this sprightly costume is tulle, a few fake flowers, a bit of ribbon, some wings and a flower crown. Craft a classic tutu that is long enough for your child to wear as a dress, and hot glue or sew some ribbon to create straps at the top of it. Use garlands of fake flowers to fashion a crown, strap on the wings, and let your little fairy float their way through treat-or-treating.

A Superhero

This is one of the easiest costumes you can make! Grab a paper eye mask and a cape, and you have yourself a superhero! You can also use fabric paint to write your child’s first initial on a plain t-shirt so they’re really their own hero.

A Chimney Sweep

Dress up your child in black slacks, a white shirt, suspenders, and a newsboy cap and create a chimney broom using a lightweight PVC pipe and extra long pipe cleaners. Add a red bow tie and use a bit of makeup to add some “soot” to your little one’s face, and they’ll be ready to start singing “Chim Chim Cher-ree!”

A Hot Air Balloon

Help your child look ready to travel the skies with only a few household items. Take a round, lightweight laundry basket and cut a hole in the bottom so your child can stick his or her legs through. Use some string or ribbon to create straps to keep the basket up, and tie a large balloon to the basket. It’s as simple as that!

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.

What You Should Include in Your Child’s Backpack

Now that the school year is well underway, you’ve probably packed your child’s backpack a number of times before sending them on their way to school. However, do you know if you’re including the right items in their bag? When your child comes home from school, take a look in their knapsack and make sure you’re stocking it with the essentials.

Healthy Snacks

It’s no secret that kids love munching throughout the day, so give them plenty of healthy snacks to choose from. Non-refrigerated items such as granola bars, organic fruit roll-ups, and raisins are all great options for a nutritious, mid-day snack.

Just make sure you don’t include any snacks with peanuts without letting your child’s teacher know. You never know if your child will try to share their snack with another classmate with allergies.

Tissues

The earlier you can teach your child to wipe their nose with a tissue instead of their sleeve, the better. Include a small to-go pack of tissues in their backpack for easy-to-reach runny nose relief.

Glasses Case

If your child wears glasses, it’s important to keep the case in their backpack. If your kid takes his or her glasses off for nap time or when they go on the playground, the glasses will be much safer in their case rather than just thrown into your child’s bag.

A Change of Clothes

Whether it be because they didn’t make it to the bathroom quick enough or arts and crafts got a bit messier than planned, it’s always wise to have a change of clothes handy. Not only will this help keep your child clean and comfortable, but it’ll save you the time of driving a new set of clothes over to their school if an accident happens.

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.

Helping Your Child Make New Friends At School

The beginning of the school year is always filled with excitement, anticipation, and just a little bit of nerves. But if your child is starting out at a new school or it's his or her first year, they may be a little nervous about not having many friends to play with. Not to worry! You can help your child make new friends at school by working on a few simple lessons at home.

Encourage Smiles

A smile is the best way to show other people that your child is friendly and eager to be social. Help your child learn to smile when they first approach a classmate so that they create a welcoming presence.

Practice Introductions

Smiles are great, but conversation is better! At home, practice introducing yourself with your child and help them craft their own way to say “hello” to the other children at school. Simple phrases like “Hi, my name is Ryan. What’s yours?” and “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Sophia,” can help start a larger conversation with soon-to-be friends.

Emphasize Manners

“Politeness is an expensive way of making friends” and “manners matter” are statements that ring true for everyone — including children. Teaching your kids to use words like “please” and “thank you” and to not interrupt other classmates when speaking can make a world of difference in their effort to make friends.

Teach Good Conversation

Help your children understand that good conversation helps friendships grow and that they should ask questions to get to know their other classmates. “What do you do for fun?” “Do you have a favorite movie?” “What is your favorite food?” These are all questions that can help build bonds between your children and their new friends.

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.