Readiness for Easy Potty Training

For easy potty training, watch for signs of curiosity in your child when siblings or family members go to the bathroom. If your toddler is aware of bowel movements, can notify you by body language or sounds, or tells you about soiled nappies, it shows an increasing amount of control and understanding about this bodily function. Also, if your child remains dry or needs to use the toilet at regular timings, it shows a level of control. This is the right time to begin using potty training methods.

Tips on Potty Training

Before you begin, it is a good idea to introduce your child gradually to the idea of sitting on a potty, and other potty training methods. Allow toddlers to be in the bathroom when you are using it, teach them how to flush, let them watch the flush work, encourage and answer questions about the process of elimination: these are all effective tips on potty training and will help to introduce them to the concept of potty usage. Allow your child to select his or her own potty if possible, and let them know it is theirs to use.

Potty Training for Toddlers

Children may be apprehensive about what exactly they are supposed to do on the potty. Explain in detail what the potty is used for, or use feces from a dirty diaper to demonstrate it by placing it in the potty first and then disposing of it in the toilet. Potty training for toddlers can be confusing and stressful, especially if it becomes a source of disciplining and scolding. Reinforce the idea that using a potty is a grown-up activity, but do not insist on your child sitting on the potty if they don’t want to.

Other tips on potty training include: Let them sit on the potty fully clothed at first if they want, to get comfortable on it. At first, children using a potty may take a long time to complete a bowel movement because it is a new feeling. It helps to add fun to potty training for toddlers, by talking to them, encouraging them, or distracting them with a story or nursery rhyme when they are on the potty.

Potty Training Accidents

Even with excellent potty training methods, children are still likely to have ‘accidents’. Make it a point not to scold or show disappointment to children who have soiled their clothes. Deal with it in a cheerful manner and praise them when they successfully use the potty next time. Bear in mind that children may not be able to control their elimination at night and may still have to wear a diaper. Placing a child on the potty last thing at night and restricting water for an hour before bed-time will lead to dry diapers in the morning fairly soon after they are potty trained.

Things to remember before beginning potty training for toddlers: It is important to remember not to introduce potty training methods during times of stress or illness for a child. This could be anything from a disruption in routine, family problems, new babies or moving house, to any other change that seems to be causing some amount of adjustment issues or stress. Children usually take between 3-6 months to learn how to use a potty regularly, but it varies, and parents must watch children for signs of readiness.

References:

1. Toilet Teaching Your Child – Kids Health

2. Toilet Training Your Child – Family Doctor

3. Toilet Training – BBC UK

Benefits of Children’s Early Learning

In addition to the short- and long-term benefits that children receive from quality early childhood education, it is observed that parents also display improved attitudes towards their children’s education and learning when families are accustomed to children’s early learning.

• It is estimated that children from low-income families show greater results from quality early childhood education as it provides training and stimulus that they otherwise do not receive. Problems in later life such as drop-out rates, illegitimate pregnancies, arrests, and drug abuse are less likely to occur when this income group had children’s early learning activities.
• Higher IQ scores, as well as better performance in school were reported in children who underwent quality early childhood education, at least during early school years
• In some cases during a study, children who qualified for special education and mental health diagnosis when they enrolled in children’s early learning programs made such improvements that they stood in the normal range of development after three years.
• Children display improvements in cognitive development, math skills, vocabulary and word analysis, and social skills with early learning activities.

Quality Early Childhood Education

While quality early childhood learning has a variety of benefits, it is effective only when appropriate to the age and learning abilities of the child. Factors such as the interactions with caregivers and teachers, learning activities and games, size of the groups, and child-adult ratios in these classes affect the benefits of the early learning experience. In addition:

• Teachers and caregivers should ensure that a long-term view of learning is taken, and prepare the child for school, not create a race to accomplish tasks
• Allow children to explore both guided and independent practice and early learning activities
• Use clear directions, explain connections between activities and provide help when needed during children’s early learning
• Create a safe, warm and friendly atmosphere that children look forward to entering
• Offer parents opportunities to participate in their children’s early learning activities

Children’s Early Learning at Home

Finding and evaluating good childcare and quality early childhood education centers can take time, but children’s early learning can start at home. From early childhood, children possess abilities of logic and analysis, reasoning, and vocabulary development. With creative thinking, parents can help children to develop a readiness to learn and a liking for different subjects during daily interactions and tasks.

• Introduce new words and concepts during conversations. Children are capable of holding extended conversations without baby-talk, and should be encouraged to do so.
• As children learn drawing, spelling and writing, involve them in early learning activities like creating pictures, handmade cards, and lists
• Read stories to children regularly and ask them to point out characters from picture books, or later, to discuss new words or concepts.
• Encourage problem solving instincts in children by not rushing to help when they face problems. Helpful hints and positive reinforcement will ensure that children learn to tackle problems with creativity and originality.

References:

1. Research on Early Childhood Education – Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory
2. Investing Today for Tomorrow: The Costs and Benefits of Early Childhood Care and Education – University of Pittsburgh – School of Education

These recession times have been hard on everyone due to the continuous rise in unemployment and the increasing salary cuts. One sector that has been greatly affected by this is the child care industry, specifically nannies and nanny day care jobs as we have previously discussed. Finding child care has, in fact, become easier for parents due to the excessive availability of nannies. Not only can the parents be picky as to who they choose now, they can provide suitable and affordable childcare for their children right from their own homes. There has been a significant shift in childcare from part time day cares to part time nannies due to the current state of the economy.

Part Time Nannies In Excess

Earlier, when the economy was booming, nannies had a particularly strong say on their salaries and benefits. However, within the last year, a lot has changed in the nanny day care business. Parents are finding that they are in control and hold the reigns again which is especially good news for single parent homes. Due to the numerous layoffs, part time nannies are finding it hard to demand what they previously took for granted and are having to settle for much lesser terms thus proving affordable child care to families. While earlier the nannies got to decide which house they would work for, parents are now getting the opportunity to be pickier and choose who they deem fit to care for their child. Nanny agencies now send more than double the number of nannies to choose from to parents. Hiring in these agencies has reduced by 30%-50% within the last one year.

Part Time Nannies: Overqualified & Underpaid

Not only are part time nannies in excess now, most of them are also usually much too overqualified for their jobs. However, they are hopeful to find any job and thus settle for nanny jobs even if they are qualified to achieve much more. Individuals with a Masters degree, years of experience in caring for children, and fluent in English and Spanish are now being looked upon as appropriately qualified for a nanny job. These are extremely high standards compared to last year. Moreover, as parents now don’t have to worry about their nanny being taken away by others if they are not pampered enough, they are now paying them much lesser than they deserve. On average, the pay of a nanny has gone from $700 down to $400 a week. They are also now being required to assist in household cleaning work as well. Even though this seems unfair to the nannies, parents are now rejoicing at finally having found affordable child care for their kids.

With the luxuries of the past life taken away from them and their salaries driven down due to the fallen economy, nanny jobs are now starting to look like affordable child care for parents. With the excess of nannies everywhere, finding child care has become easier now. Parents can now be selective and choose from a variety of overqualified nannies waiting to be employed by somebody. While families everywhere suffer from lower pay and job cuts, affordable nanny day care comes as a blessing to them all.

Reference:

1. Recession shakes up child care for families – CNN

In these recession times, daycare jobs have been hit hard as nannies and babysitters continue their struggle in finding child care jobs. With job cuts increasing every day, part time nannies are losing their jobs and part time day cares are continually losing business. While families regret letting go of trustworthy nannies and babysitters, finding affordable childcare has become a higher priority for them. Jobs in daycare are at an all time low and are projected to remain that way until we come out of this recession. A child care career, although rewarding, does seem a little hard right now.

Recession Hits Part Time Day Care

We are all experiencing financial woes due to our current weak economy and fewer families are choosing a nanny day care for their children. However, daycare jobs have been hit especially hard with this recession. Part time child care centers and individual nannies and babysitters are losing jobs and clients they have had for years. When one member of a family gets laid off, they stay at home to take care of the kids as this is the most affordable child care. However, this would mean letting go of your nanny or cutting down on hours at part time day cares. Since last year, daycares have lost huge percentages of their clients and nanny hiring agencies all over the US have also confirmed that the hiring is really slowing down. More and more nannies call them regularly to find daycare jobs as they keep getting laid off. Enrollment at nanny day cares is so low that many of them have had to close their doors.

Part Time Nannies & Nanny Day Cares Suffering

It has been a mental and financial nightmare for daycares and part time nannies who are losing their jobs. For most, this is their only source of income and the recession is leaving them penniless as families switch to cheaper alternatives. While many lose their jobs altogether, others see hours cut and incentives taken away. Nanny jobs came with bonuses like a month of paid leave, paid holiday in Europe, and a place to stay. With the fallen economy, these incentives are no longer being offered to part time nannies. Moreover, they are being asked to assist in housecleaning and are having their pay rates slashed. The luxuries that they once enjoyed have been snatched away from them so that families can make their childcare affordable. Part time child care centers have also experienced hardships. The impact of the recession is felt by not only the families and day care centers, but also by the workers at the daycares. Daycare jobs are also being affected as staff members and cleaning crew are being laid off to keep the facility from going under.

This recession is contributing to a severe depression in the childcare industry. People with jobs at daycares are suffering greatly due to the several layoffs. Finding child care jobs is becoming increasingly difficult and part time nannies and daycares are bearing the brunt of it. While families accept inferior quality but affordable childcare, nannies and daycares scramble to find new jobs to keep them going.

References:

1. Recession squeezes day care from both sides – MSNBC

Budget Child Care: Low Cost Child Care Options

Dropping a child off at the nearest good day care center seldom amounts to “cheap” child care and therefore parents need to explore their options for low cost child care. There are a number of ways in which you can provide cheap child care for your kids. You must research the availabilities in your area to reach a balance between affordability and quality of the care provided.

• Formal day care center :  These places will usually be listed and are fairly expensive. However, they are mostly trained well in providing care and help your child’s interactive skills.
• Not-for-profit daycare center :  These places also have a fairly well-trained staff but are slightly cheaper than formal day care centers as they receive considerable amounts of government aid.
• Daycare Homes :  These child care homes are much smaller than daycare centers and care is usually a family run business by experienced individuals. They are usually more affordable and are probably well suited for those looking for budget child care.
• Family care :  This kind of child care is an informal arrangement made with family members or friends. The quality of such care is usually lower as the individuals are inexperienced at formal child care. However, it is very affordable child care and makes one feel safer.
• In-home Care: As a low cost child care option, a part-time babysitter can be hired on an hourly basis to care for your child at home. This is more convenient and an affordable child care option for you.

Budget Child Care To Reduce Child Care Costs

Budget child care is becoming an increasing concern amongst parents as a good low cost child care option helps them to cut down on heavy child care expenses. By keeping these small factors in mind, you could find it more affordable to provide child care your kids:

• Family care : Keeping your children within the family members for child care such as with grandparents or relatives can be much cheaper and a good affordable child care option. It also gives you peace of mind and flexibility of timings.
• Student care : Hiring a student from a nearby college is a good source of cheap child care. These students work for much lesser than a local daycare center and fit a low cost child care budget.
• Arrange swaps : Cheap child care is required by all families. Coming up with arrangements to swap kids according to your schedules with neighbors would be more affordable for everyone.
• Save on taxes : The government allows numerous tax deductions for child care. You can take advantage of the Dependent Care Tax Credit or the Dependent Care Account to make your child care more affordable.
• Switch schedules : By switching around your schedules with your spouse you can co-ordinate to have someone stay at home with the children more often and stick to your child care budget as well.

Avoid Low Cost Child Care Dangers

While cheap and affordable child care is attractive to families on a tight budget, parents must not sacrifice the safety and wellbeing of their children for the sake of finding a cheap child care option. When choosing a low cost child care option, it is essential to ask some important child care questions and avoid some basic dangers:

• Avoid start-up budget day cares as they may be inexperienced.
• Research your cheap day care center well.
• Avoid young and irresponsible students as a cheap child care option.
• Lay down strict rules if you leave them with family or friends
• Inspect the place thoroughly before leaving your child in someone else’s care

Child care demands are increasing while the costs keep rising. It is therefore essential to keep all these tips in mind to make cheap child care more affordable for your family.Low cost child care options are not impossible to find but before you jump at the temptation of a cheap child care option, make sure you do your research well enough so you can leave your child in their care.

Some areas to consider when evaluating childcare:

1. Childcare evaluation: Your child’s safety
Basic safety precautions are not always enough when it comes to small children, especially when it comes to more than a few together in one place. Ask your center for an explanation of the security protocol, fire safety measures, and other health and protection measures around the house. During childcare evaluation, it is particularly important for you to know about the policies of the center for children being dropped and picked up. It is a good idea to take a look around the center and meet some of the other day care professionals there.

2. Childcare evaluation: The center and the professionals
When evaluating childcare, take some time to check the certification and registration status of the center and its employees. Understanding the requirements in your area for applying and receiving these credentials is important as it helps you judge how appropriate your childcare center is. It also means that aspects like health and fire safety measures are taken care of, as well as other major issues. Childcare professionals should have first-aid knowledge and should be able to reach doctors or clinics in case of emergency.

3. Childcare evaluation: The childcare professional
When you talk to your childcare professional, open and honest communication is important. Children are hugely influenced by the type of person your childcare worker is, and the atmosphere of the center. The style of care and discipline, the methods of teaching, the kind of interaction – when evaluating childcare, consider whether these are the kind of handling your child is benefiting from. Other factors that you may want to consider when evaluating childcare: religion (basic principles of a specific religion or none at all), cleanliness (the same habits your child learns at home) and topics of learning (too many new concepts or not enough).

4. Childcare evaluation: Your child
The most important question, naturally, is whether your child is happy. A complete childcare evaluation depends largely on this. A safe environment and an adequate number of adults to supervise is not enough if your child is unhappy at the center. If your child looks forward to going to day care most of the time and has friends there, it shows that your childcare professional is working to make sure all children participate in activities and have a genuine sense of belonging.

Also, during childcare evaluate, judge whether your child’s development is being encouraged and stimulated at the center. Parents have different requirements from their daycare: some prefer it to teach basics like alphabet songs or nursery rhymes for vocabulary development and so that learning at school is easier, while some parents choose not to overburden the child’s young mind with anything apart from healthy social interaction, constructive play and personal behavior and habits

5. Childcare evaluation: You and your childcare center
Your childcare center should make your life easier and better, and if it is not allowing you the space and flexibility you need, you should consider other options. Communication with childcare professionals is important, and a good rapport between you and your daycare center will help you understand your role in making the situation smooth and seamless for your child, for your childcare workers, and for you. Any misalignment of motives or preferences should be considered while evaluating childcare and deciding whether it is still a viable option for you.

References

1. Evaluating childcare. Child Care Aware

2. Childcare evaluation.  North Carolina Dept. of Health & Human Services

Choosing the Right Kind of Care for Disabled Children

Before settling on a professional, consider the options for care for special needs children.

• Child minders provide care for disabled children in their (child minder’s) own homes, while nannies will care for the child in the child’s own home. While childminders may have specific timings, many can work with flexible timings, depending on the schedule of the child’s parents and the number of children allowed for one child minder to manage at a time.
• Nannies are usually more flexible in their timings, and can provide care for disabled children in the comfort of a familiar home and surroundings.
• Day care centers and pre-school nurseries provide care for disabled children up to five years of age for a few hours a day and some offer all-day child minding services.

Care for Special Needs Children – Parents’ Tips

1. Qualification of child minder: The first factor to consider is qualifications and registration when it comes to finding child care for special needs children. With registrations, child care professionals go through tests and checks to ensure that they are suitable to be with children, that they work with parents to provide service in the best interest of the child, and that they create an atmosphere that is conducive for happiness, learning and safety.
2. Interview with child minder: Set aside time when trying to find care for special needs children to talk to the professional you are considering, and treat this as an interview. Explain your child’s needs in full, and ask about facilities and activities for children. When discussing your requirements with the potential child minder, remember that you know your child best and understand what he or she needs; you need to communicate what you want from care for your special needs child.
3. Childcare setting: The best way to recognize whether a child minder will provide the best care for your special needs child is to visit them in their homes. If other children seem happy and well-cared for, if there is enough space for learning games and creative stimulus, then the child minder is likely to be good at the job. Other co-workers there should seem happy and caring as well.
4. Other commitments: When deciding on a form of care for disabled children, parents need to consider regular medical or therapy appointments as well, and whether the childcare provider will be able to take the child to these sessions.
5. Appropriate care for disabled children: Finding childcare for disabled children is not only about the child minder. Observe the age- and ability-appropriateness of the activities to understand if your child will fit in and be happy.
6. Medical requirements: If your child has medical needs or treatment, the child minder should be able to administer treatment correctly and efficiently. For many parents, a child minder should have experience in caring for special needs children with the same condition, and this is a valid preference, especially if the disability is severe.

Care for disabled children requires training, experience, patience and understanding, but a certified professional will be more likely to help your special needs child develop and grow.

References :

1. Child care options. National Childminding Association
2. Registered and approved childminders. Parent’s Centre
4. Childcare for disabled children. Direct Gov UK

Development through Play – Types of Play

Children engage in different forms of play, and while they don’t understand this categorization, it is important that parents and child care professionals do, so that they can direct the activity and ensure that children are exposed to and can learn from games. Children play either on their own, with other children, or with adults. Games take the form of activities that involve exercise and movement, or activities performed while seated or sprawled out, with limited motion. Games also include use of toys, props, imagination, and children’s tools or play-items like beads or coloring books.

Learning Through Games – Life Skills and Play

The strength, energy and fitness levels of children increase when they play in a healthy manner. Exercising muscles, developing active habits and burning up excess energy that could turn destructive are the more obvious benefits of learning through games. Play time is also a good time to teach children about life skills like good manners, appropriate behavior, obeying rules, sharing and team playing, cooperation, and concepts of winning and losing. Vocabulary, speech, curiosity, problem-solving, cognitive and intellectual understanding are some of the abilities that develop through play that is guided or planned. Behavioral problems such as temper tantrums, fussy eating and refusal to perform tasks like using the toilet appropriately or getting dressed can be solved through patient play.

Learning through Play – Tips on Learning Games

• Role playing and dress-up activities help children develop their imagination, and teach them about different roles in society
• Sorting, building and fitting shapes and blocks help children understand concepts of color, shape, size and relative concepts like inside/outside, bigger/small, above/below
• Singing and reciting rhymes and songs develops vocabulary, speech patterns and introduces new ideas
• Story telling encourages children to pay attention and to ask questions
• Painting, cutting and pasting, drawing or coloring and jigsaw puzzles develop motor skills and coordination, as well as teaching about colors, shapes and new objects

Directing and guiding play activities are an important part of a caregiver’s role. Children can often lose focus, put themselves and others at risk, or just get bored while playing. A caregiver is there to side-step these issues and lead children towards healthy development through games. A good child care professional knows when to let children play on their own, and when to control or monitor a game. A simple “What are you doing?” question during a game can lead to the child having to think through a concept, use vocabulary to explain it, and develop interpersonal interaction skills in replying.

Whichever form of child care you choose to take, be it a day care center, nanny or baby sitter there are several very important questions that need to be thought about or asked before choosing who to leave your child with. Listed below are just some of them:

• What is the ratio of carers to children, are there enough carers?
• Do the carers seem happy in their work?
• Do the children in the center seem happy?
• Are the children encouraged to talk with the carers?
• When a child acts out what is the carers response?
• Is the care center in good order?
• Does the care center look bright and cheerful?
• Is the equipment in the center in good repair, is it safe?
• Is there a list of daily activities, does the list include things such as quiet time, rest and story time?
• Is the nappy changing area clean and well sanitised?
• Does the care center have a menu on show and if so is the diet a healthy one?
• Are menus given to parents beforehand and are there choices?
• Does the food that is given actually match what’s on the menu?
• Are the toys suited to the age range of the children?
• Are the toys within easy reach?
• Is there protection around play items such as slides and swings?
• Is the outside play area fenced off?
• Are the premises safe, do they have an alarm system on the main door or can just anyone walk into the center?
• Is there any rock, ditches or uneven surfaces in the outdoor play area?
• Are children encouraged to wash their hands after using the bathroom and before eating?
• Do the children have easy access to clean towels and toilet paper?
• Do carers wash their hands when moving between groups of children, before handling food or feeding the children?
• Do the carers wash their hands after touching any bodily fluids such as wiping a runny nose or treating a cut?
• Does the center use disposable paper towels which ensure that each child uses his own towel?
• Is any medication that children take safely locked away and does it each have its own label clearly printed on it stating the name, age and address of the child?
• Are there separate sinks for food preparation and cleaning and hand washing?
• What kind of first aid policy does the center have?
• Does the center have carers that are trained in first aid and hold certificates?
• What is the center’s policy in case of emergencies?
• Does the center keep up to date information on names and addresses of all the children who attend?
• Has any of the staff had training in how to deal with a problem child?
• What is the centers policy regarding bullying?
• How do the carers chastise any bad behaviour?

You may be concerned about the level of attention your child receives during their stay at a day care center, especially if the center is a popular one running at full capacity. Your child could also be very quiet and not one to push forward which can often be a problem especially if the center has three or four particularly boisterous children. So how do you know your child won’t get left out and miss out on activities?

What you can do to help your child

Before your child attends child day care sit down and talk with your child, explain where they are going and who will be taking care of them and make sure that they understand that they can take part in any activities they want and play with any toys they want just as they would at home.

Explain to them that they will be around other children of the same age and encourage them to make friends, talk with your child about sharing and playing with other children make it sound exciting.

Take your child to the day care center before they are due to start and spend the day there together this way you can see first hand the centers routine and the various activities they provide for children.

Walk around the center with your child and point out various areas within the center such as the reading corner, explain to your child that this is where stories will be read and that they can pick books from the shelf to look at.

Most day care centers have an area for water play; this is usually a large shallow sink where children can play together with toys such as water wheels and funnels and is usually a very popular activity. Encourage your child to put on an apron and roll up their sleeves and join in the fun.

Day care centers will usually have tables set out with various activities such as crafts; building blocks and colouring take your child to each table and show them what the center has to offer explaining that they can take part in each of these activities during their stay.

Encourage your child to make something for you. Talk with the head carer and find out if they have set times for activities and if the child has to take part or can they do something else if they prefer.

What the day care center can do to help you and your child

If your child is not very good at mixing with other children or is a very quiet child then make sure that the staff know this beforehand, a lot of children who are quiet will often come out of their shell while in child care once they have settled down and have got used to being with other children.

Staff will watch a child who isn’t mixing and is reluctant to join in activities often pairing them with a child of similar nature, they will quite often take a child and encourage them to try something different from the usual activity, or activities will be on a scheduled basis, for example 15 minutes at the water activity then moving on to others.

All children should be encouraged to take part in various activities throughout the day and will also be taught the value of sharing with others.

What can I do if I think my child is left out?

Talk with your child about their day at the center; ask them what they did during the day, what they played with. Ask them what the story was about and what they painted or made. If you suspect that your child is missing out on activities then talk it over with your child’s carer, usually children are given the same carer and it is the carer’s job to ensure your child takes an active part in all activities.

Express your concerns that your child might be missing out on activities, quite often young children forget what they have taken part in during the day and this could be the case with your child. If you have any concerns and are not happy then ask if you can sit in on one or two sessions to observe your child during the day and encourage them to move from activity to activity while you’re there.