Monday, April 28, 2014

May Community Activities

There are lots of activities coming up.  I'm sure there is something for everyone in your family!

North Salt Lake:
Second Annual Kite Festival runs from April 19th to May 3rd.  At noon on May 3rd there will be a Kite Demonstration at Tunnel Springs Park (1080 E. Eaglepoint Drive)

May 6th from 5:30 - 6:00 pm join the celebration at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the opening of the city's new park just north of City Hall.

West Bountiful:
Spring Clean Up May 1st through May 3rd

Bountiful:
May 10th Join the fun at the Health Kids Bike Fest at 100 South Main Street.  The first 100 kids to register receive a free bike helmet at the Lakeview Hospital Tent. 

Centerville:
May 13th at 7:00pm is the Storytelling at the Museum (Whitaker Museum at 168 North Main Street)


***14th Annual Safe Kids Day at Davis County Fairgrounds on May 3rd from 10:00 to 1:00.  Over 50 free, interactive booths including the popular "Teddy Bear Clinic" from IHC.  Children will receive a Teddy Bear and take them through a check up procedure with doctors and nurses from a local clinic.  Great fun for the whole family.  Also an opportunity to receive a free helmet.***

Monday, April 21, 2014

How to Help Your Child Learn in the Early Years

Recently, Irma Lawrence (a student teacher doing an internship with Davis Early Intervention) presented to the staff on this topic.  Here is some of the information she referenced from Zero to Three.

To become eager learners, children need to develop skills in four key areas:

1. Language and Literacy Skills: Language provides the foundation for the development of literacy skills.  Learning to communicate through gestures, sounds, and words increases a child's interest in - and later understanding of - books and reading.  Talking, reading aloud, and singing all stimulate children's understanding and use of language, and help them learn to become good communicators and eager readers.

2. Thinking Skills: Children are born with a need to understand how the world works.  They start by making basic associations such as, "I call out, dad comes."  As they grow, they develop more and more complex ways of figuring things out.  In their everyday experiences, children use and develop an understanding of math concepts, such as counting and sorting and problem-solving skills that they will need for school.  For example, a 2-year-old figures out that she needs to get one more cookie because another friend has come to the snack table.

3. Self-Control:  Self-control - the ability to express and manage emotions in appropriate ways - is essential for success in school and healthy development overall.  It enables children to cooperate with others, to cope with frustration, and to resolve conflicts.  Young children learn these skills through interactions with others and guidance from you.

4. Self-Confidence: When children feel competent and believe in themselves, they are more willing to take on new challenges, a key ingredient for school success.  Self-confidence is also crucial for getting along with others and working out the many social challenges - such as sharing, competition, and making friends - that children face in school settings.  Self-confident children see that other people like them and expect relationships to be satisfying and fun.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Play Recipes for Baby

While I was searching the internet for fun things for little ones, I came across this wonderful blog that has a ton of recipes for fun!  Check it out for ideas to entertain all your kiddos during off-track or summer breaks. There are plenty of ideas that any child (or child at heart) will enjoy!  I really like how she lets her little ones explore with a variety of textures and makes it safe for them to get a little dirty sometimes.  Imagine the things they are learning while doing their job - playing!

Here is the website:
http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/01/play-recipes.html

Have fun!

Monday, April 7, 2014

Helping Your Baby Sleep Better

1-3 months of age
Your baby should be sleeping 16-20 hours per day.
Encourage wakefulness during the day while also allowing your baby to have distinct sleeping periods.
If he is awake when you want him sleeping keep any activity to a minimum.  Keep it dark, don’t talk or play with him.
Put your baby to sleep on his back without bumper pads, wedges, sleep positioners, pillows, blankets or toys.
Establish a bedtime routine.  Keep your bedtime routine calm and do things that will help induce sleep like having a warm bath, massage, cuddling, rocking, reading a story, singing some quiet songs.  Do the last of the routine in the room where the baby will sleep.
BE CONSISTENT!
Ideally your baby should be put in his bed while drowsy but still awake.
It is OK to let your baby fuss for a few minutes when he is awake in the night.  Make sure he is safe, comfortable, fed or does not have symptoms of illness.

4-7 months of age
Sleep pattern at this age: 2 naps/day, 8-12 hours of night time sleep.
Average amount of sleep is 14 hours with a range of 9-18 hrs.
If your child is overly tired he may not sleep as well at night.
Continue to be consistent with a bedtime routine.
When your baby is crying soothe him without picking him up.  Any cuddling, feeding or talking you do may encourage your baby to wake for attention.

8-12 months of age
Sleep problems may crop up at this age due to increased awareness of separation from parent.  Night terrors may also appear.
Try to keep the sleep experience positive.
Be consistent with your responses to wakefulness at night.
A transitional object such as a favorite toy or blanket may be helpful to help your child feel secure.
If your child keeps crying and calling for you, a few words of reassurance from the bedroom door with a quick exit may be helpful.  Try to lengthen the time between personal appearances until your baby is asleep.

Sleep habits are learned behaviors
Good sleepers are made, not born and often need parent direction to establish proper sleep habits
Periods of illness or changes in family routine may cause temporary disruptions in your infants sleep patterns

Information taken from Primary Children’s Hospital Kidshealth website and compiled by Joan Littlefield, Early Intervention Nurse.

As your kiddos get older, they may occasionally need help to maintain a good bedtime routine, or maybe just a good sensory calming strategy.  Here is a suggestion found on Nurture Store's website that you can make at home and keep handy for necessary calming. http://nurturestore.co.uk/bedtime-sensory-tub-lavender-dyed-rice

Bedtime Sensory Tub with Lavender Dyed Rice:

Start by placing uncooked rice in a  doubled plastic bag.  Then mix up the color - a blend of blue and pink food coloring makes lavender.  Pour the food coloring into the bag of rice and stir, stir, stir to distribute the color.  Lay out the rice to dry over night.  Add flour heads from Lavender stalks to add an extra sensory element.

I also found a recipe for Lavender Cloud Dough to provide a calming sensory experience during the bedtime routine at www.growingajeweledrose.com

Lavender Cloud Dough Recipe:

Mix 8 cups flour, 1 cup vegetable oil, and 5 - 7 drops of lavender essential oil in a sensory bin or container.  You can also add 1/2 cup of powdered tempera point or crushed chalk to color the dough.  

That's it!  Cloud dough is an amazing sensory material that is soft, fluffy and mold-able.  It also can be stored indefinitely in an airtight container.