Teaching Your Child Healthy Eating HabitsWith the winter months coming upon us, we find that our children are at risk for infections and colds. Taking care of a sick toddler isn’t fun. But taking care of two sick children is worse. It means more misery and sleepless nights — and for you, more missed days of work.

Kids do pass infections to each other easily in a group setting such as daycare, particularly during the winter months. You can’t prevent it entirely, unless you switch to a nanny or decide to stay home yourself. But there are steps you can take to minimize the chances your baby will be ill at daycare.

Step up your disinfecting:

Even if you’re not germ-obsessed usually, now might be a time to focus more on disinfecting surfaces in your home. It can help prevent germs from spreading from child to child in a daycare setting.

Practice good diaper hygiene:

Be especially careful with dirty diapers now — particularly if you have more than one kid wearing them. The changing table could be a spot where your kids exchange germs. So you could decide to use the changing table only for your sick toddler and change your healthy kid somewhere else. Or you could always lay a fresh blanket over the changing pad when putting a diaper on your healthy child.

Don’t allow sharing at meals:

Mealtimes may usually be chaotic, with your kids regularly swapping silverware, cups, and food. For now, do what you can to prevent that.

Keep the bathroom hygienic:

While germs generally don’t live on towels very long, they can live long enough to make a healthy kid sick. So launder them regularly. You may even want to switch to disposable paper towels for a week to prevent germs from infecting other family members. By the same token, consider replacing the bathroom water glass with disposable paper cups for a while. And get your child a new toothbrush after he’s been sick.

Wash Hands:

Teach your child how to wash their hands with good warm water and soap. Keeping on top of them regarding this is important. Sometimes just having set times where they wash their hands will get them into a good habit especially at daycare. Right after they get back home, before dinner, after they use the washroom.

Coughing in the Elbow:

Teach your child to cough NOT in their hands, but in their ELBOW area of their sleeve or shirt. This helps prevent germs from spreading to toys or other hands at daycare.

Dressing Warm:

The reality is that most of what hits our kids is them getting cold while doors, so dressing them warm with a good jacket, toque and scarf helps.

Cleaning Toys and Doors:

Most of the time germs are spread through toys and the doorknobs. So disinfecting these things always helps.

Cleaning your Computer:

Wipe down your computer keyboard and mouse at least once a week during the winter months to prevent spread of germs and sickness. Using something like 99% hydrogen peroxide or isopropyl alcohol will burn off the germs and clean your keyboard and mouse with-out damaging your electronics.

The Importance of Reading to Young ChildrenAs a parent, we all understand the importance of reading.  We use it on a daily basis, and as a matter of fact you are using it as we speak.  Now that your child has learned letters, words and ideas putting together a reading plan can make later learning an easier process.

Children who partake in early literacy activities have more confidence than children who are not offered this resource.  Premier Academy has the tools and resources to encourage reading, as we feel increased confidence will enable your child him to socialize better with adults and other children. These great tips will make reading fun and easy.

Reading is Everywhere:

Driving, grocery stores, at home, at the doctor’s office, reading is everywhere.  While at the grocery store with your Pre-K Omaha, Nebraska child, read the back of the cereal box, the magazine cover or the sale signs.  Ideas live everywhere you and your child go, and actively engaging in conversation about them will expose your child to more information about the world.

Every Day Job

Reading to your child every day will help them have a longer attention span and better listening skills. It complements what they are learning in kindergarten. If your child is able to sit and listen for long periods as you read, they will have the skills necessary to sustain reading on their own for longer periods of time.

Use rich vocabulary

Reading should include a focus on words. Using rich language enables children to better express themselves. Changing words like gigantic instead of big or marvelous instead of good are great examples.

Let your child read to you

If you read your child’s favorite book to them time and   time again, your child will begin to memorize the words.  This is ok as the words will become more familiar.  Let your child read to you!  Even if they are not reading everything correctly, this encourages your child to share reading with you and others they may encounter.

Keep it fun, for everyone

As you read with your child, keep them involved by asking questions about the story, and let them fill in the blanks. You can also create activities related to the stories you’re reading. This keeps your child involved and they may even do this on their free time!

Beyond books

Reading material comes in many different shapes and sizes, some of which may be more accessible to a new reader. Video games, magazines, and comic books all provide opportunities for reading practice. Other suggestions for adding reading into your home:  playing board games, closed caption on your television, instructions for putting together a game and grocery lists are just a few great ideas.

Don’t let reading be a chore.

Reading should be a choice, not a chore. Make sure there are a variety of books, magazines, and other materials available for your child to choose from.  While it’s fine to make suggestions, never force your conceptions of what your child should be reading onto your child. Keep an eye on the reading level of the books your children choose. Let them stretch to the best of their ability, but be ready to help if they get discouraged.

Teaching Your Children About FriendshipPreschool offers benefits that will help prepare your child for kindergarten and beyond.  Children interact with peers, take turns, and follow rules. Attending preschool does come with its fair share of emotions, for both the parent and the child. For children, entering this new phase can be very emotional, as a new preschool environment filled with unfamiliar teachers and kids can cause stress and anticipation. Parents might have mixed emotions about whether their child is ready for preschool.

At Premier Academy, we are here to make this transition as easy as possible.  To create less stress we have a few suggestions to make you and your child comfortable with this new journey.

Easing Your Child’s Fears

Visiting your child’s first preschool classroom a few times before school starts can ease the stress into unfamiliar territory. This offers the opportunity to ask questions, meet the teachers and learn the routines and common activities. While visiting the center, let your child explore and observe the class and choose whether to interact with other kids. Familiarizing your child with the classroom allows them to get comfortable.

Talk to your child about the new experiences they will encounter.  If you have an idea of what will take place, gradually introduce your child to these activities.  You can also ask how the teacher handles the first tear-filled days. How will the first week be structured to make the transition smooth for your child?

The First Day

This may be the hardest part of your new journey.  The first thing to remember, if your child clings to your or is not eager to join in with the other children, don’t get upset as this will only upset your child. Reintroducing the teacher to your child and taking a step back to allow the teacher to begin forming a relationship with your child.

We suggest never sneaking out. As tempting as it may be, leaving without saying goodbye may make kids feel abandoned, whereas a long farewell scene might only serve to reinforce a child’s sense that preschool is a bad place.

Be observant and flexible.

Watch to see how your child is adjusting. Do you feel he’s making a good connection with his teachers? Is your child excited about their new friends and all of the fun they are having.  If you are still seeing that your child is anxious and nervous, offer a time to volunteer. If you are working at a full time job, maybe a lunch hour or early morning time would work with your schedule more.  The teachers might really appreciate the extra help.

Be proud:

Before we know it, our children are ready to take this new adventure.  As hard as it may be, they are growing up! Express to your child how proud you are of them and get as excited as they are to discuss the daily events.

Family Fitness IdeasWhen your children enter kindergarten for the first time, they will be immersed in a completely new and unfamiliar environment. While there may be an initial apprehension especially without their parents present, children have a remarkable ability to adapt and most will come to like their new classroom environment.

Why not give your children a head start? Premier Academy provides an environment not unlike the one they will soon enter once they begin their first year of school. Children will have a whole new surrounding to explore outside the one they are familiar with. Even more importantly, they will be exposed to peers their age. This teaches them important social learning skills that can only be acquired through direct contact and engagement. Pre-K daycare gives your children that experience so they are in for nothing new when they enter kindergarten.

Premier Academy is far more than just a daycare center. It is also a place that gives your children the tools and experience to enrich their learning at a time when their young minds are still impressionable and can soak up new information like a sponge. The environment we provide is very nurturing and will become your child’s second home.

7 Play Based Learning Activities to Do With Your ChildChildren are our most precious resource and most valuable assets. Parents will go to any length to ensure their children are well taken care of when they have to work. To ensure this happens parents must select a premier preschool for their precious little one. Knowing how to recognize a premier preschool is important to ensuring only the highest quality care for your child. The parents of Premier Academy are always happy with the excellent care their children receive. Premier Academy specializes in services for infants, toddlers, preschooler, and pre-K aged children as well as offer school aged after school care programs.

The first way to recognize a premier childcare facility is by the highly qualified caregivers. At a premier childcare facility children will be provided with a positive learning environment by experienced and loving caregivers. The nurturing and caring workers at Premier Academy are devoted to the happiness of the children in their care and dedicated to stimulating their learning. The second way to recognize a premier child care facility is one dedicated to fostering the healthy development of children and providing a safe but fun environment. When looking for the best preschool Omaha Nebraska has to offer look no further than Premier Academy.

Children and Technology: Parenting Tips for the Digital AgeWhile it can be a difficult decision for many parents, choosing to put your child in pre-k daycare may provide benefits that you aren’t aware of. Not only is it necessary for many parents to be able to return to work, but it provides a lot of advantages for the child as well.

A good daycare like Premier Academy will allow your children to socialize with other children in a safe environment. This is especially important if your child is an only-child, or if there is a large gap in ages between your children. Socializing with their peers an excellent way for children to learn skills like sharing. It’s also important for your child to learn what it is like to form friendships from an early age.

Many private daycares provide structured learning opportunities for the children that will better prepare them for school. A pre-k program teaches the children through songs, crafts and independent play time. These kinds of activities will show your children what it is like to attend school, and instill in them a sense of pride from the new skills they are learning.

To ensure your child is attending a pre-k daycare that provides them with the most benefits, find out what kind of activities they do throughout the day.

Understanding Quality ChildcareTo assist you in finding the appropriate quality childcare, Premier has listed steps below that will guide you through finding a good daycare center and recognizing the signs of a good daycare center (See Part 1).

Signs of a good daycare center

  1. Reputation:
    The references you talk to should be very happy with the daycare center. If they are unsure or have doubt, you probably will too.
  2. Caring and qualified staff:
    The staff should be enthusiastic and interact with the children in a positive way that shows they really care. The staff should have a philosophy about discipline, feeding and sleeping that follows your philosophy. The employees should be educated with at least two years of college, a background in child development, along with first aid training and knowledge of CPR.
  3. Safe, clean facility:
    A good daycare center has floors, walls, bathrooms, kitchen and changing stations that are clean, well lit, and ventilated. There should be established policies on how to keep things clean, when and how often hands are washed, and how to keep toys and equipment in safe working order. The daycare center should have an emergency plan, with first aid kits, fire extinguishers, and childproof storage areas. All general child safety issues should be followed.
  4. Established rules and policies:
    A good daycare center will be flexible but it should follow set hours, have enforced rules on sick children, and will require checkups and immunizations to prevent the spread of illness. The center should have an open door policy that allows you to stop for a visit unannounced. If they don’t have this policy, they might be hiding something.
  5. A complete schedule of activities:
    Good centers will have a schedule that allows for play time, quiet time, individual activities, meals, snacks, and group activities. One thing that should not be included in a good schedule is TV and videos. A good center teaches a wide variety of topics, while at the same time, teaching things appropriate for the age group. Also look for toys that are appropriate for the age of your child. These toys should be fun, while letting the child be imaginative and creative.
  6. A current license:
    While a license doesn’t guarantee the center will work for you, the center should be licensed by your local city services department. Also look and see if the center is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Licensing laws vary from state to state.

Signs of a bad daycare center

  1. Reputation:
    If you have heard bad word of mouth or the references make you question something, the daycare center is not for you.
  2. An unqualified staff:
    A staff that has no formal child training, no college education and no emergency training is not a staff you want around you child. If there are more than three or four children to each teacher, one might suspect the teachers could be overworked, underpaid, and potential not happy with their jobs. This situation could lead to high employee turnover that would not give your child the best daycare available.
  3. Unsafe, dirty facility:
    Do not use a daycare center whose facility is rundown, has bad lighting, dirty play or food preparation areas, toys and equipment in need of repair, or have dangerous items in reach of children. If the center has no emergency plan, is without first aid kits, fire extinguishers, and child proof storage areas, this are no place for your children.
  4. No set rules:
    A daycare center that has no policy with set rules is not the center for you. This will lead to confusion, misunderstandings, spread of illness, and a generally unsafe environment.
  5. No daily schedule:
    If the daycare center has no daily program of activities for your child, your child will not have a chance to learn and grow. Your child needs to be educated with stimulating, imaginative, and creative activities. If the center just lets the children play and watch TV, don’t use them.
  6. Expired licenses:
    If the center has an expired license or no license at all, don’t use them. This means they are either conducting business illegally or could not meet your local city services requirements to operate as a safe, quality center.

Premier offers quality childcare in Omaha, Nebraska.  Our staff is here to help and will assist in making the right choices for the growth of your child!

How To Get Children To Try New FoodsChoosing the proper daycare center for your child should be a carefully thought out and researched process. With some daycare centers being exceptional and some being just plain bad, it is important to pick a center that helps your child grow and develop his skills while also having fun.  Premier Academy has made a great list helping assist in finding the best childcare.

There are several advantages to having your child in a daycare center. Good centers have a mix of activities that will teach different skills. Projects that lead to creativity, storytelling, dancing, and singing all help the child learn instead of just playing all day. Children also get to socialize with other children, which they wouldn’t get to do as often if they were at home with a nanny. Finally, the daycares are more stable and consistent than nannies because the center will watch your child even if a teacher is sick.

To assist you in finding the appropriate daycare center, Premier has listed steps below that will guide you through finding a good daycare, as well as recognizing the signs of a bad daycare center (Part 2).

  1. Make a list of what’s important to you.
    Do you want a center close to home? Close to work? Do you want your children to be with several children or prefer smaller groups?
  2. Research all your possibilities.
    Ask your friends, family, doctors, and referral agencies for a daycare center they would recommend. Look on the Internet and in the phone book for other possible centers. When doing your research, be sure to think about your list of important topics. Is the center accredited by the National Association for the Education for Young Children or the National Association of Family Child Care? Has the center received any local award or recognition?
  3. Once you have a list of possible centers, call them on the phone and ask some preliminary questions.
    This is a very important step. Make sure you remember your initial feeling of the conversation and write down if you had a good or bad feeling, including what made you feel that way. You should ask about their policies, hours, fees, activities, and philosophies on teaching children. Are they flexible to help you with your schedule? Will they accommodate your special requests? What is their teacher to child ratio? Do they change activities frequently? Do they have experienced teachers?
  4. Narrow down your list by crossing off the centers you had a bad feeling about.
    Next, visit and interview the daycare center you had a good feeling about. Get a list of the activities and look around at the facility. Is the center a warm, clean, safe environment in which you think your child would learn and have fun? Be sure to pay close attention to the actual teacher to child ratio during your visit to verify what they told you it was over the phone. Also, ask any more questions you may have and make sure the director is allowing you free access to look at everything you want to see or know about. Again, your gut feeling is most important.
  5. Narrow down your list again then start checking references.
    Call parents of children who are currently at the center or have had children at the center in the past. Ask their opinion of the center and if they would recommend it to you. If their child is no longer at the center, ask why.
  6. Take you child to the daycare center for a visit.
    Observe how your child acts in the environment and around the teachers. Does your child seem comfortable? Do you think your child would be happy at the center?

Once you find a daycare that meets your qualifications and one that you feel your child would like, enroll your child. If there is a waiting list, get your name on the list and find a temporary caregiver until a spot becomes open.

Contact Premier Academy today to make your appointment!  We offer the best childcare in Omaha, Nebraska.

Helping Children Cope With ChangeAs we discussed in our last blog posting, selecting the right preschool can be a difficult decision. The next 3 Steps to selecting the right preschool in Omaha, Nebraska.

  1. How old should my child be when she starts?

Most preschools in Omaha serve 3, 4, and 5-year-olds, with most kids beginning at age 4. (Some preschools will start accepting children at around 2 1/2, but that doesn’t mean your child will be ready when he reaches that age.) You can choose from a part-time schedule or a full-time one. Your choice will depend on your family’s situation — working moms might prefer five days a week — and on your child’s temperament.

Parents typically start investigating options about a year before they want their children to attend.

  1. How do I choose the right preschool and childcare in Omaha?

Research, research, research. First, decide on location (close to work or home?) and hours (half-day, two or three days a week, full-time?). There are programs at private schools, daycare centers, religious institution, state-funded schools, and cooperatives run by parents. Start by asking for recommendations from other moms. Next, check whether the schools are state-licensed, which ensures the facility meets safety requirements and has adequate staffing (visit naccrra.org).

Many states exempt religious-based preschools from all or some requirements — although many meet these standards anyway. In addition, many preschools now have Web sites that you should visit.

Call each preschool  you’re considering and ask about its fees, admission policy, and curriculum. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, schedule visits.

Most childcare centers run open houses during the winter. Also, meet with the director and spend time in a classroom to observe the teachers. Visit each school with your child and see how she responds to the classroom, the teachers, and the activities.

  1. What should I look for during a visit?

Check out the basics: Is the facility clean and safe? Keep your eye out for smoke detectors and first-aid kits. Is there a well-kept outdoor play area? Are there plenty of art materials, age-appropriate toys, and books? Are they in good condition? Is the atmosphere friendly and fun? Student work should be displayed in the hallways and around the classroom, hung at kid-level.

The classroom should have a variety of activity areas — a reading place, an art station with materials on shelves that kids can reach: a block corner, a puzzle area, and a place for naps. Children should not all be doing the same thing at the same time; they should be playing with toys or other kids but still well supervised.

Premier Academy offers preschool in Omaha, Nebraska. Our West Omaha childcare center has everything your child will need to become ready for the road ahead. Premier provides a place where your child can gain a sense of self, explore, play with her peers, and build confidence. We are not your ordinary daycare.

Infant Sign LanguageSelecting the right preschool can be a difficult decision.  Is your child ready, are you sending your child to the right school?  These are common questions & Premier can help!  4 Steps to selecting the right preschool in Omaha, Nebraska.

  1. What’s the difference between childcare and preschool?

Child care centers are an option for working parents who need their children to be taken care of during the day; centers accept babies as well as toddlers and are full-time, full-year programs. Preschool refers to an early-childhood educational class for 3- and 4-year-olds. Many offer a part-time schedule as well as full-day care, but only from September to May. Yet the terms are often used interchangeably. A childcare center with experienced, well-trained teachers and stimulating activities offers kids similar advantages to a preschool.

  1. How important is preschool?

Statistics show that a majority of kids attend at least one year of preschool. According to the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), more than two-thirds of 4-year-olds and more than 40 percent of 3-year-olds were enrolled in a preschool in 2005 nationwide.

“Every child should have some sort of group experience before he starts kindergarten,” says Amy Flynn, director of New York City’s Bank Street Family Center. Music and gymnastics classes are great, but what preschools do that less formal classes don’t is teach kids how to be students. Your child will learn how to raise her hand, take turns, and share the teacher’s attention. What’s more, she’ll learn how to separate from Mommy, who often stays in a music or gym class. All of this makes for an easier transition to kindergarten. “Kindergarten teachers will tell you that the students who are ready to learn are those who come into school with good social and behavior-management skills,” Smith says.

In fact, educators have so recognized the importance of giving kids some form of quality early education that about 40 states now offer state-funded pre-K programs.

  1. What will my child learn at preschool?

In addition to strengthening socialization skills — how to compromise, be respectful of others, and problem-solve — Premier Academy provides a place where your child can gain a sense of self, explore, play with her peers, and build confidence.   We are not your ordinary daycare.  “Kids in preschool discover that they are capable and can do things for themselves — from small tasks like pouring their own juice and helping set snack tables to tackling bigger issues like making decisions about how to spend their free time,” says Angela Capone, PhD, senior program manager at Southwest Human Development’s Arizona Institute for Childhood Development, in Phoenix. “Plus, 4- and 5-year-olds have begun asking some wonderful questions about the world around them — what happens to the water after the rain? Do birds play? Quality preschools help children find answers through exploration, experimentation, and conversation.”

  1. But what about learning his ABCs?

“Young children can certainly learn letters and numbers, but to sit kids down and ‘teach’ them is the wrong way to do it,” says Smith. “They learn best through doing the kinds of activities they find interesting — storytime, talking to their teachers about stars, playing with blocks.” To help kids learn language and strengthen pre-reading skills, for instance, teachers might play rhyming games and let kids tell stories. Keep in mind that for small children, school is all about having fun and acquiring social skills — not achieving academic milestones. “Kids need to be imaginative and to socialize — that’s what fosters creative, well-rounded people. It’s not whether they can read by age 4 or multiply by 5,” says Flynn. An ideal curriculum? Parading around in dress-up clothes, building forts, and being read to.

Premier Academy offers preschool in Omaha, Nebraska.  Our West Omaha childcare center has everything your child will need to become ready for the road ahead.