Parents Corner

Children’s Center: Parenting tips

Family “Our philosophy is to enhance the learning of all children and families. We strive to uphold the values of eliminating racism and empowering parents to help their children grow and learn physically, socially, emotionally andintellectually at each child’s own individual pace. Our program provides opportunities to make choices and developindependence and positive self-esteem. We encourage each child to be creative and solve problems with guidanceas needed.

We know that children learn spontaneously and actively through play; therefore play is planned to allow learningto happen individually or together in small groups.”

-YWCA Child Center-Parent Handbook

Getting the best from your preschooler:

Girls Dancing 1) Expect more. Most people have a way of living up (or down) to expectations- preschoolers included. Children in preschool programs are expected to pour their own juice or milk from a pitcher. Throw away napkins and garbage and hang up their coats- and they do! But those same kiddos will walk out the door after maneuvering all that the play equipment had to offer hop in a stroller and the thumb goes in their mouth.If we raise the bar a bit our children will probably stretch to meet it.

2) Resist doing for them when they can do for themselves.While it may be quicker to put on Susie’s jacket it won’t help to make her more self sufficient.The magic words of “Do you want me to help or you can do it yourself?” Most children will choose to do it themselves. Praise the trying and successes!

3) Try very hard not to redo what they have done.Try to resist smoothing the freshly made covers of a three year old bed. Dressing themselves in stripes and plaid is a right of passage. So unless it’s picture day please don’t try to “fix” it. They will notice and may get discouraged.

Have fun with it and maybe you can both wear Polka dots and stripes today. Maybe even add in some dinosaur socks to compliment the outfit!😊

Games to play with your preschooler:

One of our favorites in the center is a fun take on memory. We use a blanket picnic style on the floor. We add some of our kitchen play food and then take turns taking 1 (or more as it gets easier) piece away. Then we take turns guessing what’s missing. It can be done with any items around the house.

Arts and Crafts:

Fall play-dough-
Fall Scented Homemade Play-dough

play-doh

1 cup white flour.
1/2 cup salt.
2 Tablespoons cream of tartar (found in spice aisle)
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil.
1 cup water.
1/2 Tablespoon ground cinnamon , pumpkin pie spice, vanilla extract OR caramel extract to each batch made. Add more for stronger scent if desired.

Pot of Gold Craft for St. Patrick’s Day

You are going to love this fun Pot of Gold Craft as much as your kids. It is a fun craft project that results in one of the most eye catching pots of gold I have ever seen. But if you look beneath the surface, you’ll find a fine motor activity designed to strengthen fine motor skills for kids. Cool craft + fine motor activity = mom win!

https://www.messforless.net/pot-of-gold-craft/

How to Make Fluffy Slime

Fluffy slime is SO COOL! It’s just like regular slime, except it’s fluffy and puffy and sooooo much fun! This just might be my favourite slime recipe that we’ve ever tried!

Picture any normal slime recipe. Now imagine that same slime all puffed up and fluffy… kind of like a foam squishy. That’s how I would describe fluffy slime. The foamy texture is really fun!

Want to know what makes the slime fluffy? Shaving cream! (Which you can buy at the dollar store, by the way.) Shaving cream can be used to make all sorts of crazy fun things. We’ve used it to make shaving cream foam sand, DIY puffy paint, and even shaving cream playdough.

This fluffy slime recipe is made without borax, in less than 10 minutes. It’s a typical glue slime with a foamy twist!

To find more check out this amazing Blog: https://onelittleproject.com/fluffy-slime/