Keeping a Check on Increasing Child Obesity

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The rate at which children are becoming obese is alarming. Reasons for this are many with a few common ones being associated to the kind of food consumed at this tender age. The aspect of inactivity is also one that has contributed to the obese scenario. Below are some of the reasons that have led to this menace to increase. We have also researched and brought out the control measures to keep it under a check.

Unhealthy Snacking
Unhealthy SnackingOne of the reasons that have led to the increased numbers of obese children is the fact that they continuously consume junk food. Fries and snacks that are full of saturated fats and high levels of cholesterol form their favorite list. This balance is unhealthy for children, especially since they are growing. At this tender age, what they require is healthy food like fruits and vegetables. Parents should ensure that their children have fruits, juice smoothies and healthy crunches like groundnuts for their snacks. Serving them in a decorative way might prove helpful. Avoiding fries will reduce levels of toxic fat in their bodies and guarantee a healthy young child.

Lazy Lifestyle
Lazy LifestyleInactive lifestyle is another contributor to increasing obesity in children. Children laze around after eating. This should be discouraged. Instead, encourage your children to participate in sports and be active. Engage them in simple home clean-up activities after they consume food. Stored fat is dangerous and forms barriers around vital organs that could lead to their break down, the heart being an example.

Vital Nutrients Go Missing in Diets
Vital NutrientsAlways cook the right food for your child. This means that at no one time should children eat unbalance diets .ensure the food rationing provides all necessary nutrients for your kid without missing anything that is vital. This keeps obesity at bay.

 

About the Author
Dorothy Hastings is the Director of First School, which are three preschool and child care centers located throughout Southern California. First School provides a hands-on approach to preschool education and child care programs that emphasizes all around child development. In addition to their intuitive academic approach, First School also focuses on developing a child’s social skills and self-confidence, which is made possible in their intimate learning atmosphere. Google+

Curiosity Helps Kids to Learn Better

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Questions come from young children from the moment they start talking.  Why, Mommy?  How, Daddy? At the end of a normal day, parents often wonder how such a small being could ask so many things. Children are born with insatiable curiosity, something that is necessary to make sense of all the new things their world brings them into contact with each day.  The more answers they receive, the more they ask.  Curiosity is nature’s way of seeing that children learn.

A child who finds his questions answered learns to seek more understanding.  You have only to look at the way a child’s face lights up when a concept clicks and they are able to take one thing they learned and apply it correctly to something else.  The child’s self-esteem grows and they seek to reproduce the good feelings associated with learning.  Allowing a child to explore gives them the tools they will need as they grow into adulthood.  They learn that new and wonderful experiences await their exploration and they have no fear in trying new things.

The child who has been allowed to question seeks out ways to grow and make life better.  It is this child who will one day seek new methods for exploring the heights of space and depths of the oceans.  This is the child that doesn’t accept disease, but instead questions why it exists and how we can cure it. These are the future leaders who won’t be satisfied with being told to accept what is.  They know there is more out there and won’t rest until they find a new and better way.  No, this is the child that will make a better way.

 

About the Author
Dorothy Hastings is the Director of First School, which are three preschool and child care centers located throughout Southern California. First School provides a hands-on approach to preschool education and child care programs that emphasizes all around child development. In addition to their intuitive academic approach, First School also focuses on developing a child’s social skills and self-confidence, which is made possible in their intimate learning atmosphere. Google+

Behavior That Kids Emulate

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Ever heard of the phrase “Do as I say, not as I do?” This message, verbally and non-verbally, has long been a part of some parents’ child-rearing practices. However, following this motto reinforces unacceptable behavior in toddlers and school-age kids. It’s important to be mindful of what you allow your child to absorb from your actions, as well as outside influences. Take a look at specific examples of negativity that kids often imitate.

Derogatory Language

It’s no secret that children are walking sponges, especially when it comes to repeating what they hear. If you speak kind, soothing words of encouragement in front of them, they’re likely to emulate this kind of speech among their peers. On the other hand, if you use expletives and belittle others while in their company, your children will follow suit and become disrespectful naysayers.

Violence

Kids don’t always understand the impact that violent behavior has on an individual or a community. This is because film, in music, and other media outlets tend to glamorize make such heinous actions. It’s up to you as a parent to monitor what your children view and ensure that they’re not directly affected by deviance. Otherwise, they’ll grow up thinking this is a way of life and will have the potential to inflict pain on others, as well as themselves.

Sexually Suggestive Conduct

Sexual vulgarity is also tempting to youth. Keeping track of what kinds of movie ratings they watch, can prevent your child from assuming promiscuity is acceptable. You should also be aware of their whereabouts to ensure that they’re not vulnerable to child predators.

Kids are impressionable souls who need direction, particularly in the early stages of their lives. Be sure to take your job as their prime example seriously by only condoning and rewarding positive, healthy behavior.

About the Author
Dorothy Hastings is the Director of First School, which are three preschool and child care centers located throughout Southern California. First School provides a hands-on approach to preschool education and infant day care services that emphasizes all around child development. In addition to their intuitive academic approach, First School also focuses on developing a child’s social skills and self-confidence, which is made possible in their intimate learning atmosphere. Google+

Secrets for Parents

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Parenting the three- to five-year-old set is hard work! As your babies take their first toddling steps, and then break into a run, it’s a race to keep up with their physical, social and emotional development.

Preschool teachers have had years of experience helping young children reach their potential – here are their tips for making the most of these formative years:

1. Getting up and at ‘em! Set a routine for getting out of the house in a timely manner, perhaps with a picture chart, and guide your child through it.

2. Keep napping as long as possible. Create a solid routine – perhaps reading a book and singing a favorite song before tuck-in. Your child will crave that restorative rest time, as will you.

3. Scissors for preschoolers? Yes! Get out the child-safety scissors, paper, tape, markers, etc. and let them create!

4. Pay attention to how you are speaking to your child in addition to what you are saying. Model the respect you hope to get from your child.

5. Backwards shirts and mismatched socks? No problem. As frustrating as it may be to watch him struggle putting his own socks on when you’re already late, remember the practice is important.

6. Help children to solve sharing dilemmas. Don’t swoop right in to solve squabbles. Ask them to be part of the problem-solving. You’ll be surprised what they might come up with for a solution!

7. Play, play, play! Make-believe play, dressing up, building with blocks and getting creative with art is how your preschooler learns best. With positive role models around – such as parents and preschool teachers – to ensure a safe and loving environment, your child will thrive.



About the Author

Dorothy Hastings is the Director of First School, which are three preschool and child care centers located throughout Southern California. First School provides a hands-on approach to preschool education and child care programs that emphasizes all around child development. In addition to their intuitive academic approach, First School also focuses on developing a child’s social skills and self-confidence, which is made possible in their intimate learning atmosphere. Google+

What You Need to Consider with Childcare

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The schools where you choose to have your preschooler or kindergartner spend a significant portion of their day matters a lot. When exploring your childcare options, there are several things to keep in mind before you select the facility.

First, make sure the school is accredited. A school that is accredited tells the community, parents and the educational industry that the school adheres to a strict standard of operation. Further, children that attend preschools and kindergartens that are accredited have a better chance of being accepted into private schools as they move forward in their academic career, if this is the route you choose to go.

In addition to being accredited, another important component to look for is if the school offers hands-on learning activities and the use of developmentally-appropriate, open-ended materials. Learning through play and by being actively involved in a process or specific learning activity promotes and inspires more learning. The school should also promote creative expression and an appreciation of music, dance and art. This philosophy of learning helps children learn how to listen and share ideas while working collaboratively with others.

Next, the school should demonstrate a respect for all individuals despite their creed, race, religion or physical challenge. By enabling your child to attend a school that is rich and diverse in its student population gives your child the wonderful opportunity to connect, at an early age, with children that may, at first, seem different from them. A demographically diverse school population promotes respect for all people and is especially important for younger children.

Finally, the childcare option you select must promote health and safety. The physical environment should be free from obstructions that could hurt a child; it should be far enough away from a busy street, and it should be maintained and sterilized on an ongoing basis to significantly reduce the chance of germs being spread.

What You Should Do to Prepare Your Child for Kindergarten

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Parents often wonder if their child is ready academically, emotionally and is socially mature enough for the big changes ahead of them. Kindergarten is the biggest leap your child will make academically for the next couple of years. Knowing a few steps to guide your child onto the path of a successful Kindergarten year can help ease the stress you may be feeling.

Start early, practice often: a good motto to live by, especially when it translates to parenting.There are many kindergarten readiness tips for parents online to help prepare, but it’s more than just reading a few tips and trying to apply them: it is about being ready.

Giving your child a head start in the academic arena doesn’t have to be a scene from military school. Skip the flash cards and strict learning rules, but make learning fun by fostering their curiosity for the world around them. Explore outdoors by incorporating colors, or counting trees and rocks to create a ‘lesson’ for them. Print a few fun worksheets, but don’t get overwhelmed. Learning at this age should be fun and low-key. If you stress, they will stress! 

Kindergarten isn’t just about learning the ABC’s and 123’s, but it’s also gaining social maturity throughout the year. Join playgroups or other social activities that require your child to engage with their peers. Easing into social situations where they interact and having small amounts of conflict resolution will help them adjust to dealing with peers when they leave your side. It’s important to foster their social life now while you can monitor and mediate group activities. 

Take away the fear. They’ve heard of kindergarten, but have yet to see it in action. Preparing for the unknown can alleviate the mystery of school. Talk about all the new experiences they’ll face at school including their teacher, lunch, where the bathroom is and friends they’ll meet. Most of all, if you’re excited, they will be too!

How to Improve Your Childs Healthy Eating Habits

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Developing healthy eating habits in your child is very important, and the earlier you can get your kids eating healthy, the better off they’ll be in the long run. The eating habits your child develops as they start preschool will likely stick with them their whole lives.

Provide Variety
A lot of kids want to eat the same foods over and over, and many children are fairly picky when it comes to what they will and will not eat. However, it’s your responsibility as a parent to get them in the habit of eating various healthy fruits and vegetables on a regular basis. Work these foods into your child’s diet creatively if you have to. A frozen banana makes an excellent substitute for ice cream, for example. Replace chicken, a favorite among preschool age children, with healthy fish like tuna or salmon.

Teach Your Kids How To Eat
How your child eats is as important as what they eat. Teach your child to eat slowly and concentrate on their food instead of sitting in front of the television or doing their homework. Portion control is also essential. When your child is old enough to put their food onto the plate themselves, teach them about the proper amount of each food to eat in one sitting.

Emphasize Water
Some natural 100% fruit juice or milk is healthy for children, but for the most part give your child water when they are thirsty and with their meals. A glass of milk in the morning can be a beneficial way to start the day, and juice provides vital nutrients, but getting your kids drinking water early will help make sure they don’t get in the habit of drinking high-calorie juice or soda all the time later in life.