Children Care Was Here

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, an estimated 13 million children younger than six spend some, or all of their day, being cared for by someone other than their parents. This figure includes babies and toddlers. Ellen Peisner-Feinberg of the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, “estimates that more than half of the 3-to-5 year-old children in the United States attend child-care centers prior to kindergarten.”
With these numbers in mind, quality child-care is an important issue in our country. For many parents, finding child-care for infant through school-age children is a fact of live. A trustworthy and dependable child-care situation makes it possible for parents to support their families financially. Parents need to take time and check to see if they are using a high quality child-care program.
Quality child-care is particularly critical for the well being of children and youth. Child- care research has shown that compared to low quality situations, high quality care can impact young children’s intellectual, language, and social skills and behavior. In a recent study published in Child Development, better classroom materials and practices in the day care setting were associated with more advanced development of children’s language and academic skills. The benefits of high quality care were even stronger and longer lasting for children at greater risk for having difficulty in school than the average. This was particularly true in case of better math skills and fewer problem behaviors.
Factors which contribute to high quality child-care are:

• Low child-teacher ratio increases the likelihood of one-to-one attention.
• Safe and healthy environment
• Caregivers who are nurturing and knowledgeable about children’s development
• Caregivers have a consistent and stable presence in the child’s life.

Staff training and educational background are among the most critical elements in improving children’s experiences in child-care. Providers who receive higher quality training and more specialized training are more likely to be found in high quality care environments. Job satisfaction and commitment are two factors that contribute to the stability of care. Turnover rates in child-care providers are high. This is due to the stressful conditions of providing child-care with long hours, low pay, and few or no benefits.
Many people think that providing child-care comes naturally, but teaching and caring for children in groups takes special skills. The best child-care providers have education and training about children. Licensed caregivers in Missouri are required to have 12 hours of child-care training every year. Caregivers learn how to plan the day, provide nutritious foods and fun activities that children will like.
To check to see if you child-care setting is of high quality, contact your local extension office and ask for guidesheet, GH6233 Finding and Selecting Good Child Care: A Guide for Parents Returning to Work. Choosing the right child-care program for your family is an important decision. Finding quality child-care helps your children to grow and gives you, the parent, the peace of mind to do your work.

In applying these principles to raising children during stressful times might include:

1. Shield your child from overly harsh conditions, that is, excessive emotional expression, otherwise known as adult “melt-downs.”

2. Make sure your child is getting plenty of good healthy food and exercise.

• While they may get junk food at school, rid your home of such foods as much as possible.
• Have weekly junk-food raids and throw out chips, cookies, candy etc. that get brought in by various factions.
• After dinner, bundle up and take an evening walk with your child.Keep the conversation “positive” on your end, point out he beautiful sunset, talk about natural forces and make comparisons to how storms clear up and then the sun comes out.
• If they bring up concerns, ask questions first to understand them (crucial), then address their concern (not yours). Then ask them to summarize what you’ve discussed so you can be sure you know the conclusions they are taking to bed.

3. While parental arguments are likely to be increased during stressful times, let your children see both sides.

• If you’ve shown them your angry side, be sure to show that how to make peace and resume your loving, caring ways with your partner.
• If you can’t find resolution with your partner, have the courage to see a counselor, a spiritual adviser, or a family elder and ask for direction.
• Above all, put aside your pride, get help to make peace in your home and show your children that stress does not need to result in weeks of a parent sleeping on the sofa.

4. No matter what – do not pull children into disagreements with other parent(s).

• Let them be children and stay out of it until the issue is resolved.
• If they try to step in (and the usually will) politely ask them to let the adults resolve it with statements such as, “We’ll let you know when we need your help. Right now, this is an adult issue and we will figure it out. You’ll be the first to know what we decide.”
• If the issue involves them, well – that’s a whole different matter. Bedtime might be such an issue, or a curfew and school performance.
• One way to calm things down with children is to slow them down. Getting input on paper helps slow things down. Get your children’s ideas and suggestions in writing.It will lower the noise level in the room, which will help calm everyone.
• Writing will force everyone to focus, which pulls energy into thinking rather than just feeling. Writing will help kids get clear in their mind, practice their language skills and be more realistic than when they are allowed to shout out their emotional desires.
• Adults then can gather all written proposals, review them carefully, and keep plenty of time to “decide.”
• When you decide, let them win the smaller isses and make sure you win the larger issues. Conceeding with smaller issues lets them know that they have a voice, they can exert personal power and have some control over some things. More control leads to less anxiety. If they get to eat corn instead of green beans, what do you care?
• Meanwhile, continue with the daily or evening routine and schedule a time to resume talks about the anxiety-producing topic.

5. If your children get exposed to adult outbursts of emotion, explicit television-based emotion, or other unpredictable triggers for excessive nervous system reactivity, do what you can to come back around and “cover them.”

• Cover your children with consistent daily and bedtime routines that include soothing and comforting statements.
• Mention your concern and love for them, and remind them that they can count on you even if you too, are frightened.
• Most of all, they need to know that you are there, they can hang onto you, and you will protect them. Your presence is crucial, whether it is your physical or simply your emotional focus on them.

It is a very common sight to see kids playing on their video games, computer games or PlayStation in their spare time. The other lot may spend their free time watching television or reading comics. The only thing common in these kids is that they spend all their spare time indoors, and totally abstain from any physical activity that is to be undertaken daily. The concept of playing on playgrounds or climbing trees is nearly extinct today. However, not many people are aware of the importance of outdoor play for children, and the consequences of lack of physical activity. Here you will find more on the importance of outdoor play for young children.

Benefits of Outdoor Games for Young Children

One of the most important benefit or use of outdoor play is improving physical fitness. Children, who do not undertake any physical activity, have lesser stamina and fitness. They become lethargic and also highly prone to injury. On the contrary, kids who have a regular outdoor games have more stamina, energy and also flexibility. This is because outdoor games and sports increase endurance. Outdoor games also help in improving muscular and bone health. Similarly, outdoor games and activities are biggest stress busters for kids as well as adults.

Secondly, when talking of fitness, we also find that children who spend a considerable amount of time on the playground every day are fit and maintain a proper weight. Childhood obesity is a burning issue in developed nations today. The only way of treating and preventing childhood obesity is having a good outdoor game every day. Any outdoor game, or even simple activities like running or jogging can burn large number of calories, resulting in weight loss. Therefore, the calories consumed by kids during the entire day get burned due to outdoor games, and hence, the child does not gain excess weight.

One of the major aspect of outdoor activities for children, that is often ignored by people, is that outdoor play also contributes in learning. It should be noted that toddlers and children learn more from their experiences and senses than from books. For e.g., if a kid actually sees the kiwi bird, he will understand the concept more clearly than reading about it. Therefore, when noting the importance of outdoor play for children, it should be remembered then when children spend time outdoors, they see, observe and experience things which enhance their knowledge and also perceptual abilities. Children also learn to appreciate nature and may also inculcate aesthetic sense at an early age.

When a child plays outdoors, he usually does so in a group. Therefore, it greatly helps in social development and enhancing social skills. Children make new friends when playing outdoors, learn how to interact with each other, learn skills of negotiation and also learn how to adjust to surroundings and people. Children cultivate values like communication, adjustment, understanding, sharing, etc. when they play outdoors. Mixing with others also helps in boosting confidence. If you have observed children playing in the open, you will find that they run, shout, jump, laugh, etc. Therefore, another importance of outdoor play for children is that it helps in developing a sense of freedom and independence in children.

You can go through the link on outdoor games for children to play to know about some of the best games for kids. Lastly, as a helpful tip, parents themselves should set an example by undertaking a physical activity every day, or subscribing to a sports club. Good luck!