IS YOUR CHILD ASKING FOR A PET?

Here are a few things to think about before you get your child a pet.

1. Do YOU want a pet? You will end up doing most of the work, so make sure that YOU want a pet.
2. What type of pet will fit into your family? Do you go on a lot of “get aways”? Who will take care of your pet when you are out of town?
3. Is your child telling you that they will take care of the pet?

A child has the best intentions when they tell you that they will take care of a pet. They really believe that they will take care of the pet. They may even take care of it for a day or two, but most children will not take care of a pet long term.

Here is an idea that came from a very insightful young man. Have your child take care of a plant for a while and see if your child can keep the plant alive. Talk to your child about the importance of taking good care of the plant. Read up on different plants and their needs. Take your child to the store and help her pick out a plant. (a small marigold or pansy is good, it does not have to be a big expensive plant) Maybe even have your child pay for the plant with their allowance or birthday money. When you get the plant home, help your child plant it in an appropriate larger container, or outside in the yard. It is important that the plant is not planted where an automatic sprinkler will take care of it. The point is that your child will need to take care of it. DO NOT do it for the child. Set a time period of a couple of weeks or a month and see if your child can keep this plant alive without your help. Maybe a gentle reminder from you, but do not do it for your child. If your child loses interest quickly and the plant dies, then be assured that even with the best intentions, you child is not going to take care of a pet. If your child maintains interest in the plant and continues to water and care for it until it blooms, then your child might just be ready to care for a pet.

So, if YOU want a pet, get one, but if you are getting one because your child has you convinced that they will care for the pet, you might want to try this little experiment first.

Karen’s Kids Preschool has been invited to attend the East County Mothers’ Club Preschool Informational Fair again this year. This is a great place for you to find many preschools all in one place. You can check them out, talk to the teachers/representatives of many schools in your area. You can get literature and handouts about enrollment/registration and the teaching philosophy of many different schools all in one place in one day. I hope to see you there. Please visit my booth and allow me to introduce myself and tell you about Karen’s Kids Preschool.

The Fair is on Saturday, February 21, 2009 from 2pm to 5 pm at the Nick Rodriguez Community Center, 213 F Street in Antioch.

See you there!

Do you have a picky eater? Some experts say that just about every child is a picky eater at some time in their life. Most noticeably between age 2-6. A child may be trying to assert their independence, or possibly be trying to get your attention. Either way, it can become a battle at meal time that you may not want to fight! You cannot MAKE your child eat. Trying to can make you and your child and any one else at the table very upset. This can lead to stomach aches and no one will want to eat. Your child will not eat as much as you do, or even as much as a sibling. Everyone is different in the amount of food they eat, and the type of food they like or dislike. Your job as a parent is to make sure that your child has enough food and choices. Not that you are running a restaurant, that is not what I mean. But, if given a choice between two types of vegies, the child will feel “in control” when they pick one and you will feel like a “winner” because you were able to get your child to “eat their vegies”. Some children are picky about the WAY the food is presented, or the texture of the food. Let’s say that your child does not like lasagna – this might be because at this time, your child does not like different food to touch each other. You would be surprised how many children go through this. Children are sensitive to the color of some foods. They may go through a “faze” in which they will not eat anything brown, or anything yellow. Try to work around this. Be sensitive to the child’s needs and budding independence. Your child will eat when he/she is hungry. It is your job to make sure that meal time is pleasant and not a “battle ground”. Sometimes children will be less hungry if they are getting sick. A child’s appetite will change depending on how they are growing also. Are they about to go through a ” spurt”? You may see a pattern developing if you watch for one. The best thing you can do as a parent is to make meal time pleasant. Don’t offer bribes or punishment. The less you make a big deal about it, the less importance it will take on in the child’s mind.

Try serving a very small portion of something new at the table. Do remember to offer new foods as your child’s taste buds develop he/she will want to try different foods.

Also, children are much more likely to try something if they have been involved in preparing it. Find something age appropriate for your child to do during the making of the meal and you will find your child more interested once the food is in front of them. Even if your child is very small, reading a book about certain food could result in the child wanting to try it. (Green Eggs and Ham???!)

It is also possible that your child has a reaction to certain foods. If you think that your child might have food allergies, be sure to have him/her checked by a doctor so that your child is not getting sick from the food he/she is eating.

Most importantly, remain calm and remember, your child will eat when they are hungry. They are not going to starve as long as you are offering food. And, meal time can be a pleasant family time so try to make it that way instead of a constant battle over food. You can relax, your child can relax, and everyone will feel better about meal time.

That is a bold statement isn’t it? Here is why I can say it: Karen’s Kids Preschool has been in business at the same location since 1987. Miss Karen has been successfully serving the families and children of Brentwood for a long time. That is no accident. It is because we are the best! Year after year families return. We have had cousins, siblings, and second generations come to our school! Many of Brentwood’s kindergarten teachers and other top school administrators have had their children at Karen’s Kids.

Karen’s Kids Preschool is nationally accredited, licensed, and has been chosen as a demonstration site by the Contra Costa Child Care Council, The Learning Institute, and First Five. Miss Karen is a member of the Early Learning Demonstration Project, The California Association For the Education Of Young Children and The National Association For The Education Of Young Children.

We have been awarded the Early Learning Demonstration Project’s “Award of Distinction in Early Care and Education”. This honor was received from First Five, Contra Costa Child Care Council, and The Learning Institute.

Miss Karen keeps abreast of the latest in Child Development by taking ongoing college classes and attending workshops..

We keep in touch with our alumni and some of them are young adults now. You can ask them about their experiences at Karen’s Kids!

Best of all, after all of these years, Miss Karen still loves working with children and the children know it. The families know it. We have fun, we play, we learn, and we all look forward to being together at school time!

As we go into the holiday season, may I begin by wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving. Whatever your family traditions, may this be the season of much happiness for all.  If you are passing along these family traditions, or making new ones for your new family, here are a few tips for making it a nice day for all.  These tips work for any and all get togethers.

1. Don’t over do it.  Keep it simple for yourself and your family.  You want your children to be able to look back on these times as happy times.  And, you want to be able to look back on them and remember them.  If you are doing too much, if you are too stressed out, what is the point?  You won’t remember them at all and your family will just remember that mom/dad/grandma was all stressed out and it was tense.  One way to make it easier for yourself is to delegate some of the “work load” onto others.  This actually turns out very well.  People like to feel needed, so let them do something for you and they will feel part of the celebration.  This may mean that that your sister-in-law brings part of the dinner.  Let her tell you what she would like to bring, or ask her to bring something that you liked that she made before. Ask your favorite auntie to bring that old family recipe, even if only two people still enjoy it.
2. Maybe the children could have a little “art center” and make the centerpiece? Have the art center in the garage or some other out of the way area so the mess does not bother you and you or the children can easily clean it up later.  Have some construction paper, scissors, glue, and some “holiday” stuff at the art center and see what they come up with.  Maybe they could make place cards for all?  Have a digital camera ready and they can take a picture of each person as they arrive and if they are too young, have an adult help them print the picture from the computer and use it in the place card.  They could put stickers around the edge of the photo on the construction paper.  Then, once the table is set (you could do this way ahead of time if you want), the children can randomly put the place cards on the table.  It may add a new dimension to the conversation around the table!
3. I know it is a long held tradition to have a “children’s table”, but one year we ran out of room at the adult table and two adults had to sit at the children’s table and it looked to me like they were having all of the fun and I have never had a “child’s table” since.  Include the children around the table.  It will teach them how to behave in adult conversations at the table, and it will keep the adults in stitches (If your children are anything like the children at our table – which I am sure they are!)
4. Start a family tradition of a game after dinner.  Dominoes?  A card game?  Spoons? (our favorite).  That way everyone sits at the table a little longer and enjoys each other’s company.
5. Get a couple of helpers for the clearing of the table and doing the dishes.  Again, people like to help.  It makes them feel like they belong.  Maybe your nephew brought his new girlfriend?  Ask them both to help.  It is a good “ice breaker”
6. Last but not least, find a little time to be thankful for something this year.  No matter what you celebrate, it will make you feel good to find something or someone to be thankful for.  If it is a person, let them know.  Write them a little note, or do something nice for them.  It will make you feel good too!

HAPPY SEASON OF JOY TO ALL!