How Can I Keep My Child From Getting Sick This Winter

Good question, since as sure as the mercury drops, cold and flu viruses make the rounds through homes and schools each year. If only there were a way to guarantee that your child won't get sick.

What's more, most people stricken by winter viruses are contagious before they develop symptoms. So pulling your child away from a sniffling, coughing, or sneezing pal doesn't guarantee that he won't come down with similar symptoms himself.

Neither will bundling him up: Studies have shown that exposure to cold or damp weather doesn't increase a child's likelihood of catching a cold.

Still, don't give up without a fight. There are several simple steps you can take to help fend off germs and keep your child as healthy as possible this winter.

So what should I do?

While it's practically inevitable that your child will get a few colds this winter no matter what you do, it won't hurt to try these germ-fighting strategies:

Make sure your child washes his hands.
Regular hand washing is the simplest, most effective way to get rid of cold and flu bugs.

Teach your child not to touch his eyes or nose.
At any given moment, the unwashed human hand is covered with thousands of germs. When a child rubs his eyes or nose, he's depositing those germs directly onto his mucous membranes, where they're rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream.

So in addition to having your child wash his hands frequently, remind him not to touch his eyes or rub his nose. Instead, teach him to use a tissue — or at least a clean sleeve — to dab at teary eyes or an itchy nose.

While you're at it, teach your child to use tissues when he sneezes or coughs — or to "catch" his coughs and sneezes in the crook of his arm. This won't prevent him from getting a virus, but it will help keep him from giving one

Do what you can to boost your child's immunity naturally.
Offer your child a variety of healthy foods so he gets the nutrients he needs. Make sure he gets plenty of sleep each night as well as lots of physical activity every day.

Happy Halloween!

October has officially ended, and we want to give proper thanks to all of our amazing parents, staff, and kiddos for another amazing Fall Festival/Trunk or Treat/Halloween Parties! There's no party like an AoSL party!....Farewell October!...until next year. Now we're switching gears to Thanksgiving!

Baby Doll Circle Time

For babies and toddlers, development occurs within the context of relationship. The ‘curriculum’ for our youngest children is the relationship between children and their caregivers. This relationship is the perfect connection to develop a healthy brain...the cars, toys, games and everything else are simply accessories.

The Infant-Toddler Years:

 During this time of rapid development, the brain is storing relationship patterns that become our mental model of self, relationships with others, and our ability to motivate and regulate.

By teaching through attached, attuned, playful relationships, Baby Doll Circle Time addresses developmental components.

Dr. Becky Bailey developed Baby Doll Circle Time as a way to offer young children ways to experience themselves as nurturers and connect to their baby dolls in a manner similar to how they relate to parents and other important caregivers.  The goal of Baby Doll Circle Time is to enhance the quality of the relationships between caregivers and children by strengthening attachment, attunement and social play.

One wonderful benefit we've experienced with the introduction of Baby Doll Circle Time is that the children begin to treat each other with the same warmth and caring they have learned with their dolls. They now realize they are capable of comforting another and without prompting extend their affection to one another.  It becomes a common fixture in our classrooms for children to cover their friends at naptime, pat their backs, and initiate a favorite “I Love You Ritual” with a special friend.

Health and Safety Month!

Every October at The Academy brings about Health and Safety Month! This month we've had hearing screenings, child health and developmental fact sheets, The Franklin Fire Department, and more visit our school.

The Franklin Fire Department left us with these quick facts:

Eighty-seven percent of all fire-related deaths are due to home fires, which spread rapidly and can leave families as little as two minutes to escape once an alarm sounds.

Top Tips:

1. Working smoke alarms reduce the chances of dying in a fire by nearly 50 percent. They are a critical first step for staying safe, but in order to be effective, they have to be working properly. For the best protection, install smoke alarms on every level of your home and in every sleeping area.
2. Teach kids never to play with matches and lighters. Make a habit of placing these items up and away from young children.
3. Create and practice a home fire escape plan with two ways out of every room in case of a fire. Get a stopwatch and time how fast your family can escape. The kids will love it.
4. Children should know how to respond to the sound of a smoke alarm. Teach them to get low and get out when they hear it. A child who is coached properly ahead of time will have a better chance to be safe.
5. Use common sense in the kitchen. Limit distractions when cooking and don’t leave a hot oven or stovetop unattended.

Thank you FFD for teaching us all about fire safety! 

Fall Reminders at Seaboard Lane!

Fall is in FULL swing at AoSL, and we are absolutely loving seeing the leaves change colors and the cooler weather! Fall is special time for us, as we host our annual FALL FESTIVAL. All families, friends, and neighbors are invited out to the school on Friday October 27th from 5-7PM. We will have food, drinks, a dessert and chili cook-off, balloon artist, bounce houses, a DJ, and soooo much more!

This year, we are doing things a little different with Fall Fest. Children are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes to Fall Fest, as we will have our annual Trunk-or-Treat in the parking lot. Don't forgot your Halloween basket/bucket. 

We also encourage families to bring in candy, small trinket toys, and/or stickers/tattoos for our Trunk-or-Treat. Just drop it off anytime before Oct. 27th at the front desk, and remember NO NUTS OR PEANUT BUTTER!  

Halloween Class Parties are Tuesday, October 31st at 3:30PM. No costumes, please. Remember to sign up to bring food items for your child's party. NO grapes and as always NO NUTS OR PEANUT BUTTER. 

Don't forget to set your clocks back an hour on November 5th!

Last but certainly not least, cast your vote for your favorite pumpkin in the enrichment room. The winning class will receive a special treat. Remember there's ONE vote per child. 

Here are this year's contestants: