Simple Ways to Keep Little Ones Well As we step into a brand‑new year, many families are thinking about fresh routines, new goals, and ways to keep their children healthy. At Lily Pad Childcare, we know that young children are still building their immune systems, which means germs can spread quickly—especially during the winter months. […]
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Why is Meaningful Play Time Essential? As parents, we all want to give our children the best possible start in life. We research the safest car seats, read labels on snacks, and think carefully about the environments our little ones spend their days in. But one of the most influential parts of early childhood
Preschool is the training ground for friendship—on the playground, at the art table, or even in the play kitchen. In childcare and daycare settings, children practice sharing, turn-taking, problem-solving, and caring about others’ feelings on a daily basis. Those everyday moments build social-emotional skills, and sometimes even friendships, that last a lifetime. See these moments
Together We Grow: Nurturing Solid Friendships in Early Childhood Read More »
Helping Toddlers Handle Tantrums Parents and early childhood education teachers have all been there: watching a toddler suddenly melt to tears over the toy they can’t have, the fact that their sandwich was cut ‘wrong’, or at the mention of coming inside from playtime. Tantrums are a normal part of early childhood development, but knowing
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Early Reading Practice for Preschoolers Preschoolers don’t need a rigorous program and tons of worksheets to become strong readers. A love for (and an aptitude for) reading can come from playful, sometimes silly, frequent, and shared reading experiences. The crux of the research is this: when the adults in a child’s life read, talk, sing,
Building Little Bookworms: Exciting Strategies to Boost Early Literacy Read More »
That Big First Day This is a momentous occasion–your preschooler is preparing to take the plunge into kindergarten! It’s a day filled with excitement, curiosity and yes, a few nervous butterflies in both you and your little one’s stomach. Whether your child has been home, a preschool or another childcare setting, you want their first
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The Power of Solo Play If you’ve ever watched a preschooler go full-blown mom-mode on a pretend baby, or build a block tower only to gleefully knock it down moments later, you’ve witnessed the magic of independent play. Independent play isn’t solely about keeping kids busy in order to give a parent, caregiver, or daycare
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Pacifiers are a helpful comforting, self-soothing and anxiety reducing tool. The Mayo Clinic actually supports that pacifiers can be helpful in calming babies while parents are otherwise occupied—such as while shopping or driving. As your little one gets older, thinking about the ‘binky-break-up’ can often feel like, well, a messy break up, instead of an
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The sun is shining, the days are long, and children are ready to play. Summertime affords a golden opportunity for exploratory and developmentally rich play. Nature and bugs, dirt and water, ballgames and park dates…Summer has it all. So, instead of sitting inside and trying to appease your preschooler with toys, check out these engaging
Sunny Days and Lots of Play: Summer Play Ideas for Preschoolers Read More »