Halloween Costume Ideas for Families

Infant Angry Birds Costume

Halloween is truly a family event, and what better way to celebrate than with themed 
costumes for the family! When your children are small, they will enjoy dressing up to match mom and dad. That won't be the case for long, parents, so enjoy it while you can!

Spirit of Halloween Alvin Costume

Here are some ideas for themed Halloween costumes:

• Angry Birds
• Raggedy Ann and Andy
• Madagascar 
• Toy Story
• Crayolas
• Peanuts
• Sesame Street
• the 60s
• Scooby Doo
• Star Wars
• Alice in Wonderland
• Grease
• A-Team
• Alvin and the Chipmunks (and Chippettes!)
• Barbie, Ken, Skipper, etc
• Tetris Blocks
• Beekeepers and bees
• Pac Man and Ghosts
• Fly Swatter and Flies
• Care Bears
• any of your family's favorite movies, games, or books!

Tetris Family Costume

Have some ideas for a great family costume?  Leave them in the comments below!

Tips on how to prepare your preschooler for swim lessons

With all of the fun pool parties, vacations, and fun at lake, learning how to swim and stay safe in the water is important for all young children.  Though parents want for their children to learn how to swim, we find that some children can be nervous about participating in swim lessons due to fear of water or even fear of becoming hurt in the pool.

So how can we help young children to overcome a fear of water and swimming?  Here are some tips from our school swim instructors.


1. Consider taking your child to meet the instructor and take a look around at the swimming facility prior the first lesson.

2. Do your research! Children love seeing examples of the skills they will be learning! Pull out some video examples of the professional swimmers, or visit a swim lesson.

3. Bring a friend or two! Children feel successful in water sports when they feel like they belong. We find that children are comfortable and succeed when a friend is participating along with the child.

If you would like to learn more about swim instruction and would like to speak to our swim instruction team, please call 512-795-8300.

Let's Make a Pinhole Camera!

Ever wonder how pinhole photography works and how to make a pinhole camera? Highlights Magazine has a simple to follow tutorial. 

Here's what you will need to do to get started!

Start with an empty cardboard box. A round oatmeal box works well. Punch a hole in the center of the bottom by pushing a pencil through it.

Now place a piece of waxed paper over the open end of the box and hold it there with tape or a rubber band. Your pinhole camera is complete.

Sit in a dim room that has a bright object in it, such as a lamp or a window that lets in daylight. Lay a blanket over your head and the pinhole camera.

Hold the camera at arm's length, with the waxed paper toward you and the punched-out hole sticking out from under the blanket. Point the camera at the bright object. On the surface of the waxed paper, you will see a picture of the object—backward and upside down.

A real camera uses the same principle as your pinhole camera except that a real one does the job better. A real camera holds a piece of film instead of waxed paper. That film is coated with chemicals that are changed by light. They make the image into a lasting picture.

In a real camera, the lens does the same kind of job as the little hole—it forms a backward, upside-down image. But the lens lets in a lot more light so the film can do its work quickly. Have fun!

Homemade Lemonade....yes please!

Our school lemonade stand has us thinking of cold lemonade!

Here's a fantastic recipe a parent passed along to us.  Enjoy and please feel free to pass it along.

Ingredients

64 oz (8 cups) water
1/4 cup (equivalent of two lemons) lemon juice
8 scoops (1/4 tsp) pure stevia extract, (you may substitute approximately 1/2 cup of a granulated or liquid sweetener to taste.)

Method

1.  Pour water into pitcher.

2.  Add lemon juice and stevia.

3.  If using a granulated sweetener, mix 1/2 cup water and the sweetener in a pot and heat until the sweetener is dissolved.  Then, once dissolved, add sweetener and water mix to remaining water.

4.  Stir and enjoy!

Fun Games to Play with Your Baby

Playing games with your baby helps fit the puzzles pieces together as your baby grows. Playing with your baby is vital to your baby's social, emotional, and cognitive development.  Playing with your baby will also help to improve your relationship.

So what sort of games should you play with your baby? A game can be anything. Our infant teachers have put together a book of pictures for each baby. Each picture has pictures of their family, pets, and their favorite toys. The teachers identify the pictures to the baby. A game of peek a book, hiding toys under a small soft blanket, and finger-plays are also great simple games to play with your baby.


Here are a few things to keep in mind when you play games with your baby:

• Repetition is so important for your baby. Introducing a new game might not work the first time. Practice make perfect!
• Babies can become over stimulated. If you find that your baby cries during the game, it might be time to move on to a quiet activity such as showing your baby pictures books, singing songs, or even just cuddling with your baby. 
• Incorporate tummy time, sitting up, and some other developmental essentials into the games. Tummy time just by itself is no fun at all but placing a toy within your baby's reach can certainly pass the time. 

How to Teach Children to Care for Pets

This month our children are learning more about animals and their habitats. We recently invited a petting zoo to our school and the teachers were so amazed with how careful our children were with handling the animals. Many of the children at our school have pets at home and have lots of opportunities to show kindness, respect, and love towards an animal. If you are thinking about getting a pet for your child, here are a few tips.

1. Do some research about which types of pets are a good match for your child. Some pets require lots of time and attention and may not be a compatible match for your child.
2. Make your home pet friendly. Store any chemicals in a lock cabinet and remove anything off from the floors that you wouldn't want for your pet to get into. Tie up loose cords and other objects that could potentially harm your pet. It's similar to baby proofing your home. 
3. Educate your child about pet temperament and animal care. Many pet stores and animal shelters offer training. Talk to other people who have pets as they may offer a lot of insight. 
4. Help to make your child's pet transition a smooth one. Your child's pet may be frighten or apprehensive at first and your child may want to play with your pet right away. Remind your child to be patient and allow time for the new pet to get use to their new environment. 
5. Teach your child to be gentle with their new pet. This is one the most important lesson children will need to learn. A great way to teach your child to be gentle to visit friends or relatives with pets. If your child is having difficulty being gentle towards a pet, then it may not be the right time for a pet.

Teaching your child to care and love a pet is fun and a rewarding experience. It also teaches your child responsibility. 

Balancing Parenthood and Work

More and more parents are finding themselves traveling for business. When parents travel for work, it may cause a disruption in the child's daily routine and sometimes lead to behavior issues because children don't necessarily understand why mom or dad is away on business. So how can you help your child cope while you are away?

 We have some ideas!

1. Use Skype or your iPhone to connect with your family at home while you are away. While a phone call is nice, it can be comforting for your child to see your hotel and your current surroundings. This is also a great time to check in with your child about their day, discuss homework and activities.
2. Because you are away doesn't mean your household should be put on hold. If you have the help available, continue to schedule your child's play dates, dance lessons, etc. Keeping routine in your household will actually help reduce disruption in the household and keep your child busy. 
3. Keep ready-made meals in the freezer. Home cooked meals are the staple in any household and who wouldn't appreciate a home cooked meal you can just throw in the oven?
4. Mom and Dad need to be on the same page when either of them is away. Keep a binder with useful information such as medical records, a list of activities for each child, contact numbers of babysitters, physicians, activities, and any other information one might need.
5. Don't forget to bring a surprise for your child when you return and set aside some "we time" with your child!