At Growing Kids Learning Centers, we believe that the parent and child bond is an important one and can help shape the child’s life in a more positive way. When you, the parent, have a better bond with your child, you will be their support system throughout their entire life and you will be able to feel closer to your child. While building a bond with your child takes work, we have some tips to help you out. Read on to learn more and be sure to check out our child care programs today!

Show Your Love

Showing your child love and telling them often that you love them is the best way to start building your relationship. Human touch and affection are important in every stage of life but are extremely important for children as they develop emotionally and neurobiologically. By giving your child hugs daily, holding their hand as you walk to the park, and offering warm expressions as often as you can, you can help build the bond you and your child share. When your child knows, undoubtedly, that you love them, they will feel more connected to you.

While this seems easy enough, it is also easy to get lost in the hecticness of a busy day and forget to hug your child or show them affection when they walk into a room. Even on the worst days, be sure to show your child appreciation and love.

Make Time For Them

Making time for your child is extremely important if you want to build a stronger relationship. By making time for them, where you are distraction-free and they have 100% of your attention, you are showing your child that they are worth your attention. This will make them feel important and more connected to you.

Even if it is just a simple lunch date, spending quality time with your child and giving them your undivided attention can make a huge difference in the type of relationship you have. Try to make time for your child at least once a week. It can be as simple as reading them a bedtime story or playing a game with them after lunch. If you have multiple children, try to give each of them their own time with you at least once a month.

Try to Understand Them

Listening to your child, acknowledging their feelings, and trying to understand where they are coming from can help you build the relationship you want with your child. As kids get older, a big reason why they don’t talk to their parents is that they feel like their parents don’t understand or will get mad at what they have to say. It is important that you teach your child at a young age that you are here to listen to them and that you understand them.

To do this you simply have to listen to understand. Empathize with them and let them know that you are there for them and will do what you can to help them. Try to see things from your child’s perspective and actually work to understand them — simply telling them you understand is not going to help you build a stronger bond.

Play With Them

Playing is an important activity for your child’s development. While kids benefit from all different types of play, when you take the time to play with them, you will show them that they are important to you and that you want to be a part of their lives. Whether you play games, play pretend, or play whatever else they come up with, by spending this time with them, you can strengthen your bond.

Your kids likely know that you are busy, whether they truly understand how busy you are or not doesn’t matter, what matters is that you are making a point to spend time with them. When they realize that you are taking a moment out of your busy schedule to play with them, they will feel more important to you.

Eat Together

Eating meals as a family is a great way to connect as a family and spend time together. Make a point to eat dinner or breakfast together every day, with no TV and no phones at the table. Eating together allows you to communicate, connect, and bond with your children and as a whole family. You can have a few conversation prompts that get the family talking if the conversation doesn’t always flow naturally.

We suggest picking fun prompts, like “If you were an animal, what would you be and why?” rather than the typical what did you learn today. Kids will be more excited to talk about the fun stuff than what they learned. Plus, these fun prompts can help you get to know your kid better and allow you to tap into your inner child as well!

Show Interest

Showing interest in your child and what they are doing is another great way to strengthen your bond. When you show interest in your child’s life, you are once again showing them that they matter to you. Most people love when others show interest in what they are doing, and your kids are no exception. If they are doing arts and crafts projects, ask them what they are making. If they are reading a book, ask them what it’s about and if they like it. If they are playing with action figures, ask them what is going on in their play world. Show interest in what your kiddos are doing to help strengthen your bond.

These are a few great ways to start building a stronger relationship with your children. While we know you love and care about your child, showing them that love and care, spending time with them, and showing interest in their lives can help you build the bond you have always wanted.

If you are looking for a child care center in Indiana, be sure to check out Growing Kids Learning Centers! We have multiple locations throughout Indiana, allowing you to find a great child care center close to you! Contact us to learn more.

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In our previous blog, we shared some fun spring activities that you can do at home with your kids. In this blog, we are going to talk about some fun spring crafts to do with them! Not only do children love crafts, but crafting is actually very beneficial for kids. You can read our blog about the benefits of crafts for kids to learn more!

At Growing Kids Learning Centers, we love creating curriculums with activities that kids love and can learn from. That is why we love talking about crafts! We offer a variety of early child care programs, allowing your little one to get the best start to their education and have a fun environment in which they can thrive. Read on for some craft ideas to do this spring and contact us with any questions you may have!

Paper Plate Rainbow

Rainbows are a beautiful creation of nature and a symbol of spring. Making a rainbow out of a paper plate is easy and fun!

For this craft, you will need:

• Paper plates
• Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple paint
• Cotton balls
• Scissors
• Glue

Start by helping your little one cut their paper plate in the shape of a rainbow. To do this, simply cut the paper plate in half, and cut a small semi-circle out of the middle, creating a rainbow shape. Once the rainbow is cut out, your kiddo can paint it the colors of the rainbow. You can draw lines on the paper plate to show them where each color goes if it helps them.

Once their paper plate is painted and dried, have your child add some glue to the ends of each side of the rainbow and stick their cotton balls onto the ends, creating clouds! Once it is dry, you can display their artwork proudly. To make this craft even more educational, you can explain to them what rainbows are and why they occur!

Pom Pom Caterpillars

Pom pom caterpillars are adorable and easy to make with your kiddos.

What you will need for this craft includes:

• Small colorful pom poms
• Large colorful pom poms
• Googly eyes
• Green construction paper
• Glue
• Scissors
• Dark green marker

Start by cutting out leaf spaces from the green construction paper. You can either help your child with this, or draw a leaf for them to cut out. The leaf should be about the size of your palm (an adult palm, not your kiddo’s!). Once the leaf is cut out, help your little ones draw the leaf’s veins. Then your kiddo can start creating their caterpillar! Have them add a curvy line of glue along the leaf, from the top to the bottom, but not covering the entire leaf, just in the middle. They will then add their small colorful pom poms along the glue. Take one of the bigger pom poms and glue googly eyes on it, then add it to one of the ends of the row of the smaller pom poms. Let it dry and that’s it! Your children have cute little caterpillar friends!

Paper Bag Bug Puppets

Paper bag bugs are an easy craft that allows your little one to choose exactly what they want to make, from butterflies to bees!

For this craft, you will need:

• White paper lunch bags
• Paint
• Googly eyes
• White doilies
• Black pipe cleaner
• Glue

Start by having your child decide what type of bug puppet they want to make. If they want to make a bee, they will paint their paper bag yellow and add some black stripes. If they want to do a butterfly, they can paint their bag purple, green, or any other color they want. For the butterfly, they will also be able to paint their doilies any color they want, using a bunch of different ones to create beautiful wings! For the bee, the wings can remain white.

Once the paper bags and doilies are painted and dried, you will glue the doilies onto the back of the paper bag, or the side that doesn’t have the bottom of the bag when folded. On the bottom of the bag, you will then add the face! Add some googly eyes and draw on a cute smile to the bug. On the back of the bag, glue on two pipe cleaners as your antennae! Once everything is glued on, your kiddos’ bugs are done! They can display them and admire them every day.

There are so many fun spring-themed crafts to do with your kiddos as the weather starts to warm up. These crafts can not only stimulate their creativity, but you can also teach your child a lot about what they are making as well! Talk about the process of caterpillars transforming into butterflies or what bees offer our world. This is a great way to get them interested and learn while having fun!

If you are looking for a great child care center in Indiana, be sure to check out Growing Kids Learning Centers! We have locations throughout Indiana, allowing you to find a great child care center close to you. Contact us with any questions you may have and enjoy spring with your kiddos.

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At Growing Kids Learning Centers, we take every precaution to keep our school a safe and healthy place for your children to be! While we have always made this a part of our mission, we have added new COVID safety measures to ensure that we continue to provide a safe and healthy environment. We wanted to give parents some tips as well! In this blog, we are going to talk about some of the things you can do to help boost your child’s immune system. Read on to learn more and be sure to check out our programs today!

Focus On Sleep

Sleep is important for a number of different reasons. Not only can sleep help your child with their mood and alertness, but it can also boost their immune system. Sleep deprivation can make you more susceptible to illness because it reduces natural killer cells, which are the immune system’s defense against microbes and cancer cells. For this reason, it is important that you make sure your child is sleeping enough. Creating a bedtime schedule can help ensure that your kiddo is getting enough quality sleep and gives their immune system a fighting chance. If your child won’t go down for naps, try putting them to bed earlier so that they can get the proper amount of sleep every night.

Stay Active

Exercise is a great way for your family to stay in shape and healthy. While being active is important for a number of different reasons, especially for children, it can help to give their immune system a boost as well! Exercise increases the number of natural killer cells in children and adults, so being active as a family can help everyone stay as healthy as possible! Go for bike rides, walk around the neighborhood, play in the yard, shoot some hoops, and do any other activity that gets your family moving! This is also a great way to spend more time outside, which provides a number of benefits on its own!

Protect Against Germs

Protecting against germs is an obvious way to keep your children and family healthy and, while this doesn’t technically boost the immune system, it does help to reduce germs and stress on the immune system. Make sure that your kiddos are washing their hands regularly with soap. Ensuring that they are washing their hands before and after meals, after they are done playing outside, after they blow their nose or use the bathroom, and after arriving home from daycare can help to reduce their exposure to germs. It is also beneficial to keep wet wipes handy when you are out and about. These can help to quickly clean and wipe away germs.

Serve The Right Food

Food also plays a huge role in our overall health and immune system. Feeding your children the right foods can help keep them healthy and allow them to get the proper nutrients. Here is a list of some of the best immune-boosting foods and the benefits they offer.

Fruits and Veggies

Fruits and veggies are one type of food that every parent is always trying to get their child to eat more. While this may be a challenge to get your kiddo to eat their fruits and veggies, these foods are very beneficial. Many fruits and veggies contain carotenoids, which are phytonutrients that help boost the immune system. Phytonutrients may be able to increase the body’s production of infection-fighting white blood cells and interferon, which is an antibody that coats cell surfaces and helps block out viruses. Fruits and veggies also contain high levels of vitamin C, which can help protect your little one against colds and flu.

Yogurt

Yogurt is a tasty food that many kids love and can provide many benefits. Yogurt contains probiotics, which are living organisms that live in your gut and can improve the way your body uses the food you eat. Probiotics can also help your body fight off viruses and can lower the risk of colds, ear infections, and strep throat. However, when it comes to children, they may only want the yogurt that is packed full of sugar, which obviously won’t have the same benefits. Instead, try to get a flavored yogurt that is on the healthier side, and have your kiddos add some berries and granola to make it a fun and tasty treat for them!

Nuts

Nuts are another healthy snack that can help boost the immune system. Nuts contain proteins, minerals, and vitamins. They are rich in antioxidants, including omega fatty acids, zinc, and vitamin E. Walnuts, almonds, and pistachios are great options for your kiddos and are easy to have on hand whenever your child gets hungry. Almonds contain vitamin E and manganese, which creates a strong immune-boosting duo that can help enhance natural killer cells. Walnuts have omega-3 fatty acids, which can help your body fight off illness. If your child doesn’t love munching on nuts, you can chop them up and add them to different snacks, such as yogurt, cereal, or make a trail mix!

Eggs

Eggs are a superfood and can provide a rich source of protein. Egg yolks contain a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which can help strengthen the immune system and protect your kiddos from viruses. Eggs also contain vitamin D, and are one of the only foods that naturally contain this vitamin. Vitamin D is great at protecting against illness.

These foods are only a few of the many beneficial foods that can help keep your kiddo healthy and strengthen their immune system. Try to find fun ways to make these foods something your children want to eat, we know how picky children can be when it comes to eating.

By following these tips, you can keep your child as healthy as possible. We know that children who attend child care are exposed to more germs, but we do everything we can to provide a safe and clean space for your kiddos to learn and grow. Growing Kids Learning Center has adopted extra COVID safety precautions to ensure that our facilities are clean and sanitized. You can learn more about our COVID safety measures here! Be sure to also check out our programs and contact us today to get your questions answered!

The post Ways to Boost Your Child’s Immune System appeared first on Growing Kids Learning Center.

At Growing Kids Learning Centers, we offer an infant program that provides your baby with the environment and tools needed to help them hit different developmental milestones. While every child is different and will reach these milestones at a different pace, it is always beneficial for parents to know where their child should be and if they are hitting the milestones early, on time, or a little later than usual. Again, these milestones are only guidelines. If your baby isn’t reaching certain milestones by a certain age, there is no need to worry! They may just fall behind in some areas while they excel in others. A good thing to keep in mind is that some babies start walking at nine months and others don’t start until they hit the 18-month mark.

If you want to learn more about average baby milestones, read on! You can help your little one continue to develop new skills and get a jumpstart to their education by enrolling them in our infant program!

By Two Months

In the first two months of your baby’s life, they will be developing a lot and you may not even realize it! They will develop some social, language, cognitive, and physical skills during this time. While it may just seem like your baby is being a baby, they are learning and growing every day!

Social and Emotional Skills

At this stage in your baby’s life, they likely love interacting with those around them and are beginning to be more social. You may notice that they are smiling at people more. They are likely also looking at you, their parents, often. At this age, they may also begin to try calming themselves, even if it’s only for a brief moment. You may notice them bringing their hands to their face and sucking on a finger or their hand to try and soothe themselves.

Language and Communication Skills

Your little one will also be developing language and communication skills during this time. At this age, developing language and communication skills means beginning to coo, making gurgling sounds, and turning their head at sounds. Your baby also likely recognizes your voice, as well as the tone and emotions in your voice. They probably find comfort in hearing you speak.

Cognitive Skills

Cognitive skills are learning, thinking, and problem-solving skills. During the first two months of your baby’s life, they will begin to develop a variety of these skills. Your little one will begin paying attention to faces, start following things with their eyes, and recognizing people. They will also start showing signs of boredom, such as crying or fussing, if an activity doesn’t change.

Movement and Physical Development

By two months, your baby likely has built some neck muscles and is able to hold their head up for a period of time. They may also begin to push up while lying on their tummy. The movements they make with their arms and legs are going to slowly get smoother, rather than the choppy and jerky movements of a younger baby.

By Six Months

In the next few months, your baby will develop a ton of new skills and begin to act like a real little human! They will continue to improve upon the skills they have been developing for months and learn new ones too!

Social and Emotional Skills

By six months, your little one will know familiar faces and begin to recognize when someone is a stranger. They will love playing, with their parents and others. Your baby will likely start responding to other people’s emotions and they will seem happy a majority of the time. Your six month old will also start to show a liking to looking at themselves in the mirror!

Language and Communication Skills

Your baby will develop many new language skills by the time they reach six months. They will begin to respond to sounds by making a sound of their own. They may begin to start mimicking sounds, such as “ba,” “ah,” “da,” “ma,” and others. They will begin to babble more and make sounds to show displeasure and joy. Your baby will likely start responding to their own name as well!

Cognitive Skills

At six months, your child will begin to look around at things nearby, observing the world around them. They will also show curiosity in different things and try to grab things that are out of their reach. They will also bring things to their mouth and pass things from one hand to the other.

Movement and Physical Development

Your baby should be able to or begin to try rolling over in both directions, from tummy to back and back to tummy. They should be able to sit without support. They should also be able to stand with support and be able to use their legs to hold their weight. They may even bounce while standing. At six months, your baby should be crawling and may rock back and forth.

By One Year

In the first year of your baby’s life, they will learn and develop a lot. When your baby turns one, they are officially a toddler! They may begin to use words, be able to stand on their own, and be able to take a few steps by their first birthday. However, not every one year old reaches these milestones quite yet.

Social and Emotional Skills

By one, your little one may begin to act shy or nervous around strangers and cry when one of their parents leave. They will likely start repeating sounds or copying actions to get attention. Your child may begin to play games like peek-a-boo and hand you a book when they want to hear a story. At this age, your kiddo likely has favorite people and things.

Language and Communication Skills

Your one year old should be able to respond to simple spoken requests and use gestures, such as shaking their head no and waving goodbye. They may start to try and say some words and repeat words you say. Your little one will likely begin saying “mama,” “dada,” and other simple words. They are also likely to start mimicking the changing tones of speaking when making sounds.

Cognitive Skills

Your toddler is more curious and active at this age. They will likely explore things in different ways, such as throwing, shaking, and banging. They will be able to find hidden items easily and begin to look at the right item when it is named. They will likely begin to copy gestures and use items correctly, like a cup or brush. Your one year old may spend time moving an item in and out of a container. They will be able to follow simple directions, such as “pick up the toys.”

Movement and Physical Development

Your one year old should be able to get into the sitting position without help. They will also begin to pull themselves into a standing position, stand alone, and may begin to walk while holding furniture. At this age, many one-year-olds may start trying to walk without assistance, but not every one year old does this.

During the first year of your child’s life, they will develop a lot of new skills and hit a variety of different developmental milestones. While every child develops at a different pace, if you are concerned that your little one is not developing as they should, be sure to talk to your child’s doctor. They will be able to tell you if it is something to worry about or if you should just keep working with your child.

During this first year of life, you can help your kiddo develop by talking to them, reading to them, naming objects you see, playing on the floor with them, doing tummy time, making time for active play, and simply engaging with your baby. A lot of the things your child will learn and the skills they will develop often come from observing you and the world around them. The more you talk and play with your little one, the more likely they will develop those skills on time.

If you want to help your child in their development and learning, be sure to enroll them at Growing Kids Learning Center! Our infant program will help them develop social, cognitive, language, and physical skills. We incorporate a variety of different activities to help with babies’ development, including learning activities and exploratory-based lessons. This is a great way to help your infant develop the necessary skills and start learning at an early age. Plus they will get to socialize, which is always beneficial for little ones! Learn more about our infant program and contact us with any questions you may have.

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A daily routine can help your child know what to expect from day-to-day and provide comfort when big changes occur in their life. At Growing Kids Learning Centers, we know that daily routines can be beneficial for your child for a variety of reasons. If you want to help your toddler have an easier time with day-to-day activities, developing a regular daily routine can help! The earlier you start developing a routine for your child, the better. Learn the benefits and start implementing a routine today!

Gets Them On a Schedule

When you wake up at a specific time, take naps at a specific time, and go to bed at a specific time, our bodies get on a schedule that helps make sticking to this routine easier. When you create a routine and stick to it, you can help boost your child’s ability to take naps and sleep better at night, ensure they eat fuller meals, get to enjoy time outside, and know when they should be calm and relaxed during the day. By getting your child on a schedule like this, it will be easier for you to take care of them. Their body will know that bedtime is soon and they will begin to get sleepy, allowing them to fall asleep easier.

Sets Expectations

When you introduce a routine into your household, you set expectations for your child. They will know what they can expect throughout the day and be prepared for it. This can help to eliminate the fuss when the time comes for them to clean up their toys or get ready for bed. When your child knows what to expect, they will have an easier time accepting that they have to clean up their toys at the end of the day and begin to do it without throwing a fit about it.

When your child knows the routine and what you expect of them and when, they will be more likely to follow these expectations, making it easier for both of you to go about your day peacefully with fewer struggles and tantrums.

Allows For Regular Family Time

In today’s hectic world, it can be hard to find time to spend quality time as a family. Routines can help you establish certain times when the family will be together and enjoy each other’s company, even if it is as brief as eating breakfast together on the weekends. When you create a routine that includes family time, your child will be able to start understanding the importance of family time and look forward to these moments together. Bonding as a family is important for you and your child and developing a daily routine can help ensure that you do spend quality time together and show your child what is truly important.

Gives Your Child Independence

A routine is a great way to teach your child independence. Since they know what they should be doing at certain times of the day, they will begin to do those things themselves. If your child knows that they are supposed to pick up their toys after dinner and before taking a bath, they will begin to do so without you having to ask or supervise day after day. This teaches your child independence, which is beneficial for your toddler to begin learning at a young age. This can help build confidence and allows them to learn how to make their own decisions, like when they dress themselves in the morning.

Establishes Healthy Habits

A routine can help to establish healthy habits that your children can continue following as they grow up and rely less and less on you. Things like eating breakfast, brushing their teeth before bed, and going to bed on time can teach them important and healthy habits. Even having your child pick up their toys at a certain time every day and to complete their homework in the evening teaches them important and helpful life skills, like that keeping a clean place is important and allows them to learn better time management. With a routine, you can help them develop habits that will benefit them throughout their lives.

These are a few of the many benefits that routines can provide your children! If you are looking for a high-quality child care center that works with routines, contact Growing Kids Learning Centers today!

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At Growing Kids Learning Centers in northern Indiana, we know that keeping kids entertained is not an easy task, especially when you have to work during the day. We wanted to help you out but giving you a few ideas for fun activities to do with your children or have your children do while you are working. Read on to learn more!

Build a Fort

Building a fort in your home can be a fun activity for kids that will allow them to create, use their problem-solving skills, and work together. Use couch cushions, pillows, sheets, and tall stools or objects to create a fort that gives your kiddos a new space to do different activities.

If you don’t want a fort in your living room for a few days, have your children build their fort in a different room of the house where they can leave their fort up for a while. Whether you help them build a fort or they build it on their own, be sure to have them add some pillows and blankets inside so that they can spend some time in there and be comfortable. Your children can play games, pretend play, color, read, and do a variety of other fun activities in their fort.

Make Movies

Invest in an easy-to-use video camera or allow your children to use your smartphone to make movies. Pull out all of their dress-up clothes and costumes to help them get into character. They can spend time writing or planning the story they want to turn into a movie, picking characters, and planning it all out.

This is a fun activity that your children may love more than you would guess. Not only do they get to play pretend, but they can get their creativity flowing and have fun creating something unique together. They can take turns filming the “movie,” play different characters, collaborate with each other, use their imagination, and get everyone involved.

Not only is making movies a fun activity that will keep your children busy all day, and maybe all week, but it can also lead to a cherished memory that your children will love watching when they get older. It is amazing how imaginative children can be and making movies is a great way to capture that.

Do Crafts

Doing art and craft projects is another fun way for your children to spend their days. Next time you run to the store, be sure to pick up some new craft supplies or order them online. Get something different. While most kids have all the coloring stuff they need, there are many other fun crafts that they can do. Get a bracelet making kit, oven-bake clay, and other unique craft supplies.

Another fun art project that was popular a few years ago is fuse beads. These beads come with shape boards that your child can decorate with colorful beads, after they are done, you can help them iron the beads to melt them together. The result is a colorful and fun pattern that they can use to decorate their room! This is a fun art project that your child will love doing day after day.

You can also find unique craft ideas on Pinterest! This is a great place to find easy and fun projects for kids that will keep them busy and allow them to be creative. Craft projects are a great way for children to spend their time and can be very beneficial. Plus, you will have a ton of masterpieces to hang on your fridge and display around your house!

Set Up a Treasure Hunt

If you have time, setting up a treasure hunt for your children can be a fun way to keep them entertained for a day. You can even hide a new toy, game, or book at the end of the treasure hunt that they can enjoy for the next few weeks.

Your treasure hunt can include clues throughout your home and yard with riddles to keep your kids guessing. This is a fun way to keep your children entertained and help them use their problem-solving skills.

Depending on the age of your children you can make the clues for this scavenger hunt a little more difficult so they have to figure it out or make them simple to keep them engaged and excited about the treasure.

Create In The Kitchen

While we don’t expect you to allow your children to use the oven or stove without your supervision, creating in the kitchen can be a fun and entertaining activity. If you have time in your day to spend with your kids, allow your kiddos to get creative in the kitchen. They can make up different “recipes” and try new things.

Or you all can cook something fun together. Maybe there is a monkey bread recipe that you wanted to try or maybe your children have been asking to make cookies for a while now. Spending time in the kitchen can be fun and a great activity to do with your kiddos. You can even try new dinner recipes that the whole family can enjoy together!

Cooking or baking is a great activity for kids because it teaches them how to follow directions and can give them a sense of pride when their cookies turn out perfectly. You can also have them help you clean everything up to teach them responsibility.

Relax

There are some days when simply relaxing is a great activity for the entire family. You could set up an at-home spa, do a yoga practice, and watch a few of your favorite movies. You could even incorporate some of the activities above into your day of relaxation.

Build a fort as a family and work together to create a fun breakfast or lunch. Spend your day in the fort playing games as a family, reading, or watching some movies. You could throw a yoga practice in there to help keep your kids active and relaxed at the same time. Having a day where you simply relax can be fun for the whole family and teach your child a thing or two about self-care at an early age.

There are so many fun and creative activities that you can do with your kiddos at home. These are only a few ideas that we love, but there are many more! Find something fun for your kiddos to do while stuck at home. Kids are creative, imaginative, and easily entertained, all you have to do is give them the supplies and they can entertain themselves for hours!

Once the world goes back to normal, be sure to check out Growing Kids Learning Centers in Northern Indiana. We offer different programs full of fun activities that will keep your children learning and entertained. Contact us with any questions you may have.

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At Growing Kids Learning Centers in Northern Indiana, we offer day camps that your kids will love! Our winter, spring, and fall camps are a week-long and scheduled at the same time with school breaks, allowing your kids to have something to do during their time off that gets them away from the TV.

There are many reasons why you should enroll your child in day camps during their times off of school. With spring rapidly approaching, you should start thinking about enrolling your children in our spring camp! Read on to learn more about the reasons to send your child to camp and contact us today!

Keep Them Busy

During your kids’ breaks from their regular school schedule, you have a few options. You can allow them to sit inside, watch TV, and waste this break, or you can sign them up for day camp where they will enjoy a variety of different activities and have fun throughout the entire break. During our spring camps, your child will do activities including hiking, bowling, art projects, and go on a few field trips. Your kiddo will spend their break staying active and busy.

Boost Independence

Sending your child to a day camp can also help boost their levels of independence, which can help them develop new skills and feel more comfortable doing things on their own. Camp gives your kiddo an opportunity to thrive and grow on their own. They will develop more confidence in doing things without you. When you are not there to tell them what to do, how to do something, or simply hovering, they will feel more relaxed to do things themselves and develop their independence.

Try New Activities

During day camps, your child will spend the day doing a variety of activities. They will likely try something that they have never done before, whether that is hiking, a unique art project, or even going on a field trip somewhere new, this is a great way to expose your children to new things. Your kiddo may even find a new hobby thanks to our day camps! When your children get to try new things regularly, they can start finding out what they enjoy, what interests them, and teaches them more about themselves.

Unplug

Nowadays, it can be hard to keep your kids away from their phones, video games, or TV. While you can try to keep them busy and doing different activities that are more stimulating, eventually you will either run out of ideas or energy. When you enroll your kiddo in day camp, activities will be planned throughout the entire day, keeping them unplugged and doing things that can actually be beneficial.

Make More Friends

Camps can also help your kiddos make more friends and develop better skills when it comes to making friends. They will meet a ton of new kids during day camps that they can get to know. For some kids, it can be hard to make friends, but camp can help them. Since they will also become more independent in day camp, they will learn how to introduce themselves to someone, start a conversation with another kid, and start a new friendship. Like sports and other extracurricular activities, your child will be surrounded by a ton of kids their age while in camp, however, they will have more time to talk and get to know these kids and develop new friendships!

Gives Everyone A Break

Day camps can also give you and your kiddo a break. While our camps already correspond with school breaks, day camps can help keep your kids entertained and having fun during their time off. For many parents, we know that it can be hard to take a week off work. If you have a job that you can’t take time off to stay home and entertain your kids, camps are a great option. Not only can camps give you a break from stressing about your kids and what to do with them during their breaks, it can also give your babysitter a break from watching them all week long. Camps are a great alternative and allow you to stop worrying about work and what to do with your kiddos during their break.

There are many reasons to enroll your child in a day camp. Our camps are a perfect option for your child during their school breaks. These day camps can keep your kid entertained, active, and stimulated, while allowing them to meet new friends. Be sure to learn more about our spring camp and enroll your kiddo today! Contact Growing Kids Learning Centers in Northern Indiana to get your questions answered.

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Myth: “Parents should take care of their kids, not themselves.”

Fact: The two aren’t mutually exclusive! Plus, a parent can’t properly take care of their preschooler or 3rd grader if their basic needs aren’t met. And besides — parents can love their children unconditionally and still want time for themselves. To give yourself as a parent takes a tremendous toll, in spite of how rewarding it can be.

An iPhone or a remote controller can only run for so long before needing a recharge. Needing to recharge our batteries doesn’t make us bad parents, it makes us human.

Myth: “It’s selfish of parents to want time to themselves.”

Fact: Everyone should want time to themselves! It’s healthy, and it’s a way to stay connected to our individuality. Parenting just happens to be this strange situation where you simultaneously miss your kids like crazy, and also want a minute alone.

As our preschool and daycare center has said before, it’s essential for parents to be at their best selves to be their best selves as parents. Sometimes recharging can only happen most authentically and most fully when parents are on their own.

Myth: “This is what parents signed up for.”

Fact: Nothing can ever fully prepare someone for becoming a parent. We can go into parenting knowing that we’ll be overwhelmed, but that doesn’t magically erase those future moments when we feel stressed out. Parents still deserve self-care, and they shouldn’t have to fully sacrifice every single fiber of their being or their interests at all times — that’s an unfair expectation that parents already face.

Myth: “I didn’t take time off of parenting, why should others?”

Fact: No parenting situation is identical, for starters. No human experience is identical, for that matter! Each parent brings their own unique strengths and areas of growth to the table. Our fears, challenges, triumphs, and dreams are all wonderfully unique to us. Comparison is not only unproductive and unreasonable, but also unfair.

Every person deserves self-care — parents included. At Growing Kids Learning Centers, we know that we can help parents by providing the best child care and preschool programs in Northern Indiana. When you need assistance with coverage and want nothing less than exceptional care, we’ve got you covered. Read our reviews to see why people love the peace of mind that comes from child care with Growing Kids, and contact us to set up a tour today before space fills up. We look forward to hearing from you!

The post Myths About Self-Care for Parents appeared first on Growing Kids Learning Center.

When we think of burnout, we often picture stressed out workers at their hectic office jobs. We rarely think about parents. And with the stats on how busy and involved parents are, it’s no wonder that so many parents are feeling worn down.

Self-care is hard to practice when your whole world revolves around the care of your children. For that reason, our child care center has compiled a list of things that you can (and must) do as a parent. Try out some of these tips, and visit one of the Growing Kids Learning Centers in Elkhart, Valparaiso, South Bend (at Ireland Road, State Road 23, and North Bendix Drive), Chesterton, Goshen, Warsaw, Plymouth, or Bristol today.

Make Time for Yourself

We all complain that there’s not enough time, but that’s not really the problem (although, our child care center will be the first to say that parents have very little free time, if any!). It’s what we’re doing with the time that makes the biggest difference, and how we manage our energy.

It’s far easier to scroll through social media without intention than to sit down and do something that will truly make you feel better. When you purposefully make an effort to do an activity that brings you true joy, such as reading or playing an instrument, you’ll feel exponentially more fulfilled and refreshed.

Of course, spending time on social media isn’t a bad thing, and it can be a great source of connection. But more often than not, we end up mindlessly scrolling through news feeds and consciously or subconsciously comparing ourselves to others. If you catch yourself feeling this way while browsing Facebook or the like, it’s a sign to switch to something more restorative.

Cut Out Obligations

Whether it’s carpooling for your child’s fourth after school activity or a work meeting that could absolutely be resolved in a weekly email, there’s something in all of our lives that we don’t want to do. The good news is that we have the ability to cut some of these things out.

If you feel like there’s no time in your week or if there’s a commitment in particular that’s causing you anxiety, it’s OK to figure out a way to cut it out. Even if you’re just cutting back instead of eliminating entirely, you’ll feel so much relief from not having to do something you don’t want to. Saying no is definitely a form of self-care!

Journal Consistently

At our child care centers, we talk about expressing our feelings all the time. Journaling is one of the best ways to do so, and to feel better as a whole. Reflect on what’s working in your life and what’s not, what you’re grateful for and what you’re struggling with, and show yourself compassion through writing. Journaling is one of the best ways to help yourself process things, and it’s amazing to look back on where you’ve been and how far you’ve come by keeping a consistent, written record.

Savor the Small Things

So often we take for granted the most basic things that make up the fabric of our day-to-day lives. Hot, running water in the shower (even hot water for doing dishes shouldn’t be dismissed!), walks on the sidewalk, our children learning a new skill, or even just the fact that your coffeemaker is brewing in the morning are all pretty ordinary things on the surface. But when you take time to truly savor how incredible each thing is, you’ll feel more grounded and grateful.

Choose one thing to focus on each day, and focus on the nuances and details that make this task or activity so special.

Talk With Loved Ones

If your child was struggling, wouldn’t you want them to talk to you about it? Our loved ones are here to support us, just as we are here to support them. You are not alone in the struggles of parenthood — everyone has a tough time, because parenting is ridiculously tough!

When you feel overwhelmed, reach out to a loved one and share what’s going on. If you feel like you keep having the same struggles and you’re saying the same things, consider reaching out to a therapist for some additional great insights. There should never be any shame for talking to someone and getting the help that you need.

Sign Up For Child Care

Whether you need to clean the house without interruptions, to get to your job, or to have a moment to breathe, Growing Kids Learning Centers is here to help. We love working with children more than anything, and we still know how tough it can be to be a parent. That’s why we offer flexible child care in the Northern Indiana area for families to rely upon, and have been doing so for more than 20 years.

When you take a break for yourself, you’re still a parent, and you’re not shirking on your responsibilities. What you are doing is preparing yourself to be an even better parent in the future. Downtime doesn’t just feel good, it’s necessary! So let our child care centers help make that happen for you. Even if you end up just getting to listen to your favorite musician while on your way to pick up your 2-year-old, you’re still making time for you, which we believe every parent deserves to do. Contact us today to set up a tour!

The post Self-Care Tips for Parents appeared first on Growing Kids Learning Center.

At Growing Kids Learning Center, we acknowledge how difficult this decision is. Our preschool and child care teachers have compiled a list of things for you to consider when looking into programs for your young one. While we know that our preschool and daycare center is an exceptional place for every child to grow, we believe families should make informed decisions that they feel confident in. Whether it’s with us or elsewhere, we hope this guiding list helps you choose an incredible daycare or preschool program for your child! Find out more from Growing Kids Learning Centers, and visit one of our locations in South Bend (at Ireland Road, State Road 23, and North Bendix Drive), Elkhart, Valparaiso, Chesterton, Goshen, Warsaw, or Bristol today.

What is the overall look?

When you’re touring daycare and child care facilities, first impressions are everything. You’ll immediately get a sense of there being a possibility for this school or not from the moment you enter the building and start walking around.

Are things kept pretty tidy? Are there good security measures in place? Are staff happy to greet you and answer any questions you have? Are children engaged in learning or play activities? These are some of the first things you’ll pick up on, and if you don’t like what you see, that’s a pretty good indicator that this is not the daycare facility for your family to consider.

What sounds am I hearing?

This might seem like a strange question to ask, but it’s a very important one. It’s something that you’ll intuitively do, but when you’re intentionally thinking about the sounds that you’re picking up on, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision about your child’s potential daycare or preschool.

For example, do you hear child voices? Are teachers doing all the talking? If it’s silent, is there nap time? What are the tones in voices that you’re picking up on? How are adults talking to children and other adults, and how are children talking to adults and other children? Take all these things into account as you’re making your decision.

How do I feel when I’m here?

If you don’t feel comfortable at a daycare or preschool facility, you probably won’t want to send your child there. The right child care center should feel like a growing and learning environment. It should feel positive and uplifting, and a place where young ones can truly thrive.

Ultimately, your intuition is crucial for making your decision. As a parent or guardian, you know your child best, and you should trust your gut about the daycare or preschool you’re looking into. If you send your young one to a place you’re not comfortable with, you’ll feel even more stress than trying to find the right daycare to begin with. You shouldn’t send your child somewhere that makes you feel uneasy or defensive. If those are the feelings you’re getting, it’s best to say “thank you for your time!” and look into another option.

Choosing a daycare or preschool program can be stressful, but we know that you’ll find the right place for your young one. As tough as the search can be, it’s the kind of thing where once you’ve found the right place, you’ll have lasting relief and satisfaction. The search to find the right daycare is absolutely worth it! Growing Kids Learning Centers is happy to have you tour our school or ask any questions that are on your mind. Contact us to see if we’d be a good fit for your family!

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