Summertime Fun – Slip and Slide
Aug 5th
The slip and slide is one of my home daycare kids favorite activities. Its simple, easy to set up and fun!! Their faces as they face down the grass and jump on to the slide are priceless. They squeel everytime like its their first time doing it. Big smiles are a given as they slide across the slippery plastic and jump up to get back in line. This cheap and fun activity is always fun at any age. If I wasnt scared of falling or hurting something I would love to take a turn myself on these hot Minnesota days. Today however we are going to the wonderful outdoor pool in our town. Its fun, wet and just what the kids need on a hot day. It has something for everyone a waterslide, kiddie slide, diving board, spraying water and we bring a bag full of toys. I cant wait to head their today. A perfect end to another interesting week in home daycare. Have a great weekend and do something for yourself.
Go Green Cleaning
Jul 14th
Cleaning
What do you use to clean your house including kitchen, bath, the tough spots? With all of the talk today regarding safe cleaners and products for our home it makes me think when buying my household products. I love the idea of buying products that are safe for me, my family and my daycare children. I just wonder which products are the best or is it best to make your own product at home.
The other question I have is do these products get the job done and clean the areas good enough?
I clean a lot with 4 children, a husband and 12 children in my daycare during the day. I need products that get my house clean and keep us healthy. I need something that will kill the germs and bacteria that children spread.
I remember on an Oprah show a while back when Kirstie Alley admitted that in her house, she only cleans with Vodka, the cheap stuff, since it is very effective, has no odor and is environmentally friendly in the drain. She says it makes things sparkle. My mom tried this and could not believe how beautiful her bathroom sparkled.
I also clean with vinegar which seems to be a great cleaning product. I even use a splash in my laundry sometimes. I have heard of people that use vinegar as a laundry detergent.
Another great product that I have used in the past that really kills germs on the surface and I use it especially in the winter is thieves. I will put a link at the bottom of my post. I mix it with water in a spray bottle and spray it on everything to disinfect it. Its a great product and safe for the environment, children and pets. I use it as a household cleaner and the bottle lasts forever.
I love a clean house even if it does not last very long! How do you safely clean your house?
Daycare Snacks – Food Program
Jun 14th
What is a Popsicle Worth to You?
With summer here, many family child care providers are serving more food to day care children outside of their normal meal patterns.
This may include serving fun food such as ice cream, popsicles, and other frozen treats. It may also involve eating out more at fast food restaurants and going on picnics or field trips.
Whether you are doing this a little or a lot, it’s important to keep track of all the meals or snacks you are serving.
This includes keeping track of all meals and snacks you serve that are not reimbursed by the Food Program. IRS rules allow all child care providers to deduct meals and snacks even if they don’t meet the nutrition standards of the Food Program. So, you can count a popsicle, ice cream, cookies, etc. as a snack.
I’m not telling you to serve junk food. I am saying that if you do, you can deduct it. Using the Standard Meal Allowance rule you can claim $.66 for each snack you serve (in Hawaii it’s $.77 and in Alaska it’s $1.07).
You need to keep a daily record to claim all the summer meals and snacks you serve that aren’t reimbursed by the Food Program. You don’t need a menu or any record of what food you serve. Instead, all you need is a notation that shows which children ate how many meals and snacks each day.
For example, let’s say that Sally, Rebecca and Maria were served a treat (popsicle, ice cream, or pudding) each afternoon for a week. These snacks were not reimbursed by the Food Program. Here’s what you can record on a calendar or somewhere else:
Monday pm snack – Sally, Rebecca, Maria
Tuesday pm snack – Sally, Rebecca, Maria
Wednesday pm snack – Sally, Rebecca, Maria
Thursday pm snack – Sally, Rebecca, Maria
Friday pm snack – Sally, Rebecca, Maria
Recording un-reimbursed snacks is well worth your time. One snack for one child a day for a year is worth a business deduction of $171.60. ($.66 x 5 days a week x 52 weeks).
What is a popsicle worth to you? Plenty!
Image credit: bedifferentactnormal.com
Great article from Tom Copeland see more at http://www.tomcopelandblog.com
Home Remedies for Diaper Rash
May 6th
Home Remedies for Diaper Rash
I have a baby in my daycare this week that has a really bad diaper rash. I feel so sorry for her when I change her because she cries so hard and it must sting when the baby wipes touch her delicate skin. Babies are sure to get a diaper rash at some point in thier infancy. Here are some helpful hints and home remedies to treat a diaper rash.
- Frequent diaper changes help. Change soiled diapers immediately and wet diapers at least every two hours.
- After cleansing and cleaning the diaper area blot dry, do not rub.
- Sprinkle corn starch on your babies bottom after cleansing and cleaning. This is a very effective way to clear up the rash quickly. This will not work if the rash is a bacterial rash.
- Petroleum jelly or Vitamin E oil from a health food store. You may also break open a vitamin E tablet and use the liquid in there.
- Add a few chamomile tea bags to a warm bath and let your baby soak for awhle in the tub. Give the bags a squeeze to get the most out of them.
- Eliminate all washes, bath soaps or bubbles from your baby’s bath. The chemicals in these will cause additional irritation to your baby.
- California Baby Diaper Rash Cream is a wonderful product for baby and is all natural, organic treatment and safe for your baby. This is a non-burning, non-irritation product that sprays right on the affected area. California Baby Products are wonderful!! Click on the link below to get your cream today, you will love it for your baby!
Keep in mind as you try any of these remedies that if the rash is bacterial or a yeast diaper rash you should consult with your pediatrician.
These are a few home remedies that have worked great for me. Do you have any home remedies for Diaper rashes that you would like to share? I would lover for you to post them!
Spring tree craft – Preschool Crafts
Apr 26th
Spring Tree Craft – Preschool Crafts
It’s finally feeling like Spring here in Minnesota. Today we even went outside without jackets!
My home daycare has been doing many Spring crafts just wishing it would come so hopefully it stays.
We cannot wait to see the flowers start to bloom and some color finally appear on the trees and plants.
The kids had fun making these pretty trees with blossoms. So much fun and easy for all the ages too!
Materials:
Construction Paper
Brown Marker
Golden Puffs Cereal
Glue
Draw a bare tree with lots of branches using markers or make tree trunk and branches with brown construction paper. Have the children glue on the Golder Puff Cereal as tree buds. They can put on as many as they want. They can also add grass or anything else they want to the picture. Kids had a blast with these, they turned out cute and loved eating the cereal when we were done.
Think SPRING!!!!
HomeMade Baby Wipes
Apr 8th
HomeMade Baby Wipes
Make your own baby wipes! Cheaper and better for your baby. It is easy and will save you money. Check out the recipe below!
By Sandy Sheilds
BABY WIPES RECIPE #1
Step One
Strong paper towels work the best
Cut one roll of paper towels in half.
Take out the core so wipes pull out of the center.
Step Two
Make solution.
2 cups water
1/2 cup of baby oil
1/2 cup baby magic baby bath
Step Three
Place 1/2 roll of paper towels in container.
Pour solution over towels.
Store in container. Makes 2 1/2 rolls.
Store baby wipes in this inexpensive baby wipes warmer. Your baby will love it!
© Sandy Sheilds, 2002-
Sandy is a freelance writer and webmaster of TheFrugalShopper.com. FREE E-BOOK! Parenting Guide – This e-book, by 4ParentsNetwork and The Frugal Shopper, is chock full of useful tips and information for new parents. This is a quick download and the book includes tips on breastfeeding, tips for making your own babyfood, baby wipes, laundry detergent, as well as financial planning tips, safety tips and more. [Download from Christian-Mommies.com]
Banana Muffins – Daycare Snacks
Apr 6th
Banana Muffins
I love making banana muffins for my daycare. I have served them for snack time or breakfast. I have a recipe that we love and they turn out every time! Quick and easy is what I love!
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 Large ripe bananas, mashed
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup butter, melted
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat muffin pan with non-stick spray or use paper liners. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl and set aside.
Combine bananas, sugar, egg and melted butter in a large bowl then fold in the flour mixture, and mix until smooth. Fill muffin tin about 2/3 full.
Bake muffins for 25 – 30 minutes until the muffins spring back when touched. Mini muffins bake for 10-15 minutes. Makes about 1 dozen muffins.
Enjoy!!
Easter Bunny Ears – Preschool Crafts
Mar 28th
Easter Bunny Ears
What you’ll need:
White poster board
Pink construction paper
Scissors and Glue
Tape or stapler
Easter stickers, optional
Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
How to make it:
Cut a strip of poster board about 2″ wide by about 24″ long.
Cut out 2 ears out of poster board each about 8 1/2″ long x 3 1/2″ wide.
Cut out 2 smaller ears out of pink construction paper.
Glue the pink ears inside the white ears.
Glue the ears inside the band, positioning to fit behind the child’s head.
Let the child decorate the head band with stickers, markers, crayons, or colored pencils if they wish.
Tape or staple the band to fit the child. Cut off any excess.
Fun and easy craft for Easter! Check out more fun ideas at Kaboose!
100 First Words – Children’s Books
Mar 23rd
Building Vocabulary in Children
Building a child’s vocabulary from age 1 and older is a very important part of them growing. Babies can comprehend at a very young age colors, shapes, sounds and more. It is so amazing how smart they can be. There is a book by Roger Priddy called First 100 Words (Bright Baby)
that is amazing for the 1-3 year old that is learning to talk and building their vocabulary.
This book features 100 every day words for children to learn. It has bright colors and clear photos with many concepts such as Things that go, Colors, Bathtime, Bedtime, Mealtime, Food, Myself, Home, Outside, Clothes, Toys, Pets, Farm animals, and Wild animals. This is a board book so it will stand up to almost anything and is a great book for toddlers to carry around with them and it will capture their attention for a long time as they learn by hearing and seeing 100 words and pictures. It is a favorite and a great gift idea for any 1-3 year old. Hope you enjoy First 100 Words (Bright Baby)
