Ringing in 2017!

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

This time of year is so joyous. For first time parents it is such a blissful time. At AoG we got decked out from head to toe with our Christmas attire. During this time of year we also like to "study abroad" and learn about other countries customs for Christmas time. The learning is ever growing and the fun never stops. Check out our Christmas swag! 

Piggy Tails Cutie 

Say Cheeseee!

Making Holiday Milkshakes

The 3 Wisemen

The Cutest Snuggle Bunnies Around 

For More Information:

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Winter Safety Tips

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Whether winter brings severe storms, light dustings or just cold temperatures, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has some valuable tips on how to keep your children safe and warm.

What to Wear

• Dress infants and children warmly for outdoor activities.  Several thin layers will keep them dry and warm. Don’t forget warm boots, gloves or mittens, and a hat.
• The rule of thumb for older babies and young children is to dress them in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions.
• ​​When riding in the car, babies and children should wear thin, snug layers rather than thick, bulky coats or snowsuits.
• Blankets, quilts, pillows, bumpers, sheepskins and other loose bedding should be kept out of an infant's sleeping enviroment because they are associated with suffocation deaths and may contribute to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). It is better to use sleep clothing like one-piece sleepers or wearable blankets is preferred.
• If a blanket must be used to keep a sleeping infant warm, it should be thin and tucked under the crib mattress, reaching only as far as the baby’s chest, so the infant's face is less likely to become covered by bedding materials.

Hypothermia

• Hypothermia develops when a child's temperature falls below normal due to exposure to colder temperatures. It often happens when a youngster is playing outdoors in extremely cold weather without wearing proper clothing or when clothes get wet. It can occur more quickly in children than in adults.
• As hypothermia sets in, the child may shiver and become lethargic and clumsy.  Speech may become slurred and body temperature will decline in more severe cases.
• If you suspect your child is hypothermic, call 911 at once. Until help arrives, take the child indoors, remove any wet clothing, and wrap him in blankets or warm clothes.

Frostbite

• Frostbite happens when the skin and outer tissues become frozen.  This condition tends to happen on extremities like the fingers, toes, ears and nose. They may become pale, gray and blistered. At the same time, the child may complain that his/her skin burns or has become numb.
• If frostbite occurs, bring the child indoors and place the frostbitten parts of her body in warm (not hot) water. 104° Fahrenheit (about the temperature of most hot tubs) is recommended. Warm washcloths may be applied to frostbitten nose, ears and lips.
• Do not rub the frozen areas.
• After a few minutes, dry and cover the child with clothing or blankets. Give him/her something warm to drink.
• If the numbness continues for more than a few minutes, call your doctor.

Winter Health

• If your child suffers from winter nosebleeds, try using a cold air humidifier in the child's room at night. Saline nose drops or petrolatum jelly may help keep nasal tissues moist. If bleeding is severe or recurrent, consult your pediatrician.
• Many pediatricians feel that bathing two or three times a week is enough for an infant’s first year. More frequent baths may dry out the skin, especially during the winter.
• Cold weather does not cause colds or flu. But the viruses that cause colds and flu tend to be more common in the winter, when children are in school and are in closer contact with each other. Frequent hand washing and teaching your child to sneeze or cough into the bend of her elbow may help reduce the spread of colds and flu.
• Children 6 months of age and up should get the influenza vaccine to reduce their risk of catching the flu. It's not too late to get the vaccine! Around 80% of all influenza illness generally occurs in January, February, and March. 

Winter Sports and Activities

• Set reasonable time limits on outdoor play to prevent hypothermia and frostbite. Have children come inside periodically to warm up.
• Using alcohol or drugs​ before any winter activity, like snowmobiling or skiing, is dangerous and should not be permitted in any situation.

Ice Skating

• Allow children to skate only on approved surfaces. Check for signs posted by local police or recreation departments, or call your local police department to find out which areas have been approved.
• Advise your child to:
• Skate in the same direction as the crowd
• Avoid darting across the ice
• Never skate alone
• Not chew gum or eat candy while skating.
• Consider having your child wear a helmet, knee pads and elbow pads, especially while learning to skate.

Sledding

• Keep sledders away from motor vehicles.
• Childr​en should be supervised while sledding.
• Keep young children separated from older children.
• Sledding feet first or sitting up, instead of lying down head-first, may prevent head injuries.
• Consider having your child wear a helmet while sledding.
• Use steerable sleds, not snow disks or inner tubes.
• Sleds should be structurally sound and free of sharp edges and splinters, and the steering mechanism should be well lubricated.
• Sled slopes should be free of obstructions like trees or fences, be covered in snow not ice, not be too steep (slope of less than 30º), and end with a flat runoff.
• Avoid sledding in crowded areas.

Snow Skiing and Snowboarding

• Children should be taught to ski or snowboard by a qualified instructor in a program designed for children.
• Never ski or snowboard alone.
• Young children should always be supervised by an adult.  Older children’s need for adult supervision depends on their maturity and skill.  If older children are not with an adult, they should always at least be accompanied by a friend.
• All skiers and snowboarders should wear helmets. Ski facilities should require helmet use, but if they do not, parents should enforce the requirement for their children.
• Equipment should fit the child. Skiers should wear safety bindings that are adjusted at least every year. Snowboarders should wear gloves with built-in wrist guards. Eye protection or goggles should also be used.
• Slopes should fit the ability and experience of the skier or snowboarder. Avoid crowded slopes.
• Avoid skiing in areas with trees and other obstacles.

Snowmobiling

• The AAP recommends that children under age 16 not operate snowmobiles and that children under age 6 never ride on snowmobiles.
• Do not use a snowmobile to pull a sled or skiers.
• Wear goggles and a safety helmet approved for use on motorized vehicles like motorcycles.
• Travel at safe speeds.
• Never snowmobile alone or at night.
• Stay on marked trails, away from roads, water, railroads and pedestrians.

Sun Protection

• The sun’s rays can still cause sunburn in the winter, especially when they reflect off snow. Make sure to cover your child’s exposed skin with sunscreen and consider using sunglasses.

Fire Protection

Winter is a time when household fires occur. It is a good time to remember to:

• Buy and install smoke alarms on every floor of your home
• Test smoke alarms monthly
• Practice fire drills with your children
• Install a carbon monoxide detector outside bedrooms
• Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from anything that could burn, and turn them off when leaving the room or sleeping.

Resource: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/news/Pages/Winter-Safety.aspx 

For more information about our program, visit www.academychilddevelopment.com 

Baby, It's Cold Outside..

We are nearing everyone's favorite time of year! The weather is changing and we couldn't be more excited. We have so many fun activities planned this month. Check out our Calendar and Menu for December! 

For More Information

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AoG Thanksgiving Lunch

Our favorite time of year is here! We absolutely love having our families here spending time with their little ones. We enjoyed some fantastic food cooked and prepared by our Director, Ms.Courtney and Cook, Ms. Sara. They put in some elbow grease for this all to run smoothly and it was completely worth it. We got a few pictures of our beautiful families sharing a meal, and I would love to share them with you! 

We love our families and beyond happy to have them with us! 

For more information

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Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving. 

Biting Frustrations

Biting is a frustration that many parents face throughout their child's toddler years. It can be disturbing and shocking for both parties. Those who are being bitten and those who are biting. It is something that happens frequently at childcare centers and depending on age very developmentally appropriate. I have a few suggestions and a better understanding over the whole situation. 

Some Children Are Biting Because They Are Frustrated

Some Children Are Biting Because They Are Experimental

Some Children Bite Because They Are Teething.

Some Children Are Biting Because Of Stress

How to respond when a bite occurs

Remain Calm, avoid dramatic or negative response

Give immediate attention and comfort to victim first.

Create distance from child who has bitten

Talk With Biting Child 

Prevention

Chart the behavior of the child who is biting.

Help create a better environment, routine, activities if necessary 

Help the child communicate feelings

Provide close supervision

Redirect children to more acceptable behaviors

Provide positive reinforcement for appropriate behavior

What we can do as your child's care provider

The children's safety is our first priority.

Providing developmentally appropriate environments and activities for the children

Effective teaching methods

Incident/ Accident reports when bite occurs for notification.

Continued support and prevention resources for families

We understand how frustrating and upsetting biting can be for families, we are always here for our families in difficult time to help better understand the wonders of child development. 

I hope you found this helpful and we will see you all again (: 

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The Academy Schools

Turkey Tossing Into November

Happy Fall Y'all!

The holiday's are among us now and we're ready for the ride. My favorite time of year is the holidays. Even though it gets a bit hectic and nerve wrecking with the shopping and family gatherings, it is  definitely worth it. 

Here is a preview of the things we have going on here at The Academy this month! 

Hopefully the weather we get more " Fall" like soon as well. Until then check out our website for more information: www.academychilddevelopment.com

Happy Halloween AoG Families

We have had so much fun today with dress up!! From our little friends to our big friends. We all looked so great, check us out (: 

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For More Information

Click Below: 

www.academychilddevelopment.com

Have a safe and fun weekend! 

BOoOOOOoooOOOo!