Christmas Parties

Last Friday, we celebrated the holidays with fun, games, and food.  As always, we had lots of parents come to enjoy the fun as well. We played Candy Cane Fishing, Trim the Tree, Christmas Tree Collage, and Snowman Bowling! Good times were had by all!!!

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

Opposites-Over & Under

Opposites! There are so many ways yo teach children about up, down,sit, stand, fast, slow, hot, cold--and so many more!  Our Toddlers classes learned about over and under.

Here are more ways you can incorporate opposites at home through Movement, Crafts, and Toys.

http://www.guruparents.com/teaching-opposites/

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

Christmas Times a Coming!

This time of the year many traditions are started in families across the country.  Here are two wonderful resources for you to do with your little one this holiday season.

For more information, please contact us at www.academychilddevelopment.com 

ABC's of Safe Sleep

Babies should sleep...

ALONE, on their BACK, and in a CRIB.

• Always place babies on their backs to sleep at night and at nap time. Babies who sleep on their backs are less likely to die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
• Babies should always sleep in a crib. The safest place for a baby is in the same room as the parents but alone in a separate sleep area.
• Keep loose objects, soft toys, and bedding out of the baby's sleep area. Do not use pillows and blankets in a baby's sleeping area. A baby should sleep in a crib with only a tight fitting sheet.
• Avoid letting your baby overheat during the night. A baby should be dressed lightly for sleep. Set the room temperature in a range that is comfortable for a lightly clothed adult.
• Do not use crib bumpers. These do not reduce injuries and can cause suffocation.
• Avoid smoking. Both maternal smoking during pregnancy and secondhand smoke after birth should be avoided.
• Breastfeeding is recommended for at least the first six months of life. Breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of SIDS.

For more information about Safe Sleep, visit http://www.tn.gov/health/article/safe-sleep-links

If you would like information about our preschool visit www.academychilddevleopment.com

We are ready for Halloween!

Look how cute we are in our ORANGE & BLACK!

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

Pumpkin Guts...EWWWW!!!!!

All of our classes got to explore the inside of pumpkins today! 

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

Tennessee Child Health Week

Governor Bill Haslam has proclaimed October 1-7, 2017 Child Health Week in Tennessee.  Child Health Week is a time to celebrate and raise awareness around what Tennessee is doing to promote the health of our most important resource--Tennessee's children.  We all have a roll to play to help keep Tennessee children safe, healthy, and on track.

The Academy of Gateway educated our parents in all five areas: Adverse Child Experiences, Physical Activity, Healthy Eating, Injury Prevention, and Safe Sleep.

Adverse Child Experiences
Childhood experiences, both positive and negative, have a tremendous impact on future violence victimization and perpetration, and lifelong health and opportunity.  ACEs have been linked to risky health behaviors, chronic health conditions, low life potential, and early death.  The negative effects of ACEs are felt throughout the nation and can effect people of all backgrounds.  Did you know 1 in 4 children experience some form of child abuse or neglect?  Do your part to strengthen parenting skills and family relationships.

More information at:
www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/acestudy/about_ace.html 
www.tn.gov/health/topic/adverse-childhood-experiences

Physical Activity
Physical inactivity can lead to energy imbalance (e.g., expending less energy through physical activity than consumed through diet) and can increase the risk of becoming overweight or obese.  Being physically active lowers the chance of the following: early death, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, breast cancer, and weight gain.

More information at:
www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/physicalactivity/facts.htm 

Healthy Eating
Healthy eating in childhood and adolescence is important for proper growth and development and to prevent various health conditions.  A poor diet can lead to energy imbalance (eating more calories than your body uses) and can increase the risk of becoming overweight or obese.  Empty calories from added sugars and solid fats contribute to 40% of daily calories for children and adolescents age 2-18 years--affecting the overall quality of their diets. Every 10 seconds we lose a child to hunger.

Injury Prevention
How would you know if your child has a concussion? Tennessee teens are involved in over 112 motor vehicle accidents daily.  Did you know the leading cause in death for teens is motor vehicle crashes?  Distracted driving is deadly.  Keep you eyes and mind on the road, and hands on the wheel at all times.

More information at:
www.tn.gov/health/topic/tbi

Safe Sleep
Do you know your ABC's? Alone, on their Back, and in their crib is how your baby should always be sleeping.  Blankets, bumpers, and stuffed animals shouldn't accompany your baby while they nap.

More information at:
www.tn.gov/health/topic/safe-sleep


For information about our program, please visit our website www.academychilddevelopment.com

Bouncing into Family Fun

What a fun night to enjoy with our families!  We had more than 75 kids bounce, eat pizza and cake, and fun with friends!

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