Playing outdoors in the wintertime can be very beneficial for children. It boosts their immune system, develops resilience in discomfort, enhances their gross motor skills with games like sledding or building a snowman, and encourages social bonding with family and friends.
Cold weather also burns off energy much faster than warm weather, so even a few minutes of outdoor play in cold weather can help regulate high-energy children. Every parent and teacher can get behind that reason to let children play outside in the cold!
If possible, parents should encourage their children to play outdoors in the cold to reap these benefits. But some days seem too cold to play outside, even for the most eager of children. How do you know if it’s too cold for your child to play outside?
Guidelines for Playing Outside In Cold Temperatures
Generally, children should avoid playing outdoors if it is below 20 degrees F. Below this temperature, children are much more likely to experience cold stress but not know how to recognize or communicate their needs. Children should stay inside to avoid frostbite or other injuries.
Use caution if the temperature is between 20°F and 30°F. Dress the children in layers so they can take off a layer as they warm up, but will still be appropriately dressed. Monitor them carefully and give them breaks to warm up.
Children can play outdoors when the temperature is above 30°F. Of course, layering, monitoring, and taking breaks are still recommended, but there is much less risk of injury. Offer plenty of liquids, as breathing cold air is dehydrating.
Other Factors of Playing Outside In Cold Weather
If you’re unsure of the safety of the temperature, include these factors in making your decision:
Sun: The sun shining can significantly change the feeling of the weather. Coats absorb the heat from the sun, which can make the temperature feel several degrees warmer.
Wind Chill: Wind chill can make the temperature feel much colder. The sharpness of the wind can also give children earaches and chapped lips.
Available Clothing: If your child can’t dress in appropriate layers, they should stay inside. In addition to the typical hat, mittens, boots, and coat, children might need a sweatshirt, a double layer of socks, or leggings underneath jeans. Snow pants are a wonderful and easy layer to wear, even when there’s no snow.
What Is Cold Stress?
Cold stress occurs when your child is experiencing early signs of hypothermia, a potentially deadly drop in body temperature.
Exaggerated shivering
Chattering teeth
Dizziness
Weakness
Pink, red, or blue changes to their skin color
If any of these signs are present when checking on your child playing in cold weather, bring them inside immediately to warm up. A hot bath, warm beverage, heating blanket, or space heater are almost instant ways to begin getting a child warm. Monitor your child carefully over the next few hours to ensure their body temperature returns to normal.
Is Playing Outside in Cold Weather Worth It?
Although avoiding cold stress may seem like a good enough reason to keep your child indoors all winter long, parents who take appropriate precautions can usually let their children enjoy the benefits of playing in cold weather. Encouraging kids to play outside despite the low temperature is worth the time it takes to bundle them up and put everything away when they’re done.
Not only will your children reap the health and social benefits mentioned above, but it will also help them learn how to care for their bodies in different temperatures. It helps them become aware of their body–when they are too hot and too cold–and what to do with these signals. This is potentially a life-saving skill you can practice under the safety of your supervision.
Additionally, playing in the cold gives children an appreciation for their warm house. They are more content to sit quietly and play kindly once they’ve expended energy in the cold. That’s something every parent can appreciate!
Although kindergarten should be one of the happiest years in a child’s life, it can often come with challenges and struggles that parents don’t anticipate. Children can be struggling with separation anxiety, long days, routine changes, new social stressors like best friends and bullies, or general unfamiliarity with their surroundings. Although these may seem like small difficulties to adults, these are big changes for young children.
Every parent wants their child to have a good kindergarten experience. Without a positive kindergarten experience, parents may worry that their child will hate school for their whole life and fail to thrive in adulthood from their lack of educational enthusiasm.
If your child is struggling with kindergarten, here are some ways you can help them excel in and enjoy their kindergarten year.
Supportive Home Routine
Brainstorm ways to do all you can to support your child from home, such as:
Sleep: Ensure they’re in bed so they can sleep for 10-13 hours, which is the recommended amount for kindergartners. If your child plays a sport, they might need 13 hours on the nights they have practice or games.
Screen time: If your child has screen time after school, ensure it is not right before bed, and that there are no screens in your child’s room at bedtime. The blue light from screens is very disruptive to quality sleep.
School bus times: If your child has a very early pick up or late drop off bus time, consider driving your child to school so they can sleep in or come home early.
Keep the same routine: Children thrive on routines, so try to keep everything consistent until your child gets acclimated at school. Don’t change things on a whim or have a different night routine every day of the week.
Discuss Solutions With the School
School administrations are usually open to accommodations for struggling students. Your child’s teacher can also give classroom-specific accommodations.
If your child is struggling academically, you can request an evaluation or observation so your child can get the academic help or tutoring they need. Guidance counselors can keep tabs on your child while at school. If your child is struggling socially, the school can usually assign another child to help them feel more comfortable.
Identify the Problem
There are dozens of reasons your child may dislike kindergarten, some more challenging than others. Some children may already be experiencing bullying, while others may just hate their lunchbox color. Parents must be thorough investigators to identify the true reason for their child’s dislike of kindergarten.
Before asking your child any questions, ensure your demeanor is calm and kind. Children will not respond openly to parents who are harsh or demeaning. Recall your own kindergarten experience and put yourself in your child’s shoes.
Ask your child thoughtful and open-ended questions. If your child is vague or evasive, it can be helpful to ask their teacher for help. They can have invaluable insight since they interact with your child each day.
Validate Their Emotions and Experiences
Although a child’s worries are generally small in comparison to adult worries and stressors, children still experience anxiety and stress in kindergarten. Children are greatly comforted when their parents validate their experiences and emotions. You can even share your own kindergarten experiences, which will help your child not feel alone.
Kindergarten Prep at Crestwood Preschool Academy
One of the best ways to avoid the challenge of beginning kindergarten is to enroll your child in a quality early childhood education program like Crestwood Preschool Academy!
Our outstanding curriculum not only gives your child a head start on academics, but helps them learn all the social skills and routine expectations they will encounter at kindergarten. Children can develop confidence and independence through enrollment in an early childhood education program so they are successful on their first day of school and beyond.
Contact us today to enroll your child in Crestwood Preschool Academy!
Parents have an extra challenge during holiday parties because they must manage their children. At every party, there is lots of sugar, stimulation, and gifts. While these are fun for a short time, it doesn’t take long before your overwhelmed and overstimulated child may start to have a meltdown.
Although child meltdowns at parties are common, they don’t have to be inevitable. Here are some ways to help avoid child meltdowns at holiday parties.
Set Expectations Before the Party
Parents must remember that children don’t have a paradigm for parties. There is suddenly a lot of noise, strange people, good things to eat, and unfamiliar places, and children don’t know what to do. Part of a child’s meltdown may come from uncertainty, and the meltdown is their only way to communicate that they are uncomfortable.
Many meltdowns can be prevented by talking about the party plans with your child. Tell them who will be there, what games they will do, what food they can eat, when you will leave, and other basic details. If appropriate, set boundaries that might avoid a meltdown, like eating only two desserts or playing only one video game.
Dress your child comfortably for the party. If possible, dress your child in layers, since parties with lots of people tend to get warm and your child might want to take off that cute holiday sweater to cool down. Bring winter gear to play outside and leave it in the car. Then your child can join other kids outside without borrowing the hosts’ clothes.
If you’re attending a party without children or in a space not designed for children (like a work party), then you should bring along some of your child’s favorite books or toys to keep them busy. A tablet is another option, but should be used strategically, as removing the tablet could result in a meltdown
Feeding your children a meal before attending the party is another excellent party hack, especially for picky eaters. By feeding your child beforehand, you won’t be at the mercy of when the host serves food or what the host provides. Your child’s belly will already be full, and they won’t be begging for every snack or dessert they see.
Help Your Child At the Party
On your drive to the party, have a cheerful pep talk about your expectations. Try to keep your language positive; avoid “don’t” statements and instead encourage the behavior you want. For example, instead of “Don’t eat tons of dessert!” say something like “Look carefully and choose the yummiest dessert you want to try.” This lets your child know in a positive way the one thing you want them to do instead of the dozens of things you don’t want them to do.
Upon arriving at the party, set your child up with appropriate activities or children. Let your child know where you’ll be so they feel safe in this new space. It may be helpful to give a timeline, such as “Play here for 15 minutes and then I’ll let you choose some food to eat” so your child knows what to expect.
As tempting as it might be, don’t check out once you’re at the party. You should watch for cues that your child is getting irritable, restless, or tired. If you see these cues, step in before the meltdown erupts! Bring your child to a quiet place and let them decompress by reading books or playing by themselves.
Although letting your child decompress in a quiet place usually prevents a meltdown, you need to stay flexible and do what’s best for your child. You might have to make an early exit before a full meltdown happens. This might be disappointing, but it avoids embarrassing yourself or your child.
Debrief After the Party
Your child may be overwhelmed and overstimulated after a party. The sugar, lights, and excitement can make it hard to unwind. Plan time to calm down by reading, taking a bath, or going on a quiet walk. Talk about the fun you had and memories you made together.
If your child still struggled at the party, it’s imperative to not be harsh with them as you discuss what happened. Holiday memories are especially vivid, and you want your child to think of their childhood Christmases with fondness and not bitterness towards you. You can discuss needed improvement positively and cherish the happy memories you made together before a meltdown.
The Christmas season is one of great anticipation for young children. While babies and toddlers don’t understand the meaning of Christmas or what traditions take place, young children usually can’t wait for Christmas morning.
Many parents also want to preserve the sweet memories of their children at this age with keepsake crafts, and Christmastime is the perfect opportunity to make special gifts and trinkets.
Unlike a baby or toddler who passively participates in crafting, young children are usually enthusiastic crafters who love to show their point of view with their art. Holiday crafts are also a great way to encourage fine motor skills.
How to Craft Safely with Young Children
Although young children are gaining dexterity every day, they are still unskilled crafters. Parents should always be fully present when their children are crafting. Here are a few safety tips for crafting with young children:
If possible, use crafting supplies that are meant for children, like washable markers or paint, kid-friendly scissors, nontoxic glue, etc.
Have your child wear a painting smock or old clothes to avoid damaging good clothing.
Never leave your child alone while they are crafting! Although your child may be responsible with crafting supplies, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Many cognizant children might taste craft supplies, cut too closely to their fingers, or rub craft supplies in their eyes on accident. Being fully present with your child not only keeps them safe but creates lasting memories.
Handprint Christmas Napkins and Towels
A precious and functional way to preserve your child’s handprint is by making Christmas-themed napkins and towels. Glued to My Crafts has lots of fun and unique ideas so you can give these as gifts to grandparents–but be sure to keep some for yourself!
Salt Dough Ornaments
Salt dough ornaments are a classic way to preserve your child’s handprint and artistic abilities. The Best Ideas for Kids has an excellent guide on making this easy dough and how to make Christmas-themed characters, like Santa, elves, and reindeer from your child’s handprint.
You can use the same recipe to make other ornament shapes. Use cookie cutters to make stars, Christmas trees, stockings, and other fun shapes that your children can paint and decorate however they choose.
Fingerprint Christmas Plate
Far from just hanging an ornament on a tree, a cute keepsake plate is an excellent way to share and display your child’s handprint, fingerprint, or footprint every year.
There are dozens of fun designs on the internet, so you and your child should pick what you like best. This fingerprint design is simple but sweet, and allows you to include multiple children’s fingerprints, if necessary. You can follow the directions found at Non-Toy Gifts.
Reindeer Thumbprint Ornaments
These easy keepsake items can be made from old ornaments that live at the bottom of your Christmas box. Simply use brown paint for your child’s thumbprint and a fine-tipped paintbrush or marker to add reindeer details, and you’ve got a keepsake ornament that will bring joy every holiday season. You can follow the directions at Amy Latta Creations.
Craft Stick Christmas Tree Photo Ornaments
These cute Christmas tree ornaments couldn’t be simpler, but they make darling keepsake gifts. Let your child paint craft sticks green and decorate them with glitter glue, small gems, or other craft supplies. Glue three of them together to make a triangle. Then cut out a favorite photo of your child (class pictures are another great way to make a keepsake gift!) and glue to the inside of the triangle. Glue a ribbon for hanging on the tree and you’ve got a simple but sweet keepsake ornament! You can find more details at Hello, Wonderful.
No matter which craft you choose to do this holiday season, you’ll never regret making them! We hope you enjoy the memories you make while doing these crafts.
Going to kindergarten is one of the biggest events in your child’s young life. Especially if your child has been enrolled in an early childhood development program, your child may feel like everything has led up to this one moment—starting kindergarten.
The bigness of kindergarten can sometimes feel like an adventure, but it can also feel overwhelming to young children. Both responses are normal, just like an adult may feel excited or apprehensive about a new job. You shouldn’t be surprised if your child doesn’t want to go to kindergarten.
Why Does My Child Hate Kindergarten?
Kindergarten should be one of the happiest times in a child’s life. After all, kindergarten is when everything is new and fun: new school supplies, teachers, friends, games, routine, and so much more! This is the time to be care-free and enjoy every moment, so why do some children cry about kindergarten?
There could be countless reasons why your child doesn’t like kindergarten, but here are a few common reasons:
Unfamiliarity: Kindergarten is full of new things, which can be exciting for some kids and intimidating for others. Kindergarten can be too overwhelming to handle for hours every day, especially for sensitive children.
Life Stressors: There can be other life changes, such as a move or loss of a family member, that can make a transition to kindergarten even harder.
Family Attachment: Your child may have a special attachment to parents, siblings, grandparents, or other familiar relationships, and they genuinely miss these loved ones while at kindergarten.
Bullying: Unfortunately, bullying behavior can start at a very young age. Your child may be a victim of bullying or be having relationship challenges with peers or teachers.
Can I Help My Child Enjoy Kindergarten?
Most parents want their child to enjoy kindergarten and will do anything to help them get adjusted. Just as each child’s situation is unique for why they might dislike kindergarten, there are many solutions to helping your child enjoy kindergarten.
Don’t Act Anxious
Children can intuit more than adults realize. If you are anxious, worried, or fretful over your child’s dislike of kindergarten, this can heap guilt and anxiety on your child that will make the situation worse. Stay calm, curious, and kind when talking with your child about their dislike of kindergarten.
Ask Careful Questions
Try to ask open-ended questions that will uncover the real reasons for why your child dislikes kindergarten. Although asking yes or no questions can help you get started, open-ended questions let your child fill in the missing information.
For instance, asking your child “are you tired after school?” is a yes or no question that helps you know if fatigue is a factor. If they say yes, asking “tell me what makes you tired at school?” or “tell me when you feel the most tired at school?” let your child give answers without feeling they have to respond a certain way.
Listen
Listen carefully and curiously to your child’s answers. Watch their facial expressions and body language as they talk. Listen to their tone. Ask follow-up questions.
Validate Their Feelings and Experience
Small children generally have small problems, but these problems seem big to them! No matter how insignificant their struggle may be, have a sympathetic spirit towards your child. Although you shouldn’t coddle or encourage wrong behavior, belittling your child or telling them to toughen up will likely result in greater anxiety and stress.
Talk With Their Teacher
Sometimes your child can’t or won’t give you helpful information. If this is the case, or if you want to confirm your child’s information, it can be beneficial to talk with their teacher. The teacher can often give insight into your child’s demeanor and struggles throughout the day and offer solutions or suggestions for improvement.
When Will My Child Like Kindergarten?
Some children may not like kindergarten from the very first day. Some may like kindergarten for a few days, but once the newness wears off, begin to tell their parents they no longer like kindergarten. Either way, children will become more familiar with their surroundings, routine, and expectations with each day. It won’t be long before your child is looking forward to their school day again.
Kindergarten Prep at Crestwood Preschool Academy
One of the best ways to avoid the challenge of beginning kindergarten is to enroll your child in a quality early childhood education program like Crestwood Preschool Academy!
Our outstanding curriculum not only gives your child a head start on academics, but helps them learn all the social skills and routine expectations they will encounter at kindergarten. Children can develop confidence and independence through enrollment in an early childhood education program so they are successful on their first day of school and beyond.
Contact us today to enroll your child in Crestwood Preschool Academy!
Babies and toddlers grow so quickly! By this time next year, your baby may be walking and talking, and your toddler may be moving on to Pre-K. Seasonal keepsake crafts are a special way to preserve this precious season when your children are small.
There are dozens of fun and easy crafts for babies and toddlers on the internet, and these are great boredom busters to display on the fridge. But there’s something special about keepsake crafts that you can display and cherish for years to come. Here are a few fun and easy ideas to preserve the tiny toeprints and handprints that are sure to bring a smile every holiday season.
Fingerprint Lights
A sweet way to preserve those tiny fingerprints is with this simple framed craft from Beneath the Rowan Tree. Scatter different colored fingerprints across a cardstock paper and connect them with a swirly line from a permanent marker. Cut the cardstock to fit a frame, and you have a personalized touch to your living room every holiday season.
Painted Footprint Stocking
If you want something quick and simple, these painted footprint stockings from A Beautiful Mess are precious and easy!
Simply purchase a stocking ornament (with or without a picture frame) and choose a washable paint color. Ensure your child’s foot is clean and dry, and then apply the paint liberally to the sole of their foot. Press their foot gently at the foot of the stocking and let it dry.
Salt Dough Christmas Tree Handprint Ornaments
Babies and toddlers have the perfect-sized hands for sweet little ornaments. The Imagination Tree gives an excellent recipe and guide for creating an easy salt dough mix that is dyed Christmas tree green.
Roll a ball of the dough into a flat circle and poke two holes so you can hang the ornament from a ribbon. Gently press your child’s hand into the middle with their fingers pressed together. This will give the appearance of Christmas tree branches. Bake at 200 F for 2-3 hours.
Decorate your child’s handprint with paint, glitter, and other craft supplies, and thread a ribbon through the holes. Now you have a unique keepsake gift that preserves your baby or toddler’s small handprint.
Handprint Reindeer Plate
Far from just hanging an ornament on a tree, a cute keepsake plate is an excellent way to share and display your child’s handprint every year.
Although this craft is fairly simple, it does take a little planning. You will need:
While you’re at it, why not make more than one plate? Fun Handprint Art gives instructions for a darling “mistletoes” plate. Personalized plates like these make excellent and irreplaceable gifts for grandparents.
These are all simple crafts that take advantage of the one or two years that your child is small at Christmastime. You’ll never regret taking the time to preserve these memories!
