With chilly, rainy, and winter weather rolling in, it’s natural to spend more time indoors than at other times of the year. Even children who love the outdoors find it hard to play outside when it’s cold, muddy, and dreary.

The easy way to compensate for loud, stir-crazy kids is to allow more tech time. But if you’re like most parents, you’ll notice that extra tech time leads to cranky, selfish kids afterward. 

So how can you keep your kids occupied without tech time? Here are some fun, easy, and creative ideas.

How Much Tech Time Should Kids Have?

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more parents have worked from home than ever before. In many ways, this is a blessing. But parents can rely too much on technology to be the babysitter while they work from home. This is detrimental to a child’s social, emotional, and academic development. 

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recommends children aged 18-24 months only use technology to screen chat with relatives or to watch educational shows with a parent or caregiver. Children aged 2 to 5 should have no more than 1 hour per weekday of non-educational screen time and 3 hours on the weekend days.

The AACAP states too much free time can result in:

• Sleep problems
• Lower grades in school
• Reading fewer books
• Less time with family and friends
• Not enough outdoor or physical activity
• Weight problems
• Mood problems
• Poor self-image and body-image issues
• Fear of missing out
• Less time learning other ways to relax and have fun

Parents need to realize that while technology has many benefits, it drastically impacts a child’s overall development and should be used sparingly. Technology is not a substitute for real human interaction and care. 

Ideas for Tech-Free Entertainment

So how can you keep your child busy without giving into tech requests? Here’s a list to get you started:

• Building
  • Build a town out of LEGOs, Tinkertoys, or DUPLOs
  • Build a blanket fort
  • Make an obstacle course
  • Play “The Floor is Lava”
  • Pitch a tent indoors and play campsite
• Games
  • Bring out the card and board games
  • Create a domino train out of board books, old boxes, or blocks
  • Use painter’s tape on the floor to create a giant tic-tac-toe board, then use toys or other fun objects as X’s and O’s
  • Build a puzzle
  • Play the Alphabet Game, where you think of items that begin with each letter
  • Play Simon Says
• Body-moving Activities
  • Play musical chairs
  • Play the “Freeze” game with any song by starting and stopping at irregular intervals
  • Allow a temporary time for the craziest, silliest behavior to “get it all out”
  • Encourage your children to create a talent show
  • Do an indoor Easter egg hunt
  • Jump rope
• Quiet Activities
  • Listen to an audiobook
  • Read books (find something new and fun at the library!)
  • Keep look-and-find books like “I Spy” on hand
  • Play Mad Libs
  • Paint finger and toenails
• Other ideas
  • Use painters tape to create a “road” on the floor for cars and trains
  • Make something in the kitchen or bake cookies
  • Play with your pets, teach a new trick, or create a bed for their cage
  • Go on an indoor scavenger hunt
  • Sing karaoke

There are countless ways to keep your child entertained without indulging in screen time, it just takes patience and intentionality. 

Remember, young kids want to connect with people, not screens! Although they can be distracted by screens, they crave real human interaction. Don’t take this small window of time for granted. If you indulge in technology at an early age, don’t be surprised when your children are older and are self-sufficient with a phone in their hand. Think critically about using technology as a babysitter so you can either get some alone time or work from home in peace.

If you work from home with children, this is understandably a challenging situation. Remember that you can use technology, it’s just best when it’s limited. Try to save technology for essential times, like during a video meeting, a crunch-time project, or at a certain time of the day. 

Crestwood Preschool Academy and Technology

If you work from home, you shouldn’t feel like your job is any less than an in-person job. You still need to be responsible for your work, but it’s understandably hard to care for children and work! An obvious solution to avoiding technology while you work from home is to enroll your child in Crestwood Preschool Academy. 

At Crestwood Preschool Academy, we have minimal use of technology. Our teachers are fully involved in connecting, playing, and educating children. This allows your child to grow socially, emotionally, and academically, which will benefit them their whole life. While your child is at Crestwood Preschool Academy, you can get all your work done so you can be refreshed and ready to spend quality time with your child. 

A child’s oral health is the parent’s responsibility. Children are incapable of helping care for their teeth, so it’s imperative that parents pay special attention to the health of their child’s teeth.

Don’t believe the lie that “they’re baby teeth, they don’t matter.” Or maybe, “they’re just baby teeth, they’ll fall out anyway.” Caring for baby teeth is essential to your child’s overall oral health and future permanent teeth. 

Why Oral Health is Important

Maintaining good oral hygiene has many benefits for your child:

• Prevents cavities: Cavities are holes in teeth. These need to be filled to prevent further disease, even in baby teeth.
• Prevents gum disease: Gum disease is not just for adults! A buildup of plaque causes gum irritation, bleeding, and tooth loss.
• Promotes good digestion: A buildup of bad bacteria in the mouth can mix with chewed food and travel through the rest of the digestive system.  
• Promotes overall health: A diseased mouth can lead to diseases elsewhere in the body
• Saves you money: Children with healthy teeth require fewer dental visits, x-rays, crowns, fillings, or extractions, which saves you lots of money down the road!

When to Begin Taking Care of Baby Teeth

No matter the age group, once your child has teeth, oral hygienists recommend brushing teeth for two minutes, twice a day, and flossing once a day once the child’s teeth are touching.

For infants, brush their gums twice a day with a clean, damp cloth until their first tooth appears. 

Once the first tooth or teeth come through the gums, start brushing them with a soft toothbrush and a rice-size amount of children’s toothpaste that can be swallowed. This method can be done until the child is three.

After three years old, use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and begin teaching them to spit the toothpaste out. Gradually help the child become independent with brushing, but your child shouldn’t be fully independent with oral hygiene until 10 years old. 

At 10 years old, most children are independent in brushing and flossing, but it’s still the parent’s responsibility to make sure the child is thorough and consistent. 

How to Brush My Baby or Toddler’s Teeth

Although most children are excited to brush their teeth because the flavored toothpaste is yummy, brushing their teeth can be awkward and uncomfortable until your baby or toddler regards it as normal. 

Here are some tips to help make tooth brushing time easier for everyone:

• Choose (or let your child pick) a toothbrush and toothpaste that they are excited about. Usually, the novelty of the new toothbrush and toothpaste flavor will help them stay calm.
• Let them hold a spare toothbrush while you’re brushing with the other
• Give them a “play” toothbrush that they can chew on and get used to the sensation of the bristles. 
• Many oral hygienists recommend laying the toddler down on the floor with their arms outstretched. Then the adult sits on the floor next to the toddler’s head and gently puts their legs over the child’s arms. This is a very gentle restraint that is more of a tactile reminder than anything else.
• Sing a song while you brush your teeth. Maybe it’s a song about oral hygiene, the ABC’s, or maybe it’s a silly one your child enjoys. Singing the same song every time will help your toddler develop patience with tooth brushing, because they anticipate the end of the song and know tooth brushing is ending, too.

Food and Oral Health

While it’s understandable to think that oral health is mostly related to brushing and flossing, this isn’t the case. In fact, oral health relies heavily on the foods and drinks your child consumes.

Foods such as sweets, breads, cereals, and sugary drinks like sodas, juices, and teas sit on and between the teeth, causing slow destruction of the teeth. 

Brushing twice a day can help with cleaning the teeth from sugar-laden foods and drinks, but it won’t fix the problem completely. Cutting out sugary foods and beverages will not only benefit your child’s oral health, but their overall health, as well. 

There are dozens of daycares in the Crestwood area. How do you know which is best for your family?

The needs of every family and child are different, so there’s no right or wrong answer when choosing a daycare. However, there are a few factors that most families consider.

• Location: Undeniably, a daycare that is close to your home or workplace is a huge advantage. Being able to cut down your commute saves you time and money!
• Staff: Every parent wants their child to be in a safe and loving environment. Reading reviews, checking social media pages, and interviewing the daycare director are all essential to feeling comfortable leaving your child in someone else’s care.
• Price: While there can be some price variance, most daycares in the Crestwood area are similar. However, it’s always worth checking on the specifics of payments.

Educational Opportunities

Some daycares are much more intentional about providing early childhood education. If you’re looking to give your child an educational headstart, it’s vital to ask what each daycare provides in this area.

Frequently Asked Questions about Crestwood Preschool Academy

If you’re daycare shopping, you probably have lots of information you need to compare. So here are some frequently asked questions about Crestwood Preschool Academy and what makes us unique.

Where is Crestwood Preschool Academy located?

Crestwood Preschool Academy is conveniently located just off Highway 22, right after the 329 light. The address is 5719 W State 22 Highway Crestwood, KY 40014.

What are Crestwood Preschool Academy’s hours of operation?

We are open Monday through Friday 6:30 am to 5:30 pm.

What ages does Crestwood Preschool Academy accept?

Children ages 6 weeks to 5 years can be enrolled in Crestwood Preschool Academy.

How much does it cost to enroll my child in Crestwood Preschool Academy?

We’re happy to provide up-to-date enrollment and pricing information! Please connect with us for the details!

What educational opportunities does Crestwood Preschool Academy provide?

Crestwood Preschool Academy wants the best for all children enrolled in our care! This is why we provide intentional early childhood educational skills, including:

• Communication: Providing an environment where children grow their confidence and learn to express themselves in a variety of situations.
• Social and emotional: Encourage children to develop an attitude of kindness, cooperation, courtesy and helpfulness towards others while developing self-confidence and independence.
• Physical: Helping children develop their coordination, control and movement through a variety of fine and gross motor activities.
• Expressive arts: Enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials.
• Literacy: Encouraging children to link sounds and letters and begin to read and write. Children are exposed to a wide range of reading materials to ignite their interest.
• Mathematics: Helping children with their counting skills, understanding numbers and simple addition and subtraction problems.

Does Crestwood Preschool Academy have a playground?

Yes! We have a fenced playground with a variety of play structures that suit the needs of all ages. Our teachers know the importance of outdoor exercise and take advantage of our playground whenever weather permits. 

Can I schedule a tour at Crestwood Preschool Academy?

Yes, you can schedule a tour here.

Crestwood Preschool Academy is the place for my child! Where can I sign up?

We’re delighted to care for your child. Please enter your child’s information here to get started or for more information.

Kids these days spend an average of seven hours a day looking at screens like phones, televisions, tablets, and more. Since it’s generally more entertaining to watch a show or interact with friends on a screen, more and more children are becoming sedentary early in their lives. 

Gross motor development is essential to the overall growth and health of children. Where is the best place for kids to run, jump, climb, and test new motor skills? Outside, of course! 

Why Kids Should Play Outside

Kids generally resort to sedentary indoor activities, like video games, tablet or phone time, television, LEGOs, reading, or playing games. 

But kids aren’t meant to be sedentary! One of the best ways kids grow and develop is through vigorous gross motor play–the kind that can only happen outdoors. Playing outside:

• Improves motor skills
• Improves coordination
• Lowers body mass
• Promotes general health
• Improves muscle strength
• Boosts the immune system
• Improves their mood
• Uses all their senses for better brain development

Won’t They Get Cold?

Many adults can hardly stand to be outside in the winter because they get cold very easily. When adults do go outside, they bundle up and blast the heat in the car.

But have you ever noticed that many kids wear shorts in the winter? Or while playing outside, many kids shed their coats, hats, and mittens? While it’s true that one reason for this is vigorous play raises their body temperature, there is actually another reason kids are more tolerant of cold.

According to The Guardian,

“Babies and very young children do have an alternate store of heat. This is called brown fat, which diminishes over time when skeletal muscles take over the bulk of the heat generation. This brown fat sits in areas across the body and simply converts energy into heat, which can’t be created through movement at these earlier stages of life.”

While you should still dress your child appropriately for outdoor weather and pay attention to frigid temperatures, don’t let moderately cold weather deter you from encouraging your child to play outside. And don’t be surprised if they shed their outdoor gear after a few minutes!

How Can I Get My Child to Play Outside in the Winter?

Understandably, it’s much more comfortable to sit on the couch and play video games. So of course, it can be hard to get kids to be outside in the winter. But that doesn’t mean parents shouldn’t encourage (or even require) some outdoor activity every day! Here are some ways you can help motivate your child to play outdoors.

Go Outside With Them

Children follow what their parents model. “Do as I say and not as I do” can be frustrating for children. But when parents join their children in getting healthy, they are inspired and motivated to be healthy, too.

Plus, there are dozens of health benefits to being outside in cold weather. Just a few of them are:

• Reduced inflammation
• Improved brain function
• Improved sleep
• Better emotional health
• Burns greater calories to maintain body temperature
• Improved immune system
• Stronger heart

Who wouldn’t want these health benefits? It’s worth carving time out of your day! 

Give Them Things to Do

Especially in the winter, it’s hard to “just find something to do” outside. But you can get your kids excited about playing outdoors by providing toys and other objects to make their outdoor time an adventure.

Some open-ended toys that allow for multiple uses and creativity include:

• Balls of various sizes
• A playhouse or slide
• Bubbles 
• Sand toys like buckets, shovels, and dump trucks for snow
• A build-a-snowman kit like this one 

You don’t have to invest lots of money in new toys. Oftentimes, young children are content with things like empty and washed plastic food or beverage containers and plastic utensils to play “Restaurant.” Fill old spray bottles with water and food coloring to make artwork on the snow. Or, do an Easter egg hunt!

Give a Warm Treat Afterwards

A cozy cup of hot cocoa or spiced cider after playing outside is a big motivator for many kids. Reward their willingness to play outside (especially if it’s cold, windy, or cloudy) with a warm treat. 

What If I Don’t Have a Yard?

If you live in an apartment or house without a yard, getting your kids outside can be more of a challenge. But still, you can take a walk around the neighborhood, play in the parking lot of your apartment complex, or go to the park. Don’t let your child (and yourself!) miss out on the many health benefits of playing outside in the winter!

Playing Outside at Crestwood Preschool Academy

Whenever the weather permits, we let the kids enrolled in Crestwood Preschool Academy use our fantastic outdoor play space. This is true for all age groups! Even the infants benefit from being outside in the cold. Parents should bring appropriate winter apparel for their children so they can play outside. 

A new baby is a blessing–but sometimes a big sibling may not see it that way. While many children are delighted to have a baby brother or sister, it’s understandable that big siblings may be dubious. 

Whether your child is excited or apprehensive, all big siblings need a little preparation for the journey ahead. 

How you prepare your child for a new baby is mainly up to their age and understanding of babies. The following suggestions are broken down into age-appropriate categories.

Don’t Sugar-Coat the Newborn Phase

Many wonderful delights come with a newborn baby, but everyone can agree that the newborn phase is challenging for all members of the family. 

Babies cry. They wake up at night. They require a lot of mom’s attention. They need a quiet space to sleep. You do your big kids a disservice if you don’t share these expectations with them. 

For every age, there are many excellent books you can check out at the library that will help your child get a more realistic picture of life with a new baby.

Toddler

Use a baby doll to prepare both boy and girl toddlers for the new baby. Teach your toddler how to care for the baby: hold it, feed it a bottle, wrap it in a blanket, etc. As you get closer to your due date, practice a routine like wrapping the baby, feeding it a bottle, and laying it down for a nap. Then play quietly (toddlers love to say “shh!”) while the baby sleeps.

Pre-K and Kindergarten

Children at this age have a better understanding of an infant’s needs, but they will still need lots of repetition for what life with an infant will be like. Your big kid might be apprehensive about how these changes will affect them, so be sure to present these changes realistically but joyfully. 

Early Elementary

Early elementary-aged children are the most capable of understanding how their family is changing. They could be the most excited, or the most apprehensive or resentful. If they are struggling to accept the new changes, give them lots of understanding, but also include them in preparing for the baby. Let them pick out the nursery color, the going-home outfit, contribute to the gender reveal, or even the name.

Spend Special Time Together

Because newborns require so much of mom and dad’s attention, big kids can wonder if their parents love them the same. Even before the baby arrives, there’s so much to discuss, plan, and buy, that it’s easy for a child to assume their parents love their new sibling more than them. 

Besides reassuring your child that you love all your children equally, you can carve out time that’s just you and your older child. Starting this while pregnant will help ease any anxieties your older child has about a newborn taking extra attention.

Toddler

Toddlers are easy to please because anything you do with them feels special! You can include them in almost anything you do, from cooking to folding laundry.

But don’t limit yourself to daily duties; with just a little effort, you can take a task from ordinary to extraordinary! Make snack time into a tea party with special cups and plates, or read books in a blanket fort.

You can also bond with your child through “rough” play, like tickle games, pillow fights, or letting your child run away from you while you’re the “monster.” These simple games get their energy out and fill up their love tank at the same time.

Pre-K and Kindergarten

At this age, your child loves to choose what they want to do. So let them have fun with choosing something special to do. Perhaps you make cookies, read a book, paint fingernails, or go on a walk. But try to pick something that lets you talk so you can build your relationship. 

Early Elementary

Children at this age may shy away from intentional parent-child time. But an excellent way to spend special time can be letting them stay up a little later to do a fun activity with you. Choose an activity that lets you talk, and ask intentional questions to help them express themselves. 

Involve Older Siblings in Preparing for the New Baby

Another way to help older siblings be excited for a new baby is to involve them in preparation for the birth. 

Toddler

While toddlers may be indifferent to preparations for a new baby (they won’t care whether the nursery is baby or ballerina pink), it’s still fun to incorporate them into decisions. Let them pick out a special toy to give to the baby, buy them matching outfits, and talk about names.

Pre-K and Kindergarten

Children at this age may want to be the most involved in preparations. Luckily, they can actually be good helpers! They love to open packages and arrange things into baskets. Let them pick out something cute for the going-home outfit. Make and freeze postpartum treats for easy snacking. 

Early Elementary

Early elementary kids have the greatest capability of helping. They can help assemble and arrange the nursery furniture, fold and put away new clothes, wash bottles, and more. You can also show them how to make basic meals or snacks so they can feed themselves if you’re caught up with a crying baby at mealtimes. 

Be Understanding About Their Apprehension

We’ve all seen the videos of a pregnancy announcement where the big sibling throws a fit. It’s funny and sad at the same time because, of course, parents want their big kids to be happy with them. But it’s also understandable for anxiety to overwhelm big siblings, and this causes them to feel apprehensive about a newborn.

The best thing you can do as a parent is listen to your child and be understanding. 

Toddler

The cause of toddler apprehension is often because of misunderstandings. Perhaps they think they’re being replaced, you don’t love them anymore, or you wish they were different. Clearing these up usually turns their fears into genuine excitement.  

Pre-K and Kindergarten

Children this age may already have one or two other siblings, so their fears may be more based on their current relationship with younger siblings. If they already have to share their toys, room, or clothes, they may not want to with anyone else. 

You can remind them how an infant’s needs are different from those of a toddler, so they won’t take their possessions any time soon. It’s ok for them to feel confused or sad right now. But as a baby grows, they will feel genuinely excited to share things with their sibling because it’s exciting to see how a baby grows.  

Early Elementary

To a child of this age, a newborn can feel like a wrench is thrown into their lives. They may worry about what their friends will think, if they’ll be able to do their old activities like sports or dance, or if you’ll have any time for them. 

Let them share all their anxieties, disappointments, and fears without interrupting. Don’t diminish how they’re feeling, but validate any reasonable worries. It may take extra time for early elementary kids to warm up to having a baby sibling, but remaining understanding and loving towards them will eventually win them over. 

The Best Prep for Siblings: Crestwood Preschool Academy

Believe it or not, Crestwood Preschool Academy is one of the best places to prepare your child for a baby sibling. Making friends with peers who have baby siblings can relieve a lot of anxiety as they hear their experiences. They will also see babies on a daily basis, which can help them comprehend what their own sibling will be like.

You can even make friends with another family in the infant classroom so your older siblings get a glimpse of what it’s like to hold or play with a baby. 

All parents want their children to be well-liked by adults and peers alike. They want them to grow up into socially responsible and respectful adults. But this is especially challenging when culture doesn’t often reward honorable behavior and instead tolerates dysfunction. How can parents fight the uphill battle and win? 

What Does “Socially Responsible” Mean?

Someone is socially responsible when their occupation, hobbies, and relationships are not harmful to society or the environment. For kids, this might mean not vandalizing school property, throwing away their Gatorade bottle after soccer practice instead of littering, and standing up against bullies.

Remember: Parents Are a Child’s Role Model

Kids mirror what they see. This is a good (and sometimes scary!) reality check for parents. What are you teaching your child, through words, actions, television shows or movies, apps, books, are more? Are you a socially responsible person? Are you celebrating social responsibility, or are you letting things slide?  

These are critical questions to answer before expecting your children to be socially responsible themselves. No one likes a person with a “do as I say and not as I do” mindset. The first place to start is by bettering yourself and becoming the role model your child needs. 

Tip 1: Model Kindness

Kindness is by far the most common denominator in any social responsibility situation. Without kindness, there can be no social responsibility. 

Of course, this starts with parents modeling kindness. How can children know what kindness is unless they experience kindness themselves? Before their teachers, peers, or grandparents, children look to their parents to understand kindness.

The degree to which you give kindness to your children is the degree to which they will extend kindness to others. 

Have your child ask themselves: would I want someone else to do or say this to me? If the answer is no, they can ask a follow-up question: what would I want someone to do or say to me? The hard part, of course, is doing what you would like to be done to you. 

Tip 2: Model a Team Mentality

Another aspect of social responsibility is being on a team. As working adults and civilians living in their community, they must pull together with other individuals for the good of their company, community, or environment.

As a parent, you can model this team mentality in your own home. Everyone under your roof is on the same team. Celebrate victories, exhort one another to be better, and have one another’s back. This will overflow into other relationships and set a firm foundation for their futures.  

Tip 3: Include Kids in Household Contributions

Before the Industrial Revolution, most families lived on farms, and everyone–man, woman, and child–contributed to the needs of the household. Everyone had a job to do, and the rest of the family was counting on them to do this job for the betterment of the family. This wasn’t burdensome, but instead very fulfilling for children to feel not only wanted but needed.  

In our society, the hope and expectation for children is to have a fun and carefree childhood. But really, our children thrive when they have some responsibility and when they feel wanted and needed in the household. Not only that but giving kids responsibility early helps them learn socially responsible skills.

Some ways kids can contribute to the needs of the household include:

• Picking up their toys
• Keeping their rooms tidy
• Cleaning up after meals
• Making meals or snacks
• Folding or putting away laundry
• Filling up pet food and water dishes

Tip 4: Let Them Fix Their Mistakes

No matter how well you teach social responsibility to your kids, they will make mistakes. It’s our natural parenting inclination to sweep in and patch up our kid’s mistake. If they forget their homework, you drive it to school. If they hurt their friend’s feelings, you apologize on their behalf. But this strategy does more harm than good.

Children need to learn how to fix their mistakes. This is a hard thing, but it’s necessary! You won’t be there for every poor choice or harsh word, and if they’ve never fixed a problem on their own, they will crumble under the pressure. When children fix their mistakes, it will:

• Help them learn what to do differently next time
• Be a deterrent from making the same or similar mistake
• Give them a sense of accomplishment
• Bring true conflict resolution between peers or teachers

Teaching Social Responsibility at Crestwood Preschool Academy

At Crestwood Preschool Academy, we’re here to support you in teaching social responsibility. We always seek to model kindness towards children and we expect kindness between children and peers. Our classrooms have a team mentality where we support one another and have each other’s backs. The daily schedule has regular times for clean-up, child helpers, and volunteering. Crestwood Preschool Academy reinforces all the hard work you’re doing at home in raising socially responsible children.