child development center Blog

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How Can Parents Ensure Children’s Safety at School

School SafetySalt Lake City, Utah – From the time parents bring their children home from the hospital, they do everything in their power to keep their children safe from harm. When sending their children off to a Salt Lake City child development center, parents should feel comfortable knowing their safety while there is a top priority.

School is one of the safest places children can be, but it is still important for parents to work together with the school and its administrators and teachers to ensure their children are as safe as possible.
“The most important thing parents can do is ensure their child is in a day care, school or other child care facility where he or she feels comfortable,” says Amy Moyes, owner of Learning Tree Schools. “At our three Salt Lake City preschool locations, we take the safety of our children seriously. We strive to make sure each child is comfortable in his setting, and knows that he can trust his teachers and his peers. Working together with parents, we create an environment of trust that begins from the very first day the student comes in the door, which in some cases is in infancy.”

When parents are looking for the right day care or school for their children, one of the things they should look at is the design of the school. Is it designed so that a child’s safety is a top concern? Is the office centrally located and easily recognizable? Are all hallways well-lit, with clear signs indicating exits? Parents should also be sure all exits are properly sealed so that strangers cannot enter without permission. A school should be set up so that any visitors to the property must first check in at the main office to eliminate strangers from being able to roam the grounds.

Schools and parents should work with children at a young age to teach mediation skills. Children, even young ones, can be taught to solve problems using words rather than fighting. If this skill is taught to children while they are toddlers and in preschool, this will help them be able to effectively continue to use these skills as they grow. That means as children become teenagers, they will be able to rely on mediation skills rather than physical fighting to solve problems.

Schools teach other prevention methods, such as working and playing in groups, and knowing the proper protocol to alert teachers and authorities to safety concerns, such as a stranger on campus.

One of the most important ways parents can keep their children safe at school is to keep an open line of communication with them. Parents should talk to their children about their day at their school or child care facility. If they have felt unsafe due to bullying or an unsafe environment, they may not choose to talk right away, but if parents continue to ask easy questions the children will be comfortable answering. It may be easier for children to talk about things they have witnessed, rather than experienced themselves. Ask them about their friends and about situations they may have seen or heard about.

Parents should seek out school environments that promote positive relationships between staff and children, involve families in meaningful ways, give children a safe environment to express feelings, treat all children with respect, and who work quickly to identify and solve problems. By working together with school administrators, parents can ensure their children are kept safe throughout the day, even while out of their care.

© 2013 Sinai Marketing and Learning Tree Schools. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Sinai Marketing and Learning Tree Schools are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

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Can Sign Language Teach Babies to Speak? The Benefits of Sign Language in Early Childhood Education

salt lake city child careSalt Lake City, Utah – For children to become successful readers, it is important that the necessary skills are taught at a young age. One of those skills that is preparing toddlers and young children is sign language.

Sign language is no longer just associated with the deaf and hearing impaired. While most child care centers teach basic phonemic awareness and other components that teach oral language development and print awareness, many savvy early childhood educators are realizing that sign language and even fingerspelling can help children develop early reading skills in a fun and unique way.

“Children all have unique learning styles,” says Bethany Hosking, owner of three Salt Lake city child care facilities. “While the standard ways children are taught to read might not be conducive to each child’s style of learning, sign language meets a variety of needs. Children who are kinesthetic in nature will love the movement associated with learning sign language while children who have interpersonal tendencies will enjoy the group aspect of it. Children will benefit from seeing and hearing the word and then completing the movement to sign the word.”

 

Sign Language and the Preverbal Child

Signing classes for babies have seen an increase in recent years. While many were skeptical of the trend, there are excellent benefits to introducing sign language at a young age. It can increase bonding between caregiver and child, help children develop their fine motor skills and it helps children comprehend words better. Before children are able to verbalize their wants and needs, sign language can be used to bridge that gap.

Research shows that by around the age of 6 months, babies are capable of learning a sign, and by 8 months they can then imitate and sign single words. By the age of 2, those children should then be able to sign full sentences. Many parents and child care experts who use sign language believe it reduces frustration in their preverbal children because, while they are unable to communicate vocally, they are still able to communicate their want or need to their caregivers.

Parents and child day cares in Sandy, Utah and throughout the country are realizing the many benefits of using sign language to communicate with children. By teaching children signs for words that are commonly used, “eat,” “drink,” “more,” etc. and using those signs both at home and in the classroom or day care, parents and caregivers are now communicating with the children, rather than being left to guess the child’s wants.

 

Sign Language and Language Development

The continued use of sign language as the child grows will help them develop strong oral language and reading skills. Sign language can help children comprehend the meaning of a word because it involves movement that often illustrates the meaning of the word. Signing a word allows a child who cannot yet read the opportunity to both hear it as the teacher or parent speaks it, and see it as it is signed. Using multiple modes of learning can help a child imprint a concept and strengthen their ability to recall. It will also enhance a child’s oral language development for reading comprehension.

To help children become effective readers, they must be able to marry the skills of print knowledge and phonemic awareness. Print knowledge is the ability to name a letter and relate its corresponding sound, while phonemic awareness is the ability to identify, hear and manipulate the individual sounds in language. Strong phonemic awareness leads to strong readers. Fingerspelling and sign language can help young children learn more efficiently as children are beginning to learn the alphabet and then associate those letters with their corresponding sounds.

Another benefit of fingerspelling is that it allows children who may not have the ability to correctly articulate certain sounds to still communicate properly. As children are first gaining their oral speech development skills, they may confuse certain letter sounds or be unable to correctly form certain sounds. Fingerspelling allows them to still be understood clearly.

“Sign language allows children of all backgrounds, learning styles and achievement levels to communicate,” says Hosking. “Children who may not have access at home to an abundance of language don’t have to fall behind in reading comprehension skills because sign language can help them bridge the gap. Sign language has been effectively used with children of all learning levels, even those with learning disabilities.”

When parents are looking for the right child care or day care for their children, it’s important to look for much more than just fun playgrounds for their children. Adding skills such as sign language can greatly enhance a child’s ability to communicate before they have developed their verbal skills, and it will help them develop important skills that will allow them to become effective readers.

© 2013 Sinai Marketing and Learning Tree Schools. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Sinai Marketing and Learning Tree Schools are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

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What Parents Should Know About Speech Therapy

Exclusive Information on Children Speech TherapySalt Lake City, Utah – Speech therapy is about much more than just correcting a child’s speech – in some cases, a child’s difficulty in speaking may also be affecting his ability to swallow, understand language and may even hinder his ability to participate appropriately in social interactions.

It’s important for parents to understand the difference between speech and language. Speech is the verbal expression of language and includes articulation, while language is a much broader term used to describe the way we express and receive information. It includes understanding and being understood by others. Speech and language problems are different, but they often can overlap.

So when should parents be concerned that their child’s speech or language has become a developmental problem that requires attention? The first three years of a child’s life are the most crucial to language and speech development. They thrive when they are in an environment rich with sounds, sights and consistent exposure to the language and speech of others. The American Speech Language Hearing Association offers excellent examples of developmental milestones children should be meeting.

Children birth to 1 year old should:

  • Startle at loud sounds
  • Recognize a parent’s voice and smile or react when spoken to
  • Make pleasure sounds such as cooing and have different cries for different needs
  • Chuckle, laugh and vocalize pleasure and discomfort
  • Babble, both long and short sounds
  • Pay attention to music
  • Begin to pay attention to requests, such as “come here”
  • Use gestures to communicate
  • And by age one, have one or two words he uses

Children ages 1 to 2 should:

  • Point to body parts when asked
  • Follow simple commands and instructions
  • Learn to speak more words every month
  • Put two words together and ask simple, two word questions
  • Use many different consonant sounds

Children ages 2 to 3 should:

  • Understand differences in meaning (i.e., the difference between stop and go)
  • Follow two requests (get the cup and put it on the table)
  • Enjoy stories for longer periods of time
  • Have a word for almost everything
  • Uses k, f, t, d, g and n sounds
  • Speech should be understood by familiar listeners most of the time

For parents whose children are not currently meeting these or other milestones as described by their pediatricians, a visit to a speech pathologist might be in order.

As soon as parents recognize there may be a problem, they should seek help and advice from child care experts. Early intervention for Millcreek children is essential to ensure a speech or language development issue doesn’t hinder the learning process. A doctor may refer parents to a speech-language pathologist to evaluate the child’s issue. Special tests will be performed to evaluate the child’s communication and development. From there, a speech pathologist may recommend activities to do at home or therapy to further stimulate the child’s development.

What can parents do?
“By the age of 3, those who come into regular contact with your child should be able to easily understand his or her language, and he should be able to communicate well with his peers at preschool,” says Amy Moyes, who provides child care services in Salt Lake City, child care centers in West Jordan, Utah. “Parents can help their children by speaking clearly and descriptively to them. Especially for young talkers, parents can help them by repeating what was said, and expanding on it to use descriptive words that will enhance the child’s understanding of language.”

According to experts in West Jordan Utah child care, parents should spend time communicating with their children, even when they are just infants. Talking, singing and gesturing will help them do the same as they grow. It’s also important to read to children, even if the child doesn’t sit still through a whole book. Parents should start with simple and age appropriate books that let children look at pictures. Nursery rhymes and stories with a rhythmic storyline will help draw the child into the story.

It’s also important to use everyday situations to reinforce your child’s language and speech skills. Explain what you are doing as you pick up a room or cook them breakfast. Encourage your children to listen to the sounds around them while on a walk. Ask your child questions and use descriptive language to answer their questions or explain something to them. Incorporate play, such as dance courses, into your daily routine to be sure your child can follow directions.

The best course of action is a proactive, said an expert in Millcreek day care. No matter the age of the child, treating a problem early on will provide the greatest outcome. If parents think there may be a problem, they should work closely with the child care experts in their children’s lives to assess the issue and determine the most appropriate way to handle it.

© 2013 Sinai Marketing and Learning Tree Schools. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Sinai Marketing and Learning Tree Schools are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

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Improving Early Learning Through Art

salt lake city childcare - utahSalt Lake City, Utah – Children everywhere love to doodle and delight in seeing their creations stuck to the refrigerator. Those doodles are more than just scribbles of color. They might just be helping children develop important skills, such as fine motor development, and cognitive and social development.

Creating art should always be an essential part of any child development center’s curriculum because of the positive effects it has on children, especially young children. Through creating works of art, children develop the small muscles in their fingers and hands by cutting with scissors, modeling clay, and drawing and painting. It teaches them fine motor dexterity, and learning to hold a crayon will help children learn to hold a pencil in later years. Making art projects also help children develop their hand-eye coordination.

“Art allows children of all capabilities to participate at their level,” says Amy Moyes, who owns Learning Tree Schools, West Valley City child development centers. ” Even very young children are able to participate in simple projects, like molding and shaping clay, while older children can master more complex skills such as cutting out objects and gluing them in certain spaces. Each child is given the opportunity to express themselves, while at the same time, developing important physical and cognitive skills.”

Art projects can also help children in their emotional and social development. If children are given the ability to choose what type of picture they would like to color, for instance, this helps them practice decision making. Allowing children to have control over the materials they use helps them learn autonomy and they can gain satisfaction from their decisions. By giving them the chance to create whatever they are thinking about or feeling, and then praising their work, their self-esteem will be built, as well.

Creating art projects in groups teaches children important skills such as sharing and taking turns. Sharing in art with others can help them learn to praise others, and even how to handle criticism when getting feedback from their classmates.

Making art also has important cognitive repercussions. For very young children, art can be an exploration of the senses. They discover the feeling of holding a crayon, or spreading paint onto paper with their fingers, or the sound scissors make as they cut a piece of paper.

“At our Salt Lake City childcare, we believe one important way children learn is through exploration,” says Moyes. “Exploration allows children to discover how the world works – how things fit together, how they fit into the world. Art lets them do that, through the medium they choose, the materials they involve and the story they tell.”

Art can also be used to aid learning. For instance, the teachers of a child care center can use art to help children improve reading comprehension. Older children are able to write a synopsis of a story they’ve read to display their comprehension, and small children can show their knowledge through drawing. Children, after being read a story, can be asked to create pictures that depict a scene from the story.

Singing songs not only is a fun activity for children, it can also help develop important pre-reading skills. Through repetition of songs, children are developing memorization skills, learning the sounds letters make, and expanding their vocabulary, all at once.

Encouraging their natural ability
Children are naturally “artists.” The way they play, and therefore learn, at early ages is through spontaneous song, dance and scribbling. The important thing to remember is that these are teaching them important skills. Rather than dismissing this as simple play, parents and teachers should encourage this behavior and offer dedicated time for children to create. Singing songs, dancing, playing musical instruments and drawing or painting teaches essential physical and cognitive skills.

Through involvement in art, children can develop critical thinking, decision making, team-building, motor and language skills. Caregivers who engage and encourage children to be active in creating art are laying the groundwork for a lifetime of knowledge. What looks like a simple scribble of color or sounds like a nonsense song may actually be teaching the child something much more valuable – a love of learning.

© 2013 Sinai Marketing and Learning Tree Schools. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Sinai Marketing and Learning Tree Schools are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

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Fighting Childhood Obesity Through Diet and Exercise

Obese BoySalt Lake City, Utah – It’s a trend that is becoming all too familiar, and beginning at earlier ages. Fighting obesity has become a national concern, and parents must start working with children as young as preschool age to develop active, healthy lifestyle choices.

“Parents may think their children who are still just in daycare are too young to learn about fighting obesity,” says Bethany Hosking, owner of tree child day cares that serve the Sandy, Utah area. “That’s just not true. The White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity says that nearly half of obese children are overweight by the age of 2.”

It’s never too early to start teaching children healthy habits, and parents are the first line of defense. Parents should keep their children moving. Don’t allow children to simply sit in front of a TV or computer screen. Everyone, including adults, should aim for an hour of exercise per day. Go on a family bike ride, take a hike, or incorporate exercise into your usual play.

Parents may not realize that a lot of the calories their children ingest in a day can come from beverages. To keep your children from drinking their calories, encourage them to stay away from sugary soft drinks and juices. Always have water available.

Extra sleep can reduce your child’s risk of obesity, so encourage sleep. And no matter how rushed your family may be, always eat breakfast. Skipping breakfast can not only leave your children tired and irritable, but can actually contribute to weight problems. Keep healthy snacks in the house. Focus on health, not weight, and encourage your children to learn more about creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Parents who have a child in day care should ensure that even when their children are out of their sight, they are still following a healthy plan.

“In our Sandy, Utah schools, we provide healthy snacks and encourage physical movement to keep the children we serve active,” says Hosking.

In fact, even the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, has acknowledged the important role child and day care centers throughout the U.S. play in encouraging children to be healthy. Through her Let’s Move! Child Care initiative, Mrs. Obama has set five goals for daycares. They are:

• To provide one to two hours of play a day, and encourage outside play whenever possible.

• Limit screen time, which means no screen time for children under the age of 2 and only 30 minutes while in child care for older children.

• To serve fruits and vegetables at every meal and discourage the eating of fried foods.

• To avoid sugary beverages and always have water available at meal and snack times.

• To provide breastmilk to infants of nursing mothers and encourage mothers who are able, to nurse their children during the day.

Parents are the first teachers of our children, but to ensure those lessons remain with the children, it’s essential to have Millcreek childcare providers on the same page. Before signing your child up for a daycare or preschool in Millcreek, be sure the provider follows the five steps as outlined above. Childcare workers and teachers can be champions for healthy lifestyles and can instill healthy habits in them early, when their brains and bodies need it the most.

© 2013 Master Google and Learning Tree Schools. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Master Google and Learning Tree Schools are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

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Cyberbullying – What Parents Need to Know

danger of cyberbullyingSalt Lake City, Utah – Bullying comes in many forms, and Cyberbullying has become more aggressive and dangerous. Sandy Utah child care experts Amy Moyes and Bethany Hosking explain what Cyberbullying is and offer tips for parents to protect their children from becoming victims.

The first obstacle to protecting children against Cyberbullying is often failure to understand what Cyberbullying actually is. The Cyberbullying Research Center defines it as “when someone repeatedly harasses, mistreats, or makes fun of another person online or while using cell phones or other electronic devices.” The bullying can occur through text messages, email and social networking sites. Spreading embarrassing pictures and videos, and even creating fake profiles are all a part of Cyberbullying.

“Cyberbullying is dangerous because it can occur continuously around the clock,” says Moyes, who owns three West Valley development center. “With traditional bullying, a child can escape to home or other safe places to get away from his or her tormentors. Cyberbullying, on the other hand, can occur 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”

Cyberbullying can also happen anonymously, meaning the bully may never be known. Messages and images can be sent anonymously, and fake social media accounts can be created. This can make it extremely difficult to determine who the bully is, therefore making it hard to put an end to the bullying.

The internet can be used for positive activities, but whenever a child is online he opens himself up to dangers. Parents need to take extra precautions to protect their children, and look for warning signs that their children are being bullied or acting as the bully.

The advent of Cyberbullying has allowed children and teenagers who may never have the confidence to say harsh words to another’s face the ability to say things without having to actually come face to face with their victim. This makes labeling cyber bullies even harder.

The child who is the bully one day may become the victim the next day. The methods used are only limited by the imagination of the child, and their access to technology. And sometimes there are no clear cut reasons as to why the cyber bully has chosen to act. It could be out of revenge or anger, or it can even stem from simple boredom. The child who is bullied today may act out of revenge to bully back his tormentor tomorrow. Cyberbullying can differ from traditional bullying in that anyone, whether physically weak or strong, can be the bully or the victim.

The most important thing for parents to do is to always be aware of what their children are doing while they are online or using their cellphones. Establish rules for technology use with your children.

“Help your children be smart about what they post online or send in a text message,” says Moyes, whose child care center serves children throughout the Salt Lake City area. “If your child wouldn’t say it in person to the recipient of the message, they shouldn’t send it in a text or post it on a social media site. Help them understand that just like our words, once we have sent a text or posted onto a site, we can’t get back that message.”

Parents also need to be aware of what information their children are sharing online or via text message. Cyberbullying attacks can be sophisticated, and the personal information or photos a child thinks she is sharing with a trusted friend can end up being spread to countless others in no time. Parents need to have honest discussions with their children about how the children are using technology. The best way to have children continue to be open and honest is to reserve judgment, and to also take their concerns seriously.

Parents also need to understand that during one instance of Cyberbullying, their child may go back and forth from being victim to bully. An urge to defend one’s self can quickly escalate to attacking the other person. Before jumping to conclusions, parents should always be sure they have all of the facts about the situation.

The best way to always know what your children are doing is to frequently monitor their behavior. Be sure their use of computers and other similar electronic devices is limited to highly trafficked areas of the home. If you can walk by and see what your child is doing, he will be less likely to engage in mean behavior.

If your children have cellphones, monitor their phone records and all text messages. Many phone companies can set up service packages that send a copy of the text messages your children are receiving to you as well. You’ll be able to monitor their conversations and know immediately if a situation is escalating.

Always be familiar with the technology usage policies of the school or day care center that your child attends. Be sure they have proper protocols in place to limit the occurrences of Cyberbullying.

If your child is the victim of continuous harassment or has received threats, either online or via text messages, consult with your local law enforcement officials. Save all electronic communications so that law enforcement can see the extent of the bullying, and if the identity of the bully is not immediately known, they can attempt to track down who is behind the attacks.

While Cyberbullying is a real threat our children face, parents can work closely with their children to limit, and hopefully eliminate its occurrences.

© 2013 Master Google and Learning Tree Schools. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Master Google and Learning Tree Schools are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

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How to Deal With Sibling Rivalry

Sibling Rivalry Solution - Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah – Sibling rivalry can have lasting effects, and parents can trigger it without even realizing it. Sandy childcare experts Amy Moyes and Bethany Hosking offer tips to help eliminate sibling rivalry.

How parents can trigger sibling rivalry
In our efforts to encourage our children to each stand out as individuals, we inadvertently label them. It’s common for parents to say “My oldest child is the athlete, the middle is the creative one and the youngest is the scholar of the family.”

Those labels, usually made by loving parents who are simply looking for a way for each child to have his own identity, can in fact have the opposite effect.

“When children are labeled by parents as a ‘master’ of a certain domain, they see that as a large part of how the parent identifies them,” says Hosking, whose Learning Tree School has three daycares in the Salt Lake City area. “If they think you view them as the master of that domain, whatever it may be, they may wish to prevent their siblings from encroaching on what they view as their territory.”

Show your children that, even though one may be more inclined to be a natural athlete, the entire family can be physically fit and engage in sports. If one happens to show a bit more prowess in the classroom, encourage your other children to spend more time studying and praise their efforts. Teach your children to enjoy their experiences, without comparing them to anyone else – including their siblings.

How parents respond makes a difference
How parents handle instances of conflict between their children also plays a big role in how their children interpret their siblings. Parents need to be mindful of how they intervene, especially in instances of constructive conflict. Parents who always intervene before children have the opportunity to work out conflicts rob younger children of the ability to develop appropriate problem solving skills.

Siblings should be encouraged to work through conflict without parents having to intervene, and especially without parents taking a side. Encourage your children to talk through their problems and come up with compromises. Congratulate your young children on resolving their problem agreeably together.

It is also important for parents to help children understand emotions. Preschool children are capable of understanding the emotions of those around them, if their parents have helped them to interpret feelings.

Combining social understanding and empathy can help children in their everyday interactions, both at home with their siblings and at their school or child development center. A child who has developed a healthy social understanding can rationalize that parents may need to hold the baby of the family often because the baby cries and needs attention, whereas the preschooler can vocalize his needs.

Family structure makes a difference
One final issue to note when discussing sibling rivalry is family structure. The very makeup of the family may lend itself more to children who view each other as competition.

For instance, two children who are the same gender and close in age may be more susceptible to falling prey to sibling rivalry. Parents in this instance, in an effort to try to level the playing field, might not do enough to distinguish between the two children. For instance, does the older child have any privileges that the younger does not have yet, such as staying up a bit later? Expecting children to act the same may make the older child resent the younger one, while forcing the younger one to try to live up to the same expectations as the older sibling. The younger one may be led to feel inadequate for not being able to keep up with his sibling.

Positive relationships displayed by the parents also lead to secure and less competitive sibling relationships. Children who feel less secure attachment to their mother are more likely to experience increased instances of sibling rivalry. And those who view positive interactions between their parents are better able to regulate their behavior, resulting in less jealousy, especially among preschool age children.

The bottom line is, from the very beginning, parents can help guide and therefore eliminate aggressive sibling rivalry. By refusing to label children, allowing them to work out conflicts on their own before intervening, and displaying positive relationships, we can help our children understand their emotions and develop loving and lasting bonds with their siblings.

© 2013 Master Google and Learning Tree Schools. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Master Google and Learning Tree Schools are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

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Keeping Children Safe on the Internet – What Parents Need to Know

Salt Lake City, Utah – Children are becoming more Internet savvy, and at younger ages. It’s important for parents to take precautions when allowing children to use electronic devices. Below, West Jordan child care experts offer some tips to ensure your children are safe while surfing the Web.

Today, children are exposed to many more dangers than they were even just 10 years ago. Cyberbullying and internet predators have given a new generation of parents even more to worry about.

Netsmartz, a program of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, states that 95 percent of children ages 12-17 are online, says Amy Moyes, owner of three Sandy child care centers. “This exposes children to dangers they might otherwise never encounter. But with some precautions taken by parents, children can be protected from scary situations.”

One of the most important things for parents to do is keep the computer in a high traffic area of the home. Avoid situations where a child, even an older child, will use the computer, tablet or other device in a closed off room without a parent being able to easily see and monitor activity. If a parent is able to see the activity, it will create less opportunity for the child to engage in potentially dangerous or inappropriate activities.

Establish boundaries on how long a child is allowed to use the device, and what the device can be used for. In addition to homework, create an approved list of sites a child is able to visit. If they plan to visit a site outside of the pre-approved list, be sure they discuss the site with you first.

If children are involved in social media, keep a list of all usernames and passwords. Tell them if they want to create a page on a social media site such as Facebook, you will monitor their activity, including posts they write, photos they upload and friends they approve. Tell them that if adults ask to join their social media networks, you must first view the friend request. And if adults they do not know ask to join their network, they should immediately let you know and decline their invitation. Be sure they know you will be checking their activity and monitoring who is contacting them, the content of any messages they send and are being sent, and any photos they upload or receive. Make their use of social media dependent on proper use as determined by you, the parent.

Explain to children that they should never give out personal information while online. If anyone, even someone they believe is another child, asks for private information such as their home address, phone number or even details like their birthdate, they should refuse to provide it and tell you immediately. A seemingly innocent conversation can escalate quickly if children have not been taught ahead of time what information is okay to share and what is not.

Check with your Internet service provider to see what types of parental control options you have. You may be able to block your children from accessing certain material. This is especially important for young children, such as those in preschool who are just learning to write, as one misspelled word in a search engine can give your child access to inappropriate material. It also can help to bookmark your children’s favorite sites so they have quick and easy access to them.

“One of the most important tips we can give is for parents to keep an open dialogue with their children,” says Moyes, whose child day cares also follow strict Internet safety guidelines for the children in their care. “Spend time with your children while they are online so you can see what they like to look at. Take them seriously if they raise a concern about an online interaction or something they saw.”

Children fall prey to internet dangers every time they log online. But if parents commit to playing an active role, they can keep children safe while online:

  • Be sure children are viewing age appropriate content.
  • Don’t allow them to share personal information.
  • Teach them that strangers online can be just as dangerous as strangers in person.
  • Teach them to report any inappropriate or uncomfortable situations immediately.
  • Set boundaries and create consequences if they don’t stay within the agreed upon boundaries.

The Internet should be a place where children can play, gather research, and share with their friends. Parents can be sure it stays a safe place by ensuring their children are good digital citizens.

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Talking To Your Children About Violence in the News

Salt Lake City, Utah – When high profile acts of violence occur, parents and caregivers are often left wondering how to explain such horrors to children, especially young ones.

It’s important to be proactive, say Sandy child care experts and owners of Learning Tree Schools Bethany Hosking and Amy Moyes, rather than letting children overhear disturbing and possibly inaccurate details from schoolmates.

Below are some tips to help parents, teachers and caregivers explain acts of violence that children may hear about in the media.

“The most important step is to assure children they are safe,” says Moyes, who operates three child development centers in the Salt Lake City area. “After a tragedy like the one that occurred in Connecticut, children may wonder if they are safe. Emphasize that schools are safe places, but that you understand their concerns. It’s important not to dismiss their feelings, but rather talk through them together.”

Your children may have questions, so let their questions be your guide as to how the conversation takes shape. It is important to make time for them to ask their questions, but they may not be ready to talk right away. Watch for them to give you clues – perhaps they feel the need to be closer to you than usual, or have become more quiet than usual. Ask if there is anything they’d like to discuss, and then let their questions and comments guide you on how much information you provide. Don’t force them into a discussion if they are not ready. When they are ready to talk, give honest answers to their questions.

Be sure your explanation is age appropriate. The National Association of School Psychologists shares the following tips:
• Elementary school – Keep your explanations brief and simple, along with reassurances of their safety. Remind them that the adults in their lives are there to protect them and keep them safe, and go over safety precautions, such as keeping doors locked, emergency drills, etc.
• Middle school – At this age, children may be more vocal about their concerns, but it is important to discern between fact and fantasy. Discuss with them the efforts taken in their schools and communities to provide safe environments.
• High school – At this age, children may have strong opinions on the causes behind violence and ways to prevent it in the future. Emphasize their role in maintaining safe environments by following safety procedures, communicating concerns to the proper authorities and seeking emotional/psychological support when they or someone they know may be in need.

“Another important thing to go over with children is emergency procedures, both at home and at school,” says Moyes, whose Murray daycare updates its safety procedures on an ongoing basis. “Have a plan at home and be sure your children know it. Also, ask your children’s teachers to go over their safety procedures at school again so children know their safety is important to all the adults in their lives.”

Limit television viewing of the events. News media may display images that are too graphic or frightening for children, especially young children. This can cause unnecessary fear and anxiety. It’s important to also monitor your conversations with other adults while your children are present. Avoid using harsh or angry language when discussing the topic, as it may add to the child’s confusion about the situation.

Above all, maintain a normal routine and watch your children for a change in their emotional state. If your children regularly attend a child development center or daycare center, continue their attendance. Disruptions in their normal schedules may lead them to believe something is wrong in their lives.

If you feel your child may be experiencing any emotional difficulty, you may want to speak to a professional. Look for signs such as sleep disturbances, preoccupation with safety or death, fears about going to school or leaving parents. Talk with your child’s pediatrician, teachers, daycare center, and other adults in contact with your child on a regular basis to help allay your child’s fears, and for referrals to specialists if needed. It is especially important to monitor your child if he or she has suffered loss or trauma in the past, or suffers from any sort of depression or other mental illness. Seek additional help as soon as you see signs.

It is hard for anyone to comprehend acts of violence, let alone children. But, it’s important to remember that children are resilient. They may ask a question or two, then go right back to playing as before. Allow them to explore the topic in an appropriate manner and on their time table. Don’t force them to discuss it if they aren’t ready, and don’t offer information that is too mature for them. Let them know their feelings are okay, and that their questions and concerns are valid. But reassure them that they are safe, their schools are safe and their friends and families are safe.

By following these tips, we can help our children cope with stressful and sometimes frightening situations.

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Choosing the Right Childcare – Questions Parents Should Ask

Salt Lake City, Utah – Your children are your most precious asset, so when it comes to choosing the right childcare or preschool facility, you should be sure you have asked all the right questions and done the right research.
There are so many options for daycares in Salt Lake City Utah, and it can be a difficult decision to choose which is best for your children. The directors of Learning Tree Schools, a Sandy childcare facility, offer the following tips when doing your research.

Ask the right questions
“Parents shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions,” says Bethany Hosking, co-director of Learning Tree Schools. “But sometimes it’s hard to know what are the right questions to ask, and to whom to direct those questions.”
Begin by calling your local resource and referral center. Does your city, county or state have an agency responsible for licensing and regulating programs? They can help you determine the licensing requirements in your community, and help you understand violations and complaints, and in some cases help you determine whether your family is eligible for financial assistance.
What is the visiting policy? Can your family visit the center before your child is enrolled? Once your child is enrolled, what are the visitation policies? Are all visitors properly screened? What areas will your children be using? Are they safe?
Are all the teachers and staff members properly qualified? Do staff participate in continuing education programs, and educational programs by outside experts?
Determine whether the center’s philosophies on things such as discipline are the same as yours. How does a center handle potty training for children of that age; is it in line with how it is handled in your home? Who handles discipline at the center?
What is the cost of the program? How are payments made? If your family is eligible for financial assistance, how do you apply? Are there services available other than just child care and if so, do they cost extra (consider things such as meals, etc.). What happens if a parent is late picking up a child – will there be an additional fee added?
Get references from people you trust. Ask your pediatrician for his/her recommendation and seek out other parents with similar parenting philosophies. Also, ask the centers you are looking at if they have parents who could provide you with a referral.
It is also important to determine what type of child care is best for your child. Have you considered a home-based daycare in addition to standard daycare facilities? Be sure your standards are the same no matter what type of facility you are looking at.

Quality childcare is essential to growth
It’s important to remember that when a child is very young, everything is a learning experience. When care is consistent, appropriate for a child’s age, and emotionally supportive, there is a positive effect on the child. Some benefits of high quality care include:

• Increased brain development
• Better social skills and interpersonal relationships
• Better cognition and self-regulation
• Better performance in school

A National Institutes of Health study showed that students who received high quality childcare at young ages performed better in school even through high school, and were less likely to act out than their peers.
“It’s essential that parents spend the time researching and asking questions to find the right Salt Lake City childcare facility for their family,” says Hosking. “Not only does it benefit your child today, it can impact the student he or she will be in years to come.”

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