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Special Winter Promo: One Month Free Tuition!*

Posted by on Nov 23, 2015 in School News | Comments Off on Special Winter Promo: One Month Free Tuition!*

Special Winter Promo: One Month Free Tuition!*

We’re happy to announce our special winter promo: One Month Free Tuition!* This offers apply for new family registering between November 23rd 2015 to December 23rd, 2015.

*Some restrictions apply. For more information, please contact us at info@writechoicelearning.com or call 604.475.3181

 

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Ask the Expert: Dental hygiene + kids

Posted by on Nov 9, 2015 in Ask the Expert, Wellness | Comments Off on Ask the Expert: Dental hygiene + kids

Ask the Expert: Dental hygiene + kids

Now that Halloween is over, it is time to once again remind parents that children’s teeth decay faster than an adult’s.

Creating a solid toothbrushing routine as early as possible is important and  you’ll be setting them up with a healthy habit for life.

In this blog post, we asked a local pediatric dentist Dr. Jennifer Yee from Monarch Pediatric Dental Centre some key questions. 

Q: What age should children start brushing their teeth and what should I use?

A: Parents should start brushing their child’s teeth as soon as the first one comes in the mouth.  They should do it twice a day with a soft bristle toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste (grain of rice <3yo, pea size >3yo)

Q: What causes tooth decay? 

A: Tooth decay happens when the bacteria in the mouth start forming acids that attack the teeth and form holes. Poor oral hygiene (not brushing or flossing), high sugar diet, no fluoride, genetics, dry mouth

Q: 5 Healthy/non-healthy food for teeth. 

A: Healthy: milk, cheese, apple, chicken.  Non Healthy:  candy, dried fruits, raisins, cakes, potato chips

Q: How do I know if my child is getting fluoride.

A: Water in BC is not fluoridated so the only sources will come from toothpaste or fluoride drops.

Q: Toothpaste: when should we begin using it and how much should we use?

A: Start using it when the first tooth comes in.  Under 3 years old, use a smear/ grain of rice size of toothpaste then use a wet cloth to wipe off excess after brushing. Over 3 years old, use a pea size of toothpaste and make sure child is spitting out extra toothpaste. 

Q: How often/early should my child see a dentist. 

A: Start seeing a dentist within six months of the first tooth eruption or at 1 yo.  We recommend visits every 6 months.

Q: What is the difference between a pediatric dentist and a family dentist? 

A: Pediatric dentists are the pediatricians of dentistry. A pediatric dentist has two to three years specialty training following dental school and limits his/her practice to treating children only. 

If you are looking for a pediatric dentist, we highly recommend Monarch Pediatric Dental Centre. There are three locations: 

Monarch Burnaby
Suite 501 – 4980 Kingsway 
Burnaby, BC, V5H 4K7 
Phone: (604) 430-4980 
Fax: (604) 433-4981 

Monarch Port Moody
Suite 501 – 205 Newport Drive 
Port Moody, BC, V3H 5C9 
Phone: (604) 461-4980 
Fax: (604) 461-4981 

Monarch Surrey
Suite 101 – 15129 100th Avenue 
Surrey, BC, V3R 9P4  
Phone: (604) 585-4980 
Fax: (604) 585-4989

Happy Brushing! 

 

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Pumpkin Patch Fun!

Posted by on Oct 30, 2015 in School News | Comments Off on Pumpkin Patch Fun!

Pumpkin Patch Fun!

Thankful for the wonderful weather, WCELC families spent a fun filled (and educational) day at the pumpkin patch this week. It was nice to see all the families connect outside the classroom.
Have a safe Halloween everyone, and don’t forget to check our Facebook/Instagram for more Halloween activities we’ve been doing at the daycare!

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Boost your Child’s Immune System

Posted by on Oct 19, 2015 in Wellness | Comments Off on Boost your Child’s Immune System

Boost your Child’s Immune System

Fall is fast approaching, which means it’s that time of the year when sniffles and coughs start happening. In our daycare centre, we are mindful about our children’s well being and constantly remind everyone to wash their hands regularly. It is also important to let you children rest at home when they are feeling unwell. In this post, we are sharing an article we found on Parents.com that best explain what we can do to strengthen our little ones’ immune system.

1. Serve more fruits and vegetables. Carrots, green beans, oranges, strawberries: They all contain such immunity-boosting phytonutrients as vitamin C and carotenoids, says William Sears, M.D., author of The Family Nutrition Book (Little Brown, 1999). Phytonutrients may increase the body’s production of infection-fighting white blood cells and interferon, an antibody that coats cell surfaces, blocking out viruses. Studies show that a diet rich in phytonutrients can also protect against such chronic diseases as cancer and heart disease in adulthood. Try to get your child to eat five servings of fruits and veggies a day.

2. Boost sleep time. Studies of adults show that sleep deprivation can make you more susceptible to illness by reducing natural killer cells, immune-system weapons that attack microbes and cancer cells. The same holds true for children, says Kathi Kemper, M.D., director of the Center for Holistic Pediatric Education and Research at Children’s Hospital, in Boston. Children in day care are particularly at risk for sleep deprivation because all the activity can make it difficult for them to nap. How much sleep do kids need? A newborn may need up to 18 hours of cribtime a day, toddlers require 12 to 13 hours, and preschoolers need about 10 hours. “If your child can’t or won’t take naps during the day, try to put her to bed earlier,” says Dr. Kemper.

3. Breast-feed your baby. Breast milk contains turbo-charged immunity-enhancing antibodies and white blood cells. Nursing guards against ear infections, allergies, diarrhea, pneumonia, meningitis, urinary-tract infections, and sudden infant death syndrome. Studies show that it may also enhance your baby’s brain power and help protect her against insulin-dependent diabetes, Crohn’s disease, colitis, and certain forms of cancer later in life. Colostrum, the thin yellow “premilk” that flows from the breasts during the first few days after birth, is especially rich in disease-fighting antibodies, says Dr. Shubin. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that moms breast-feed for a year. If this commitment isn’t realistic, aim to breast-feed for at least the first two to three months in order to supplement the immunity your baby received in utero.

4. Exercise as a family. Research shows that exercise increases the number of natural killer cells in adults — and regular activity can benefit kids in the same way, says Ranjit Chandra, M.D., a pediatric immunologist at the Memorial University of Newfoundland. To get your children into a lifelong fitness habit, be a good role model. “Exercise with them rather than just urge them to go outside and play,” says Renee Stucky, Ph.D., a clinical assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Missouri Medical School. Fun family activities include bike riding, hiking, in-line skating, basketball, and tennis.

5. Guard against germ spread. Fighting germs doesn’t technically boost immunity, but it’s a great way to reduce stress on your child’s immune system. Make sure your kids wash their hands often — and with soap. You should pay particular attention to their hygiene before and after each meal and after playing outside, handling pets, blowing their nose, using the bathroom, and arriving home from day care. When you’re out, carry disposable wipes with you for quick cleanups. To help kids get into the hand-washing habit at home, let them pick out their own brightly colored hand towels and soap in fun shapes, colors, and scents.

Another key germ-busting strategy: “If your child does get sick, throw out her toothbrush right away,” says Barbara Rich, D.D.S., a spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry. A child can’t catch the same cold or flu virus twice, but the virus can hop from toothbrush to toothbrush, infecting other family members. If it’s a bacterial infection, such as strep throat, however, your child can reinfect herself with the same germs that got her sick in the first place. In that case, tossing the toothbrush protects both your child and the rest of your family.

6. Banish secondhand smoke. If you or your spouse smokes, quit. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 toxins, most of which can irritate or kill cells in the body, says Beverly Kingsley, Ph.D., an epidemiologist with the Office on Smoking and Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in Atlanta. Kids are more susceptible than adults to the harmful effects of secondhand smoke because they breathe at a faster rate; a child’s natural detoxification system is also less developed. Secondhand smoke increases a child’s risk of SIDS, bronchitis, ear infections, and asthma. It may also affect intelligence and neurological development. If you absolutely can’t quit smoking, you can reduce your child’s health risks considerably by smoking only outside the house, Dr. Kingsley says.

7. Don’t pressure your pediatrician. Urging your pediatrician to write a prescription for an antibiotic whenever your child has a cold, flu, or sore throat is a bad idea. Antibiotics treat only illnesses caused by bacteria, “but the majority of childhood illnesses are caused by viruses,” says Howard Bauchner, M.D., a professor of pediatrics and public health at the Boston University School of Medicine.

For a full article, please visit link: http://www.parents.com/health/cold-flu/cold/boost-childs-immunity/

 

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8 fine motor skills using pumpkins!

Posted by on Oct 9, 2015 in Education | Comments Off on 8 fine motor skills using pumpkins!

8 fine motor skills using pumpkins!

Halloween is just around the corner, what better ways to celebrate it than doing some fun activities with pumpkins to practise our littles’ fine motor skill! These activities are perfect for preschooler (2-3 years old). We will for sure be doing some of these activities at our daycare centre!

  1. Gather your Mr. Potato Head pieces to make a silly Mr. Gourd Head. (My Nearest and Dearest)
  2. Scoop dried rice and beans into small plastic pumpkins.
  3. Spoon corn into small plastic pumpkins. (Olives and Pickles)
  4. Act out the Five Little Pumpkins poem with props that use clothespins. (Still Playing School)
  5. Add some plastic toys and have fun with easy pumpkin pie scented play dough. (Golden Reflections Blog)
  6. Make a pumpkin patch out of a shoe box for some fine motor fun.. (House of Burke)
  7. Print some fall play dough mats for your play dough table. (The Preschool Toolbox)
  8. Pound golf tees into pumpkins. (I Can Teach My Child)

For full article, please check out http://teaching2and3yearolds.com/preschool-fine-motor-activities-for-fall/

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