Kids Watching Hours of TV at Home-Based Daycare

A recent study published today about home-based day care reported that about 70% of the programs use television daily. The study found that among preschool-aged children, those in home-based day cares watched TV for 2.4 hours per day on average, compared to 24 minutes in larger childcare centers. Toddlers watched an average of 1.6 hours in home care and about 6 minutes in centers. That is certainly not what many parents have signed up for!

The figures come from a telephone survey of licensed child care programs in Michigan, Washington, Florida and Massachusetts.

For more information about the study, logon to msnbc.com.

Little Things, huge Impact

Little things can have a huge impact on growing kids, affecting their psychological, cognitive and social developments.

Kids tend to imitate their parents all the time, and this dynamic plays a big role in their development. What is familiar, weird, right, wrong, acceptable, impolite, etc, will be a reflection of their frame of references.

Even little things such as how our attitude fluctuates with our emotions, can affect a child’s behavior. If you are mad and tries to control your kid by raising your voice (yelling), it can be interpreted in their little minds as an effective way to intimidate and control others.

Cognitive development can also be hugely improved by parents and childcare providers with proper stimulation. The word “Cognitive” comes from the Latin root “cognoscere” meaning “to become acquainted with”, “to come to know”. Talking to them, explaining the reasoning behind actions, situations and problems can help them understand the world, and learn the “cause and effect” rule. Allowing kids to communicate their points of view brings confidence and develops their thought process.

This is our golden opportunity to maximize their development, taking it to the best possible direction!

Bouncy Love

If you have kids, chances are you are a huge fan of bouncer chairs. What a great invention!

It is one gear that will buy you at least one hour of peace and rest a day. I’m yet to see a baby or young toddler that doesn’t get completely entertained in one of those for at least an hour. It is a bit noisy, but you just can’t have everything!

Someone gave us as a baby shower present. I confess that we didn’t have the slightest idea that it even existed until that moment. Since the first minute we put Lukas on it, it was like magic, he loved it. We didn’t even put batteries in the chair. He bounced himself by kicking it with his heels.

The toys hanging are very amusing, and for some reason the bouncy movement makes him very drowsy. It is an hour of self-entertainment, and an extra-hour of nap. As a bonus, the dog also gets quite amused….

God bless its creator!

Making your Own Toys

Young kids love playing with different materials. That is a great opportunity to develop their creativity, and teach them their first lessons about renewable resources!

Large boxes, fabric, non-toxic glue and paint are ideal elements to have fun with. Ok, I’m far from being creative in arts with my hands, but just the experience is already worth it! A large box, cut on both sides can turn into a fun tunnel! A long and colored piece of fabric with different patterns becomes a little play field. An empty plastic container with coins inside can make interesting noises. Even a bunch of nylon sponges with different colors may turn into a puppet, which all toddlers love to play with!

Learning how to transform materials into creative pieces is a great skill to have for life. Wait until they are teenagers to buy them elaborate gifts, when they are definitely more demanding. Toddlers have fun with anything different that allows them to explorer forms and colors

Foodie Gadgets

Busy moms know how difficult it is to come up with healthy meals for their kids. Making them eat a variety of veggies, carbs, proteins and minerals is definitely a challenge. I've always been very committed with not only the quality of nutrients but also the development of Lukas' taste for great food! Being as international as we are, I want him to appreciate fine and simple ingredients. Trying new dishes and spices from different cultures is key!

Can you tell that I'm a foodie? Boy, I love great meals! The pleasant experience of going to farmers' markets in different countries tells me a lot about the country and the lifestyle. Coming from an Italian family made me very appreciative of the ritual of preparing and consuming meals..... I recall countless family events that evolved around the kitchen table!

I found that feeding my one year old organic homemade food meets my objectives. It is actually very easy. I freeze mashed veggies, chicken, fish, grains, etc in trays appropriate for food, they are similar to a covered ice tray. For each meal I defrost 4 or 5 different cubes, making sure the ideal nutritional combination is achieved.
It is a lot fresher than jar food, and the taste, a lot better!

Hand mixer and covered ice trays, another set of great tools for busy moms!