At Bright Horizons®, your child will be safe, well cared for, and supported by professional trained teachers who love what they do. Bright Horizons’ curriculum is age appropriate and custom designed to encourage curious, happy, and confident children at every age and stage.
Through Bright Horizons Smithsonian Discoveries, children will have the opportunity to participate in a series of project challenges: Collections, Music and Sound, Buildings and Construction, Self-Identity, and Patterns. Each project challenge begins with children engaging with artifact images from the Smithsonian®, offering additional learning opportunities as teachers observe and reflect on children’s interests and ideas.
Children see patterns all around them — in their homes, schools, and more — and they start recognizing and associating them with thoughts, feelings, and memories at a very young age. Hands-on exploration gives children the opportunity to design and create their own patterns; it helps them make sense of what they see in their communities and the world around them; and it helps them understand why patterns are important.
Giveaway: For a chance to win a classic set of Magna-Tiles (value $50) — the original 3D magnetic building sets for ages 3+ that engage young minds by fusing together math, science, and creativity — simply leave a comment below naming your child’s favorite toy or game. This giveaway will run through Friday, October 21, 2022, then a winner will be drawn at random and notified shortly thereafter. Good luck!
This post and giveaway are sponsored by Bright Horizons, however, I only promote places, programs, and services that I genuinely believe in and think will appeal to KFDC readers.
Whether it’s your child’s first day of kindergarten or the start of middle school, back-to-school season can bring a range of feelings – from worry to excitement – for the entire family. This year may be more emotional as many families spent the better part of the past two school years at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s important to remember that even in the best of times, it’s normal for children to express feelings of sadness, isolation or stress,” said Tyreca Elliott, from KinderCare Learning Centers’ inclusion services team. “Learning how to address those feelings helps us build self-confidence, resilience, and independence. What’s important is the way adults respond to children’s stress. Offering comfort, reassurance, and assisting with problem solving will help children learn and grow from stress in a positive way.”
As an added bonus, Elliott said many of the most effective ways to help children learn to navigate their feelings work just as well with adults. Consider these three tips to help your children (and yourself) manage emotions during the transition back to school.
Plan Ahead
The fear of the unknown can be stressful. Children who aren’t able to clearly articulate their feelings likely won’t be able to make the connection between new, uncertain situations – like going to school and being around other people – and their feelings. Instead they may become overwhelmed by emotions, which might look like more meltdowns, clinginess or a variety of other behaviors. Talk with your children about how they feel about going back to school ahead of the first day of class. Ask questions to help them determine why they feel particular feelings when they think about school then work together to solve potential issues. That could mean finding a way to meet your children’s teachers ahead of time, whether virtually or in-person, or practicing introducing themselves to classmates.
Build a Consistent Routine
Routines can give children (and adults) a sense of security and structure, which in turn make it easier to cope with big emotions like stress and anxiety. Try to stay consistent, and if you need to make adjustments, talk them through with your children. Be sure to mention key milestones instead of times, particularly if they can’t tell time yet. Make sure your children have opportunities to ask questions about any changes to routines. They may need reassurance before they’re ready to face something new.
Create Special Family Moments
As important as routine is, it’s just as important to prioritize quality time together. That could mean a vacation or something as simple as Saturday bike rides or Sunday morning pancakes. Plan a family outing or special time together to celebrate completing the first week of school. Family rituals and celebrations can give children and adults something to look forward to. Quality time together also helps families build resiliency.
For more tips to navigate back-to-school season, visit Kindercare.com.
About KinderCare® Learning Centers
KinderCare Learning Centers is America’s largest, most accredited child care provider, serving more than 160,000 children every day at more than 1,500 centers. For more than 50 years, we’ve been creating safe, encouraging environments where kids can learn, grow, and build confidence for life. At KinderCare, hardworking families are family — regardless of needs, backgrounds, and experiences.
To learn more, visit online at KinderCare.com, on Facebook, or onInstagram. For resources, information, and activity ideas for parents and teachers of young children, see the KinderCare Blog.
KinderCare locations now open in D.C.:
Watergate KinderCare
Ann Bride, Acting Center Director
2530 Virginia Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20037
833-905-3276
Ages Served: 6 weeks to 5 years
7:30am to 6:3pm, Monday-Friday
Glover Park KinderCare
Dionne Muir-Clark, Center Director
2461 Wisconsin Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20007
833-905-3276
Ages Served: 6 weeks to 5 years
6:30am to 6pm, Monday-Friday
This post is sponsored by KinderCare® Learning Centers, however, I only promote programs, places, and events that I genuinely believe in and think will be of interest to KFDC readers.
[Note: This is a Sponsored Guest Post contributed by Bright Horizons Early Education and Preschool ahead of a new center opening at National Landing.]
You want to find the best child care option for your child while ensuring health and safety. Choosing a provider is a major decision under normal circumstances; finding child care during a pandemic means there are a whole host of additional things to consider and evaluate. Whether you’re interviewing a private nanny, occasional sitter, or child care center, ask these eight questions.
1. What COVID-19 protocols do you have in place?
If you’re looking at a child care center, be sure to ask questions that will make you feel more comfortable, such as:
Do you perform daily health screens — including temperature checks — on parents, children, and staff?
Are teachers and staff required to wear masks?
Are group sizes reduced and kept consistent?
Does the center have specific cleaning, sanitizing, and hand-washing practices throughout the day and after the center closes each night?
And if you’re considering a private provider, gauge their stance on all of the above, too.
2. Do you have current first aid and CPR training certifications?
When it comes to finding child care that you trust, you’ll want to double check that the provider holds first aid and CPR certifications, and that they’re renewed on a regular basis. Just in case the unthinkable happens, you want your child to be in good, capable hands.
3. How do you handle cleaning and sanitizing?
Today, these two practices are critical. Nannies and sitters don’t typically handle housekeeping duties, but they should be willing to clean up anything that happens under their watch (think: spilled liquids, any bodily fluids, or any meal-related mess). Plus, you’ll probably want them to disinfect surfaces that they come into contact with while they’re in your home. At a child care center, you’ll want to make sure strict cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting policies are followed for toys, cots, bedding, surfaces, diapering areas and bathrooms, and other things that everyone touches, like doorknobs and light switches. Ask about any additional protocols they’ve implemented in response to the pandemic, and make sure the provider you choose will help teach your child good hygiene practices in an effective and age-appropriate way.
4. What are your outdoor policies?
When it’s time to go outside, make sure the provider has weather-appropriate policies — your child should have sunscreen on, be dressed for the weather in appropriate clothing and footwear, and have access to shade and drinking water. Plus, you’ll want to make sure physical distancing guidelines are followed — if you’re looking at a center, do they restrict access to outdoor spaces to one group at a time?
5. What do you do when a child misbehaves?
Find out how the provider handles discipline. All children make mistakes, and you want to ensure the provider uses positive techniques — such as redirection, guidance, conflict resolution, and constructive discussions — that will help prevent problematic behavior in the future.
6. How do you address children’s unique needs?
Does your child have a severe food allergy? Allergic to bee stings? Your provider should be trained on how to use an EpiPen and other necessary medication, should feel comfortable acting in case of an emergency, and have a solid escalation plan, if necessary.
7. Have you ever had to deal with a child care emergency? What did you do?
The answer to this question will give you a feel for how the provider might act under pressure in a potentially scary situation. Listen for things like, “called 911,” “called poison control,” “called parents,” “performed the Heimlich maneuver,” and more.
8. What is the policy for sick or mildly ill children?
If your child spikes a fever or gets the stomach bug under the provider’s care, you want to make sure that he or she will be kept comfortable and tended to until you can come home or pick up. Ensure that the provider is willing to administer medication when necessary. What is the child care center’s exclusion policy, for both children and staff, should someone test positive for COVID-19?
Finding a child care provider who will keep your child healthy and safe is critical for your little one’s wellbeing, and your peace of mind. Ask these eight questions during the interview process to make sure you find a provider you can trust.
Enhanced Health & Safety Protocols at Bright Horizons
Learn about the enhanced measures we’ve put in place at our centers across the country. And for a full checklist of questions to ask as you evaluate child care, download our health and safety child care checklist for parents.
This post is sponsored by Bright Horizons Early Education and Preschool, however, I only promote programs, places, and services that I genuinely believe in and think will appeal to KFDC readers.
Bright Horizons Early Education and Preschool is excited to announce a brand new child care center: Bright Horizons at Ballston. Located in the Virginia Square neighborhood of Arlington, VA, the new center will be opening in early 2020 and is now accepting registrations for enrollment. The center will have classrooms for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old and will be open year-round.
Bright Horizons knows working parents and is ready to be your partner in parenting with amenities and features designed to make life easier for busy modern families.
· Snacks and a catered lunch included in your tuition
· Dedicated drop-off and pick-up parking, as well as car seat and stroller storage
· On-site playground and an indoor Movement Zone with structured health and wellness curriculum
· A secure app which delivers real time updates about your child’s day straight to your mobile device
Are you wondering what makes Bright Horizons curriculum different? They believe that children are natural scientists, inventors, and explorers, so teachers build on the children’s interests to make learning meaningful and fun! With a play-based, emergent curriculum set in our beautifully appointment learning environments Bright Horizons aims to capture the joys of childhood, nurture each child’s individual growth and development, and pave the way for success in school and life.
There are lots of ways to learn more about Bright Horizons at Ballston. Visit the center website at brighthorizons.com/ballston. Like and follow the center on Facebook to stay up to date on center events and activities. Or contact an enrollment specialist at (571) 397-3933 to learn more about the registration process and how Bright Horizons can be a part of your family’s education journey.
This post is sponsored by Bright Horizons Early Education and Preschool, however, I only promote programs, places, and services that I genuinely believe in and think will appeal to KFDC readers.
Bright Horizons at Democracy Center is celebrating one year in Bethesda! Over the past year the center has grown to nine classrooms for infants, toddlers, early preschool, preschool, and Kindergarten Prep for students ranging in age from 6 weeks to 5 years old. The staff has also grown to include over 20 educators.
Strong family partnerships have been a focus of the whole Bright Horizons team. The center has hosted events like Pizza on the Playground, a playgroup for infants and their families, and several art-themed events to build community and beautify the center. Center Director Natalie Newell has also developed partnerships with several community groups in their first year, including Thrive Yoga, the Davis Library, the Center for Children and Families, and the Chamber of Commerce.
You’re invited to celebrate with the staff, children, and families at their birthday party on Friday, September 13, 2019, from 4-6pm. There will be children’s activities, refreshments, raffles, and a special performance by crowd favorite Baba Ras D. Visit the center website for more information and RSVP to the center at democracycenter@brighthorizons.com. You can also visit the Facebook event page.
This post is sponsored by Bright Horizons Early Education and Preschool®, however, I only promote programs, places, and services that I genuinely believe in and think will appeal to KFDC readers.
