How is my Preschooler Developing Physically?

Now that preschoolers have accomplished the skills of walking, running and jumping, they are ready for more physical feats.  Young children gain a great sense of confidence by being able to use their strength and power.

We help the children to gain more physical skills by:

• Supporting their healthy risk taking, such as climbing higher than before, rolling down hills, or carrying a pitcher of water.  Teachers stay close by to help them feel safe.
• Reminding children of safety rules and helping them to prevent disasters.  Teachers might say “clear a path for your race before you begin to run.”
• Playing movement games such as “Bluebird, Bluebird, Through My Window,” a marching parade, or the “Hokey Pokey.”
• Providing writing utensils, paint brushes, clay and play dough to allow children to build the muscles that control their fingers.
• Playing outdoors a lot.  Swings, slides, tunnels, tricycles, and climbers give children the chance to practice moving their feet alternately, climbing steps, pedaling, walking and running.

We do not play many competitive games at this age.  These games can damage self-confidence.  Losing often can stop preschoolers from wanting to try new things.  They are more interested in being a friend than being better than a friend.  As they reach school-age, many children become more interested in and better able to handle competitive sports.

Please feel free to share on the blog any ideas you have on encouraging physical development and activities others may be interested in.  We want to hear from you.

Refrigerator Power Outages – Keep or Toss

When it comes to serving food to children proper food safety is crucial.  Some of you may have experienced the recent Hurricane Matthew.  If not this time, there is some time that a national disaster may hit your area.  This could have a influence on your food, especially when there is a loss of power.  It is always best to have a chart on hand with some guidelines if you experience this.  In Savannah, we had to discard all of our refrigerator and frozen goods due to power loss and not being able to get in our building.  This cost up front may seem like a lot, but in the future much less expensive than an outbreak of food borne illness to do spoiled food.  This will provide guidelines for a power loss.  One way to keep our children safe is through safe food practices.  For more information contact your local County Extension in Georgia: 1.800.ASK-UGA1

food-in-fridge-keep-or-toss

 

Hurry up with Breakfast, We’re Late!

Mornings can be the most hectic time for most households when it comes to getting ready for work and school.

Parents are chasing and waking up kids, packing lunches, making sure they have all their items for the office, and making sure the kids get to the bus stop on time. Oh yeah, let’ s not forget breakfast!!  Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. How convenient would it be if breakfast was ready to grab on the go.

Cooking light foods MyRecipes.com gives a great recipe for Power Granola.

“Keep this nutrient-packed homemade granola on hand for a quick-fix breakfast or for snacking.  Munch on it dry, add milk, or stir it into yogurt.”

Ingredients

   2 cups         regular oats

1/3 cup           ground flaxseed

1/4 cup           chopped walnuts

1/4 cup           chopped slivered almonds

2 teaspoons   ground cinnamon

1/3 cup           orange juice

1/3 cup           honey

1/4 cup           packed brown sugar

2 teaspoons   canola oil

1 teaspoon     vanilla extract

Cooking spray

1/3 cup           dried cranberries

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 300°.
2. Combine first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl.
3. Combine orange juice, honey, and brown sugar in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat just until sugar dissolves, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; stir in oil and vanilla.
4. Pour honey mixture over oat mixture, stirring to coat. Spread mixture in a thin layer onto a jelly-roll pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 300° for 10 minutes; stir well. Bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Spoon granola into a bowl; stir in dried cranberries. Cool completely.