The life changing event of motherhood is eternal. You are forever re-identified with this new portion of who you are. That’s amazing, incredible, awesome, and might scare you more than a little.
You aren’t who you were yesterday. The event of bringing a baby into the world has changed your heart and soul.
“My heart now lives on the outside of my body… my heart is concealed in the flesh and bones of my daughter.”
How can you ever be the same human now that your heart is outside of your body? But you are still who you are. You are still Emma, Joy, Samantha, or Caitlin.
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Mommy guilt, or daddy guilt, is a real thing.
Our current social climate creates a frenzy of parents who want to be doing everything 100% correct all the time. That is a lot of pressure to put on yourself, and no doubt leads to feelings of guilt. I’m not sure if it has to do with the extensive research we have on care giving, or the over-sharing of today’s digital parents- but the pressure to be perfect is overwhelming. Here’s my 5 top tips for avoiding mommy-guilt.
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I woke up early this morning. The air was fresh and crisp, I could hear rain falling from the roof. Last night we prepared for the storm. I covered the hay, blanketed the horses that live in my front yard, made sure the dog leashes were handy, and made myself a cup of evening tea.
This morning it was raining. Actually it was pouring. A true San Diego downpour.
I drove to work thankful for the new tires on my car. Us Sandiegans are rarely prepared for an ill road conditions. My commute was breezy, half of the drivers must have stayed home or left late.
I pulled up to work, and Bright Beginnings Learning Academy was humming. The children had galoshes, raincoats, and umbrellas. The smile they wore were the brightest.
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I’m a huge fan of the outdoors.
I love hiking, riding horses, camping, eating breakfast by sunrise, and dinner by sunset. I love every type of outdoors setting, ponds, lakes, desert, mountain, meadows, canyons, valleys, beaches, and oceans. I’m also a huge advocate for kids spending a lot of time outside.
The benefits of playing outside are beyond what we usually imagine.
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At Bright Beginnings we believe providing safe care for children is of the utmost importance. One area we facilitate safety is during nap time. For preschoolers safe sleep is pretty basic, but for our infants there are a few more rules we follow.
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Is your Elf back? Is it your first year with an elf on a shelf? Are your children amazed and amused by the elf’s mischief or silliness? Or do you despise that imaginary new tradition?
Let's dig a little deeper into this elf on a shelf.
Historically Santa has been parent’s most used consequence during the month of December. “You best pick up your toys, or Santa won’t bring you any.” “Go put your shoes on, Santa is watch!”
But in recent years we’ve met Santa’s helper- the elf on the shelf.
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Each time we engage our children, we can use a few techniques to add more quality to our interactions.
When we chose quality over quantity, use teachable moments, and ask open ended questions, we see a tremendous difference in our children. We can use these strategies to make our interactions even more meaningful.
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As teachers, and caregivers we strive to shape the children in our care to be independent, confident, and kind.
But how do we teach children these traits? One way of developing these skills, is to let children play with just other children.
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“Say you are sorry!” A mother demands.
Her child shouts the words “I’m sorry!” while he still pulls the toy out of their friend’s hands.
Words have value and purpose. We have this wonderful, colorful vocabulary to discuss how we feel and see the world. We use our words to convey thoughts, ideas, passions, to grow and help others to grow. One of the most wonderful things we teach our children is to speak. More importantly than teaching them letters, words, and sentences is teaching them the meaning behind the syllables.
So how do we teach young children empathy? And what can we do that will be more effective than forcing them to repeat “I’m sorry.” in a mocking bird fashion?
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Young children are so eager to learn, but what exactly qualifies as math/science/engineering activities for preschoolers?
At Bright Beginnings Learning Academy we enjoy teaching stem activities and projects to our preschoolers. Let us lay out a few activities and how those are math, science, and engineering for preschoolers. We believe children learn best through play, all of our STEM activities are play based, and easily integrated in their day.
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Happy babies are excited to be held and smile with you, then quickly find something fun to do when you set them down. Happy babies love to be cuddled with their bottle before sleep, and drift into a deep slumber by themselves in their crib. Happy babies love that diaper changes are special one on one time where they get to see their caregiver’s face, sing songs, and be part of the process. Happy babies know their limits, and have boundaries that keep them safe.
But what about when the babies aren’t happy?
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When you have an overstimulated baby it can be hard for everyone involved. A baby who is overstimulated seems inconsolable. They might be purple crying, or screaming without even opening their eyes. You know that they are hungry, but they just cry and won’t latch. You know they are tired, but they just cry and won’t relax in your arms. An overstimulated baby can seem like a real test of your caregiving abilities.
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There are essentially two types of disciplines, those that work and those that don’t. The strategies that we’ve found to work best are positive guidance strategies. The ones that don’t work so well would fall under discipline and punishments.
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Choosing the right preschool is pretty important for you and your child both. We often hear parents wondering “How do I find a preschool in my area?” We encourage you to look for schools on your typical daily routes. You can always go to google, asking “preschool within 10 miles of me” it should give you plenty of results.
Once you’ve found a few preschools that peak your interest, give them a call and tour the facility. Knowing what to ask before hand can make it clear which school is right for you. Use our Q&A list below to ask the directors on your tour.
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If your child isn’t potty trained yet, but you’re ready to start school you may be wondering “does my child need to be potty training for preschool?” We’re here to say not at Bright Beginnings. We enroll children who aren’t potty training yet for quite a few reasons.
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If your child cries when you drop them off at preschool it is likely the most uncomfortable part of your morning. The dreaded crying drop off. If your child cries at school drop off you can teach them to drop off without tears. It takes consistency, dedication, and being comfortable with their care.
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After teaching, and directing preschool for a combination of over 35 years, Mikki Rainney has learned a thing or two about how to be a fantastic preschool teacher. She has compiled a few simple tips to turn yourself from a good teacher into an amazing teacher.
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