Category: Preschool

Being a parent is one of the greatest joys of life. However, it is also an immense responsibility. While you want your kid to have a great childhood, you also need to ensure that they remain as safe and healthy as possible. So, before you hand them any toys, you need to clean and sanitise them for additional safety.

Here are a few ways you can clean and sanitise the toys every once in a while.

1.   Plush Toys Need to Be Washed

Stuffed animals and plush toys are some of the most popular toys among babies and toddlers. However, they also attract a significant amount of dust, allergens, moisture, and germs. To ensure your baby does not get affected by these elements, wash these plush toys regularly with detergent. Manufacturers like Riff Raff sell machine-washable plush toys that you can toss in the washer for a quick refresh. Air-dry the toys after each wash to prevent mould and mildew growth.

2.   Use Disinfectant Wipes for Hard Toys

Disinfectant wipes are convenient for quick clean-ups and effectively kill germs. You can simply take a disinfectant wipe and carefully clean plastic blocks, rattles, or toy cars without any hiccups. Once you disinfect the toys, leave them for a few minutes before wiping them with a clean piece of cloth. This will give the wipe enough time to kill any bacteria on the surface. Just ensure the toys are dry before you return them to your kids.

3.   Boil Non-Electronic Toys for a Chemical-Free Clean Up

If you don’t want to use any chemicals to sanitise the toys, boiling water can help you do the job effectively. This sanitisation method is ideal for small, non-electronic toys that are heat-resistant. Simply boil the toys for a few minutes to kill germs and bacteria. You do not need any harsh disinfectants for this process. Just ensure the toys can withstand heat before throwing them into the pot.

Avoid boiling toys with batteries or electronics, as the heat can damage them. Wait for a few hours once you are done boiling the toys, allowing them to cool down.

4.   Scrub the Toys with Soap

For hard toys that do not require heavy disinfecting, you can scrub them with mild soap (like baby shampoo or a dishwashing liquid) and warm water. For proper cleaning, scrub for at least 30 seconds. This will help you get rid of germs and dirt from the toys. After washing, let the toys air dry in the sun. With this practice, you can eliminate soap residue from the toys while sunlight sanitises them with UV rays.

5.   Use Hydrogen Peroxide for Disinfecting

Disinfecting the frequently used items is one of the most effective ways to maintain hygiene at home. You can also use hydrogen peroxide to safely disinfect baby toys. It is non-toxic in nature and can kill germs effectively if used correctly. Just fill a spray bottle with this component and spray down the toys. Let the sprayed solution sit on the toys for about 10 minutes.

Next, wipe them off with a wet cloth. Since hydrogen peroxide is a gentle disinfectant, it does not cause any harm to your toddler. Also, you do not get any lingering smell after cleaning the toys with hydrogen peroxide.

6.   Soak the Toys in Vinegar-Water Mix

Vinegar is a great alternative to chemical disinfectants for sanitising baby toys. This is safe for babies and toddlers and quite easy to use. Just mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a bowl or basin. Then, soak the plastic or rubber toys in the solution for several minutes. The vinegar will help eliminate the germs without needing any harsh chemicals.

Even though vinegar has a strong smell, you won’t find any odour once the vinegar dries. To ensure no traces of that odour, you can give the toys a quick rinse with fresh water after cleaning them with a vinegar solution. Air-dry the toys before handing them back to your child.

Conclusion

Cleaning and sanitising your baby’s toys frequently will prevent them from spreading germs and bacteria. Regular cleaning will also help you eliminate mould and mildew that can put your child’s health at risk. Just follow the tips mentioned above. Also, read the manufacturers’ guidelines before cleaning the toys using any of these methods.

It’s almost impossible nowadays to find kids playing hopscotch outdoors or having a traditional phone conversation with their schoolmates. Lately, it’s been all about video games or messenger chats. Screens entertain, but they rarely nurture the kind of focus, creativity, or emotional growth that something like learning a musical instrument can offer.

According to Harvard Health, too much gaming leads to circadian rhythm disorders – therefore, difficulty sleeping – anxiety, depression, insomnia, and the like. Not that you should ban your kids from playing video games, but there are more worthwhile activities to kick off their formative years, such as playing the piano.

A musical instrument invented in the 1700s, the piano offers several amazing health benefits, including what this activity can do for a child’s cognition. You’ve heard about history’s piano prodigies who started tinkering with the instrument during their childhood, from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart himself to Frédéric Chopin.

Those insights lead to the question: How early should a child learn the piano? Discover when the right time to introduce your child to this musical instrument is, and find out how Music To Your Home private piano lessons help improve their cognitive well-being.

How Early Should a Child Learn How to Play the Piano?

When is it too early, and when is it too late? Experts from Music To Your Home, a private piano school in New York City, say that they must start between the ages of six and nine. Some kids will learn the instrument a little bit later, maybe because they saw their schoolmate bringing a piano in class and playing it, but if you wish your child can nourish this talent and be able to play a song on the piano without forcing it, they should begin before they turn 10.

Similar to introducing them to LEGO or to traveling abroad at an early age, early piano learning builds strong neural connections, enhances coordination, and fosters discipline. This time, let us focus on the first effect: building strong cognition.

7 Impressive Benefits of Learning Piano for Your Kids’ Brain Function

Realizing your child isn’t performing well in academics? You might want to consider enrolling them in a music school. Piano playing benefits the brain in so many ways:

1. Strengthens Memory and Retention

Memory and retention are two skills that kids need in school and real life. Aside from remembering historical facts, they need some good retention skills when they’re already exploring the real world by themselves, such as when traveling.

The way piano playing can strengthen memory and retention is when musical notes on paper are translated into hand movements. Children who learn music at a young age can perform better on memory-related tasks.

2. Improves Coordination and Fine Motor Skills

The brain is the body’s command center. When playing the piano, it’s like a mental gymnastics’ routine since your visual and hearing senses – for reading the notes and listening to the tunes – should be in sync with their hands and coordination with your cognitive abilities, too.

3. Boosts Focus and Attention Span

The average attention span of a person right now is just between eight to nine seconds, not bad if you’re sharing static visual content on Facebook, but too bad if you’re trying to sell a product or insurance, for instance.

Train your child to retain their attention span as they grow up by having them learn how to play the piano. This instrument is great for this training, as kids will concentrate on several things: notes, rhythm, posture, finger placement, and the like.

4. Supports Language and Math Development

It isn’t true that only mathematics prodigies can become piano superstar talent. However, what’s indisputable is that piano strengthens math development in counting beats, understanding fractions, and recognizing patterns on a music note sheet. Aside from developing math learning, playing the piano also supports language development.

5. Builds Emotional Awareness and Reduces Stress

Does your child get too emotional quickly when finding themselves in an unfavorable situation in school? Do they get easily stressed out? Now is the proper time to combat these by introducing them to piano lessons.

This instrument gives them an outlet to express themselves. Plain and simple. Scientifically, playing the piano lowers stress hormones and boosts mood chemicals in the brain.

6. Encourages Lifelong Learning and Confidence

When kids see they’ve fulfilled their goals, whether playing their favorite song on the piano or performing in a recital, they feel more ready to take on new challenges in the future. This is another amazing benefit that piano playing can give.

7. A Smart Investment in Their Future

In this day and age, it isn’t enough for kids to just be sports-minded or academically inclined; they must also be well-rounded, a jack of all trades of some sort.

Signing up your child for piano lessons is an investment in their future, as well as for the development of a sharper mindset. Don’t be surprised if they’ve de-cluttered their room before you even tell them to after a piano playing session.

So, whether your child is just starting school or already juggling homework and after-school activities, the piano is one of those rare outlets that supports the whole child – mind, body, and heart. Enroll your child in a piano school today!

Baby sensory activities help your baby explore the world around them, improve their overall well-being, and develop their cognitive, physical, and emotional skills. For example, activities like music, tummy time, and playing with sensory toys are essential for your baby’s healthy development.

There are many different sensory activities you can try with your baby, but there is one common thread underlying them all: your baby is the doer, not the passive watcher. Your baby must be the one doing the exploring, not idly sitting by watching things happen.

For more on why this is important, read Are Montessori Toys Better for My Baby? There, we thoroughly explain sensory toys and their role in a child’s early development.

Here are some of the most popular baby sensory activities you can do at home anytime.

1. Tummy Time

Tummy time is crucial for babies because it helps them develop their neck, back, and shoulder muscles. At first, a baby will only be able to lift his or her head, but with some time and practice, he or she will begin pushing up onto their hands for a better view and even roll over.

You can make tummy time more sensory by placing different textures and toys around your baby to encourage them to reach and explore. One of the easiest ways to do this is by laying your baby on a quilt with blocks of various fabric colors and textures. Placing a sensory toy or two nearby will give your baby something to move toward and grasp.

As your baby grows and becomes more able-bodied and mobile, you can prepare an area on the floor with lots of fun things for little hands to feel.

2. Sensory Bins

Sensory bins are containers filled with materials your baby can touch and explore. You can fill these bins with rice, sand, or water and add toys to encourage exploration. Baby should be able to sit up before introducing this activity.

Be mindful that the bin should be heavier than your baby because he or she may attempt to pull up or push up on the side. Also, most babies will try to explore these little bits with their mouths. You should be right beside your little one as he or she experiences small materials.

Here are a few ideas:

• sponges in water
• measuring cups in sand
• glitter and water in a closed water bottle
• marbles in a sealed bottle
• different materials glued to a piece of cardboard
• ice cubes in a bowl
• frozen peas in a bowl

For babies not yet sitting up, you can fill bottles with marbles, bubbles, glitter, or rice, glue the lid back on the top, and let your baby roll it around. Another option is to fill a Ziploc bag with something interesting (frozen peas, colored dots, cornstarch and water, etc.) and let your little one squeeze and mash it.

3. Music and Singing

Babies love music and singing! Whether you play a song on your phone or sing to baby yourself, your little one will relish listening to melodies and watching you sing to them or dance.

You will also encourage your baby to listen and explore by listening to various types of music. Encourage even more giggles and connection by picking baby up and dancing together! It is such a joy when your little one bounces and dances to his or her favorite tunes.

4. Mirror Games

Place your baby in front of a well-secured mirror or hold a hand-held mirror in front of them so they can see their own reflection and interact with it. Some baby toys come with an unbreakable mirror for your baby to handle and giggle at.

You can go a step further by sitting behind your baby while naming and pointing at parts of your baby’s body or naming emotions as you show them with your own face in the mirror. As they get older, you can even ask them to point to their eyes, nose, mouth, and ears or make those funny faces in the mirror.

Mirror games are excellent for helping your little one develop body awareness, see emotions, and connect with you.

5. Look at Pictures

Looking at and talking about pictures in a photo album, around the house, or in a picture book is a wonderful way to tell your little one about their family members, friends, and the world beyond the walls of your home.

Before your baby can communicate with words, facial expressions help him or her understand. Smiling, in particular, represents safety and security in a healthy family. By sharing about family and friends with your little one as you show their smiling faces in pictures, you are helping them recognize smiles and eventually foster a sense of belonging.

6. Watch Moving Objects

Watching moving objects like fan blades, leaves blowing in the breeze, or shadows on a wall is fantastic for capturing and holding your baby’s attention. Focusing on movement helps your little one develop object-tracking skills visually.

Taking your baby for a walk outside or simply sitting still in the backyard allows your baby to see movement that he or she will not see inside. At first, infants cannot see very far, but a baby’s eyesight is improving rapidly throughout the first year (source). There are several ways you can do this inside and outside–ensure you mix it up often!

7. Suck on Clean Toys

This seems like an odd one, but babies really like to explore by tasting everything. From sucking on fingers and pacifiers to chewing on everything while teething, sucking and chewing are important ways for babies to discover the world around them.

The trick is making sure your baby doesn’t get anything harmful or tiny into his or her mouth. You can do this preemptively by preparing a play area beforehand with safe toys for chewing and slobbering on. Moonkie’s silicone toys and teethers are perfect for this!

Image by freepik

Parenting is one of life’s most rewarding experiences, yet it has unique challenges. Every parent’s desire is to provide the best care for their children, ensuring their physical, emotional, and social development. In this context, the concept of childcare education has gained significant attention.

These courses, often associated with professional caregivers, are now becoming popular for parents seeking to improve their skills and knowledge. This article explores the benefits, challenges, and relevance of childcare training in your parenting journey.

Understanding Childcare Training

Training in childcare encompasses a range of educational programs designed to teach individuals the skills necessary to care for children. While traditionally aimed at caregivers, nannies, and daycare workers, many programs are also tailored for parents, offering valuable insights into raising children. These caregiving courses often cover topics such as:

• Child development stages.
• Health and safety measures.
• Nutrition and meal planning.
• Behavior management techniques.
• Emergency response and first aid.

Benefits of Childcare Training for Parents

There are certain advantages of learning childcare for you as a parent. Going through this training program helps you in the following ways:

Enhanced Knowledge of Child Development:

One of the primary benefits of training yourself in childcare is a deeper understanding of child development. You will learn about cognitive, emotional, and physical milestones, enabling you to support your child’s growth effectively. For instance, understanding when a child should start speaking or walking helps you identify potential developmental delays and seek timely intervention.

1.  Improved Health and Safety Practices:

Childcare courses emphasize health and safety protocols, which are crucial for a child’s well-being. You will be educated on topics like baby-proofing the home, preventing common childhood injuries, and recognizing signs of illnesses. Additionally, many courses include first aid and CPR training, empowering you to handle emergencies confidently.

2.  Strengthened Parent-Child Relationships:

You will gain insights into effective communication and behavior management strategies through parenting classes. These skills foster stronger bonds with your children by promoting positive interactions and reducing conflicts. Learning techniques such as active listening and positive reinforcement can significantly enhance family dynamics.

3.  Confidence in Parenting Decisions:

Raising a child involves countless decisions, from choosing the proper discipline methods to establishing routines. Training provides you with evidence-based knowledge, helping you make informed choices. This confidence reduces parenting stress and enhances your overall experience.

4.  Adaptability to Modern Parenting Challenges:

The world is evolving rapidly, and so are the challenges of parenting. Issues like screen time management, social media exposure, and cyberbullying are unique to this generation. The training courses often address these modern concerns, equipping you with tools to navigate them effectively.

Challenges of Childcare Training for Parents

While the benefits of training in childcare are clear, you can face challenges while pursuing these courses. Keep the following difficulties in mind to ensure a smooth learning outcome:

1.  Time Constraints:

Busy schedules can make it difficult for you to commit to training sessions. You can address this challenge by having online courses and self-paced modules that will allow you to learn conveniently.

2.  Cost:

Some programs can be expensive, potentially deterring parents with limited budgets. You can make training more accessible using subsidized or free programs as they encourage participation among parents from diverse economic backgrounds.

3.  Accessibility:

If you reside in rural or remote areas, you will struggle to find nearby training centers. You can gain wider reach and expand access to training programs in childcare in rural areas through mobile units or virtual platforms as they ensure inclusivity.

4.  Perceived Stigma:

Some of you may feel that seeking training implies inadequacy in your parenting skills, leading to hesitation in enrolling. Embrace community support and promote childcare training. It is a proactive step rather than a sign of inadequacy to reduce stigma.

Alternatives to Formal Training

For parents who cannot attend formal training courses, there are alternative ways to enhance their parenting skills. You can check the following alternatives to gain essential skills in childcare.

1. Parenting Books and Blogs:   Numerous resources provide valuable tips and insights on childcare.

2. Workshops and Seminars:  Local community centers often host free or low-cost parenting workshops.

3. Support Groups:  Engaging with other parents through support groups allows for shared learning and experiences.

4. Online Resources:  Websites, videos, and webinars on parenting topics are widely available and often free.

Conclusion

Parents often need assistance while caring for their young ones. Childcare courses offer invaluable knowledge and skills that empower parents to provide the best possible care for their children. While challenges such as time and cost exist, the benefits, like improved health and safety practices, stronger parent-child relationships, and increased confidence, outweigh the drawbacks significantly. Thus, you can enhance your abilities and contribute to the holistic development of your children by learning about childcare.