Category: Blog

WHEN SCIENCE AND FUN COLLIDE—SLIME-MAKING EVENT
WHEN SCIENCE AND FUN COLLIDE—SLIME-MAKING EVENT

Who has 80 thumbs and ready for some slimy, ooey-gooey, tactile fun? The 40 kids at Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids daycare. That’s who. On Thursday, June 24, 2021, science and fun collided at Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids daycare during a Slime-Making Event held for our Busy Bees, Reading Dolphins, and our Amazing Scholars.

I mean, who doesn’t like slime? For kids, it seems like the messier the better. The children at Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids daycare seem to have a particular love for slimy, gooey, sticky, weird-feeling mixtures. They aren’t alone. There’s a reason the toy industry creates things like Playdough, silly putty, gak, and what seems like a thousand different versions of slime. Slime is a fantastic tool for sensory play, as part of an anti-anxiety kit, and to develop fine motor skills and strength.

What happened?

The instructor, Ms. Dayona, took the simple ingredients below and created an educational yet fun experience for our kids.

Slime recipe/ingredients:
- (1) cup of cornstarch
- (1) 3 oz pack of Jell-O mix
- (1) 4 oz cup warm water
Alana Vernon ready to go with all of her ingredients

Educational? Yep, there’s a lot of science behind slime. I will not bore you with all the science, but during this event Ms. Dayona taught our kids…

Literacy/Vocabulary
1. Use new vocabulary and phrases acquired in conversations and being read to.
2. With prompting and support, clarify unknown words or phrases read aloud.
- The children learned that when you gather things to make something, what you are gathering is called “ingredients.”
- When identifying the ingredients, the children were asked what they thought the white powdery substance was. Some said it was baby powder or baking soda before Ms. Dayona informed them it was “cornstarch.”
- They discovered that when you put ingredients together; you make a “mixture.”
- Once the ingredients were mixed, the children said it felt “slimy, squishy, and gooey.”
[New vocabulary words: cornstarch, slimy, squishy, ingredients, recipe, mixture, stretchy, and gooey]

Math
1. Measuring skills—describe and compare measurable attributes of length and weights of everyday objects.
2. Use mathematical processes when measuring; representing, organizing, and understanding data.
- The children had to measure out the ingredients before they combined them all in their colored bowls. They made scientific guesses on what it needed more or less of to create the perfect consistency.
Zania Gibbons, Rahiem Gibrin, and Aleah Montaque creating the perfect consistency

Science
1. Think, analyze, and hypothesize.
2. Take part in simple investigations about living and/or non-living things to answer a question or to test a prediction.
3. Sort and describe objects according to size, shape, color, and texture.
4. Notice changes in matter.
- Before they made the slime, the kids made a hypothesis about how they felt it would feel, look, and taste.
- The children said it smelled really good but tasted horrible! (Don’t worry! All the ingredients we used were safe and edible.)
- When water was added to the ingredients, the children noticed the slime went from powder to liquid, then solid.
Chase Dangerfield—future scientist

Boooring? Not!

Don’t be fooled! It was not all science and education. The kids had a blast taking part in several slime competitions, like who could make the roundest ball? Who had the longest/stretchiest slime? Who could create the first letter of their name with slime? Congratulations to Alana Vernon and Ryon Harris! They both received a certificate and a prize.

If you think making slime was boring, check out this slide presentation and see what happens when science and fun collide….

Yes, when science and fun collided at Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids Daycare, everyone had a slimy, ooey-gooey, and enjoyable tactile time!

Rylee Harris having an exciting time learning

Special thanks to…
- Ms. April and the rest of the hardworking teachers that contributed to the smooth functioning of the event.
- Ms. April, Ms. Danita and Ms. Dayona, for taking the pictures.
- Sandra Hicks, our Event Planner, for the video and planning and organizing all the logistics for this event.
By Derik Hicks and Dayona Evans
WEE CARE 4 GARDENS, TOO
Wee Care 4 Gardens, Too

In this frantic world that we live in, even our kids need something to ground them; something that can help them deal with the anxiety that even we, as adults, must deal with. At Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids daycare, we’ve implemented gardening in our mindfulness curriculum and our “Calm Down Corner.” (We’ll tell you more about that corner later.) Gardens and children are a natural match.

Ten reasons to garden with kids:
1. Gardening engages all five senses.
2. Gardening encourages healthy eating.
3. Gardening enhances fine motor development.
4. Gardening is science. It teaches them about the life cycle.
5. Gardening is a great family activity.
6. Gardening teaches responsibility. Making sure the plants get enough fertilizer, water, and sun fosters mindfulness.
7. Gardening helps kids learn to plan and organize.
8. Gardening allows for team building and promotes communication skills.
9. Gardening improves children’s moods and decreases anxiety.
10. Gardening gives kids a sense of purpose. It can develop in kids a deep respect and responsibility for taking care of our planet earth.
In this electronic age, kids need time for meaningful connections, especially with fellow family members. We, at Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids daycare, understand children are curious. They like to learn by doing, and love to play in the dirt. Working in a garden, a child can experience the satisfaction that comes from caring for something over time, while observing the cycle of life firsthand. That’s an important life skill, one that is overlooked in standard school curriculums. That’s why we’ve created an opportunity for kids to learn and grow through gardening, engaging their natural curiosity and wonder.

Photos of some of our Playful Pandas and Busy Bees

Na’eisha Coleman and Hailey Clarke learning team building and communication skills

Anai’ya Meekins developing fine motor skills

Hailey Clarke learning about responsibility and taking care of the planet

Kenydi Stokes engaging all of her senses while gardening

Amarra Sieh improving her mood and decreasing anxiety while gardening

By Derik Hicks and Dayona Evans
WEE CARE 4 PARENTS, TOO—BRIA WILSON

Meet Bria Wilson and Her Children

Thank you for checking out our first blog highlighting an exceptional parent of children that attends Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids daycare. Our Marketing Team thought long and hard about who should be featured first. It was a unanimous decision to feature Bria Wilson. I’ll tell you why later. But first, let me introduce you to Bria and her children that are enrolled in Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids daycare.

Age: 26
Occupation: dietary aide/lash technician
Location: Upper Darby

Bria’s Children

Nylaa Hill
Age: 8
Enrolled since: she was 3 years old

Chase Dangerfield
Age: 4
Enrolled since: he was 3 months old

Bria’s History

Bria Wilson was born in Lansdown, PA, but now lives in Upper Darby. She is a hardworking mother of two that takes an active interest in the lives and well-being of her children. We featured Bria because she and her brother, Bryant Wilson, were attendees at Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids daycare when they were children. The daycare was on Marshall Road back in those days. Now that Bria’s grown with children of her own, her children attend Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids daycare in the current location 6800 Market Street, 3^rd Floor in Upper Darby.

Why Bria Chose Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids

Although Bria does not have any recollection of attending Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids daycare as a child, one wonders why she sent her children to Darlene’s daycare now when there are so many other options available. I’ll let Bria tell you herself. “It was my mom. I was looking for a daycare for Nylaa when she was three years old. I asked my mother did she know of a good daycare and she suggested I use the same daycare that I attended when I was a kid. She knew that the original location was closed and that the new location is in Upper Darby near me.”

That’s great mother-to-daughter advice. Moms know best! But Bria is grown and could make her own decisions now. So, when asked why she continues to use Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids daycare, she replied, “One of the first things come to mind, I am impressed with the security system in place at the daycare for my children. My children’s safety is important to me. I know just not anyone can come pick up my child. Next, my children love the activities at the center. They always seem to have a good time and they never come home with bad news. They’ve never been hurt or bruised. And you know how truthful kids are. They’ll tell you if something bad has happened to them. The other thing I love about Darlene’s daycare is the communication. I get notifications about their eating and bathroom activities. This is important to me, because one of my children has allergies. I always check my emails whenever I see it is from Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids.”

Thank You Bria!

We, at Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids, would like to express our appreciation for Bria Wilson, her mom, Jacqueline Wilson, as well as Nylaa and Chase. Two generations of loyalty. An outstanding testament to the quality of daycare offered at Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids. Bria concludes, “You guys are like family, especially Danita.”

Come and be a part of the “family.” Yes, we care for kids, but we care for our parents, too. Contact us as soon as possible at Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids to learn more about the daycare and program options that are available to you.

By Derik Hicks
MOVIE DAY EVENT

Movie Day Slideshow.MOV from Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids on Vimeo.

Call me sappy, but remember when Little Orphan Annie sang, “Let’s go to the movies. Let’s go see the stars?” (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zctRomXTBLk) Maybe I’m dating myself, but that’s the excitement I felt when I visited the movie theater as a child. If you’re anything like me, do you long for the days when going to the movies was the norm? Can’t you just smell the hot buttered popcorn? The anticipation that bubbled up inside of you as the house lights came down. Those were the days! (Sigh)

The year 2020 and the coronavirus temporarily put an end to the movie-going experience not only for us, but for the children as well. That’s why we, at Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids daycare, brought the movies to the children. They deserve to have fond movie memories, too. On Thursday, March 25, 2021, we held a Movie Day for our preschoolers and school-age children.

Movie Day

In two separate showings, they watched “Sonic the Hedgehog.”

Of course, what’s watching a movie without popcorn and drinks? That’s why Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids spared no expense to provide each of the attendees with a customized cup with each child’s name on it, Sparkling Cider, and Garrett’s Chicago Mix (whatcha know about that?) popcorn! Mmm Mmm good! Nothing but the best for our children.

Sonic the Hedgehog

And that’s not all! After the second showing, there was a real-life appearance of Sonic the Hedgehog himself!

The children went wild with excitement! Thanks to A Dash of Magic Events for letting Sonic come to hang out with our kids.

Fun Activities

Sonic interacted with the children by playing games such as Simon Says and the limbo. The kids even tested their supersonic speed against Sonic himself in a foot race. I wonder who won?

Sonic led the kids in song along with a host of other fun activities.

Strike a pose. Who did it best? Zaire Gibbons or Sonic?

Reviews

All had a fun time. But don’t take my word for it. This is what some children stated about the movie day…

“The movie day was good with a lot of fun. I liked it and wish we can do it again!”—Alayah Gray

“When we had movie day, it was really fun with Ms. Elaine, Mr. Ed, and Ms. Aiche. And Sonic surprised us! We was running all over the daycare.”—Taraji Starkey

Our Event Planner, Sandra Hicks, really outdid herself this time. I wonder what she has in mind for the next event? If you want your children to have fun like the kids at Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids, enroll them today. Don’t wait, the next event is coming soon!

Sandra Hicks Event Planner

By Derik Hicks
How to Choose A Special Needs Child Care Facility

It can be difficult to find reliable and quality child care in general, but the process is even more challenging for parents with a special needs child. When choosing a special needs care facility, parents must be assured they are making the best decision for their beloved child and their unique needs.

At Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids, we welcome and value all children, including those with special needs. On a fundamental level, every child needs the same things: play, education, and support.

In this article, we’ll give you all the information necessary to feel assured that our daycare facility provides the best care and curriculum for special needs children in the Upper Darby area.

Who We Are

Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids is the top-rated provider of childcare services for special needs kids in Pennsylvania. All of our staff are dedicated to nurturing and cherishing each and every child that walks (or crawls) through our doors. Regardless of whether a special needs child needs assistance with visual impairment, autism, a physical injury, or something else, we have the well-trained and compassionate staff needed to get the job done in a caring and effective way.

Children with deafness or hearing problems will have no trouble at Darlene’s, as one of our best teachers is trained fluently in American Sign Language and belongs to the Deaf community herself.

Kiddos with a developmental disability like autism might be nervous too, but there’s no need for this. All of our staff share a history of working closely with special needs children. They possess a strong understanding of special needs conditions and know how to communicate with your child in a way that makes them feel safe, heard, and respected.

Our Special Needs Child Care Philosophy

We believe that special needs programs are a group effort; they work best when everyone cooperates and works together. That means inclusivity and diversity in the classroom, as this encourages children to truly be themselves and to grow at their own pace.

Children struggling with developmental or educational delays (dyslexia, for one) should feel welcomed and excited to be included and engaged in our high-quality curriculum. Each child enrolled in our daycare program will receive a curriculum specifically tailored to their unique learning and developmental needs. Elements of their personalized curriculum, depending on their condition and abilities, may include language skill development, physical ability training, group play, dietary modifications, and a wide variety of sensory stimuli to get their creative juices flowing.

Parents often tell us that their children have such a great time at Darlene’s that it can occasionally be difficult to get them to come home! We think that’s a pretty good problem to have, if ever there was one.

Conclusion

Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids is proud to serve a wide range of children with unique and individualized needs. We never shy away from a challenge, and we’ll share that same beneficial philosophy with your beloved little ones. Call today to learn more about our special needs child care programs and summer camps!
Finding the Right Summer Camp For Kids

With summer just around the corner, kids are excited for the upcoming break. And with the same anticipation, if not anxiety, their parents are seeking ways to keep the youngsters engaged and entertained.

At Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids, we provide top-tier summer camp programs and activities for children in the Upper Darby, Pennsylvania area. In this article, we’ll give you some information on what we have to offer. To learn more about how we can make every day of your kid’s summer a sunny, fun experience, please visit our website or give us a call today!

Education Retention

The summer is designed to give developing minds a break from the intellectual rigor of school, but that can come at a cost. Studies show that during the summer break, students can lose or become less competent with much of the knowledge they acquired in the previous school year.

At our summer camp program, we provide stimulating activities and academic support to minimize this effect and to keep kids engaged. To refine their literacy skills, we have daily designated story time or reading time. If your kiddo has a musical spirit, we can accommodate that too — we often play music, and sometimes even make it ourselves with experimental “jam” sessions!

Kids with an interest in science and nature will be pleased to learn about wildlife and biology, just as math-savvy students will be challenged with a variety of numerical puzzles and logic games. There is no shortage of ways to stay academically engaged during the summer when you enroll your child or children in a program from Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids.

Health & Exercise

When the weather is beautiful in Pennsylvania, it’s a shame not to take full advantage of it, which is why we always incorporate outdoor activities and physical education into our summer programs for kids.

Kids will enjoy entertaining, health-boosting activities like soccer, tag, baseball, kickball, and many other sports. We also provide free play periods where children can move in the ways they enjoy most, whether it’s dancing, swinging, climbing on the jungle gym, or running around in the fresh air.

On top of this, we give kids nutritious meals and snacks to keep their energy stable and their tummies satisfied. After all, you can’t have fun if you don’t fuel your body right!

Adventures in New Places

Although we have enough to stay busy and engaged at Darlene’s alone, we think it’s a lot more fun to switch up the surroundings as frequently as possible!

At our children’s summer camp, we often take field trips to new and exciting places, making every day a brand new adventure for participants. Some of our favorite locations to visit include amusement parks, movie theaters, trampoline parks, swimming pools, and natural hiking trails. We also find ways to incorporate arts, crafts, and other creative elements into our field trips and cooperative activities.

Conclusion

Choosing the right summer program for your child is of the utmost importance to ensure that they retain education, maintain physical wellness, and receive adequate amusement and entertainment. In short, a summer program can enrich your child’s time away from school — and give you the opportunity to do what lets you live your most balanced life.

Contact Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids today to get information and rates regarding our children’s summer programs in Upper Darby, PA!