Darlene's Wee Care 4 Kids Daycare

Tag: daycare in upper darby

  • Preparing Your Child for Preschool: Tips for a Smooth Transition

    Preparing Your Child for Preschool: Tips for a Smooth Transition

    Starting preschool is a significant milestone for both children and parents. At Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids in Upper Darby, PA, we understand that this transition can be both exciting and challenging. Here are some tips to help you and your child prepare for this new adventure and ensure a smooth transition to preschool.

    Visit the Preschool Together

    Before the first day, visit Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids with your child. Familiarizing them with the new environment can help reduce anxiety. Show them their classroom, the playground, and introduce them to their teachers. A few visits before the start date can make a big difference.

    Establish a Routine

    Children thrive on routine, and having a predictable schedule can ease the transition to preschool. Start practicing the new routine a few weeks before school begins. Set regular times for waking up, meals, and bedtime to help your child adjust to the preschool schedule.

    Talk About Preschool Positively

    Discuss preschool with enthusiasm and positivity. Explain to your child what they can expect, the fun activities they’ll do, and the friends they’ll make. Reading books about starting school can also help your child understand what to expect and get excited about the new experience.

    Encourage Independence

    Helping your child develop independence will boost their confidence. Teach them simple tasks such as dressing themselves, using the bathroom independently, and cleaning up after playtime. These skills will make them feel more comfortable and capable at preschool.

    Create a Goodbye Ritual

    Saying goodbye can be challenging for both parents and children. Create a special goodbye ritual that you use every day, such as a hug, a high-five, or a special phrase. This consistency will help your child feel secure and know that you’ll be back to pick them up.

    Stay Positive and Patient

    Transitions take time, and it’s normal for children to experience some separation anxiety or reluctance initially. Stay positive and patient, offering reassurance and support. Trust that your child will adapt and thrive in their new environment.

    Conclusion

    Starting preschool is a big step, but with a little preparation, it can be a positive and exciting experience for your child. At Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids, we are committed to supporting you and your child through this transition. Contact us to learn more about our programs and how we can help make your child’s preschool experience a wonderful one.

  • SIP & PAINT EVENT

    SIP & PAINT EVENT

    SIP & PAINT EVENT

    Have you ever watched a child finger paint on a sheet of paper with both hands? Or have you observed a kid coloring in bountiful circles with crayons? If yes, then you have seen the joyful expressions on their faces. You’ve witnessed creative art in process!

     

    Most of us recognize that art is important for our children because we’ve seen our children deeply involved in art. Not only does art aid in developing the right side of the brain, it also fosters important skills that benefit a child’s development. Art can become a crucial mode of uninhibited self-expression and astonishment for a child.

     

    That’s why we, at Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids daycare, sponsored a Sip & Paint Event on Thursday, August 12, 2021. Marriya Mobley, from Expressive Illustrations Inc., took the lead. Following her inspiration, the kids took blank canvases and transformed them into beautiful pieces of art. It was incredible to see how excited the kids got when they experienced the fun of painting while sipping on a refreshing kid-appropriate drink.

     

    Paint and Sip

     

    Why a Sip & Paint?

    Because creating art increases a child’s ability to interact with the world around them and offers a new set of skills for self-expression and communication. Here are four life skills our children can develop through art.

     

    • Communication Skills: When a child paints, they are communicating visually. Art goes beyond oral language to communicate feelings that might not otherwise be expressed. Creating art permits children to work through feelings and emotions.
    • Problem-Solving Skills: When kids delve into art ideas, they are testing options and working through challenges just like a scientist who experiments and then finds solutions. Art allows children to make their own assessments, while also training them that a problem may have more than one answer. Rather than being told what to do, answers and directions come from the child. Even when learning how to use art materials effectively, children are solving challenges and coming up with new ways to handle unanticipated outcomes. 
    • Fine Motor Skills: Holding a paintbrush so that it will make the desired marks or drawing with a crayon can help develop a child’s fine motor skills. 

    Painting fine motor skills

    • Social & Emotional Skills: Art aids children in coming to terms with themselves and the control they have over their efforts. Through art, they also practice sharing and taking turns, as well as appreciating one another’s efforts. Art nurtures positive mental health by allowing a child to show individuality as well as success and accomplishment, all part of a positive self-concept. 

    Painting with confidence

    Future Picassos?

    Through exposure to the elements of art (line, space, color, etc.), our little artists expressed their individuality with visual narratives that showed their unique style and voice.

    Paintings

     

    At Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids, we encourage creative voice. Are they future Picassos? Maybe, or maybe not. You be the judge. Regardless, how pleasurable to see the unique artwork of each child, even though this was a guided painting class. Thank you, Marriya Mobley, for your leadership and inspiration.

    Artist

     

    Children are filled with joy and wonder. Their imagination is limitless. That’s why we held a Sip & Paint Event, to get the most out of them. With a bit of direction and motivation, our kids can achieve anything they want. Art is the perfect tool to help channel their energy and efforts towards something that can help build character. We had a blast with sip and paint! The kids have been asking when they can do it again!

     

    Art Class

     

    “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”—Pablo Picasso

    Special thanks to… 

    • Ms. April, Ms. Danita, Ms. Dayona, and the rest of the hardworking teachers that contributed to the smooth functioning of the event.
    • Ms. Dayona, for taking the pictures.
    • Sandra Hicks, our Event Planner, for planning and organizing all the logistics for this event.

    By Derik Hicks
  • 2021 SUMMER CAMP KICKOFF WEEK

    2021 SUMMER CAMP KICKOFF WEEK

    2021 SUMMER CAMP KICKOFF WEEK

    Whew! It’s hot out there! But who doesn’t love summer? I mean, with no school and all. Unfortunately, you parents still have to go to work. In the meantime, who’s going to watch those rug rats while you work from 9:00 to 5:00? Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids daycare, that who. We had and will have so much in store for your children during our 2021 Summer Camp to keep those imaginations firing on all cylinders. And let’s face it, we want to have fun too!

    Would you like to see the photo galleries of the 2021 Summer Camp Kickoff Week held on June 28 to July 2, 2021? Let’s get started.

    Pajama Day
    Monday, June 28, 2021

    Book/Movie Character Day
    Tuesday, June 29, 2021

    Crazy Hat/Hair Day
    Wednesday, June 30, 2021

    Classroom Color Day
    Thursday, July 1, 2021

    Twin Day
    Friday, July 2, 2021

    As you can tell, everyone had a fun time. Thank you, parents, for participating and keeping your children engaged during our Summer Camp. But wait! The summer is not over. Besides some planned events throughout the summer months, we are scheduling another week of dress-up activities during our 2021 Summer Camp Countdown starting August 23-27, 2021. Keep on the lookout for the notifications and details of each day on our website calendar, LifeCubby calendar and eblasts, Google Events, Facebook, and Instagram. It’s going to be a costumaganza!

    By Derik Hicks
  • WHEN SCIENCE AND FUN COLLIDE—SLIME-MAKING EVENT

    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.

    slime-making class

    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 ingredients
    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.
    stretchy 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
    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.

    alana vernon

    ryon harris

    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
    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

    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.

    Gardening with kids

    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

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

     

    kid gardening
    Anai’ya Meekins developing fine motor skills

     

    kid gardening
    Hailey Clarke learning about responsibility and taking care of the planet

     

    kid gardening
    Kenydi Stokes engaging all of her senses while gardening

     

    kid gardening
    Amarra Sieh improving her mood and decreasing anxiety while gardening

     

    By Derik Hicks and Dayona Evans
  • How to Talk to Your Kids About World Events

    How to Talk to Your Kids About World Events

    There is always something major going on in the world, in our country, and in your kid’s lives. As parents, we attempt to do what we can to shelter our kids from the ugliness in the world and show them unconditional love and support. 2020 has challenged everything we know as parents, by causing an extreme shift in our daily lives. With COVID-19 pandemic forcing us all inside and changing the way we interact and look at each other, to worldwide race riots and cops becoming the bad guys, you, like most parents, may be feeling a little lost in how to discuss these things with your children.

    It is true, we don’t want to thrust the horrors of the world on our children, shattering their tender innocence and allowing them to see the darkness the world has to offer any sooner than is necessary. However, children are perceptive and smart. They see a lot more than most adults give them credit for, and they are capable of understanding deep things. Fear is learned, ignorance is unlearned. Join us in today’s post as we offer just a few tips on how to discuss big issues with your children.

    Be Honest

    There are times when fibbing to your children for the sake of offering them a sweet childhood is okay — Santa Clause, unicorns, etc. World issues do not apply here. It is okay to be vague and explain things in age-appropriate terms, but be honest about what is happening. If they don’t hear it from you, they will learn it somewhere, so it is better to give them accurate information and answer their questions as best you can before someone else does (the same applies to discussing puberty and where babies come from, but we’ll save that for a later post). It’s perfectly okay to explain that the world has changed because a lot of people are getting sick and we don’t want to get sick or get others sick without knowing it. This will also help prevent them from thinking they are being punished by not being able to go to the park or see their friends.

    Use it as a Family Values Discussion

    World issues are the perfect thing to bring up at the dinner table and use as real-world teaching moments. This allows you to discuss family values and show your children what is right and what is wrong and allow them to come to their own conclusions. While it is not appropriate to show your children Mr. Floyd’s video, discussing that “a police officer hurt a man because of the color of his skin,” allows your children to think about the situation and ask you the questions they have. This gives you the opportunity to discuss many different aspects. Just be sure that you are allowing your children the time to process the information without throwing too much at them at once.

    Follow Up and Ask Their Take

    Discussing world topics with your kids shouldn’t be a one-sided conversation, but it may also take some time to get your child’s input. That’s okay and very normal. Your kids will need some time to process and reflect the new information and put in in context of their own world and what they know. It is important to allow your discussions to marinate before following up with them. Following up will allow you to assess whether or not your child understands what is going on and address any lingering questions they may have.

    At Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids, we know that parenting is a challenging job and you may not always have the answers. Our staff is here to collaborate with parents and help address any concerns they may have. If you are wondering how to talk to your kids about difficult subjects, our teachers would be happy to share some tips. For reliable childcare in Upper Darby, contact us today.