Archive for the ‘advice for parents’ Category
Woodlands out to Stop the Rot!
It can be a nightmare getting kids to clean their teeth – do you remember your parents tearing their hair out trying to get you to clean yours?
Parents need a hand in trying to encourage kids to look after their teeth, which is why Harrogate’s Woodlands Day Nursery has signed up to the national ‘Stop the Rot’ campaign, a fun way of teaching children about eating healthily and of encouraging them to clean their teeth throughout the day to help fight tooth decay.
According to Stop the Rot founder Graham Wilding, nearly half of the UK’s five year-olds suffer from tooth decay, with the majority of these problems caused by refined sugar (sucrose) found in so many foods and by children’s reluctance to clean their teeth. So, in line with the Stop the Rot campaign, Woodlands Day Nursery has committed to:
1) Sack the sugar
2) Beat the sweets
3) Let’s get brushing
Sack the sugar
Quite often, if food and drinks packaging says ‘carbohydrates’ then the chances are it contains sucrose. So, Woodlands Day Nursery are trying to limit the children’s sugar intake by selecting foods with the least sucrose content, and making those foods fun. Deputy Manager Amanda Hadley says: “It’s easy to make healthy tooth-friendly foods fun. By including children in activities about different foods, we encourage them to try things they would normally turn their nose up at. Our message to parents and carers would be to keep trying with new foods - our children at nursery eat really healthy balanced meals every day and they love it!”
Beat the sweets
We once gave one of our cats catnip as a way of rewarding him for being such nice, gentle chap – big mistake! Not sure where that nice, gentle chap got to during the 5 minutes that he had the catnip in his clutches, but he absolutely nailed us when we tried to take it off him! 10 minutes later, once he’d recovered from the effects of the catnip, he was back to his old unique self again, sitting peaceably with the birds and saving moths and butterflies from danger.
It can be that way with children and sweets sometimes. Children become addicted to sweets not just because they taste sweet but also because they are associated with comfort and reward. They also get addicted to the “high” of the energy rush that can cause disruptive behavioural problems. So, again, the staff at Woodlands Day Nursery are very careful in regards to the number of sweets children are given and when they get them.
Let’s get brushing
The earlier good brushing habits can be put in place the better, so Woodlands Day Nursery have created games and play themes around toothbrushes and toothpaste, whilst each child attending Woodlands Day Nursery has been bringing in their own tooth brush and having a go at brushing every day after their lunch.
By implementing these 3 key things as part of the Stop the Rot campaign, Woodlands Day Nursery are assisting parents and carers in what can be the very difficult task of getting children into the habit of looking after their teeth from an early age in the hope that they won’t have problems with their teeth later. By working together, Woodlands Day Nursery, parents, carers and, above all, the children can Stop the Rot and enjoy a lifetime free from dental issues.
Parent advice. Things to look out for when visiting a nursery
1. Does the nursery have a welcoming, happy and cheerful atmosphere – are the children and the carers having fun?
2. Are the children happy and settled? Does the person showing you around know the children? Do the children want to chat with you or the person showing you around?
3. Are child carers sitting with and interacting with the children or with each other?
4. Do the premises and equipment look clean but used? (Perfect equipment has not been used by children! Any experienced parent will tell you that an environment where children are active and enjoying themselves will NEVER be pristine!)
5. Do the children have opportunities to learn, explore and have fun in a natural environment outdoors? (Children need to learn about their world and so outdoor play environments should give them opportunities to explore mud, sand, leaves, grass, and build, run and jump. A ready made road and climbing frame isn’t nearly as challenging as crates, planks and den building equipment.
You can download this list from our funcare website here.
If you have any more questions, we’d be happy to answer them and show you around our lovely nurseries.
Questions to ask when choosing a child day nursery in Harrogate
It is very important to visit a nursery before making such big decision about where you child will be happiest and best cared for. We would be delighted and proud to show you around our nurseries. Here are a list of questions to ask any nursery that you may visit:
1. How long have your baby room child carers been at the nursery and what experience do they have in caring for babies?
2. How many of your staff hold child care qualifications? (The OFSTED requirement is a minimum of 50%, but in a high quality nursery most if not all staff will be qualified or in training)
3. Will my child have the same carer team each day?
4. How do you cover sickness and holidays to ensure that the nursery is always open, and my children have continuity?
5. Is the nursery open all year (for example between Christmas and New Year).
6. Will I be able to pop into the nursery during the day unannounced?
7. At the beginning and end of each day will I be able to go into the rooms, to see where my child has been and meet the people who have been caring for him/her in person (and not just the supervisor).
8. What is provided and what will I have to bring or pay for? (eg nappies, milk, food, suncream, uniform???).
9. What opportunities will I have to meet other parents and make friends. Will there be any social events for parents?
10. How regularly will my baby/child be able to be outdoors?
and a couple of other important questions…
11. How flexible will the nursery be, if for instance I need to swap a day, or come in for an extra day?
12. Does the nursery have it’s own cook, and what kind of food is provided?
You can download this list from our funcare website here.
If you have any more questions, we’d be happy to answer them and show you around our lovely nurseries.
Funcare Day Nurseries Harrogate November Newsletter
Welcome to our November Newsletter. We’ve got so much to tell you!
Important Dates:
1. Parents Evening : Wednesday 18th November 6.30 - 8.30. Have you booked your time slot?
christmas bells
2. Christmas Party : Wednesday 16th December Babies and Toddlers 10.30 - 12.30, Pre-school 2.30 - 4.30. *if your child does not attend that day, you are welcome to bring them along, but you will have to stay with them due to staffing ratios and numbers
3. Nursery Nativity Play : Friday 18th December, Christ Church, 2.00pm. Everyone welcome!! A nursery video will be take that can be purchased. Parents are welcome to take photographs of their child.
4. Christmas Card Orders : must be in by November 25th. Sorry no late orders accepted.
5. Children in Need : We are regular supporters of this worthy charity. This year we are having a pyjama and bring a bear day!!! Friday 20th November
6. Christmas and New Year Times : please note that we will be open from 7am - 4pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Please ask for a form when you come to see us next, so that we know who will be in nursery between Christmas and new year, and return it to us as soon as possible. Best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and New Year with your family.
7. Good luck to the staff team for 27th November at the National Nursery Awards! In our eyes you are all winners regardless of the result.
8. Employee of the month for September is Sue, for always going the extra mile. For October, the winner is Mira, for her wonderful meals, helping everyone out and being patient. Goodbye Katrina, we will miss you stacks as you move back to Woodlands. You have been a star! Welcome to Sam! We are so glad that you are now with us full time in the baby room.
