JoySchool

Joy School is a unique, home based pre-school where 3 to 6 of your friends join together to teach your pre-schoolers fundamental “Joys” (values) that are essential for success and happiness.

Joy School Benefits:
- Your pre-schoolers are taught by trusted friends
- All the lessons, stories, activities, music and schedules are provided on-line
- The cost is low compared to commercial preschools (actual cost: $165 for 1 year, with promo code)
- You get to be a part of your child’s growth and development
- Your child will look forward to going to preschool
- Joy School prepares your child with confidence, social skills, creativity, and appreciation for the world around them.

view a sample lesson plan
To learn more about setting up a Joy School, click the JoySchool button on my side bar.

get $5 off registration with promo code : ponczock

FYI: Pinworms

For all you parents out who, like me, had no experience with parasites. I present to you the infamous PINWORM:This is probably the most common human parasite, especially among small children. They are tiny little worms that live in the digestive tract.

About a month or two after infection, they come to maturity and you may start to see symptoms. This basically consists of intense itching of the anus, particularly at bedtime. Irritation can develop into a bacterial infection. It starts when the fully grown female worms (pictured above) crawl out at night and lay eggs on the skin. The eggs are then spread from the hands, clothing, bedding, etc. of infected persons. They can even become airborn. The eggs can survive up to about 2 weeks outside a host. After ingesting the eggs, the child may become reinfected, or infect others (particularly those they come in close contact with at home or at school).

Diagnosis is made by seeing a pinworm, or eggs collected on scotch tape (viewed under a microscope). Although thoroughly disgusting, they are not considered a serious infection since they do not cause any other problems besides itching. The itching can keep your child up at night. Fortunately, they are easy to treat. One pill will kill the worms (some doctors will treat twice, a second dose 2 weeks after the first).

Then you have to wash everything regularly to get rid of the eggs:
- daily laundering clothing, bedding, and towels in hot water
- wash toilet seats twice a day
- at treatment, thoroughly clean rugs, floors, furniture
- shower child first thing each morning
- keep child's fingernails short and clean
- do not share towels, sheets, etc.
- enforce rigorous hygiene!


You can learn more about pinworms here.

Fun with Rice

Shapes and Letters (also works well with wheat and salt!)

• Pour Rice in a tray with a high lip (a cake pan works nicely), just to cover bottom.
• Show your child how you can use your finger to 'draw' a shape in the rice. "Here is a circle."
• Shake the pan to coat bottom again.
• Now, it is your child's turn.
• Start with straight or curved lines, then simple shapes
• When your child is comfortable, practice letters!
• When you're done, you can still eat the rice

Magazining

Need a few minutes to yourself this week for wrapping or baking? Here is one project my preschool age kids always love.

I keep a few old magazines on hand for the kids to craft with. We have a swap table at the local library where we sometimes pick up some cool ones like National Geographic, but otherwise we use whatever is on hand. Magazining is good busywork for 2 to 6 year olds. They will occasionally sit at the table for an hour or more cutting pictures. It is good practice for little hands, and it keeps them occupied if you have something you NEED to get done. A little paper and glue for making collages makes it all the more exciting (and buys mom a few extra minutes). Some kids need more direction than others, so you can help your child pick a theme if you like. For example, "Lets make a bouquet. Cut out all the flowers you can find." Or "Lets make some faces. Cut out some eyes, noses, and mouths. Then we will put them together again and make a new face." Older kids like to find the letters from their name or other favorite things.

You may be worried about the clean-up, but don't fret! Kids can clean up their own craft messes. Just as long as you don't give them glitter. Teach your 2-year old to sweep. Get a little whisk broom and dustpan. They LOVE it. Of course they may not get everything, but it is so worth it to let them try. It may take you an extra 2 minutes, but soon they will be doing it entirely on their own!! Well worth your small effort now.

So keep some of those old magazines on hand. If you don't get any magazines, you may be able to get old donated ones from a library location near you.

Do you have any other great ideas for using old magazines? Share them below!

Playing with Dry Beans

Do you have a bag of beans in your pantry?

You're set for a day of fun and learning!

Here are some activities you can do with your child:

• Get out some measuring cups, bowls, spoons, pitcher, etc. Let your child pour beans from one container to another. (this is much easier to clean up than water!) It is very good practice for their gross motor skills development -- and fun!


• Have your child solve math questions with the beans (Demonstrate "If you have 2 and you get 2 more, how many do you have?" - I'm sure you can get a lot more creative!)


• Mix together beans of more than one variety. Have your child sort them back out into different bowls.


• Give your child a big piece of paper and help them draw the First letter of their name. Trace with a liberal amount of glue. Then have them glue beans on to form the letter.


• Fill an empty container with a lid to make a musical instrument. (i.e. put a few in an old Easter egg, tape shut, shake!)

• Ask your child to make a picture with the beans.

After most of these projects you can still eat the beans!

FLU?? - TO DO

When a flu hits, the most important things to do are keep temperature in check, and re-hydrate.

Lower Temperature:

• Unwrap/undress,


• cool with damp washcloths or lukewarm bath


• alternate Tylenol and Ibuprofen every 2 hours as needed

When your child first gets sick, do not try to give them food or drink right away, wait until they want something. OR if your child is visibly dehydrated (i.e. no wet diapers in 12 hours, no tears, sunken eyes)

Then start with re-hydrating!

To Re-Hydrate:

• start with 1/4 tsp. water or Pedialyte every 10-15 minutes*


• if the child vomits, start over again


• when the child tolerates this for one hour, increase to 1/2 tsp. every 10-15 min.


• when the child tolerates this for one hour, increase to 1 tsp. every 10-15 min.


• gradually increase with small amounts of liquid and foods from BRAT diet when desired

*If the child is not tolerating 1/4 tsp. liquid, try starting with 1/8 tsp.

When to call the Dr:

• if you are unable to control the fever with Tylenol and Ibuprofen


• if Fever lasts longer than 48 hours


• if your child is dehydrated and will not tolerate 1/8 tsp. liquid after 2 hours of trying every 10-15 min.

Sword and Shield

My favorite little boy has tremendous faith in me. He thinks I can make anything. Lately he has asked me to make Batman ears, an Incredibles costume, and a bow and arrow. So far I haven't made any of those. It is hard to live up to such expectations! I am trying to encourage him to think of things he can make for himself (with only a little help).

This is one of my favorite projects he has come up with. One morning we thought it up and he made one for himself and his best friend next door.

All you need is:
- some cardboard (we always have a bunch of cereal boxes in our recycling bin)
- scissors
- tape or a stapler

Cut the size and shape you want your shield. A narrow strip can be affixed as a handle on back.

For the sword, you will probably want to have it at least tri-folded for some durability. Then make a cross-section for the hilt.

Sword fight until they fall apart. Then make new ones next week!

Girls enjoy this one too!

Make your own Train

supplies:

2 or more empty boxes from cereal, crackers, etc.
tape
yarn or string
scissors

Tape tops and bottoms of boxes shut.
Lay flat on the table and cut out a big hole in the top. Any size and shape you want the opening is fine. I usually do a nice big square so there is plenty of access to get toys in and out.

Poke holes in the edges of each box. You may want to reinforce around the hole with tape.

Then use lengths of yarn or string to attach the 'boxcars' of your train. I like to keep the boxes pretty close together and use a longer string with a looped handle or a handle made out of box fragments.

Decorate it with stickers, etc. and give your favorite teddy, books, cars, or shoes a ride!