Giving Your Baby a Healthy Start: Well-Child Visits in the First Year

One of the most powerful steps you can take to set your baby on a path to lifelong health and well-being is ensuring they see their pediatrician regularly during their first year of life. These well-child visits go beyond routine checkups; they are an opportunity to track your baby’s growth, check development, and catch any potential health issues early on. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), well checks during the first year can make a real difference in your child’s health, providing both preventative care and guidance for parents.

The Well-Check Schedule for Babies

Each visit provides crucial support for your baby’s early health and development, ensuring that they meet important milestones and stay protected against common childhood diseases. The AAP recommends that babies visit their pediatrician at specific intervals during their first year:

  • First Week Visit: 3-5 days after birth
  • 1 Month Visit: Around one month old
  • 2 Month Visit
  • 4 Month Visit
  • 6 Month Visit
  • 9 Month Visit

What Happens at Each Visit?

During well checks, your pediatrician will evaluate your child’s physical and developmental progress. Here’s what you can expect at these early appointments:

  1. Growth and Physical Development: Measurements of your baby’s weight, length, and head circumference help the doctor make sure your baby is growing as expected.
  2. Developmental Milestones: Pediatricians assess developmental milestones in areas such as vision, hearing, motor skills, and social interaction. This helps ensure your baby is meeting key benchmarks.
  3. Vaccinations: Well checks in the first year typically include important vaccinations to protect against illnesses like whooping cough, polio, and hepatitis B. The CDC notes that vaccination is one of the safest, most effective ways to protect your baby from serious diseases.
  4. Physical Exam: Each visit includes a thorough physical exam, covering everything from your baby’s eyes and ears to their heart and lungs. Your pediatrician may also check muscle tone and reflexes.
  5. Guidance for Parents: Well checks offer a chance to ask your pediatrician about feeding, sleep routines, behavior, and other parenting topics, helping you feel confident in caring for your baby.

Why Well Checks Matter for Your Baby’s Health

Regular well-child visits are essential because the first year is a time of rapid growth and change. Babies double their birth weight in the first six months, and their brains are developing at an incredible pace. According to the CDC, well checks ensure that children get the medical, developmental, and nutritional support they need during this crucial period.  Studies also show that children who have regular well checks experience fewer emergency room visits and fewer serious health problems later in life (Source: AAP). By building a strong foundation now, you’re giving your baby the best possible start.

Trusted Resources for Parents

By staying on top of these well-child visits, you’re setting your child on a path to good health, ensuring they grow and develop in the best possible way. Each appointment offers a chance to celebrate your baby’s progress, protect them against illness, and feel assured that you’re doing everything to support their health and happiness.

Make 2025 the Year of Reading: Great Books for Every Age Group

January is a wonderful time to curl up with a great book and nurture your child’s love for reading. At our daycare, we believe in the power of books to inspire curiosity, foster imagination, and support early childhood education. To help you make story time extra special this month, we’ve curated a list of fantastic books for different age groups—perfect for any age child!

Books for Ages 0-2 Years:

At this stage, children thrive on colorful visuals, rhythmic text, and interactive elements.

  1. “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
    • A classic with repetitive, rhythmic text and vibrant illustrations that captivate young minds.  Reading the same stories over and over builds brain pathways for the future.
  2. “Where’s Spot?” by Eric Hill
    • An interactive lift-the-flap book that invites babies and toddlers to join in the search for Spot the dog. Take the time to let your child find and lift the flaps while you build their vocabulary by naming what is found.
  3. “Guess How Much I Love You” by Sam McBratney
    • A heartwarming story about the bond between Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare, perfect for soothing bedtime routines. Talk about things your child does that you love.

Books for Ages 3-5 Years:

Preschoolers love stories that spark their imagination and encourage learning through themes of adventure, friendship, and discovery.

  1. “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle
    • A delightful tale that introduces counting, days of the week, and the concept of transformation.
  2. “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury
    • A rhythmic adventure that gets preschoolers engaged with movement and sounds. Also, great to get up and do the motions when the wiggles take over.
  3. “Stuck” by Oliver Jeffers
    • A hilarious story about a boy whose kite gets stuck in a tree—and all the silly things he throws to try and get it down.  See if your child has some problem solving ideas of their own before you reach the end of the book.

Books for Ages 5-6 Years:  

For kindergarten-aged children, stories with more complex plots, relatable characters, and opportunities for learning are ideal.

  1. “The Day the Crayons Quit” by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers
    • A humorous book that encourages creativity and problem-solving as the crayons express their feelings about how they are used.
  2. “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” by Laura Numeroff
    • A playful cause-and-effect story that sparks imagination and laughter.
  3. “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss
    • A motivational classic that inspires young readers to dream big and embrace new adventures.

Why Reading Together Matters

Reading with your child is not only a way to bond but also an essential part of early childhood education. It supports language development, improves attention spans, and introduces children to new ideas and concepts.  Don’t worry if your child is not read to sit and read a mountain of books at the beginning. A love of reading takes time, routine and a good book.

  • Make it Interactive: Encourage your child to point to pictures, repeat phrases, or predict what happens next.
  • Set a Routine: Establish a regular storytime, whether it’s before bed or during quiet moments in the day.
  • Choose Books They Love: Let your child pick books that spark their interest, even if it means reading the same one over and over!

 

We hope these recommendations inspire meaningful moments with your children this March. Reading together not only enhances their education but also creates memories that last a lifetime. Happy reading!

Kickstart 2025: Enhance Your Understanding of Preschool Child Development

As we usher in the new year, it’s an ideal time to commit to personal growth for you and your family. For parents and daycare teachers, deepening your understanding of preschool child development can significantly enhance the care and guidance you provide. Here are some highly recommended books to consider adding to your reading list in 2025:

Authors Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson offer insights into how a child’s brain develops and provide practical strategies to promote positive parenting. This is so important when it comes to teaching our children to handle their healthy emotional and intellectual growth.

  • How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk
    Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish present effective communication techniques that use cooperation and mutual respect between adults and children.  They give caregivers practical communication strategies that strengthen your relationship with your child. These skills help both you and your child feel heard and understood.
  • Positive Discipline
    Jane Nelsen introduces a respectful and encouraging approach to discipline, focusing on building a child’s self-esteem and problem-solving skills.  By emphasizing connection over punishment, it helps create a supportive family environment where both parents and children thrive.
  • Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs
    Ellen Galinsky identifies key skills that are crucial for children’s success and provides strategies for parents and educators to nurture these abilities. She goes into detail about: Focus and Self-Control, Perspective Taking, Communicating, Making Connections, Critical Thinking, Taking on Challenges,  and Self-Directed, Engaged Learning.
  • The Importance of Being Little: What Preschoolers Really Need from Grownups
    Erika Christakis challenges conventional educational approaches and emphasizes the significance of play, relationships, and exploration in early childhood.

Why Continuous Learning Matters

As parents, grandparents, childcare workers and caregivers by dedicating time to read and reflect on these resources, you enhance your ability to foster a supportive and enriching atmosphere for the preschoolers in your care.  Reading and staying informed is part of showing you care. Engaging with current research ensures that you are equipped with the best tools to support your child’s development.  Searching out these books show you understand the need to adapt to your preschoolers ever changing needs and sets an example for your child that a commitment to learning and doing better is valuable.

Let’s embrace the new year with a commitment to growth and excellence in our roles as caregivers and educators.

Top 6 Developmental Milestones for Three-Year-Olds

Three-year-olds are bursting with curiosity and growing independence. This year your child will reach new milestones with the help of their peers, teachers and family that bridge the gap between young toddler and engaging preschooler.  They will  reach exciting milestones that build their social skills, cognitive abilities, and motor coordination. Three year olds really are fun and exciting learners.

#1- Speech Clarity and Sentence Structure

    • Age Range: 3-4 years
    • Description: By age three, children can typically speak in complete sentences of 4-5 words, and their speech is increasingly clear. They start using correct grammar and may even have conversations with adults and peers.
    • Activities to Help:
        • Engage in Conversations: Ask open-ended questions to encourage them to describe their thoughts and experiences.
        • Storytelling: Encourage storytelling by asking them to share what happened in their day or by creating stories together.
        • Reading Books: Read a variety of books together. Talk about the story, characters, and events to encourage new vocabulary.

#2- Counting and Basic Math Concepts

    • Age Range: 3-4 years
    • Description: Children begin to understand basic math concepts, such as counting to 10 and recognizing shapes and sizes. They can start to grasp ideas like “more,” “less,” and “same.”
    • Activities to Help:
        • Counting Games: Count objects during daily activities, such as toys, snacks, or steps, to reinforce counting skills.
        • Shape and Size Sorting: Use blocks, buttons, or other small items to sort by shape, size, and color.
        • Simple Puzzles: Offer puzzles with numbered pieces or simple matching games to support spatial awareness and early math.

#3- Improved Fine Motor Skills (Using Scissors and Drawing)

    • Age Range: 3-4 years
    • Description: Three-year-olds often show improved hand-eye coordination and control over their fingers, which allows them to use tools like scissors, crayons, and markers with greater accuracy. They may start to draw recognizable shapes, like circles and lines.
    • Activities to Help:
        • Coloring and Drawing: Offer crayons, markers, and paper to encourage drawing. Ask them to create pictures and tell you about them to support creativity.
        • Scissor Practice: Provide child-safe scissors and paper for supervised cutting practice, which helps develop fine motor control.
        • Playdough Fun: Manipulating playdough by rolling, squishing, or using small tools builds hand strength and coordination.

#4- Social Skills and Playing with Others

    • Age Range: 3-4 years
    • Description: Around this age, children begin to understand and engage in cooperative play with peers. They start learning social rules, such as sharing, taking turns, and playing simple group games, which are essential for developing friendships and empathy.
    • Activities to Help:
        • Arrange Playdates: Organize playdates with other children to give your child practice interacting with peers in a friendly, supervised environment.
        • Board Games and Group Activities: Introduce simple board games that require taking turns, which encourages patience and teamwork.
        • Role-Playing Games: Engage in pretend play, such as “house” or “store,” which allows them to practice social roles and empathy.

#5- Understanding and Expressing Emotions

    • Age Range: 3-4 years
    • Description: At this stage, children become more aware of their own and others’ emotions. They start identifying feelings like happiness, sadness, anger, and surprise and may express empathy toward others.
    • Activities to Help:
        • Emotion Games: Play games where you label and act out different emotions. This can help them recognize and name feelings.
        • Storybooks About Feelings: Read books that discuss emotions and ask questions to explore how characters feel and why.
        • Encourage Self-Expression: Allow them to express their feelings through words, drawings, or dramatic play. Respond with empathy and validation to help them process emotions.

#6- Developing Independence with Self-Care

    • Age Range: 3-4 years
    • Description: Three-year-olds begin to show interest in independence, often wanting to try self-care tasks like dressing, brushing teeth, and helping with simple chores. This milestone builds confidence and responsibility.
    • Activities to Help:
        • Practice Dressing: Encourage dressing independently by providing simple clothing options like elastic-waist pants and slip-on shoes.
        • Teeth Brushing Routine: Establish a fun routine for brushing teeth, using a timer or song to make it enjoyable and easier to follow.
        • Helping with Chores: Involve your child in small household tasks, such as setting the table or watering plants, which fosters a sense of responsibility.

Final Thoughts

Every child develops at their own pace, and it’s natural for some skills to emerge a little earlier or later. Celebrate your child’s progress, and use these activities as gentle encouragement rather than pressure.  Supporting your three-year-old’s growth in these areas sets a foundation for lifelong learning, social connections, and emotional resilience. Enjoy these moments of exploration and discovery!

The Power of Family Traditions with Young Children

The holiday season is a time filled with love, joy, and cherished memories—and family traditions play a huge role in making it magical. Research has shown that traditions help children and their families promote emotional well-being, build a sense of identity, and strengthen family bonds. For parents of young children, now is the perfect time to start traditions that they’ll look forward to year after year.

Why Family Traditions Matter

Family traditions bring everyone together and create a special rhythm to the holiday season that children remember for a lifetime.  Here’s how they benefit children:

  1. Fostering a Sense of Security: Young children thrive on predictability, and knowing that certain activities will happen gives them a sense of comfort and security.
  2. Building Family Bonds: Shared traditions strengthen family relationships by creating moments for togetherness, laughter, and love.
  3. Creating a Sense of Belonging and Identity: Holiday traditions connect children to their family history and help them understand where they come from, which is key to developing a strong sense of self.
  4. Promoting Positive Mental Health: Studies show that shared family rituals contribute to children’s happiness and emotional well-being, giving them a foundation of love and stability.

Getting Started: Simple, Meaningful Traditions

# 1. Holiday Story Time

Set aside one evening each week leading up to the holidays to read a holiday-themed book as a family. Create a cozy atmosphere with blankets and warm drinks, and let your child pick out a book to read together. This tradition encourages a love for reading and provides valuable bonding time.

  • Create a holiday book collection that you bring out each year.
  • Let each family member pick their favorite book to add to the holiday reading list.

# 2. Create a Family “Thankful Jar” or “Gratitude Chain”

In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, create a “Thankful Jar” or a paper “Gratitude Chain” where each family member writes something they’re thankful for on a slip of paper. Read these together on Thanksgiving Day or at the end of the season to reflect on the year’s blessings.

  • Provide colorful paper strips or pre-decorated slips to make the jar more inviting.
  • Share stories around each item in the jar for added meaning.

# 3. Baking Day

Set aside a day to bake holiday treats together. Young children can help with simple tasks like mixing ingredients, adding sprinkles, or using cookie cutters. This activity allows them to be involved and teaches them basic cooking skills. Plus, they’ll love tasting the results!

  • Choose one or two easy recipes, such as sugar cookies or gingerbread, that you can make each year.
  • Let each child have a special apron or cookie cutter to personalize the experience.

# 4. Family Movie Night

Pick one evening each holiday season to watch a family holiday movie together. Make it a special event with popcorn, cozy blankets, and your favorite holiday pajamas. You can even let your child choose the movie for that year. This tradition creates a low-key, bonding experience that children look forward to.

  • Create a “holiday movie countdown” and mark the date on the calendar to build excitement.
  • Consider movies that teach positive messages about kindness, generosity, and togetherness.

# 5. Decorate the Tree Together

Involve your child in decorating the holiday tree, even if it means the ornaments aren’t arranged “perfectly.” Let them pick out their favorite ornaments, or make an annual tradition of creating a new handmade ornament together. Young children love being part of the decorating process, and it helps them feel included in family traditions.

  • Choose an ornament each year that represents a special memory or event.
  • Make salt-dough ornaments or other simple crafts together, allowing them to be part of the tree’s story each year.

A Holiday Season to Remember

Family traditions don’t need to be elaborate or costly—they simply need to be meaningful and consistent. The most important thing is spending quality time together, enjoying activities that bring happiness to your family. This holiday season, as you establish or continue traditions, remember that the simple joy of sharing experiences together is what truly makes the season magical for young children. By starting these traditions now, you’re building a legacy of love, joy, and connection that will enrich your child’s life for years to come.

Choosing the Best Toys This Holiday Season

As the holiday season approaches, many of us start thinking about the perfect gifts for our little ones. In the daycare setting, we see every day how the right toys can foster curiosity, creativity, and development in young children. When choosing toys, look for ones that are educational, open-ended, and engaging. Here are some qualities to consider when shopping for toys that will benefit your child’s growth and keep them entertained long after the holidays.

Educational Value

Toys that offer educational benefits help children learn essential skills in a fun, engaging way. Look for toys that support cognitive development, like puzzles, matching games, and building blocks. These toys introduce concepts such as shapes, colors, numbers, and problem-solving, laying the foundation for early learning in literacy and math.

  • Tip: Look for toys that encourage children to think, analyze, and solve problems at their own pace. Educational toys should feel like play, not work!

Open-Ended Play

Open-ended toys allow children to use their imagination and creativity without strict rules or limits. These toys can be used in multiple ways, sparking creativity and allowing children to explore and experiment. Unlike toys with a single purpose, open-ended toys grow with children and can be enjoyed in new ways as they get older.

  • Tip: In daycare, we see how children love to build stories, create scenarios, and engage in imaginative play with open-ended toys. These toys support their social, language, and cognitive development by encouraging them to think flexibly and explore their world.

Toys that Encourage Physical Activity

Toys that get children moving help develop gross motor skills and physical coordination. Active toys, such as balance bikes, jump ropes, or foam balls, are great for children’s physical health and help them release energy, which is especially important during colder months when outdoor play is limited. Toys that encourage physical activity build confidence and help children learn to control their movements. They also teach turn-taking and cooperation if used in group play settings.

  • Tip: Even simple items like foam blocks or soft play mats can encourage movement, stretching, and tumbling.

Social and Emotional Development

Toys that promote social skills and emotional intelligence can be especially beneficial for young children. Dolls, stuffed animals, and pretend play sets encourage children to express emotions, build empathy, and practice social scenarios. Playing with these toys, especially in a group, supports children’s social and emotional skills.

  • Tip: Board games and simple group activities are also great tools for learning social skills, as they introduce concepts like turn-taking, patience, and following rules.

Durability and Safety

Children’s toys should be sturdy, well-made, and safe. Opt for toys made from quality materials that can withstand daily play. Check for non-toxic materials, especially for young children who are still in the stage of exploring by putting objects in their mouths. Many well-crafted toys can be used for years, making them valuable not only in terms of longevity but also in sustainability.

  • Tip: Look for toys labeled as meeting ASTM or CPSC standards, as these labels indicate that the toys meet safety regulations.

Limit Screens and Battery-Operated Toys

While there are many educational electronic toys, limiting screen-based toys and battery-operated toys is generally beneficial, especially for young children. Screen-free toys promote active, hands-on play, allowing children to use their creativity and imagination freely. Battery-operated toys can limit open-ended play, as they often have a set purpose that leaves less room for creativity.

  • Tip: Focus on toys that encourage tactile interaction, exploration, and discovery. Studies have shown that young children benefit more from real-life play experiences rather than screen-based interactions.

A Few Toy Ideas Based on These Qualities:

  1. Building Sets: Wooden blocks, magnetic tiles, or interlocking bricks encourage creativity, problem-solving, and fine motor skills.
  2. Pretend Play Kits: Play kitchens, doctor kits, and tool sets allow children to imitate real-life scenarios, building social and language skills.
  3. Art Supplies: Crayons, markers, paper, and child-safe scissors help children express themselves creatively and develop fine motor control.
  4. Simple Board Games: Games like “Candy Land” or “Memory” encourage turn-taking, patience, and early cognitive skills.
  5. Musical Instruments: Instruments like drums, tambourines, and xylophones help children explore rhythm, coordination, and listening skills.

This holiday season, by focusing on toys that are educational, open-ended, and supportive of development, you’ll be giving your child gifts that go beyond the holiday excitement. With the right toys, you’re creating opportunities for learning, exploration, and joyful play—gifts that truly keep on giving.