Keeping your child safe at home

Accidents are a main cause of death among children aged between one and five years old.

Every year, about 500,000 children under the age of five go to hospital because of an accident at home.

Exploring and playing are an essential part of learning, and children shouldn’t be overprotected.

Bumps and bruises are inevitable, but you can do some simple things to make sure that your child doesn’t get seriously injured.

Keeping children safe from house fires

Housing safety

If you live in rented accommodation and are worried that your housing may be unsafe for you and your child, contact your housing association or your landlord

If your home catches fire, you and your child could breathe in poisonous smoke. It’s especially dangerous if the fire breaks out at night while you’re all asleep.

• Fit smoke alarms on every level of your home. Test the batteries every week. Change the batteries every year or, even better, get alarms that have 10-year batteries or are wired into the mains or plug into light sockets.
• At night, switch off electrical items wherever possible before going to bed and close all doors to contain a potential fire. If you smoke, ensure you put any cigarettes right out.
• Practice how you'll escape if there's a fire so you know what to do if the alarm goes off.

Your local fire and rescue service can give you the right advice for your own home and may be able to provide and fit smoke alarms free of charge.

Avoiding bath water scalds

Bath water scalds can be very serious injuries, needing prolonged treatment and care. They can kill a child. Toddlers may play with the hot tap, scalding themselves and other children sharing the bath with them.

• Never leave a child under five alone in the bath, even for a moment.
• Fit a thermostatic mixing valve to your bath's hot tap to control the temperature and stop your child being badly scalded.
• Put cold water into the bath first, then add the hot water. Always test the temperature of the water, using your elbow, before you put your baby or toddler in the bath. The water should feel neither hot nor cold.

Preventing children being burnt or scalded

• Fit fireguards to all fires and heaters. Use a sparkguard if you have a coal or wood fire. Guards can prevent under-fives falling or reaching into fires.
• Don’t leave hot drinks in easy reach of little hands. Babies and toddlers may grab at cups and mugs on low tables or on the floor and pull the contents over themselves.

Preventing child strangulation

• Make sure any cot toys have very short ribbons, and remove them when your baby goes to sleep.
• Never hang things like bags with cords or strings over the cot.
• Cut or tie up curtain or blind cords well out of your baby’s or toddler’s reach.

Preventing child poisoning

• Fit carbon monoxide alarms wherever there's a flame-burning appliance (such as a gas boiler) or open fire. Carbon monoxide is poisonous, but you can’t see it, smell it or taste it. Make sure that your appliances are serviced regularly and that ventilation outlets in your home aren’t blocked.
• Remember that child-resistant devices, such as bottle tops, strips of tablets and cigarette lighters, aren’t completely childproof – some children can operate these products. Store medicines, household chemicals (including cleaning products) and lighters out of sight and out of reach, or locked away safely.

Building Parent-Teacher Relationships

Effective communication is essential for building school-family partnerships. It constitutes the foundation for all other forms of family involvement in education.

Parent Benefits

Positive parent-school communications benefit parents. The manner in which schools communicate and interact with parents affects the extent and quality of parents' home involvement with their children's learning. For example, schools that communicate bad news about student performance more often than recognizing students' excellence will discourage parent involvement by making parents feel they cannot effectively help their children.

Parents also benefit from being involved in their children's education by getting ideas from school on how to help and support their children, and by learning more about the school's academic program and how it works. Perhaps most important, parents benefit by becoming more confident about the value of their school involvement. Parents develop a greater appreciation for the important role they play in their children's education.

When communicating with parents, consider your remarks in relation to the three categories that influence how parents participate. For example, are you communicating about:

• Classroom learning activities?
• The child's accomplishments?
• How the parents can help at home with their child's learning?

Student Benefits

Substantial evidence exists showing that parent involvement benefits students, including raising their academic achievement. There are other advantages for children when parents become involved — namely, increased motivation for learning, improved behavior, more regular attendance, and a more positive attitude about homework and school in general.

Teacher Benefits

Research shows that parental involvement can free teachers to focus more on the task of teaching children. Also, by having more contact with parents, teachers learn more about students' needs and home environment, which is information they can apply toward better meeting those needs. Parents who are involved tend to have a more positive view of teachers, which results in improved teacher morale.

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55 Ways to Save the Environment and Make a Difference

As parents and educators, we have the responsibility to teach our kids to care for our world. And it is easier than most people think. Here are some tips to make a difference.

1. Take your family to the park and talk to them about the joy of being in green, clean, preserved places.
2. When you are outside, pick up your rubbish and teach your kids that, just as they do not litter at home, they should act the same in our “global home”.
3. Have a garden and teach your kids to care for the garden. If you live in an apartment building, have pot plants and take care of them.
4. Every year, plant new things in your garden.
5. When you go camping, put out your fire properly. Be careful with cigarettes and fire in the bush.
6. Have a compost bin and put your organic waste in it.
7. When you fish, make sure you follow the rules of fishing. The rules are there to protect the fish, but in the long term, they protect the people.
8. Turn off the lights when they are not needed.
9. Avoid long showers.
10. Use water-saving appliances. Consider the water rating before you buy.
11. Walk instead of driving.
12. Ride a bike instead of driving.
13. Walk up the stairs instead of using the elevator (it will make you healthy too).
14. Car pool if you can.
15. Install a “half flush” in your toilet,
16. Use public transport if you can.
17. Open your car windows from time to time.
18. Hang your clothes outside to dry instead of using a dryer.
19. Use your washing machine only when you have a full load.
20. Use your dishwasher only when you have a full load.
21. Use solar power.
22. Recycle your clothes. Donate them or use their fabric to make something else. The more you use, the less everyone needs to produce.
23. Separate your garbage and recycle.
24. Buy products with less wrapping and packaging.
25. Use reusable bags and boxes instead of plastic bags.
26. Do not print things you do not have to. Learn to adjust your computer applications to make text easy to read.
27. Use recycled paper.
28. Print on both sides of the page if possible.
29. Use emails as much as you can to save printing.
30. Pay your bills online (and choose to receive email statements) to save tons of paper waste.
31. Be careful what you wash down the sink (avoid disposing of oil, paint or hazardous chemicals).
32. Use a strainer in your sink.
33. Plan your shopping. If you buy more than you need and have to throw it away, everybody loses.
34. Use leftover food and make new dishes with it.
35. Turn off taps and make sure they do not leak.
36. Find ways to save water in your shower, toilet, garden and sink.
37. Wash your car on the grass.
38. Use energy-efficient light bulbs.
39. Reuse your containers (just be careful when using them in a microwave oven).
40. Buy in bulk to save on packaging.
41. When you use your oven, avoid opening the door.
42. When you heat water, heat only as much as you need.
43. When you bake, try to do all your baking on one day, so you only have to preheat the oven once.
44. Clean all your filters.
45. Use timers for electric appliances.
46. When you mow your lawn, use the cuttings for compost.
47. Borrow equipment from people to avoid buying something you rarely use.
48. Lend other people your equipment, for the same reason.
49. Find out natural alternatives for chemical cleaners.
50. Reuse envelopes.
51. Use old magazines and phone books for arts and craft.
52. Avoid using disposable plates, cups and cutlery.
53. If you can work from home, do it.
54. Buy used furniture.
55. Try to fix things before buying new ones.

Be the change you want to see in the world
– Mahatma Gandhi

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6 Little Behavior Problems You Shouldn't Ignore

Interrupting When You're Talking

Why you shouldn't ignore it: Your child may be incredibly excited to tell you something or ask a question, but allowing him/her to butt in to your conversations doesn't teach him/her how to be considerate of others or occupy herself / himself when you're busy. "As a result, she/he'll think that she/he's entitled to other people's attention and won't be able to tolerate frustration," says psychologist Jerry Wyckoff, Ph.D.

How to stop it: The next time you're about to make a call or visit with a friend, tell your child that she/he needs to be quiet and not interrupt you. Then settle her/him into an activity or let her/him play with a special toy that you keep tucked away. If s/he tugs on your arm while you're talking, point to a chair or stair and tell him/her quietly to sit there until you're finished. Afterward, let him/her know that she won't get what s/he's asking for when s/he interrupts you.

Playing Too Rough

Why you shouldn't ignore it: You know that you have to step in when your child punches a playmate, but you shouldn't disregard more subtle aggressive acts, like shoving his brother or pinching a friend. "If you don't intervene, rough behavior can become an entrenched habit by age 8. Plus, it sends a message that hurting people is acceptable," says Parents adviser Michele Borba, Ed.D.

How to stop it: Confront aggressive behavior on the spot. Pull your child aside and tell him, "That hurt Janey. How would it feel if she did that to you?" Let him know that any action that hurts another person is not allowed. Before his next play date, remind him that he shouldn't play rough, and help him practice what he can say if he gets angry or wants a turn. If he does it again, end the play date.

Pretending Not to Hear You

Why you shouldn't ignore it: Telling your child two, three, even four times to do something she doesn't want to do, such as get into the car or pick up her toys, sends the message that it's okay to disregard you and that she--not you--is running the show. "Reminding your child again and again just trains her to wait for the next reminder rather than to pay attention to you the first time you tell her something," says psychologist Kevin Leman, Ph.D. "Tuning you out is a power play, and if you allow the behavior to continue, your child is likely to become defiant and controlling."

How to stop it: Instead of talking to your child from across the room, walk over to her and tell her what she needs to do. Have her look at you when you're speaking and respond by saying, "Okay, Mommy." Touching her shoulder, saying her name, and turning off the TV can also help get her attention. If she doesn't get moving, impose a consequence.

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What You Can Do to Support Babies' Brain Development From 18 to 24 Months

Language 

Toddlers vary greatly in their paths to understanding and using language. Between 18 and 24 months, toddlers can usually say around 50 words. They then begin adding several new words to their spoken vocabulary every day, and begin putting two words together, such as “more milk.” If you are concerned about a language delay, talk with the child’s family and suggest an evaluation by a health care provider or child development specialist. Talk with your toddlers. This is one of the most important ways you can help children develop language skills! Talk as you play and go through your daily routines together. Take the time to listen to your toddlers. Toddlers' speech can be slow and difficult to understand. Be patient, and try to really understand what they are saying. Repeat, expand, or restate what the toddler says. This lets the child know that you are listening and trying to understand what he says, and encourages him to keep talking. Read to your toddlers every day. Also tell stories from your culture, history, and experiences. Sing and use rhymes, finger plays, and poems in your daily routines.

Thinking Skills

 Toddlers do a lot of imitating at this age. They learn a variety of skills by copying what they see you do. Imitation is especially important because it is a key step in understanding the use of symbols as stand-ins for the objects and things they experience. For example, they will pick up a toy phone and hold it to their ear and babble away. As toddlers near age 2, you might see them engage in pretend play like saying “hello” to a doll or pretending to eat a plastic apple. The ability to understand symbols depends on many areas of the brain maturing across the second year and beyond. Encourage imitation. You can do this by acting as a good role model, showing children how to be patient in working through a challenging task. Provide “hands on” experiences. These might include sand and water table play, lay dough, finger paints, and so on. Provide props that encourage imaginative play. Useful objects include: toy telephones, food, hats, and dress-up clothes. Resist pressure to “teach” toddlers specific academic skills such as colors and shapes. They will learn these concepts through their everyday play and interaction with you. For example, ask if they want a red or green apple, or point out shapes and colors as you take a walk around the house or outside: “Do you see the street sign shaped like a triangle?”

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6 Ways to Inspire Creativity to your children in Second Home Nursery

Foster process-focused art with advice from Leslie Bushara, deputy director for education at the Children's Museum of Manhattan.

Prepare for a mess. Set up an art space where your kid can be free to experiment (and get messy!), advises Bushara. Throw a drop cloth or a newspaper on top of your kitchen table or in the garage. If weather permits, let kids paint outside.

1. Avoid giving direction. Don't tell your kid what to make or how to make it. Instead of saying, "Paint a rainbow," encourage her to "experiment with mixing colors using different types of brushes and paper," suggests Bushara.
2. Speak specifically about art. When talking to your child about his artwork, try to be precise in your comments. For instance, instead of giving a generic compliment, Bushara recommends saying, "I see you used a lot of purple. Why did you choose that color?"
3. Explore your child's process. Often the best way to encourage conversation about your child's art is simply to say, "Tell me about what you made," or ask, "Did you have fun making it?"
4. Don't draw with your child. When parents draw something representational while a younger child is sketching, it can frustrate him, warns Bushara. "It's better to be near him and let him know that you're interested and supportive of his art-making," she says.
5. Let it be. When a child finishes a piece, don't suggest additions or changes, advises Bushara. It's important for a child to feel that what she's created is enough -- even if it's just a dot on the page.
6. 
   

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Why Children Love Water Play!

Whether they're in a warm winter bath or a cool summer pool, most babies love water play. It's a sensory extravaganza as children feel the wetness, hear the splashes and sprinkles, see the bubbles and waves, and maybe even taste a few droplets. It's also a sensational learning experience for your child: As your budding scientist pours, splashes, and giggles, she is observing cause and effect, experimenting with water's fascinatingly fluid properties, and being introduced to basic physics (what floats and what sinks).

• cups and scoops (for filling and dumping)
• boats and fish (for pretend play)
• sponges and cloths (for squeezing and scrubbing)
• bath crayons and paints (for creativity that's easy to clean up)
• soaps and bubbles (for experimentation…and giggles)

You can also take the show on the road, especially in warmer weather. Outdoors, use a kiddie pool, a lawn sprinkler, or just a few buckets for water play (of course, you'll need to be vigilant about sunscreen and supervision). Back inside, fill your baby's high-chair tray with a half-inch of water and an ice cube or two and let her splash away. Or spread a large towel on the floor and seat your baby on it with a few small plastic containers, scoops, and spoons. Fill one container with a little water and let her dump, fill, and splash to her heart's content. So what if she winds up soaked? She's washable!

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How music can benefit our toddlers?

In Second home Nursery we believe that music can build strong "mental muscles" for our toddlers. Children are drawn to music. Infants bounce to the beat, toddlers and preschoolers delight in their favorite songs, and school-aged children dance and sing along with the radio. But music is much more than entertainment. Music offers many benefits, including increasing learning and improving mental focus. According to KidsHealth.com, music contributes to a sensory-rich environment, which can forge new neural pathways between the brain cells.

Actively Experience

Young children respond best to music when they actively participate in music, rather than listen passively. Dance with your little one as you listen to music, and show her how to move to a slow-moving beat and how to move to a fast-moving beat. Using different tempos with your child will help her develop listening skills and will help her learn about tempo. Incorporate movement with music by singing songs that include hand motions or finger-plays, such as "Itsy Bitsy Spider" or "Wheels on the Bus." According to KidsHealth.com, combining music and movement helps children learn how to control their bodies and how to coordinate their movements, which helps build self-control and concentration.

Academic Concepts

Your child can also learn academic concepts and skills through music. For example, the alphabet song can introduce letters to young children, and the song, "This Old Man" can teach numbers in a much more memorable way than by using flashcards or by rote memorization. The website Education.com points out that those children who can keep a steady beat often show greater reading fluency. Give your child simple instruments like tambourines and shakers -- or drums to bang, shake and generally tap to the beat. Point out how these instruments produce different sounds, and that your child can play them in different ways. This helps build auditory discrimination, a skill that's helpful in learning phonics and reading. Singing a variety of songs can build vocabulary and increase language skills. According to KidsHealth.com, music can also help build reasoning skills, which are crucial for learning math and science. Introduce the concept of patterns by tapping or clapping out a simple rhythm and inviting your child to echo it back to you.

Comfort

Children who are regularly exposed to music may begin to use music as a source of comfort or to soothe themselves. You may hear your child humming to herself as she plays music or if she makes up a song as you drive in the car. Music can help young children feel more secure and know what to expect, such as when you incorporate music into daily routines. Incorporate songs into common transitions or routines your child encounters during her day. Sing a certain song at bedtime to let your child know that it is time to go to sleep. Sing a clean up song when it is time to stop playing, like "Toys away, toys away, it's time to put your toys away" -- or change the words to "London Bridge" to "Brushing, brushing, brushing teeth."

Provide Variety

The early years are a great time to expose your child to a wide variety of music. The website KidsHealth.com states that you can improve your child's ability to analyze and comprehend music when he experiences different musical styles. Incorporate music into every aspect of his day by letting the music play while you cook in the kitchen; play a variety of recordings while you drive. Sampling different styles and artists by checking out music from your local library is a great way to expose your child to a variety of music in a cost-effective way. Take your child to musical performances you feel are age-appropriate, and encourage him to give his own performances at home.

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We launched .... Peter Pan!

What we like the most regarding Peter Pan's character is the way he deals with life. This is one of the basic  skills we aim to cultivate through a rich and stimulating program during the first week of our summer camp. We believe that "Children who are able to regulate their emotions pay more attention, work harder, and achieve more in school. They are better able to resolve conflicts with their peers and show lower levels of physiological stress. They are also better behaved -- and more caring towards others." 
In Second home Nursery we value friendship, love, kindness... but we also teach our children to behave always according to their values. We know that our children will be as responsible in the future as our attitude towards life!


“It is not in doing what you like, but in liking what you do that is the secret of happiness.” 
― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan