With the ​Cape Cod Parent Resource Fair rapidly approaching we will be sharing blog posts on our participating sponsors, vendors and nonprofits.  You will find out more about these amazing businesses and what they offer to our community. They will be sharing their services, advice, what challenges face our community as well as upcoming events they will be having.  Make sure to check out our virtual program and resource guide ahead of the event so you can plan for what you want to see!  We hope to see you at the Resource Fair!

1.) Tell us about your business/non profit and how it benefits local families?

We are a family owned and operated set of early learning centers that offer programs for children from 6 weeks up through 13 years old.  We are unique to the communities we serve. We provide breakfast lunch and snack in our locations. We pride ourselves in being available to families as we provide 10 hours of care per day, and are open in inclement weather because we know many families have demanding schedules themselves. We have been on the cape for over 10 years. 

2. Where is it located?

 We have 19 locations all over southern MA and throughout RI. Our two cape locations are in Bourne and South Dennis

3. What is your favorite part about our community?

Being on cape cod is like living in a small town. We are a staple in each of the towns we provide care for, and everyone knows someone who has attend at least one of our schools. 

4. How else do you get involved with the community?

In South Dennis we help sponsor one of the 5k races in the summer. In Bourne we are a sponsor for the Bourne Braves, and we have also provide free story hours in the past for families to attend. 

5. What are the biggest challenges facing parents in our community?

I feel as though the one of the biggest challenges facing our families today is the work home balance. We pride ourselves in providing a safe, fun, and loving environment for the children of this community to go while their parents are having to work and spend time away from the home. 

6. What is your favorite memory or story over the years involving you and your business?

Through out my time with The Children's Workshop there have been many memories and stories the have stood out in my mind. I think for me the common theme in all of them for me would be when the child has that "light bulb" moment. When you have helped them complete the same task hundreds of times then all of a sudden they are showing you how they can complete it on their own. That is when you know the work we do as early educators is meaningful and rewarding.

7. What advice would you give parents and care givers in our community?

Get involved in your child's life. Help them explore and enjoy the world around them while creating  an infectious child like sense of wonder. 

8. Do you have any specials, events, or anything else taking place this upcoming year that our parents should know?

We provide many events throughout the year free and open to the public. Our next event is our Parent's Night Out on Tuesday Feb, 13th from 6pm to 8pm. It is a $20 donation to our foundation for all non Children's Workshop families. 

Halloween Health & Safety Tips
By Heather Grocott

Autumn holidays like Halloween are fun times for children of all ages, who can dress up in costumes, enjoy parties, enjoy fall fruits and vegetables, and eat yummy treats. These celebrations also provide a chance to give out healthy snacks, engage in physical activity and focus on safety.

Check out these tips to help make the festivities fun and safe for trick-or-treaters and your party guests:

·         Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible.

·         Avoid trick-or-treating alone with your child. Walk in groups with friends.

·         Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you and your child.

·         Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating

·         Encourage your children to always WALK during trick or treating

·         Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.

·         Dress your children in well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.

·         Do not allow your child to enter homes

·         Carry a cell phone with you

Treat safety tips:

·         Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before your child eats them. Limit the amount of treats your child eats.

·         Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.

·         A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.

·         Consider purchasing non-food treats for those who visit your home, such as coloring books or pens and pencils.

·         Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.

Expecting trick-or-treaters or party guests?  Follow these tips to help make the festivities fun and safe for everyone:

·         Provide healthier treats for trick-or-treaters such as low-calorie treats and drinks. For party guests, offer a variety of fruits, vegetables, and cheeses.

·         Use party games and trick-or-treat time as an opportunity for kids to get their daily dose of 60 minutes of physical activity.

·         Be sure walking areas and stairs are well-lit and free of obstacles that could result in falls.

·         Keep candle-lit jack o'lanterns and luminaries away from doorsteps, walkways, landings, and curtains. Place them on sturdy tables, keep them out of the reach of pets and small children, and never leave them unattended.

·         Remind drivers to watch out for trick-or-treaters and to drive safely.

Choosing the Right Child Care Facility for Your Family

By Maggie Teller

Where do you begin?

Choosing an early learning center for your child can be one of the most difficult decisions that working families have to make for their children.  It can be a daunting task to think about for most new moms.  So, where do you begin?  Start by making a list and asking some important questions.

• What hours will you be working? Are they flexible and would the job allow you to work some hours from home?
• What hours will you need each day and how many days will you need?  Will a family member or a friend be watching them one or two days a week?
• Who is going to be doing the drop off and pickup?
• Think about the location…do you want a center that is closer to work/school or home?
• Do you want a corporate facility or a center that is smaller and has a homier feel?
• What can you afford?

These are very important questions to ask yourself before you begin your search for an early learning center for your child.

How to chose a center…start by using word of mouth.

Once you have these initial questions out of the way, start asking your colleagues, co- workers, family and friends where they send their children. 

·         Ask them about their experiences with their facilities. 

·        Find out if they would recommend their early learning center to you.

·         Also, don’t forget to ask them if there are things that they don’t like about the center. Maybe they have an option on the policies, staff, cleanliness or curriculum?

·         Who knows better than a family that is already attending a center about the true ins and outs? 

But just because your friend or family member likes a center doesn’t mean that it will definitely be a right fit for you. 

Things to consider: be prepared for your tour.

·         Make sure you and your child feel comfortable and welcomed at the center during the tour.

·         Ask about their curriculum.

·         Are the staff CPR qualified? Do the teachers have degrees in early childhood education?

·         Is the center accredited?

·         Talk to staff and Director about how they manage negative behavior.

·         How clean is the center? Who cleans it everyday?

·         How are the rooms furnished? Children should have access to a variety of learning experiences, age appropriate equipment and play centers throughout the classroom.

The list of questions can be endless…so come prepared.  Bring a list of all the things that are important to you in an early learning environment.  It is hard to remember once you get to the center.  Also, take good notes so you can revisit when you are trying to compare all the centers that you visit.

Visit more than one center.

It is very important to visit more than one early learning center.  Don’t settle for the first center you visit.  There are so many facilities out that that vary in so many ways.  They may have different philosophies; curriculum, different ratios and some are large or small facilities.  Really take the time to investigate all types of centers before you settle on the one that is the perfect fit for your family.  In the end only you know what will work best for your family.

The Children’s Workshop

The Children’s Workshop was created when my father, Dave MacDonald, witnessed his employees struggle to find quality, affordable, reliable child care.  We began with one location in Lincoln, RI and we’ve grown to become a leading child care provider in RI and MA. The Children’s Workshop is still owned and operated by my family.

We teach our own research-based curriculum which has been developed by our team for over twenty years. Our teachers are well trained in their field. Many hold degrees in early child hood education and all of our staff take trainings regularly to stay up to date with new teaching techniques and ideas.

We encourage families to come in for a tour and learn about our family company. This Thursday, August 21st, we are having an open house at all of our locations from 5-7 so parents can stop by, meet the other families at the center and see what we have in store for the school year. If your family is considering enrolling in an early learning center or an after school program, this is perfect time to stop by.

We have a location at 536 MacArthur Blvd. in Bourne, MA. They can be reached at (508) 563-3400. We also have a location in South Dennis located at 434 Route 134 in the Cranberry Square Plaza. Call (508) 760-2772.

By Tracy Martin-Turgeon
 When the warm weather starts to roll in to summer, chances are you will go swimming at the beach, a community center or a backyard pool.  Basic safety tips are essential to ensure safe swimming.   Some tips to help make your summer enjoyable.

 Actively Supervise.

• There is no substitution for supervision.  You need to be actively supervising all children around bodies of water.  Infants and toddlers should be within your reach.
• Educate your children around water and swimming. 
• Teach them to tread water.
• Different bodies of water react different.  Such as a lake, a pool, or ocean all will be different in the water and your children should know the difference.
• Do not rely on swimming aids to baby sit your child in bodies of water. These are to help them to learn how to swim. 
• CPR saves millions of lives; if you do not know CPR techniques you can inquire at the Red Cross, hospitals, and local fire departments offer CPR trainings. The Children’s Workshop can help you learn CPR also.

Stay safe in your back yard in swimming pools.

·         Teach your children basic swimming tips in your pool.

·         Making children aware of pool drains, pipes, ladders that may cause them to become stuck or pulled under water.

·         Always have a portable phone close by incase you need to call 911.

·         If a child is missing, check the pool first.

·         Make sure your pool has a lock and gate when not in use.

·         Install pool alarms this could possible save a life.

·         Maintain your pool so it is operating properly.

·         If possible, enroll your child/children in swimming classes.

Enjoy your summer, use safety tips and caution at all times.  Drowning statistics have grown over the years.  Make this your top priority as a parent to ensure your child is safe at all times near water.   Make sure you have a first aid kit handy, a pair of scissors to cut hair or clothing if they get stuck or entrapped, a portable phone, and a flotation device and you will be on your way to an enjoyable summer.

By Tracy Martin-Turgeon 

• What is Mathematics Awareness?
• Myths about children learning math at a young age…
• Activities to do at home to help your children learn to love math…

Mathematic awareness started in 1986 when President Ronald Regan issued a proclamation for National Mathematics Awareness week.  Celebrated in the month of April each year, math is as essential as reading and writing.  Basic math and number concepts in preschool and kindergarten classrooms set the foundations for learning advanced math later on in life.  Early exposure to simple, then more detailed math, will help your child be more confident in their abilities to do math as they grow and get introduced to more complex math at older ages.

Myths about Math:

1.       If children do not get basic math concepts in early years and elementary, they will just catch up later on.

·         This is false; research has shown that if a child struggles in elementary school in math, they will still struggle in middle and high school.  It is important for children to grasp math at an early age.

2.      Teaching children math at preschool level is not serious until middle or high school. 

·         Not true; children who are exposed to basic number sense early on and in Kindergarten tend to succeed and progress more in math.

3.      Toddlers should not be doing math.

·         This is false; although you will not be teaching your toddler multiplication, toddlers begin to learn basic math through talking, singing, using blocks, simple puzzles and nesting cups.

4.      When you spend too much time on math at a young age, it takes away from other learning experiences.

·         False; when children learn math, they not only learn simple concepts and number sense, they are also learning communication skills, language, literacy, and writing.

Some activities to do at home to enhance math:

·         When folding clothes, have your child sort the socks and match them for you.

·         Have your child set the table with dishes and the silverware for one-to-one   correspondence.

·         While driving in the car, count how many white, red or green cars go by.

·         Have your child find numbers on buildings, buses, taxies or houses that they can add or subtract.

·         Find license plates and try to read the number. TM 3689 this would read three thousand, six hundred and eighty nine.  How many states did you find?  Which state had the most plates on the road?

·         Cooking, measuring and estimating liquids and solids when baking. How much is a half or a quarter of a cup?

·         Have them count out the change you get back from a purchase or what they have saved in their piggy banks.

The most important thing you can do for your child is not to ignore math and help them to love math as they grow. 

Resources:  Parent and child, and Parent fun math.

B-Roll: The Children’s Museum, books on math for young children,  paper plates and silverware,  socks, and change. 

By Nicole Chiello

As adults, we all know how important money is to everyday life. Having skills to balance your bank account is something that will benefit you forever and will ultimately strengthen your quality of life, no matter how much money you have. Whether we have an abundance of it, or not much of it at all, we have to think about it numerous times a day. If you really think about it, money is probably one of the things that an adult has to think about the most often – paying bills, buying food, gas, etc., everything that you do as adult, even something that is actually free, costs some form of money. 

According to Forbes magazine, adults don’t know nearly as much about balancing money as they should, and much of the reason is because schools don’t teach enough about it. As parents and caregivers, however, there is a lot we can do to teach children about money early. 

Click here to watch our segment of The Modern Parent where we presented this article about teaching children about finances.

1.) The concept of, “you can’t always get what you want.”  It’s important to start early when it comes to buying for children. Let children know when you are shopping that today is not going to be a day they receive a gift, and they will have to wait. Helping children understand early that every time they walk into a store, they will not necessarily receive a present is important for them as they get older. 

2.) Allow your child to help you with choices at the market.  As they get a little older, allow them to help you make choices. Give them 5 dollars and ask them what fruit or vegetables you should get for the family. Explain to them that you might be able to buy something on sale and get more of it, or something not on sale and get less. If children can help you and come to these money decisions with you, they will better grasp it when they have to do it on their own.

3.) Start with an allowance early. The idea of an allowance is an important concept for children as they grow – if you are doing it the right way. Give your child a list of things they can do, and if they do it, they will get a certain amount of money. If they don’t do it, they will not receive it – much like adults. If we don’t do the work, we won’t get our money. 

4.) As they get older, start them with banking ideas early. Many college students get thrown into the credit card, student loan and bank account world all at once. Work on things one at a time. Open a bank account early in high school and balance it with them. Talk to them about how they should only be using a credit card if they can pay off the balance at the end of the month and show them why. Show them the financial reasons behind college options – how the more expensive school will be more harmful in the long run. 

5.) Allow children to make small mistakes. It might be the easy thing to explain to your child why a purchase isn’t worth it – but let them make it and see it for themselves. Then help them learn from it. You might know that the purchase is ridiculous, or cheap, or too expensive -and you know they will regret it. Letting them regret it, however, teaches them not to make the same type of purchase again.

Nicole Chiello is an Education Specialist at The Children’s Workshop. The Children’s Workshop has locations in Bourne and South Dennis. Nicole received a BA in Elementary Education and Psychology from URI. Nicole has been with the team for four years.  Before being a director, she was a school-age coordinator, as well as a substitute for the Public Schools. Her favorite thing about working with children is the guarantee that every day is different! Visit us at wwww.childrensworkshop.com .

By Kelli DiDomenico

It’s that time of the year again when you start to think about decorating your house for the holidays.  Argh… is one of the first thoughts that may come to mind for many adults, when we think about this hefty endeavor.  Many parents are already tired, overworked and have too much on their plates.  The thought of adding another task can be overwhelming. That is just when the kids will say, “let’s decorate the house, it’ll be fun!”

You can make it fun. Let’s start by involving the entire family in the decorating festivities, instead of dreading the work it takes to decorate your house. You can follow some of these ideas and plans to get your family started.

1. Set up a family meeting – Get everyone involved in this family project.  Set up a day or days and times that everyone can dedicate to just decorating.  Put it on the family calendar on the fridge and make sure that everyone has committed to it.
   
   
2. Check out your inventory – Have the kids (with adult supervision if needed) pull out all the holiday decorations that you currently have for the season.  Then, as a family, decide on a budget for the other needed supplies or decorations.  Then hit the discount stores or resale shops for supplies and try to keep it under budget. 
   
   

*A good tip to remember for the end of the holiday season is to neatly organize and put away decorations in an identified space that is easy to retrieve for the next year.

1. Areas to decorate – This can be the big question for the kids.  What areas of the house are we going to decorate?  Trying to decorate every nook and cranny can be overwhelming and very expensive.  So start off small and expand on your areas each year. 
   
   Ask the children if they want to decorate the inside or outside? Then you can get started.  If they chose the inside they may want to decorate the table, the kitchen, the living room or maybe even the bathroom.  Let them choose what areas to decorate.  Remember we want to make decorating a fun filled family time and not a stressful event.  If they decide on decorating the outdoor area maybe they may want to consider the front door, front yard, porch or patio.
   
   
2. Make and/or pick decorations –However, to make it easy you want to start by using the decorations that you currently have at the house. 
   
   Once you have done that then you get to the real creative stuff…making some homemade decorations. 
   

Some ideas for decorating…

• Decorate Bowls & Baskets –This project is a great excuse to utilize old baskets or bowls that maybe from previous gifts that you have piled up in a closet just wasting space. Let’s the kids have a ball picking out a few good baskets to display some of their holiday decorations or art projects from school.  They can also gather some pine cones and decorate them with glitter and display them too.  Let the kids use their imaginations to see what they can design for their creations. 
  
  
  • If they want to get really creative they can also gather some old glass vases or jars and fill them with holiday balls or garland.  Try not to be judgmental with their design choices.  As their parent, we need to proudly display all of their lovely crafts.
    
    
• Popcorn or stringing beads – Stringing popcorn or beads is a fun inexpensive way to create a fun decoration for any holiday.  All you need is string, needles and pop up some popcorn or gather up some beads and you are ready to get started.  Have fun and be creative.  You definitely need to consider a child’s age and ability when working with this craft activity.
  
  
• Countdown paper chain – A paper chain project can be great for all ages.  The children can cut strips of paper, in their favorite colors, number them and hook them together.  Find a great place to display your creation and let the countdown begin.  Each night a different family member can cut off one of the pieces of the chain to display how many days are left for the big day.
  
  
• Christmas wreaths and swags – Children love to go on nature hikes.  This is a great opportunity to explore the outdoors with your children.  Have them gather pieces of branches, pine cones, and other greenery that they can use for their homemade wreath.  All you need for supplies are some glue, paper plates, scissors and a ton of imagination.
  
  

• Countdown paper chain – A paper chain project can be great for all ages.  The children can cut strips of paper, in their favorite colors, number them and hook them together.  Find a great place to display your creation and let the countdown begin.  Each night a different family member can cut off one of the pieces of the chain to display how many days are left for the big day.
  
  
• Christmas wreaths and swags – Children love to go on nature hikes.  This is a great opportunity to explore the outdoors with your children.  Have them gather pieces of branches, pine cones, and other greenery that they can use for their homemade wreath.  All you need for supplies are some glue, paper plates, scissors and a ton of imagination.
  
  

*Another good tip for next year is to stock up at the after holiday sales to find some great decorations for good prices.

Finally the ultimate goal when decorating your home is to have fun, spend quality time with your family and end up with a holiday display that everyone had a hand in creating.  Remember that your family can add many of their own traditions to make it special.  If you want to add a little zip to your holiday decorating you can always add some healthy snacks, warm hot chocolate and holiday music playing in the background. The point is to discover, as a team what works best for your family.  Happy Decorating to all!

By Kelli DiDomenico

Halloween is a spooky holiday that many children look forward to every October.  It starts with the thrills of visiting your local haunted houses, carving silly jack-o-lanterns with your family and friends, trick or treating for yummy candy and of course creating your very own crazy, silly and creative costumes that don’t break the bank.

It’s important, however, to balance fun along with safety, when we think about celebrating Halloween.  Everyone certainly wants to have a safe, fun, inexpensive and great Halloween night that the entire family can enjoy.  All it takes to accomplish these goals is some easy safety tips as a guideline and some creative, homemade costume designs that can fit everyone’s budget.  Halloween season is a great opportunity to bring families together to engage in some family-friendly activities for little or no cost.  All it really takes is some elbow grease, teamwork and a lot of creativity.

First things first – all parents need to know how to make Halloween as safe as possible for you and your child, before you can think about creating that fabulous, one of a kind costume for trick or treating.

·         Supervision - Children under the age of 12 should be with an adult at all times. Never let your children too far ahead of you.  The rule of thumb is that they should always be in your line of vision.  It’s very important to educate your children to never go into a stranger's house. No matter how nice they seem, it is important to stay on the doorstep and leave promptly after you have received your treat.

·         Precautions - Don’t forget to decorate trick or treat bags, costumes and all outer wear with reflective tape or stickers and choose light colored costumes to improve visibility. Your children will be out later when it is darker and it is important to be able to see them at all times. Choose face paint and make-up instead of masks, which can obstruct a child's vision. Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights in order to see better, as well as to be seen by drivers.

·         Check All Candy – Always remember to inspect all treats for signs of tampering before children are allowed to eat them. Candy should be thrown away if the wrapper is faded, torn, or if the candy is unwrapped.

·         Obey Traffic Laws –Safety comes first…always use sidewalks and traffic signals when walking around your neighborhood. Cross at corners, make sure to follow the traffic signals and if there are no sidewalks, make sure to walk with the traffic.

Dressing up in costumes are certainly a fun Halloween tradition, but purchasing costumes can become very expensive for families, especially in these difficult economic times. There are a number of inexpensive ways and things you can do to create a unique, amusing and silly costume for your child and have fun while you are doing it! Encourage your child to first explore clothing and other accessories that you may have at home that can be used for a costume. Then you can spend a small amount of money on special accessories for them to create that one of a kind outfit.  Here are some great ideas…

·         All Black clothing = black cat or a bat

·         All Red clothing = devil, red M&M or skittle (use a little tape for the M on the shirt!)

·         All white clothing = angel

·         Pajamas = a baby

·         Jeans and a flannel shirt = A cowboy

·         Branches, brown paper bags, string, glue – scary Halloween Tree

·         Sports uniforms and equipment – basketball, hockey, soccer, golf, soft ball or baseball player…

It's also very easy for your older child to dress like his or her favorite television or book character by using things from home. You can use recycled materials to create many unique costumes as well. Put some holes in a cardboard box for a child's head and arms. Your child can be a TV, a Rubik's cube, a dice. Let them use their imaginations to create whatever they think will be a hit in their neighborhood.

Other low-cost ideas…

·         Take a trip to visit your local Salvation Army, thrift store or Savers or any local resale shop that may sell gently used costumes and accessories that can be an affordable option for many families.  You may be surprised at what a great selection they have for costumes and accessories.

·         Start a Costume Swap with your family, friends and neighbors.  It’s simple – just have everyone bring their old costumes to your swap and exchange away.  Remember to set the ground rules beforehand.  You may also want to invite your child’s childcare or school to get involved in a costume swap event.  It’s a great activity for their PTO’s or Parent Committees to get involved with during this season.  The opportunities and ideas can be endless and lots of fun for all ages!

Halloween is a great, family-friendly tradition that allows us the opportunity to spend this holiday with each other.  So take advantage of the season and spend quality time with the people you love, make some life long memories in the process and stick to your budget.  Happy Trick or Treating!

Kelli DiDomenico brings over 20 years of experience to her role at The Children's Workshop as Director of Parent and Community Relations.  Kelli earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Rhode Island College.  She was the Director and Owner of her own School Age Program and a Program Manager for Therapeutic child care before rejoining the TCW team in 2010.  She is also a very active member of the communities we serve. The Children’s Workshop is located in South Dennis and Bourne and provides learning programs and quality care for ages six weeks through twelve years. Visit www.ChildrensWorkshop.com for more information.

By Tracy Martin-Turgeon

Summer is a time for fun, going to the beach, camp, and other fun activities. Routines generally stay the same; however children are usually allowed to stay up later than they do during the school year and activities are usually different than in the winter and fall.  As summer winds down it is time to get back on a school schedule. By easing your child slowly into a regular schedule can be less stressful for everyone. Here are some tips that can help parents to prepare their children to get ready to go back to school.

Get Back to Basics
·        Bedtime is usually the hardest. When children have been in bathing suits for days on
end.  If your child was allowed to stay up to 9:00 pm but bed time is usually 8:00pm, send them to bed at 8:45 for a couple of nights, then 8:30 and so on until you reach their regular bed time
during the school year. 

·        The last few weeks of summer have your child get back into the school day rhythm. Set your alarm clock for the same time each morning. Have your child get up and get ready just as if they were going to school. 

·        Plan some activities during the week to go out. Once everyone is ready go to the park, the beach or even just for a walk. Leaving the house is as just important as getting up and ready.

 Get Organized
 ·        Shop early for supplies, clothes, lunch boxes, etc.  Have a game plan; if your child is old enough have them sort out clothes that they want to wear the first week. Being prepared ahead of time takes the stress for your child and you. Plan ahead for sick days how will you handle these situations as well as a pick people that can step in when you can’t. 

·        This can be hard; but you want to nurture independence by letting your child be involved in the process for school even if they are young will help prepare them for an easier transition for a new school, first time going to school, or a new classroom.

Prepare Teachers, School and You
·        Let teachers and the school know about any specific behaviors, allergies, medications, IEPs, or anything new either that happened over the summer or if this is your child’s first time at this school. 

·        As the parent you want to find out about your child’s school. Some schools will have tours before school starts in the summer. Plan a visit to find out where your child’s classroom is, who the teacher will be, where exits are, if they are taking a bus where do they get off and what information is needed. If your child will be attending a child care facility or an afterschool program, plan to attend and take your children with you so they can meet the teachers. If the child care will be transporting to school and picking up ask what time the van leaves, what information does the school need, and any other information that is
important.

Keep Routines Smooth
·        Once your children start school, make sure the routines continue. Set up snack time after school, and a time and place for homework. To avoid daily battles, make homework part of their everyday routine. Make sure the same time and place in your home is consistent. If you have younger children that do not have homework yet, you can still do this with a simple game, coloring, or sensory project. By establishing this at an early age this will help your children ease into homework time a lot easier. This will give you time to prepare dinner and any other chores, as well as some quality time with your child to find out how their day went.

The main key is consistency. Keeping routines the same such as homework, dinner, bath and bed, children need structure and consistency. If they know what to expect than you have less battles and more constructive time to spend with your child. Don’t forget to be involved in parent teacher conference, keeping up to date what is going on in school. Before you know it summer will be back. 
 
Resources: WebMD, Parenting, and Kabose