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Participation in daycare activities can benefit your child in so many ways. Read on to learn more about how attending a day care center can enrich your young student!

Anna’s Day Care is a childcare center serving the San Jose, CA area. Click here to learn more about why daycare is good for parents!

The teachers at our daycare center do their best to create an environment that allows each child to have space to develop healthy social-emotional skills. Here are a few benefits of sending your child to our daycare center: Promote social-emotional development - There’s always an opportunity for your child to socialize with other kids while they are at a daycare center. This constant exposure to other children will help your child develop social skills and teach them how to regulate their emotions. Prepares your child for school - Enrolling your child in our daycare center will prepare them for school because it will get them used to a routine, socializing with peers, and being more independent. Sets your child up for academic success - The teachers at our daycare center will teach your child social-emotional skills, as well as the basics such as colors, days of the week, months of the year, and counting. These skills will help them be more prepared for when they go to kindergarten. Helps build communication skills - Our teachers understand that childcare is more than just watching children, it’s helping them develop their social-emotional skills. Social-emotional skills help children learn to regulate their emotions which helps them build healthy relationships with others. Increases your child’s confidence - Our daycare center strives to create an environment that allows children to develop a sense of independence. The children will be given age-appropriate tasks to complete themselves such as putting their nap blankets away, throwing away trash after meals, and putting on their jackets and shoes. Our childcare services are accessible to anyone who lives in San Jose, Santa Clara, or Sunnyvale, CA. Give our daycare center a call today ! We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Benefits of Incorporating Arts and Crafts at a Day Care Center

When you are sending your child off to day care, it might be a little stressful for you, as you don't want to leave your child with just anybody. This is a huge parenting milestone and may be challenging for any parent. Choosing a day care center that is safe and engaging as well as one that will provide ample amount of learning and play is important. If you want to make sure you are making the best decision for your child, consider the following factors when searching for a day care center. Hours of Operation One of the main things you'll want to look at is the hours of operation. If you choose a day care, will you have enough time in the morning to drop them off and be to work on time? Are they open long enough so you don't have to make alternate arrangements? Choose a day care center that opens early enough so you do not have to rush in the morning, as well as late enough so you are not rushing from work. Location Consider the location of the day care center. Is it close to your house, making morning and evening commutes very convenient? Check for ample parking and good lighting and ensure it is in a safe area. Meals/Snacks It is important that your child has the proper nutrition while in the care of someone else. Does the day care center you are looking at provide breakfast, lunch, and snacks? Do they acknowledge food sensitivities or allergies? Teacher/Student Ratio Each state sets different guidelines for the ratio of teachers to children. These guidelines should not be overlooked as they could cause safety concerns. When the ratio is low, the more attention your child will receive. Also, check if the teachers are trained and certified in first aid and CPR. Program/Curriculum No matter how young your child may be, it's never too early to start them with an age-appropriate learning program. However, you also want there to be an ample amount of play as play is important for your child's growth and development. In your search for day care centers, ask the center how it helps prepare children for school and about the curriculum. We want to establish a good foundation for a lifetime of learning. Cost/Payment Options The cost of the day care center might be a big driving factor whether you choose it or not. Some centers offer automatic payments, so you don't forget and to make it easier for you. Others accept cash or credit card payments. Ask about a discount for having multiple children attend the center.

Creating a schedule to make your child’s daily routine is important to their development. It establishes structure, provides a sense of normalcy, and gives security. Everything from setting wake-up and bedtimes to allotted time for naps, meals, play, and homework all show your child what’s important for them to do each and every day. Below, we have detailed benefits of maintaining structure and how to create a schedule for your child. Keeping Everyone On Routine Running a household is no small task. With everyone going at their own pace when they please, it can be hard to build a tight-knit home. Having your child on schedule helps to keep the household a bit more calm, and it helps your child to develop these habits as they grow. Showing What’s Important With a schedule, your child will soon gain an understanding as to what tasks come first and why scheduled tasks or events are important. This is a skill that, gaining early on, will only continue to help them as they progress in their life. Highlighting healthy habits only reinforces their benefits. Encouraging Confidence & Independence The more that your child follows their routine, the sooner that they will stick to it on their own. When children take on these challenges on their own, they begin to develop confidence and independence at a young age; they will feel good knowing that they didn’t need your help to do something they can do on their own. To start your child on a routine, it’s first important to remember that flexibility is a must. Having too rigid of a structure can take away from spontaneity and creativity, which are also needed in a child’s early development. So, when it comes to starting your child on a schedule, start small by having key routines at the same time, such as waking up, eating, sleeping, etc. Patience will be needed, especially early on. Remember to make time for special events and creative outlets and be open to adjustments if needed. Anna’s Day Care can be a great part of your child’s routine. We have structure within our own day care center, as it is an invaluable part of a child’s development. Give us a call today to learn more about our day care center and child care options.

Every parent should be concerned about what their kids are putting into their bodies and whether or not these youngsters are sticking to a healthy diet. A nutritious diet is essential to the growth and development of a young child. Starting good eating habits at a young age will provide positive benefits and instill a healthy routine that will continue for years to come. Kids are more likely to live healthy as they grow older if they start eating healthy when they are young. Far too often, children are taught poor eating habits at a young age. It’s often easier for parents to just let their kids eat the junk that they love but provides no nutritional benefit. The result has been an increase in childhood obesity and countless health problems associated with a poor diet. Fortunately, there are several steps parents can take to make sure their kids learn to eat and love healthy foods. Keep Plenty of Healthy Foods on Hand The easiest way to get your children to eat healthy is to surround them with healthy foods. While you may be thinking about healthy meals to put on their plate at the dinner table, kids are often looking to grab snacks off the counter or from the cupboards. It’s a good idea to get rid of readily available junk food and replace it with healthy options. Say goodbye to chips and chocolate bars and replace them with fruits and low-fat yogurts. You may not be able to completely convince your kids to turn to fruits and vegetables and away from packaged snacks and other goodies in the cupboard. Therefore, it’s a good idea to buy healthier options like whole-grain crackers, organic cheese sticks, and sugar-free peanut butter. You can also make sandwiches on whole-grain bread and serve them a bowl of healthy, whole-grain cereal. The important thing is to inundate your kids with the healthiest food options possible when they start to get hungry at home. Work More Fruits and Vegetables into Meals You can easily incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your kids’ daily diet by making fruit or vegetable side dishes for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The idea is to get your kids used to eating fruits and vegetables with their meals. You could buy bananas, strawberries, or grapefruit to serve with breakfast or lunch. You can also make vegetables to be included on your child’s plate for lunch or dinner. Good choices include carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, and corn. Try different options with your children and see which ones they take a liking to. You never know, they might just have a thing for celery, broccoli, or cauliflower. Serve Lean Meats for Dinner Get your kids into the routine of eating healthier meals by sticking to a diet of lean meats. We know kids love to eat chicken fingers, cheeseburgers, and pizza, but these aren’t the best entrees for their health. In fact, we recommend avoiding fast food altogether. Too many kids have a diet with a heavy fat intake. Avoid fried foods and turn to those lean-meat options. Chicken, fish, and pork are good options to serve, especially if they are grilled, steamed, broiled, or roasted. Try to cut out the fried meats from your child’s diet. Drink Healthy as Well While you’re focused on healthy foods for your kids, don’t forget about what they’re drinking. Stop buying your kids sugary drinks like soda and fruit-flavored beverages. Instead, pour them a glass of water or low-fat milk. At Anna’s Day Care, we always provide healthy food options for children in our care. You can put your faith in our day care center for the best possible childcare, including healthy meals and healthy snacks. Our day care provides the best environment and attention for children in San Jose, CA; Santa Clara, CA; or Sunnyvale, CA. We serve up to three meals and two snacks a day for every child. Contact us today for the very best child care.

Positive reinforcement is one of the best gifts you can give to a developing child, and it costs nothing at all. When a child is given positive reinforcement for something good they have done, it not only increases the likelihood of them doing that good deed again, but it builds confidence and allows them to grow and reach their full potential. In this blog post, we will discuss a few ways in which you can effectively provide positive reinforcement to your child and how it will ultimately affect them in a productive manner. When Is It Appropriate To Use Positive Reinforcement? Positive reinforcement can be used in several instances. Whether your child has accomplished something at school, athletically or in any other area, making your child know that you are proud of them and have the utmost confidence in them will in turn allow their confidence to grow and help them take on more and more as they develop. Positive reinforcement can also be used when they do something socially that is acceptable such as being kind to relatives, friends or neighbors. The point of this exercise is to tell them what they are doing is good and right and that they should continue to do that act in the future. Conversely, if your child does something inappropriate, such as lying, you should let them know what they have done is wrong and that they should avoid doing this in the future. What Are A Few Benefits of Positive Reinforcement? As mentioned above, a few benefits of positive reinforcement include the learning of good habits, having good social awareness and always trying to do their very best. By continually applying positive reinforcement when they reach goals, your child’s confidence and self-esteem will continue to grow, they will feel loved and they will hopefully reach their full potential as they mature into adulthood. Can It Be Used After Struggles/Disappointments? Yes, in fact, this is one of the best times to use positive reinforcement. We have all gone through hardships in our lives and it is often the advice or encouragement of a loved one that has helped us get through them. This encouragement or positive reinforcement can help your child try at something again if they have failed or face fears they may have. Using positive reinforcement in these instances is essential for growth and development and can teach your child valuable lessons that they can bring with them as they continue to grow. At Anna's Day Care, we believe in these same principles of positive reinforcement and make sure all of the children that we care for feel encouraged and have a chance to grow as individuals. Should you live in Santa Clara, CA or the surrounding areas and are interested in having your child cared for by our team, we ask that you reach out to us at your earliest convenience; we look forward to hearing from you soon!