Hi, parents! This week, I am still stressing over the “what ifs” of preparing my kiddo (and myself) for the big leap into preschool. This week my mind is stuck on the food of it all. I’m looking for the best snacks for preschoolers.

Does your kiddo need a packed lunch for preschool? There is so much to get into. Let’s do it!

The Snack

I am a big fan of the simple fallback snack when necessary: A little bag of gold fish and some fruit snacks. To be clear, there is no parent shame allowed around these parts! We are all doing our very best. And there is nothing wrong with grabbing something packaged from the pantry.

 For my kiddo, he can be picky with no notice. One day he loves goldfish and the next he can’t even look in their direction.

New, Exciting, Yummy

 I would like to incorporate more fresh fruits and veggies into his diet, though. So I’ve been looking at some simple alternatives to keep his preschool snacks new, exciting and still yummy.

 An easy one to start with is cheese and fruit! Grab some cheese cubes or string cheese from the grocery store. You can pair the cheese with halved grapes or quartered strawberries. 

Organizing

A great tip for these snacks is to pick up some of the reusable bento-style containers. They keep everything separate and tidy but easily accessible for your kiddo when it’s snack time. 

Another snack I’m planning: Crackers and deli meat. Like a lunchable but made by kiddo’s parent! Throw some crackers in there for the crunch and a couple of slices of deli meat (I like turkey) folded into squares to fit the cracker.

 In the words of my son: Ta -Da! A delicious snack for preschool. 

Easy Lunches

Next up, lunch time! Remember, we are attempting to keep things simple for us caregivers. So first up, the tortilla sandwich.

 Those little ones can be hard to convince to eat a whole sandwich. But, roll up those same ingredients in a tortilla? It’s a whole new meal! 

Tortillas can replace bread so easily. You could do a banana pb&j in a tortilla. Or try a classic turkey and cheese roll up. You can cut the rollups into smaller bite-sized pieces as well. 

Another way to utilize the tortilla is to make a quesadilla. Tip: Make it the night before and leave the lunch ready in the fridge to grab on your way out the door! No one wants to make a quesadilla at 7am. 

If you are going down the quesadilla route, try cheese and apples. They are flavors your kiddo is already used to, just in a different form. You can add sliced cucumbers or shredded carrots on the side to get some veggies in there too. 

Trying New Foods

The overall message here is that we don’t have to get stuck in the same rotation of the same few meals. 

Kiddos can be creatures of habit and when they like something, they LIKE it. Until all the sudden they don’t at all. 

It can be easy to just do what you know they will like. But I’ve noticed recently is that my own child hasn’t wanted to try new things. So, we’re inching our way there. 

One new meal at a time.

 Just in time for preschool lunch! 

Sophie Hamel is a freelance writer and works as a crisis responder. Her son is three years old.

Luminous removes the hassle of arranging for tuition vouchers and helps make childcare affordable. Vouchers can help ease your financial stress. Learn more about qualifying for HRA and ACS vouchers at our Bronx and Brooklyn centers. Payment can also be made by SEIU/1199 Child Care, check, credit card, and through the Luminous reimbursement program. Contact Luminous Early Childhood Learning Center at enrollment@luminouschildcare.orgor call us at 929.228.1180.

Hi, Parents! Happy to be back here with you all. I’m preparing my little man to attend preschool this fall. Now that it’s almost here, it feels like a very big deal.

I want my little gremlin boy to be as prepared as possible to be successful in this new adventure. So here is everything I’ve learned about preparing little ones for preschool.

Practice at Home

First things first, it can be super helpful for kiddos to practice their independence. This consists of tasks such as taking off their shoes and putting them on. Set them up for success by providing shoes that are either slip on or velcro straps. Practice at home as you prepare your little one for preschool. 

Another task to practice ahead of time is taking off a jacket and putting it on.

And, of course, the big one: Going to the bathroom! A lot of kiddos are newly potty trained and might need a little assistance with getting ready to do things more independently. We’re talking proper wiping and hand washing. 

Social Skills

Another big part of preparing kiddos for preschool is interacting with other children to build their social and emotional skills. If you’re a parent of multiple young children or your child has been attending daycare for a while now, they might already have a lot of these things down. I’m referring to sharing, taking turns and asking for what they need.

 One good way to get your child interacting with other little gremlins is to bite the bullet and set up the playdate. I know how hard this can be. We live in an area where we don’t have relatives or friends nearby who have children the same age as my son.

So, last year, we enrolled our little guy in a preschool prep program two hours a week for the opportunity to interact with children his age. We’ve also got him signed up for a gymnastics class once a week at our local rec center. 

Schedule Adjustment

Next, depending on your family’s current sleep schedule, it can be incredibly helpful to adjust bedtime and morning routines to mirror when school starts. 

This way they have a bit more time to adjust to the new schedule and won’t feel rushed in the mornings to get out the door one time. 

Get Excited!

Another aspect of making the transition as seamless as possible is to take your kiddo to visit the preschool. If they offer an open house prior to school starting, take your little one! 

An open house is a great opportunity to get our children acquainted with the new environment. 

Show your child their classroom. Have them meet their teacher and show them where their cubby is at.

 It’s super helpful for us parents to talk about preschool starting like it’s the super bowl. This is the most exciting thing your child has ever done! We want them to be THAT excited. 

Comfort in Routines

My last stop on the “Get Ready for Preschool” tour is one I think you’re going to love.

Come up with a goodbye routine. 

It’s the same every time you drop them off. It could be an exploding fist bump, three kisses on the forehead or a secret handshake. 

Whatever it is that you and your little one come up, it will add a layer of routine and consistency that your child’s nervous system may thank you for. 

There you have it, parents! Your get-ready-for-preschool checklist. Let me know how it goes, and I’ll see you next week! 

Sophie Hamel is a freelance writer and works as a crisis responder. Her son is three years old.

Luminous removes the hassle of arranging for tuition vouchers and helps make childcare affordable. Vouchers can help ease your financial stress. Learn more about qualifying for HRA and ACS vouchers at our Bronx and Brooklyn centers. Payment can also be made by SEIU/1199 Child Care, check, credit card, and through the Luminous reimbursement program. Contact Luminous Early Childhood Learning Center at enrollment@luminouschildcare.orgor call us at 929.228.1180.

Hi, parents! Summer is travel time for lots of families.  Traveling with toddlers means more planning. My family is gearing up for a special little road trip to meet my dad about a six-hour drive from where we live. 

My fiancé and I have taken a couple of trips in the three  years since our son was born. However, those trips were either airplane rides that weren’t more than three hours each or a road trip that wasn’t more than a couple hours. So this trip will be our first time attempting to keep him happy and entertained while winding down the interstate.

Here’s how I’m preparing for traveling with a toddler!

First, Snacks

First things first, snacks! In an economy like this, we cannot just be purchasing snacks and meals as we go. My plan is to prep it out. That means healthy snacks like grapes, strawberries, clementines, and bananas. 

Grapes will be washed, dried, and secured inside a big ziplock bag. For the strawberries, I will opt for a plastic container so they don’t get too squished. We can premake PB&J sandwiches and grab some fruit snacks and chips. 

Easy peasy and no excessive spending on anything except gas… and maybe a candy bar. I’ll make sure to bring reusable water bottles, too! 

Doing Nothing

Next stop, activities. The first idea on the list of suggestions is to give your little one nothing. Allow them to sit and take in all that is going on around them whether they are in a car or on a plane. There is so much happening that little ones would be interested in or even amazed by. 

The moments that our little ones aren’t constantly entertained are few and far between. I’m guilty of this as well! But allowing our children to be “bored” can actually be a gift. 

As they grow and develop, being used to not having anything to do can be a great advantage. Allow them to let their minds wander, think of new ideas or games, be creative! 

But, Toys

These toyn suggestions are great for cars and airplanes. I do my best to only allow my son a screen as the ultimate last resort.Screens work a lot better for a meltdown if the kiddo hasn’t already had hours of access to them. 

So, before you pull out the trusty ol’ iPad, try a busy board! 

We have a busy board that is made of foam and fabric. It has a little zipper, velcro tab, belt buckle, and more! This specific busy board is great because of how light and easy it is to fold up. 

Another great toy for cars or airplanes is window clings! These are great for getting creative. If your kiddo’s car seat keeps them from being able to reach the window, you can pick up a whiteboard for them to use instead! They can place the little clings/ stickers on the window or whiteboard to create their own little worlds. My son has the transportation pack with the garbage trucks, bulldozers and cars. 

The whiteboard is a great thing to bring  for older kiddos, too. You can play games using them. For example, tic-tac-toe or Pictionary. 

If you do want to let your child use a tablet, it can be good to try to use one tablet and climb back there with it! You can keep them engaged and using their little brain muscles to answer questions about the show or movie you are watching. You can also download some fun educational games before heading out for your trip. 

That arrangement helps keep your child entertained during the drive without feeling totally cut off from their parents while stuck in the back seat. 

Energy Breaks

My last plan of action, if all else fails and my sweet little gremlin can’t handle another minute in the car…. Is to bite the bullet. Take a break! Stop at a park, get the snacks out, and let your little one run around. Maybe all they need is to release all that pent-up energy. 

OK, parents! This is the best I’ve got for now. If you have any suggestions, let me know!  I’ll let you know how the trip goes!

Sophie Hamel is a freelance writer and works as a crisis responder. Her son is three years old.

Luminous removes the hassle of arranging for tuition vouchers and helps make childcare affordable. Vouchers can help ease your financial stress. Learn more about qualifying for HRA and ACS vouchers at our Bronx and Brooklyn centers. Payment can also be made by SEIU/1199 Child Care, check, credit card, and through the Luminous reimbursement program. Contact Luminous Early Childhood Learning Center at enrollment@luminouschildcare.org or call us at 929.228.1180.

Hi, Parents! Welcome back to another fun week of information no one told you that you needed before having children! This week we are going to be talking about how to choose a preschool. 

The pressure is on, am I right? Choosing a preschool is one of the earliest big decisions we are making for our little ones. And we want to set them up for success! So, how do you know when you choose a preschool that you’re making the right choice? Let’s get into it! 

Time to Tour

I highly suggest touring the preschools you are considering, if possible, when they are open. You want to see how smoothly things are operated. 

Sneak a peek at how the kiddos are interacting with the teachers and vice versa. There is a lot of information on websites. But there is nothing like getting in there and seeing it yourself.

 If you are looking into a Luminous Early Childhood Learning Center for your kiddo, you can easily schedule a tour on their website and provide days/times you are available to tour. Here is a link if you are interested: 

Approach to Learning

 A great place to start when choosing a preschool is to first decide what type of preschool that you are interested in. Consider whether you want a preschool that uses a learning method like Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia or another program that encourages learning through play, such as what Lumionous uses. 

Whatever category of preschool you are interested in, it’s important to make sure there is a balance between teacher-led instruction and hands-on child-led activities.  

There are so many different aspects of preschools that can actually have a big impact on the experience your child and you will have. It can be helpful to break it down into smaller categories and rank the preschools on your list from there. 

Safety First

First, take a look at the health, safety and environment:

• How often are classrooms, toys and restrooms sanitized? 
• What are the specific security procedures?
• Ask about check-in/ check-out procedures. 
• Are the outdoor play areas secure? Does the equipment look safe? 
• What is the policy when children are sick? What criteria is used for when children must be kept out of school?

Teachers Are Key

An important aspect of preschools is the teachers! We love and appreciate teachers for all they do and want them to be treated well.

 Teachers who are treated well by their employers tend to stay longer! Which is what we want for our little ones: Stability. Ask at the preschools that you tour what their turnover rates are for preschool teachers. 

What is the teacher-to-student ratio, on average? For instance, Luminous offers that information on its website: A ratio of one teacher to four infants or one teacher to five toddlers. 

When you tour a preschool, observe how teachers interact with the children. Does the preschool train their teachers to use positive discipline techniques? When teachers speak to children, are they getting low to be at their eye level?

The Logistics 

Of course, when you choose a preschool, you also need to consider your schedule, the location of the preschool and the cost. 

Do you have a voucher or state assistance? Do the preschools you are interested in accept them? For instance, Luminous accepts HRA vouchers (paid through ACS). 

 Obviously, we want to find a preschool that is the perfect fit for our little ones. However, as parents, we also have to consider how accessible a school is for us. Specifics such as how long the commute will be and how much of your monthly budget will be used for preschool can be very impactful in our lives as parents and individuals. 

Remember, the earlier you start your preschool search, the better. Some schools have waitlists and it can be a big weight off to know you’ve secured your child’s spot in the timeframe you need. Good luck with your search! 

Sophie Hamel is a freelance writer and works as a crisis responder. Her son is three years old.

Luminous removes the hassle of arranging for tuition vouchers and helps make childcare affordable. Vouchers can help ease your financial stress. Learn more about qualifying for HRA and ACS vouchers at our Bronx and Brooklyn centers. Payment can also be made by SEIU/1199 Child Care, check, credit card, and through the Luminous reimbursement program. Contact Luminous Early Childhood Learning Center at enrollment@luminouschildcare.org or call us at 929.228.1180.

Hi there, parents! This week’s blog continues on our Toy Suggestion List. But these suggestions will be tailored to indoor play at home. So, let’s talk about toys for indoor play  for hot summer days that don’t take up TOO much space. 

It’s mid-July, when that midsummer rut starts to creep into our lives. It might be a bit more difficult to feel motivated to come up with new fun activities. The heat is reaching a point where the mornings and evenings are more ideal for outdoor play. So how do we fill our afternoons? If the plan is to stay home, we’ve got to keep those kiddos entertained. 

Lots of Possibilities

My first suggestion is a set I initially purchased for my son when he was not even two yet.  He turned three in April, and we’ve gotten so much use out of it. I can only imagine he will use this toy more and more as he gets older.

What is it? Stepping stones! 

These are stackable, so they don’t take up a ton of space and the options are practically endless. For the really little guys, they can just practice stepping up and down and stepping from one stone to the next. The set that I bought my son also has balance beam pieces, which also are stackable! 

My little guy recently started a gymnastics class at our local rec center, and he loves creating his own little obstacle courses at home that mirror what he does at gymnastics each week. 

Older kiddos can use the stepping stones for playing “the floor is lava.”

Loving the idea of an obstacle course? Add in a tunnel. Kiddos love racing through the tunnel as fast as they can go. Parents, you can come up with ideas for older kiddos to use the stepping stones, encouraging them to come up with their own games! 

Indoor Camping

Another idea that is great for getting those little minds turning is an indoor tent. In my house we refer to it as a fort. This was a gift my son received from a family member for his second birthday, and we are still getting so much use out of it.

To describe it with more detail, we are talking about a canvas tent that is held up by four long wooden dowels. In the moment, it does take up a bit of room. But the great thing is that you can pull the dowels together and shove it in a closet when you’re done! 

The one we have came with little twinkle star lights and has a little window. This is great for pretend play, an indoor slumber party or a pretend camping trip. 

This is also great if you do have the space for using it for a ‘“calming corner” that I discussed in another post, if you are interested in learning more about those! 

Endless Creativity

Another idea for keeping your little one entertained on those super hot summer days: Magnetiles! I know, I know, we’ve all heard the hype around the Magnetiles. However, they are so wonderful at getting a kiddo’s brain gears turning, using their creativity to come up with different structures to create. 

My mom bought my little gremlin his first set of Mangetiles. She, knowing our concerns around space, decided to also purchase a handy dandy Magnetile container. The sides zip so that when they are all unzipped, it turns into a magnetic board that my son can build on top of! When he’s done playing, we just push them all to the center and zip up the sides. Quick and easy!

Side note: They do make little tin containers of mini magnetiles that are great for when you are out at a restaurant or event where your little one needs to stay put and entertained. 

There you have it! My favorite indoor toys that will last you years and years and hopefully not take up too much room inside your home.

What are your little one’s favorite indoor toys? Until next time. 

Sophie Hamel is a freelance writer and works as a crisis responder. Her son is three years old.

Luminous removes the hassle of arranging for tuition vouchers and helps make childcare affordable. Vouchers can help ease your financial stress. Learn more about qualifying for HRA and ACS vouchers at our Bronx and Brooklyn centers. Payment can also be made by SEIU/1199 Child Care, check, credit card, and through the Luminous reimbursement program. Contact Luminous Early Childhood Learning Center at enrollment@luminouschildcare.org or call us at 929.228.1180.

Hello, parents! This week, I have examples of some of my favorite summertime toys to keep our kiddos engaged and entertained during those hot summer months. 

First, a disclosure: You may already be aware, but I am not a sales person! You will not find a link to an Amazon storefront at the end of this page, I promise. No “affiliate links” here.

Easy, Fun Ideas

I just focus on activities and snacks that we parents can attempt to throw together quickly and as easily as possible. However, sometimes a really good toy can be educational, engaging and even just entertaining long enough for us to get some task done or relax for a little bit.

Since not all parents have access to the same space and resources, and age of the child also makes a difference, these suggestions cover a broad spectrum. My goal is to make my suggestions helpful for as many families as possible. Let’s do it! 

Chase the Bubbles!

My first suggestion is one you can use in a backyard/courtyard or take to the park with you and sit in the shade. A bubble machine! This one is also great because all ages love a bubble machine. So, you’ll get years of use out of it. 

If my son could have me outside pouring bubbles into his bubble machine all day long, he would. He wants to run through them, chase them, and attempt to pop as many as possible. It’s great for filling some time and getting some energy out of our little ones. 

Really little ones (0-2) love the bubbles too! Want to skip the purchase for your tiny baby? Fill a bowl or sensory container with water and dish soap. You can let your little one splash around. 

Thirsty Park Plants

Another water-involved suggestion: A watering can! Wait, wait. I know you’re going to say that you need a garden to get your kiddo involved in watering the plants. However, a watering can at the park can make for a super fun day.

Your kiddo can run around and water all the park’s plants. Feel the texture of the leaves. Does this plant feel dry to you? What color are the leaves? Brown or green? This can be a great activity for parents to prompt young kiddos on colors, textures, and other words/phrases you may be working on. 

Parents, if your park doesn’t have water fountains, you may want to fill up a big water bottle to take along for this activity. Wanting to sit back for this one and your kiddos are in the older half of our age range? Find a place with lots of plants, bushes, and flowers around. Spread your blanket there and keep the water bottle close by for the watering can refills. 

Detour to Fun!

This last suggestion may sound wimpy to you. But trust me… this purchase will be used until your kiddo is a preteen, maybe even beyond! We’re talking traffic cones.

 I know you think I’m crazy, but traffic cones might become your child’s favorite summertime toy. For the kiddos ages 3-5, you can set up all sorts of obstacle courses, relay games, and more! For example, you could set up the cones and see who can throw a ball or beanbag the closest. You could play Red Light Green Light’ and use the cones to show the start line to the finish line. Honestly, the options are endless. 

I hope you found this to be inspiring. I’d love to hear what your favorite summertime toys are. I’d love some ideas to try out with my own little gremlin. Til next time! 

Sophie Hamel is a freelance writer and works as a crisis responder. Her son is three years old.

Luminous removes the hassle of arranging for tuition vouchers and helps make childcare affordable. Vouchers can help ease your financial stress. Learn more about qualifying for HRA and ACS vouchers at our Bronx and Brooklyn centers. Payment can also be made by SEIU/1199 Child Care, check, credit card, and through the Luminous reimbursement program. Contact Luminous Early Childhood Learning Center at enrollment@luminouschildcare.org or call us at 929.228.1180.

Hi, parents! I hope all those frozen treat suggestions were a big hit with your little one for fun and healthy snacks. This week, we are staying on the topic of getting our children to eat relatively healthy food.

Try out these fun and healthy snacks  with your kiddo.

In on the Action

Healthy food choices for little ones isn’t always easy. If you have time to allow your little one to assist you in the creation of the snack, that can be a wonderful way to encourage them to at least give it a try.

From there, hopefully it’s so yummy they can’t help but eat more!

You probably have heard of some of these suggestions of fun and healthy snacks. My kiddo gets into a habit when he likes something, so we stick with it until he changes his mind, usually within a week. So keeping things fresh and engaging our kiddos in the process can be a great way to encourage them to try something new that they might just love.

Chopping Time

First stop, the fruit kabob. A delicious summertime fun and healthy snack. This can be great if you’ve taken some tips from our earlier post on kids and childproof knives.

This snack can include as many fruits as you desire! If you are leaning towards fruits such as melons, it can be helpful to get a head start. Cut the melon up into more manageable chunks and then allow your kiddo to practice their chopping skills.

Feeling adventurous? Try pineapple! Banana, strawberries, you could even chop up a peach or plum and add that too!

While your little one assists, you can ask  about the color and texture of each fruit. All you need for this suggestion is skewers and fruit. Although if you feel like branching out, add cheese too!

Joy of Dipping

This next idea also includes the option of involving kiddo for some extra chopping practice. This time, we’re talking veggies. Not a simple endeavor for fun and healthy snacks.

I am relying on the joy of “dipping” for this one. Yes, that’s right, a veggie cup. Grab your veggies (carrots, sweet peppers, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, too!) Engage your sweetie in the chopping.

I prefer to fill the bottom of a small cup or bowl with ranch dressing and place the veggies on a plate surrounding the cup/bowl. You can combine the veggies and dressing if you’d like. My little guy just LOVES a good dip. If keeping those veggies out of the ranch encourages him to want to eat them more. Well, then I am ALL about it.

The Classic

The last stop on our healthy summer snack train is… ants on a log, of course! How could we discuss a healthy snack without the ultimate classic. I’m sure you may remember this snack from way back in the day when we were the picky eaters.

Just to recap, this snack starts with celery sticks. Here is a good opportunity to get your sweetie pie involved. Allowing them to attempt to spread the peanut or seed butter onto the sticks can be a silly sticky good time!

At this point, it’s time to grab those raisins. I know, it can be a struggle with the raisins. If your kiddo seems to be completely turned off by those shriveled up grapes, I have another option for ya! Try blueberries! Same effect, maybe a bit bigger. But, that’s OK. Try it out and see! This might be your little one’s next favorite thing.

I wish you all the best of luck. And don’t forget: every fruit or vegetable our little ones consume is a win for parents everywhere! We’re all in this together, and I know you’re doing a great job.

Sophie Hamel is a freelance writer and works as a crisis responder. Her son is three years old.

Luminous removes the hassle of arranging for tuition vouchers and helps make childcare affordable. Vouchers can help ease your financial stress. Learn more about qualifying for HRA and ACS vouchers at our Bronx and Brooklyn centers. Payment can also be made by SEIU/1199 Child Care, check, credit card, and through the Luminous reimbursement program. Contact Luminous Early Childhood Learning Center at enrollment@luminouschildcare.org or call us at 929.228.1180.