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Healthy Eating, Your Kids and National Snack Food Month

February 28, 2018 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

February is National Snack Food Month. This is the perfect opportunity to show your kids how healthy snacks are the best snacks for their growing minds and bodies!

Let’s face it, kids aren’t always enthusiastic about healthy eating.

But both parents and educators know the more interested and involved a kid is with what they’re trying to do, the more enthusiastic and engaged they’ll be.

This makes for easy teaching and better retention – a win-win for kids and the ones teaching them!

And it is possible to get them interested in trying new foods – if you make “fun” the name of the game!

Here’s how:

national snack food month

They’re watching you

Like it or not, your kids are always watching what you do.

If they see Mom and Dad choose – and enjoy – healthy foods and beverages, they may be more open to trying something new.

Focus on the food’s benefits

Talk about the benefits of the food on your child’s plate, not the fact that it’s “healthy”. The idea that something is “healthy” is a distant concept for a child, especially young children. Tell them something like “the cheese will give you strong muscles” or “make you powerful”, or whatever phrase you think will appeal to your child.

If they have a favorite superhero or sports figure, try to find a way to tie their attributes (e.g. strength, speed, etc.) to the benefit of eating the food.

Eye appeal

Think color, crunch, and healthy fats.

Make the food as appealing to the eye as possible:

  • combine different colors
  • use different cuts (e.g. round disks vs thin strips)
  • try different flavors (mozzarella, cheddar)
  • cut and/or arrange into fun shapes

Make it a game

Take the kids grocery shopping. Ask them to help find vegetables and fruits in every color of the rainbow.

Once you’re home, have them help you prepare the foods for quick snacking options throughout the week. Bagging their own portions helps them feel more involved.

Let them decide

To get kids more excited about eating healthy foods give them several healthy choices for at least one of their meals.

For example, if it’s lunch time, let them choose among options such as pitas, wraps or English muffins made with whole grains. Offer lean ham, turkey or chicken and low fat cheese slices for the filling.

Let them help

Research has shown that kids who spend time in the kitchen will choose a wider variety of foods and tend towards decisions which are healthier.

Give your kids age appropriate tasks in the kitchen to expose them to all of the aspects of their food preparation. When possible, let them put together their own meals as they’re much more likely to eat their own creations!

Keep trying

Research has shown that it takes as many as 15 tries before a kid will try a new food. So if they turn their nose up at a new food, keep introducing it and eventually they will give it a try. Even if they don’t like it the first time they try it, over time their taste buds develop and change. They may grow to like it.

Snack ideas

There are thousands of great, healthy snack ideas for kids. Here are just a few:

  • “Ants on a log” (celery filled with peanut butter and raisins)
  • Fresh or canned fruit (canned in 100% juice) served with low fat yogurt
  • Low-fat cheese sticks or cubes
  • Whole grain crackers or rice cakes topped with peanut butter or thin cheese slices
  • Popcorn (air-popped)
  • Quesadillas (whole wheat tortilla stuffed with low-fat melted cheese)
  • Baked tortilla chips
  • Whole wheat pita bread with hummus
  • Fresh fruit
  • Applesauce
  • Homemade trail mix (portioned)

Set the rules

Give them beverage choices such as water, low-fat milk or 100% fruit juice (portioned) to keep them hydrated. Require they ask before they grab a snack.

To promote mindful eating, insist that snacks be eaten at the table or in the kitchen, not in front of the TV or computer.

Getting kids interested in eating healthy foods isn’t always easy, but it is always worth the effort!

Filed Under: Health & Wellness

Cool Places to Visit in Colorado Springs with your Preschooler

February 27, 2018 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

cool places to visit with your preschooler

Going on a family vacation is one thing that your kids are certain to be excited about. And if you want to go where you can enjoy the best scenery on an affordable budget, Colorado Springs should be on top of your list. One thing that Colorado Springs is known for is the United States Air Force Academy. Preschoolers may not appreciate the tour in the academy, but, they will love dining at the Airplane Restaurant – a restaurant housed in a plane that was previously used by the US military. There are plenty of places you will love in Colorado Springs.  To find out more of the cool places to visit, here is a list for you.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

America’s only mountain zoo, is found in Colorado Springs. This is not just an ordinary zoo. This facility is designed in a way that allows guest to get close to the animals. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is home to more than 800 species. It not only offers fun and enjoyment for kids, it’s also a great learning experience. Children and adults learn about animals through interactive demonstrations and educational presentations. You may also get the chance to hand-feed the world’s largest giraffe, and that’s definitely an awesome experience for children of all ages!

May Natural History Museum

Also known as the “bug museum”, May Natural History Museum houses a wide collection of insects and related creatures. It is here that you can find rare artifacts that are only seen in the most uncommon and exotic places from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. If your preschooler is fascinated with insects, they will find this place amazing, interesting and informative.

Dinosaur Resource Center

Young children have always been fascinated by dinosaurs. So, why not bring them to the Dinosaur Resource Center in Colorado Springs? You and your children can go back in time as you take a look at the jaw-dropping skeletons and fossils of raptors, T-rexes, marine life and giant reptiles. This may also be the perfect time for kids to discover their penchant for paleontology as they witness a working fossil preparation laboratory. The museum also features a guided tour where the trained staff educates you about the fossil skeletons displayed.

Bear Creek & Fountain Creek Nature Centers

If you want your preschooler to run and play around, this is where you should go. Bear Creek & Fountain Creek Nature Centers feature walking and hiking trails, a playground, a pavilion, dog park, a tennis court and a lot more. This is the perfect site to explore nature and enjoy the great outdoors. It also offers an excellent learning opportunity for kids because they get to observe wildlife and participate in the educational programs.

Battlefield Colorado

The first and only outdoor laser tag adventure park in Colorado Springs. If your kids are into video games and they want the excitement and action in real life, this is the place to be. Battlefield provides a perfect way to bond and enjoy nature as a family. If you can form a group of 10 people, there are play sessions that will suit the size of your team. Battlefield Colorado doesn’t just give you an opportunity to have fun, it’s also an excellent way to sharpen hand-eye coordination while enjoying a friendly competition against the other members of your family.

Fun 4 Kidz Playground

Children have always loved playtime. They can get plenty of that in Fun 4 Kidz Playground. Fun 4 Kidz is an exciting indoor playspace where your kids can spend their time playing and meeting other kids. There are tunnels, slides and lots of toys for them to enjoy. The activities are perfect for all kids while they interact with other children.

 

These are just a few of the many cool places to visit in Colorado Springs with your kids. Take time to check out each one of them for a fun-filled, educational and memorable vacation. If you are looking for a preschool that values your children’s education and playtime learning, consider our Colorado Springs preschool.

Filed Under: Family Tips

Getting Creative With Your Kids

February 12, 2018 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

Here we are full swing into the season…. of illness. I’m sure that many of you have had your fair share of sick days already! The extra snuggles are great, but if you’re like me, a full day spent on the couch watching cartoons doesn’t seem all that appealing. Especially by day 2 or 3…

So, how do you allow your child to take it easy, without spending an entire day watching the television? For me, the answer is crafts. I love the process of creation in a child.

Young Scholars Academy Arts and crafts
Arts and crafts help develop the entire child!

Watching my son figure out how his muscles work with those fine motor skills is fascinating to me. Not only is my son expanding his creativity, he is also practicing math. He counts the number of stickers he used, he uses science when he experiments what happens when you mix certain mediums together.

Now, you may be wondering, “Well, we are stuck at home. What kind of crafts can I do without running to the store for supplies?” The answer is simple, anything. Do you have breadcrumbs in your cabinet? How about oats? Why not use those bread crumbs and/or oats to allow your child to glue onto a picture? (This is also great for sensory play!) Those bread crumbs can allow for a great fish picture or anything else that your child may come up with.

Do you have pasta? That pasta can be used to string onto string into a necklace or even onto a spaghetti noodle. Apples and peppers also make great stamps when they are cut in half. If you have sugar and salt, why not make some play-dough together? (There’s some science for your little one in there!) Boxes, water bottles, 2 liter bottles, bottle caps, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, shaving cream etc can all be repurposed to use for crafts.

What about all of the possibilities outside? Why not turn those pesky pine needles into a paint brush or those leaves into a stamp? Have pinecones outside? Allow your child to explore their creativity and see what 3-D object that they can create using a pinecone. (Hey look, there’s some geometry for you). Painting rocks is another huge hit. (You could even let them know that they can hide their rocks for others to find once they’re feeling better).

The possibilities are endless when you let your child’s imagination roam. Now it’s time to grab out that extra tissue paper! Allow your child to invent new ways to think about the world around them. Make sick days (or even break days) fun again and put down that remote.

~Ms. Aleyana
Wellness Coordinator
School Age Lead Teacher

Filed Under: Art Projects, Family Tips

Valentine’s Day Craft

February 10, 2018 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

Here is a fun craft for Valentine’s Day!

Filed Under: Art Projects

5 Ways to Introduce Literacy to Your Young Child

February 7, 2018 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

Emergent literacy has been taking place since birth and continues through early childhood. Books, magazines, newspapers, even crayons are their first experiences to literacy. Want to make a larger impact on your child’s success through all of their schooling, and a life-long love for reading and writing? Here are some helpful tips!

toddler reading
Reading makes a huge impact on your child’s success!

1. Always have writing materials available to your children! Crayons, paper, pencils, markers, etc. are always great to even place in a little make up bag. Then ask them to tell you about their drawing while you write down what they are saying; like writing a little book together. Again, this could all take place in five minutes (you know your child).

2. Always make time to read aloud to your child every day. It could just be one book during bath time or bedtime. If they have a favorite book, then read it over and over again until even they become sick of it. That repetition will make them feel very awesome when they memorize the words and they think that they are reading. The key at this point is to help them realize that reading is fun! And those brain connections they are making by memorizing that story!

3. Depending on the age of your child practice words and sounds. For those just learning to talk repeat those sounds with them (dada, mama, doggy, etc.). For older children constantly point things out to them when you are driving or in stores. They will start to put things together in their brains and realize that the sign said “STOP”. Doing things like this regularly will introduce them to new vocabulary. Make sure that you are also giving them time to respond and ask questions- that you are giving answers to.

Young Scholars Academy promotes reading!
Reading opens their world!

4. When you are not reading their favorite book try to mix things up. Have books with words you can easily point to and they can follow along with. Have rhyming and alliteration books (Dr. Seuss is a good reference) at hand so that the story is exciting to them! Picture books mean you guys can make up the words yourselves and have fun with it! More exposure to different types of print and stories makes it easier for your child to find what they really enjoy reading about.

5. All interactions will make your child smarter! Talk to them about anything, even before they know how to talk. Their brain is making so many connections, and you want communication to be one of them. That is their first step into reading and writing. Talk to them about what you are doing together (changing diapers, eating, bathing). Play music and sing together (no matter how it may sound). Play games and teach your children how to do things.

Conscious efforts to make time for reading, drawing, and talking will put your child ahead of the game. Tying in these tips will ensure success later. It’s so much easier and more fun to teach these things at an early age, so take advantage now! When children are older and don’t have these skills it’s possible for them to fall behind. Let’s all strive for a future full of high intelligence and readers!

~Ms. Brooke
Pre-Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Curriculum Coordinator
Early Literacy Coordinator

Filed Under: Family Tips

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