Here are a few things you can do to add fun to meal times and hopefully get your children to eat vegetables. Disguise food by changing the presentation. Try using butter lettuce as a wrapper for fillings such as guacamole, zucchini, carrots, rice, grated cheese, tofu, etc. Incorporate grated or diced vegetables, such as carrots or broccoli in spaghetti sauce. Pureed vegetable soups are also a favorite of children. Recent statistics show that cancer and heart disease are rapidly on the rise among even children (50% of all children by the age of 12 show early signs of heart disease), so teach good habits early by increasing phytonutrient-packed plant foods and watch their intake of saturated fat and cholesterol. You needn't be concerned about snacking, as long as you offer healthful choices such as fruit, whole grain toast with peanut butter, or trail mix (raw nuts with dried fruit). These snacks will give your kids much of the nutrients that would come from their regular meals, and they'll be less grumpy.

When I ask my child about what they did in school, the universal response is, "I don't remember."  What do I do?

Each site has a weekly lesson plan posted on the board to let parents know what the children will do in terms of the curriculum for the week. In addition, field trip notices are posted on the board or the door to let preschool parents know where the kids will be going that week.

What are the best educational toys?

So-called educational toys are often less educational than the old standbys: balls, blocks, dolls, crayons, and sand toys. A good toy challenges, involves, stimulates, and engages a child's imagination. Good toys encourage children to use then in more complex play. The best examples of this are blocks, crayons and paints. Children use these toys to create, build, move restructure, replicate real experiences, and imagine new experiences. Other good toys are those that encourage complex language usage; the development of abstract thought and imagination. They are effective because they require children to add details, meaning, context and function to their play activity. Good toys match a child's social development. They also teach broader and more complex skills critically needed for school success: creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, complex language development, abstract thinking, strategy social skills and physical dispositions. So-called educational toys simply teach narrow academic skills. But no toys are any good if children don't play with them! Toys that keep children involved are ones that they can use to explore, create, manipulate, and control.
(Excerpted from "Tips for Choosing and Using Children's Toys" by Francis Wardle, Ph.D., Early Childhood News, Jan/Feb 1999.)

Why is play important?

Children learn by being active participants who explore, experiment, and inquire. During play, children are free to experiment, attempt, and try out possibilities, enabling them to reach above or beyond their usual level of abilities. Play offers children opportunities to master their environment. When children play, they are in command; they use their imagination and power of choice to determine the conditions of play. In an environment where children are allowed to discover independently, at their own pace and in their own unique way, they are more likely to become enthusiastic, inquisitive learners.