Dr. Mary Ann Shallcross Smith helps guide parents through the Toilet Training Process. At Dr. Day Care, our aim is to not only educate the children in our care, but also to promote learning for our parents, teachers, and communities. An exciting way for me to continue to pass on my expertise is through my video tutorial series. My first educational video relates to a topic that parents of young children can relate to- Toilet Training/Potty Training. I have been involved with potty training for over 40 years as a mom, grandmother, and child care professional. Toilet training … [Read more...]
Spring Flowers – contest for our families
Spring time is here and flowers are in bloom. One of my favorite things to do in spring has always been to plant a flower garden with children. As part of my educational curriculum I had the children in my child care bring home a pot of flower seeds they planted. I encouraged parents to transplant the pot of flower seeds as they began to grow in their yard and watch the flowers grow with their children! Take time through the seasons to count with your child how many flowers bloomed - teaching child hands-on math lessons. My favorite flowers to plant were morning glories because they … [Read more...]
Gardening with children
Most young children love exploring in the dirt and you can turn gardening together into a great learning opportunity! By doing a little bit of prep work, any child can learn all about gardening. My first suggestion is ensure you are all able to garden with minimal stress. Make sure everyone is wearing “gardening clothes” that can get dirty, adequate water is available for clean up when you’re finished, and that everyone is protected from the sun. There are so many things you can teach a child while enjoying gardening together! A fun project is to start a garden in your yard. Allow … [Read more...]