Summer break has finally arrived and the children are all excited for their fun activities this summer.
June 19th is a very special day. We would like to wish all of our fathers a very special and warm “HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!” We hope you all can find some peace, fun and joy on your special day.
Thank you for all your gifts and well wishes to your child’s teacher for Teacher Appreciation this past Month.
Thank you for such a great turn-out for the graduation ceremony for the Black Bears I and Kinder Bear graduation. We wish all of our graduate’s great success in their upcoming year.
The weather is getting warmer with each passing week. Please be sure to apply sunscreen to your child before dropping them off in the morning. Also, make sure that the sunscreen you provide for teachers to apply to your child has your child’s full name written on it. Please make sure that your child is wearing the appropriate attire, including closed-toe shoes. Even though the weather is nice, remember that close-toed shoes are required as flip flops and sandals can be tripping hazards when playing outside.
As a reminder, we are having our staff meetings on the 2nd Friday of each month. This is for staff training and development like we accomplished prior to COVID. We will be closing at 4:00 p.m. on those days. Dates are posted at the check-in area. June 10th will be our staff meeting this month.
Starting this month, each classroom will be starting “Splash Day”, please look at each classroom schedule for your child’s day. Children will need extra change of clothes, swimsuit, water shoes, towel, and sunscreen. Please refrain from your child wearing open toed shoes for safety reasons. Water shoes and Crocs are good choices.
IMPORTANT: If you receive any new immunizations and/or health checks from your child’s doctor, please remember to provide those updated documents to the school for your child’s records as they are required per State Licensing.
We truly appreciate all of you parents, for your precautions keeping your child at home when sick or not feeling well. We know the extra stress this creates, but as you all know it is required to keep everybody safe and healthy. We truly appreciate you all. Even though things seem like they are coming back to normal, there are many different sicknesses besides COVID that can spread rapidly in an environment like childcare.
Parenting Tip: Summer Safety Tips for your Infants and Toddlers
Summer safety for kids
1. Keep watch to prevent drowning.
Summer water safety should be top of mind for parents, regardless if you have a pool in your backyard or visit a community pool. It only takes seconds for drowning to happen. Actively supervise children at all times when in or around water, and make sure you have the right equipment to keep pools safe. See more pool safety tips.
2. Look for signs of heat exhaustion.
Cases of heat stroke spike during the summer months, and this can be life-threatening in children. Prior to heat stroke, kids often show milder symptoms such as heat cramps and heat exhaustion. Make sure children take water breaks and wear lightweight clothing when playing outside. Learn how to recognize the signs of heat stroke.
3. Check for car safety.
Make sure your child’s car seat is properly fitted before hitting the road for a family vacation. Never leave a child unattended in a car. The temperature inside a car can rise quickly, and just a few minutes can be the difference between life and death. Establish a routine to check the car before locking, and see more tips to prevent hot car deaths.
4. Protect skin from the sun.
Apply sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher whenever your child is going to be outdoors. Reapply every three hours or immediately after your child has been in or splashed by water. Try to avoid outdoor activities during peak sunshine hours, and consider dressing children in sun protective clothing.
5. Avoid bug bites.
As the weather warms up, bugs come out in full force. To avoid bug bites, apply insect repellant before spending time outdoors, avoid using heavily scented soaps or lotions and cover arms and legs as much as possible. See tips for treating bug bites at home and signs you should call the doctor.
6. Enjoy fireworks safely.
More than 10,000 people are treated in emergency departments in the U.S. each year due to injury from fireworks, and of these, nearly a third are children under 15. If you’re celebrating summer holidays with a bang, keep kids safe. Read instructions carefully, and never let young children touch or light fireworks. See more tips for fireworks safety.
7. Drink enough water.
Kids are more prone to dehydration than adults, and their risk increases as temperatures rise. The amount of water a child should drink varies by age, weight and activity level. However, a general rule is to take half of your child’s weight (up to 100 pounds) – and that’s the number of ounces of water they should drink every day. See tips to encourage proper hydration.
8. Don’t monkey around.
Playground-related injuries account for more than 200,000 ER visits each year. Always supervise children on playgrounds, and choose the right play equipment for your child’s age and skills. In the summer sun, it’s also a good idea to carefully touch equipment to check for hot surfaces before playing on it. See more tips for summer safety for kids on the playground.
9. Wear a life jacket on boats.
If you’re heading to the lake to cool off this summer, make sure to bring a U.S. Coast-Guard approved personal flotation device. A properly fitted life jacket is snug yet comfortable, and will not move above the chin or ears when you lift it at the shoulders. See more tips for boating and lake safety.
10. Ride bikes the smart way.
Apart from automobiles, bicycles are related to more childhood injuries than any other consumer product. Wearing a helmet is the first rule to preventing serious bicycle injuries in kids. Make sure bikes and helmets fit kids properly and follow smart rider rules. See more tips for bicycle safety.
Director, Sunset Academy