The Juice "Problem"

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The virtues of a balanced diet are common knowledge so why are doctors warning parents and care givers of the danger of fruit juice? One of the dangers is that juice is filling and will decrease your child's appetite for other foods causing their diet to be out of balance. While 100% juice is good in moderation, drinking too much will provide too many calories from sugars or carbohydrates and not enough from fat or protein which are important for a healthy body and brain. Dentists also recommend limiting juice because the high acid and sugar content can be hard on your little one's teeth.

 The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) thought fruit juice was enough of a danger to issue a policy statement about “The Use and Misuse of Fruit Juice in Pediatrics”. They recommend the following 6 steps:
 *when you give your child juice, it should be 100% pasteurized fruit juice and not fruit drinks.
 *infants under 6 months of age should not be given juice, although many Pediatricians do recommend small amounts of juice for children that are constipated
 *infants between 6 and 12 months can drink up to 4 to 6 ounces of juice a day, but should do it only in a cup, not a bottle
 *younger children aged 1 to 6 years should have only 4 to 6 ounces of juice a day
 *older children should be limited to 8 to 12 ounces of juice a day
 *instead of juice, children should be encouraged to eat whole fruits

 You can prevent problems by waiting until your baby is 6 months old before giving juice and then offer it in a cup and not a bottle. Also, prevent your child from using their sippy cup as a security object by restricting it to meal or snack times. It may help to change from a sippy cup to a sport's type bottle which can prevent spills like a sippy cup but is harder to drink out of. If your child is eating a balanced diet with fruit and vegetables and drinking 16 to 24 ounces of milk or dairy products daily it is unlikely you have a juice problem even if you are exceeding the AAP's limits. However, if your child is a picky eater, has cavities or is overweight it may be wise to ask your physician for help with their eating habit.

 You understand your child best and are the best guide in determining their diet needs but if you see any of the warning signs of a "juice problem", talk to your doctor or nurse.

Are You A Mean Mom?

When my children said that I was the meanest mom in the world I would reply, "Thank you, it's my job and I do it well." So many parents get confused about their role and feel like they can't say no or make their child do things they don't want to do. This article on Family Share addresses why it's important to be the meanest mom. We have noticed these issues not only with the children who attend the day care, but the young adults that we hire (pay close attention to #4!) Read this article and then tell us what YOU do to rate being the "meanest".

Energy Tips For Hard-Working Parents

Energy Tips For Hard-Working Parents

Being a parent is hard work, often stressful even in the midst of joy. And if you’re not careful, the pressure and pace can drain you of energy (and patience) when you need it most. For stay-at-home moms and dads trying to keep it all together, here are tips for conserving your health, energy, and sanity: • Always eat breakfast. A cup of coffee isn’t a meal. Eat a solid, nutritious breakfast to give you the energy you need to face the day. • Follow a routine. Don’t reinvent the wheel every morning. Have a regular plan for your days with the family so you don’t stress out trying to think of something new to do. Just don’t chain yourself to the schedule—be flexible when problems and opportunities arise. • Drink lots of water. You can get dehydrated without realizing it, and suffer from headaches and fatigue as a result. Keep a bottle of water handy and drink from it throughout the day without waiting until you feel really thirsty. • Get fresh air and exercise. Try to get out of the house for a walk once a day. If the weather is too cold or rainy, at least open a window to get the air circulating in your house and in your body. • Eat healthy snacks. Don’t run yourself down by starving between meals. Some fruit or a few nuts can help keep you going. • Connect with people. Get together with some other parents for a playdate. Even a quick session on Facebook can help you feel like an adult again. You need mature conversation to stay centered. • Take a break. Give yourself permission to let the kids watch a video for a half-hour. You’re not a bad parent for taking time for yourself. • Get your rest. Have a regular bedtime for yourself, not just your kids. Getting the sleep you need will help you stay healthy and calm

pledge of allegience 300 1

Reciting the pledge of allegiance is almost a thing of the past. I remember saying it every day in elementary school followed by The Lord's Prayer. Yeah, that won't happen today but at Little People's Academy we think it's important to teach our children to be proud patriots. We are even brave enough to keep "under God" in it. We observe all the national holidays and help the kids understand how blessed they are to live in a free country. And we're not ashamed of it.

3 Important Questions

The three most important questions to ask yourself every day: Have you loved fully? Have you lived fully? Have you made a difference? A powerful blog post on the subject: tinybuddha.com/blog/3-important-questions-ask-yourself-every-day

Free Haircuts!

Yesterday was our first FREE haircut day and it was a huge success! A great big thank you to Kami Lynes from Salon 1920 for sharing her talents and making our kiddos adorable. We will do it again next month so watch for our post for time and date.

Teaching Your Kids the Value of Money

Schools may well teach your children how to add and subtract, but learning the value of money is one lesson that has to come from home. Unless you teach them otherwise, they will continue to think that money grows on trees and that banks just give away cash – until they have to make their own way in the world. While financially indulging your children might feel like kindness at the time, you could be doing them a grave disservice by not teaching them valuable lessons for life. Here are a few ideas on how to teach youngsters the value of money. Children are not born understanding how paid employment and banks work. Explain these things to them simply as soon as they are old enough to understand. Help your children to distinguish between needs and wants. Teach your children the principles of spending and saving money as well as those of making money grow. As soon as they are old enough, give them an allowance of their own to permit them to put principles into practice and learn from their own mistakes. Open an interest-bearing account for your children so that they can watch their money grow. Put aside an allowance for essentials such as clothes to help teach your children how to budget and save for more expensive items. Explain how credit cards and loans work; otherwise your children could grow up thinking that these are “free” money.