Little Duck Family Child Care

Does your toddler get upset when you try to leave or whenever you are no longer in sight? Chances are he or she is experiencing separation anxiety (also known as separation protest). Separation anxiety usually starts around nine months of age, peaks near 15 months of age, and starts to fade sometime before the third birthday. It begins around the same time that babies develop a sense of "object permanence." This means they are learning that things and people exist even when they can't see them. Unfortunately, at this same stage, children don't understand the concept of time so they get upset because they don't know if or when you'll come back.   Even though separation anxiety is perfectly normal, it can be upsetting for both parents and children. There are things you can do to help your child (and yourself) through this challenging time: Be calm and strong when you leave.  If your child gets upset, act confident and stay calm even when you don't...

  Many holiday parties and celebratio ns  involve alcohol. Now that your baby is born, you may have questions about alcohol use and breastfeeding. Read on for some answers to common questions.    Is it safe to drink alcohol while I am breastfeeding? It is safest not to drink alcohol at all when breastfeeding. Alcohol may affect your baby's sleep or decrease the amount of milk she takes at feeding time.   If I drink alcohol, should I stop breastfeeding? If care is taken to ensure there is enough time for the alcohol to leave your system before your baby needs to eat again, you do not need to stop breastfeeding. If you choose to drink a small amount of alcohol, the best thing to do is feed your baby before you have a drink or pump first so you can use the pumped breast milk to feed your baby.    If you are wondering about breastfeeding after drinking alcohol, it is important to know that alcohol passes through bre...

Legal Professionals May Have Remedies for This Devastating Life Situation Bullying has been front and center in recent news coverage, particularly among junior high and high school age children. However, the phenomenon is not limited to this age group— research actually indicates that these behaviors may begin as early as 3 years of age. In fact, “ data from one study of children’s experience with violence  showed that 20.4% of children ages 2-5 had experienced physical bullying in their lifetime and 14.6% had been teased (verbally bullied).” ( Source:  http://www.naeyc.org/blogs/bullying-early-childhood ) According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, numbers indicate that 50 percent of children are bullied and l0 percent are victims of bullying on a regular basis, and children who have unique personalities are especially vulnerable to bullying problems. ( Source:  http://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Gui...

Breast milk is the ultimate convenience food. It's inexpensive and readily available in the perfect feeding vessel at just the right temperature. The World Health Organization recommends early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding until six months of age and continued breastfeeding, with the introduction of solid food, for two years or beyond. Breastfeeding has many well-documented benefits for both mothers and babies. Here are 10 great reasons to breastfeed: Breast milk contains the right amount of nutrients to help baby grow. As the baby grows, breast milk changes to meet his/her needs. Breastfed babies may score higher on IQ tests. Breast milk is safe and always ready. Plus, it's free! Moms start to produce breast milk during pregnancy. After the baby is born, mom makes more milk. The more the baby breastfeeds, the more milk mom makes. Breastfeeding is good for mom. She has less risk of developing osteoporosis, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and she loses...

Discussing possible emergency scenarios with one’s children is never a pleasant topic. Parents do not want to frighten them or create new anxieties . Dr. Sanam Hafeez is a New York City based Neuro-psychologist and School Psychologist who has an approach to emergency preparedness that won’t freak your children out. Tell children an emergency is something unusual that happens which could hurt people, or cause damage to things like houses and cars.  Explain to them that nature sometimes provides ‘too much of something’ like, rain, wind or snow. Talk about effects of an emergency that children can relate to, such as loss of electricity, water, and telephone service; flooded roads and uprooted trees.  Explain that everyone is better able to take care of themselves in emergencies when they know what to do. First, teach your children the difference between a problem and an emergency . A problem is something that they need help with, but does not require emergency services...

Tip #1: Get outside! Fall is a great time to explore nature all around you. After spending a long day of being inside at school, take some time afterward to enjoy your yard and nearby parks. Tip #2. Notice the different kinds of plants in your yard. Walk around the outside of your home, take notes and sketch what you see. What makes your yard unique? Mark on your sketch the living (plants, trees, grass) and the non-living (patios, grills) parts of your landscape. What might impact living plants? Does your yard need plants that are tolerant of wind, full sun, shade, or occasional flooding? Tip #3: Notice the areas needing improvements. Do plants need mulch around them to help them save water? Do you have plants that attract pollinators like bees and butterflies?   Do you have a healthy mix of grass, shrubs, trees and flowering plants?  Are some parts of your yard a little worn out? Tip #4: Make a plan to take care of your yard. Talk with your parent or guardi...

Heading back to the classroom this fall is exciting, but it can also be a challenging time for families of children with special needs. The Episcopal Center for Children (ECC),  a nonprofit organization serving children with special needs ages 5-14 in the Washington, DC area since 1895,  offers tips to help: Tip #1 – Organize your paperwork and review the schedule.  Review your child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP). Do you have any new medical or psychological reports that the school should know about? Talk with the school to make sure their plans for your child match the intentions in the IEP. Ensure the school staff are up to speed on where your child is at now. Make sure you know where your child’s classroom is, any transportation plans, and what he or she will need to bring each day. Tip #2 – Calm any stress or first day jitters your child may have.  Whether it’s a new classroom or familiar surroundings, children may be nervous about starting back to schoo...