Little Duck Family Child Care

The leaves are falling like crazy all over town and it is always nice to try and enjoy some of what nature has to offer! There are a huge number of leaf crafts you can do with the kids the year and we had the most fun making leaf stamps this year. We simply went out on a nature walk and spotted as many leaves as we could and looked at the difference between the trees that lose their leaves and the ones that do not. Teaching the small things in nature is always a great idea when exploring. Small pieces of information like: Some trees stay green year round and that is the mystery of nature, these are the ones we use as Christmas trees! The kids grabbed their favourite leaves and we brought them inside to dry off.  We picked out some lovely fall colours and painted the side of the leaves with the veins. These are some great  tempura paints  that easily wash off tiny hands.  Begin stamping your leaves on either blank paper, a canvas, or card stock.  These would make...

We love to get crafty here in our daycare and getting creative with items we have on hand is one of our best talents. I always try to use the items I have in my home before buying anything new, not only does it help to save money on craft supplies but it helps to declutter and spark creativity.  This week we made jack o lantern necklaces using ping pong balls and they turned out super cute. The ping pong balls are big enough that even the little ones can wear them while being supervised without worrying about whether or not they are going to choke.  I used a drill to create a hole on either side and then strung it through the ball. I helped he little ones create a face on their necklace but if you have bigger kids you can definitely allow them to colour their own or use stickers to decorate. You could also slip in a small glow stick before putting it on the string to create a glow necklace as well.  Some other great fall crafts we absolutely love creating are:  Super...

Trying t on get my kids to read books is nearly impossible now that they are older and have cell phones and tablets. I have been fighting a losing battle and it seems I will never raise avid readers. I kept trying to encourage it and continue to encourage it as I run my daycare, it only works for so long but I will not give up. I use special tricks to encourage the kids to read and they absolutely love it, so try some of these to encourage reading more often! Themed books (Here is a list of The Best Halloween Kids Books ) Comfy reading spaces, blankets, jammie days! Look and find books are always popular with little ones  Give books as gifts and take the time to read with them Setup a designated time to read together before bed Bring books on trips and adventures Use books for researching people and places you visit Always encourage kids to pick up a book and read, if they ever find a series they like try to nourish it and help the love grow by making it a big deal. Reading is beco...

Spring time is such an amazing season filled with fun and excitement. The weather is getting warm, the animals and bugs are all busy waking up and getting back to their usual activities and the kids are watching everything happen in pure wonder and curiosity!  Our favourite activities in the spring have to be making sun catcher crafts, playing with nature and observing different creatures around the yard.  Getting the kids involved in creature finding with buckets is a great way to show them what is crawling and creeping in the mud and grass. These little  bug catchers  are perfect!  Making rainbow leaf prints was a huge hit with both parents and kids! Such a fun craft to do and see when it is done. The best paint to use is gonna depend on how much you want to clean up after but I found a decent  washable paint  that is very vibrant on amazon!  Check out this great post on  how to raise independent kids !  What are your favourite things ...

As parents we are always flying out the door to get to our next scheduled activity or play date with friends. Getting our kids out the door on time is usually top priority making our hair, makeup and clothing fall to the side lines. There is nothing wrong with being comfortable and dressing in our sweats and t shirts once in a while but what if we need to look too notch for a certain event or job opportunity?  Networking can happen almost anywhere and even when you are not looking somebody might be looking for perspective clients or new hires? You may be able to connect with new clients and contacts for future business endeavours. Dressing with fashion in mind could help you to be seen as a more respectable and desired person for the role in question. There is wholesale shapewear for every body type and desired look.  This doesn’t mean you can’t still be comfortable but keep these tips in mind when you are headed out for your next activity as a busy parent. https://www.waistd...

HOW CREATING MUSIC OUTDOORS CAN SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH AUTISM In honor of World Autism Awareness Week, running  from 27 th  March to 2 nd  April ,  Percussion Play  is highlighting the healing power of playing music in the great outdoors and how it can support people with Autism. It is well-known that playing musical instruments lifts people’s moods and creates a powerful sense of well-being.  Music therapy has been shown to significantly improve communication for those with a wide range of disabilities and health conditions.  Numerous studies have concluded that there is a strong positive correlation between exposure to music and improved well-being for autistic people. Being outside also enhances our mood and in the case of autistic people, the positive effects of being outdoors can be significant. One study concluded that music therapy sessions in an outdoor environment can ‘improve children’s peer interaction’.  Another study reported seven prima...

Enjoy a morning full of fun at Easter Eggstravaganza. Grab your game kit, play some games, hunt some eggs, visit the Easter  Bunny, and hold a baby chick or duckling! This popular event fills up quickly so don’t delay. Date:  Saturday, April 1, 2023 Time 1:  9:00 – 10:30 am Time 2:  11:00 am – 12:30 pm Cost:  $5/child Ages:  For children 10 years and under Location:  Multi-Sport Dome, 2139 McDougall Road Everyone attending must register by calling  778-797-8800  or going to  www.westkelownacity.ca/recreation .