Smart Start Childcare Springboro

WHAT'S ON YOUR LIST? 😎⛱️

It seems like summer just started and yet it slips away so fast! We'd love to hear how you're planning to make the most of the summer, and we linked some ideas for you in the comments.

In Ohio, state licensed childcare centers have their own Olympics, and Smart Start Childcare is a gold medalist. 🥇😁

Providing a “Gold-Rated” Childcare Experience In Ohio, state licensed childcare centers have their own Olympics, and Smart Start Childcare is a gold medalist.

If you want your child to grow into a confident young person, it’s wise to start now. Intentional words and actions are seeds that are best sown with encouragement. Sprinkle it whenever you can so your child feels capable and supported!

It’s easy to say, but putting this into action can be a little more difficult for parents. One of the best ways to do this is to show your child that you trust them to try things on their own.

🪴 REMEMBER the purpose isn’t perfection, it’s encouraging growth.

Here are some age-appropriate ways you can sow seeds of confidence with encouragement!

🧸 Toddler (Ages 2-4)

When getting dressed, give your toddler two options of weather appropriate items (this or that).
As often is safe to do so, encourage your child to walk and hold your hand.
Allow them to choose books and games that you will enjoy together.

🖍️ Preschool (Ages 3-5)

Encourage your preschooler to put toys and books in their designated spots.
Let them choose clothes and get dressed; offer to help with zippers, buttons or strings, if needed.
Show them how to set the table and let them try.

📚 School Age (5 and up)

Acknowledge and admire when they make their bed.
Guide them in planning and preparing their bags for school, sports, etc.
Invite them to help with meal prep such as stirring the sauce or adding items to a salad.

As winter winds down, how are you and your littles working out the wiggles? 💜😄

Drop your ideas in the comments!

Do you Know Your Child’s Love Language? 🧸💕

As parents, we sometimes assume our children will express love the same way we do. We might also expect them to understand we love them simply because we show them in a way that is meaningful to us.

To intentionally and productively demonstrate love to another person, we should take time to understand their love language. This goes for children, too!

Below are the five common love languages and some ideas you can use to say "I love you" beyond the words. It’s helpful to identify your child’s love language and use that, but use all these love languages!

Words of Affirmation

Some children feel most loved when they hear or read words that praise, compliment and affirm. For these kiddos, it is especially meaningful when you take time to mention that they played a great game, or that they have a special skill or talent that you admire. Words carry meaning for all of us, but for people whose love language is words of affirmation, words (or lack of them) strike them deeply.

Acts of Service

Some of us feel most loved when someone takes the time to address our needs. Acts of service can vary greatly depending on age. It can be helpful to ask your child what acts of service are meaningful to them. For example, teaching them how to organize their books, or polishing their shoes for them, might be a gesture you can provide every now and then that will touch their heart.

Gifts

We probably all enjoy gifts. The challenge with this love language is when we don’t get gifts. If that is how you perceive love, a lack of gifts equates to feeling less love. It can be helpful to focus on the giving rather than the gift itself. Inexpensive or free gifts, like a special hand-me-down or a flower picked on the way home, say “I love you,” as much as an expensive toy does.

Quality Time

It’s important to understand that for a child who values quality time, they especially need your undivided attention without distractions. If your child loves quality time together, you can say I love you by making sure your phone is put away or turned off. Schedule one-on-one time to play a game or read a book, together. The more difficult this is to do, the more it probably means to them!

Physical Touch

From the time we’re babies, physical touch is important. We are made to be with other people and physical touch makes us feel loved. This is particularly important for some people. For our kids who love physical touch, hugs, holding hands or brushing their hair every day can really help them feel loved.

The groundhog saw his shadow which means six more weeks of snuggles 🥰💙

Activities to Make Fairy Tales even More Fun and Purposeful 🦄🤗

Puppet Shows
After reading a fairy tale, create your sock puppets or finger puppets and act out some of the scenes… or create some new ones!

Building Castles
Using legos or building blocks, construct the castles, cottages or other structures from your favorite fairy tale scenes. If you don’t have these toys on hand, you could build them out of anything from sticks to pillows!

Costume Design
Using art supplies on hand, create crowns, wands and masks that can be used to transform each family member into their favorite fairy tale character. For example, you could repurpose small cardboard boxes and tubes and decorate them with markers and glitter.

Write a New Chapter
What if the fairy tale didn’t end there? Ask your children to tell a story about what might happen next if the story continued. This is a fun way to engage their imagination.

Fairy Foods
Spend some time together preparing a tea party or meal based on your favorite fairy tale. It could be a simple as Magical Mashed Potatoes for dinner or Dragon Eggs for breakfast!

Practice Counting
Use objects from your kids’ favorite fairy tales to help them practice counting. For example, you could print or draw sheets with numbers of bears, pigs or dwarfs for them to count.

💙 Ideas for a Great Family Game Night 💙
Besides choosing the perfect games that includes everyone, there are some other steps you can take to set up your family game night for success!

🕯️ Choose a Cozy and Comfortable Setup
Around the kitchen table or the coffee table are the perfect start for your game night set up. Make sure everyone has a comfortable place to sit with extra pillows and blankets. A fire in the hearth or dimmed lights can help relax the atmosphere.

🍿 Stock Up on Snacks and Sustenance for Game Night
Everyone should have their favorite cup or juice before you roll the dice. Hot chocolate, popcorn, peanuts, cheese and crackers or fruit slices might be on the menu depending on your family’s dietary preferences.

📵 Tune Out the Distractions
Ringers are off and screens are put away so that everyone is enjoying the moment together. It’s okay to snap a few quick pictures but you can post them later. Pay attention to the game and to each other!

We look forward to learning and growing with you in 2026.
Happy New Year!

🎉😁🎊

Wishing you a joyful and peaceful holiday!

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