Paradise Place School

Free Dental Screenings

computersimple — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:50:16 +0000

Gunnison County Health and Human Services will be doing a free dental screening for children 3-5 years old here at Paradise Place on Wednesday March 21st. Please check your mailboxes as the date approaches for the permission form. This is a voluntary program and we need to have the permission forms back by Friday the 16th if you are interested in participating.

The services will include:
1. Oral health and education for children & parents
2. Free dental health screening
3. Free fluoride varnish treatments
For more information please read the permission slip or you can contact Ellen
Pedersen at epedersen@gunnisoncounty.org

Newsletter: February 2012

computersimple — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:35:58 +0000

Paradise Place February News

Please take the time to read the February 2012 Newsletter to find out about:

Free Dental Screnings
Great Parenting Ideas
Casino Night!
Class Updates & Requests
Birthdays, Kid Quotes & More!

8 Ways to Ease the Morning Routine

computersimple — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:09:27 +0000

1.Getting up early.
As a parent, you probably already are waking at an hour many people don’t realize exists. But sometimes even 15 extra minutes can make things run more smoothly. Figure out how much time you need to get everyone up, fed and dressed, then set your alarm for 15 minutes before that. That time is a cushion. On a good morning, it means 15 minutes to play together or savor your coffee. On a bad morning, it
means you’re only five minutes behind schedule.
2. Making everyone help.
My husband packs lunches every night. Even if he doesn’t always hit all the major food groups, it’s packed and ready, and that’s what matters. My toddler carries his lunch bag into school, even if it means we walk a little slower. Even the baby is asked to “hang tight” for five minutes in the evenings while I get a snack for his brother and put away the breast milk I pumped at work.
3. Tag-teaming.
I shower while the husband gets breakfast for the toddler. He showers while I nurse the baby. The husband holds the baby while I fix the toddler’s dinner plate. He scrubs the dishes while I scrub the boys.
4. Encouraging independence.
If you have a toddler, you have a child old enough to follow simple directions. My oldest son likes to put away his shoes and climb into his car seat. It isn’t always as fast as I would like, but it frees me up to take care of the kid who can’t help himself. He also is great entertainment for the baby, provided I can keep one eye on them and am within yelling distance to say, “EASY! You have to be gentle
with your brother.”
5. Using our appliances.
Our slow cooker has taken up permanent residence on our counter. Between frozen leftovers from extra-large weekend meals and breast milk, our freezer has never been this full. But with a little extra prep work and help from modern technology, I’ve managed to put a home-cooked dinner on the table even on the nights the baby needs to eat as soon as we get home.
6. Putting everything in place.
Nothing throws off a schedule faster than lost keys or a missing blanky. All bags are packed the night before and put in their respective homes –lunches and bottles in the fridge; pump on the counter, purse and diaper bag in the bedroom. In the morning, while the toddler eats and before the baby is up, I gather everything but my purse–which is my last-minute dumping ground –into the car so it can’t be
left in the out-the-door whirlwind.
7. Giving two-minute warnings.
Kids handle transitions from one thing to the next better when they know what’s coming. By giving our toddler a steady countdown to time to go or time for dinner, the husband and I also keep ourselves on track.
8. Making every minute count.
Quality time is any time you and your kids are in the same place. Rushing from home to work and back again, it’s easy to feel like you have no time with your kids. But you do, if you just take the time to notice it. We sing songs in the car and play I-spy to practice colors. The husband and I flirt over the boys’ heads at the supper table.

Winter Fundraiser – Casino Night!

computersimple — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:17:26 +0000

Are You Feeling Lucky?

This Saint Patrick’s Day, March 17th, Paradise Place will be hosting Crested Butte’s second annual Casino Night. Join us for a star-studded cast of family and friends for an unforgettable evening of glitz and glamour. Donate money for chips to participate in a No Limit Texas Hold’Em Tournament or Casino Games. Appetizers and limited alcoholic beverages will be provided. Make a stunning debut in your semi-formal attire; prizes awarded for best dressed and closest celebrity resemblance. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to our school!!! Save the date now – babysitting will be available at the school that night for all that join us.

Please call to volunteer or donate – (970)349-2149

Manipulation in Children

computersimple — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:35:25 +0000

Most parents at some time or another will have that eye-opening experience that comes when they realize their kids are master manipulators who are pushing their buttons to get what they want. Of course, this realization can dawn on some parents when their kids are toddlers, and others may not hit this moment until their kids are elementary age or beyond. Sometimes you may even think you nipped the issue in the bud months or years ago only to realize that your kids have found a new and improved way to get what they
want out of you.
So just how can you spot manipulation in your kids?
Here are some things to look out for:

Temper tantrums and whining. You may think that temper tantrums and whining are just for toddlers, but this behavior is pretty common in older kids, too. You only have to ground your child from a sleepover, party, or other event or take away their phone to see that kids will whine and throw tantrums at all ages. The purpose? To make you feel guilty about whatever punishment you just doled out, or even if you simply said “no” to something they wanted. The pitfall for parents, of course, is that more often than not it does work as planned to make us feel guilty.
How many times do you say no? If you find yourself saying “no” to a request over and over again, your children are indeed trying to manipulate you. Whereas whining and tantrums bring on guilt, this repeated questioning tactic serves to wear you down. They want to annoy you so badly that you inevitably give in. If this behavior persists in your kids, it’s because this form of manipulation has worked for them in the past, and they have learned if they ask you enough times you will change your tune.
Raising a lawyer. If it has ever crossed your mind that your children are going to grow up to be lawyers, it’s no doubt because they have been known to use logic and reasoning to manipulate you. They ask you why you won’t give in to their request, and they come up with a whole slew of responses about why you should reconsider.
‘What did your mother say?’ Another common ploy is to either pit one parent against the other or to ask another parent if they don’t like what the first one said. If you often tell your kids something only to hear, “What did your mother say?” coming from the other room a few minutes later, this is yet another form of manipulation.

Often, when you become aware of the fact that your kids are attempting to manipulate you in one way or another (or sometimes in multiple ways at once), you can work to end the behavior.

Newsletter: January 2012

computersimple — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:44:41 +0000

Happy New Year!

Please take the time to read the January Newsletter to find out about:

School Breaks
Great Parenting Ideas
Casino Night!
Class Updates & Requests
Birthdays, Kid Quotes & More!

Holiday Travel Tips for Parents

computersimple — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:47:13 +0000

Save your sanity and holiday cheer with these family holiday travel tips and travel games.
Car Travel
You’re about to take a long road trip. If history repeats itself the trip will be riddled with whining, bickering and the usual nagging. This trip CAN be different if you try some new tactics. During the Holidays kids are bouncing off the walls and in a car the walls are much smaller. You’ll want to provide simple entertainment for close quarters. Contrary to what some kids think, torturing siblings in not an acceptable form of entertainment. However, these suggestions are perfectly acceptable: Use a shoe box to make an activity box for each child. Fill it with surprises; stickers, notepads, stamp sets, Silly Putty and small toys. A walkman for each child and a book on tape can provide hours of peace and quiet. *Sit down with your kids, a map and markers. Show them ALL of the travel plans. Where you are staying, how long the drive will take, how many stops you plan on making and where you will eat meals. Provide a calculator, pencil and paper in the car. When they ask “How much longer”, you say “We are driving a total of ___miles, we have driven ___ miles so far.” Use your calculator to find your answer.

Plane Travel
Much of the suggestions above apply to airline/train travel as well. For traveling with babies call your airline ahead of time to see if any special accommodations can be made for space, bottle heating, nursing privacy, feeding and diaper changing. If you have been seated apart from your husband, older children or adult helper…politely ask the passenger next to you to if they are willing to switch. Most passengers are MORE than willing to switch seats. If your baby is crying when you ask – all the more convincing.

Travel Games
Take time during your trip whether car or plane to play with your kids. Sing silly carols, play word games like 20 questions or ask questions that require a thoughtful answer:
“If Santa fell off your roof, what would you do?”
“If you saw a child that had little or no Christmas presents, how would you respond”

Travel safely, sanely and with a smile – after all
“tis the season to be jolly”

Fall Harvest Mission

computersimple — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:28:53 +0000

Helping Out the Crested Butte Community

Please take the time this November to donate some food items to the Paradise Place Fall Harvest Mission. Together with your child, go searching in the pantry or cupboard for food to share. Paradise Place will be collecting canned food for the ‘Care and Share’ Food Bank at Oh Be Joyful Church.

They are especially looking for smaller size bags (2-5 lbs.) of rice, flour, and sugar along with any canned or dry items. Please bring food items to the Whales’ classroom. We hope to share our blessings with others this holiday
season. Friday, December 9th will be our last day to collect food.

Newsletter: December 2011

computersimple — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:56:55 +0000

Please take the time to read the December Newsletter to find out about:

Christmas Programs
Holiday Enrollment
Our Harvest Mission
Class Updates & Requests
Birthdays, Kid Quotes & More!

Christmas Events & Programs

computersimple — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:39:32 +0000

At Paradise Place the holidays bring our annual Christmas program, extended enrollment and Santa! We look forward to seeing you all and sharing in these upcoming events, so please read the details below and let us know if you have any questions.

Christmas Program

Please join the Lambs, Doves, Lions, Whales and their teachers as they present a Christmas program at UCC on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 from 5:45-7:00pm. After the performance there will be a potluck dinner for all to enjoy. The sign-up sheet for the potluck will be posted in each classroom. Talk to your child’s teacher about the song they are singing for the program so you can help them practice.

Christmas Party with Santa

Please join your children in their classrooms on Friday, December 16th, 2011 from 9:30-11am for our annual Paradise Place Christmas party, featuring a very special guest – Santa! Parents are asked to sign-up to bring healthy goodies to the party. We want all the children to see Santa, so if your child does not attend school on Friday please plan to come to the party with your child.

Christmas Enrolment

At this point you should have returned your Christmas enrollment forms. Remember this is a separate enrollment from the Fall and you must sign up to attend. We will be open our normal hours, M-F 7:50 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. In order to schedule our staffing needs, it is important that you sign-up your child for your anticipated childcare needs. Since the deadline to return forms has passed you will need to call the school to find out what is available for your child’s class. Drop-ins will be allowed if space is available and you have to telephone first (970)349-2149.