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Wee Care Preschool

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6 Tips for Settling Kids into Childcare

High-quality childcare offers long lasting academic, social and emotional benefits for young children. It is also a viable option for parents who need a place to leave their child while working. Leaving your little one in a daycare for the first time can bring many perplexing emotions. Here are some helpful tips to follow to make the transition as stress-free as possible for you and your child.

Settling Kids into Childcare San Diego
Playtime at the Daycare

Set your child’s expectations

A couple of weeks before your little one starts, talk about going to childcare. Squeeze it in your conversations so that they’ll begin to welcome the idea that they are going to school. Talk about the things they could learn and highlight one that will make them feel more excited. Tell them about meeting new friends and playmates, as well as the activities and games they’ll be able to play. Let them know that attending a childcare center is going to be a fun and exciting learning experience. They will love it there.

Establish a routine

Childcare is a place where young children first learn how to adjust to a structured environment. To make the transition easier, it is best to start establishing a routine at home. Teach them the basic routine of eating their breakfast, taking a shower and getting dressed. This is a good way to help them understand the concept of time and sequence.

Go supplies shopping with them

If there is one thing that will make kids look forward to school, it is the fact that they have new stuff to use. Bring them shopping and buy them new bags, shoes and other stuff. Tell them they won’t be using these things until the first day of school. This will make them even more excited as they find another good reason for going to childcare.

San Diego Daycare
Children learn to get creative

Visit the childcare

Take time to visit the school long before your child starts. The tour will help your little one become familiar with the environment. It will show her the fun they could have as soon as they start childcare. Stay for at least an hour and allow them to explore the setting on their own. Take a peek at the classrooms so they can start imagining themselves being there. Let them get a feel of how things are going to be in childcare and realize that it’s not a bad idea after all.

Stay with them longer on their first day

When dropping off your child on their first day, it would be good if you stay longer until they are settled in. This will give them the chance to get familiar with their new environment while you are there. It will also keep them from feeling like they are immediately left under the care of someone they don’t know. Allow them to make themselves comfortable before leaving.

It is also a good idea to facilitate the introduction to the teacher. Tell your child that if there is any concern they need to raise, the teacher is the best person to approach. Also introduce them to a few of their classmates. Helping them find new friends to play and hang out with can help reduce the separation anxiety.

As soon as they’ve found a spot they like, you can let them know you’ll have to go and you’ll be back to pick them up. Remember not to make goodbye’s longer as it might only make things difficult for you and your child.

Don’t hesitate to call the childcare

It is natural for parents to feel anxious and worried about leaving their little one in childcare for the first time. To ease the stress away, it’s okay to make a phone call to check on your child. So, go ahead and dial away.

Childcare is a challenging transition for most parents and children. Help your kids prepare for this milestone by following these helpful tips. If you’re ready to send your little one to a childcare center in San Diego, make sure to send them only to the best in early childhood education – Wee Care Preschool.

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Celebrate National Picnic Month by Going on a Picnic with the Family

family picnic
A picnic is a great way to spend time with family

Everybody celebrates Independence Day in July. But, what many people don’t know is that we also celebrate National Picnic Month in July, too! Going for a picnic is an excellent time to embrace nature and breathe in fresh air. It is also a great opportunity to bond with friends, family and loved ones. While a picnic is understood as a simple excursion with meals eaten outdoors, there are some interesting facts about the origin of picnic that not many of us are aware of.

  •  The word picnic was taken from the French word “pique nique” which refers to an outdoor meal. The first picnics took place in the Middle Ages when the members of the upper class society would “dine out” or eat their meals outdoors during a hunt.
  • The first recorded use of “picnic”, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, was in a letter written by Lord Chesterfield to his son in Berlin in 1748. The word picnic here was used in the sense of a social gathering.
  • In the early 1800’s, picnic was already being used to refer to a social meal eaten outdoors.

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9 Benefits of Preschool for Children in San Diego

Opportunities to socialize

A preschool is a place where young children meet people outside their family. Socialization outside their comfort zone is an essential foundation for their holistic growth. It’s important for parents to understand that their kids need to socialize to establish friendships. Doing this will help children overcome shyness. It will also help boost their confidence and self-esteem. If this isn’t done early on, it could hinder your child’s social development.

Love for learning

preschool kid drawing
Preschool provides structured learning with fun

If there’s one place where love of education and learning starts, it would be in a preschool. Preschool teachers give lessons in a fun and exciting way. They encourage children to participate. They use strategies that awaken the enthusiasm to learn, read and discover.

Improved attention span

Young children are always curious and interested to discover and explore new things. Through quality preschool programs, the opportunities for learning and discovery are maximized. Children have the chance to explore new environments and meet new friends. They increase their ability to listen, cooperate in group tasks and activities, and follow directions. All which are crucial skills of focus and concentration.

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5 Reasons Why You Should Teach Kids About the Great Outdoors—National Great Outdoors Month

June has been proclaimed as the Great Outdoors Month. This is a perfect time to share the glory of nature with your child!

There are plenty of reasons why you should pack your stuff and enjoy the Great Outdoors with your kids.  Here are just a few of them:

  1.       Manage Your Kid’s Excessive Use of Technology

There are so many distractions these days competing for your child’s attention.  Gadgets, video games, the Internet, you name it, they’re all out there. And you know, once your child gets their hands on any of it, they give it their undivided attention.

There’s nothing wrong with exposing your kids to technology.  But too much of anything can negatively impact your kid, physically, socially and emotionally.

What is alarming though, is how children spend so much less time outside the home and seldom interact with kids their age. (Sometimes, they don’t even talk to their own parents!)  Technology is creating a reclusive generation who’d rather spend time in front of a mobile phone or a computer monitor. Even recess has been reduced or eliminated at many schools, further reducing the time spent outside.

Want to prevent this gloom and doom horizon? You can, if you manage how your kids use technology. Giving them interesting alternatives such as exploring the Great Outdoors tops the list.

If you have limited time because of work, look into having your child attend a child care program.  There are child care centers that offer outdoor activities in their curriculum.

  1. national great outdoors month

     Explore the Grandness of Mother Nature

The US is well known for its majestic outdoors. Go explore some of it! Kids can learn a lot from actual, experiential discovery. Going camping, fishing, or just playing catch in a neighborhood park? Being outside gives you and your child the opportunity to be one with nature.

Imagine your child responding to a live butterfly flying above her head, instead of watching some video about insects on the web.  It’s amazing to see your child discover new things about nature. Better yet, you’re there to teach your kid about nature itself!

  1.       Bonding with Family & Friends

This June is the best month to bond with your child together with friends and other family members. During the National Great Outdoors celebration, there are plenty of fun activities you and your child can enjoy, such as:

  •         Boating
  •         Camping
  •         Family Fun
  •         Fishing
  •         Hiking
  •         Stewardship

Ask the director of the child care center your kid is attending if they offer any of these outdoor activities and how you and your kid can make the most of it.  Child care centers often align their activities with the Great Outdoors Month celebration, by including field trips to parks and other outdoor activities. And most centers need and appreciate volunteers to join them on these field trips, so ask how you can help!

Spending quality time with your kid this month while being out in nature is a wonderful and enriching experience.  Your child is guaranteed to enjoy endless opportunities for adventure, recreation, and renewal of family ties.

  1.       Health Benefits

There’s no denying taking long walks outside can result in long-lasting and far-reaching health benefits.  Nature offers an opportunity to explore and get active while strengthening our bonds with family.

The health benefits are not just limited to physical health.  Sure, climbing a steep hill or backpacking with your kid builds endurance and improves overall physical well-being. But there’s more to physical health when you enjoy the great outdoors, including:

Mental Health Balance

Spending time with your kids outdoors is also beneficial to your own mental health.  It’s a wonderful stress reliever especially if you work in an office all day. Hiking, biking, and climbing can help relieve you of the stress that you deal with on a regular basis.  

Social Bond Strengthening

People who love the great outdoors or any kind of outdoor activity usually do well at group work.  Outdoorsy folks improve their social skills over time and they do so while learning how to effectively work with others.

Imagine what it will be like for your kid.

Encouraging your kid to enjoy nature also gives them important skills, such as team building and problem-solving skills. These will be extremely valuable when she grows up.  

Increased Productivity

Believe it or not, people who spend more time outdoors are more productive in their job and personal life.  Kids who spend more time with friends playing in the park tend to show more IQ and EQ than those who spend more time tinkering with their gadgets.

They are more motivated to get involved in activities and they bring this “grit” to solve life’s riddles and challenges.

Healthy View of the Environment

By exploring the world, kids develop a deep appreciation of nature.  Teaching your child about nature opens their eyes to how important and interconnected the environment is.

Talk to your child about simple, but pressing, environmental issues of the day and teach her how she can make a big difference in her own small way.  Besides, big changes take place with small steps.

  1.       Contribute to the Local Economy by Boosting Local, Small Businesses

Last, but certainly not least, exploring the great outdoors with your kids can bring great value to local and small businesses in your area.  Every time you go out to enjoy nature, you contribute to your local economy’s coffers.

The Great Outdoors Month of June is a time for everyone to share what nature has to offer.  It helps heighten your child’s understanding of nature and their place in it. Plus it’s just a great place to relax in!

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What to Look for in a Quality Infant Program

For parents who are sending their child to an infant program for the first time, the process can be overwhelming, to say the least. You want to be assured that you are sending your little one to infant care that offers a supportive and safe physical environment. At the same time, you need to know that the childcare is effective in promoting their healthy growth and development. If you’re about to start your search for a quality infant care for your child, here’s a helpful guide you can use.

infant care

Personalized infant care

The infant child care center that you will send your child to is going to be their home away from home. Thus, it is essential that they attend a place that offers a warm and nurturing environment. The caregiver should be able to accommodate the needs of the children under their care and interact with them throughout their day. And to ensure that your child is getting individualized care that they need, it is best if you choose the infant program where the kids are divided according to their age group.

Ample time for children to explore and play

A high-quality infant program should allow ample time for kids to explore and play. Caregivers should provide interesting materials for infants to explore for long periods of time. While children enjoy their playtime, caregivers should be attentively watching and taking time to interact with them. They can ask basic questions about colors and shapes, for example. While reading a book together, caregivers may talk about the story while pointing at the pictures. They can describe the images on the book to help develop the child’s imagination. Also, caregivers need to be sure that they only offer objects and toys that infants can handle safely.

Transparent and reliable reporting

A good quality infant program is the one that promotes a child’s holistic development. So, when looking for a childcare program for your infant, one of the things you should think about is their development over time. Find a program that offers a transparent and reliable reporting system. This way, you can monitor your child’s physical, behavioral and cognitive growth. A good program must provide parents with a daily report so that they are informed of their child’s daily activities and routines.

A safe environment

Look for a childcare program that is clean and safe for kids. This way, your child is free to explore their surroundings safely. Learning through play is an excellent way to stimulate a child so that they have fun while they explore to learn about the world.

Policies that ensure child’s health and safety

A quality program puts child health and safety at the top of their priority list. Make sure to find an infant program that implements health and safety procedures. Caregivers should be able to set good examples for kids. The materials and tools used for learning must also be safe and easy to clean. There should be separate areas for eating, food preparation as well as for personal needs like changing diapers and sleeping.

Organized program for childhood development

When searching for infant care, find the one that offers plenty of opportunities for children to engage in various activities. They should experience participating in play that enhances their motor skills and practices verbal exercises.

Routines that address your child’s needs

A childcare center should have routines that will ensure that every child’s needs are met. There should be schedules for eating, playing, sleeping, and changing diapers. This will help little ones comprehend what routine means and encourage them to help. For example, during diaper-changing time, caregivers interact with children one by one and explain the steps needed to be taken. They will guide a child from unsnapping their pants to asking them to help out and cooperate. At the same time, they also try to make it a little fun to make each routine a happy time.

Looking for a high-quality infant program is indeed one of the most important concerns of every parent. To help you choose the right infant daycare,  follow these guidelines to help you out.

And if you’re searching for an infant program in San Diego, Wee Care 4S Ranch is now accepting infant care from  3 months on up.

WeeCare Early Learning Center

Alex Kahn
20:09 18 Sep 23
Maziar Sefidan
05:40 31 May 23
After 6 years (2 kids) at Wee Care we say with high certainty that this is a solid childcare/preschool.Things we like:1. Staff is great. We've had a number of teachers as our kids have progressed through the age groups and we haven't had one that we haven't liked.2. Director (Diane) is a great communicator and generally runs a tight ship.3. Lunch is included. Thank goodness; one less worry in the crazy morning.4. Excellent hours and schedule. Something like 6:30AM to 6:00PM daily with only a handful of holidays unlike many other preschools where the hours are unfriendly to working parents and preschool is out for extended periods during the holidays.5. Reasonable prices (although some increases lately but i don't mind the staff getting raises and cost of living adjustments). Still a pretty good deal.Things that could improve:Not gonna sugar coat it, but the location behind a strip mall was a little off-putting at first until "we got over ourselves". It's about the kids, not how fancy the facilities look. Our kids liked it there and never complained; both fully prepared for kinder socially and academically. They are fully accredited and certified, staff is great, turnover is low; these are what's really important.
Jared Marais
19:25 19 May 23
Grant Weaver
16:23 03 Apr 23
With two kids and both me and my wife working full time - I have a lot of experience with Preschools and Daycares, and WeeCare consistently has provided top tier education and service at an incredible price point.I am consistently amazed by the things my son learns and brings back each day: he loves the alphabet, learning, and will know the proper names of animals that even I have trouble remembering. My daughter was in a different WeeCare years ago, but I was likewise always impressed by the things she was learning and the skills she gained here - it certainly gave her a huge leg up when she joined Elementary.WeeCare in Rancho Bernardo (now a different company) was my first preschool, so I didn't realize what I had until they left, and I went through several other schools trying to find the quality that I originally had.The biggest factor (in my opinion) is that both had the excellent guidance of Preschool Director Diane Martine. She has always been responsive, helpful, and I think she does a great job picking the best teachers for the kids. She was also very helpful and understanding during the time when my son was lagging a bit on potty training, and helped to catch him up with the wonderful teachers she has employed. Big shout out to all the incredible teachers who are patient, always on top of informing us if there is owies, or things to help our kids grow and learn, and are always available and responsive to our questions.Thank you WeeCare - it's tough being a parent right now, and it's a HUGE worry off of our shoulders to know our kids are being taken care of.
Naomi C.
20:30 23 Mar 22
It is more affordable than other day cares in San Diego. They also have more availability than other day cares. My daughter loved going to Wee Care! She had so much fun and made so many friends. She enjoyed going to Wee Care and loved her teachers and teachers assistants. Whenever an issue was raised, the staff was quick to resolve it. My daughter is in Kindergarten now, but she always remembers this school and talks about wanting to come back for a visit. Thank you Wee Care for nurturing growing minds.
Melissa Manns
17:21 16 Oct 19
We love WEE CARE! The facility is nice and clean. We love that they provide their meals. Our son loves his teachers and looks forward to going to school. The new director seems very sweet and we've always had positive interactions with her. Definitely recommend!
April Gossett
05:25 18 Dec 14
Our daughter has been going there since April. We absolutely love this place. They are so engaging with the children and they actually TEACH the children during classroom time. When I picked my daughter up a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving she was telling me all about cornucopias...I was blown away because she completely knew what it was and she is only 4!! Because of Wee Care she enjoys learning and doing crafts. They also offer Spanish class, dance class, as well as other programs for a really good price. My daughter is actually taking Spanish right now and is on the wait list for the dance class. I am really really happy we found this place and I know that she will be beyond ready for kindergarten.
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