Are you a new mom figuring your way through this new parenting journey? All new moms need a little help from time to time, especially when it comes to parenting a newborn. When you’re struggling with endless hours of sleep deprivation, caring for your little one, and everything in between, life can become overwhelming. Whether you’re a first-time parent or you’ve been through it all before, these helpful tips can make things easier for you and your family. Here are six parenting tips every new mom needs to know.

1. Ask for help

Parenting is a 24-hour job, and it’s difficult to do it alone. Don’t be afraid to ask your spouse or partner for help. Child care is an essential component of any parenting team. It’s important to let your partner know when you need help, and  reciprocate when your partner needs a hand as well. You can also lean on a babysitter or nanny, friends, or any family members who are willing to lend a hand. Daycare centers, parenting classes at your local community center or church, and online parenting blogs can also be super helpful. If you have someone who can watch your child while you take some time away from home, or you just need some time to yourself without your baby, take them up on their offer!

2. Stick to a routine

When you’re struggling with sleep deprivation and trying to live in the moment with your baby, it can be difficult to adhere to a daily routine. However, parenting is all about routines and schedules. Try your best to keep one for yourself as well as your baby. When you face those hours of your mornings, afternoons, and bedtime,it’s helpful to follow the same order of activities each day so that you and your baby can learn to expect what’s coming next, even if your schedule changes somewhat from week to week.

3. Get settled into your new routine

These aren’t always easy parenting tips to follow because sleep difficulties are common for newborns due to their small stomach size and adjusting to life outside the womb. Sleeping through the night with a newborn can take anywhere from three to eight weeks. Establishing your parenting routine is even more important during these times, because it’s all about trying to stay on top of your baby’s schedule and needs at this point. When your baby starts sleeping through the night (which usually happens between five to seven months), parenting will become easier. It is at this point that you should find it easier to fulfill some of your duties without feeling like you’re neglecting your child during naptime or evening hours.

4. Let your baby sleep on you

Depending on which parenting philosophy you subscribe to, letting your baby sleep with you in your bed may not be an option for you as a new parent. However, if you decide to let your little one sleep with you in the beginning, don’t worry – it won’t be forever. Newborns typically need to sleep on their parents’ bodies, or very closeby, for the first three to four months of life, especially during the night. It’s beneficial to let them do so if you can, and it also allows everyone to get more sleep, including you! Once your baby moves past that initial stage, which is typically around four months old, you’ll be able to put your little one into a crib in a separate room and establish a parenting routine that works for you both.

5. Learn how to cope with stress

Being a new parent can be full of stressful moments, including feedings, diaper changes, and crying spells that don’t seem to end. However, once you learn how to handle these challenging situations more effectively without letting them affect your mental well-being (which usually takes around six months to achieve), it becomes much easier to move past them when they happen. Remember, if you feel like you’re struggling with the stress of parenting more than usual, or show signs of postpartum depression, seek help right away from friends or family members, online parenting forums or blogs, and talk to your doctor about therapy.

6. Find an outlet for expression

Being a parent can be exhausting and stressful, which can even lead you to feel like you need to have outbursts from time to time. It’s important to find a healthy outlet for your stress in these situations. Some parents cope better with stress than others because they have a way to channel it into something positive, by seeking help or connecting with others in a support group. Remember that while parenting can be extremely rewarding, it’s also not easy! So take your time as you adjust to this new role, and don’t forget to ask for help when you need it.

While parenting tips like this may not work for everyone, determining which parenting philosophy best suits your family’s needs is key! Follow these parenting tips to help you navigate this challenging phase, while you try to enjoy and make the most of this wonderful journey.

At Wee Care Preschool, we strive to offer the best and most affordable child care in San Diego and Chula Vista. We have created an environment where your child can thrive, grow, and feel safe. Learn more by visiting our website.

Developing good study habits starts at home. Students are more likely to succeed when they follow a consistent daily routine for studying and homework. As parents, we can influence our children’s study habits and set them on the right path by providing them with the tools they need for learning. Staying on top of everything, especially when you have a preschooler, can be easier said than done. But it doesn’t have to feel like an uphill battle. There are plenty of simple ways that you can help your little one learn while also making life easier for yourself as a parent. 

In this post, we will share some study hacks that can make learning more fun and interactive for your child, and also provide relief for parents who are feeling overwhelmed.

Get rid of clutter

The best place for your child to learn is a clean, distraction-free environment. Young children are most receptive when they’re able to focus on one thing at a time without outside noise or objects that compete for their attention. Clutter can be distracting and cause your child to lose focus, which is why it’s important to remove any unnecessary items from the surrounding environment. Make it a point to keep your child’s bedroom neat, orderly, and clutter-free whenever possible. This will help ensure that your little one has a clear mind when doing homework or when studying. 

Set up a cozy space conducive to studying

If you’re looking for a way to improve your child’s learning, consider creating a cozy space that will make the process more enjoyable. Children need an environment where they can learn and grow without feeling confined or stressed. Look for a space or a cozy nook in your home that can be used as your child’s schoolwork. Set up a desk and a comfortable chair. You can even decorate the space with some of your child’s favorite fun objects. Make sure this study space has adequate lighting and is free from noise and other distractions.  

Switch up your child’s study space

Another helpful idea is switching up locations for learning and schoolwork. Learning doesn’t have to take place in just one specific spot. In fact, changing your child’s study space from time to time can help your child’s brain retrieve and recall information in different places.

While it helps that your little one has a dedicated space for studying, it’s also a good idea to encourage children to learn in different environments. This is an effective way to improve memory and encourage effective learning.  

Mix things up

Another method for effective learning is something called “interleaving”, or mixing things up. We often encourage our preschoolers to focus on one specific subject before moving on to the next. But did you know that mixing things up enhances mastery information and can facilitate long-term retention? 

For example, if your little one has been practicing simple reading words for ten minutes, you can switch to practicing math and counting. This is an efficient way to learn because it pushes youngsters’ brains to work harder. 

Take a break and go outside

A recent study found that ten-minute breaks every hour helped students retain more information than if they had studied continuously for an entire period. Be sure to give your child’s brain some time to rest between assignments and academic tasks. It’s an even better idea to let your child go outside and get some fresh air, as this helps lighten up areas of the brain that enhance attention and filter out distractions. 

Incorporate fun and games

Learning doesn’t have to feel like a tedious, monotonous task. When we find ways of injecting creativity and fun into learning activities, they become less daunting and more enjoyable. Try to get creative with the subject matter by playing games or incorporating educational toys. There are plenty of games and toys that make learning fun for kids. 

Here at Wee Care Preschools, we ensure that learning is fun and engaging for kids. Visit our website to learn more. 

A good night’s sleep is vital to our health and wellbeing, especially for growing children. Sleep is an indispensable part of a child’s healthy growth and development. Sleep is fundamental when it comes to a child’s mood, behavior, cognitive functioning, and overall mental and physical wellbeing. Sleep deprivation, on the other hand, can lead to difficulties with learning and information retention, and can result in irritability, anxiety, and depression. Unfortunately, making sure our kids get ample rest each night can be more easily said than done. This is where incorporating calming activities can come into play.

For many parents, the bedtime routine often feels like a never-ending battle. This is especially true for kids who want to play non-stop or stay up using electronic devices. If these dilemmas sound familiar in your home, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a list of some calming activities that can help make your children’s bedtime routine easier and smoother.

Relaxing bath time

A nice and relaxing bath works wonders for both kids and adults alike. This can be part of a calming bedtime routine as it can help reduce stress and improve your child’s quality of sleep.  

Try to set aside time for a calming bath for your child every evening before bedtime. Consider using a bubble bath that’s infused with essential oils that help to promote sleepiness. Let your kids enjoy their relaxing bath so they can head to bed feeling relaxed, refreshed, and ready for sleep.

Calming music

Playing soft music at bedtime can be another helpful calming activity for kids. Because of its soothing effects, relaxing music can be a useful tool in inducing sleepiness so your child can drift off to a deep slumber in no time. 

Find out what songs or types of music relax your child the most. You may try using meditation music or lullabies, these are great options.

Storytelling

If reading books or telling stories aren’t a part of your child’s bedtime yet, now is a great time to incorporate this into your routine. Not only is listening to stories helpful when it comes to enhancing a child’s literacy and language skills, but it can also help to relax and soothe your child’s mind as they approach sleep time.

Whether you and your child decide to read books together or read stories aloud, make it a habit to spend time at night together for bedtime stories. Consider asking your child what story he or she would like to hear. Your little one might have a favorite book, or your child may want to suggest something new and interesting. You can even be creative and make the experience more enjoyable by creating a reading nook or a fort made of blankets lit up with fairy lights!

Coloring and painting

If your little one has a penchant for arts and crafts, you can use this interest as a tool to help your child wind down as he or she gets more in the mood for sleeping. Engage your child in coloring and painting activities during the evening after dinner. These are excellent alternatives to screen time and electronics. Unlike TV and video games, which keep children’s minds stimulated and awake, artistic activities are soothing and relaxing. 

Provide your little one with the materials he or she will need to create some artwork. Give children coloring books, markers, crayons, or paint. You can also encourage kids to use their imaginations and create something from scratch. In addition to being an excellent calming activity, creating artwork also serves as good practice for children’s developing motor skills and promotes imagination and creativity. 

Puzzles

Working on puzzles can be an enjoyable activity for both kids and adults. It can help relieve stress after a long and tiring day, and it works wonders for young children, too!

Why not incorporate puzzles into your family bonding activities in the evening? Puzzles are a good way to enjoy quality time together, and relax and soothe your minds, as well.

Getting kids to bed each night isn’t always a walk in the park. In fact, it is one of the many struggles many parents face. Because adequate quality rest is vital to your children’s health and development, try adding some of these calming activities to your family’s night time routine to help make bedtime easier and smoother in your home. These tips and tricks are worth trying!

For more parenting tips and resources, please visit Wee Care Preschool. 

Feeding our kids nutritious foods is a top priority for all parents. After all, our children’s health is what matters most. However, many of us know that getting a five-year-old to finish a small serving of vegetables can be easier said than done. 

If you’re dealing with this kind of dilemma in your home, know that you’re not alone. Picky eating is common among toddlers and preschoolers. It’s a natural part of growing up and a way for little ones to assert their independence. Since proper nutrition is important, we can’t always let our kids decide what and when to eat. We need to make sure they’re getting the nutrients they need. Don’t worry, there are ways you can get your kids to eat better. Read on for 5 helpful tips for picky eaters.

Don’t force it

Let’s admit it. In our desire to make sure our children finish their food and eat their veggies, we may feel inclined to force them to eat even if they’re already full. This is a common mistake many parents make, and it’s something we need to avoid doing. Pushing kids too hard to do anything will usually lead to a power struggle, especially when it’s about food. As a result, they will come to associate mealtime with anxiety, instead of looking forward to eating.

The best thing to do is to let your child learn how to read and listen to his or her own hunger cues. Encourage children to eat when they’re hungry. This doesn’t mean we should encourage kids to eat at irregular hours. However, it’s best to serve your child smaller portions during a meal if they tend to not be hungry. 

Slowly introduce new foods

Getting our kids to eat healthy foods isn’t always easy, but it can help to introduce them to new and healthy foods slowly. Again, do not force it. Instead, try to get them excited about each new food. You can even make it more fun and exciting by injecting a little creativity. 

For example, if your child isn’t a fan of carrots, you can make them more appealing by cutting them into fun shapes and sizes. Incorporate other vegetables too and arrange them on the plate in a fun and appetizing way. Consider adding delicious dips to enhance the taste if the vegetable is a strange new flavor. There are many ways to level up the fun factor! It can go a long way. 

Enjoy meals as a family

Adopting healthy eating habits starts at home, and they can be reinforced by eating meals together as a family whenever possible. Mealtime is an excellent opportunity to model healthy eating to our kids. They also provide an opportunity to emphasize the importance of a balanced and healthy diet.

When it comes to preparing food, be sure to serve only one meal for the whole family. Don’t make another meal just because your child isn’t interested in what’s being served. It’s also important to ensure that mealtime is free of distractions. There should be no TV screens, mobile phones, or tablets at the table.

Get them involved

Another helpful tip when you’re dealing with picky eaters is to involve  your kids in meal planning and food preparation. Instead of making all of the decisions yourself, enlist your child’s involvement. Invite him or her to tag along when you go food shopping. Let kids pick out their own  fruits, vegetables, and other food items. Do the same thing when preparing the meal. Allow them to help out in the kitchen when cooking.  Let them prepare their own plate with the items they like from what’s being served. This is a good way for them to feel that they are making an independent decision instead of being forced to eat something they don’t like. 

Be a positive role model

Instilling healthy eating habits is easier when parents model these behaviors themselves. If you want your little one to be more open to new foods, we need to set a good example. Practice what you preach when telling them to eat their vegetables, finish their meal, and limit junk food. If we want our kids to make healthy food choices, they shouldn’t see us binge-eating excessive unhealthy foods.  

Managing your child’s picky eating can test any parent’s patience. These tips for picky eaters should come in handy so your child can start adopting healthy eating habits in no time!

For more tips and resources on parenting, please visit Wee Care Preschool.

Trying to get our little ones to help out with the chores at home is a common source of arguments for many families. We may feel like we’re constantly asking our children why they haven’t made their beds,  put the dishes in the sink, or organized their toys. Oftentimes, it feels like it may seem like our kids just ignore us. Teaching our kids about chores at home can be frustrating, and you’ve probably found yourself caught in this dilemma at one time or another. One of the reasons why many kids resist doing chores is because they think helping out around the home is boring, tedious, and time-consuming.

However, introducing chores to young kids early on is one way of teaching them about the importance of responsibility. When children help out with various tasks around the home, It teaches them important life skills they will need to use in the future. Learning these important responsibilities also helps to instill a better understanding of time management skills, self-reliance, and teamwork. It also offers a great opportunity for bonding time for families. If you feel like you’re constantly nagging your children to get them moving, it’s time for something to change. Here’s a list of some tips and tricks you might find useful when it comes to teaching your kids chores.

Eliminate distractions

One of the reasons why kids may procrastinate or even refuse to do chores is that they are distracted by other things. More often than not, their electronic devices are usually the culprit. In this case, you might want to try removing this distraction. This means you’ll need to take away your child’s device and have a discussion to help  him or her understand what needs to be done in order to earn back the privilege of using the electronic device.

As we want to highlight the importance of learning about responsibility, this may not be something that will appeal to most kids. Try to appeal to their interests instead.

Consider using a reward system

Another useful trick you can use when it comes to teaching kids chores is a reward system. Think about something special you can offer your child as soon as the job is done, and this doesn’t necessarily have to be in the form of material items.

For instance, you can offer to take your child on a trip to the beach over the weekend if he or she is able to finish every chore for the week. You can give your child an extended hour of playtime if he or she helps out with preparing the table for dinner. Many families create a chore chart, too! Seeing boxes getting ticked off as each task is completed can help keep children motivated.

Establish a time limit

In an attempt to do the minimal amount of household chores, some children may try to stall the task as much as they can. This is where using time limits comes in handy. Time limits should be coupled with consequences so that your child will be compelled to finish each task as quickly as possible.

For example, you may ask children to make sure all of their toys are put into a storage box in ten minutes. If they don’t, their electronics time will be reduced by 30 minutes.

Never use chores as a means for punishment

One of the common mistakes some parents make is using household chores as a form of punishment, which should never be the case. There are parents who may make their kids wash the dishes or do some house cleaning as a consequence for misbehavior because they failed to study for an exam. Doing this will give  children a negative perception about chores and lead them to believe that chores are undesirable or something they should try to avoid. It’s better if you can help your child understand that chores are expected, just like following behavior expectations and making good decisions.

Be patient and encouraging

Young kids won’t get it right on their first few attempts, and that’s okay. What’s important is your child’s willingness to learn and try.  Try to avoid getting frustrated if your child isn’t not able to do the chores  the way you expected. Instead, be there to guide and encourage children until they get the hang of it. Teach them how to do these things better. More importantly, recognize their efforts and praise them for a job well done each time they participate in any chores around your home.

Teaching kids chores is an excellent way to instill in them a sense of independence and responsibility in addition to other important life skills they will need in the future. With these tips, you can get your little one on board to help out around your home without as much struggle or conflict.

For more parenting tips, or if you’re looking for the best preschool for your child, please visit Wee Care Preschool.