Creekside Kids

(719) 635-9111

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Baking With Your Kids

Image by Couleur from Pixabay

 

As the Colorado air turns crisp and the days grow short, we spend more time indoors, creating opportunities for warm, memorable activities with our little ones. One timeless activity we wholeheartedly recommend is the baking of bread, together, parent and child. While one thinks of bread making taking a long time, we have a short cut for you if you are pressed for time!  There are myriad benefits to this simple yet joyful task, and we’d like to share them with you, drawing insights from the beautiful “Easy Crusty Bread” article published in Mother Earth News back in December of 2008 that Jennifer has held on to since her own children were small.  She never had time for the kneading and rising process and found this simple way to quickly bake fragrant fresh bread on demand.

A Holiday Helper

Baking bread at home can be convenient during the holiday season. A loaf of freshly baked bread creates a cozy, festive atmosphere as it wafts through the house. And homemade bread makes a personable, heartfelt gift for friends and neighbors, demonstrating the significance of sharing and giving.

Teaching Kitchen Safety

The kitchen is a hub of activity and a place to introduce essential safety lessons. While baking bread, you can teach your child about the dangers present in a kitchen, such as hot ovens and sharp utensils. With your guidance, they will learn to navigate these hazards responsibly, building both their confidence and awareness.

A Creative Project

Baking bread can also be part of creative projects. From measuring ingredients to kneading dough, it introduces children to basic math and science concepts in a hands-on manner. The transformation of ingredients to a finished loaf of warm bread can pique curiosity, wonder, and understanding about how things work. And, of course, baking bread is a creative outlet in itself. Your child can experiment with different flavors and textures, adding their own personal touch to the recipe. They may even come up with new ideas for other recipes!

Perfect for Snowy Days

When a heavy snowfall keeps you and your kids indoors, baking bread can turn such dull days into memorable occasions. It’s a productive way to spend time, and brings warmth and cheer to an otherwise gloomy day. Mixing, kneading, and waiting for the dough to rise teaches patience and rewards diligence. (And it’s a great moment for storytime and a reading of The Little Red Hen!)  This fresh bread recipe avoids the long rising times and can sit in the fridge for many days for a quick grab of fistful-sized custom loaves of bread that bake quickly!

Creating Cherished Rituals

Lastly, a baking bread day can transform bad weather’s disappointment into a delightful bonding experience. We’re big on rituals at Creekside Kids, and this ritual, repeated over time, becomes a cherished memory for both parent and child, turning a downtime day into a special event. It’s a moment to slow down, enjoy each other’s company, and make something delicious together.

At Creekside Kids, we’re dedicated to nurturing safe, fun, and educational experiences for our children, and we believe baking bread encompasses all these values. The “Easy Crusty Bread” recipe from Mother Earth News can be a fantastic starting point; its simplicity makes it perfect for little hands eager to help. Thank you for being part of the Creekside Kids community. We hope you enjoy this wholesome activity and the many benefits it brings. By sharing this blog, we invite all our caregivers to create warm memories and instill valuable lessons. If you’d like to discuss a place at Creekside Kids for your kids, we invite you to click this embedded link to schedule an appointment. Let’s get to know each other! Like us on Facebook to follow our stories for news and updates. We’re located at 1201 W Cheyenne Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, and we can be reached at (719) 635-9111. Our new hours of operation are 6:45 a.m. until 5:45 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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The Importance of Holiday Traditions

Image by KatrinDitrih from Pixabay

As the holiday season approaches, our hearts fill with joy, warmth, and anticipation. Autumn-Winter holidays like Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Ramadan, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s Eve hold a special place in our lives and offer us opportunities to create core life memories with our children. 

Did you know that holiday traditions are more than just joy and celebrations? They play a significant role in your child’s early learning and development, providing a sense of structure, fostering emotional bonds, and instilling important values.

Building a Sense of Family Structure

As parents, you play a crucial role in building a sense of family structure through holiday traditions. Whether it’s baking cookies together, sharing a meal, or decorating the Christmas tree, these rituals provide a sense of continuity and belonging, helping your children understand their place within the family.

Developing Emotional Bonds

Participating in family traditions is not just about the activities, it’s about strengthening emotional bonds between family members. When children see their parents and caregivers engaging in these special activities with joy and enthusiasm, they learn the value of spending quality time together. These shared experiences foster love and security, which are fundamental to a child’s self-worth.

Instilling Values and Traditions

Holiday traditions are rich with opportunities to teach children important values such as gratitude, generosity, and compassion. For example, we can involve our little ones in activities emphasizing thankfulness and giving back to the community during Thanksgiving. These lessons, embedded in joyful occasions, leave a lasting impression on young minds.

Encouraging Lifelong Memories

The sights, sounds, and smells of holiday traditions often become cherished memories that children carry into adulthood. These positive recollections contribute to a child’s sense of identity and family heritage, offering comfort and connection across generations.

One of the most priceless gifts we can give our children is a treasure trove of joyful memories. The sights, sounds, and smells of holiday traditions often stick with us long into adulthood. These positive recollections contribute to a child’s sense of identity and family heritage, offering comfort and connection across generations.

Ideas for Meaningful Traditions

If you’re looking to start or enhance your family’s holiday traditions, here are a few simple ideas:

Family Storytime: Select a special story you read together every autumn and winter. Collect seasonal books your family loves and establish a cozy reading-time tradition, complete with blankets and hot cocoa. Over time, your child will look forward to revisiting the story and its familiar characters.

Crafting Together: Create homemade ornaments or decorations. It’s a beautiful way for children to express their creativity while contributing to the family’s festive atmosphere. Get crafty with your little ones by making homemade holiday decorations. From handprint turkeys for Thanksgiving to homemade ornaments for the winter holidays, these crafts can become annual keepsakes you’ll cherish for years. 

Exploring Nature: Take a family walk to admire seasonal changes. Bundle up and head outdoors for a nature walk. Collect leaves, acorns, and other natural treasures in the fall to create crafts or decorations. 

Holiday Light Tour: Take a scenic drive or walk around the neighborhood to appreciate the twinkling lights and decorations during the winter. You can even turn it into a scavenger hunt for added excitement! Make this an annual outing with hot chocolate and holiday music to enhance the experience.

Advent Calendars: Manufacturers make Advent calendars for multiple holidays– there’s even a Halloween one. Each new opening of a door brings excitement and anticipation to your child’s day.

Gratitude Jar: Create a gratitude jar where each family member writes down what they’re thankful for. Share these moments of gratitude during Thanksgiving, preventing the need for your guests to conjure up what they’re thankful for when they’re on the spot. Remembering to use this jar throughout the year will teach your children the importance of appreciation and mindfulness.

Family Cooking Day: Dedicate a day prior to your family’s favorite holidays solely to cooking and baking together as a family. Preparing traditional meals or trying out new recipes can be a fun way to bond and create delicious memories. Plus, little hands can help with simple tasks, fostering teamwork in the kitchen. Cooking is an especially good medium for creating memories, as it combines wonderful smells with delicious treats.

Community Service: Involve your family in giving back to the community. Volunteer at a local food bank, participate in a holiday toy drive or make cards for nursing home residents (or visit one with the staff’s permission). Teaching your children about kindness and generosity is a beautiful tradition that can grow year after year.

Outdoor Movie Night: Set up an outdoor movie night with warm blankets, popcorn, and a favorite holiday film. If it’s too chilly, transform your living room into a cozy movie theater instead. The magic of family movie night can become a cherished tradition.

Reflection and Goal Setting: Hold a reflective family meeting where everyone shares their highlights of the past year. Discuss goals and aspirations for the coming year, helping each family member set intentions together. This practice not only fosters communication but also strengthens family bonds.

At Creekside Kids, we believe in the profound impact of traditions and rituals on a child’s development. These practices help children learn about their family’s unique culture, create a sense of stability, and nurture loving relationships. As we celebrate this holiday season, let’s cherish these moments and the excellent learning opportunities they bring to our little ones.

Thank you for being a part of our Creekside Kids community. We wish you all a happy and heartwarming holiday season filled with love, joy, and cherished traditions. If you’d like to discuss a place at Creekside Kids for your kids, we invite you to click this embedded link to schedule an appointment. Let’s get to know each other! Like us on Facebook to follow our stories for news and updates. We’re located at 1201 W Cheyenne Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, and we can be reached at (719) 635-9111. Our new hours of operation are 6:45 a.m. until 5:45 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

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Keeping Halloween Fun and Safe for Our Little Ones

Image by Juliezimmi3 on Pixabay

Spooky Time Is Nearly Here!

Halloween is just around the corner, and it’s such a magical time for our preschoolers. Kids at that age know the markers of Halloween: black cat superstitions, pumpkins carved with creepy faces, darker evenings and chillier air, costumes both simple and grand, and, of course, lots of free candy.

Our children’s excitement is palpable, and as parents and caregivers, we want to ensure their adventure is both fun and safe. We also want to assure those who don’t celebrate it that the holiday is highly malleable to their own sensibilities. You can forgo spookiness and make it all about autumn if you like. You can dress up as historical heroes and villains or characters from books and movies. You can even make it a service day by helping others in your community.

We’re big proponents of Halloween here at Creekside Kids. We think dressing up and adopting new identities is essential for children to decide on the kind of adults they wish to be someday. We recognize that although Halloween was originally a pagan festival called Samhain (pronounced saa·wn), it was co-opted as a Christian observance called All Hallows Eve during the time when the pagans were being converted, allowing the end-of-harvest traditions to pass into Christianity. And, of course, North American children have long served to secularize the holiday into a fun night of ghosts, silliness and a few scares– an examination of our fear of death and the unknown.

We want you, your family, and all those that you encounter to be safe and have a memorable, wonderful time this Halloween. Here are some valuable tips and reminders for different aspects of our Halloween festivities in Colorado Springs.

Trick-or-Treating Safety Tips for Parents

Taking your preschoolers on their trick-or-treating adventure is such a joy! Here are a few pointers to keep the evening delightful and secure:

Hide a Handy Cheat: In cases where the children are still building their walking legs day-to-day, consider incorporating a stroller into their costume. This will allow you to keep an eye on them while they enjoy their trick-or-treating. If your child is old enough to walk but not quite ready for the full-on candy hunt, consider using a wagon or stroller with a handle that can be pushed by an adult. This way, you can keep tabs on your little one and ensure they don’t wander off into danger.

Bright and Reflective Costumes: Ensure your child’s costume is bright or has reflective elements to make them visible to drivers.

Stay Together: Always accompany your little one, holding hands as you walk from house to house.

Have a Plan: Stick to familiar neighborhoods and plan your route in advance. Consider neighborhoods like the Old North End, where Halloween is celebrated warmly, and the community comes together to share candy and fun.

Check Candy: Before letting your child enjoy their treats, check each piece for tampering or allergies.

Road Safety for Drivers

As drivers on Halloween night, we have a responsibility to ensure everyone’s safety:

Slow Down: Drive slower than usual in residential areas, where children may walk or cross streets.

Stay Alert: Be especially alert during peak trick-or-treating hours, typically from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Avoid Distractions: Keep distractions to a minimum and be ready for sudden movements from excited children.

Hosting Trick-or-Treaters Safely

For those of us hosting trick-or-treaters, making our homes safe and welcoming is essential:

Light the Way: Ensure your porch and walkways are well-lit to prevent trips and falls. 

Clear Obstacles: Remove any potential hazards from your yard or porch that could cause accidents. Make sure lighting effects or automaton scares will not send kids into an unsafe place. Beware of causings scares at the top of a set of steps.

Safe Treats: Offer sealed, store-bought treats to ensure safety and accommodate various dietary restrictions. Candy Apples and Rice Krispy treats are fun, but even in a safe environment, they are (at best) unsanitary in a kid’s treat bag and (at worst) potentially dangerous.

Celebrations in the ‘Springs

If your neighborhood isn’t keen on Halloween festivities, Colorado Springs offers particular locations where everyone is welcome. The Old North End is particularly famous for its Halloween spirit, with friendly homes that go all out to celebrate. It’s a beautiful place to create lasting memories with your little ones.

If you have kids in your area, time to devote to the project, and lots of imagination, consider hosting a haunted house with many creeps and monsters for neighborhood children to conquer with their bravery. Check out HauntPay’s Top 5 Safety Tips For Your Haunted House for how to make a spooky event into a safe event.

At Creekside Kids, we are committed to fostering a safe, fun, and educational environment for our children. We hope these tips help you create a Halloween filled with joy and safety. Have a magical Halloween, and enjoy every moment of this delightful season with your precious preschoolers! If you’d like to discuss a place at Creekside Kids for your kids, we invite you to click this embedded link to schedule an appointment. Let’s get to know each other! Like us on Facebook to follow our stories for news and updates. We’re located at 1201 W Cheyenne Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, and we can be reached at (719) 635-9111. Our new hours of operation are 6:45 a.m. until 5:45 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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Healthy Lunches and Snacks on a Time/Money Budget

Image by jun yang from Pixabay

The school lunch has sure changed over the years. When my generation was young, it was the beginning of the tin lunch box made in plastic with a batter-proof thermos. At that time, the vast majority of households were run by stay-at-home mothers, who took the time to make packed lunches the night before.

In this modern age, there are even fewer families where a parent stays home full-time. That means snacks and lunches are often put together by a parent who is also worried about making it to their job on time. And after clearing up dinner, it’s hard to work out what your kids will be willing to eat in just 16 hours. While we want to take the time to provide a nutritious lunch that kids will love, the morning rush can necessitate shortcuts we later regret. 

Have you felt a growing banality in the food you are offering and wish to return a sprinkle of magic in your kiddo’s lunch box? Well, grab your magician hats – today, we’re going to whip up some healthy, scrumptious lunches and snacks for our preschool kids that won’t have your wallet playing hide and seek or your watches tick-tocking away!

Your child’s early snacks and lunch experiences are a building block towards their growth and development. We’re offering some tips for improving the experience, on a budget!

Yummy Lunches On A Dime

We’re talking about meals that are quick, nutritious, and as easy as ABC! The USDA’s MyPlate guidelines suggest that a balanced plate contains fruits, veggies, grains, protein, and dairy. Now, imagine if we could make that fit into our little ones’ lunch boxes? We can and we will!

Here’s a fun idea: Picture whole wheat wraps spread with a layer of hummus as the stage, and thinly sliced turkey as the main star, with a supporting cast of shredded carrots and some spinach leaves. Roll it up, and voila, you have nutrient-packed Turkey Hummus Pinwheels. Add a side of smiley apple slices (soak them in water and a squeeze of lemon to keep them from browning) and a yogurt pouch for a bone-building finale!

Or for the slightly older crowd, try low-carb offerings such as Dave’s Killer Bread, light cream cheese, a lunchmeat, and leafy lettuce and juicy tomato shaped out of the crust with a cookie cutter. Send the entire sandwich with them, letting them throw away the crusts, or eat them if they remain hungry after the meal!

For more inspiration, you can turn to ChooseMyPlate.gov which offers a treasure trove of tips on building balanced meals for your munchkins.

 

Snack O’ Clock – Fuel for Fun

We know our bundles of joy love nothing more than a little nibble here and there. And why not make it count? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends snacks like fruits, veggies, whole-grains, and lean protein to keep those engines running at peak playfulness!

Dip into happiness with this sweet and crunchy delight: sliced bell peppers, baby carrots, and cucumber sticks served with a side of hummus or Greek yogurt dip. Remember, every color of the rainbow brings with it a galaxy of nutrients!

For the fruity adventurers, let’s create mini fruit kabobs with grapes, berries, and chunks of melon. These can be prepped the night before and kept chilled for a grab-and-go morning. The American Heart Association is a big cheerleader for pumping up those fruits and veggies in your kids’ diet!

 

Quick As A Flash Prep

The secret to the morning hustle is planning! Give yourself a high-five if you chop extra veggies during the previous night’s dinner prep, or if you draw up a weekly snack menu to stick on the fridge. And, if you haven’t yet, maybe it’s time to include these sneaky tips in your superhero parent toolkit.

Take a peep at Super Healthy Kids for planning resources and ideas that can transform how you look at meal prep.

 

Final Sprinkle of Fun

And just remember, the heart of childhood is always beating to the drum of joy, growth, and all things sparkly wonderful. So, let’s keep those lunch boxes as colorful and merry as our little treasures’ imaginations. Pop in a funny note or a sticker to brighten their day. Make mealtime as much fun as playtime and just as enriching. Here’s to healthy munching and crunching!

Don’t you forget, every little step you take creates a path of health and happiness for your child. Let’s make each meal a stepping stone towards a lifetime of good habits! = If you’d like to discuss a place at Creekside Kids for your kids, we invite you to click this embedded link to schedule an appointment. Let’s get to know each other! Like us on Facebook to follow our stories for news and updates. We’re located at 1201 W Cheyenne Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, and we can be reached at (719) 635-9111. Our new hours of operation are 6:45 a.m. until 5:45 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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Sunscreen Savvy: A Creekside Guide to SPF Fun in the Sun!

Image by Beate from Pixabay

Fun in the Sun

Hey there, Creekside Families! With summer on our minds, tapping on our windows, and inviting us out to play, it’s a good time to talk about our invisible but oh-so-important superhero costume – sunscreen! But here’s the twist in our summer plot: not all sunscreens are spun from the same spandex. That’s right; we’re talking about SPF – or as we like to call it at Creekside, ‘Sun Protection Factor.’

Let’s embark on a little SPF spelunking adventure to discover the treasures of protection it holds for our little sun chasers. Rest assured, this information is backed by scientific research and expert advice, so you can feel confident in your sun protection choices.

SPF: What’s in the Number?

Imagine SPF as a magical shield. The higher the number on this shield, the more sunbeams it bounces away from our precious little ones. But is a higher number always mightier in the battle against UV rays? Let’s see:

SPF 15: This is like the trusty sidekick of sunscreens. It blocks about 93% of UVB rays. It’s a good option for quick trips or a playdate on a lightly cloudy day.

SPF 30: Here’s the superhero of everyday sun protection! Blocking about 97% of UVB rays, it’s an excellent choice for everyday adventures, from sandbox escapades to high-sea backyard battles.

SPF 50 and Beyond: Entering the realm of ultra shields, SPF 50 blocks about 98% of rays. Numbers higher than 50 add a bit more protection, ideal for those extra-bright days or our little pals with more sensitive skin.

In fact, the Banana Boat website offers a wonderful chart for determining what SPF you need and how long you can expect it to protect your skin:

The two most essential acronyms for you to remember are:

UVA (Ageing)

and

UVB (Burning).

Most sunscreens shield us from UVB, but picking a “broad spectrum” potion is crucial to keep both villains away from our skin’s superhero layer.

The Magic Formula: Lotion, Spray, or Stick?

There are lots of different ways to apply sunscreen today, and your child will likely have a preference that you can match the product to.

Lotions are fabulous for a head-to-toe protective layer. They are like a lotion-love spell, ensuring no spot goes uncovered.

Sprays are the swift sorcerers of sunscreen, casting a protective mist with quick spells (sprays!). Just make sure to use them in a well-ventilated area away from those curious little noses and mouths.

Sticks are the precise wizards, perfect for drawing magical circles around small areas like cheeks, noses, and ears – the favorite snack of the sun as we engage in sunny activities.

Apply Early & Generously

Cloak your little ones in their SPF armor for approximately 30 minutes before venturing into the enchanted forests (or backyards). Remember to reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating, and before you go, watch for any skin irritations or reactions!

Sensitive Skin Sorcery

For the tender skin of our little ones, look for mineral-based sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. They’re like gentle guards that stand firmly against the sun.

Befriend the Shade and Hydration

Be sure to combine the power of sunscreen with its natural allies — cooling shade and nourishing water (both inside the body and out). They are mystical potions helping us keep the play safer and happier.

So, there we have it, brave Creekside guardians of fun and wellness! With our SPF knowledge, let’s ensure our little sun sprites enjoy every sunny tale and adventure this summer, armored with the proper protection. Share your sun-safe moments or tips below – because every nugget of wisdom makes our Creekside family glow brighter. Here’s to a summer filled with laughter, play, and oh-so-wise sunscreen choices! If you’d like to discuss a place at Creekside Kids for your kids, we invite you to click this embedded link to schedule an appointment. Let’s get to know each other! Like us on Facebook to follow our stories for news and updates. We’re located at 1201 W Cheyenne Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, and we can be reached at (719) 635-9111. Our new hours of operation are 6:45 a.m. until 5:45 p.m., Monday through Friday.

This article written with material from “Skin care on a budget – Best Living Guide.”

Location & Hours

creekside building
1201 W Cheyenne Rd
Colorado Springs, CO 80906  
 
6:30 am - 5:45 pm
Monday - Friday
(719) 635-9111

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