Latest News/Events

Here at Home Sweet Home Child Care, we like to follow the children's interest and those change from one minute to another, so this is where you can visit and see what we are working on at the moment! Whether it's an author-based theme or "Camo Day" we'll put up pictures and descriptions on this page!

We have been keeping very busy around here! We just finished up a unit on the author Crocket Johnson. We did everything from making carrot pictures inspired from The Carrot Seed to having a "Purple Day" and making a "HSHCC and the Purple Adventure" story that now covers our walls!

The children are now talking about Eric Carle and restuarants. We have new pictures up on the wall near where we eat of pictures that imitate Eric Carle's style! We have also began a "McDonald Drive Through" unit inspired by one of their favorite games! The children discussed what food is healthy and unhealthy, how to open a restaurant and other related topics. We have props donated by McDonalds and beautiful posters created by the children (with some help)! For instance, two children created "Open and Closed" signs and several children helped create the food pictures to put on the "Healthy" and "Unhealthy" posters that all of the children helped tape food onto!

*We encourage parents to take a moment each day to check HSHCC walls to see if there is new any artwork up. Children are very proud to see their artwork displayed and it is the perfect opportunity for parents to positively encourage their children.

*We also know that parents would like to know what is going on with their children during those hours that they are at school. We have begun to "vote" on activities during classroom meeting each morning. We continue to communicate what the children are doing in multiple ways, but one new thing you may do is look at the wall for what your child "voted" to do during free play that day!

Thumb Sucking and Pacifier Use

How do I .. stop thumb sucking/pacifier use?

Many children stop sucking on their thumb or pacifier around their third birthday. If your child has not stopped by this age, you should consider taking action to stop this habit if she is sucking on her thumb/pacifier for most of the day, if it is affecting her communication or social skills, if she is having trouble with her pronunciation of words, or if it is causing problems with her oral development.

Some tips to help your child give up sucking his thumb or pacifier include offering a reward or special treat, begin to limit thumb/pacifier use (first limit use to inside the house, and then put the kitchen off-limits, etc.), taking the air out of the pacifier by poking a hole in it or cutting off the end, replace the comfort of sucking with other comforts (for example, holding his hand when he upset), supply a substitute and keep his mouth busy by singing a song, playing a musical instrument or having a snack, and most importantly, ask your child about giving up sucking his thumb or pacifier and how he would like to go about doing it (slowly vs. cold turkey).

Avoid putting your child down or describing him as being ‘babyish.' Also avoid nagging your child or turning this into a power struggle. The more anxious she becomes, the more likely she will need the comfort of her pacifier or thumb.

Have a great day!