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When sending your child to a childcare program there are several things you need to keep in mind while packing his backpack. Right from choosing the right backpack to what you put inside it is quite essential for your child. Backpack come in all shapes and sizes with a variety of colors and designs. So you need to pick up one that not only your child loves, but also how comfortably it can accommodate things necessary for him to carry at the childcare facility.

Here are the do's and don’ts when packing your child’s backpack for daycare:

1. Lunch box and water bottle: Your child is going to spend a good amount of time at the daycare facility. It doesn’t matter if you have a small kid or an older child, they all love home cooked food which is not just hygienic but also healthy. You know better what your child loves to eat.  A lunch box to keep all the food safe and clean and a water bottle is a must.
2. Something to write with and write on: Your child’s backpack must have a pencil or two if he is in elementary school whereas if he attends middle or high school, he should have more than 2 pencils or pens. For smaller children, the daycare facility provides papers and drawing books to write and draw on. While older kids should carry a notebook for every subject which helps him organize his assignments systematically.
3. Folders: Small children find it difficult to manage the worksheets and papers while traveling from school to home, so make sure that you pack folders in his backpack to keep his papers and worksheets carefully. Also you may write notes like “Keep at home” on the left pocket for the papers to be kept at home and “Bring back” on the right pocket to bring the papers back to daycare. This way he will be more systematic at home and at the daycare.
4. Books: Make sure that your child’s backpack has all the important reading books to carry at daycare. They read books during downtimes as it keeps them occupied.
5. Cell phones: Well not for toddlers at the daycare, but an important gadget for older students to carry while at daycare. It feels safe for parents and kids to carry cell phone as they can help with urgent messages and after school plans. Make sure that you check the guidelines set by the daycare for kids carrying cell phone at the center and follow it strictly.
6. Important information: Your child’s phone should be programmed with emergency numbers, in case needed it could be quite helpful.
7. Money: Older kids may need some amount of money to keep by their side. A dollar or two to enjoy the cookies and doughnuts at the bake sales or for unexpected expenses.
8. Season essentials: Place a clean napkin, hat and gloves in your child’s backpack during the cool winter months. This will keep them warm while traveling.
9. Toiletries: Lip balm, tissue paper, band-aid etc. should be put in one small sized pouch and kept in the backpack. The older kids might know when to use it. These small things make a lot of difference.    

Great childcare in Albany DOES exist.  If you have questions and are looking for a great program, please call TSL Adventures.  We service all of the Capital Region and are passionate about providing great care.

During the initial years of a child, the brain is highly active and is ready to absorb skills and knowledge really quickly. Moreover, as per the studies conducted by the scientists, it is proved that the child’s brain development is much faster and better than an adult’s brain development. Keeping this in mind, it is very important a parent to involve his child into as many activities as he can because these activities will help him in his overall development on physical, mental, emotional and social level. If the child is under proper supervision of a professional teacher then even the everyday tasks can be quite an interesting childcare activity. It is necessary that any childcare activity (be it fun or learning activity) performed by any child at a tender age must be supervised by a professional caregiver. This ensures the safety of the child as well as it is highly beneficial for the child.

Today a lot of parents want to keep their children busy in some or the other interesting activity as a way to avoid them using computers and gaming consoles which have a negative effect on them. Kids learn very little from the gaming consoles and whatever is learnt is not so valuable. The child learns values, creativity, sportsmanship and other things by carrying out some fun filled and interesting activities at a good childcare program. These are a few fun activities kids can do at a childcare program:

Circle time: Circle time activities is an interesting and fun way to develop interaction and communication skills in a child. They learn to interact amongst themselves and their teachers. It includes singing and dancing, story listening, role-play, show-and-tell etc. With good background music and several visual aids, colorful objects and different sounds, these fun activities engross the child while inculcating essential skills important for his development.

Fun arts and crafts: Children love arts and crafts as it is quite engaging and interesting for a child because they are curious to make and draw things that are new to them. They are little explorers who want to experience the joy of drawing, coloring, painting and sticking. They are happy to see their finger and hand painting. Children love to manipulate something with their tiny little hands and arts and crafts are the most enjoyable activities that they love to participate in. Moreover, it teaches them the value of teamwork and creativity.

Gardening and potting saplings: All kids love mess and when it comes to gardening, they are the first ones to enjoy the sand and water. Here they learn to dig sand pits and plant saplings and they are taught to take care of their plants. Children see their plants grow and feel quite enthusiastic about the whole project. They learn the value of watering plants, they see the little saplings grow and bloom into a plant thus learning the importance of life.

Thus all the activities conducted at childcare program inculcate some skills and information into their tender minds. They process the information according to their individual capacity and apply it during their assignment. Fun activities for kids at childcare program play a major role in their life.  

Local in Albany and looking for a childcare program where the educators are passionate about helping your child develop, be creative and have fun?  Look no further than TSL Adventures!!!

There are many childcare programs that mainly focus on the development and intellectual growth of your child. As a parent, it is the most important decision choosing the best program for your child. The child learns a lot of things at a great program and this learning phase makes an easy transition of the child to a higher grade. So while selecting a program, make sure that your child learns cognitive skills that not only helps him in his early and most crucial years of development, but also when he steps into his adulthood.

Besides other queries arising in your mind, one question that generally pops up while enrolling your child in a program is what kinds of cognitive learning will a child experience at a good childcare program? Cognitive skills are the basic skills that enable the child to read and learn, think and reason, remain focused etc. These skills enable a child to understand the world in future. Every child is different and hence they think differently. How a child gathers the information and processes it, is totally different from how another child does it. The  program should have effective interaction and communication with the children. Play is the most essential and effective way through which a child develops his thinking abilities. Hence, a program should provide enough play material which exposes them to new information and also helps them to explore experience new things at the facility. Play dough, gardening, painting, drawing, crafts and many other interesting activities that are conducted at a childcare center greatly help the development of cognitive skills.

Cognitive learning is where the child improves his learning skills, mainly attention, thinking and memory. Most cognitive learning takes place in the early years, although cognitive skills are inherent too. When the child pays attention, he not only develops the habit of concentrating on one particular task, but also learns the ability to grasp and remember what all he experiences from that given task. Increased focus helps him immensely during the later phase of his life where focus forms the basis of his career. Memory is another important cognitive skill that enables the child to memorize all that is taught. He learns from his experiences and retains the knowledge. This forms the basis of knowledge in future. The rhymes and phrases taught in the program help them sharpen their memorizing skills. Like attention and memory, thinking is an equally important cognitive skill that a child learns with time. He starts reasoning and finding solutions for the given tasks. The child learns to understand what he is doing. He understands if he can do the given task all by himself or if he needs help while doing it. For example, while reading, the child starts to determine if he understood what he read or whether he should read it again to understand better. He searches for clues through the pictures in the book or he may ask his friends or teachers for help.    

It is important you do your research and find a program in Albany  that fits you and your child's needs.  If you have questions about how TSL Adventures provides childcare programs and the methodology we implement, please call us today.

A good childcare program ensures a positive and perfect overall development of your child. The child develops a lot of habits during his tender age. Choosing a good program requires enough time and patience which is worth it as a childcare program forms a foundation for your child’s adult life. Here are a few things to consider while selecting a good childcare program for your little one.

• Ratio of teacher to child: You need to check the ratio of teacher to child. Ideally one teacher should take care of a few children as she can give personal attention to your child. If the child is small, he needs more attention and care at the childcare facility. A ratio of 1:4 is good for babies, while a ratio of 1:10 is good for children above four years of age.
• Group of children: Know the number of children in the group. It is always better if the group is smaller. A group of 2 teachers and 10 children is always better than a group of 5 teachers and 25 children, though the ratio is still the same for both groups. Smaller group is safer and calmer as compared to larger group.
• Qualification of the caregiver: Find out the educational qualification of the caregiver in the facility. A degree holder or the one who is trained especially for working with children is always better as she knows about the needs of your child and her responsibilities towards your child better than the one who is not professionally trained for the job. Moreover, make sure that the teachers are constantly involved with some kind of activities for their personal skill improvement. Also they should attend workshops regularly so that they are upgraded with the latest skills in childcare field.
• Turnover: Ask for how long the teacher has been with the childcare center. A child is more comfortable with the same teacher as she spends longer time with your child, at least a year. Caregivers or teachers who often leave their job cannot build a strong relation with your child. Your child will have a hard time in the facility with new teachers. It becomes difficult for the child to adjust with new ones every now and then. So make sure that the teachers have longer turnover in the childcare facility you choose.
• Certification and license: Choose a childcare center that is accredited by a National Organization. A licensed childcare facility fulfills the mandatory standards set by the organization.

Besides these, you need to check the health and safety standards of the childcare facility. Check if the facility is clean and maintains proper hygiene as it is the matter of your child’s health. Also, the teachers should follow the hygienic standards and also inculcate this habit in children. Cleanliness and hygiene are the two important aspects you should check before enrolling your child with the childcare program.    

If you are looking for a great program in the Albany area, please reach out to us at TSL Adventures.  We would love to answer your questions and see if we offer a great fit for you and your children!!!      

Choosing a right nanny for your family is not an easy task. You need to take enough time to find that one right person who will handle your kids well. It is an important decision that needs enough planning and research. After all, your child will spend his most crucial years of growth with the nanny you hire. Moreover, it is more about safety of your child too. Thus you need to have enough patience and contact your friends, agencies or search online to find promising candidates. Here are a few tips for choosing a great nanny:

Know your priorities: To start with, you must know what you are looking for. Discuss your priorities with your partner. Know what type of nanny you want for your child. Should she be experienced and matured enough? Should the nanny you hire, hold a degree in early childhood education? What all responsibilities would she be given, like bathing, feeding etc.? How independently she would take care of the child? Or do you want to hire a nanny who will give your child the parental needs? Keep these questions handy before you interview the applicants or before contacting the agencies.

Do your research carefully: Start your research by contacting your family and friends. Personal contacts could be more reliable. Put the message on your chat groups or even a school notice board could be helpful. Check for online resources too. There are several reliable online agencies that have got a list of experienced and educated nannies. You may also enroll in a nanny training program in your area. Later contact the team for any references. Local nanny placement agencies can be of great help too. These agencies do a complete background check of the candidates before they represent them. They will also help you find the nanny that best suits your criteria. You can also put up an advertisement in a local newspaper or online. Though you would be flooded with responses from unknown people, but you can find a perfect nanny is you are specific about your preferences.

Interviewing the possible candidates: You can ask as many questions to as many applicants you can. Questions regarding their work experience, child related philosophies, their personal interests, their activities after work, background cheek, driving record, why are they into this profession, how much do they care about the child’s development and past experiences related to child with special needs and many more. You can ask questions till you are completely satisfied with the candidate. Moreover, “listen to your gut instinct, if it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.” While interviewing, you will easily make out of the nanny is warm and friendly in her approach.

Talk to the references: After selecting a few “suitable” candidates for the nanny job, you can contact their references. Clear all your doubts by asking them several questions. You may ask them for more references too. Make sure you know about the nanny’s strengths and weaknesses by contacting her previous employers. Ask them the reason for leaving her job or why she isn’t with them anymore. This will help you know about her in detail.

Give a try: Ask the selected candidates to come home one by one for a few days for trial sessions. Keenly observe her behavior with your child and how well she interacts with your baby. Is she warm, considerate, friendly and caring? Is your child comfortable and happy in her company? Are you satisfied? Do you feel safe that your child will be with her when you are not around? You will be able to judge only after a trial round and see for yourself how well she is at her job.

Located in Albany and looking for a great childcare program, an after school program?  Consider TSL Adventures today!

Most parents get stressed when it is time to leave their child to a childcare facility. After the maternity leave is over, even the very thought of leaving their child with an unknown person and completely new surroundings seems stressful. Moreover the rising cost of childcare facility is another factor that adds to their stress. The most important factors that influence the decision are fees of the childcare facility, its location and availability of seat for their child along with these factors, it is equally important to know about the reputation of the facility, accreditations and their procedures, like is it full time or part time, the working days and programs they conduct for the parents.

However, there are some important interview questions you should be asking when looking at a childcare program for your children:

Does your childcare facility hold a proper license or accreditations? A childcare facility that does not hold a proper license is definitely not undergone state mandatory inspections. Hence it is necessary to send your child to a licensed childcare facility which is thoroughly inspected for the safety of your child.

Are thorough background checks done for the teachers? You are leaving your child at an unknown place with unknown teachers. Hence a thorough background check of teachers is very important because your child will spend most of his time with the teachers. So they should be apt enough to handle your child well. Also remember, your child will be spending his most crucial years of development with his teachers. 

What is the teacher-to-child ratio? A licensed facility has to follow the set teacher-to-child ratio. Thus lesser children with each teacher is a good set up. This further ensures that the teacher isn’t overloaded with a lot of children and the rooms are not over packed.

How happy are the teachers in the environment? Happy teachers mean happy surroundings which mean happy children. This also implies that the facility offers a good work environment. Thus you are ensured that the facility has high quality caretakers If the turnover rate of teachers is high, it means that the teachers are not happy in the set up, which can be a red flag for you.

What amount of information of a child is required and how is it filed? A childcare facility does not necessarily need all the details like the exact date of birth, full name and social security number. As many children are prey to identity theft, it is necessary to be extra careful. Only the director of the facility should have access to your child’s personal information.

How often do you clean the carpets and play toys? Dirty carpets and infected toys can cause stomach infections easily. Hence there should be high cleanliness standards provided by the facility.

Do the teachers hold certification for first-aid and CPR? If the childcare facility is licensed, this is mandatory. It is better to be safe than sorry.

What safety measures are adopted by the facility? You must be sure that the place where you leave your child for hours should be safe and protected. The doors and windows must be locked. The play area should be safe and clean with proper high fences all around. Moreover, the facility should pay attention to who will pick and drop the child, proper identification proof is needed if parents do not come. Ventilation and emergency exits should also be checked.

A quality childcare program is extremely important to identify.  If you are in Albany and have questions you need answers to, please consider giving TSL Adventures a call!!!

With the rising cost of living, parents often complain about the soaring childcare cost. They often get confused if childcare is worth the cost. Well, childcare facilities definitely charge a good amount, you feel as if you are paying another mortgage. However, there are various aspects that determine if childcare is worth the cost or not. Everyone has their own perspective about high childcare cost. 
 
Many working parents often consider childcare costs as their biggest money worry that keeps them working. According to a report from the U.S. Census Bureau, the actual childcare costs have almost doubled in the last twenty five years. Though, the cost may vary for different places. Most parents cannot avoid childcare expenses particularly if they don’t have a friend or a relative to help them. And if they do have a relative or a friend to help them, they cannot just leave their child with them while they are out for their work because even the relatives cannot afford to spend their time looking after somebody else’s children, they have to work too.
 
Childcare costs definitely puts limitation on the budget, but still it is worth it. The working parent can make more money as compared to a stay-at-home parent. Moreover, if a working parent leaves the job, not only will he or she lose the annual salary, but will also have to fight hard to get back the income level they once earned.
 
There are other options that a parent can choose to avoid childcare cost. Well these options do not come with high quality. For example:

• Hiring a nanny.
• Depending on family members for free childcare.
• Adjusting the work hours with partner so that one partner is at home for the child, hence saving on childcare cost.
• Contract for part time childcare.
• Leave the job forever.

 
Although these options seem feasible, you have to compromise on the quality or on your job. What a high quality childcare facility offers your child is far better than these affordable childcare options mentioned above.
 
Generally most parents think that if schools look after their kids for free, then why not a childcare facility. However, they fail to understand that a good childcare facility inculcates those habits and knowledge that will mould the child into a better adult. Small things like tying a shoe lace, or saying some alphabets or learning arts and crafts etc. may not seem a big deal now, but it will definitely be greatly meaningful in future. Though the question still remains if childcare is worth the cost? For a middle class family, it is tough for them to manage the high cost, however, keeping other things in mind, they can still manage to pay for childcare because they can earn more while on job than sit at home and look after the child. Moreover, not forgetting the benefits that child enjoys while in a childcare facility.

If you are in Albany and considering the investment in childcare for your child, please consider calling TSL Adventures, we would be happy to answer your questions.

A childcare program acts as a foundation in preparing your child for transitioning from pre-primary to primary school. However, these days, parents are quite confused whether to send their child to a childcare program. But the fact is that these facilities offer several benefits to children that prove to be quite meaningful during their later stages of life. During the early phase of life, children undergo different stages of growth and development, so good quality and regular childcare can leave immensely beneficial effects on your child’s overall development. Children have a very sharp memory at tender age and hence the right knowledge and experience inculcated at this tender age can be of great significance in their adult life. Thus, the childcare program that focuses on play and structured activities can help the children develop positively.
 
Various indoor activities that keep the child engrossed include puzzle games, building blocks play dough and clay, craft and pasting and sensory games, while the outdoor activities include, water play, digging sand pits, climbing and playing on swings, carpentry and enjoying the open landscape. These activities improve their thinking, visualizing and exploring abilities as well.    
 
Besides there are various other benefits for children to attend a childcare program

1. Social development: It is rightly said, ‘Man is a Social Animal’ and so it is. Developing relationships is the most vital element for living with others in the society. When the child attends child care facility during his early years, it helps him build relationship with other unknown children which later form the basic essence of living during their adulthood. Not just this, it develops a sense of security within the child and he starts feeling comfortable in a new environment with known people around. Thus, the child becomes socially active and believes in sharing.
2. Better Communication skills: In a childcare, your child will develop better communication skills as he would be interacting with other children and teachers in the facility. They learn to help other children and take help from teachers and other children around. This way they learn the language of love, they have better idea about other children needs and desires, and eventually develop a helping attitude towards the society as an adult.
3. Cognitive development: A child’s cognitive development is greatly influenced by consistent childcare program. A good quality childcare program ensures the right curricula for children from early years till they reach 5 years or age, thereby embedding appropriate cognitive skills at the perfect age. Story reading, identifying colors and writing alphabets to form words are a few cognitive skills they develop at a tender age. The existing knowledge and skills of a child are further enhanced by helping them acquire new skills and information through high quality childcare programs conducted at the facilities.
4. Developing language: Children have a great ability to learn languages from age 1 to 5 years. In a secure and friendly environment with known people around, children tend to engage in appropriate and frequent conversations which help vocabulary development and better spoken skills. Regular group discussions, songs and loud story reading help better language development in children.
5. Improved self-confidence: Self confidence is a key to success. With overall development, the child is bound to improve his confidence in his abilities and knowledge which helps the transition to higher classes much easy.

 
Albany and the surrounding Capital Regionrepresents a host of childcare programs to choose from.  If you have questions about what is the right fit for you and your children, feel free to give TSL Adventures a call.
 
​We'd be honored to answer your questions and determine if our program will meet your needs.

Childcare has grown into a big business.  As a society, we have evolved from single income to dual income families at an incredibly rapid rate, in the past 35 years.  It takes more money to live as a family than it did back in the 1970’s

As a result of both parents in a situation where they both have to work full-time, there has been a huge vacuum created that childcare has filled.  According to what is known as the New America study the cost of childcare for those under the age of 4 is now costing a family, on average $9,500 per year.  Incredibly, that is more than the cost of college tuition at a state-sponsored school system like the SUNY system here in New York.

If a family wanted to spring a little extra to have an in-home caregiver assist with their children, it’s going to cost a shocking $28,000 annually.    With rising costs on all fronts, families are working to figure out how to offset these costs.  Often, they have a network of friends of family members who will share in the responsibility of child care in the event a local Albany childcare program is not an option.   

It is extremely important that parents do what is best for their children.  Money is a deciding factor in all too many situations.  If you find yourself in a place where you can afford to invest in a program for your child, know that there are a number of great quality childcare programs available throughout the Albany area.

You want to make sure that it is an accredited, insured facility and that the staff overseeing the care of the children are professionals.  To go even further, we recommend you find out if they are passionate about what they are doing and if they have any accredited education degrees and/or background.

All too often, there exists a ‘program’ that is not really something you want to leave your child at all day.  Your children deserve a safe, creative, socially-enhancing and enriching environment where they can bond with their peers, grow and mature in a friendly and thoughtful way.

If you have questions about childcare in general or the philosophy by which we provide care, please reach out.  We would love to chat with you.

​With summer here in the Albany area in full effect, minus some intense thunderstorms, all the children are excited to have a ton of outdoor fun trying and doing new activities.  The key as a parent is to ensure your children are safe by setting the appropriate expectations and putting in place the appropriate boundaries. 

Our focus today is on water safety.  With the kids all being cooped up inside for almost six months, they all want to enjoy playing in water of any kind.  Whether it’s the backyard pool, the river by the park, playing in the sprinkler or swimming at Million Dollar Beach in Lake George, there are plenty of options that will keep them physically active and engaged at the highest level socially with their friends.  It is extremely important that a supervising adult or parent is present at all times. 

Drownings are a major concern for young children under the age of 4.  Be sure to get your children into a good swimming lesson program or, if you are adept yourself, teach them as soon as they are able to walk.  Many families have pools in their backyards.  It’s important that a safety fence is installed around the pool to keep the curious kids from exploring on their own.   You should consider studying CPR or get certified locally.  There are many organizations that offer free CPR training like the American Heart Association.   

If you are using sprinklers or slides in your backyard, be sure that all equipment is kept on the lawn and not near any trees, concrete patios or driveways.  Children running around wet concrete or trees could cause serious harm.  They undoubtedly will be running around and not paying attention to where they are going.  Be sure to set the right expectations that they must stay in the backyard and not run around on the deck or brick pavers.

Lastly, if you are a family that loves to boat up on Sacandaga Lake, Lake George or Saratoga Lake, make sure all the kids are wearing life jackets in.

Summer is the best time of year here in the Capital Region.  If you are a busy family looking for great activities for your children, you might consider checking out a great childcare program.  If you have questions, reach out to TSL Adventures.