Creating Together Blog

Creating a Consistent Nap and Bedtime Routine

December 6, 2019 by Melanie

Research tells us that bedtime routines are associated with better sleep quality for both adults and children (Sadeh, Tikotzky, and Scher, 2010). Other studies have highlighted the importance of bedtime routines in developing a healthy attitude towards learning, reading and ultimately school. Children who read regularly with their parents as part of their bedtime routine (or are read to by their parents) show improvements in language, reading and literacy rates as well as better school readiness (Davies & Bridgman, 2012). Studies have also found associations between bedtime routine patterns of brain development, and socio-emotional skills development and a stronger parent-child relationship (Spagnola & Fiese, 2007).

“Creating a bedtime routine for a child is a simple step that every family can do,” said principal investigator and lead author Jodi Mindell, PhD, professor of psychology at Saint Joseph’s University and associate director of the Sleep Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “It can pay off to not only make bedtime easier, but also that a child is likely to sleep better throughout the entire night.”

So if bedtime routines are so important, what are the key ingredients? Last month’s information session had a few tips to share.

Give a warning, and signal the start of the wind-down. Just before bedtime, give your child advance notice that the day is winding down. Your child may be too young to judge time yet, so saying something like “five more minutes” is not likely to be understood. However, they do understand time by association – Begin the first part of your routine (running the bath water, putting the toys away, or however your particular routine begins) to signal the start of the wind down.

Consistency. The key is to put together a predictable sequence of events that you can be consistent with following, in the same order every night. The actual routine will evolve and change as your child grows, but the basics remain the same. For example, the bedtime routine might involve getting their pajamas on, brushing their teeth, reading a bedtime story, and dimming the lights. It could include a bath and a song, and a story, another song, and a snuggle – It’s up to you to decide, but set a specific time and stick to it – your child’s body clock will adjust much more quickly to the routine if the routine follows a natural and consistent pattern.

Offer a snack. A light snack that includes both protein and carbohydrates — for example, a small piece of cheese and one half slice of whole-wheat bread — will induce sleep and help your child stay asleep through the night. The carbohydrates make them sleepy, and the protein will help keep their blood sugar level on an even keel until breakfast. Be sure to brush their teeth after they eat.

Take a warm bath. By raising your child’s body temperature slightly, you’ll make them more prone to sleepiness. Also, playing with their bath toys allows them to relax.

Get dressed for bed. Choose comfortable, non-binding pajamas, that are neither too warm nor too light.

Read a favorite story to your child. This is a particularly comforting routine for your toddler, particularly if it’s a favorite story that’s associated with bedtime, such as Goodnight Moon. (As your child grows, he’ll want more stories and more variety.)

Create a welcoming sleep environment. Play soft music while you read. Turn the lights off (nightlights are not recommended) and leave the door slightly ajar with the light on in the hallway.

Make sure your child has a friend to sleep with. A favorite doll, teddy bear or blanket provides comfort. Do not give such items during early infancy as they may be risk factors for crib death.

Research

Davies G, Bridgman C. Improving oral health among schoolchildren–which approach is best. Br Dent J. 2012; 210(2):59–61.

Hale L, Berger LM, LeBourgeois MK, Brooks-Gunn J. A longitudinal study of preschoolers’ language-based bedtime routines, sleep duration, and well-being. J Fam Psychol (2011).

Mindell JA, Li AM, Sadeh A, Kwon R, Goh DY. Bedtime routines for young children: a dose-dependent association with sleep outcomes. Sleep. 2015;38(5):717–722.

Sadeh A, Tikotzky L, Scher A. Parenting and infant sleep. Sleep Med Rev. 2010;14(2):89–96.

Spagnola M, Fiese BH. Family routines and rituals: a context for development in the lives of young children. Infants Young Children. 2007;20(4):284–299.

Nurturing Art in Childhood

November 27, 2019 by Melanie

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
Albert Einstein

Art is vital to the mental, emotional, and psychological development in children. Children benefit from discovering art by doing and exploring an array of art materials. They are naturally curious and love to experiment with colors, textures and art tools. Using, safe, non-toxic art materials, toddlers can get messy using their hands to feel and apply paint; scribbling with markers and crayons; painting with sponges, brushes and other tools; squeezing safe modeling materials; cutting all types of paper products with safety scissors; gluing materials to create something new; and playing with shapes. These types of activities help toddlers to develop fine motor skills and cognitive abilities while promoting creativity and building fine motor skills.

“Research indicates that a child who is exposed to the arts acquires a special ability to think creatively, be original, discover, innovate, and create intellectual property—key attributes for individual success and social prosperity in the twenty-first century.”
International Child Art Foundation

How Parents and Caregivers Can Encourage Artistic Play

*Stencil Art Table at Creating Together*

Set Aside Space

Having a specific area in the home that always has a variety of art materials available for children is a great way to interest and encourage children to experiment with art. Don’t put everything out at once, as it can be overwhelming and distracting for a young child. Supply paper plates, recycled paper, old magazines and such to encourage creative clipping and for making pictures and collages.

Practice Non-Judgement

Resist the urge to direct a child’s art creation or judge it. Creative expression and making choices builds independence in young children, as they naturally learn to do more and more by themselves each day. A child may experiment with colors and end up with something that looks muddy – yet this unintended outcome is a great opportunity for a child to learn by doing.

*Huge gratitude to our funders for this new art station we were able to bring in*
*for the children of Creating Together!*

Ask Questions

Parents can show interest by asking their child about the story behind the artwork. “How did you make it?” What is it all about?” “What do you really like about it?” Listen up! When a child asks a question, encourage the child to solve it by him/herself. “How do you think that might work?” “What can you try?” What would happen if….” Parents and caregivers can reinforce language by discussing colors, shapes, patterns and all aspects of the creative process.

Displaying Artwork

Displaying a child’s artwork is also a great way to encourage a child to create art because it shows how much a parent values the child’s very original creation!

Trouble Sleeping? What to do…

November 19, 2019 by Melanie

It’s not uncommon for babies, toddlers, and young children to have trouble falling asleep. In fact, 1 in 3 children show an unwillingness to go to sleep. Children can also experience a number of other sleep-related challenges, such as night awakening, nightmares, night terrors, and sleepwalking.

While each child has a different sleep pattern, on average newborns sleep 16hrs / day up to about 6 months of age, and then an average of 14hrs / day between the ages of 6 months and 1 year. By the age of two, most children have spent more time asleep than awake and overall, a child will spend 40 percent of his or her childhood asleep. Sleep is especially important for children as it directly impacts mental and physical development. While this reduces as they age, toddlers and preschoolers still sleep between 10 and 13 hours / day.

When sleep patterns are disrupted, this can lead to irritation for the child and exhaustion for the parents.

Sound familiar?

This month’s information session at Creating Together focuses on various sleep issues, and gives parents and caregivers some tips and tools to address them.

Understanding common sleep issues and what to do about them

Night Awakening

Night awakening is common – this is when a child wakes up in the middle of the night and can’t seem to settle back to sleep. They may call out, get out of bed. Often they crawl into the parent’s bed and stay the night.

What to do: Allowing the child to stay in your bed can develop a dependency on the parent to resume sleep. The child should be reassured and brought back to their own bed. They will eventually learn self-soothing strategies.

Nightmares

Stressful things that happen during the day can turn dreams into nightmares. Nightmares may be a way to relieve the pressures of the day. Things they are dealing with at home, school, or a life transition, can cause nightmares. Another thing that may cause nightmares is watching scary movies or reading scary books, especially before you go to bed.

What to do: Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day can help, and it is suggested that you avoid scary books or movies, and avoid eating or taking part high activity just before bedtime. Comfort items such as a blanket, stuffed animal, or nightlights can also help.

Night terrors

Night terrors happen when a child wakes in horror – perhaps screaming in panic. Unlike nightmares, the child doesn’t remember what led to their feelings of intense fear. They can be caused by a traumatic life event, fever, sleep deprivation, or medication that affects the brain.

What to do: The National Sleep Foundation suggests doing calming things before bed, and having a consistent sleep schedule. During the episode, you can wait it out, or you can speak calmly and softly, using gentle reassuring gestures (e.g., hand squeeze, back rub). Do not attempt to wake your child with abrupt shaking, as this can actually make the problem worse.

Sleepwalking

Sleepwalking happens in about 15% of children, and most often in children between the age of 4-12years. They may walk aimlessly around the house, appearing uncoordinated or start going to the bathroom in an area of the house that isn’t the toilet. Sleepwalkers tend to go back to bed on their own and they won’t remember what happened in the morning.

What to do: A bell hung on the door can help offer some reassurance so you can hear your child sleepwalking. It’s important, of course, to keep a sleepwalker safe. Precautions should be taken so the person is less likely to fall down, run into something, or walk out the front door while sleepwalking (eg., gates, clearing furniture and toys from pathways). For kids who sleepwalk often, doctors may recommend a treatment called scheduled awakening. This means your parent will gently wake you up a little before your usual sleepwalking time, which can help stop sleepwalking.

Resources

Kids Health: Sleepwalking – https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/sleepwalking.html?WT.ac=k-ra

National Sleep Foundation – https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics

App – I See Animals Sleeping (a bedtime story) – https://apps.apple.com/us/app/i-see-animals-sleeping-bedtime/id698795330?ls=1

Understanding Remembrance

November 8, 2019 by Melanie

What are the poppies about? How do we explain the significance of such an intense and important time of year? What is an age appropriate way to talk about Remembrance Day?

To get started on this deep and important topic, let’s first get on the same page with what November 11th is all about, and why we honour this day across Canada.

In 1931, after insistent representation from the Canadian Legion, parliament enacted the Armistice Day Act. The Act ensured that November 11th would be set aside as a day distinct and apart from any other observance upon which the nation could pay special tribute to those “who gave their lives that freedom might prevail”.

In 1970, an act, known as “The Holidays Act”, was passed by Parliament which included, among other holidays, Remembrance Day. An extract of that act reads as follows:

“Throughout Canada in each and every year, the 11th day of November, being the day in the year 1918 on which the Great War was triumphantly concluded by an armistice, is a holiday and shall be kept and observed as such under the name of Remembrance Day.”
The Holiday Act, 1970

Yet how do we explain this important time to our children? Here are some great suggestions:

1. Focus on Honouring People

You can do this a number of ways, be it discussing the contributions of women and minorities, the vast numbers of people who fought for our freedom, and the gratitude we all give.

“You can best honor them by using this day as a way to teach kids about both the honor and courage these people displayed in the course of performing their duties, as well as the valuable lessons they have taught us (namely, that the fighting of any war comes at too high a cost). In the end, Remembrance Day can provide an excellent way to instill your children with an understanding of the ramifications of war and give them a reason to work towards a more peaceful world.”
Sarah Danielson: parentscanada.com

To have some conversations with your children about the contributions of women and minorities, the Veterans Affairs Canada website offers great information on some of the often overlooked contributions of Aboriginal-Canadians, Women, Asian Canadians, and Black Canadians

2. Talk About Your Family History

Further to your conversation at home about the history of war in your own family, you may find it helpful to attend a local Remembrance Day ceremony. Giving the kids a first-hand chance to see veterans and be part of the celebration will encourage them to ask questions and learn more.

Here’s a list of local ceremonies being held in Toronto:

honour-canadas veterans-at-these-remembrance-day-services-in-toronto/

3. Understanding Why We Wear Poppies

Poppies are worn to pay tribute to those who gave their lives in war because poppies grew on the battlefields, especially on the Western Front, before and after World War One.

Wearing a poppy is important, but also explaining to your child the reasons why you are wearing it will help kids gain a deeper understanding and respect for the day.

The Poppy has been widely recognized as a symbol of Remembrance, since it was first adopted in 1921. By wearing the poppy, we demonstrate our gratitude to those who gave their lives for the freedom we enjoy.
Legion Ontario Command: on.legion.ca/remembrance/the-tradition

Each year, for two weeks before Remembrance Day, Legions throughout Ontario carry out our Poppy Campaign. The campaign raises awareness of the Poppy as a symbol of Remembrance. The poppy continues to be sold worldwide to raise money and to remember those who lost their lives in the First World War and in subsequent conflicts.

This can be a great conversation / lesson to children around the power of giving from a place of gratitude, and who in this case, is able to benefit from these gifts.

Many blessings to all of you, on this day of Remembrance.

November Highlights

November 5, 2019 by Melanie

The November Calendar is now out, and we have a lot of amazing things in store for the parents, caregivers, and children of Parkdale. Read below for some great highlights!

Fun With Nature

Join us on November 11th and November 22nd to enjoy the benefits of nature, at our local parks.

Researchers and natural environmentalists have been studying the effects of exposure to nature on children, and have found some interesting results: Engagement with nature has huge benefits for children physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially.

For instance, Adams & Savahl (2017) discovered it has a significant influence on children’s emotional and social well-being, while Pensini, Horn, & Caltabiano, (2016) discovered that early exposure to nature improves one’s mental health as an adult. Would you like to help improve your child’s short-term memory and ability to focus? Another study shows that being in nature for extended periods of time promotes the development of attention skills, while protecting against inattention-hyperactivity symptoms such as (Ulset, Vitaro, et al, 2017). There are also a number of physical benefits, such as improved vision, and reduced risk of obesity.

Keeping Active

Twice a month, we create healthier communities by bringing in the Busy Body Exercise Cards twice per month.

Did you know Adequate levels (60 minutes/day) of physical activity helps children:

develop cardiovascular fitness, strength, flexibility, and bone density
maintain a healthy body weight
reduce the risk of chronic disease and health problems
lessen the likelihood of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use
feel better every day, through improved mental health and well-being

Scarf Dancing is not only fun, but it’s incredibly good for children, and can be practiced at home as well. Here are some benefits:

Sparking imagination as we explore all kinds of ways to play with our scarves
Teaching directional tracking as we visually track our scarves’ movement
Improving eye-hand coordination as we play catch or peekaboo
Increasing vocabulary as we verbally describe what we are doing with our scarves
Sharpening listening skills as we move our scarves based on musical or verbal cues
Practicing inhibitory skills as we start and stop our movements with the scarves

Fun with Food

Join us at 9:30am on November 5th for some family baking, or the 28th at 9:30am to make oatmeal, raisin cookies. And don’t forget our monthly Toddler Food Preparation workshop with Marcella from FoodShare!

Supporting Literacy

Every Monday is Literacy Day at Creating Together. From 9:30am to 10:30am a staff member will read with a small group or one-on-one, and introduce songs and stories on CDs as well as a variety of stories.

Also, storytime takes place every day at 1pm. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to bring a special book from home that can be shared during this time.

Our Family Support Worker can share with you some strategies on how to read to small children. Every two months a professional literacy consultant provides educational workshops for families. In fact, this month we are very happy to have circle with the Parkdale Public Library Librarian on the 29th at 11am.

Did you know? Books with CDs and headphones are available for use with the children and a variety of children’s books can be borrowed for use at home through our Resource Lending Library.

Encouraging Inquiry

Children learn so much through science. So, each month we facilitate a fun learning science activity. This month’s science activities are the “underwater volcano” on November 8th and “the orange experiment” on November 25th. Curious? Come out and enjoy!