Fun Products to Get Your Kids Moving

Obstacle Course Race:

Create an obstacle course with things in your house or a prepackaged set like the American Ninja Warrior Competition Obstacle Course. (Indoors or outdoors)

Wack-a-Tag:

A fun pop-up tag game for kids from 18 months to get moving and increase hand-eye coordination. (Indoors or outdoors)

Stepping Stones Game:

Discover endless fun and possibilities with a stepping stones game like Turtle Steps or PlayzoneFit Stepping Stones. (Indoors or outdoors)

Ninjaline:

Improve balance and strength with this hanging obstacle line. You can set this up in your yard or bring it to a park or on vacation. (Outdoors)

Doorway swing: This hanging swing goes in a doorway, giving your little and big kid a fun way to get some energy out indoors. (Indoors)

Swings:

Give kids a place to swing outside, even if you don’t have a swing set. Try a big swing like a Saucer Swing or a Slackers Swingline to give multiple swinging options. (Outdoors)

Most of the above products are available on Amazon; others can be found on bolderplay.com.

Indicators of High-Quality Child Care

When searching for child care, the Child Care Resource Network of Western New York offers parents the following key indicators to look for when choosing child care:

Health and Safety

• Is the program licensed by New York State?

• Does the program comply with the appropriate child care provider-to-child ratios?

• Do caregivers and children wash hands before and after meals, diapering, toileting, or contact with bodily fluid?

• Are providers in the program certified and trained to give your child medications?

• Is the environment free from hazards by using outlet covers, wires out of reach, and cleaning fluids and medicines locked away?

• Are toys, diaper changing areas, and other commonly used materials washed frequently?

Care Routines

• Are the same providers in the room each day so children can develop relationships and feel secure?

• Do providers respect and accommodate individual sleeping and eating patterns?

• Do providers encourage children to be independent during meals, toileting, and dressing?

Professionalism

• Are providers trained in Infant and Child CPR and First Aid?

• Do providers stay up-to-date with their training and edu-

Four Seasons

cation? How much experience do they have?

• How long have the providers been with the child care program? Does the program have a high turnover rate?

• Do providers seem knowledgeable about the specific needs of children, planning age-appropriate activities based on observations?

Working With Families

• Do providers encourage families to visit whenever possible?

• Do caregivers support and accommodate mothers who want to breastfeed throughout the day?

• Do providers and families communicate on a daily basis by talking about or writing down information at drop off/ pick up time?

• Are providers respectful of each family’s language, belief, culture, and parenting beliefs?

• Are providers always available and willing to answer questions?

Interactions

• Do providers encourage families to visit whenever possible?

• Do caregivers support and accommodate mothers who want to breastfeed throughout the day?

• Do providers and families communicate on a daily basis by talking about or writing down information at drop off/ pick up time?

• Are providers respectful of each family’s language, belief, culture, and parenting beliefs?

• Are providers always available and willing to answer questions?

Learning Environments

• Do providers have space for children to play on the floor?

• Do providers have opportunities for children to climb, run, jump, and dance?

• Do providers have a variety of materials for infants and toddlers to touch, look at, listen to, smell, and taste?

• Do providers read and sing with children?

• Do caregivers encourage children to choose who and what they want to play with?

• Are there opportunities for play time outside?

Download their complete 15-page guide at https://wnychildren.org/parentresources-0

— by Rebecca Hastings