Save MONEY – Tax Free Weekend Is Aug 3rd-5th
Don’t Miss Out On The Back To School Savings and MORE throughout all stores on August 3rd through the 5th!
Be sure to Download our 2018 – 2019 School Supply List before you head out to the shop.
Enjoy YOUR SAVINGS!
Safety In The Sun – Tips For Protecting Your Family
This summer has been hotter than most – with the heat advisory lingering for days on end – it’s important to protect your family from the sun rays that beat down on us throughout the day. Here are some tips for you to follow before you and your kids head out the door to protect your family from the long term effects of over exposure to the sun:
Apply early and repeat. For kids 6 months and older (as well as adults), sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or greater reduces the intensity of UVRs that cause sunburns. Apply liberally 15 to 30 minutes before sun exposure so it can absorb into the skin and decrease the likelihood that it will be washed off. Reapply every two hours and after kids swim, sweat or dry off with a towel. For most users, proper application and reapplication are more important factors than using a product with a higher SPF.
Cover. Dress kids in protective clothing and hats. Clothing can be an excellent barrier of UV rays. Many light-weight, sun-protective styles cover the neck, elbows and knees.
Keep infants out of the sun. Keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight, dressed in cool, comfortable clothing and wearing hats with brims. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says sunscreen may be used on infants younger than 6 months on small areas of skin if adequate clothing and shade are not available.
Plan early morning play. For kids beyond that baby stage, the health professionals advise parents to plan outdoor activities to avoid peak sun hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) as much as possible. If you have active k
ids that love the outdoors, simply be aware of and encourage “sun breaks” when needed.
Beware of shade. Many people think sitting in the shade is a simple sun compromise. Shade does provide relief from the heat, but it offers parents a false sense of security about UVR protection. You can still get a sunburn in the shade, because light is scattered and reflected. A fair-skinned person sitting under a tree can burn in less than an hour.
Check the weather. Look for the UV index on a site like Weather.com when planning outdoor activities. It predicts the intensity of UV light based on the sun’s position, cloud movements, altitude, ozone data and other factors. Higher UV index numbers predict more intense UV light.
Information Reprint from Source: Care.com — https://www.care.com/c/stories/3357/summer-safety-tips-a-guide-to-protecting-kids-from-heat/
Five Ways to Incorporate Exercise into Your Family’s Life – Without Them Knowing!
“Family game night” sounds more appealing than “family exercise night,” and we think your family will agree! On your next family game night, choose an active game that gets each player up and moving. Whether it’s the old classic “Twister”, or a Wii sports game, or just an exciting match of charades, your family will get their daily aerobic activity all while having fun!- Find new activities that keep you on the move: Your kids will not only enjoy watching you in motion but will most likely not even realize they are getting a work out at the same time. An afternoon game of mini golf, an evening chasing fireflies, or an hour at the indoor trampoline park will add the “fun” factor to exercise and get your family excited to do this more often.
- Visit new places: A visit to a new art gallery, science museum or park is not only great for exercising your brain, but also your body! Your children may not normally be excited about going on a walk, but they will hardly notice the number of steps they are taking as they walk from room to room checking out fun exhibits and demonstrations.
- Get Out Into the Fresh Air: : Now that it’s summer, your kids are probably spending most of their spare time outdoors anyways. Outdoor sports are one of the best ways to get exercise, and your own backyard can serve as a makeshift soccer or baseball field.
- Strategic chore charts: If your children are already used to helping around the house, try planning their chores around activities that are more physically involved, like vacuuming, washing the car or helping in the garden. Household chores may not be a lap around the track, but they are guaranteed to get you moving!
How Does Smiling Affect Your Health?
If you type “smiling makes you…” into your search engine the results immediately give insight into why a simple smile is so contagious. The search results for the benefits of smiling includes “smiling makes you live longer”, “smiling makes you look younger,” and even, “smiling makes you more attractive!” But there is one health benefit at the root of a smile, making people live longer and look younger and that is happiness.
Summer Camp 2018 – Maker Fun Factory!
Summer Camp 2018
June 18th-August 31, 2018
What is all of the hype about Maker Fun Factory?!?!
Maker Fun Factory is a fun-filled action-packed Summer Camp for your child!
During this time, we will be giving you and your children a wonderful experience in our Summer Camp Program.
Maker Fun Factory focuses on how we are all “Created by God & Built for a Purpose.” How will we be teaching your child this concept you may wonder??
Maker Fun Factory invites your child to become creative inventors through sensory & STEM activities while discovering that they are lovingly crafted by God!
Just a few of our hands-on interactive activities include:
- Cooking Projects,
- Science Experiments,
- Team Building Games,
- and Bible Songs!
Come join us for this spectacular fun-filled Summer!
Contact your nearest Apple Tree Learning Center for details.
New Twists On The Old Classic Games
There are certain board games or video games that we’ve all grown up loving and want to revisit or share with future generations. Unfortunately, they may be hard to track down, very expensive or no longer compatible with today’s technology. Thankfully, there are some great newer versions of the games we love with added elements that will surprise you! Next time you have family game night or downtime, try these new twists on old classics:
Nintendo Switch: If you have fond memories of grabbing your GameCube and all of the chunky game cartridges that were paired with it, you’ll love this updated gaming system. Play newer games or the old classics on this portable handheld system and you’ll never have to worry about lost games and tangled cords.
Updated board games: Many board games like Monopoly, The Game of Life, and Scrabble still contain the same rules and setup, but with new electronic updates. For instance, Scrabble now comes with an electronic system for counting points on letters, making gameplay faster and easier for players to keep track of their scores. Monopoly has an updated version with an electronic banking system, making money-handling easy for both players and the parents keeping track of game pieces!
Phone versions of games: You probably know about Candy Crush and Flappy Bird, but did you know you can play your favorite arcade games on your phone? Arcades may be hard to come by, and you may feel a little out of place in one now. Thankfully, you can play games like Pinball, PAC-MAN, Frogger and more, without ever having to set foot on a sticky arcade floor. Many of these games are free and allow you to compete with other high scores, making for some friendly, fun competition!
How To Reduce Screen Time For Your Children
In a society where technology prevails, it can be tougher than ever to convince your child to voluntarily look away from the screen. This doesn’t just mean the television – most households
now have multiple smartphones, ipads and laptops.
In a recent report by Common Sense Media, it was found that 42% of children 8 and younger have their own tablet devices, and spend an average of 2 hours and 19 minutes a day looking at screens. Tablets and phones can be great educational tools, but if used too often they can also disrupt sleep schedules and even impact expressive speech and the ability to recognize emotions. Here are the top ways to reduce screen time:
- Set An Example: Though it may be tough moving away from screens yourself, it is one of the most impactful ways to reduce screen time for your child. Younger children learn by observing, and making an effort to put down your phone, computer or tablet will set a good example.
- Create Rules and Follow Them: By setting rules for your child, they will begin to understand when it’s time for screens and when they have to step away. A good place to start can include: no television during dinner, no digital device with a screen before bed, and setting designated times that the kids can enjoy a device with a screen. Abiding by these rules may be harder on you than the child. Think about when you’re busy and you need to keep your child occupied — what do you do? Most of us send hand them a tablet, stream their favorite show and head off to do our chores. However, if you’ve set a rule for no screen time, it is important to stick to it.
- Provide Alternate Activities: If your child is bored, they’re going to want to reach for a device for entertainment. Engage with them by going outside, playing games or reading books – you’ll create fond memories and a desire for other forms of fun!
The Early Bird Gets The Discount!
Dear Parents,
Next week will begin our Early Bird Registration. We hope that you take advantage of the discount we are offering on registration fees for our in-house families only.
Remember, in order to complete the Early Bird Registration process you must fill out and sign the Re-Registration form and pay your registration fee. If you do not complete both items by the deadline then you will not be registered for Fall 2018.
If you have any questions please speak with your director or contact the corporate office.
Sincerely,
Heidi Riden
CEO
AAA-CHOO! Keeping a Healthy Home
Even a seemingly clean house is still susceptible to viruses and bacteria that can affect the health of you and your loved ones. Fortunately, there are ways to combat these hidden dangers. Below are a few examples of the germiest places in your home and easy solutions for keeping them clean and sanitary.
The Kitchen
Towels, dish cloths, sponges and countertops where food is prepped – all these areas are hot spots for germs. To combat them, put sponges in the dishwasher with the drying setting on, or zap wet sponges in the microwave for 1-2 minutes to kill bacteria. Use a fresh dish cloth every day, and sanitize in the washing machine with hot water in between uses. Wash out the sink with soap and hot water after preparing meals and washing dishes, and sanitize the sink, drain and counters with a bleach solution at least twice a week.
The Laundry Room
Did you know that there is a tenth of a gram of feces in every pair of soiled underwear? Because of this, underclothing should be washed separately in 150℉+ hot water. Move them to the dryer as soon as the wash cycle is done so germs don’t get a chance to multiply, and run it until everything is completely dry, which usually takes about 45 minutes. When you’re done, always wash your hands with soap and water and use a bleach solution on the washing machine’s tub.
The Bathroom
Your toilet bowl is not the only source of germs and bacteria in your bathroom. The flush handle on your toilet is often forgotten, and is one of the easiest ways to transfer sickness from person to person. The best way to cut down on bathroom germs is with weekly disinfecting of the floors, tub/shower floor and sides, and the toilet (including the flush handle).
Delayed Opening – Thursday 1/18/18
This is an important message regarding operations for Apple Tree Learning Centers for Thursday January 18th.
All Apple Tree Centers will operate on a 3 hour delay. We will open at 9am due to the freezing temperature and road conditions. Due to the delayed opening time we will only be serving lunch at 12pm and afternoon snack at 3pm tomorrow.
Academy classes K through 5th grade will be on a delay with a start time of 9:30am.
Child care is available for all public school students for an additional fee.
Sidewalks and parking lots have been salted; however, they are still icy and slippery from the below freezing temperatures. Please be careful and hold your child’s hand when walking in these areas to prevent falling.
We appreciate all your support and please be safe.
Sincerely,
Heidi Riden
CEO
