And the winner is...

Congrats to the Petrescu family for winning the hidden heart challenge.  They are on a winning streak because they also won our Zoo Run Run contest.  They won a $50 gift card to The Cheesecake Factory!

 Austin was SO EXCITED that he found the heart!

Hidden Heart Challenge

Who doesn't want a $50 gift card to The Cheesecake Factory?!  This afternoon don't forget to grab a pack of cookies and look inside for your chance to win.  Hidden inside one of the bags is a heart.  If you find the heart you win the gift card!  Good luck Academy families.  We can't wait to see who wins!

Continued Education

Last night our toddler teachers participated in a training on Biting.  We learned reasons why biting occurs and how to prevent it.  The Academy feels continued education for their staff is of the utmost importance.  Our parent company, Never Grow Up, Inc., provides (at least) three free trainings a month on topics such as classroom management, challenging behaviors, baby sign language, potty training, customer service, curriculum writing and more!  We are so lucky to work for a company that invests in their teachers and provides them with resources to make them the best they can be.

Dental Health Month

Thank you to Brentwood Pediatric Dentistry that visited today to teacher our children the importance of keeping our teeth clean and healthy.

Here's eight ways to help keep your child's mouth as healthy as can be!

8 Ways to Protect Your Child's Oral Health

When should you start brushing your kid's teeth? As soon as they appear. Start cleaning out a baby’s mouth even before any teeth appear using a wet washcloth. Tooth decay -- although largely preventable with good care -- is one of the most common chronic diseases of children and teens ages 6 to 19. By kindergarten, more than 40% of kids have cavities.
Neglecting baby teeth isn't the only misstep parents can make. Here’s an 8-step game plan for good oral health.

Start Early

Your child should see a dentist by his first birthday. Early preventive care saves money in the long run. A CDC report found that dental care costs were nearly 40% lower over a 5-year period for children who saw a dentist by age 5.

Teach Good Habits

Brushing is crucial from the get-go. Even before your baby has teeth, you can gently brush her gums. Use water on a baby toothbrush, or clean them with a soft washcloth.
 "A lot of people think they don't have to brush baby teeth," says Beverly Largent, a Paducah, KY, dentist and past president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. "If there's just one tooth, you can use gauze."
When teeth appear, brush twice daily with an infant toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste. Start flossing when two teeth touch each other. Ask your dentist about techniques and schedules, Largent says.
Brush and floss just before bedtime. No food or drink, except water, until the next morning.
Your dentist can recommend when to start using mouthwash. "I advise parents to wait until the child can definitely spit the mouthwash out," says Mary Hayes, a pediatric dentist in Chicago. "Mouthwash is a rinse and not a beverage."

Avoid 'Baby Bottle Decay'

Don't put your infant or older child down for a nap with a bottle of juice, formula, or milk. Sugary liquids cling to baby's teeth, feeding bacteria that can trigger tooth decay. If you must give your child a bottle to take to bed, make sure it contains only water.

Skip the Juice

Many parents think juice is a healthy daylong choice for a beverage, but that's not the case. It has been linked to childhood obesity and tooth decay.
Limit kids to no more than 4 ounces a day of 100% fruit juice, and restrict sugary drinks and foods to mealtimes. Use juice as a treat, Hayes says.

Control the Sippy Cup

A sippy cup helps kids move from a bottle to a regular cup. Many kids keep the cup with them all day. "Prolonged use of a sippy cup," Largent says, "can cause decay on the back of the front teeth," if the beverages are sugary.

Ditch the Binky by 2 or 3

Pacifiers used in the first year of life may actually help prevent sudden infant death syndrome. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests using a pacifier when putting your infant to sleep but not reinserting once baby drifts off. Long-term use can affect how the top and bottom teeth line up (the "bite") or can affect the shape of the mouth.
"Pacifiers are for infants, not for toddlers," Largent says. She discourages long-term use of even the "orthodontically correct" pacifiers and recommends stopping their use by age 2. Talk to your doctor if the habit continues beyond age 3.

Beware of Medicines

Children's medications can be flavored and sugary, Hayes says. If they stick on the teeth, the risk of decay goes up. Children on medications for chronic conditions such as asthma and heart problems often have a higher decay rate, she says.
Antibiotics and some asthma medications can cause an overgrowth of candida (yeast), which can lead to a fungal infection called oral thrush. Signs are creamy, curd-like patches on the tongue or inside the mouth.
Talk to your dentist about how often to brush for a child on long-term medications, Hayes says. It could be as often as four times a day.

Stand Firm on Oral Hygiene

If kids put up a fuss when it comes time to brush, floss, and rinse, don't let them off the hook. Let them know they don't have a choice.
"It has to be done," Hayes says. But she has tips to help parents coax reluctant kids to do the job -- or to get little ones to let their parents help.

• Be patient. Kids can start brushing their teeth with help from a grown-up around 2 or 3. But they may not be ready to go it alone until about age 6, Hayes says. "Kids can brush on their own when they can tie their shoes or write in cursive," Largent says. Flossing skills don't get good until later, probably age 10.
• Don’t wait too late. Try brushing and flossing and rinsing, if advised, when your child isn't too tired. You may get more cooperation from her.
• Get buy-in. Involve kids in an age-appropriate way. Kids 5 or older can pick their own toothpaste from options you approve. 
• Motivate. A younger child may gladly brush for a sticker, for instance, or gold stars on a chart. Or make it a group activity. Kids might be more likely to join in if they see the grown-ups brushing.

 Teaching us how to floss.

 Trying to brush a dino's teeth is hard work!

Brushing teeth is fun!

 Pre-K Two guesses who's teeth?!

Black and White

This week is all about black and white.  And just like every Monday this month, we wear the colors of the week!  Check out all the black and white pictures below.

 I see a skeleton in there!

Black and white formal today at The Academy!

 Black and white stripes!

 Pre-K Two

 More stripes

 Black and white animal print.

 Preschool Two

 I see lots of white and black in Pre-K One.

Icicle Exploration

It was too cold to go outside last week, so we brought the outside inside! Pre-K Two explored icicles.  They discussed how icicles are formed and got to experience how they feel.  Boy were they cold!

Mardi Gras Fun!

We missed Fat Tuesday this week because of the snow but we made up for it today!  The kids got bead necklaces, fancy masks, and noise makers.  Pre-K Two even marched around the school for their very own mini parade just like the do in Louisiana. 

 Robin and her kids parading about!

 They marched up and down the halls yelling, "Happy Mardi Gras"

 HAAAAAOOY Mardi Gras!

 Who is behind that mask?

 Party time!

 Ms. Danie having fun with the kids!

 So much fun!

Such a sweet smiling face.

Pre-K One is ready to celebrate!

Eating Blue and Green

We enjoyed a yummy lunch of all blue and green today.  Blue and green are the colors of the week.  We had green salad with blue cheese dressing, broccoli, and blueberries!  We were so surprised when most of the kids LOVED the blue cheese dressing.  We love learning about colors at The Academy of Cool Springs.

 Lunch time with friends.

 Not so sure about the salad.

 Lunch time gives us a chance to socialize with our friends and talk about our day.

 We also use lunch as a learning opportunity to talk about things like colors.

Thanks to Ms. Christine for making a healthy lunch.

Wearing Blue and Green!

The snow and ice got things a little mixed up this week but we managed to cram everything in today!  Monday we have been wearing the colors of week but this week we did it on Friday.  Check out the pics below of our kids and teachers sporting their blue and green!