What's on our bookshelf....

Teeth Are Not For Biting written by Elizabeth Verdick and illustrated by Marieka Heinlen

Teeth Are Not For Biting talks about the reasons that may make a child bite and as well as positive alternatives for biting behavior. This story uses simple words and vibrant pictures to get this straight-forward point across.

Teeth Are Not For Biting is one of several board books from the Best Behavior Series. Check out: Tails Are Not For Pulling, Feet Are Not For Kicking, Hands Are Not For Hitting, Words Are Not For Hurting, Diapers Are Not Forever and Germs Are Not For Sharing.

How was your day?

How was your day? is a common question that is usually asked on the way home from school or during dinnertime. Some people ask it to be polite but some people really want to know.

I'm sure that many parents have been asking their children about their days this week since it's the first week of school. Sometimes you get an answer such as "I don't know", "Ok, I guess", "We played outside", or "We had pizza for lunch". These are probably not the answers you were looking for but don't give up. Your child just came home from an exhausting day of school and they need a little time to relax. Once you've noticed that they are ready (which may not be until bedtime) ask them to tell you about their day. If they can't come up with anything ask them specific yet open-ended questions to help jog their memory such as "What toy did you play with at center time?", "Tell me what you painted a picture of today", or "What was your teacher's book about?".

To help get ideas for your questions or to help start off your conversation, check out this great children's book called Tell Me What We Did Today. It's written by Rick Kupchella and illustrated by Warren Hanson.



This special time between you and your kids is important because it lets them know that you care about what happened to them and that you value their education. This conversation will help you to be more in tune with what is going on in their life, good or bad. In time, they may start asking you about your day. Set aside a certain time and make this special conversation a part of your everyday life, you won't regret it!

What's on our bookshelf....

A New House for Mouse by Petr Horacek

I found this book at the library today and I love it! Every page is filled with bold colors and a sweet little mouse looking for a home for her and her apple. The big juicy apple won't fit in her tiny mouse hole so she drags it along to larger holes asking the owners if she and her apple can move in. Lugging around that apple is hard work and makes a little mouse very hungry. Pick up this story and see if you and your child can predict where the mouse and her apple will end up.

This story provides several learning opportunities for your child. During the story you will learn about different animals and what they keep in their homes, as well as the size of their homes. You can compare sizes of the holes and talk about what happens to the apple as Little Mouse takes a bite. Prediction is an important part of reading comprehension. As you turn each page, ask your child what they think that animal will say to the mouse's questions and what they think will happen next. This prompts your child to start thinking about and understanding that for every action there is a reaction. After reading this book let us know what other things that your child learned from this book, we would love to hear from you!

How healthy are your child's teeth?

You can never start too early when it comes to taking care of your baby's teeth - even when she doesn't have any. Beginning at birth, become familiar with your baby's mouth so that you will notice any discoloration or other change that may signify that something is infected. A good time to do this is when you clean your baby's mouth. Every day, take a soft, clean, damp cloth and wipe out your baby's mouth, especially after a feeding.

Once the teeth come in, brush them with a soft toothbrush and water. Around 6 months of age, introduce a regular cup to your baby. When a baby drinks from a bottle or "sippy" cup, the liquid pools around the teeth and starts dissolving their enamel which leads to decay and infection. This is especially important to remember at bedtime as the milk or juice will be in your baby's mouth for an even longer period of time. A good rule of thumb is to never put a baby to bed with a bottle of milk or juice. If you feel that your baby must have a bedtime bottle, use clean, cool water.

By age two, start using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and have your child rinse and spit. Spitting can be a little difficult for your child to master, try using plain water for practice.

Even after your child can brush his teeth on his own, continue to monitor his mouth, teeth, and brushing habits to check for any issues. Cavities and other mouth issues often start showing up after the child has been left alone to care for their teeth since they may rush and not be as thorough.

Your baby's pediatrician will also be checking your baby's mouth for signs of infection. Make your baby's first dental appointment when they are around a year old or earlier if your pediatrician recommends it. Remember that even though baby teeth fall out, it's important to take care of them to ensure that the adult teeth will come in healthy.

What's on our bookshelf....

Where is Baby's Belly Button? Written and Illustrated by Karen Katz

Where is Baby's Belly Button? is an adorable lift-the-flap book perfect for any baby learning their body parts. The colorful illustrations and easy to lift flaps are great for enhancing fine motor skills which are important for finger dexterity to grasp objects. I also love this book because it's an easy way to teach your baby spatial concepts such as under, over, etc. It's sure to be a huge hit!

Preparing your child for a new situation

Children can often be frightened by new places or experiences such as a first haircut or dentist appointment. This is understandable as they are used to a world of familiar things and all of a sudden they are sitting in this big chair with a masked person coming at them with loud buzzing tools. Who wouldn't be scared? When kids are prepared for a unfamiliar situation they will most likely do better because they will know what to expect.

Here are some tips to use when preparing your child for a new situation:

1 - Read a children's book - Choose a book that includes the upcoming event. Talk about the book and how the characters handled the situation. Ask your child to imagine other possible scenarios.

2 - Incorporate the event during playtime with your child - For example, if your child has an upcoming dentist appointment, set up a makeshift dentist office with a desk, waiting area and some items to use as tools. Act out what will happen in the reception area and then lead the child to the "dentist chair."

3 - Get creative - In keeping with the dentist situation, use a cloth or bandanna that will mimic how the dentist will look in his mask. If you have an electric shaver or small appliance available that will make a noise similar to that of a drill, incorporate that during play so your child will not be as surprised by the noise.

4 - Take a tour - If possible, bring your child ahead of time to visit the location of the new experience.

5 - Children's museums or events - Keep an eye out for exhibits that may assist you in preparing your child. For example, Sciworks has an area called "HealthWorks" which has several doctor and dentist tools. Check out the Greensboro Children's Museum and the Children's Museum of Winston-Salem as they may also have helpful exhibits.

We hope that these tips help you in preparing your child for a new situation. Please let us know what works for your family as it may help others.

Winston Lake Family Day

Come Join the Fun!

Bring the entire family out to Winston Lake Family Day! The event will be held on Sunday, August 16, 4-8 p.m., at Winston Lake Park (event will be by the lake).

You will Enjoy:

* Live Music: Gospel, R&B, Jazz & more!
* Family Comedian
* Guest host from 102 Jamz
* Free school supplies (while they last)
* Free T-shirts (while they last)
* Free boat rides on Winston Lake
* FREE FOOD with a canned food donation. Bring at least 1 can of food for the Second Harvest Food Bank and get a FREE MEAL courtesy of the Winston Lake Senior Golf Association.

For your comfort, please bring a lawn chair. If you have any further questions please call 734-1221.

What's on our bookshelf....

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

Chrysanthemum is the name of the mouse in this adorable book. She had always thought that her name was perfect until she got to school and realized how unique it was. Several children made fun of her and reduced her to tears every day. Chrysanthemum felt better after talking to her parents but was still hurt by her classmate's ridicule. Eventually Chrysanthemum and her classmates learn that a special person in their lives thinks that Chrysanthemum's name is so beautiful that she wants to give her baby the name. This feel-good story is sure to touch those with unique and unfamiliar names and those who deal with bullies.

Kickoff to Kindergarten Event

The Children's Museum of Winston Salem is having a Kickoff to Kindergarten event on Saturday, August 15 from 11 am to 2 pm. Children will have the opportunity to climb aboard an actual school bus to learn about bus safety, go through a "pretend" lunch line (featuring healthy snacks), make crafts, hear stories, learn how to follow directions, explore the Museum, and much more. This event is free with paid admission or Museum membership.

What's on our bookshelf....

The Big Wide-Mouthed Frog by Ana Martin Larranaga

This humorous book follows a frog as he visits other animals and asks "Who are you and what do you eat?" It's a great book to experiment with silly animal voices and is informational as you learn about what the animals eat. The story gets especially silly when the big wide-mouthed frog meets a crocodile and finds out that he might be on the lunch menu.

The National Black Theatre Festival is here!

The National Black Theatre Festival is in Winston-Salem from August 3rd through August 8th. Visit their website for a schedule of events and more information.

Tummy Time

Tummy time is a specific time that your infant spends on his tummy. It is important because it helps to increase head and neck muscles, limit the "flat spots" on the baby's head and allows the baby's back to get stronger which helps them to roll, sit, and crawl.

Once the baby is used to tummy time, It is recommended that it should occur for approximately 3-5 minutes, five times a day. Keeping the time short but doing it often will allow your baby to experience several different positions and remain interested in his surroundings. Most babies enjoy looking at people's faces more than anything else so lay down next to him or lay down with your baby on your chest so he is able to see you. This may help your baby become more comfortable with tummy time. As they get older, prop up their favorite toys or picture books around them for something to look at.

ALWAYS supervise your baby's play time. Plan tummy time when the baby is alert and awake and NEVER leave the baby by herself while on tummy.

Read more information here on the importance of "Back to Sleep, Tummy to Play."

What's on our bookshelf....

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You see? by Bill Martin Jr. - Illustrated by Eric Carle

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? has wonderful repetition that allows children to follow the story easily and read it themselves in no time. The colorful illustrations of the animals provide a great learning opportunity. This book will help children learn their colors and names of animals. For an extended learning activity, discuss where each animal lives and what they eat. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? is available in board book, paperback and hardcover.