“Education is the movement from darkness to light.”
– Allan Bloom 
Happy first day of fall!
Can you believe the summer is already over? And what a summer it was! We enjoyed visits from the Hilton Head Island Fire Department, Kona Ice, and stories read to us by Mr. Lawson. Our Summer Campers and Saturday Schoolers went on virtual field trips, sang along with Jevon Daly, took yoga classes, and so much more. We will never forget the memories we made and cannot wait for next summer! Thank you to everyone who made this summer a success for our Children’s Center kids.
Our first annual Swing for the Future Golf Event was an enormous success! We raised over $45,000 on behalf of all the children and families at The Children’s Center. Thank you to everyone who came out and showed your support for early education. We are thrilled to be able to provide funding for Lowcountry families to have a safe and educationally rich environment for their children.
Morning Routines
Let’s talk morning routines!
We all know getting everyone ready and out the door on time can be very stressful. With both the adults and kiddos being tired, tempers and emotions can flare up and create a chaotic time for everyone. NBC News offers several tips from experts to help morning routines be a little less challenging and more efficient for the whole family!
- Stick to a consistent sleep schedule.
Dr. Jerry Bubrick, a clinical psychologist at The Child Mind Institute recommends at least eight hours of sleep consistently. Not just on school nights, but on weekends as well. Consistency is incredibly helpful for children and may help avoid major meltdowns.
- Get organized!
Interior designer Marina V. Umali recommends keeping everything organized near your front door. Knowing where everything everyone needs for the next morning is and having it packed and ready to go will keep the chaos of the mornings at bay.
- Prepare the night before.
Like the last tip, getting outfits picked out and lunches packed the night before can help destress mornings.
- Give a couple lunch options.
As you prep meals the night before, give kids a choice between two options for the next day’s lunch. Involving your child(ren) in the decision-making process may give them a sense of control which is important for kids.
- Talk through the next day.
Ben Bernstein, PhD recommends talking through expectations for the next day. He recommends asking children “what are you looking forward to”, and “what, if any, concerns do you have?”.
Discussing the day’s agenda couldn’t hurt either!
6. Get ready mentally and physically before the kids wake up.
Waking up a few minutes early to get yourself ready for the day and in a positive mental space will help reduce stress for you and your kids. Take a shower, drink some coffee, and then wake the kids up and help them get ready for the day.
- Be patient and calm.
Yelling and threatening is rarely helpful in reducing stress and getting tasks accomplished for the morning. Try your best to stay calm and positive in the morning!
- Cut out screen time in the mornings.
Children may want to use their iPad or watch TV before things like eating breakfast or brushing their teeth. It may be best to just eliminate screen time first-thing.
- Have kids make their own beds.
Karin Sun, founder of Crane & Canopy suggests having your children make their beds routinely creates a sense of accomplishment in the morning and can influence the decision to make other healthy choices throughout the day.
- Stay flexible!
While morning routines are important, inflexibility can cause additional anxiety. Be sure to remain flexible with variations in your morning routine.
We hope you found these tips helpful! If you have not already, give us a follow on Facebook and Instagram @thechildrenscentersc. We are so thankful for all the people who make The Children’s Center the best place for children to learn, play, and grow!
Do you want to make a difference? We are looking for full-time and part-time employees! E-mail resumes to info@thechildrenscenter.org.
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