The Learning Center at Calvary, Author at The Learning Center at Calvary

May is National Foster Care Month

May 15, 2017 by The Learning Center at Calvary Leave a Comment

May is National Foster Care Month. This month is set aside to recognize the individuals and families who give their time, their resources and their homes to children who are going through the most difficult times of their life.

Foster Parents

foster care | The Learning Center at Calvary in Wilmington — Open your home to foster children

Most people would have a difficult time letting a stranger in their home to shower, sleep and eat. It would be the equivalent of picking up a homeless person and taking them home. You know nothing about this person except what you can see and perhaps what they have told you.

For foster parents, the person is a child. This child may have severe mental or physical trauma that is not apparent to the naked eye. Emotional damage may be hidden under layers of disdain, hatred and aloofness. Now imagine that you open your home, your family and your heart to this child. Is that hard to imagine? That is what foster families do every day. It is all about placing your fears and doubts aside to meet the needs of a child who has nobody else to turn to.

National Foster Care Month

May is the time to bring awareness to foster care. Foster parents are honored during this month. The need for more families to volunteer is brought to the forefront of the public eye. The needs of the foster care families are recognized. Resources are introduced to help meet the needs. After all, foster care is more than just opening your home up to a child in need. Foster care awareness is critical to help families and communities meet the needs of the children and the families that care for them.

Where to Find Help

Many people caring for children do not know that there are resources available to help them. Respite babysitting services, community clothing closets, support groups and even activities and sports programs for the children are all in place to help families foster these children. However, the problem is that not all families know about the resources available. During May, resources of all kinds are brought to the forefront in an attempt to help families caring for foster children.

Grandparents, aunts and uncles are often kinship caregivers. This means that they have assumed the role of caregiver since the parents of the child are not an option. Often, this causes a change in family dynamics. An adult child may resent the grandparent becoming the primary caregiver of their child. Maybe a grandparent does not know what to do about things like medical care, legal issues with the school, etc. Resources like

The Grandkin Guide can help grandparents to navigate the legal system, family issues and the new role of caregiver.

Such resources are critical to helping foster care families cope with the changes that come from having a new child in the home. Online resources, support groups, financial aid and more can all be beneficial for the care of foster children. Whether kinship care is decided between family members or set up by child welfare services, there is no reason to feel alone and adrift in this new circumstance. Help is available.

Why is Public Awareness so Important?

National foster care month | The Learnign Center at Calvary in Wilmington — Get educated on foster care

Foster care is often shown in a negative light. News stories of tragedies, rumors of greed and horror stories from former foster children get the spotlight, while great foster successes go unheralded.

Care of these children must be brought to the public in a positive light. People will remember success stories of foster children who went on to college and beyond. Foster parents who go above and beyond to help children find their passions, like painting or horseback riding, should be highlighted and commended. The children should have their success stories shared, just like in a traditional family. These children can thrive if the parents have the resources available to help them. Even severe mental and physical abuse of the past can be overcome with love and support from foster parents who really care.

Foster care takes a whole community to be successful. Outreach groups, support groups, legal and financial help, respite caregivers, teachers, child welfare advocates – everyone must work hand-in-hand with the foster caregivers to ensure these children are protected, loved and given the chance for a successful, happy life.

Use May as the month to educate yourself about the foster care system and how you and your community can help these families. A community picnic, a toy or clothing drive, volunteering your time or even offering your talents (like free piano lessons) – there are plenty of ways you can help with foster care. The keyword is ‘care’.

17 Ways You Can Prepare Your Child for Kindergarten at Home (You’ll Love #4)

April 24, 2017 by The Learning Center at Calvary 1 Comment

The years seemed to fly by quickly, and your little one is now ready to take on the challenge of entering into kindergarten. If your child was in Wilmington child care, your child may already know some of the basic kindergarten readiness skills. There are many ways you can prepare your child for kindergarten in order to make sure he or she does not fall behind. These 17 kindergarten readiness activities will ensure your child is ready to go.

Reading, Writing, and Basic Spelling

1. Identify some of the letters in the alphabet. Kindergarten readiness is seen in your child’s ability to read or tell the difference between various letters. The more the merrier; however, a basic understanding of some letters will go a long way.

2. Whether your child is writing with a pencil, pen, or marker, it is very important for them to be able to hold their tool. You can prepare your child for kindergarten best by laying crayons on the table and having him or her pick each one up to write. Correct their holding position, and allow them to repeat the motions for each new color.

3. Teach your child to write their first and last name. If possible, teach them how to use upper and lowercase letters. Even if your child is not able to write long words, they will need to write their name on papers and work.

Independence is Key

Kindergatern readiness activities | The Learning Center at Calvary — Get the child familiar with being left with other trusted adults

4. Break away from your child. Separation anxiety is something a lot of children (and parents) encounter. Your child needs to be able to function without you around. Kindergarten readiness programs are available to help. Parents can drop children off for a couple hours so they can get used to the change. Being away from you is something your child needs to practice.

5. Make sure your little one is able to put on their own clothing. Although it is unlikely that children will need to practice these skills at school, they need to know how to do it just in case.

6. Playing alone or in small groups for up to ten minutes will ensure your little one excels in the learning environment.

7. Teach your child their birthday, phone number, full name, and address. Your child should be able to repeat this information back to a teacher.

8. You will not be at school each day to clean up after your child. Your child will need to know how to clean up their own toys and tools after using them.

9. Potty training and managing restroom needs are crucial skills for getting through each day in kindergarten. Your child should be able to recognize when they need to go, and they should be able to go and use the restrooms without supervision.

10. Your child should be able to follow basic directions. Since the teacher tells children to raise their hands when they have a question, your child should know how to do this and follow these simple directions.

Listening and Counting

Kindergarten readiness | The Learning Center at Calvary — Teach your child how to be attentive

11. Teach your child to count to ten. Use fingers, objects or a number line to ensure they knows the basics.

12. Make sure your child knows how to bounce a ball. Motor skills need to be at a level that will ensure they do not struggle in gym class or in classroom activities.

13. Your child should be able to rhyme basic words. Dog and log should not have your child’s mind in a fog.

14. Categorize objects by size, shape or type. Your child should be able to determine which object is bigger or smaller. Teach your child how to divide blocks by colors, and determine the odd object in a set (i.e.: square, rectangle, and triangle — four sides vs. three).

15. Your child should be able to recognize sight words, such as “stop” and “go”. Use stop signs or traffic lights to teach your child the different meanings.

16. Make sure your child knows how to speak complete sentences. Even a basic statement like “the ball is red” is good enough to ensure they are ready to go.

17. Teach your child how to remain quiet during story time. Kindergarten involves a lot of reading, especially on the teacher’s part. Your child will need to sit in groups and listen to the story and may be required to answer basic questions about the story. It is important for your child to remain quiet so all students are able to listen to and understand the story.

Making sure your child does not fall behind is crucial for developing a successful pathway through his or her educational journey. Practicing all seventeen of these steps will guarantee your little one is ready to go on the first day of kindergarten.

You can also enroll your child in a Pre-Kindergarten program at The Learning Center in Calvary. Each student in our Pre-K program graduates with all the skills they will need for success in Kindergarten. Contact us to learn more about this amazing program.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month: Take Action!

April 15, 2017 by The Learning Center at Calvary Leave a Comment

What is NCAPM All About?

April of 2017 marks the 34th year of National Child Abuse Prevention Month (NCAPM), a time dedicated to raising awareness of this devastating social issue and ending child abuse once and for all.

Since 1983, this month has been a time for communities to have a dialogue about the ways to not only stop the abuse of children, but providing education and resources for families and young adults to make sure that the abuse and neglect of children doesn’t carry on for even one more generation.

**What the Statistics Say (And What they Don’t Say)**

child abuse — Cases of abuse are still high

Are the numbers of abuse victims still high enough to warrant a month of awareness and advocacy? Sadly, the answer remains an absolute “yes”.

Despite what you might think, America still has a huge abuse and neglect problem. Current statistics report a staggering 3 million children a year who deal with some form of abuse. Sadly, these are just the cases that are reported; we will likely never know the true statistics.

This is one of the worst rates of abuse in any industrialized nation. The time has come to say, “Enough!” We can do better, which is why each April we renew our promise to the children of America.

Time Can’t Heal All Wounds: Ongoing Symptoms of Abuse

Abuse would be bad enough if the hurting ended with sores and bruises, but abuse creates many scars that do not manifest until later in life (often manifesting in dangerously rebellious teenage or young adult behavior).

Over time, the young victims of abuse may also be affected by the following issues:

Increased tendency towards drug and alcohol abuse
Serious depression, including suicide attempts
Higher instances of “risk-seeking” behavior, such as multiple sexual partners, and other unsafe sexual practices
An almost 80% instance of some type of psychological disorder

The list of effects is startling, but what is most unacceptable are the nearly 1,600 children who died as a result of abuse last year. Until that number reaches zero, the NCAPM will advocate and raise awareness of these issues affecting countless American families.

History of the NCAPM

Did you know that the first specific laws regarding child abuse were only signed in 1974? While we’ve certainly come a long way since then, there is still a social stigma and problem of reportage and awareness that we need to deal with as a nation.

What started as a single week of awareness in 1982 became a full-fledged month of action starting in 1983, and the events and actions have inspired the creation of new laws and statutes that aim to eliminate harm to innocent and vulnerable children.

Whether in your own community, online, or by joining a larger march or event somewhere near you, you can become part of the NCAPM’s history this April–don’t wait until next year.

Ideas to Get Involved

There are many ways you can participate in this nationwide awareness month. Activities can be simple:

Organizing a block party or “meet and greet” with your neighbors
Attending parent meetings at your children’s school
Finding city or government-organized events for NCAPM

Or, you can organize with other parents and local families to put on bigger events, such as:

Running for local office or a PTA board
Attending and speaking at local government meetings (such as city council)
Organizing letter-writing campaigns and petitions

Keep in mind, these are just a few ideas. Be creative and think about new and interesting ways that you can help children and families who have been affected by neglect and/or abuse.

Moving Our Communities and Families Forward

Whether you visit the official NCAPM website (provided by the government’s Child Welfare Agency) or you find local events to raise awareness, the important thing is to get involved. It’s also important to remember that April is only the beginning–staying vigilant and engaged in your family and community throughout the year is the best defense we have against future abuse and neglect.

For too long, the victims and families who have suffered from abuse and neglect have been silent. April is a time for these voices to be heard, loud and clear. Now is the time–take a stand against abuse and neglect!

It’s National Kidney Disease Month. Read These Tips for Better Kidney Health

March 21, 2017 by The Learning Center at Calvary Leave a Comment

Your kidneys are very important organs in your body. Taking proper care of them will help you live better and longer. Many people don’t understand kidney disease or how to prevent it. For National Kidney Disease Month, you can learn how to better care for your kidneys and prevent disease.

Get Tested

Kidney failure is a slow and progressive disease that usually has no noticeable symptoms. Kidney disease awareness is important. Unless your kidneys have been injured in an accident, you may not know you have kidney disease without medical testing. Your doctor can perform a few types of tests to determine kidney function. These are usually blood tests or urine tests.

The blood test for kidney function is called glomular filtration rate or GFR. This measures the amount of creatine in your blood. Creatine is a waste product produced by working muscles. Your kidneys are responsible for filtering this waste from the blood. If the kidneys are not working properly, this acid will build up to unsafe levels in the blood stream.

The urine test for kidney function is called albumin-to-creatine ratio or ACR. The urine is tested for the protein albumin. This protein that should not be found in urine. If the test is positive, it indicates your kidneys are not functioning as well as they should.
There are five stages of disease that lead to kidney failure. There is no way to correct full kidney failure, so it is a life-threatening disease. The best option for a person in the advanced stages is a kidney transplant. Health can be maintained with dialysis, but this does not heal the kidneys.

Diabetes and Sugar

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of kidney failure. When you have diabetes, your body has trouble maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. Your kidneys are responsible for filtering your blood, so when you have high blood sugar your kidneys are under a lot of pressure to balance your system. They eventually become overloaded and begin to fail.

There are many things that may contribute to developing diabetes. Sometimes the disease is genetic, and there isn’t much you can do about that. Most diabetes, however, is brought on by a poor diet. Excess sugar in the diet is one of the leading causes of diabetes. It is important to avoid excess sugar. The American Heart Association recommends that children consume no more than six teaspoons of added sugar per day. This is also a good rule for adults to follow. Diabetes can affect a person of any age. The sooner you take steps to avoid it, the healthier your kidneys will be.

Salt and Blood Pressure

Blood pressure also has a major impact on kidney function. When blood pressure is high, more blood is forced through the sensitive tissues of the kidney faster. Over time, this may damage the kidney tissue that filters the blood. This tissue is very difficult to heal once damaged.

Too much sodium in the diet contributes to high blood pressure. Salt may also pose a danger to the kidneys directly. Sometimes minerals like sodium will harden in the kidneys. The result is a kidney stone. The kidney eventually forces the stone through the kidney tissue. The process is very painful. It may also damage the kidney tissue, which reduces function. The damage caused by passing a kidney stone often does not heal. A scar will form that is never able to filter any blood.
You do not have to eliminate all salt from your diet, but you should keep it to a healthy level. This means not adding salt to most foods and avoiding processed foods already high in salt. You can help balance sodium levels by also getting plenty of potassium from food and drinking plenty of water each day.

Drinking Too Much

Your kidneys are responsible for getting toxic substances out of your blood stream. Alcohol is highly toxic to the body, so your kidneys work extra hard to get rid of it. When you drink too much, you put strain on your kidneys and may damage them.

Alcohol also dehydrates you. Your kidneys’ other job is to maintain the right balance of water in your body. Consuming alcohol can make this job much more difficult. Over time, this may result in lost kidney function.
It is important to know how much is too much. Three drinks or less per day is considered safe for your body and is unlikely to cause serious problems.

Your diet has a lot to do with your kidney health. By maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding alcohol and smoking and choosing healthy foods most of the time, you can keep both your kidneys functioning for your entire life. Many of the conditions that lead to kidney disease are preventable.

13 Kindergarten Readiness Skills Your Child Needs

March 19, 2017 by The Learning Center at Calvary 1 Comment

Kindergarten readiness is something all parents of preschoolers should be thinking about during these formative years. While no two children are the same, there are some skills that your child’s kindergarten teacher will expect him or her to have on the first day of school. Not only do they free up the teacher’s time so he or she can teach, but they will also make the transition easier for your child. Luckily, many kids have already mastered these skills by the age of five, but if yours hasn’t, there is still time for them to practice.

1-4: Fine Motor Skills Kindergarten Readiness

Good fine motor skills are a necessity, because your children will be doing these daily throughout their school years and beyond. They are the foundation for your child’s ability to take part in classwork and other daily activities. Some of the most important ones you should work on with your child are:

Writing: Your child should be able to hold a pencil correctly and trace lines, as well as trace his or her name. You may even practice writing the first name without help. Use colored pencils to help keep your child interested.

Cutting: He or she should have the ability to grasp a pair of safety scissors and cut along lines, as well as cut out shapes like squares, triangles, and circles. Practice by cutting pictures out of magazines and newspapers.

Stacking: Have your child practice stacking 10 1-inch blocks on top of each other until he or she can do so without knocking it over.

Molding: Play dough is a child favorite, and a great way to practice molding skills. Have your child roll the dough into a the shape of a ball, a snake, and a pancake.

5 – 8: Gross Motor Skills Kindergarten Readiness

Gross motor skills are important for physical development, play, and coordination. Of course, exceptions will be made if your child is physically handicapped. Before heading off to school, your child should be comfortable with:

Jumping: Your child should have the ability to jump in place at least seven times, landing on both feet. Practice with games like hopscotch and jump rope.

Throwing and Catching: He or she should have the ability to throw a ball at least 5 feet in a specific direction, as well as catch it from the same distance, using either his or her hands or arms and body.

Balancing: Balancing on each foot for at least 5 seconds is an important skill. Practice by making a game out of it.

Climbing: Climbing is essential for going up and down stairs and playground ladders.

9-13: Social Readiness

In addition to fine and gross motor skills, your child must have the social skills to interact with the teacher and other children appropriately. These include:

Self-Control: Self-control skills involve following directions, sticking to routines, participating in activities without becoming too hyper, and the ability to transition from one activity to the next without disruption.

Proper Interaction with Others: Your child should be able to interact appropriately with the teacher and other students, share, take turns, participate in group activities, and help with clean-up efforts.

Conflict Resolution Skills: When your child is involved in a conflict, he or she needs to have the ability to use words to resolve it or know to seek a trusted adult for help when necessary.
Speaking Skills: Speaking skills include talking clearly enough to be understood and the ability to relay experiences to another person.

Listening Skills: Listening skills for kindergarten readiness include paying attention to conversations, as well as following one and two-step directions.

Kindergarten Readiness Resources for Parents

Many of these skills are learned through everyday activities at home, but for some children, a kindergarten readiness program may be in order. This is especially true when it comes to social skills. For example, enrolling your preschooler in a Wilmington child care program can help them develop better socially. You can also practice role playing situations that may arise in school. Arts and crafts times can help with fine motor skills, while outside play is great for gross motor skills.
Once your child has mastered these skills, he or she has the perfect foundation for moving on to more advanced activities, such as reading, writing, and working with numbers. Just remember, a hands-on approach always works better than memorization and lecturing when it comes to kindergarten readiness activities.