The back-to-school season is here! If you are like most parents, you are running around like a crazy person trying to make sure your child has every ruler, pencil, and watercolor set that they need to have another great year!

While this is an exciting time for your kids, let’s be honest, it is an exciting time for you as well! You know the kids are at a safe place where they are doing a ton of learning throughout the day and you no longer have to figure out how to entertain them! 

But I think you know as well as we do that going back to school isn’t always a fun process out of the gate. Getting your kids out of the summer groove and back into early mornings and homework is far from easy, but it might be a little easier this year with these back to school tips!

1) Start the new routine now!

Early to bed early to rise! Start living by this rule now in order to make the first day of school a little easier. Go through the whole routine: Wake up, eat breakfast, get ready and dressed for the day, and do whatever else will they be doing on their first day of school. At night, it’s time to enforce bedtimes a little more strictly. Easing them into the start of the year will make for a better and far less stressful first day of school!

2) Involve them in school supply shopping! 

It would be much easier to just go to the store with your school-provided list of supplies and get out as fast as possible, but this can also be a beneficial step in getting everyone excited for school. By letting your kids pick out their own folders and pens, it lets them feel like they have some level of control. You can talk about all the fun things they are going to learn and projects they get to work on, and also spend a little time together before that first school bell rings. 

3) Schedule playdates with classmates they haven’t seen in a while

Often times, our summers get so busy with vacations and family commitments, you’re kids may have not seen their “school friends” in some time. This can make the first day a little difficult because your kids might feel like they have to start all over again with those connections. Getting together with other parents and planning some fun activities together can make the social aspect of school a little less scary and make kids a little more comfortable 

4) Have open conversations about how your child is feeling

Are they excited? Nervous? Stressed? Your child will probably feel all of these emotions at some point leading up to the school year. This is completely NORMAL and it’s important to always have an idea of where they stand. If they are nervous or stressed, you can take action and try some little things to change their mood. If they are excited, you can feed off that excitement and try and do some little things that prep them for a year of learning. Again, these moods can change day-to-day so it’s important to check-in often and adjust accordingly.

To a young child, heading back to school after a summer fun is a HUGE shift. Their schedules, the people they are around, and what they think about all change. Think back to when you were a kid, I’m sure you remember feeling all kinds of emotions leading up to the first day of school. By starting early and using these tips, you can help control those emotions and make back to school a fun process for everyone! 

Make sure to check out our 4k and Preschool programs today! We still have a few spots available!

Congratulations! You’re expecting! 

Having a child is the greatest joy that anyone can ever experience, but there is a lot to get done in the time between finding out and welcoming him/her into the world. 

One of the items on your list is surely finding a daycare provider. Many daycares in Kenosha accept applications months and months in advance so it can be stressful to try and find the place that is the best for you and reserve your spot. 

But where do you start? How do you go through the process of finding daycare and making sure it is the right decision?

Step #1 – Gather a list of all the possibilities

The best way to start on the process of finding a good daycare is to take a look at all your possibilities. The truth is that there is a TON of options when it comes to childcare. For example, a simple search for “Daycares in Kenosha” will give you 20+ different options. Even though that might seem overwhelming, it’s a great place to start in deciding who is out there in the world and what your options will look like. 

Step #2 – Talk to friends and family

One common thing people say about having kids is that everyone has an opinion – and let us tell you it’s not a myth. While people will give you all kinds of parenting tips that you are going to want to let go of, daycare advice is a great thing to seek out. Ask friends, family, coworkers, or anyone else you meet about what they did for daycare. Where did they go? What did they like? Not like? What types of questions did they ask? All those answers are going to help you start to narrow down your list, or discover new places that you didn’t know existed before.

Step #3 – Get down to your top 3 or 4

Now that you have a nice big list of all the childcare providers around Kenosha and you have gotten some recommendations, it is time to narrow down your list. Look at which ones are not close to your work or home and remove them from the list. Check out their pricing and see who is in your price range. You will be surprised how quickly your list will go from 15 or 20 locations to only 3 or 4 that are the best of the best.

Step #4 – Schedule Tours

Tours are the most important part of the process of finding a daycare facility. A tour will give you a good idea of what your child will experience every single day and allow you to gather a good gut feeling about each location. Most places want you to call ahead and schedule a time so they can prepare for you to come. We do things a little different at Cornerstone, we want you to see us during a normal day without any extra preparations which is why we allow new parents to stop at any time to take a tour! 

Come prepared with even your most outrageous question so that every concern can be answered. The more questions you ask, the better understanding you will get for each place and how they approach care.

Step #5 – Use a Pro/Con List

You have all the information and you have seen every location. The final step is to take all that information and create a pro and con list for each. Divide a piece of paper in half and list out the best features on the left and the drawbacks on the right. Decide which place has the best location, most reasonable price, and even rank your overall gut feeling of each location to help come to your decision. If you still can’t decide, never be afraid to book another tour and gather even more information. Ultimately you will come to a decision that is best for you and your little one!

The process of finding a daycare can be a very stressful one. You only want to give your child the best, and selecting a daycare is the first big decision you are making that will directly affect your child’s life. If you allow yourself to gather all the information and trust your gut, you will know what the right facility for you will be!

One of the most underrated parts about growing up in Kenosha has to be the access to so many great beaches like Simmons Island Beach, Eichelman Park, and Wolfenbuttal Park.

With the temps starting to rise and the sun starting to shine, you and your child are probably gearing up for a little fun in the sun, but a day at the beach isn’t going to be a walk in the park.

Many parents stay away from the beach because they know what is coming next. Lost items, wet children, and sand…. So much sand. So how can you make beach day the best experience for both you and your child?  Here are some of our favorite tips and hacks on:

Planning the Best Beach Day in Kenosha

Use a fitted sheet as a “play area”.

This viral hack is an ABSOLUTE must especially with young children. Sick of your towels getting all full of sand and blowing away? Bring a fitted sheet and create a “playpen”. You can use your bag, toys, cooler, and whatever you brought with you for your trip to hold up the corners. This will keep all your things contained and make a nice spot for kids to play when they have had enough sand.

You can even bring your own kiddy pool!

Another way to take this up a notch is to bring your own inflatable pool! You can pick them up from Walmart and other stores for under $10 and give your child a place to splash around without the risk of playing in the waves. You can simply use some lake water and fill it up! Just make sure you pay attention in case there are any accidents and change the water out if it happens!

Freeze your drinks the night before.

It is always a bummer when you haven’t been out for long and all the ice in your cooler has melted and your drinks are warm. The night before, make sure to freeze all your bottles of water, juice boxes, and other beverages so they are nice and cold all day! You will be able to drink whenever you are thirsty…

And you can use them to keep some washcloths cold!

As you are grabbing all the food and drinks for the day, throw in a few washcloths as well. These will come in SUPER handy for when your child is starting to look a little warm and needs to cool off a bit. A few wipes on the forehead and back of the neck can go a long way in keeping your little one cool and comfortable. And if your little one has allergies, here are some tips for preparing for that!

While you’re at it, put the sunscreen in the cooler too!

We all know the importance of sunscreen, but have you ever thought to put yours in the cooler? That’s right! Keep that sunscreen nice and cold. Not only will you be helping protect your child’s skin from the sun, but you will also be keeping their body temperature down.

Keep it simple when it comes to toys!

The beach is full of new things to touch, see, hear, and, let’s be honest, taste. You are going to be tempted to load up on the toys and bring all the favorites, but really just the simple shovel and bucket and a few balls should be more than enough! The simpler, the better for you!

So what do you think? Are you going to go out and enjoy all the Kenosha beaches this summer? What are your favorite places to go? We hope these tips make those trips much less stressful and a whole lot more FUN!

BONUS CONTENT

Now that you have all of your tips to plan your trip to your favorite Kenosha beach the best yet, here are some of the events going on this summer (2019) at our local Kenosha beaches:

Simmons Island Beach:

Tribute Island Music Festival
July 19 – July 21, 2019

The Tribute Island Music Festival features the most celebrated tribute acts from around the Midwest. Over 50 bands across five stages. There will be food vendors and other fun activities. You won’t want to miss this one!

Pike River Rendezvous
August 3 – August 4, 2019

At this “Colonial through Western Fur Trade era of the 1650s – 1850s, there will be over 300 reenactors, craft and trade demonstrations, musical entertainment, and much more with plenty of activities for you and the young ones.

Downtown Kenosha Pop-Up Beer Garden
August 8 – August 11, 2019
August 15 – August 18, 2019

What else do we need to say?? This will be a fun one featuring local beers, live music, family activities, food, and much more!

17th Annual Car Show To Benefit Our Wounded Veterans
September 1, 2019

The show is open to all cars, trucks, motorcycles, and military vehicles for a $10 show entry. Spectators are free. There will be food, drinks, family fun activities, 50-50 raffles, music, door prizes, and most importantly, a ceremony at noon to honor our troops. 100% of all funds raised go to our wounded warriors.

Hooray spring!

We think it is safe to say that everyone is excited to see some warmer weather in the forecast.

Spring unlocks a whole sea of fun adventures that you and your kids can enjoy together. NO matter what your family is interested in, Racine & Kenosha can deliver! We don’t often think of our little communities as packed with fun, but if you do a little searching, you can uncover some real hidden gems!

Here are some of our recommendations for fun things to do in Racine & Kenosha this spring, that your child will be so excited to tell us about when they come to daycare!

1) The Racine Zoo

The perfect adventure for your animal loving little one! The Racine Zoo is a perfect weekend trip to explore many species of animals that you would normally have to travel all the way to Milwaukee to see. With an incredible amount of activities and programs for kids, it makes it the perfect place for your child to learn and have fun. Children under 2 years old are completely free and tickets only cost between $6 – $8.

2) The Kenosha Public Museum

I think we can all agree that kids ask A LOT of questions. The Kenosha Public Museum is perfect for that little inquiring mind. With their Field Station, which gives kids the opportunity to get an up-close look at fossils, insects, and shells, your child will have the opportunity to use their noggin in new ways and learn all sorts of new and exciting things! It is always an amazing thing to see a child learn something new!

3) Explore Petrifying Springs

If you really want to get out and stretch your legs, Petrifying Springs Park in Kenosha can be a full day of fun! The park is over 360 acres large and has miles and miles of trails for your child to experience everything nature has to offer. You might have to deal with a little mud during the spring, but that just adds to the fun. And parents, once summer comes, The Petrifying Springs Biergarten is the perfect combination of fun for parents and kids!

 

So which one of these activities is first on your list of fun things to do in Racine & Kenosha this spring?

These are only 3 of the many exciting things that Racine & Kenosha have to offer for families and kids. Whether you realize it or not, our little area is packed full of things to do and ways to enjoy the spring. What are your favorite activities? We would love to hear them!

 

While everyone gets excited for this time of year as the temperatures start to rise and the sun starts shining longer, something we don’t look forward to is those brutal seasonal allergies, especially for your children.

Allergies can be tricky for children and can make the process of taking them to daycare a little more difficult. In Racine and Kenosha, we get hit hard with the pollen from trees, grass, and flowers that can leave you and your little one feeling just gross.

So, what do you do? If your child is suffering from allergies you can’t just keep them from daycare every single day, but at the same time, you want their experience at daycare to be enjoyable, not miserable.

 

Here are some tips for seasonal allergies for your children

 

1)     Talk to your doctor 

This is an obvious place to start but it is by far the most important! We aren’t doctors here, so speaking to your doctor will allow you to get the most accurate information possible and help you identify exactly what your child is allergic to. They will be able to give you recommendations about medications and maybe even give prescriptions in extreme circumstances.  This will make treatment a lot more effective and have them feeling back to playing form in no time!

2)     Teach them the importance of washing their hands

Especially if we get outside to play. Teaching your child the importance of washing their hands can make a huge difference in their symptoms. You know as well as anyone that child hands touch everything, including surfaces and plants that they might be allergic too. By having them wash their hands right away, you can prevent pollen from entering sensitive areas like the eyes. This should help greatly reduce symptoms and make them feel much better.

3)     Make sure to let us know 

We can try our best to make some accommodations, especially for those children that suffer from the most severe of allergies. By letting us know in advance, we can help make smart decisions about outside time and be prepared to help in any way possible!

*Remember that allergies and colds have very similar symptoms. If you feel that your child might be sick and not suffering from allergies, it might be smart to keep them at home 😊*

Allergies are just a tough reality of springtime here in Kenosha and Racine. Hopefully, with these tips, you can have your little ball of energy feeling back to their normal selves and ready to have fun at daycare – which is much more fun for us as childcare providers as well!