Your baby is no longer a baby; in fact, they are now in the zone known as ?toddler.? Consequently, you may be in the process of making several life changes to reflect this. It may be time, for example, for you to go back to work after spending a few years raising your child. Here?s a few things you should keep in mind for navigating the waters of this transition.
Look for a Job That is Child Friendly
This doesn?t necessarily mean you will need a job that has a playpen next to your desk. Rather, it means that you?ll want to work with an employer that has child friendly policies for parents. If your child gets sick and needs to be picked up from daycare, will you be able to manage? Does your employer have work-from-home options so that on certain days you can be more flexible with your schedule? Can you choose to come in at eight or nine, depending on your family?s morning routine? Etc.
Look for Childcare With a Focus on Child Development
Affordable childcare is important, but so is childcare that encourages your child to learn new skills, become more flexible, and explore language as well. Early learning programs are no longer difficult to find, and are quite common as a way to help children gear up — in a fun way — for the rigors of grade school. Many children struggle with school later in life not because they are unintelligent, but because they have different learning preferences and styles than other students. Enrolling them in pre-kindergarten learning centers now can help lessen the gap later on, and give your child extra time to ?catch up.?
Because preschool programs are not really subsidized by the state (yet, at least), there exists an extremely wide variety of offerings. Always vet a place before taking your child there — this means touring the facilities and talking to existing parents with children there, etc. Make sure that the staff seem capable and that your child is in good hands.
What?s Nutritionally Correct for This Age Group?
It?s easier to remove added salt and sugar from your toddler?s foods than you might think, and now is the time to do it. Adjusting them to healthy eating habits while young can help them continue these habits in the future. Child development can be hampered by an inadequate or un-nutritional diet.