Make your own Halloween Lacing Cards

Lacing cards are a great indoor activity for kids as winter comes closer. They are easy to use and offer several educational benefits as well: as children lace, they develop their “pincher grip” which is what they will use later in writing. They also learn concentration on patterns and patience towards finishing projects.

Making lacing cards for holidays can be a fun activity for kids in daycare. Here are simple instructions for a Jack-o-Lantern card:

Materials:
Laces for Lacing
Single hole punch
Paper board (empty cereal boxes work well)
Orange construction paper
Colored pencils, markers, or crayons
Scissors
Glue Sticks

Adult Preparation Directions:
Cut the paperboard into a pumpkin shape of at least six inches across. Cut orange construction paper into the same shape and size. Repeat these two steps for as many children as are in your childcare center (or make a couple extras). You may have the children complete this step if you wish.

Child Decorating Directions:
Have children decorate their Orange construction paper/pumpkins however they wish. You can suggest that they draw Jack-o-Lantern faces and fill them in. Encourage creativity.

Once all the pumpkins are decorated, have children glue their paper to their cardboard. Let glue dry thoroughly.

Adult or Child Finishing Directions:
Punch holes around the perimeter of the pumpkin, about 1-2 inches apart.

Now your Halloween lacing pumpkin is complete and ready for use. Have your children practice lacing it with the laces, and let them take their Jack-o-Lanterns home. These instructions can be easily modified to make other shapes.

Preventing the Flu

Flu season has started and this virus runs rampant through daycares and schools. Children under the age of 2 are at greater risk for complications and even death from the influenza. There are some simple steps you can take to reduce the spread of infection in your childcare center or preschool.

1) Get a flu shot and encourage your center’s children (over 6 months) and parents to be vaccinated as well. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the flu shot to everyone over 6 months. The vaccine is especially recommended for the following groups of people: pregnant women, children younger than 5, people working with children, people in long-term care facilities, and people with chronic illnesses. The CDC recommends getting the shot as soon as it is available (usually August or September) and before December.

2) Avoid close contact and encourage sick children to stay home. The flu virus spreads through close contact with someone who’s already sick. Tell your school’s parents that sick children should stay home. Make sure they understand that there is no penalty for missing school when sick. If you yourself feel ill, take the day off work to avoid exposing your daycare children to the virus.

3) Cover your cough. Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing can reduce the spread of infection. Using a tissue prevents the virus from getting stuck on your hands. Unfortunately, kids aren’t so good at remembering this one, but try to teach it anyway.

4) Wash your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs (not just the flu) that you make pick up on hard surfaces and children’s toys. Hand wipes are great for young children because they’re easier to use than soap and water.

5) Disinfect your daycare center or preschool frequently. Children put their hands everywhere; they also put everything in their mouths. Virus are most often spread to the mucus membranes (eyes, ears, nose, mouth), so disinfect your childcare center’s toys, bathrooms, kitchens, and hard surfaces routinely.

6) Drink plenty of fluids. Fluids flush out the system, removing viruses and other toxins while re-hydrating. PureFun!’s juice is all natural and made especially for young children. Serving this juice at your daycare center is an excellent way to make sure your youngsters get plenty of fluids.

These simple steps will reduce, but not prevent the spread of the flu and other infections through your childcare center. We hope you find these tips useful.

Daycare Crib Fundraiser Ideas

 

The federal government meant well with its new regulations governing crib safety. After all, what could be more important than keeping young children safe? But the expense of complying with the new rules, which fully take effect at the end of 2012, has put many child care providers in a bind.

Some are looking for help from the people they serve, by holding fund-raisers. “You give parents a cause for why you're raising the money, and they tend to be very supportive,” said Denise Myatt, director of the New Beginnings child care center in Hanover, Penn.

A previous fund-raiser allowed the church-based school to purchase a security system with cameras in all the classrooms.

Myatt pointed out that typically, tuition income goes back to the children in the form of food, staff salaries, etc. There’s not a lot left over for items such as new cribs, which cost hundreds of dollars apiece with shipping charges.

Her school did a “Joe Corbi fund-raiser” to help pay for cribs. Maryland-based Joe Corbi’s helps organizations raise money through the sale of pizza kits, cookie dough and other items.

Looking for outside sources to pay for improvements such as new cribs is a must, as Myatt sees it. “The fund-raiser is the only way -- outside of our own pocketbooks.”

A church-based child enrichment center in South Carolina is taking a different approach. To raise money for the 23 cribs it needs to buy, the center will ask the Sunday School classes in The Baptist Church of Beaufort to commit to purchasing one or two or three cribs. Then a small plaque with the name of the donating class will be affixed to each crib.

Director Debbie Marcil said the preschool has not really gone to the church for financial help in the past, except occasionally to meet the needs of a struggling family. She noted a potential benefit from the new approach. “We thought maybe it would help give them some ownership in the preschool.”

As in many churches, the child care center has been a means of evangelism in the community. “We just had two families join in the past month,” Marcil said.

Whether by cookie dough or donations or other creative means, an enterprising child care center can get help navigating the cribs funding challenge.

Stickers, Stickers and more Stickers – Oh, my!

 

I love stickers and children love them even more! At home I use them on chore charts, greeting cards, wrapping paper, calendars, vegetable canning, and the list goes on. At my school, I use them as rewards and as a motivator. I put them on test papers and homework papers.

I use them on bulletin boards, borders, pictures and in crafts. In the preschool area, I use them to help teach colors and animals and shapes. I even let the children put them on their hands and shirts.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better selection than what I found at www.purefunsupply.com.

Multilingual Learning Tools for Children

I’ve always said I would love to learn another language, but have yet to become fluent in a second language – I wish I were young again! Multilingual Flash Cards help young kids learn different languages quickly. Children find other languages fascinating and intriguing and are eager learners. Kids can learn and absorb a new language much easier than adults. Also, our multilingual books and materials are the easiest way to teach kids another language.

Buy your wholesale Multilingual Flash Cards and learning tools from the leader in childcare, daycare, and school supply.

TimeMist Air Fresheners & TimeMist Dispensers

 

What is one of the first things Potential Parents notice when they walk into your school or daycare? They may notice the front desk receptionist and their demeanor or the decor of your childcare center, but one of the main things a potential parent will notice is the smell of your childcare center.

When you have a center that appeals to ALL the senses, you will have more business. A parent wants to feel comfortable leaving their precious little one in a place that is clean. Using a Air Freshener like TimeMist is a great way to improve the overall smell and feeling of your daycare. We offer over 11 scents in Time Mist air fresheners.

A great advantage to using TimeMist Air fresheners is their programable dispensers. This Metered Aerosol Dispenser has an Advanced system with Command Performance, that allows you to customize the daily usage. Some great features of the Time Mist PLUS dispenser is that you can set start/stop time, plus spray level (light, medium, heavy). Or, set switch ON for automatic spraying every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day, for 30 days. Visual (LED) and audible (beeps) refill and battery replacement indicators.

For more great ways to freshen the air at your center view all of our great childcare and daycare supplies at www.purefunsupply.com

Certified Angeles Daycare Cribs

 

 

Purefunsupply.com is now offering even more options for your daycare or childcare center! We have just begun selling Angeles Cribs! Angeles is a name you can trust for Quality, Innovation and Value.

They are now offering the Safe-T-Side crib. This technology offers an easier way to reach the child in the crib and it is a safe alternative to the traditional drop side crib that has now been banned.  Angeles daycare cribs meet all the 2010 Federal Safety standards and are compliant under all ASTM and CPSC rules.

Find the perfect crib for your daycare today. With over 25 certified cribs we are your #1 source for all compliant cribs.

View all the cribs offered at www.purefunsupply.com today!

Arts and Crafts Kits, Convenient and Beneficial

Art provides many benefits to growing children. It’s fun and children naturally love it. 93% of Americans agree that the arts are vital to a well-rounded education.

Art fosters creative thinking which will benefit children their whole life. Because most kids enjoy making art, they can focus on it easily. This improvement of concentration transfers to other aspects of life. Through art, children learn that there is not always one right answer. This fosters self-confidence when kids create their own artwork. Drawing is a great way to expose kids to multiple points of view. Creating art actively engages both hemispheres of the brain to achieve full mental potential.

PureFUN offers a variety of Arts and Crafts Kits for your childcare center. Browse our selection for products help you capitalize on the many benefits of art.

Lacing Cards for daycares – Timeless Fun!

 

 

I do not know the history of lacing cards, but it seems like they have been a challenging and fun learning tool for children for ages. They can help a child learn colors and shapes. Lacing cards improve fine motor skills and develop early math skills. We even have one that helps children identify common clothing items worn by boys and girls. Pets and transportation are two other sets that are offered. Best of all is the child is having fun and learning is taking place – a timeless toy.

Visit us at www.purefunsupply.com to find more great ways to help teach the students at your school in fun and innovative ways.

Baggie Choices!

 

Don’t we love our zipper bags?! What did we do before the convenience of zipper bags? We use them for food, for small items that seem to multiply, for game pieces, for toy organization, to ice boo-boos, to protect precious mementos, to keep paper in place, etc, etc.

PureFUN! now offers the Ziploc Brand, as well as, the generic Zippit plastic bags. We have Ziploc sandwich size, quart size, gallon size; and the quart and gallon size even come in a freezer thickness, too. We have Zippit in snack size, quart size, gallon size and an extra-large 2 gallon size as well!

Take your pick and zip away!

For more childcare supplies visit us at www.purefunsupply.com!

STEEL DAYCARE CRIBS

Chelsea Steel Non-folding Crib

Item #2031097

The Chelsea crib provides safety, durability and convenience at a great value. Brought to you by www.purefunsupply.com, your certified crib specialist. Chelsea Crib is manufactured by Foundations.

· Constructed of heavy-duty steel with a powder-coated finish that resists corrosion and scratches and is easy to clean.

- Mattress board adjusts to two heights for easy access to infant and allows crib to be used as a bassinet.

· Comes with 4" casters, two locking and two non-locking.

· Cribs meet CPSC, ASTM, JPMA and Canadian crib safety standards.

· 3" high-density foam mattress that meets the new Flammability Standard CFR 1633 is included.

· Full one-year warranty included.

· Setup Dimensions: L: 40.5" W: 26" H: 37"

Visit www.purefunsupply.com to view all of our cribs. EVERY CRIB IS ON SALE!

How to choose the right paper towel for your school

There are so many different types of paper towels out there. Sometimes it is hard to choose which paper towel to provide for your daycare or childcare center. Following is a list of many popular paper towels and the facts of each type.

Multifold towels: These towels come in both brown and white. Many multifold towels and also be found in economy brands as well. Multifold towels have 2 folds and when taken out of the dispenser looks like they are folded in a Z shape.

C-fold towels: C fold towels look like they are named. They have two flaps that fold in to form a C shape fold. C-fold towels can fit in a multifold towel dispenser as well.

Single fold towels: Single fold towels come in both brown and white. Depending on your center, you will want to decide if brown or white works better. Typically white towels hold up better and absorb more moister. Single fold towels can only be used in a single fold towel dispenser. A single fold towel has one fold right down the middle.

Center pull towels: Center pull towels are great for many locations. Both our economy and regular center pull towels are perforated. You won’t have the worry about your students pulling too much down, the perforations will help your students only pull 1 at a time. Center pull towels come in white. They are a great towel for daycares.

Roll towels: Roll towels are great and can be used in manual or automatic dispensers. Roll paper towel for daycares come in white and brown and in multiple sizes. Depending on your dispensers you could choose the 8x350 roll or the 8x800 roll. Be sure to look out for how many feet come on your rolls, that way you can get the best deals!

Household roll towel: This towel works great for kitchens and cleaning. Our bulk packs of towels come with 30 rolls to the case. they are perfect to grab when you need them for a quick clean.

For all your paper towel needs visit: www.purefunsupply.com

Fall Fruit Fun: Apple Core Craft!

Apples are fresh and plentiful in the fall and make a fun child’s craft. I especially enjoy this one with preschoolers but older children will like it as well. You need apples for the craft and I would also suggest having additional apples as a treat once the craft is complete!

Apple Core Picture

Materials Needed:

1 – 18 x 12 sheet white construction paper

1 – Scissors

3 – Shallow trays such as pie tins

3 – Colors poster paint – red, green, yellow

2 – Apples

1 – Knife to cut apple

Newpaper to protect table surface

Instructions:

Step 1 – Spread newspaper to protect your table top.

Step 2 – The white sheet is to resemble an apple. Cut about a rounded 2-3” swath on the bottom left and right corners. Cut an indentation in the middle of the bottom edge. Cut rounded curves from the left and right top corners toward the middle of the top edge, leaving a sliver for a ‘stem’. If you are making multiple ‘apple sheets’, make a template and trace your outline.

Step 3 – Cut the apples in half from the stem down.

Step 4 – Pour a small amount paint in separate tins.

Step 5 – Place an apple half face down in the paint and then place on paper; this should make an apple shape.

Step 6 – Use a different apple half for each color. Be creative in your own picture design!

The age of the child will dictate how much help and supervision is required.

Option:

Cut the apples crosswise through the middle and the resulting print will be a star!

Visit www.purefunsupply.com for all your childcare and daycare craft needs!

Our daycare juice is fortified!

 

PureFUN! Juice is made from the highest quality ingredients and is fortified with Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Vitamin A, Vitamin B12, Niacin, and Vitamin D.

If your daycare is looking for a great way to sneak in essential vitamins to your students, try PureFUN! 100% Daycare juice today!

Our childcare juice comes in 27 great flavors!

New Cots for daycares!

GREAT NEWS!

www.purefunsupply.com is now offering cots!

If your daycare or childcare is in need of cots, you found the right place! We offer a wide variety of cots that will work perfectly for your childcare center. If you are looking for pre-assembled cots, we’ve got them! We also offer single cots and multipack cots.

Be sure to check out our cot sheets. Each order of our cot sheets for daycares goes to support the Refugee women who make the sheets!