September/October 2023

Hello Nicole,

We hope everyone had an amazing summer and are as ready as we are to take advantage of all that autumn has to offer!! Every year, many of our providers hold "graduation ceremonies” for the children who are leaving Wee Watch to attend school – check out your local Wee Watch agency Facebook or Instagram pages to see some of these special events! If your child is anxious about attending daycare or starting school, review the Newsletter article on this topic. For those starting care or returning to care , our Wee Watch agencies and Providers are gearing up for a fun filled and educational fall! In September, children will continue exploring the great outdoors through our Together Wee Can Program with a focus on the ”Sensational Sounds of September!” – they’ll build their own musical instruments and have a junk-jam, go on a listening walk and more! In October, they will be participating in Wee Watch’s Fall Fest which will include seasonal food, games and lots of fun! 

We would also like to Welcome the 150 NEW Providers that have started with Wee Watch since May of this year! Our team of Providers continues to be the best in daycare! We thank parents that have been giving them (and Wee Watch) such wonderful reviews on Google, Facebook and Instagram!

Sincerely,

Lisa Parise

“My child has anxiety” is a common phrase that we hear from parents when their child is starting something new, whether it is childcare, school or a new sport. When our children are anxious, we can also become anxious and want to make everything ‘perfect’ for them. The best course of action is to give our children the tools to cope, adapt, and self-regulate to serve them better as they develop. 

Anxiety symptoms in children can start showing at an early age. Sometimes they are more obvious, and other times they might be more subtle or show in surprising ways. Below are some examples of symptoms of anxiety you might not be aware of and some tips for each.

1. Excessive questioning – not knowing what is happening or where they are going, etc. can be difficult for children. Before going somewhere new or even when going to a place that they have already been, talk to your child about what the day will look like for them (i.e. this morning we are going to daycare at Ms. Irma’s house where you will meet other children who you will become friends with). If they continue to ask the same question, put it back on them (i.e. “where did mommy tell you that we were going?”), this gives them time to take a breath and reflect back on your conversation
2. Seeking validation – when a child consistently looks for validation, it could be anxiety, for example “do you think I will make friends at Ms. Irma’s house?”, “will they like me?” Parents can provide reassurance to help (i.e. “there are many other children in the home, I think you will make a new friend or get to know some new friends”) At pick up time ask your child about their initial concern so that they can understand that they have accomplished something or overcame their fear (i.e. did you make some new friends?)
3. Physical Symptoms – physical symptoms such as stomach aches or headaches, can indicate that a child is feeling anxious. Don’t dismiss their symptoms, validate what they are feeling, treat it if you can, and then have a conversation about it (i.e. when did it start?, did it start just before we were going to Ms. Irma’s house, etc.)
4. Clinginess – children that are anxious may not want to leave the safety of their parents’ side. Again, validate their feelings and assure them that you will always come back to pick them up. Build trust in the care provider by talking about how they are similar to you. Creating a transition schedule with your provider will also help your child ease into a full day when the time comes and help with the clinginess. 

The emotional tone you set at home and the small daily steps you take to help provide them safety and comfort will serve as enormous protective factors (conditions that mitigate risk and increase health and well-being) for your child both now and ongoing through their development.

When we give our children tools to overcome obstacles, we are saying to our children that we love them, trust them, and believe in them. Feeling anxious is normal – how we deal with it is what will help us move forward. 

Every Provider and child has access to our Wee Learn educational curriculum! Wee Learn and all its associated programming was designed by a team of childcare experts to help children meet their developmental milestones and to prepare them for success in school and beyond! Our program is focused on play based learning for all ages and stages! 

Try some of these activities which align with our program:

Together Wee Can Read, Learn & Grow

Each year Wee Watch organizes exclusive and educational events and activities around a theme that all Providers across Ontario participate in called "Together Wee Can".

All year long we are going to get out and explore the great outdoors! Why? Not only because it’s fun, but also because there are sooooo many great benefits to taking children outdoors to learn!

Learning outdoors allows us the space to be more active and increases a child’s physical, emotional, mental, and social health. Most children learn better by using their senses, and outdoor environments provide wonderful hands-on experiences in nature.

Take a look at what's coming up in our homes...

Like us on Facebook

"Strawberry season is in full swing and in some cases coming to and end!

Luckily Mai and her little friends got out early one morning last week and hit the fields at Barrie Hill Farms to do some strawberry picking. As you can see, the children had lots of fun and certainly enjoyed the yummy fresh berries they worked so hard to pick!"

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"The long hot days of summer have arrived and there is nothing better than incorporating water play into your programming!

Our Provider Rachel set up her outdoor space by writing the alphabet with chalk on her fence and placing plastic letters in the water sensory table which was filled with water and bubbles. The children fished out letters from the water, cleaned off the soap and found the matching letter on the fence!"

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