Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Slane rd September Newsletter 2010

Mother Hubbards Childcare September 2010 Newsletter


Welcome to our September newsletter. We would like to give a big welcome to all the new children who have started with us in Toddlers, Montessori and After school since the start of September. We hope you it’s a great year and you have lots of fun in Mother Hubbards!

A big welcome to our new Montessori/After school teacher Geraldine Mc Cabe who started with us recently. Geraldine has a Montessori diploma and is currently completing her Fetac Level 6. She has 4 years experience working with Montessori children.

Jessica Mc Evoy who has worked here with us previously is returning on the 27th of September to work with Rachel in the toddler room so welcome back to Jessica! Jessica has Fetac level 5 and has nearly 4 years experience working with children of different age groups!

Parents reminder; Can all parents please tag their child’s clothes and coats with their name as your child’s belongings are easily misplaced and lost.

With the weather getting cold and wet we ask all parents to bring in wellies and raincoats to keep in the centre for when the children go outside!


Cheerios Childline Breakfast together week will be on this year from 4th – 10th October. We are going to host our breakfast on Wednesday the 6th October at 10.30am-11.30am.

Last year, hundreds of people held breakfasts with their friends, families and colleagues raising over €130,000 for Childline – enabling them to increase their call answering rate from 47% to 60% allowing them to speak to more children and young children who desperately need their help.

We ask that all parents donate €3 per child for this worthy cause.

Reminder to all Montessori parents to bring in a scrapbook for their child! Thank You!



We would like to say goodbye and good luck to Josie who is on maternity leave from Friday 10th September.


What we did in the rooms this month;

Toddlers are learning all about Autumn they made spiky hedgehogs and leafy collages to add to their autumn tree.

Playschool are learning about the different types of shops we visit, learning which animals fly and which don’t and did some bubble painting!!

Montessori have been settling into their routine and learning about our classroom rules and getting know their new friends. They also started learning about the lifecycle of the butterfly and made lovely flying butterflies that hang from the ceiling. They also made a caterpillar that creeps along the walls!

Attention Montessori Parents if you have not received the Parents Handbook yet please let the Montessori staff know. If you have can you please sign the sheet at the back and return it to the office! Thank You!


Topic of the Month;

Getting your child to eat lunch!!

(www.rollercoaster.ie)

Fact; children who eat their lunch at school find it easier to concentrate and behave better than those who don’t!!

10 tips for getting your child to eat their lunch

1.Try making their lunch colourful and interesting. Cut foods into different shapes and into small portions e.g. triangles of sandwiches, chunks of cheese, chopped mixed fruit.

2. Vary the food from day to day, e.g. wholemeal and white bread (or half and half), rolls, pitta, crackers. You can fill these with a choice from the meat, fish or alternative (protein) group or with cheese.

3. Something tasty like a favourite yogurt or fromage frais can be included.

4. A piece of fruit or diced fruit is a quick snack for little break.

5. A carton of milk is an excellent choice of drink and is available in many schools. Otherwise a carton of unsweetened fruit juice or flasks of warm soup or hot chocolate are good alternatives.

6. Try alternatives to bread and rolls with pittas or scones. Encourage your child to have wholemeal varieties.

7. Use salads like lettuce, tomato, and cucumber also in sandwiches/rolls to brighten them up and to help ensure your child gets a good balance of nutrients.

8. Make sure the lunch you prepare is child friendly eg peeled oranges, chopped meat, etc

9. Get your child involved in planning their own lunch as they are then much more likely to eat it.

10. Ensure that you haven't packed a forbidden food: some schools have a ban on certain foods such as chewing gum or crisps



Mother Hubbards,
56 Blackcastle Demesne,
Slane Road,
Navan.

046- -9059967

Website; www.motherhubbardschildcare.ie

E-mail; navan@motherhubbardschildcare.ie

Nephin rd September Newsletter

September has arrived and brought with it new children, new parents and new staff. This time of the year can be very challenging but also exciting for all children. This month newsletter, we will have Birthday Corners, New Arrivals, News from the rooms and staff news. We thank you for taking the time to read it and we hope you enjoy it.
Welcome
MotherHubbards would like to take this opportunity to welcome to our sessional children in Montessori:

Jacob and his parents Renata and Jakab

Matilda and Harry and their parents Caroline and Paul

Mitch and his parent Cathy

Maria and her parents Celina and Adrian


We would like to say a big welcome to:

Kate in Premontessori whose big brother Conor is already in Montessori and their parents Karen and Ken

Sophie in Baby room and her parents Martha and Brahim

A big welcome to our new member staff, Lydia and Karen in the Montessori room



Birthday Corner
We would like to say a big Happy Birthday to:

Sophia who was 1 yr on the 3rd

Sean who was 4 yrs on the 4th

Aoife who was 4 yrs on the 14th


New Arrivals
Congratulations to Kelley on the birth of her gorgeous baby girl Amelie.

Also congratulations to Aine and Laurent on the birth of their cute baby boy Lucien.



Farewell
We would like to wish farewell to Conor, Serena, Elliot and Eimear and the very best in their new schools.

News from the room

Babyroom
Amy is helping all our babies doing hand prints and they are having a great time.

Toddlers room
Toddlers are doing family tree using pictures of themselves, mammies and daddies with the help of Teresa and Ciara. They will also be doing ‘song of the week.’ Every week all toddlers will receive a copy of the song to take home. This will promote language and cognitive development hence physical and social development through actions songs.

Pre Montessori and Montessori
All the children are busy with Autumn theme such as leaves and four seasons with the dedicated work from Michelle, Lydia, Karen and Fiona.

Speech and Drama had their first session last Friday and all the children seemed to show great interest.

Seamus from Premontessori will be settling in Montessori and soon he will be 3 years, A Big Boy to join the ‘Big Gang.’

Reminders
Please bring in set of spare clothes for your children.


A Big Thank you all to all our staff in MotherHubbards for their Hard work, Determination and Dedication with the children.


Topic of the Month
Helping your child cope with the new arrival

"Wouldn't you be put out if your partner brought a new love into the house?"

The arrival of a new baby brings major changes for the family. While this is usually a joyful time for parents it is sometimes not as happy for the baby's older sibling/s. Most children will look forward to the arrival of the new baby but will have no idea of the changes this arrival will make to their lives.

The period after the new baby comes home is a time of adjustment for all the family, not least of all the older brother/sister. The ability of most parents to understand and empathise with the adjustments their older child has to make, go a long way to helping their child make the transition to their new role.

Before the arrival

Preparation is an important part of the process and while it is impossible to fully prepare a child for the reality of sharing their lives with a small baby, it will help the child make sense of what is happening. It is best that your child knows that a new baby will be coming into the house. Explain things in a way they understand and be sure to involve them as much as is practicable in the preparations. It should be remembered though that even the most well prepared child will often find the reality of the baby's arrival a shock.

At home

In the early days it is up to the parents to make sure their older child/children do not feel excluded from the bustle that surrounds the arrival of the baby. While you cannot stop visitors from paying attention to the baby you could try to encourage them to include your older child in their praise. Maybe it could be the job of your older child to show them the baby? The older child should be involved as much as they want and is practicable.

Some older children do not want to be too involved with helping care for the baby and they should not be forced to. Also be careful not to try to include them too much in staring at and cooing at baby. If forced to do this it may turn them off baby altogether and increase the jealous feelings they naturally feel towards the new arrival.



Mother Hubbard's childcare
19 Nephin Road
Dublin 7
01 8688460
dublin7@motherhubbardschildcare.ie
http://www.motherhubbardschildcare.ie/

Friday, August 13, 2010

Nephin Road Summer Newsletter 2010

Welcome
We would like to welcome Sophie to Mother Hubbards in Pre Montessori and her parents Karen and Luke,

Louis in Toddlers’ Room and his parents Teresa and Ian.


A big welcome to Ciara, our new member staff in Montessori.


Birthdays
Lauren who was 3 yrs on the 9th of July.

Sarah who was 1yr on the 11th of July.

Eimear who was 5yrs on the 2nd of August

Oscar who was 2yrs on the 2nd of August

Hugh who was 1yr on the 4th of August

Serena who will be 4yrs on the 15th of August

Niamh O’Connor who will be 4 yrs on the 24th of August


Goodbye
We would like to say goodbye to Noah in Montessori and to all who will be leaving for Big School, Very Exciting!!!!!!

We wish them all the best and good luck.
We will miss you guys!!!

Summer Camp
As we are coming to the end our fantastic Summer Camp, Montessori children are having great time doing week to week theme, from Art & Craft to Irish week to cooking week. This week they have been doing Music & Dance learning songs and playing musical instruments.

Sessional Montessori
We would like to remind all parents that sessional Montessori will start from September from 9 to 12. Mother Hubbard’s Montessori will be closed on mid term breaks.

Gymboree
We will be taking a week break for Gymboree next week and will be back on the 26th of August for another 8 weeks.


Everyone at Mother Hubbard’s hopes that all the children, parents and staff enjoy their holidays.

Playing With Your Child
While children do need time to play alone and with other children without adult intervention, research shows that playtime with parents is also important.

Children crave time with parents. It makes them feel special. Parents are encouraged to find time to spend playing with their kids on a regular basis. This should include one to one with each child and group time with all of the adults and kids in the home. If you are a single parent or have an only child, occasionally invite family or friends over to play.

In pretend play, let the child develop the theme. Get into their world. Let them go with it. Ask questions. Play along. Be silly along with them and have fun. Avoid over-stimulation. Know when it is it is time to stop.

Also, when appropriate, parents can use stuffed animals or puppets to act out real-life situations that can teach problem solving or social skills. Let the puppet demonstrate the wrong way to handle a situation. Then, along with input from the child, act out a better way. Afterward, let the child do the same.

More Possibilities:

Play outdoors.

Throw balls.

Push kids on swings.

Make mud pies.

Go on a hike around the neighborhood.

Take a nature walk in your backyard.

Play games – card games – board games – silly and wacky kids games. Help them learn to take turns, how to win and how to loose. Praise them. Encourage them. Laugh with them.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

SLane Road Summer Newsletter 2010

Mother Hubbards Summer Newsletter 2010


Birthdays
Lucy Gargan was 3 on the 13th of July

Liam McNamee was 4 on the 24th July

Clodagh Jane Cassells will be 1 on the 17th of August

Lauren Lodge will be 6 on the 20th of August

Conor Hyland will be 6 on the 19th of August

Megan Mc Govern will be 10 on the 11th of August

Reminders We would like to remind all parents that haven’t already given written notice that their child is leaving at the end of August to do so as soon as possible. Thank You!


Places for our ECCE scheme are filling up quick so if you know anyone who wants to send their child to one of our centres this September so let them know to do it as soon as possible!

Reminder for all parents!!

As it is the end of term for Montessori children we ask all parents to have a look through the lost and found box and identify their children’s belongings as these items will given to charity or thrown out if not claimed by the end of August. Thank You!


We are hoping to organise a trip to the park for the summer campers this month so keep an eye out on the notice board for information. Thank You!


A Big Goodbye!!
We would like to say goodbye and good luck to all the Montessori children leaving us to go to Big School next week!! We hope they have great fun and make lots of new friends!!


You can receive this newsletter via email each month just give your email address to any member of staff. Thank You!

What we did in the rooms last month;


Toddlers
Did lots of painting, gluing and pasting, water and sand play and went on lots of walks!
Playschool
Made a train, painted rain drops, made an art book and did lots of baking! They also had lots of outdoor play and music and dancing!

Summer Campers
The first week of summer camp the children did mosaic boats, made fairy cakes and rice krispie buns and tried out different types of painting.

The second week was all about the topic Under the Sea, the children made a sea scene with fish collages and paper plate crabs.

The third week the children learned all about fruit they had a fruit tasting, made smoothies and made fruit collages.

The fourth week the children had a Drama week where they had a dress up day, face painting, puppet show and music and dance in the garden!


Car Travel with Children – Ideas to make the journey easier!!

Before the journey

• Prepare some activities that might help distract your children

• Pack well for the journey - Bring whatever you need to be comfortable- pillows, blankets, favourite toys etc.

• Snacks - Choose snacks which won't melt in the car and are not likely to crumble in their packs.

• Drinks - avoid fizzy drinks as you or your child may get soaked when they are opened! Also bear in mind that you have no way of resealing drinks in cans once opened.

• Changes of clothes for babies and toddlers are a good idea

• Ask your older child to make a compilation tape for the journey. You'd be surprised how many of the songs you will recognise!

• Make sure to bring along some of your child's favourite toys and maybe a surprise for when things get sticky!

Create your own in-car entertainment!

Why not try out some of the following activities:

• Songs, rhythms - Either you can sing or pop in one of the many great tapes available. Action songs are a real hit with younger children; remember such classics as: 'Two little dickey birds', 'I'm a little tea pot, or make up your own!

• Stories - There are a number of ways of using stories on a long journey. There is a wonderful selection of children's stories available on tape and CD. Some are sold with an accompanying book which children can use to follow the tape. Most children love it when their parents make up stories for them, a story about a journey would seem appropriate in this situation!

• Books - While some children love reading in the car it may make others queasy so be guided by your own child. An activity book containing jokes and general knowledge questions might be the answer as it would not require intense concentration and can provide fun for all the passengers. Another idea would be to pick a book for the journey which you read aloud.

• Crayons and paper - A great idea if you have space and a little laptop table for your child. There is a danger though that it may end up frustrating all concerned.

• Game Boy or hand held toys- Great for those long journeys and this might be the time to break the rules on time limits you may have on playing with these games!

Here are some ideas for games for all the family when on a long journey: some you will recognise, others you may not!

• I spy - either by letter if your child can read or by colour for younger children, e.g. I spy something red…

• Spot how many counties - Who can name the most counties by checking out other car's license plates

• Spot a dog, cow, church, tree etc. Small children will love this game!

• Look for a blue van, red car, yellow house etc

• Find a triangle, circle, square etc



Mother Hubbards, 56 Blackcastle Demesne, Slane Road, Navan.


046- -9059967


Website; www.motherhubbardschildcare.ie


E-mail; navan@motherhubbardschildcare.ie



Ongar Summer Newsletter 2010

Mother Hubbards Summer Newsletter 2010


Birthdays

Wobblers
Evelyn turned 1 on the 4th of July

Toddlers
Alannah turned 2 on the 11th of July

Julius turned 2 on the 25th of July

Pre-Montessori
Kaela will be turning 3 on the 13th of August

Montessori
Michelle turned 3 on the 10th of August

Aine will be turning 4 on the 13th of August

After-School
Melissa will be turning 7 on the 13th of August

Bhoomika will be turning 6 on the 25th of August

Happy Birthday to all!


Great News
We are delighted to welcome back Aga Sharma and Samantha Watters from their maternity leave. Samantha has started back in the Wobblers room and Aga is looking forward to starting in the ECCE room come September.

Also we would like to congratulate Irene on her new permanent position within the crèche as Manager.

Goodbye
Aoife has recently left us and we would like to say a huge thank you to her and we wish her all the best in her future career.

Reminders

- We would like to remind all parents that if their child is leaving the crèche, you must give one month written notice to management. Thank You!
- Due to the high demand for ECCE, all of our places are gone for the coming September 2010 but our Children in the crèche have place already.
- Please do not give the external door code to your child or anyone else. This is to ensure the safety of everyone within the crèche.
- We ask that you label your child’s coat and bag as we don’t want there to be a mix up with belongings.

Summer Camp
The first month of our Summer Camp has gone really well. We hope that all of the children are enjoying it and we are looking forward to having a fun filled August. We are planning a trip to the Aquarium in Bray for the end of August so we will keep parents up to date on the plans.


Mother Hubbards, 6 The Avenue, Ongar, Dublin 15.


01 8260055


Website; www.motherhubbardschildcare.ie


E-mail; ongar@motherhubbardschildcare.ie

Monday, June 28, 2010

Ongar June Newsletter 2010

Mother Hubbards Newsletter June 2010



June Birthdays
Babies

Ethan was 1 on the 7th June

Daniel will be 1 on the 18th June

Maelie will be 1 on the 23rd June

Toddlers

Sarah was 2 on the 9th June

Daniel will be 2 on the 17th June

Matthew will be 2 on the 19th June

Pre-Montessori

Claudia was 3 on the 5th June

Joshua was 3 on the 6th June

Montessori

Deron was 4 on the 14th June

Julien will be 4 on the 18th June

Calvin will be 4 on the 21st June

ECCE

Ashley was 4 on the 5th June

Aishly was 4 on the 8th June

Paula was 4 on the 14th June

Noah will be 4 on the 22nd June

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL!!!


The children had lots of fun during the Gymboree class and is started again last week 16 June 2010 it will run for 8 weeks 5 euro per class or 40 euro

The Montessori sessional will finish up on the 30th of June at 11.30 all the staff at Mother Hubbards would like to say a big farewell to all the children who are leaving us and to the Montessori children who finish up on this day. We would like to wish them the best of luck in big school and wish their families well and we are looking forward to seeing the rest of the Montessori children back in September.

Summer Camp
Summer Camp will be held in our Centre for July and August. The emphasis in the camp is on fun and enjoyment for all. The camp provides a wide and varied programme of activities to suit all age groups. For example, we will have sports days, fun trips, teddy bear picnic, and many more. If you are interested in your child attending the camp please ask for a booking form in the office.

September 2010

Mother Hubbards will be participating in the ECCE Free Preschool Year again in September 2010. As we are full for September, children of the age of 3 may apply for the Montessori. If you know anyone who is interested in enrolling their child for the Montessori please give them our details. The Montessori session will run from 9.00am to 12.00 am from September 2010. An administration fee of €30 will be charges at the start of the Ecce class in September which must be paid by all children attending. If you would like further information please don’t hesitate to contact Irene Igiebor.


Reminder for all parents, especially for those who have children leaving for school in September, a month’s written notice is required when informing us that your child will not be returning to the centre in order to receive the full deposit you paid when you started your child with us. Thank You!



Topic of the month; Taking care in the sun

The experts are predicting a sunny summer this year…fingers crossed!!! So here are a few tips on how to protect your children from the sun!!

Lots of good sunscreens are available for kids. When faced with the overwhelming sea of sunscreen choices at drugstores, concentrate on the SPF (sun protection factor) numbers on the labels. For kids age 6 months and older, select an SPF of 15 or higher to prevent both sunburn and tanning. Choose a sunscreen that states on the label that it protects against both UVA and UVB rays (referred to as "broad-spectrum" sunscreen). To avoid possible skin allergy, avoid sunscreens with PABA, and if your child has sensitive skin, look for a product with the active ingredient titanium dioxide (a chemical-free block).For sunscreen to do its job, it must be applied correctly. Be sure to:

• Apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before kids go outside so that a good layer of protection can form. Don't forget about lips, hands, ears, feet, shoulders, and behind the neck. Lift up bathing suit straps and apply sunscreen underneath them (in case the straps shift as a child moves).

• Don't try to stretch out a bottle of sunscreen; apply it generously.

• Reapply sunscreen often, approximately every 2 to 3 hours, as recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology. Reapply after a child is sweating or swimming.

• Apply a waterproof sunscreen if kids will be around water or swimming. Water reflects and intensifies the sun's rays, so kids need


Mother Hubbard's
6 The Avenue
Ongar Village
Dublin 15

01 8260055
ongar@motherhubbardschildcare.ie
http://www.motherhubbardschildcare.ie/

Monday, June 21, 2010

Flowerhill June Newsletter 2010

Mother Hubbards Newsletter June 2010

Look who has a birthday this month:

Mia in the Montessori room who turned 4 years old on the 5th June

Alanna in the Montessori who will turn 4 years old on the 22nd June.

Goodbye!!
We would like to say goodbye to all the children in the Montessori room who are leaving at the end of the month to go to Big School. We wish you all the very best in the future years ahead of you all.

We would also like to say Goodbye to Alanna in the playschool room, we will all miss you and hope you are very happy in your new home.

We hope to see the sessional playschool children back in September ready to start another year of fun with us!

Reminders
Sessional Montessori and playschool children will finish up on Wednesday 30th June 2010 for the summer at 12.15p.m.

Could all parents please send in a sun-hat and sun-cream for their child if they have not already done so
Summer Camp 2010
This year our Summer Camp will run up in our Slane rd. centre. It will run on a week to week basis from 9.30-1.30 for the 3-4 year age group and 9.30-2.30 for the 5-9 year olds. If you would like a booking form please ask a member of staff.


ECCE September 2010
Mother Hubbards will be participating in the ECCE Free Pre school Year again in September 2010. If you know anyone who is interested in enrolling their child for the Montessori please give them our details. The Montessori session will run from 9.00am to 12.00 am from September 2010, there will also be an optional extra half hour from 12.00-12.30 for parents to keep their child at an additional cost. An administration fee of €30 will be charged at the start of the Montessori year which must be paid by all children attending. If you would like any further information please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Training
Sharon (Manager) has recently completed a Fetac Level 5 Occupational First Aid Course with Berrick Resources.

Montessori Trip
The Montessori children had a great time on their trip to Newgrange Farm. They got to hold little baby chicks, rabbits and more. They also got to bottle feed some of the sheep and milk a (pretend) cow. They fed the geese bread and gave out some bird seed in the bird pens. They also really enjoyed the tractor and trailer ride nearly as much as the mammy’s and staff did!!

Sports Day
The Montessori and Playschool children had great fun at their Sports day, all receiving medals and certificates for taking part. The children took part in the egg and spoon race, sack races, obstacle courses and lots more.

End of Year Party
The Montessori and playschool children will be having their end of year party on Wednesday 30th June. If your child is not due in this day you can bring them down from 9.30-11.00 for fun and games.


What’s been going on in your child’s room this month…

Playschool Room

The children have been busy doing their summer display, making fish and ice-creams. They have also been learning about different types of transport and have a display on this. The children have also been talking about pirates and made treasure maps and chests for this.

Montessori Room

The children have been learning about different types of weather and have a weather display up in the room. They were also learning about opposites and living and non-living things. The have began work on the theme All about Me.

Afterschool Room

The afterschool children have been very busy this month. They were learning about volcanos and even made their own volcano. They did an experiment with this which they all really enjoyed. They have also learned about the life cycle of a butterfly and have had fun quiz’s on different topics over the last few weeks. They made a rollercoaster which is on display in the room also.

The following article is taken from www.rollercoaster.ie

Suncare for Children

"The higher the SPF, the longer your child's skin is protected from burning."

Your child's skin is very sensitive to the suns rays. Children cannot tell you when they have had enough sun, in fact most of them cannot even shade their eyes. It's important as a parent to make sure that your child is adequately protected from the sun. The risk of developing skin cancer in later life is increased in children who have been overexposed to the sun in their early years.

Many people are confused by terms used by suncare manufacturers such as UVA , UVB, SPF and star ratings. This can make choosing the correct suncare products for your children difficult.

UV stands for ultra violet rays. The sun produces ultraviolet radiation. Two types of this radiation reach the earth's surface.

UVA Rays

Ultraviolet A rays (UVA) promote premature aging and wrinkles

UVB Rays

Uultraviolet B rays (UVB) which stimulates the production of a dark pigment in the skin called melanin. This melanin production is the skin's attempt to protect itself from the burning properties of UVB, so in fact a tanned skin is actually damaged skin.

It is the UVB rays that are the most harmful and that cause the typical sunburn. Although melanin can protect the skin to some degree it is important to remember that you can still get a sunburn when you have a tan. Your child's skin is not as thick as adult skin and does not produce as much melanin and so is far more susceptible to damage by UVB rays.

Sun Protection Factor

SPF stands for sun protection factor. This is a measure of the amount of protection a suncare product offers from UVB rays. They generally indicate how much longer you can stay in the sun without burning while using protection.

For instance, if your child starts to burn after 5 minutes in the sun without protection and you used a product with an SPF of 2, they would be protected for twice as long (10 minutes) before starting to burn. If you used a product with an SPF of 35, they could stay in the sun 35 times longer (175 minutes) without burning. The higher the SPF, the longer your child's skin is protected from burning.

Star ratings- These are used to compare the levels of UVA protection in different products. There are four such ratings from one star (good protection) to four star (maximum protection).

Choosing and using a suncare product

When choosing a suncare product, it is important to pick one with a high SPF (over 25), with a high star rating (three or four stars) and one which is waterproof.

Children's suncare products tend to be more expensive than adult ones as they contain more titanium dioxide which is responsible for the "white-look" of most high factor suncreams. This ingredient is expensive but effective and is useful, as you can see where the child is protected (visible protection).

There are also products available which you apply 1 hour before going out into the sun. These are waterproof and claim not to need re-application. If using these products, it is important to make sure that your child is fully protected (remember you can't see this protection) and to allow at least 1 hour after application before going out in the sun.

If your child suffers from eczema, look for a product which is hypoallergenic, contains no lanolin and is labelled PABA free.

While UV rays in hot countries are generally stronger than those in Ireland or the UK in summer, you should not underestimate the strength of the sun. Children are likely to get burned at home, even on overcast or breezy days when the temperature is cool.

General guidelines

Sun protection is not just for holidays, it should also be used in the garden, park or school playground.

• Sunscreens should be rubbed onto the skin,

not into it

• Apply it thickly and evenly over all exposed areas

• Take particular care of ears, neck, hands and feet, not forgetting the legs when your child is sitting in his buggy

• Re-apply generously and frequently- every one or two hours depending on the temperature, skin type, location or time of day

Other sun protection tips

Although sunscreen offers some protection, it is important to remember that it should be used in conjunction with other forms of sun protection-

• Encourage your child to wear a hat and good sunglasses (make sure they offer full 100% UV protection)

• Keep your child out of the sun during the hottest times of the day between 11.00am and 3.00 pm

• Use a parasol or sunshade and remember that your child can still be burned under an umbrella by reflected UV rays

• Babies should be kept out of the sun entirely

• If in doubt cover your child up with a thick weave loose fitting t-shirt, even while in the water

• Make sure your child gets enough fluids- offer frequent drinks, ice lollies are another easy way of making sure your child remains hydrated.

Remember there is no such thing as a healthy suntan!

Suncare for Children

If your child does suffer from sunburn there are a number of ways that you can help relieve the pain.

• Apply cool baths or cool compresses for 10 to 15 minutes several times a day. Baking soda in the water may help relieve the pain (small children may become easily chilled, so keep the water tepid)

• Apply a soothing lotion to the skin.

• Your doctor may prescribe a steroid cream to treat severe sunburn.

• An over the counter pain and fever reducer such as Calpol may be helpful.

Remember to consult your GP in cases of serious sunburn.

Seek medical assistance if:

• There are signs of shock such as faintness, dizziness, rapid pulse, rapid breathing, increased thirst, pale skin, clammy or cool skin.

• Your child has eye pain and eyes are sensitive to light.

• There are symptoms such as nausea, fever, chills or rash.

• The sunburn is severe and painful

Material on this page supplied by the makers of Calpol



151 Blackcastle Lodge Phone: 046-9070558

Flowerhill Fax: 046-9070670

http://www.motherhubbardschildcare.ie/