We've moved!

We've moved! In case you're stumbling across this blog late in the game, our blog is now integrated into our regular website: www.gretchenshouse.com. Check us out!

Children's Book Recommendations

If you've ever found yourself overwhelmed by all the choices of books for young children, new website Twenty by Jenny should be your first stop next time you shop! This resource was developed by Jenny Brown, who has more than twenty years of experience with children's books, including work as a teacher and as a book editor. She currently reviews children's books for major publications. Recommendations are organized by age group. Tip: after you click on the age group buttons, one book selection is revealed. Click on "view first list" to see the entire selection for that age group.

-- H.V.

SCamp Early Registration Savings Reminder

Please note that those who register their children for SCamp (Summer Camp) by May 1, 2009 will receive significant savings. You've got one week!

The Well-Meaning, Bad Parent

NPR Radio program Fresh Air recently hosted psychologist Richard Weissbourd in a program called "The Well-Meaning, Bad Parent." Weissbourd talks about the complexities of raising "moral" children and how well-intentioned, thoughtful parenting can produce the opposite of intended results. One of the things he touches on is parents' tendency to "overpraise" our kids, thereby diminishing the value of praise and reducing kids' internal motivation to achieve and/or take risks. Fresh Air's site has an excerpt; you can also listen to the audio podcast on the same page--it's only about 15 minutes long. Thought-provoking stuff!

-- Admin

April Showers

It's that time again -- April and May in Michigan often mean daily weather shifts. Since we go outside every day, please bring your child to the center prepared to stay warm and dry. At this point, it's probably safe to change our snowboots for rainboots. Children also need raincoats and rain/mud pants, (or rainsuits), lighter gloves, hats, and a fleece or other medium-weight jacket.

As the sun begins to shine more noticeably, we will also begin to use sunscreen at the centers. Please take a moment to review our sunscreen and bug repellent policies.

Thanks!

-- Admin

Summer Camp Registration

Spring is just showing her pretty face but it's time to think about summer plans! Our website now has Summer Camp (SCamp) 2009 brochures and enrollment paperwork for new and returning families.

Those who register by May 1, 2009 receive a significant discount: $215 per week or $49 per day. After May 1, fees will be $241 per week and $55 per day.

To read more about our SCamp program, please visit our website, or download the full brochure. Parents who just need the enrollment forms can find them here.

-- Admin

Peanut Allergy News

New hope for peanut allergy sufferers: Doctors at Duke University Medical Center and Arkansas Children's Hospital have developed a method to effectively treat some children with peanut allergies. By giving patients small, gradually increasing doses of the allergen over the course of a year or so, doctors have been able to increase patients tolerance to the allergic substance. Five patients show no lingering immune response to peanuts and several others show greatly reduced reactions. Don't try this at home, folks: this was a highly supervised exercise with immediate medical treatment available in the event of any undesired reactions. Doctors can't and won't use the word "cure" without long-term study and bigger clinical trials, but this is a significant nugget of hope for families dealing with peanut allergies.

Read more about the study here and here. Video here.

-- Admin