Well, that’s no longer a problem!

Tuckaway Child Development Centers has the perfect solution – their Drop In Program is designed just for you.

It’s quick and easy to enroll in the program and you don’t have to make any long-term commitment for services. After enrolling in the program, for a simple daily rate you have the care for your children you need – even at a moment’s notice.

Although you need to register your child for the Drop In Program, there is no registration fee.  And rates are reasonable too.

Rates

• Pre-School/School Age Full Day – $40.00/day
• After School – $30.00/day

Register today and you’ll be ready for last minute child care needs any time you need it.

Call the center nearest you for details!

Tuckaway Child Development Centers is an advertiser on Richmondmom.com

It’s time for the Richmondmom.com biggest contest of the year – our Real Cute Kids contest.

Parents have their child’s photo taken free of charge, votes are entered here on Richmondmom.com, and kids can win big in their age categories.

Thanks to our great sponsors for 2012 – Real Life Studios , Stony Point Surgery Center, and Primrose Schools.

Age categories for the contest are:

• -0-2 years

-3-5 years

-6-8 years

– 9-11 years

We’re doing this famous Richmond photo contest over again starting July 16, 2012 with photos taken by August 10 by Real Life Studios.

Here’s how it works:

1. Please note that as of 8/13/12 online entry is closed, and we are only photographing children already entered online due to high volume. Complete this brief online form to ENTER, it’s free! (Without this, we will have no information related to your photograph for voting purposes). If you’d like to purchase photos, great discount packages are available. Real Life Studios does incredible photography and has created lots of great memories for dozens of Richmond families!
2. Call 804-794-0021 (Real Life Studios) to schedule your appointment (we don’t accept personal photos, sorry!) at one of the locations and times listed below. Deadline for photos to be taken: 8/17/12.
3. Of course, if you’d like to purchase photos, you may do so at a discount thanks to Real Life Studios. The first 25 entrants to purchase a photo package of $50 or more, will receive a Richmond Rocks Children’s Book valued at $12.95.
4. Feel good about what you’re doing: The Down Syndrome Association of Greater Richmond is our non-profit partner on this contest, so we’ll make a donation to them for each Richmond kid who enters.
5. Vote for your child on the site, photos will be listed by (first name, last initial) and ask everyone you know to vote (one time only per person) between 8/20-8/30 here on Richmondmom.com.
   

   Our 2011 Real Cute Kids Grand Prize Winner, Joshua R. Isn’t he adorbs?

Winners will be announced no later than 8/31/12 here on the site, and the following prizes will be awarded (may vary by age category).

Dates and locations for photographs by Real Life Studios on-site at various locations are below, and you can schedule an appointment at Real Life’s Midlothian Studio anytime:

• 7/31/12-Primrose Ironbridge, 11351 Iron Creek Road, Chester VA. Call Real Life Studios to schedule your appointment: 804.794.0021.
• 8/3/12, 10:15am-Noon-Primrose Midlothian Village, 13801 Village Place, Midlothian VA. Call Real Life Studios to schedule your appointment: 804.794.0021.
• 8/3/12, 1:00pm – 5:00 pm at Sweet Spot Candy in Short Pump, 2228 Old Brick Road, Glen Allen VA. Call Real Life Studios to schedule your appointment: 804.794.0021
• 8/8/12, 2:30pm-5:30pm – Primrose Atlee Commons, 9650 Atlee Commons Drive. Call Real Life Studios to schedule your appointment: 804.794.0021.

There are some great prizes for the winners, including the following (prizes may vary based on age category and substitutes may be made where necessary):

First place in each age category will receive a $600 package from Real Life Studios including a free family portrait session and 16 X 20 gallery wrap.

1st Runners up in each category receive a free family portrait session and one 5X7 valued at $200, for a total of $3200 in prizes from Real Life Studios.

Great Wolf Lodge - Grand Prize overnight stay package valued at $575!

Signed copies for winners in each age group (valued at $54) and over $300 in Richmond Rocks books for the first 25 entrants to purchase a package of $50 or more (no purchas is required; this is our gift for those who do purchase!)

A Fun Bus Birthday Party valued at $210 from Fun Bus of Hanover/Henrico.

Emerge Hair Salon – $100 in kids haircut; mom’s blowout/style, and hair/skin products!

  3 prizes of 10 free passes  to Richmond Kangaroo Jac’s.

One-hour Mickey’s Magic Show with Jack the Bunny valued at $129.

Sewinit – A monogrammed pillow with a value of $50

Hip to be Round – $50 gift card toward Tea Party collection for 0-2 category winner

Kimberly Woodson of Farmers Insurance Agency – an engraved picture frame worth $50

Science Museum of Virginia – Supernova Membership (value $99) to the grand prize winner and family 4-packs (value – $44 per pack) to the winner in each age-range.

Theatre IV – Family 4-Pack of Tickets to the Virginia Rep’s YOUNG TOM JEFFERSON at the Children’s Theatre of Virginia at Willow Lawn or Hanover Tavern – $64 value

Mom’s Treehouse:  (0-2)  4-Stroller Strides classes, (3-5 ) 4-art classes, (6-8) 4-martial arts classes, (9-11) 4-martial arts classes

Healthy Little Chef – Two $20 gift cards

World of Mirth – $50 Gift Card

Sweet Spot Gift Certificate for $50 towards birthday party, candy, or treat bags

Kinsights – “Helping Grow Healthy Kids, Together” – is providing a $25 Amazon Gift Card

Did you know that cold weather is a great time for kids to play outdoors?

Many parents and teachers believe that it’s important to keep children warm and inside, rather than heading with them outside to play in cold weather. This misconception is actually the opposite of what many pediatricians and childcare experts recommend.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Cold weather does not cause colds or flu.  But the viruses that cause colds and flu tend to be more common in the winter, when children are in school and are in closer contact with each other.  Frequent hand washing and teaching your child to sneeze or cough into the bend of her elbow may help reduce the spread of colds and flu.”

Catherine Hoffman, Director of Center Relations at Tuckaway Child Development Centers, agrees whole-heartedly. “While many educational centers keep children indoors during cold weather, we do the opposite. It’s important for children to get fresh air and active exercise. Cold weather should not be a deterrent until it is bitter cold — which is typically not the case in Richmond. Of course, using good common sense and following a doctor’s recommendation for children who have health conditions is important too.”

Catherine should know about outdoor play because Tuckaway was awarded the 2011 Best Pre-school Playground in Richmond.

Catherine goes on to explain that getting fresh air can actually combat illnesses and help prevent children from contracting illness from other kids. Most viruses are airborne, and getting kids outside helps to eliminate some of the germs they carry. It also gives the classrooms and facilities an opportunity to welcome fresh air into the building when the doors are opened to let children in and out.

Tuckaway Child Development Centers follow the same guidelines as outlined on the American Academy of Pediatrics website and the Healthy Children website, including:

• Set reasonable time limits on outdoor play to prevent hypothermia and frostbite.
• Have children come inside periodically to warm up if necessary.
• Dress infants and children warmly for outdoor activities.  Several thin layers will keep them dry and warm. Don’t forget warm boots, gloves or mittens, and a hat. Dressing for the weather is important.
• The rule of thumb for older babies and young children is to dress them in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions.
• Always wear a hat where most of the body’s heat is lost when outdoors. Hats help children keep a warmer body temperature.
• Watch children to ensure they are not sweating, since sweat gets cold when it touches the skin and starts to evaporate. Sweat can chill them quickly when it gets exposed to the cold air as they remove layers.

When children are dressed appropriately and warmly with suitable clothing to keep them dry, they should be able to play outdoors in most all temperatures. Layers will keep them warm, but also ensure they don’t get overheated as they play.

Children who see adults playing outside, including teachers and parents, also learn healthy habits about activity during winter months. It’s important for children to see that it’s healthy to go outside even when it’s cold.

“Even if a child has a cold or the sniffles, it’s okay for him to play outside provided he is kept warm and dry. And even though it’s cold, it’s still important for children to get plenty of fluids to drink before and after playtime. The good news is that children are less likely to pass germs and illness between each other when they play outside,” explains Catherine.

So don’t obsess about keeping children indoors during colder weather but get them moving and active outside. Play on the jungle gym, take a walk, build a snowman, or ride a bike. It might the one way to help them fight off illness during the winter months.

For more information on outdoor play during winter months, click on the American Academy of Pediatrics audio.

NOTE: Tuckaway Child Development Centers offer a great resource for working parents or stay-at-home parents looking for opportunities to educate and socialize their children as they grow. Be sure to use your Savvy Saver card and the registration fee will be waived.

Tuckaway Child Development Centers are advertisers on Richmondmom.com.

The Learning Experience has three locations in Richmond, VA and all offer part-time child care.

One of the toughest decisions we make as parents is putting our children in day care.

One of our site sponsors, The Learning Experience, is a high-quality day care that offers incredible curriculum for their students, from infant to school-agers. See what this parent has to say about TLE:

It’s not only a day care at TLE—it’s truly a place of learning for my son. I actually see the curriculum and know that my son is going in the right direction. I always pick him up happy when at some of the other day cares I’d find him crying.

Another Richmond mom said: I am very surprised and excited by the consistency in the quality of teachers at TLE. They are really in tune with the children to support them in learning. I have never experienced that before. My son’s teacher, Ms. Melanie, teaches through art time and I love how creative she is with my son.

Click here to see more information on The Learning Experience’s part-time child care programs and birthday parties.