Containers

I picked this photo to remind everyone, kids and parents, to use less plastic. Your children are creating life time habits so please pack a reusable water bottle and reusable containers for school. Power of One- we can all make a small change in an effort to reduce the amount of plastic that goes into our landfills and oceans. About containers…what I would like to remind parents , just like practicing bathroom skills , have your child practice opening their snack items and containers prior to day 1 . Make sure when you send a snack that your child can actually open it independently. If they can’t, and there will be help available, realize your child has to wait or advocate that they need help. Often times kids spend their entire snack not eating because they’re waiting for someone to come over and check in with them. Coming from a preschool where staff may set up snack, put everything out and open everything, kids at Kindergarten often struggle with the process of just getting to their food. My least food favorite item is the plastic sealed fruit cups, there’s not an adult, or child I can think of that does not end up wearing the sticky juice when opening them. They are yummy but  I discourage those at school! And those ‘Gogurts’, just know those ‘help’ slits at the top often tear off poorly  ,leaving the need for scissors and therefore an adult as the only solution. I know you want to put the lids on thermos’ super tight so nothing spills but remember that super tight also means that your child can’t open them, so maybe somewhere in between? From preschool to Kindergarten kids are gaining fine motor skills and strength but do observe your child and practice once or twice with containers and various snack items prior to day 1 .This is a good to opportunity to learn, to praise and  to problem solve.