7 Ways to Celebrate New Year’s with Your Small Children in Saint Louis

As the holiday season is coming to a close, we still have New Year’s to look forward to!
With the myriad of late night, non kid-friendly events around town, getting out and about with your small children on this holiday can be difficult. Fortunately, there are plenty of options in Saint Louis that also don’t require a ton of money to enjoy! Below, we list 7 ways you can ring in 2020.

Inexpensive, Family-Friendly New Year’s Events in Saint Louis 

Ice Skating at Steinberg Rink

The Steinberg Skating Rink in Forest Park is perfect for your whole family. If you haven’t been before, it’s a Saint Louis tradition you won’t want to miss. Enjoy party favors and noisemakers as a great addition. Visit from 10:00 am New Year’s Eve day until 12:30 am New Year’s Day. Reservations aren’t required but make sure to have cash on hand.

Family-Friendly New Year’s Events in Saint Louis

Dave and Buster’s Family New Year’s Eve Bash

Dave & Buster’s will offer a fun New Year’s Eve package, which includes food, face painting, a balloon artist, a live DJ, a $30 power card with unlimited video play, and more. All of this for $37 per person before tax, gratuity and fees. This family-friendly event will run from 5 pm to 8pm New Year’s Eve!

New Year at Painting with a Twist in Brentwood

Kids 12 and under are welcome to participate in painting a 16×20 canvas at Painting with a Twist in Brentwood. Note that children under 7 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Group reservations are acceptable. Ticket prices are more expensive at $25 per seat, but it will be worth it! This event occurs December 28 from 1pm to 3pm.

Concord Lanes New Year’s Eve Party

Give your family a fun experience at Concord Lanes for their New Year’s Eve Party from 4pm to 7pm! This event is reservation only at $75 per lane. Reservation-holders will receive a drink ticket good towards a large soda, domestic beer, wine or rail liquor. Feel free to bring in your own food if you wish, but no outside drinks.

Noontime New Year’s Eve Celebration

This Magic House in Kirkwood is an interactive children’s museum that never disappoints. On New Year’s Eve from 10am-2pm, visitors are invited for a countdown, ball drop, music, and dancing. Kids will create noisemakers and wish wands, and pose in a photo booth with fun 2020-themed props.​ The event is included with regular museum admission.

Time Capsule Workshop at Yucandu Art Studio

On December 31, 2019 from 10am to noon, you and your family can celebrate the new year by making a time capsule at Yucandu Art Studio in Webster Groves. This family-friendly New Year’s events in Saint Louis will also offer lemonade & popcorn with a countdown to Stomping of the Bubble Wrap. Ticket prices are $35 per person.

First Day Hike at Missouri State Parks

On January 1st from 9am to 4pm, start a new family tradition and stroll through Missouri State Park on a guided hike through parks and historic sites. Joining you for this free event will be hikers from all 50 states. Visit their website to find a state park near you that’s hosting this event: here.

What Will Your Family Be Doing This New Year’s?

When we compile these lists, we know we’ll inevitably miss an event. What is your family looking forward to this year? If you have ideas we haven’t mentioned, please let us know! Comment here or on our Facebook page.


Whatever you do this New Year’s, everyone here at Mary Margaret Day Care wishes you and your family love and happiness in 2020. For more information on our daycare facilities contact us today.

Keep Germs Away This Winter with Mary Margaret’s Tips

keep germs away

Did your kids make it through the holidays without a stuffy nose or fever? If so, you’re one of the lucky ones! We’re deep into cold and flu season, so it’s natural if you’re feeling achy, sniffly, queasy, or just plain worn out.

Some pediatric disease specialists say that toddlers and preschoolers can catch up to ten colds a year! And if that statistic doesn’t horrify you, this might: Colds and flu can spread from family member to family member and from kid to kid.

Let Mary Margaret help you keep sickness at bay with a few tips.

First Things First: Get That Flu Shot!

The best way to keep yourself healthy this winter is to get that flu shot! According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children older than 6 months can get the shot safely. It will protect your family throughout the winter season.

“Well,” you might say, “January’s almost over and I can’t get a flu shot.” Here are some recommendations that will get you through the next few months.

Dirty Hands Spread Germs: Teach Your Child to Wash His Hands Often

Viruses are often spread by hand-to-mouth contact. So, keeping your child’s hands clean is vital. Teach your kids to wash their hands before they eat. In fact, you should begin washing your babies’ hands regularly as soon as they can begin reaching for things.

Washing with ordinary soap and water works just fine before and after meals. Just make sure your kids are getting a good scrub, not just a rinse or a splashy playtime in the sink! During the day, keep antibacterial gel or wipes handy. We keep them nearby at all times in our centers, especially this time of year!

You can also teach your kids to cough and sneeze into a tissue or into their elbow, not their hands. This will help keep germs away, and encourage your child to use good manners as well.

Germs Linger on Toys and Other Belongings: Show Your Child How to Protect Herself

Germs are spread on household belongings and in playgrounds, too. Make sure your child washes her hands after playing on public playground equipment. Toothbrushes, cups, and other items can harbor germs, so encourage your kids to use only items that belong to them. Wash or wipe these items frequently, especially if you’ve recently had sickness in the house. Finally, watch out for shared toys! Wipe them down frequently if they’re handled by multiple kiddos.  

What about infants? As you know, your adorable new baby is simply irresistible! Everyone wants to hold or kiss her. During flu season, however, it might not be the greatest idea to hand the baby over to auntie or let baby’s cousin lean in for a kiss. It’s okay to shield your infant from sick people and teach young children not to touch an infant’s face or hands.

We Do Our Best to Keep Kids Healthy: Advice on Mary Margaret’s Illness Policy.

To maintain the health of all of our kiddos and their families, we have an illness policy in place. Any time a child becomes ill while at one of our daycare centers, a parent or guardian will be called to pick them up. The child must be picked up within the hour. This policy is noted in our parent handbook and application. Please let us know if we can clarify or give you any additional information on our policy.

Holiday Advice for Parents: 3 Tips for You & 3 for the Kids!

holiday advice

It’s the holiday season. Along with the general excitement you and your family may feel can come a whole lotta stress. How do you deal with small children during the holidays? How do you deal with relatives, cooking, presents, parties? (Not to mention your own exhaustion?)

At Mary Margaret, we know that a relaxed parent is a happy parent. And when the kids are out of school and the holiday season draws near – that sense of relaxation is hard to find. Let us help with some holiday advice for a stress-free season with the kids.

Put Your Own Mental Health First So You Can Be Present For Others

Remember what they tell you in an airplane: In case of an emergency, put your oxygen mask on before assisting others. This is great advice, and not just on the plane! You’ve really got to keep your own stress levels down so you can be present for your children.

Tip #1 – Relax

Whatever you’re doing or not doing for the holidays … it’s good enough. You are good enough. You don’t have to decorate sugar cookies with your kids if you don’t want to. Can’t find that last minute gift? Don’t panic! Your kids will appreciate the spirit of the season more with a parent who is relaxed, happy, and present.

Tip #2 – Stick to Your Budget

Short on cash? Don’t go into debt buying presents because you think you have to! Simply spending quality time with your children is a way to make memories without the hefty price tag.

Tip #3 – Don’t Eat or Drink Too Much

It’s tempting to eat and drink all the goodies in sight, but that might not make you feel as festive as you’d like. Drink some water and just say no to that extra helping of sugary dessert.

Overall, remember to have fun! Take a break when you need to. Not enjoying a particular event? Make a note to skip it next year. Don’t hesitate to ask someone for help if you begin to feel overwhelmed. It’s the giving season! Your friends and family will be glad to pitch in.

Kids Need Structure Along With Holiday Fun  

If you’re like us, you love to see your child’s eyes light up as they gaze at a decorated Christmas tree or sit on Santa’s lap. But kids can also make the season trying. We’ve seen kids go from out-of-control hyper to gimme-gimme whiny in a matter of seconds. Here’s what we recommend to manage the meltdowns.

Tip #1 – Stick to Your Routine

Don’t let your kid skip that nap! As you well know, a tired kid is a fussy kid. The most important thing you can do to avoid holiday meltdowns is to stick to a steady routine. That means regular mealtimes and a not-too-late bedtime.

Tip #2 – Watch the Sugar

During the holidays, kids get way more sugar than they need! A little extra is okay, sure, but try to monitor how many treats your child is having. Avoid sugar highs and hyper behavior by mixing healthier snacks in with the candy canes and cookies.

Tip #3 – Be Prepared!

Spending a lot of time at a relative’s house? Pack a bag. Take along an extra set of pajamas, extra diapers and baby wipes, and a favorite blanket or toy. If it’s a late night, get your child ready for bed at a reasonable hour. That’ll make it easier to transfer a sleepy kiddo to bed when you do make it home.

Why Not Start Your Own Stress-Free Holiday Traditions?  

Do you have to answer every invitation, visit every relative, and squeeze in every single holiday highlight? Absolutely not! In fact, we recommend saying “no” every once in awhile. That particularly petty cousin will get over it. It’s far better, in our opinion, to create manageable holiday traditions in your own home than to please everyone else but yourself. So try reading a Christmas story before bedtime, or watching a movie your whole family will love in snuggly pajamas. Above all, enjoy yourself! ‘Tis the season to be merry – not miserable.

14 Educational Apps that will Make Screen Time Quality Learning Time for Your Kids

educational apps

We understand. You’ve had a long day, and so has your child. You know you shouldn’t let him just stare at a screen all evening, but you just don’t have the energy to police your child’s time — not tonight. So, what should you do when you want to monitor your kids’ screen time and provide them with educational material on one hand, and let them enjoy those devices they love so much on the other? We think we’ve got the solution.

Find a Healthy Balance with These Educational Apps

Recently the American Academy of Pediatrics changed their guidelines regarding screen time. They acknowledge that quality is more important than quantity. So, while you don’t necessarily want your kids watching hours of YouTube, you can encourage them to spend time playing challenging games that might enhance their education outside of the classroom.

There are plenty of educational apps that can keep your child entertained while keeping their brains active and engaged. Here are a few of our favorites …

Try These Apps for Little Readers

Want to give your child a head-start on literacy? These apps are designed to help your child improve reading fluency and comprehension.

  1. This app is for your little one: The Sight Word Adventure, designed for kids 5 and under, uses a game every child loves to practice cognitive skills. It’s hide-and-seek, but with sight words! This one is $3.99 on iPhone or iPad, but worth it to help your kindergartner gain those important reading skills.
  2. Disney Story Central – Do you have a little girl who loves Disney princesses? This selection of e-books starring recognizable Disney characters might be perfect for her. This app offers read-along narration and little prizes as your child progresses through the program. It’s designed for kids 2 and up. It’s free to start, but may charge for additional stories.
  3. Kids enjoy reading more when they can interact with the text. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss allows them to do just that. This ebook highlights words as it goes along. When your child touches an object on the page, associated words pop up. This app is designed for kids age 2-6 on iPhone, iPad, and Android.
  4. Want to have thousands of books at your child’s fingertips? Try Epic! This app lets your child earn achievement badges when he finishes a new book. Designed for kids 12 and under, this app includes quizzes, books of the week, videos, and other perks that will keep your reader coming back for more.

Encourage Your Child to Explore the World

Sure, we don’t all get to travel the world. But that doesn’t mean your child can’t explore new places with the combined power of technology and imagination! Here are a few apps that will allow your child to broaden his horizons …

  1. Ansel & Clair’s Adventures in Africa: We fell in love with this app the moment we tried it! Join a photographer and a robot as they guide your child through quests and puzzles all over the great continent of Africa. This app is perfect for kiddos 6-8.
  2. The award-winning app, Solar Walk, helps your child explore planet earth and the solar system, and even learn about space missions! With videos and satellite models, your child will be blown away by this visually astonishing trip through space.
  3. This app is perfect for your little ones: GazziliScience will teach your preschoolers and kindergartners the basics of life science, like the four seasons, the water cycle, and more! Kids master one topic at a time and unlock more topics as they go.
  4. Another app designed for preschoolers is Leo’s Pad. This app features stories about history’s most famous scientists. A group of 8-year-old friends help users learn all about science. It’s perfect for kiddos ag 3-6.

Teach Kids their Numbers

  1. Time, Money & Fractions On-Track by School Zone Publishing: Would you like your school-age child to understand how to read a clock, count coins, and master fractions? This app helps kids learn these sometimes tricky concepts with sound effects and animated characters your kids will love.
  2. Help your child age 5 and below learn his numbers with Elmo Loves 123s. This app will teach simple addition and subtraction. It also offers Sesame Street videos and puzzles. If your kid loves Elmo, this app is a must-have.
  3. Winky Think Logic Puzzles will keep your school-age child busy with over 180 logic puzzles. These games start simple and get more challenging as your child goes along.
  4. Another math app for older children is Thinking Blocks Multiplication. This Common Core-approved app helps your child use number blocks to solve challenging word problems. This app can help your 3rd or 4th grader master multiplication in no time!
  5. Your child will love interacting with animation and practicing math using Dexteria Dots. This app is simple to use, includes bright colors, and helps with fine motor skills as well as mathematics. Players combine or divide colorful dots to solve problems.
  6. Dragon Box is another app that makes math fun by disguising it as a series of puzzle games. Kids move through levels and learn simple math, algebra, and geometry along the way. Play along with your child; you may get addicted, too!

There are Plenty of Educational Apps Out There … Let Us Know What YOU Find!  

As you can see, time spent online doesn’t have to be junk food for the brain! This list is just a sample of the educational apps out there. If you worry that your child is spending too much time watching cartoons or playing Minecraft, give a few of them a try.

Do you have a favorite app that we didn’t include here? Let us know!

Avoid the Summer Slump with Mary Margaret’s Summer Learning Programs for Kids

summer learning programs for kids

The last day of school is coming up, and like many parents, you may be wondering how to keep your kids occupied and entertained all summer. How will you keep them off their screens, off the couch, and actively engaged in constructive play?  

At Mary Margaret’s, we offer summer learning programs for kids because we believe that your child should develop all year long, not just during the school year. We provide kids with fun-filled learning activities to avoid the “summer slump” that can result in lost academic skills. Kids deserve an active summer, and parents deserve the peace of mind that comes with knowing their kids are receiving compassionate care.

Why Summer Learning Programs for Kids are Important

Research shows that kids can lose skills in reading and math over the summer if their minds are not engaged in regular learning activities. This summer learning loss can cause gaps in your child’s achievement levels come September. To avoid setting your kids back a month or more, we recommend providing them with books to read and games that will keep their minds and bodies active.

Our summer learning programs demonstrate our education-focused philosophy. We believe that children learn best through active participation with their environment; to foster that, we provide materials and activities that promote growth in each child’s cognitive, social, and fine motor development.

For parents who don’t have the time or resources to take their kids on educational field trips or send them off to summer camp, our unique childcare system is perfect for your needs!

We are Professional and Caring — for Your Peace of Mind

Mary Margaret is a learning-based daycare solution, offering a variety of summer programs, as well as picnics and field trips. We can help keep your kid’s mind in shape for the next school year. Plus, our well-trained professionals offer compassionate care.

There’s a saying that goes around in educational circles: Kids don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. We’re not just here to influence kids’ minds; we’re also intent on caring for kids’ hearts. We’ve learned that students who have great relationships with their teachers and caregivers are more successful socially and academically. We want our students to feel valued, no matter who they are or where they’re from. That’s why we provide a nurturing environment for kids of all ages.

Visit any of our Convenient Locations and Ask about our Summer Programs!  

With several locations serving the St. Louis metropolitan area, Mary Margaret is a convenient solution to your summer childcare needs. We are dedicated to promoting education and building self-esteem in a secure and comfortable environment. Whether you are interested in full- or part-time care, your kids will love our highly experienced and loving caretakers.

If you have questions about the programs we offer over the summer, please contact us.

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