H1N1 Vaccine Now Available!

Please click the link to see locations where you can receive the H1N1 Flu vaccine!

http://www.orchd.com/flu/fludocuments/h1n1vaccineproviders.pdf

It's Almost Fall Ya'll! - Candy Apple Recipe

Fall is in the air! At least as much as it can be for Florida anyway!

Here is a nice recipe for Candy Apples - One of my favorite fall treats!


1-1/2 Tbsp. Butter
1-1/2 cups light brown sugar
6 Tbsp. Water
Popsicle Sticks
8-10 Apples (McIntosh works well)

• Melt butter in sauce pan and add brown sugar and water.
• Stir until smooth consistency
• Gently bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 3 minutes, until the pan's sides get steamy and mixture is thin but somewhat sticky
• Remove from heat
• Pierce the center of each apple with popsicle stick, swirl in the caramel mixture until coated
• You can add chopped peanuts if you like at this point
• Place on a greased cookie sheet to harden
• Refridgerate for 1 - 2 hours

Serves 8-10

HibiClens - 6 hour hand protection from Swine Flu

***this product can be found at any local CVS, Walgreens, Target, Walmart etc., that carries pharmacy supplies. It will either be behind the counter of the pharmacy or in the aisle with Epsom Salts and the like.*****

School-Age Children, Pregnant Women and Health Care Workers: Take Swine Flu Precautions by Washing with Cleanser that Kills Virus for Up to Six Hours

NORCROSS, Ga., Aug. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announcing the potential for an unusual number of serious illnesses in school-age children (ages 5-24) and pregnant women from the H1N1 virus (swine flu)(i,ii), washing hands with soap that can kill the virus immediately and continue to kill it for up to six hours could mean the difference between getting swine flu or avoiding it, especially before a vaccine is expected to be available in mid-October.
As with other flu viruses, the swine flu is spread via contact with infected droplets or surfaces followed by contact with a person's eyes, nose or mouth.(iii) Frequent hand washing with soap or the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers (when no sink is available) will kill or remove the virus. However, the challenge is washing consistently after touching any surface such as a door handle, chair or desk or any person that could have been exposed to the virus. Cleansers that contain 4 percent chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bond to the skin and continue to actively kill germs for up to six hours.(iv) That's almost an entire school or work day.
CHG offers better protection between washings, even if you are able to wash your hands frequently. Two over-the-counter brands that contain 4 percent CHG are Hibiclens(R) skin cleanser and Hibistat(R) individual wipes. Hibiclens and Hibistat have specifically been tested against a strain of the swine flu virus similar to the one that is currently causing illness in the community.(v) Since these strains are of the same virus family, these products will effectively kill both types of flu virus for up to six hours.
For moms, the swine flu is a major concern since both children and pregnant women are part of the high-risk groups. CDC says pregnant women have higher rates of hospitalization and a greater risk of death compared to the general population and recommends that antiviral treatment be started within 48 hours after symptoms begin.(vi)
"I'm very concerned," said Jeanne Fuller, mother of Adam, 5, and Sam, 3, and 30 weeks pregnant with her third child. "I admit when I heard that pregnant women were at higher risk, especially late in pregnancy, I panicked. I ran to the store to get antibacterial everything. That's when I learned about Hibiclens and have been using it ever since. My oldest son starts kindergarten this year and who knows what kind of new bugs he will encounter. If he gets sick, I will be the one caring for him and I have to protect the baby, too," she said.
To help moms like Fuller, physicians are recommending long-lasting, germ-killing products, such as Hibiclens.
Doug Smith, M.D., an emergency department (ED) physician in Miami, Fla., knows what it's like to see a bad flu season take its toll. "I tell all of my patients to be sure to wash their hands - they just can't do it enough. And for those who might be at high-risk or need longer protection than just a few minutes, I recommend using washes with 4 percent CHG since it kills germs for hours. That's what we have been using in our facility for years and we continue to use it to protect us," said Smith.
Molnlycke Health Care provides the following tips for staying healthy this swine flu season.
~Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer (if a sink is not available).(vii)
~Wash hands after touching anything that might not have been washed with soap or a disinfectant recently.
~Wash hands with cleansers that contain 4 percent chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) in order to kill the virus for a long period of time.
~Keep hands away from eyes, nose and mouth.
~Cough or sneeze into your elbow rather than hand to reduce the risk of transfer.

~Avoid crowds (or at least try to keep your distance from others).
~Get plenty of sleep and exercise.
~Stay home if you are experiencing flu symptoms (fatigue, fever, nausea, etc).
~Isolate individuals that are ill or have flu like symptoms, especially in a family.
~Use the hottest water possible in your washing machine, especially for sports and school uniforms, and dry everything completely.

Open House

It's almost time! Summer is just about over and school will begin in a few weeks. Please come and join us for our Open House/Meet The Teacher event on Friday, August 21st from 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Come by any time during the event to let your kiddo make a craft, meet their teachers and explore their new class.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Gearing Up For Fall

We are gearing up for a fantastic Fall session!

Open House on August 21st from 10 am - 11:30 am

First day of school on August 24th

We have a handful of spaces available in our 1 year old class, young 2's and older 2's. Please give me a call if you are interested in adding a day or signing up!

Mrs. Kim
(407) 273-8368
kim@mylifesongchurch.com

For Your Viewing Pleasure!

Don't Forget the Sunscreen!

Summer is finally here and it's time to head outside for some fun in the sun. It's also the perfect time to teach children about sun safety!

Sun Safety Alliance has just released new activity guides for teaching children of all ages about the importance of protecting themselves from the sun's harmful rays. Click on their name in yellow above for more information.

The Bare Facts:
It's a fact: Overexposure to the sun can result in skin cancer later in life. What are your family's risks from exposure to powerful UV rays? Consider these facts and statistics.

The Dangers of UV Exposure
*You can sunburn even on a cloudy day.
*On average, children get 3 times more exposure than adults.
*Concrete, sand, water, and snow reflect 85% to 90% of the sun's UV rays.
*Depletion of Earth's ozone continues to increase your exposure to UV rays.

Skin Cancer
*In some parts of the world, melanoma is increasing at rates faster than any other cancer.
*More than 1.2 million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year in the US.
*Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, kills one person every hour.
*One blistering sunburn can double a child's lifetime risk of developing skin cancer.

Visit the Sun Safety Alliance for great information and make sure you protect yourself and your kids with sunscreen and sun-safe clothing!

Am I Ready for Kindergarten?

Do you wonder if your child is really ready for Kindergarten?
If you are like most mom's with an older 4 or 5 year old you have probably asked yourself that question. Nothing can make your stomach turn like the feeling of sending your little lamb out to the wolves in "big school".

Usually, it is more the mom not being ready for their child to move on up rather than the child not being ready. But just in case, here are some readiness signs you should be looking for in your future Kindergartner.

Enthusiasm Toward Learning
Solid Oral-Language Skills
The Ability to Listen
The Desire to Be Independent
The Ability to Play Well with Others
Strong Fine-Motor Skills
Basic Letter and Number Recognition

Your kiddo doesn't need to be a whiz in each of these areas to be ready for the big "K". If you know your child is struggling in one of these areas, let your child's teacher know. They will be able to provide activities that will help your child develop in the areas they need to grow in. If your child is able to clearly express his or her wants and needs verbally and can play and interact socially with other children then they are set to have great success in Kindergarten.

Preschools and Mom's Day Out programs are great precursors to Kindergarten. These type of programs help your child develop in each of the above areas. Children are social creatures and they need to learn how to play and interact with other children their age. All of the things listed above can be incorporated through great curriculum, play and other fun activities in early education programs that will further boost your child's readiness for Kindergarten.

Remember - YOU are the expert when it comes to your child. No one knows them better than you! Don't let friends, acquaintences or teachers be the final say-so on any decision regarding your child. If you really feel that they aren't ready then by all means wait one more year! Take into account information from all concerned parties and make the decision that suits your child best and then relax knowing you did the right thing!

For more info about Kindergarten Readiness see the links to the right.

School's Out for Summer!

Ahhh...Summer!

This is our last week of school

then we get to chill by the pool - right??? Well, sort of. LifeSong MMO will be on summer break from June 7th - June 21st

then we will have a
Super Summer Session
beginning on June 22nd for 7 weeks.

Can't come the whole summer? No worries! You can come for a week or even drop in for a day or two as long as we have the space.

We would love to see you over the summer - but if we don't please know that... we hope you have a wonderful and safe summer!

Welcome To LifeSong's Mother's Morning Out Blog!

Welcome to LifeSong's Mother's Morning Out Blog! Tag along and follow our adventures throughout the year. Look for upcoming events, tips and advice and other interesting things for you and your kiddos.

We're glad you stopped by!