Another Cavity?

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March 1, 2015

Four-year-old Evan had another cavity; this was his tenth one in the past year, including the root canal last month. His mom, Amy, was frustrated. She had assumed that Evan’s teeth were just prone to decay because she’d had a lot of cavities when she was a kid, but he’d had so many in the past year that now she was worried.

Amy tried to give Evan and his little brother healthy foods and snacks, and once in a while the boys ate sweet treats, but not enough to cause so many cavities, she thought.

Dental cavities in children declined from the 1970s to the 1990s. Then, in the mid-90s, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found a reversal, with a significant rise in primary tooth decay in younger children.

Fighting your children’s cavities may be easier than you think. As Dr. Yolanda Weaver, DDS in Pediatric and Restorative Dentistry, said, “Parents can help their kids avoid cavities. It takes just a few simple changes to make a really big difference.”

Five tips that will help you fight your kids’ cavities:

1 The best tip for parents is to get their kids in the habit of brushing twice a day. Make it a regular part of their daily routine, so it’s not a chore. You can make it fun and reward their progress. When your kids are young, you should brush their teeth for them to be sure their teeth are cleaned properly. The best kind of toothbrush for your kids is the over-the-counter, rechargeable electric ones. They remove more plaque and tartar than regular toothbrushes, and many affordable choices are available. Remember to change the brush heads every few months, as the bristles will wear down with use.

2 Floss removes a fair amount of plaque and tartar buildup. “There are a lot of reports out now that say flossing before you brush is best,” said Amanda Garcia, dental hygienist at Hires Dental Care in Toledo, “but flossing either before or after works, just get your kids flossing. Parents need to floss for their kids at first until they have the dexterity.”

3 Limit sticky snacks and fruit juices. When Amy finally asked her dentist about fighting cavities,the advice surprised her. “My dentist told me to stop giving Evan sticky treats and limit his fruit juice. She said these two things are the biggest cause of decay in kids’ teeth. Garcia confirmed this, “We’re seeing a big increase in tooth decay among children primarily because they’re drinking a lot of fruit drinks. Kids aren’t drinking sodas like they used to, but now they drink Gatorade, vitamin waters, mineral waters and these are filled with sugar. Also, teens are drinking sweet coffee drinks, which also can cause decay.”

4 If your child takes a daily gummy vitamin, you may want to change to another type of vitamin. Gummy vitamins stick to teeth, and anything that sticks to the teeth can cause decay. One mom was shocked to hear that her five-year-old daughter’s gummy vitamins were probably the culprit behind her need for a root canal. Most kids’ vitamins come in gummy form because they’re easy to give to children, but there are alternatives on the market.

5 Snacking on baked goods—such as cookies or cakes—in moderation is better than gummy snacks or fruit juices. These treats, although they contain sugar, don’t stick to teeth, and that’s the big difference when it comes to cavities.

Good Results
Amy took her dentist’s advice to heart. She stopped handing out fruit snacks for treats, bought regular kids’ vitamins and limited how much juice her boys drank every day. It paid off, and at his next dental visit, Evan’s teeth were cavity-free.

Childcare and Preschool Guide

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Digital Media

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March 1, 2015

Toledo Area Parent is dedicated to providing parents with the best options for their children. For over 22 years, our commitment has been steadfast helping little learners find a place that is comfortable and promotes learning and growing with our Childcare & Preschool Guide. Trust us when it comes to choosing programs that are right for your family!

Little Explorers Learning Center

1555 South Byrne Rd. #100, Toledo

419-385-0356

www.littleexplorerstoledo.com

Educational philosophy: Curriculum is designed so that children may progress at their own rate in a loving, caring, and secure environment.

Tours and open houses available: By appointment, 8am-6pm Monday-Friday.

Caregiver or teacher/student ratio: Ratios are at or below state regulations

Hours of operation: 6am–6pm Monday–Friday

Daily activities: Gross Motor, Free play, Circle Time, Bible, Learning Centers, Snack, Nap

Nap times: 1pm–3pm

Meals and snacks provided? Snacks and milk are provided, families provide lunch

Potty training required? Potty training begins in Toddler 2 and is required to advance to preschool.

St. Joseph Preschool

5411 S. Main St., Sylvania

419-882-6670

www.stjosephschoolsylvania.org

Educational philosophy: Hands-on, developmental, fosters a love of God and for each other.

Tours and open houses available: Call for a tour and see where your child’s educational journey begins.

Caregiver or teacher/student ratio: 2 teachers: 16-20 children ages 3, 4 and 5 Extended Day Enrichment Program, Before and After-school program.

Hours of operation: Morning Preschool from 8:30-11:15am for 2-5 days per week.

Daily activities:”Family-style” field trips and celebrations

Nap times: Yes

Meals and snacks provided? Healthy snacks provided

Potty training required? Yes

Sylvania Children’s Center

3421 Talmadge Rd.

419-537-1122

www.sylvaniachildren.com

Educational philosophy: Their major goal is to educate the whole child, “head, heart, and hands,” in a nurturing, homelike environment. The focus is on developing children’s self-confidence and positive feelings toward learning. The Center is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and is rated “5 Star” by Step up to Quality in the State of Ohio.

Tours and open houses available: Call to schedule.

Caregiver or teacher/student ratio: Provide small classes, favorable teacher-child ratios and quality interaction.

Hours of operation: Daily from 8am-5pm, accepts children from 6 weeks to 6 years old. Part time preschool is available from 8:30-11:30am and noon-3pm.

Daily activities: Encourage children to be active learners, and draw on direct physical and social experiences so they can construct their own understandings of the world around them.

Nap times: No

Meals and snacks provided? No

Potty training required? No

Children’s Discovery Center

6 Locations to serve you:

Downtown
338 North St. Clair St. 419-255-4890

Franklin Park
3839 Talmadge Rd.
419-474-8303

Perrysburg
11090 Avenue Rd.
419-874-8203

Perrysburg
7033 Lighthouse Way
419-872-4510

Waterville
8011 Dutch Road
419-878-8689

Holland
1640 Timberwolf Dr.
419-861-1060

Educational philosophy: Children’s Discovery Center provides the opportunity for your child to discover the world in his or her unique way. With programs based on the world-renowned Reggio Emilia’s approach to learning, your child’s unique interests and abilities are nurtured and developed. The single most important element of the Reggio Emilia approach is the image of the child as strong, powerful and capable.

Tours and open houses available: Call to schedule

Caregiver or teacher/student ratio? Varies by age group

Hours of operation: Varies by location

Daily activities: Morning Meeting, Project Work, Learning Centers, Group Games, Story Time, Gross Motor Outside & Discovery Room

Nap times: 1-3pm

Meals and snacks provided? Yes

Potty training required? No

Toledo Christian Schools

2303 Brookford Dr.

419-389-8700

www.toledochristian.com

Educational philosophy: Prepare students for a rigorous phonics-based Kindergarten by being “reading ready” and academically mature

Tours and open houses available: Available upon request, Open Houses once per semester.

Teacher/student ratio: Preschool is 1:12, Pre-Kindergarten is 1:14.

Hours of operation: 8:15am-3pm, with before and after care options available

Daily activities: Lessons and activities focus on Phonics, Math, Literature & Poetry, Prayer & Devotions

Nap times: Noon-1:45pm

Meals and snacks provided? Snacks are provided, lunches are to be packed, with cafeteria lunch available for purchase

Potty training required? Yes, students must be able to use the restroom with complete independence

Trinity Lutheran School

4560 Glendale Ave.

419-385-2301

www.trinityvikings.org

Educational philosophy: They provide a learning environment that promotes growth in the Christian life through structured age-appropriate curriculum by licensed Early Childhood Educators.

Tours and open houses available: Call to set up a tour.

Caregiver or teacher/student ratio: 1:12 for 3 year olds; 1:14 for 4 year olds

Hours of operation: 3-year-olds Tuesday and Thursday, 4-year-olds Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Morning or Afternoon Session, Extended Care 6:30am-6pm Monday-Friday.

Daily activities: Handwriting Without Tears and McGraw Hill My Math Curriculum

Nap times: After lunch for preschoolers in extended care

Meals and snacks provided? Nutritional snacks and hot lunches available

Potty training required? Yes

Maumee Valley Country Day School

1715 S. Reynolds Rd.

419-381-1313

www.mvcds.org

Educational philosophy: They believe that young children are competent, intellectual beings, fully capable of understanding the world around them. Their curriculum is child-driven so that students can make deeper, more meaningful connections to their learning.

Tours and open houses available: Drop in tours Tuesdays at 1pm and Fridays at 9am. Open Houses held twice per year, November and January. Private tours daily, and appointments are available

Caregiver or teacher/student ratio? Preschool 5:1, Prekindergarten 6:1, Kindergarten 7:1

Hours of operation: 7:30am-6pm, M-F

Daily activities: Children experience the curriculum through indoor and outdoor explorations, as well as in music, art, physical education, and Spanish language.

Nap times: Full-day preschool children rest in the afternoon following lunch and Pre-kindergarten children rest in the afternoon following lunch and specials.

Meals and snacks provided: Parents can send a lunch to school or order a lunch from the cafeteria. Morning snack is sent from home and afternoon snack is provided by the school.

Potty training required? No

Penta Early Learning Center

9301 Buck Rd., Perrysburg

419- 661-6369

www.pentacareercenter.org

Educational philosophy: They believe children should be encouraged to express themselves through activities that center around their interests. Through hands-on investigations, children explore the world around them and form trusting, caring relationships that will prepare them for future success in the world.

Tours and open houses available: Call to schedule

Hours of operation: 9-11am Monday – Thursday 3-4 year olds, 12:30-2:30pm Monday – Thursday 4-5 year olds

Caregiver or teacher/student ratio: AM Session 1:12, PM Session 1:14 (Both the AM and PM sessions have three to five student workers along with the lead teacher)

Daily activities: Emphasis on socialization, communication skills, lengthening attention spans, and following routines and schedules, English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Also Introduction to basic letter recognition, literacy skills, and beginning math and science concepts.

Nap times: No.

Meals and snacks provided? A healthy snack is provided

Potty training required? Yes

Emmanuel Christian School

4607 Laskey Rd.

419-885-3558

A non-branded, community service event hosted by Emmanuel Christian School will provide parents of 4- and 5-year-olds with information meant to determine if their child is ready and prepared to start school. From their experience, students who aren’t quite ready have a much harder time adjusting and excelling in the classroom, which can follow them throughout their school years. Taking time with a young child to make sure they feel confident when they start kindergarten is critically important to the student’s success in their first year and will create a foundational attitude toward school and learning as a result.

6:30pm, Monday, March 2 [email protected].

West Side Montessori

Toledo Campus

13 Months – 8th Grade

7115 W. Bancroft St.

419-866-1931

Perrysburg Campus

13 Months – Kindergarten

13587 Roachton Rd.

419-874-9385

www.montessoritoledo.org

Educational philosophy: Adheres to philosophy and methods developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, they believe that each child is unique and capable. The foundation to their success is the belief that nurturing the whole child includes challenging the intellect and community of the child, parent, and educator.

Tours and open houses available: Weekdays by appointment

Caregiver or teacher/student ratio: Preschool program 1:12, Toddler program 1:5 or 1:7

Hours of operation: 7am–6pm

Daily activities: Spanish, music, cultural explorations, grace and courtesy, independence, math, science and language work

Nap times: After lunch if chosen

Meals and snacks provided? Snacks are provided, students bring their own lunches

Potty training required? Encouraged after age three

La Petite Academy

2935 East Rocket Dr.

419-530-1070

www.lapetite.com

Educational philosophy: At La Petite Academy in Toledo, their Journey™ Curriculum emphasizes language and literacy, cognitive development, social-emotional skills, physical activity and creativity. Children who attend the school engage in exciting learning activities specifically designed to meet their developmental needs, and to help them advance to the next level of learning, through Kindergarten and beyond.

Tours and open houses available: Parents can tour the school any time during hours of operation. Call 877-217-9530 to schedule a tour

Caregiver or teacher/student ratio: Infants 1:5, Toddlers 1:7, Early preschool 1:8, Preschool 1:12, Pre-Kindergarten 1:14

Hours of operation: 7am-6pm

Daily activities: Focus on literacy, mathematics and science in child-directed activities. Also creativity and art centers, construction & design centers, dramatic play

Nap times: 12:45pm-2:45pm

Meals and snacks provided? Breakfast, lunch and snack provided

Potty training required? No

Maria Early Learning Center:

Sisters of Notre Dame

4651 Monroe St.

419-471-0170

www.mariaelc.org

Educational philosophy: The primary focus of MELC’s service is each child. They nurture all domains of a child’s development, most importantly the child’s spiritual growth, in a developmentally appropriate environment.

Tours and open houses available: The director arranges tours 9-11am and after 3pm Monday through Thursdays, call for appointment

Caregiver or teacher/student ratio: By class: PreK- 1:13, 3 years Preschool- 1:11, Toddler- 1:7, Infants 12-18 months- 1:4, Infants under 12 months- 1:4

Hours of operation: 6:30am-6pm, Monday-Friday

Daily activities: Children engage in free play, group activities, and enjoy gross motor and outside play daily. Creative music classes are offered twice each week.”

Nap times: Each afternoon, approximately 12:30-2:30pm

Meals and snacks provided? Brainy breakfast is offered – the Chef offers something hot (e.g. cream of wheat, mini quiche) and they always have fruit and milk. Lunch and snacks are offered too.

Potty training required? Recommended for children enrolling in the three-year-old class

Gateway School

4650 W. Bancroft St.

419-536-6503

www.gatewaypre-k.com

Educational philosophy: Early childhood should be a time of fun, warmth, security, exploration, and discovery. The program is structured around a variety of experiences which suggest active participation from the child, and is designed to facilitate a young child’s education through a learning center approach.

Tours and open houses available: Call in advance to arrange a time and day to see the school in operation

Caregiver or teacher/student ratio: 1:8

Hours of operation: AM session: 8:30-11:30am, with early drop-off as early as 7:30am. PM session: 12:30 3:30pm, with late pick-up 4:30

Daily activities: Social and Emotional Development, Physical Development, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies

Nap times: No

Meals and snacks provided? Provides a nutritious snack during each session (AM and PM).

Potty training required? Licensed for students ages 2 ½ years through 6 years who are potty trained

Little Mouse Preschool

7041 Sylvania Ave., Sylvania

419-882-2150

www.thelittlemousepreschool.com

Educational philosophy: Education, socialization & play-based learning

Tours and open houses available: Tours are by appointment and offered year-round. Two open houses are available in January and during the summer.

Caregiver or teacher/student ratio: Three-year-old room is 1:12; 4-5 year old room is 1:14 with a teaching aide to help in both classrooms.

Hours of operation: 7:30am-6pm

Daily activities: Preschool classes include art, reading, math, etc., guest teachers, music and library. Afternoon Preschool and enrichment classes are offered as well as a summer camp for six weeks during summer.

Nap times: Daily from 12:45pm-2pm

Meals and snacks provided? Snacks, milk and juice provided. Packed lunch from home required.

Potty training required? Yes.

WSOS Child Development Center

Multiple locations in Lucas, Wood, Seneca,

Sandusky and Ottawa counties

Head Start, 1-800-775-9767

Lucas County Centers, 419-729-8035

www.wsos.org

Educational philosophy: The goal of Head Start is to prepare children for kindergarten in a safe, nurturing, engaging, enjoyable and secure learning environment in order to help them gain the awareness, skills and confidence necessary to succeed in their present environment and deal with later responsibilities in school and in life.

Tours and open houses available: Tours are available anytime during program operations. Open Houses are typically held once per year at the beginning of each school year.

Caregiver or teacher/student ratio? 2:17

Hours of operation: 8:30am-4pm

Daily activities: Greeting, work time (includes language, literacy, math, science, social experiences, large and fine motor experiences), class meetings (including songs, book reading etc.) lunch, tooth brushing, outside/indoor gross motor and snack

Nap times: Children in part-day programs do not nap. Children enrolled in child care centers typically nap after lunch.

Meals and snacks provided? Yes

Potty training required? No

Kidz Watch

567-455-0434

[email protected]

2 locations to serve you

3150 Bostwick, Perrysburg

6801 West Central, Toledo

Educational philosophy: We use the Creative Curriculum in our centers and believe that children learn through play and interaction with the world around them. We incorporate what children are most interested in into our programming.

Tours and open houses are available: Tours are available anytime by appointment. Call for an appointment or email.

Caregiver or teacher/student ratio? 1:12

Hours of operation:
Perrysburg: 6am to 10pm Mon to thurs. 6 am to midnight fri and sat.
Sylvania: 5:30am to 11 pm Sun to thurs. 5:30am to midnight fri and sat.

Daily activities: Daily activities include stories, arts and crafts, gross motor, imaginary play.

Nap times: Nap time is from 12pm to 2pm daily.children enrolled in child care centers typically nap after lunch.

Meals and snacks provided? Breakfast and snacks are provided by Kidz Watch. Parents pack or purchase other meals.

Potty training required? Potty training not required. We will work with your child!

March 2015

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Digital Media

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March 1, 2015

Weeding Out the Couch Potatoes

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Digital Media

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February 19, 2015

Across the nation, crops of couch potatoes sprout up every winter. They are fueled by the colder days and early sunset, leaving them unable to do more than is absolutely necessary. If you are looking for alternative ways to entertain the kids and yourself this winter, try leaving the electronics in their chargers. Here are 50 suggestions to help combat cabin fever and get you through until the spring thaw.

Use your imagination:

Make paper airplanes out of colored paper

Cut out paper dolls and accessories from newspapers

Create dollhouses and furniture out of felt pieces

Build skyscrapers out of Legos or Tinker Toys

Use large cardboard boxes to create kid-sized houses that they can decorate

Get outside:

Take a walk around the neighborhood with the dogs or a friend

Roller blade around cones in a parking lot on a sunny day

Head to the park for a trip across the monkey bars

Jump rope in the driveway

Bundle up for an outdoor winter scavenger hunt

Make a game of it:

Pick card games like Uno, Hearts or Rummy

Try a dice game like Tenzi or LCR

Bring out the board games– classics like Monopoly or Sorry!

Create a Battleship game out of two pizza boxes

Tape a tic tac toe board on the floor and use colored bean bags for the X and O

Expand your mind:

Play Sudoku or complete on a word search

Browse the library for a good book

Set up a home laboratory and create some science experiments

Put together a model car

Work a puzzle

Play road trips game without leaving the house:

Name that Tune– Turn on the radio and see how quickly you can identify the songs

I Spy– Describe something in the house so the other players can guess what it is

Alphabet Game– Name animals, foods, or athletes starting with the letter A, then B and so on

Mad Libs– Fill in the blanks to a short story with nouns, verbs and adjectives

Bingo– You will find free printable bingo sheets online

Spend time with family:

Look through photo albums or school memorabilia

Use your talents to create a family variety show

Cook dinner together or bake cookies

Sing karaoke or have a dance party

Listen to a book on CD together every night

Get crafty:

Make homemade playdoh from Kool-Aid

Build structures with marshmallows and toothpicks

Create pasta people with glue and a variety of pasta shapes

Use duct tape and cardboard to make swords and shields

Design Popsicle stick snowflakes, paint white and hang in the windows

Get out and go:

Go bowling

Play indoor laser tag

Head to the indoor pool for a game of Marco Polo

Get messy with a game of paintball

Try rock climbing

Do something for the animals:

Teach your dog a new trick

String popcorn on a string or make homemade suet for the birds

Collect towels and blankets for the animal shelter

Create a maze for your hamster

Make a no-sew pet bed for your cat

Think spring:

Plant seedlings to start your garden early

Have an indoor picnic

Use watercolors to paint a summer sky

Make a kite out of sticks and a kitchen garbage bag

Order a caterpillar to butterfly kit and watch them grow

Pam Molnar is a freelance writer and mother of three. This list was compiled over the last 16 years of hearing her children say, “I’m bored!”

Cyberbullying

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Digital Media

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February 19, 2015

Last April, at Anthony Wayne High School outside Toledo, student Kayla Meeker, 16, took her own life after allegedly being subjected to cyberbullying. Shortly after this tragedy, it came to light that another student at the school, Kaylee Halko, had experienced cyberbullying when a student from a nearby elementary school created an Instagram page mocking her progeria, a genetic disorder.

That school is not alone in experiencing cyberbullying. According to NoBullying.com, cyberbullying is on the rise and is most prevalent at middle schools.

“The truth of the matter is it doesn’t really get us anywhere if we deny how significant this issue is,” said Dr. Lisa Pescara-Kovach, associate professor of educational psychology at the University of Toledo as well as a campus prevention and protection trainer with the U.S. Department of Justice. “We really need to teach the difference between normal conflict and bullying.”

Working tirelessly with many schools and families, Dr. Pescara-Kovach helps to create bullying-free learning environments. She counsels children in hospitals and as outpatients if they suffer from depression, suicidal thoughts and/or anxiety.

Defining Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place through social media sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and even Vine. Bullies utilize these platforms by uploading photos which are intended to be embarrassing, tweeting insults or posting malicious comments.

Cyberbullying can be problematic because anyone can post and multiple people can chime in, sometimes anonymously. This differs from traditional bullying, which is the repetitive and constant verbal harassment or physical violence from one person or a group of individuals.

Parents may be tempted to ban their child from social media sites altogether, but Dr. Pescara-Kovach does not recommend this action. “It’s such a part of their world,” she said.

Because cyberbullying often occurs infrequently and without any pattern, identifying and disciplining the bully/bullies can be a challenge. In addition, school officials struggle to update bullying policies alongside the ever-changing technology and its byproduct of cyberbullying. In Halko’s case, because the creation of the page constituted only one incident, it was deemed not an act of bullying.

State laws aimed specifically at cyberbullying do exist, however. Michigan’s Matt’s Safe School Law focuses on creating safeguards for students, including requiring schools to have anonymous report forms accessible. Sometimes the responsibility for implementing this law and others lies with schools having the resources to counteract the growing problem. Also, cyberbullying can happen after school hours and outside the school premises, which could make disciplining bullies a legal challenge.

Spotting the Signs

Though there are many factors intertwined with this problem, parents and guardians must first and foremost assess the situation and address their child’s vulnerability. They should be aware of the warning signs that their child may be experiencing cyberbullying.

According to Pescara-Kovach, if your child seems hesitant or obsessed with logging onto social media websites, this warrants some concern. Both extremes could indicate that your child faces cyberbullying on the other side of the screen. Also, if your child becomes aggressive, withdrawn and/or their grades drop, this is worrisome. Really, any change of behavior should serve as a warning sign that cyberbullying may be affecting your child.

As for preventing your child from partaking in cyberbullying, Dr. Pescara-Kovach recommends talking with your child and simply being there for them. “Kid’s don’t want to be bullies. Something is going on in that kid’s life too that we want to help with.”

Apps such as SocialProtection.com are now available for parents and guardians to monitor Facebook content on the child’s account and alert parents/guardians when questionable or dangerous content is posted.

“The minute they have social networking sites, the minute they get on for interacting with other people, parents should be aware,” said Dr. Pescara-Kovach.

Sound advice to parents

-Encourage teens to take an occasional break from technology

-Keep home computers in a shared space

-Forbid teens from sending mean messages (even if someone else did first)

-Wait until high school to allow teens to have private phones and email

For information on cyberbullying and resources, check out stopcyberbullying.org, www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/ and CallerSmart's Cyberbullying Guide.

Finding Enriching Childcare

By

Nikki Khuong

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February 10, 2015

The Toledo Parent Education Guide was published this month and that means parents will likely start thinking about their child's education. There are numerous educational options available for kids of all ages. It's not easy for parents to weigh the options and make decisions but it is important and all factors should be evaluated.

One issue that many families face is finding quality, educational child care. Parents often struggle to find part-time or full time child care for younger kids or before/after school care for older kids. Most options offer a general yet safe supervision of children but not all child care options include an educational aspect. Children greatly benefit from tutoring and additional enrichment opportunities. Some examples of further enrichment include homework help, learning a new language, art, music, or anything else that's important to your family! Families that find a child care option that includes these will enjoy the inclusive convenience. Families that find a child care option that includes homework help, tutoring, or additional enrichment activities will enjoy the inclusive convenience of not having to pay extra and not having to schedule time to drive children around as much after school.

One option is to welcome an Au Pair into your home for a convenient live-in child care option. 45% of available Au Pairs(source: Go Au Pair) have prior tutoring or teaching experience. This is something many families will find comforting. School age kids love having an Au Pair because it's like having an older sibling that wants to spend time with them! Best of all this older sibling type role model is fun but also responsible and reliable!

The Toledo Parent Education Guide is a great resource for learning about the options available to your family. Review all of the options and weigh out the benefits of each before making your decision.

Nikki Khuong is an author, mother, early childhood education expert, and Local Area Representative for Go Au Pair in the Toledo area. Go Au Pair has been providing quality childcare for over 27 years and is designated by the U.S. Department of State as a sponsored agency to provide families affordable child care solutions through various Au Pair Programs.