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Traveling
with Children
- Winter Edition -
Many families are finding that vacation
destinations can be more accommodating and safer for their children
than previously thought.
By: Sheri Castello, Daycare.com
Chairmom |
Traveling
with children can be an exciting and wonderful adventure. It can provide
your family with many memories that will last a lifetime. Research,
planning and a lot of organization can help make the difference between
a vacation that needs a vacation to recuperate, or a vacation that
was invigorating, adventurous and restful, all at the same time. Keeping
in mind, you want your time spent with your family to be healthy and
safe for everyone.
Parents are demanding daycare services when they're on the road. In
fact, family vacations also mean some special time for Mom and Dad
to unwind for a few hours without the kids. Hotel concierges are prepared
to arrange for in-room nannies to watch the kids while the parents
head out for a romantic dinner or take in a show.
A childcare center may not be the first thing you'd expect at a ski
lodge. Small World Child Care center in Mammoth Lakes,
California, is equipped with everything you'd find at any daycare
facility. There are cribs made up in a separate room for napping,
as well as toys, face painting, a play house and other child-friendly
amenities. Many moms are able to return to the center and nurse their
babies, then go back to the slopes. You can leave your child there
all day and know he or she is in a nice, safe and caring environment.
If you are looking for a little fun in the snow, Mammoth Mountain
might be the place for you. Mammoth is a very family friendly community.
They have activities all year around, it is beautiful and the weather
is enjoyable. It’s only a five hour drive from Los Angeles and
there are several cute little towns that you pass along the way. They
do have an airport, but it is used only by small private planes and
charter planes.
With
younger children, especially when they are first starting to ski,
try to pick times of the year when the weather is mild. You want the
sun and the stars all lined up and everything in their favor. You
don’t want the snow blowing in their faces and frostbite on
their tiny noses. March is the best month. It is beautiful spring
time skiing and the weather is warm. Remember to drink a lot of water,
and I mean a lot. You need to stay hydrated in the higher altitude.
My family and I recently took a trip to Mammoth to visit Small World
Child Care. I wanted to see what it was like as I had never left my
children there when they were younger because I had too many reservations
and did not feel comfortable leaving my kids with an unfamiliar daycare.
I now wish I had visited this center a long time ago. I sat down and
talked with Director Debbie Teller, and she really put me at ease.
This is a great daycare center. Debbie and her staff were very professional
and they made me feel so welcomed. During a tour of the center, I
noticed the infants were all playing happily and were very well attended
to. "The key", Debbie says, "is her staff". "They
are very friendly and understand that they are complete strangers
to the children. They know that the children need extra one on one
attention and hugs and kisses". They try to get them involved
into the program right away. Another key component is that they are
one of the few that offer infant care. There are a lot of parents
who have children under the age of two who want to ski and they provide
that service for them.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when leaving your child with
an unfamiliar and/or temporary daycare facility:
- Research on-line about the facility and find out any reviews. Chat
with other families about their experiences there. Make sure the daycare
facility you choose is licensed, and find out how many staff people
are in each classroom.
- Call ahead well in advance to reserve a spot for your child. This
will ensure that the facility will be adequately staffed.
-
Arrive to your destination early enough to take a tour of the daycare
facility, meet the staff and observe the facilities’ cleanliness.
This could make all the difference in the world.
Here are some signs of a good daycare:
A good reputation
Established
ground rules
A
stimulating curriculum
A
qualified, caring staff
Clean,
safe facilities
A
current license
Parents are finding it possible that they can enjoy so many things
other than skiing. Drop-in childcare centers are cropping up in a
variety of places that you might not expect, from shopping malls to
casinos, gyms, grocery stores and country inns among others. 
As Chairmom, I hope to bring you many tips and ideas along with some
new and interesting places that you and your family might want to
visit to help make your experiences more enjoyable.
In addition to reading this article, you should also read our other
travel tips sections since many of those tips apply both to children
and adults.
Mammoth's state-licensed facility offers age-appropriate classrooms
for children newborn to age 12. Combination lesson/child care programs
are designed to allow you and your child to choose the amount of ski/snowboard
instruction desired each day.
Small World
Child Care is open 8am-4:30pm daily. Reservations for daycare are
recommended at least three weeks in advance: 760.934.0646
MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN INN
- Located inside the Mammoth Mountain Inn across from Main Lodge
- Slopeside access, steps away from chairlifts and the Panorama Gondola
- Advanced reservations recommended to ensure space
Contact: 760-934-0646
Hours: Opening Mid December
License: 263808343, 263808345
Location: 10400 Minaret Road
Mammoth Lakes, CA
93546
THE VILLAGE AT MAMMOTH
- Located at The Village at Mammoth, next door to The Side Door Cafe
- Steps from the free Village Gondola, which connects to Canyon Lodge
- Perfect for those staying at The Village Lodge or The Westin
- Advanced reservations recommended to ensure space
Contact: 760-934-0632
Hours: Open 8AM-4PM
License: 263808720, 263808765
Location: 100 Canyon Blvd, Suite 233
Mammoth Lakes, CA
93546 |