Doodle Bugs! Greece Construction Update

We’re happy to say that construction of the beautiful new facility in Greece, NY is right on track! The structure is up, and finishing touches on the exterior part of the building are in the process of being completed.  With an amazing interior design, indoor play village, and an outstanding outdoor play area, the new Doodle Bugs! facility promises to provide local families with a high-quality alternative to traditional daycare programs.

Located at 1700 English Road, the center is scheduled to officially open in September 2013. The franchisees, Bridget and Erik Graff are planning a Grand Opening Celebration

Event on August 23rd and 24th. Stay tuned for details!

Interested in more information about the Greece center? Please call 866.668.5111 or email customer.service@doodlebugs.com.

Doodle Bugs! Team Tuesday: Issue #162

In today’s edition of the Team Tuesday, we are proud to recognize Betsy Wilcox, from our Henrietta location. 

We received this wonderful letter from the parent of a child at our center:

“We love Miss Betsy so much. She is always friendly – you can tell that she is genuinely happy to be at work, and that she is doing what she loves. She always goes out of her way to tell us a story about our daughter’s day. I know that she truly loves, pays attention to and nurtures every child in classroom 4. We are so lucky that our daughter has Betsy’s kind and loving influence. She really goes above and beyond for us and every family. She is just the best!”

Thank you, Betsy – the doodle community is truly a better place because you CARE!

Doodle Bugs! Team Tuesday: Issue #161

For this week’s edition of the Team Tuesday, we would like to highlight Clarence faculty member, Lisa Heltman!

Lisa exemplifies a contagious positive attitude, willingness to share her expertise with other staff and assist in various classrooms, and dedication to the Doodle Bugs! mission statement of building a community of happy children, happy parents, and happy teachers.

Clarence center director Kelly Govern states that, “Lisa is the most cheerful, outgoing person. She becomes so engaged and immersed in each classroom she is in, from infant to school age.”

Thank you, Lisa  – the doodle community is truly a better place because you CARE!

Tips for Parents on Sun Safety for Kids

It’s tempting for parents to open the doors and let the kids run free outside now that the winter is finally behind us, but before you do there are some things you need to know about that warm, beautiful sunshine.

According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, 80% of lifetime sun exposure occurs during childhood—and just one terrible sunburn can double the risk of getting melanoma later in life. At Doodle Bugs!, we take sun safety very seriously. Our teachers take time to obtain sunscreen from parents, double check expiration dates and apply sunscreen to children when they arrive, in the afternoon and after water play. We also ensure children never have to wait for a drink; they have fresh cold drinking water available all day long to keep them hydrated, which is an important part of sun safety.

Follow these tips from the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Academy of Pediatrics to protect your children this summer:

Limit outdoor playtime between 10a.m. and 4p.m. Avoid unnecessary exposure when the sun’s rays are at their strongest. Even on cloudy or cooler days, ultraviolet (UV) rays remain strong.

Apply sunscreen properly. Generously apply sunscreen 30 minutes before your child goes out in the sun. Choose a sunscreen with SPF (Sun Protection Factor) 30 or higher. Don’t forget nose, ears, hands, feet, shoulders, and behind the neck; lips can also burn, so apply a lip balm with SPF protection. Reapply sunscreen every 2 to 3 hours, or after sweating or swimming. Important: Check out the latest sunscreen guide from the Environmental Working Group to find out what’s recommended for your family.

Cover up. Wearing protective clothing and hats is one of the most important ways of warding off UV damage. Go for dark colored clothing; light, transparent clothes often don’t protect the skin from the sun’s rays. Hats and sunglasses are important accessories, and are necessary for babies too. At the beach, bring along a large umbrella.

Keep watch on medications. Some medications increase the skin’s sensitivity to the sun, so make sure to ask your doctor whether your child may be at risk. Prescription antibiotics and acne medications are examples, but always ask the doctor.

Featured Family of the Month – May 2013

Kindness, community, generosity of both time and spirit – these are the heart of our program’s success. To celebrate the fact that the doodle community is made up of passionate individuals who truly care, we used our 20^th year (2012) as a unique opportunity to ‘pay it forward’ in the communities we serve.

The shared sense of joy and accomplishment that arose from the initiative inspired us to repeat it! In December 2012, we wrapped up our 20^th year with twenty additional acts of kindness – Mr. Doodle Bug was spotted t nursing homes, children’s hospitals, city missions, public libraries and other local organizations.

This was the perfect way to celebrate our growing community of happy children, happy parents, and happy teachers. And now, as we embark on our 21^st year, we are proud to celebrate by recognizing the individuals that make this all possible … and that is our incredible families.

Beginning in February 2013 and continuing until January 2014 we will be featuring one outstanding family each month. This family will be showcased on our website, social media pages, and receive a $25 Bill Gray’s gift certificate, a Doodle Bugs! gift basket and one week of free tuition.

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We are proud to announce the Kelley family from our Lancaster center as the May Family of the Month!

The Kelley family has been a part of the Lancaster Doodle Bugs! family since 2009 when their daughter Teagan started in the infant program. Since then we have had the pleasure to watch Teagan grow into a caring, fun-loving Pre-K student.

The Kelleys are a friendly family who have always supported our program! They participate in center events such as movie nights, art shows and open house. They help us by donating materials to the center when needed and always contribute to our food and book drives for local charities.

Most recently, they jump-started our “Travel Bug” program when they invited Mr. Doodle Bug on their family vacation to Florida!

Thank you again to the Kelley family for being an important part of our Doodle Bugs! family.

Doodle Bugs! Draft Picks…

As the official childcare providers of the Buffalo Bills, we felt we had to get in on the draft action too. So, we decided to create our own mock draft and create the ultimate Doodle Bugs! team. So far our team consists of Mr. Doodle Bug as quarterback, of course, Super Why as the wide receiver, Dora the Explorer as kicker, Big Bird as the linebacker, Clifford the Big Red Dog as an offensive lineman and the Cat in the Hat as the tight end. As you can see this doesn’t make up an entire football roster, so we’re looking to see who your final round draft pick would be for this ultimate team.

We’ll pick a random answer to win our draft pick contest to for a family four pack of tickets (and parking pass) to the Sabres game on Friday, April 26th at 7:00 p.m.  We’ll announce the winner tomorrow at 2:00 p.m.

Doodle Bugs! Team Tuesday: Issue #160

In today’s edition of the Team Tuesday, we are proud to recognize Briana O’Neil, a lead Toddler teacher from our Orchard Park team location.

We received this wonderful letter from the mother of a child at our center:

“Words cannot express how thankful we are for everything Briana has done for Claire and Oliver! Both of our children LOVE school and that has everything to do with her. Briana is an amazing teacher and my children are lucky to have had her in their lives. She had a special connection with both of my kids, and has helped to make them the amazing little people that they are today.”

Thank you, Briana – the doodle community is truly a better place because you CARE!