Friday, August 31, 2018

National Wellness Month: 7 Tips for a Healthier Life

wellnessThis month of August is the best time to focus on managing stress and promoting self-care and healthy routines. You know why? Because it is National Wellness Month! Studies have shown how self-care helps reduce stress and promote happiness. And putting efforts into making a change in your lifestyle can significantly affect your health in positive ways. If you want to take the first step to living a healthier life, read the tips below.

Drink a glass of water in the morning

One of the very first things you should do when you wake up in the morning is to drink a glass of room temperature water. This will help cleanse your system and flush out toxins before you even eat any food. Also try adding a twist to your regular water by putting a slice of lemon or lime for a citrusy taste.

Get enough sleep

The importance of sleep cannot be emphasized any more. Regardless of your age, it’s imperative that you get an adequate amount of sleep every night. A lack of sleep is detrimental to your health in several different ways. Not only will it cause damage to your heart, it can also make you feel constantly tired, irritable and can reduce your attention span.

Eat healthy snacks

In between meals snacks don’t always have to be junk foods. You can snack the right way by switching to healthier alternatives. Instead of consuming too many sweet and starchy foods like candies, potato chips, and cookies, you may want to have nuts, berries and fruits. These foods are rich in vitamins and minerals and are good for your health.

Exercise often

National Wellness MonthWe are all aware of the benefits of working out and exercise. However, these are some things we usually take for granted. Exercising doesn’t always mean going to the gym and spending an hour or so sweating out. It can be as simple as taking a daily walk to or from work. Instead of taking the elevators, use the stairs as often as possible. Or  take your dog for a long walk during weekends. The important thing is that you take time to do some physical activity every chance you get. Having an active lifestyle can improve your heart health and overall well-being.

Connect with people

People who don’t have friends are said to have higher likelihood of sickness and early death. Their stress and depression can make them physically ill. This is the reason why experts highly recommend that we make time to connect and nurture healthy relationships with the people around us. Spend more time with your family, friends and loved ones. No matter how busy you are, make it a point to get in touch with someone close to your heart. Catch up with your friends during your free time. Visit your parents on the weekends. Doing these things can significantly impact your health, even in the later years.

Try new activities

Finding a new hobby can help reduce stress. If you haven’t done anything fun and exciting for a while, it’s time to look for a new activity that you can enjoy with your friends or family. Think about going hiking, playing a new sport or trying out a new adventure. This will help you unwind and even give you opportunities to meet other people who share the same interest. But if you want to try out some activities alone, that’s perfectly fine, too. For as long as it pumps your adrenaline and makes you happy, you can never go wrong with it!

Ditch the unhealthy habits

If you have some habits that you know are detrimental to your health, stop them now before it’s too late. This includes smoking and excessive drinking. Smoking reduces a person’s lifespan by several years. It can affect your lungs as well as your skin. It is one of the major causes of death in the world. If you want to live longer, ditch the unhealthy habits and always choose life!

There is no better time to live a healthy lifestyle than now. Start making these small changes and you’ll be amazed at how they can improve your life in general.

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Thursday, August 30, 2018

What Do I Do if my CDA has Expired?

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You can renew your CDA credential online

Are a childcare professional? Obtaining a Child Development Associate Credential may be a good choice for you. A CDA Credential has been recognized as the foundation of professional development in the field of early childhood education. If you want to advance your career in early childcare, earning a CDA credential is the best step to take.

Like other career credentials, your CDA credential also expires. Below are the standard renewal process and fees effective October 1, 2015.

  • Download the free Renewal Procedures Guide. This guide can be downloaded by visiting the CDA Council’s website. You can also have the guide sent to you by mail by calling the council at 202-265-9090.
  • Complete the required documentation based on the list provided in the CDA Renewal Procedures Guide. The guide also includes a training verification form which should be completed by the center or program director.
  •  Submit your CDA Renewal Application. This step can be done either by applying online with a fee of $125 or do it by mail with a $150 fee. Online renewal application is recommended for those who are applying for Infant/Toddler, Preschool or Family Childcare. Your documents can be uploaded online together with your application form. You can also make an electronic payment and monitor the progress of your application.

If you opt to do it by mail, you can send your application, required documentation and payment to: Council for Professional Recognition 2460 16th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009-3547. The Home Visitor CDA Credential can only be renewed by submitting a hard copy of the application.

  • Upon submission of your application, the Council will  review all the materials submitted. If your documents fail to meet the requirements, the Council will send you a notification and give you ample time to resolve the issue.

Also, be sure to process the renewal of your CDA Credential before it expires.  If your CDA Credential was awarded on or before July 1, 2013, it should be valid for three years. Prepare your renewal documents in advance before your credential expiration date. You’ll be ready to submit them as soon as the renewal window opens.

To make sure you are ready for your CDA Renewal, National CDA Training has the training you need. At NCDAT, we offer training for both preschool and infant and toddler CDA renewals in an online, scenario-based format. We also provide all the coaching you need to make sure you have all the help you need when it’s time to renew.

Choosing National CDA Training for your CDA Renewal preparation is a great choice. Why? Because we provide training like no other! We provide fun and innovative scenario-based CDA classes that are scientifically proven to be effective.

With our scenario-based training, your mind will be trained to react to each given situation. You are getting a sort of mental practice. You’ll learn how to respond when difficult and challenging situations arise in the classroom. Because you are getting real-life, scenarios, you will feel much more relaxed, calmer and confident.

All our child developmental courses are aligned with the CDA guidelines. They are designed to create competence through constant practice and help you achieve success in the classroom. Once you have gone through all our training and activities, we guarantee that you’ll be ready to apply for your CDA renewal.

Aside from the training you will get from National CDA Training, we will also help you make sure you have everything in place before your original CDA credential expires. Get all the support you need to successfully renew your CDA credential. Give National CDA Training a call today!

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