Ready or Not Kindergarten, Here We Come!

While many of us focus on the basics of letter and number recognition or reading skills, kindergarten readiness encompasses more than a few isolated skills. We need to look at the whole child and all the skills and strengths each child has developed. That’s what makes them unique. This resource gives you some tips to help you prepare your child for Kindergarten.

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The preschool years mark your child’s first introduction to the characteristics that have long grouped and divided humans: race, ethnicity, gender and physical ability. During the preschool years, you have perhaps the greatest impact on your child’s perceptions and attitudes about difference than at any other time in her childhood. The manner in which you treat and discuss others based on similarity and difference — and the manner in which you respond to your child’s natural curiosity about these matters — provides the blueprint for her reactions to them. Biases that you and other adults convey, both positive and negative, tell her who is safe and who is dangerous, who is strong and who is weak, who is beautiful and who is ugly. These messages have the power to turn her “how” and “why” questions into judgment statements. Left unchecked, such judgments can become precursors to poor self-esteem and social interactions based on prejudice or bias. Fortunately, there are ways to discourage this. Here is a resource you may find helpful.

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Boredom can be a powerful incentive. Along with quiet time, boredom will stimulate a child’s creativity. Imagination and creativity—ideas—arise from having time to think, to ponder and reflect, or just let the mind go. A child with time on his hands will make up games, create dramas to act out, build a fort, or discover the joy of reading.

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The coronavirus (Covid-19) is a major epidemic. Luckily few young children have fallen ill. Most of the sick children have had mild cases. However, young children are highly affected by the quarantine and the anxiety of their parents and other adults, they are very sensitive to what is going on. Here are some of the ways children react to the stress and some of the things you can do to help them.

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Read Across America is an initiative on reading created by the National Education Association that began in 1997. You may hear about Read Across America during the first week of March.

The Read Across America website offers resources for parents as well as for schools.  Below, please find a link to an article with 20 tips to help families create a sense of enjoyment, wonder, and a passion for reading.

https://www.readacrossamerica.org/raising-readers-what-parents-can-do/

Colder winter weather often brings more time spent indoors.  As you make choices about your child’s indoor activities, please keep in mind the American Association of Pediatrics’ recommendations regarding limited screen time for preschoolers.  The attached article contains another link to additional AAP recommendations, including a link to help make a Family Screen Time plan.  We hope you find these resources helpful in establishing healthy Media Usage habits in your home.

https://illinoisearlylearning.org/answers/screentime/

Guiding Your Child’s Behavior

Most young children exhibit behaviors that families find challenging at times. It is important to stay calm and consistent as you guide your young child.

Recently, our Preschool Intervention and Referral Team (PIRT) gave a presentation as part of our Parent Academy.

They addressed the topic of challenging behaviors, and shared ideas for addressing these behaviors at home.

If you were unable to join us, or want to see the presentation again, please find the link to the video below.

https://youtu.be/k5nfb7WrOU8

Below is an article that also addresses this important topic, available in several languages.

https://www.naeyc.org/system/files/mib_11.4_0.pdf (English)

https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/tyc/apr2018/backpack/abril-mayo-2018 (Spanish)

https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/tyc/apr2018/backpack/guiding-your-childs-behavior-chinese

https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/tyc/apr2018/backpack/guiding-your-childs-behavior-arabic

 Recently, some of our school families attended a workshop where we discussed the importance of healthy eating.

We discussed some of the challenges parents face, as well as some possible solutions.Here at school, we encourage healthy eating.

CLICK HERE The Importance of Healthy Eating

We are so pleased to announce the opening of our new Educational Outdoor Learning Lab!
Increasing evidence shows that positive experiences in nature lead to numerous cognitive, emotional, and physical benefits.

CLICK HERE Many Benefits of Outdoor Learning

The 10 empowering Body Safety skills will go a long way in keeping children safe from sexual abuse, and assisting them to grow into assertive and confident teenagers and adults.

CLICK HERE Teaching Children About Body Safety