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

For children, separation anxiety is a natural part of going to school. A child’s response to separation is often unique to personality and temperament. Some children easily accommodate to new situations while other children do not. This article gives some suggestions to ease your child’s anxiety.

Click Here - A few thoughts on separation anxiety

We have enjoyed a great year together!  Some of our students will be leaving PECEC to start Kindergarten in the Fall.

Starting kindergarten can be an anxious or an exciting experience for children. They enter an unfamiliar environment and spend time with strangers, but they also make new friends, meet new teachers, and learn new skills. Getting off to a good start is important! Please enjoy the following article for a few tips for starting Kindergarten, and have a great summer!

Click Here - Starting Kindergarten

A healthy childhood depends on play. Play is not a break from other daily learning activities; play is active learning at its peak. It is through play that kids construct knowledge of their physical, social, and emotional world.

But, increasingly, children’s invaluable “play time” is spent mindlessly swiping or passively staring at a screen. Time spent in this morphed concept of “play” is displacing time spent in active play.

Screen-Free Week, this year celebrated from April 29 – May 5, challenges participants to unplug and “rediscover the joys of life away from screens”. An hour once dedicated to TV can become an hour of creative play, reading, or enjoying nature. Screen-Free Week gives families an opportunity to explore other options, try out new activities, and reconsider their future media use.

Please read the following article to learn more about the importance of screen-free time.
You may find it helpful as warmer weather approaches and there are more opportunities for outdoor play.

Click Here: Screen-Free Week

The problem-solving approach to social conflict is a strategy Pemberton Early Childhood teachers use as a way to help children learn to resolve social conflicts. Conflict resolution strategies can also be used at home, to help children grow in their ability and confidence in resolving conflicts.

Please read the attached article.You can copy the link and paste it in your browser.

Click Here: Problem-Solving Approach to Social Conflict