Tips to Help Your Child Welcome a New Experience

Moving from preschool to a Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten class is a big deal and chances are that you are as worried about it as much (or more) as your little one is. It is understandable that some children may become clingier in the days leading up to the new classroom or for the first few weeks while they are settling into this new experience. It’s important that you demonstrate patience and love during this time as well as positivity and excitement. If you are outwardly appearing sad or worried, your child will most likely take their emotional cue from you and react in the same manner.

See our tips below to help your child make a smooth transition to their new learning environment:

Getting Ready for Pre-K

  • Be sure to attend open-houses, visitor’s days, or family socials scheduled for your child’s new class.

  • Select a variety of interesting books that emphasize the fun and new experiences children have at Pre-K to read aloud to your child in the weeks prior to their first day.

  • Share stories of when you or your child’s siblings were in Pre-K.

  • Talk to your child about what their day at Pre-K will be like. (Be sure to ask ahead for a schedule so that you can tell your child about all of the activities.)

  • Have your child start their new bedtime and wake-up routine a week or two before school begins so that they can get used to the change and you have time to adjust it as needed.

  • Let your child help you choose a new backpack and their first day of school clothes.

  • Listen to your child when they talk about Pre-K. Do they seem happy or scared? If your child regresses in their potty training or shows aggression or separation anxiety, it’s okay. It’s only temporary. Listen to their worries and be understanding.

  • Find time to play “First day at Pre-K” with your child and their babies. Act out how you hope her first day will be, including kissing mommy or daddy good-bye and then playing with their new friends.

  • Make sure that you fill out all of the necessary forms including any medical concerns or food allergies, emergency contacts, and info about your child.

When the BIG DAY Arrives

  • Wake up early enough so that your child isn’t rushed in getting dressed or eating breakfast.

  • Share breakfast with your child and use the time to talk about what they should expect (how you will drop them off, what will happen next, if they will take a nap, and who will pick them up).

  • Keep your morning conversation positive and exciting.

  • Help your child feel more comfortable by letting them take a special stuffed animal, blanket or family photo with them to school.

  • Don’t leave your child at school without saying goodbye. Plan to only stay for 15-20 minutes. That should be long enough to explore the classroom and make your child comfortable.

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Choosing the Right Preschool for Your Child

Choosing the Right Preschool for Your Child
Who knew there were so many curriculum choices and other considerations when deciding to send your young child to preschool? For first-time parents, the curriculum information as well as the search and enrollment process can be overwhelming. Below is some basic information about the more common early childhood learning concepts and some questions to help in your search.

Early Childhood Curriculum Models

Bank Street (also known as the Developmental Interaction Approach)
Developed by the Bank Street College in New York City, this method uses a play-based approach that believes children are active learners, explorers, experimenters and artists benefitting from a diverse curriculum. Teaching focuses on history, geography and anthropology as this approach consider the world to be the best teaching tool.

HighScope
Many community-based programs tend to follow this research-based approach of “active participatory learning.” The philosophy of HighScope is that children learn best, building language and cognitive skills, through hands-on experience with people, materials, events and ideas. Classrooms are set up for specific types of play and learning, and academic areas.

Montessori
The Montessori approach was formed more than a century ago in Rome, Italy, by a pediatrician/psychiatrist and is a child-centered method that emphasizes the development of the whole child with teachers as guides to a child’s learning. While play-based learning is important in Montessori, there is a focus on academics and children learn at their own pace. Generally, programs include children ages three, four and five together in one classroom so that the older children serve as role models. It is not unusual for a child to have the same teacher for all three years which helps to strengthen the teacher-child relationship.

Reggio Emilia
Developed in Reggio Emilia, Italy, after World War II, this project-based learning approach was created to help children become better world citizens. It emphasizes communications, relationships, choice and problem-solving. Many of the projects originate from a child’s question or interest, and the teachers are there to help them explore and frame the activities. This method incorporates academics through play using natural materials instead of memorization.

Waldorf
Waldorf education is a play-based approach that engages the five senses. It emphasizes creativity and imagination over academics (meaning no handouts, tests or desks) and is known for its strong environmental and outdoor programs. Waldorf values the development of a child’s individualism and curiosity. Like Montessori, it is often has mixed-age classrooms and the same teacher for multiple years. This approach does not include computers, video or electronics for learning and prefers children play with natural materials instead of synthetic or electronic toys.

Other Learning Methods
Be sure to check into other preschool philosophies including Language Immersion, Parent Cooperatives (Co-ops), Outdoor, Inclusive and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).

Questions to ask during your search

  • Is the child care program licensed, Quality-Rated, and/or NAEYC certified?

  • How do the teachers and program communicate information and news to parents?

  • What is the ratio of children to teachers?

  • How does the preschool approach academics?

  • What is a daily routine like?

  • What is the expectation for parent involvement?

  • How often and for how long do children get to go outside?

  • Does the school or parent provide the child’s meals and snacks while at school?

 You can find more questions, tips and suggestions at www.QualityCareForChildren.com.

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Good Communication is Important for the Success of Any Relationship

Parents should seek to develop a strong connection with their child’s care provider as they both have a common goal: to help their child thrive and succeed in life. These early relationships help children feel loved and cared for, enabling them to learn important social-emotional skills and develop in every other aspect of their mental and physical health.

 Read the factors below to determine if you have a strong relationship with your child’s care provider or if you have work to do.

 Strong:

  • Do you greet your child’s primary teachers and other staff by first name every day?

  • Are you a good listener when your child care provider is sharing concerns with you about your child?

  • Do you regularly share important things about your child’s life? Such as that your child got a poor night’s sleep or that they are having a hard time with allergies?

  • Changes in family life, like a new job, a move, family visitors, or a divorce, are important events in your child’s life that could induce behavior changes and should be shared with the provider.

  • Do you take an interest in your child care provider’s life? Ask about their families, weekends, or special interests.

  • Show up for all meetings and conferences.

  • Collaborate with your child care team to help in the class when needed and support the program’s special activities.

  • Do you regularly tell and demonstrate to your child’s caregiver that you appreciate them?

Average:

  • You greet your child’s teacher and staff during drop-off or pick-up but do not linger to see if you can help or to talk with the teacher.

  • You attend one or more planned activities at the program.

  • You are congenial and open to feedback when discussing your child.

  • You ask how your child is doing during the day and what they are doing in the classroom.

Weak:

  • Do you know your child care provider’s first name?

  • Do you regularly drop-off or pick-up your child while on the phone?

  • Do you send your child to school sick?

  • Have you missed one or more planned meetings or conferences with your child’s caregiver?

  • Do you talk negatively about your child’s teacher to other parents or your child?

  • Are you open to suggestions or conversation about your child’s learning and behavior?

  • Are you responsive when the child care program or teacher contacts you?

All relationships need nurturing, clear communication that includes active listening, and respect to be strong. Below are some resources with advice on maintaining a positive relationship with your child’s teachers.

More information:

Create Good Eating and Physical Habits to Keep Your Child Healthy

In the U.S., approximately 7 in 10 adults and 1 in 3 children are overweight or have obesity. You can help your whole family maintain a healthy weight by balancing good, nutritious eating foods with physical activity. The earlier you start introducing fresh, non-processed foods to your children, the better they are as you are assisting them in creating healthy eating habits that will last for a lifetime.

Health Problems Associated with Being Overweight:

  • Low-self esteem

  • Being bullied

  • Type 2 diabetes

  • Asthma

  • Heart disease

  • Sleep problems

  • Anxiety and stress

Get Physical!

  • Be more physically active as a family: Go on walks, bicycle rides, visit skating rinks, and have fun at your local pool with family swim races.

  • Let your children take turns choosing family activities that include exercise.

  • Limit screen time, which includes all computers, screen readers, TVs, smart watches, video games and smart phones. And, no TVs in your child’s room.

  • Make sure your child is getting enough sleep each night as kids who do not are at higher risk of being overweight or obese.

Set Up Healthy Eating Habits

  • Eat as a family as much as possible and do not cook multiple meals to compensate for “picky” eaters.

  • Plan healthy meals with as many fresh fruits and vegetables as possible. Eliminate, or include less, foods and drinks with added sugars, that are high in sodium or carbs, and that are processed.

  • Serve reasonably sized portions and limit seconds to only fruits or vegetables.

  • Encourage your family to drink lots of water.

  • Let your children help plan meals, shop for foods or work in a garden with you, and prepare meals.

  • Provide a healthy breakfast with a protein to start the day and offer healthy snacks to help control hunger between meals.

What Should You Do If Your Child Is Overweight?

If you have concerns about your child’s weight, make an appointment to visit your pediatrician. When you make the appointment, share then that you are specifically concerned about your child’s weight so that the doctor can be sensitive about your concerns in front of your child.

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Keep Summer Fun, Interesting and Full of Learning

Most of us can’t wait till summer and once it arrives, we wonder what in the world are we going to do with our kids while we work, attend classes, and manage the household. If your normal child care arrangement isn’t a year-round program, hopefully you have already arranged for summer care through a child care program, camp or with a nanny.

Regardless, we have some ideas on how you can keep your children busy learning and having fun this summer.

Field Trips:

  • Plan a weekly (or biweekly) trip to the library.

  • Park meet-ups with other families and classmates in the mornings or afternoons when it is cooler.

  • Free family museum days!

  • Visit your local fire station. Bake some cookies to take with you.

  • Take advantage of your local attractions: zoos, botanical gardens, puppet shows and theatrical productions for children, and movies.

  • Cuddle and play with some cats and dogs in animal shelters.

  • Virtual field trips such as the Underground Railroad and the White House.

Summer Learning:

  • Stock an area with plenty of writing and art materials.

  • Create sicker stories.

  • Go on a word hunt.

  • Use chalk in the driveway or on sidewalks to help teach shapes, colors and numbers.

  • Make a “feelings” book to teach your child about emotions.

  • Make screen time count by watching a learning show like “Magic School Bus Rides Again” or playing new games from learning apps WITH your child.

  • Designate one day each week for your child to help you cook a meal. Use recipes, measurements and safe kitchen tools.

If you have not confirmed a child care plan yet this summer, it is not too late. While there may be many camps and programs full, there are resources to help you find just what you are looking for whether it is full-time or occasional care.

Child Care Resources:

Field Trip and Education Resources:

What Should Parents Know About Childhood Mental Health?

Children’s emotions are mercurial, changing from one moment to the next and their behaviors follow suit. Young children respond to emotional and traumatic events very different than older children and adults which makes it hard to distinguish the difference between typical child development behaviors and ones that are cause for concern.

While some children are born with mental health issues, others that have been frequently exposed to traumatic circumstances and toxic stress such as family stress, prolonged poverty, poor child care conditions, abuse, chronic neglect, domestic violence, or parental mental health or substance abuse problems are very vulnerable. Because the early brain is developing at a faster rate than any other period, these negative life events can cause mental health problems to emerge quickly after they have happened or later in life.

What Are Childhood Mental Health Disorders and Symptoms?
Occasional challenging behaviors, while frustrating, do not indicate a mental disorder. However, children can show clear characteristics of anxiety disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and neurodevelopmental disabilities, such as autism, at a very early age. 

Parents and care givers should pay attention to serious changes in the way their child typically learns, behaves, handles their emotions and interacts with others during their day. Here are some behaviors to keep an eye on:

  • How do they play with friends or while alone?

  • Changes in appetite or sleep.

  • Repeated thoughts of death.

  • Any changes in speaking?

  • Signs of being upset, like sadness, crying easily and often, and loss of joy.

  • Once they are bothered, do they have a hard time rebounding and getting through the rest of their day?

  • Are they having problems in more than one setting, such as at school and at home?

  • Exhibiting behaviors associated with younger children, such as sucking their thumb or bedwetting.

  • Self-destructive behavior or talk of hurting others.

Toxic stress and other mental health issues, if not treated early, can impair a child’s self-esteem, their relationships with peers, school readiness, academic achievement, physical and mental health, as well as later cause them to make unhealthy life decisions and repeat some of the same behaviors with their own children.

Provide a Positive Environment for Your Child’s Mental Growth
The science around a child’s brain and development indicate that the foundation for positive mental health is formed early in life based on relationships with parents, caregivers, family members and peers. Here’s a few ways to help build sound mental health in your child:

  • Frequently demonstrate that you love your child and tell them “I love you” often.

  • Teach your child about compassion, and exemplify it in front of them.

  • Be understanding in situations with your child and others, and help them to learn patience and understanding with others.

  • Establish trust with your child at an early age.

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