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What You Need to Know About Your Child's Language Development

Tue, 25 May 2021 14:24:00 GMT

What do parents need to know about speech and language development during the early years of their child's life? From when to expect your infant's first words to how daycare or preschool can help build their communication skills, take a look at the top speech and language questions parents of zero to three-year-olds have answered.

When Will Your Child Talk?

Children can communicate well before they can speak clear words. The first word your child speaks is a major milestone. But this major step towards language development isn't the start of speech or communication.

Between birth and the first three months , most infants make cooing noises, cry for different reasons, and can recognize certain voices. By four to six months of age, babies start to babble. You may notice your child making noticeable sounds such as "ba" or "pa." At this age infants also start to giggle and laugh and may make specific sounds when they're happy or angry.

Between seven months of age and one year, some children will speak their first words. These are typically short words with repetitive sounds, such as "ma-ma" or "da-da." Along with your child's first words, seven- to 12-month-olds may babble in long strings of sounds, use gestures or pointing to objects, and imitate the sounds you make.

Do All Children Speak By Age One?

While some infants have mastered a few short words by 12 months, others may not speak until after one year. Language development isn't set in stone. Even though there are expected milestones, some children may reach these marks earlier or later. If you have concerns about your infant's speech, talk to an early childhood or pediatric professional. A specialist can evaluate your child and make sure they're on track.

What Happens After the First Few Words?

You'll likely see a language boom in the next few years of your child's life. Between ages one and two children start to build a vocabulary of easy-to-speak and simple words. Your child may also start to put together two-word sentences or ask questions. After age two your toddler will continue to build more multi-word sentences. They may also have words for most of the people and objects they interact with.

Between 18- and 23-months, children may have a vocabulary that includes 50 words, according to the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. Even though your toddler may have dozens of words or more, their speech may seem unclear. As your child develops the motor skills necessary to communicate and builds their language abilities, their speech will become clearer.

How Can Daycare Help Your Child's Language Development?

The more practice your child gets speaking and communicating, the easier it will get for them. Even though your child can practice these skills at home or in other out-ofschool places, daycare provides plenty of opportunities to build language skills.

Not only will your child get the chance to listen and talk to adults and their teachers at daycare, they can build new language skills through peer-to-peer interactions. The older your child gets, the more social interactions they'll have with the other students in their daycare class.

Along with the chance to use and grow language and communication skills, daycare can help you to identify potential speech delays or issues. Whether you have concerns about your child's speech or their teacher picks up a problem, you can use the early childhood and daycare environment as a resource. Even though the daycare teacher isn't a specialist in speech delays or therapy, they can provide you with daily insights into your child's development and connect you with speech-language professionals.

Does your child need a new daycare center? Contact Small World Early Learning & Development Center for more information.

When Are Crafts More Than Just Projects? Art and Child Development

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 18:46:00 GMT

Are the crafts your child creates in daycare just cute projects to hang on the fridge - or are they more? If your child is an avid artist and enjoys everything from finger paint and clay to crayons, take a look at the developmental benefits early childhood arts and crafts projects provide and how these activities can help your child learn and grow.

Fine Motor Development

This type of motor skill includes the use of small muscles in the hands and wrists. Dexterity, eye-hand coordination, and hand/finger muscle control are fine motor skills your preschool-aged child is currently building. Fine motor skills are necessary to engage in activities of daily life, such as eating, dressing, or using the restroom.

These skills also make it possible for your child to grow as a student. Without fine motor abilities, your child wouldn't have the ability to hold a pencil and write their name, type on a computer, or cut with scissors. How did the cute collage or pretty painted picture your child made at daycare help them develop fine motor skills? Art can improve fine motor development in several ways, such as:

Small muscle control. When your child holds a crayon to draw lines or uses safety scissors to cut a piece of paper, they're building hand and finger muscle control.

Different types of movements. Your child's hands and fingers don't only move in one way. Art can help your child explore different ways to grasp and hold art tools (such as a paintbrush or marker). Eye-hand coordination. It takes a level of eye-hand coordination to draw shapes, paint on paper, sculpt with clay, or cut with scissors. The more your child creates art or crafts, the more practice they'll get coordinating eye and hand movements.

The greater variety of arts-and-crafts projects your child tries, the more fine motor skills they'll have the opportunity to build. Think about the ways your child uses their fingers, hands, and wrists to draw versus how they finger paint. You'll see how an array of art activities can improve the different types of fine motor abilities your child will use right now and for years to come.

Cultural Sensitivity and Awareness Development

Physical skills aren't the only abilities your child develops in the preschool years. As they grow, your child needs to understand the world around them. This includes other people and other cultures. Arts-and-crafts activities provide the perfect opportunity for the young child to explore their culture and other cultures in an age-appropriate, concrete way.

How can daycare-based art activities help your young child learn about other cultures? Some of the ways these projects can tackle questions about cultures and help children develop cultural awareness and sensitivity include:

World art. Your child may not only create art. They may also learn about or view art other people create. The opportunity to see and experience art from other areas of the word can help young children better understand other cultures outside of their own.

Diversity in subjects. People don't all look the same. Your child can use their own art to explore this idea - and to learn more about who they are. Preschool portrait projects and similar art activities can help children better understand that people are different.

Identity development. Art activities can help the young child discover who they are and feel pride in themselves and their culture. A rainbow palette of paint or box of crayons can help preschoolers create art that reflects who they see themselves as and learn more about their identity.

Diversity and identity go hand-and-hand in the development of cultural awareness. As your child explores arts and crafts activities that focus on cultural or identity concepts, they can begin to understand themselves, their community, and the world around them in different ways.

Is your child ready to start preschool? Contact Small World Early Learning and Development Centers for more information.

How to Prepare Your Preschooler for Their Day

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 19:39:00 GMT

A lot happens in a preschooler’s day, and young students need to be well-prepared for the social, cognitive, and emotional learning they'll go through. If you have a young child who attends preschool, learn how you can help them get ready for school each day.

Go Them to Bed on Time

Start by making sure your child goes to bed on time each night. Exactly when preschoolers should be in bed varies from family to family, and the best time for your child will depend on their schedule, your schedule, and your family's lifestyle. Whatever time you decide is best for them, however, stick to it. Regularly get your child to bed on time.

Help Them Get to Sleep

Getting your child into bed will almost certainly be the biggest challenge in this process, but just getting to bed on time isn't sufficient for night-before preparation. In addition to physically getting your preschooler into bed, you need to help them get to sleep. Discover the three main things you should do so your preschooler can sleep once they are in bed.

1. Eliminate Sugar From Post-Dinner Snacks and Beverages

Shortly after having a lot of sugar, children often experience a sugar rush and become hyperactive. If a sugar rush occurs during bedtime or after your child is in bed, your child’s hyperactivity could be counterproductive to getting them to sleep. Cutting out sugars after dinner is an easy way to prevent potential bedtime sugar rushes.

2. Build a Calming Period Into Your Child's Bedtime Routine

A calming period will give your child a chance to decompress and process their day. Your child will be able to clear their mind so they can have a peaceful night of rest. Reading books, telling stories, and singing songs are all good calming activities.

3. Institute a No-Screens Rule at Bedtime if You Haven't Already

No one, least of all preschoolers, should be looking at a smartphone, tablet, or television while in bed. Blue light emitted by screens has been shown to keep people awake, so consider taking the screen away at bedtime.

Prepare the Night Before
Before you go to bed, make sure that all of your child's things are ready for the next morning. Depending on what they need, you might:
Lay out their clothes
Put together a snack and lunch
Gather snow gear (during winter)
Pack a backpack

Taking care of these items the night before reduces how much stress you will feel in the morning. If you're in a rush to get out the door, being prepared will help everyone leave one time. Even if you don't need to hurry in the morning, getting things ready will let you better enjoy the morning and show your preschooler what it means to be responsible.

Wake Up Early in the Morning

Many preschoolers don't need help waking up early in the morning, but you might. Get up early enough so that you and your child can have a relaxing morning. You don't need to cook a four-course breakfast, but even just having a bowl of cereal together will help both of you connect and set the tone for the day.

Eat a Healthy Breakfast

Make breakfast for your child, and make sure it's a healthy meal. Filling foods that will sustain them until snack time will ensure they don't become hangry — hungry and angry. Unhealthy foods laden with sugar may fill your preschooler up, but they could lose focus before snack time.

Your investment in preschool and getting ready for each day of class will pay dividends later in your preschooler’s life. To learn more about the benefits of preschool or enroll your child in a preschool program, contact us at Small World Early Learning and Development Center.

First-Time Preschool Parent? Common Questions Answered

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 16:44:00 GMT

Is this your child’s first experience with preschool? If you're not sure whether to send your child to pre-K, where to send them, or what else you need to know about the early childhood education environment, take a look at the answers to common preschool questions first-time parents have.

Is Your Child Ready for Preschool?

There's no universal (or easy) answer to this question. If you're not sure whether you should send your child to a pre-K program, or they should wait a year or more, consider:

Your child's age. Preschoolers are older than toddlers but younger than kindergarteners. This means preschool could include children from ages about three or four years of age.

The program's requirements. Some programs have age requirements for preschool classrooms. Ask the childcare center, school, or program if your child's age qualifies them for the pre-K class cutoff. If not, they may have a pre-preschool, toddler, or transition year option.

Your child's developmental level. Not all age-appropriate children are ready for preschool. Assess your child's developmental versus the childcare center’s program. If you're not sure where to start, bring your child for a tour of their potential center and discuss their developmental needs with the educators.

While your child may have top academic skills already, literacy and early math aren't the only areas to consider. Preschool classes often require the ability to concentrate or focus for periods of time, emotional readiness, and some degree of independence. If you’re still unsure, talk to the childcare center’s director or educators about these and other potential issues (such as potty training).

Which Program Is the Right Preschool?

Again, you won't find one standard or universal answer to this question. Children are individuals — and this means your child may need a different type of preschool program than your neighbor's child or your sister's child. To select the just-right program for your child:

Visit preschools. Get a first-hand glimpse of what to expect from the program. Schedule a visit to observe the preschool class, get a tour, and meet the educational staff. Bring your child with you to see how they react to the environment.

Educate yourself. Read more about educational philosophies or types of schools to learn about what types of preschool programs are available.

Look for supportive staff. Even though curriculum matters, the people who teach it are essential. Look for professionals who are supportive, caring, and knowledgeable about early educational practices.

Even though your friends or family members may rave about a specific pre-K program, it may not meet your child's individual needs. Focus on finding the right match.

What Else Do You Need to Know About Preschool?

After a few visits, you will likely choose a preschool program. Even though you may register your child and be ready to go, you could still have questions. You may still want or need to know:

What happens if your child doesn't adjust immediately? Some children take more time than others to feel comfortable in a new preschool program. If your child is nervous, resists, or has separation anxiety, talk to the teacher and give your preschooler time to adjust.

Is one year of preschool enough? Some children are old enough and developmentally ready to move on to kindergarten after one year in pre-K. But others may need more time. Discuss this issue with the teacher.

What should my child bring to preschool? Ask the teacher about the practical daily needs your child may have at the program. Will they need to bring lunch? A snack? An extra set of clothing?

As your child progresses through pre-K, you may find you have new or changing questions. Rely on the center professionals as a resource to help you (and your child) through this process.

Is your child ready for preschool? Contact our staff at Small World Early Learning and Development Centers for more information.

4 Ways Prekindergarten Prepares Children for School

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 18:54:00 GMT

Prekindergarten is an important step in a child's development and education. Around 30% of children attend some form of preschool or prekindergarten classes. For some parents, prekindergarten is a fundamental option for childcare when one or both caregivers work.

However, prekindergarten is so much more than a safe place to leave your three- or four-year old while you work during the day. A good prekindergarten class boosts your child's potential for future success in school and life. Read on to learn more about these four ways prekindergarten prepares children for school.

1. Prekindergarten Helps Develop Confidence

Small children often lack confidence when they begin regular kindergarten in school. A new kindergarten class is full of strange children and a teacher they probably never met. Children frequently experience separation anxiety when they must leave their parents and stay apart for several hours. This type of behavior is normal for children.

Fortunately, the introduction of your child to prekindergarten helps them develop confidence necessary to succeed in school when they become five years of age. A prekindergarten classroom typically has fewer students. A smaller class size appears less intimidating and may help alleviate many fears your child may have about strangers or separation.

Activities your child engages in that mimic school activities while in prekindergarten also help them to gain confidence they can draw upon later. For instance, drawing, coloring, playing games, and listening to stories introduce expectations they will encounter in school. This type of confidence will stay with them as they begin school.

2. Prekindergarten Reinforces Healthy Eating Habits

You probably make sure your child eats healthy food at home by the foods you prepare and share with them at mealtime. If your child attends a full day of prekindergarten, you want to be sure they continue to receive a range of nutritional food choices.

Prekindergarten provides healthy breakfast, lunch, and snacks for your child that reinforces healthy eating habits you already established at home. Your child will learn that healthy food is not just a phase that parents insist upon, rather a real-life expectation that helps them to grow healthy and strong.

3. Prekindergarten Prepares Fine Motor Skills for Literacy

Fine motor skills are small muscle movements necessary for precision and hand-eye coordination. Children can develop these skills when they engage in activities in prekindergarten where they must manipulate objects with their fingers like:

Coloring with crayons
Stringing beads
Molding clay
Using zippers, buttons, and snaps
These types of pursuits also help prepare their fine motor skills crucial for literacy. Great fine motor skills make your child better able to grasp a pencil and form letters and numbers. In prekindergarten, play is actually a child's work as they learn literacy skills they will use in school.

4. Prekindergarten Familiarizes Members of a Diverse Society

Prekindergarten is an effective way to introduce your child to more than good learning habits. Each class is an opportunity for children to become familiar with other members of a diverse ethnic society. Exposure to children that appear, act, speak, or believe differently helps cultivate acceptance and tolerance for others.

Part of being a good student and a good citizen is the ability to behave kindly toward others. Prekindergarten helps achieve this as well as introduces your child to proper social etiquette. A classroom setting models proper behavior for when it's time to wait in line, take turns, share toys, and use polite words.

When your son or daughter is ready to transition to prekindergarten, Small World Early Learning and Development Center is the right environment. Contact us and find out more about our prekindergarten programs.

Toddler Mealtime Struggles and How to Handle Them

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 22:30:00 GMT

Like all parents, you want your toddler to eat a well-balanced diet filled with a wide variety of healthy foods to help them obtain all of the nutrients their bodies and minds need to thrive. However, you may be having a tough time meeting this goal due to the challenges you face with your toddler at mealtimes.

Read on to learn about several common toddler mealtime challenges and steps you can take to help overcome them.

Problem #1: Child is a Picky Eater

Many toddlers are picky eaters. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, children who are relatively picky eaters still tend to obtain all of the nutrients they need from their diets over the course of a week. Since some vitamins are stored in the body for months after they are consumed, your child does not need to consume every single vitamin and mineral they need to thrive on a daily basis to stay well-nourished.

However, you should still encourage your picky child to consume new, healthy foods by:

Introducing a new food at least several times. Toddlers often need to smell, touch, and taste a new food several times before they will even attempt to eat it.

Serving new foods with old favorites. Add a new healthy food to an existing favorite dish instead of serving it alone.

Making small food flavor changes. Many toddlers will only eat bland foods, although many nutrient-rich foods have strong flavors. To encourage your child to embrace foods with strong flavors, add a tiny amount of a new flavorful ingredient, such as garlic, to the food and gradually increase how much you add over time.

Never over-pressure your child to eat a new food before they are ready because pressuring your child to eat an item they do not want to rarely works and instead just makes mealtime more stressful for toddler and parent.

Problem #2: Toddler Refuses Meals

If your toddler occasionally refuses meals altogether, then you will be happy to hear that this is usually normal and no cause for alarm. Unlike adults who have become accustomed to eating at scheduled meal times every day, toddlers typically eat only when they are hungry.

However, if you allow your child to drink over 16–20 ounces of milk per day, then beware that excess milk consumption could be leading to meal refusal. A toddler will often become so full after drinking a large serving of milk that they are not hungry enough to then eat a meal.

When meals are frequently skipped due to excess milk consumption, your child's diet can become nutritionally unbalanced. Begin limiting your child's milk consumption to 16 ounces a day if your child is between 1–2 years or 20 ounces if your child is age 3–4 to prevent nutritional deficiencies in your child.

Problem #3: Mealtimes are Always a Mess

Many babies between the ages of 8 and 18 months go through a phase where they enjoy throwing and dropping food on the floor after it is served to them. While this phase can be a nuisance, many children simply grow out of it over time.

However, some children develop a food-throwing habit during this time period and need a little encouragement from their parents to break this bad habit.

To help your child break this habit, try serving them a smaller initial portion of food, then providing more of the food item when they finish the existing portion. This technique limits the amount of food they have on their plate, so they are less likely to see some of it as extra they can play with.

Also, ask them to place their unwanted food pieces in a special bowl on their tray or table. Some children get into the habit of throwing food on the ground because they do not want to eat it and think that only throwing it on the ground will firmly communicate this message to their caretakers until they are provided a special place for unwanted food.

Follow these tips to help tackle mealtime challenges with your toddler. Contact the staff at Small World Early Learning and Development Center for all of your toddler daycare and child development needs.

What Parents Need to Know About Preschool Class Size

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 14:54:00 GMT

Does preschool class size matter? Take a look at what you need to know about your child's first early education experience, teacher-to-student ratios, health/safety, and pre-K class size.

What Are the Education-Class Size Connections?

Research shows a link between high-quality early childhood programs and learning or developmental gains over time. According to a study of 21 large-scale preschools by the Learning Policy Institute (LPI), quality pre-K helps to prepare young children for school and may result in learning gains not seen in those who don't go to a preschool or early education program.

What does class size have to do with a quality early educational experience? The smaller the class size, the more opportunities each child has for individualized attention. This can help your child to build new skills, grow, and develop in ways they might not otherwise get. While class size isn't the only contributing factor, it is an essential part of any quality pre-K program.

Not only will a smaller class size increase the potential for individual attention, but it also allows each teacher to learn more about their students. This helps to foster the student-teacher relationship, creating a caring, supportive, and comfortable learning environment.

What Are the Ratio-Class Size Connections?

The teacher-to-student-ratio may sound like early childhood education jargon. But this term means exactly what the name says — the ratio of teachers or qualified adult staff members (such as classroom aides or teacher's assistants) to the number of children in each classroom.

Teacher-to-student ratios provide a framework for quality educational practices and adequate supervision. Each state has its own acceptable maximum ratios used for licensing. Failure to meet the state's required ratios is a serious infraction that could result in the loss of a child care facility license or the delay of a license approval.

State ratios aren't random numbers. These figures are set by professionals in the field and take into account developmental, educational, health, and safety goals or requirements. Along with the number of staff members per the number of children, the state regulates the maximum group size.

The current Pennsylvania staff-to-child ratios for preschool-aged children are one adult per 10 children with a maximum group size of 20 (with two or more staff members). The teacher-to-child ratio for older toddlers is one to six (maximum group size of 12) and the ratio for younger toddlers is one to five (maximum group size of 10).

What Are the Health/Safety-Class Size Connections?

Preschool class size doesn't only impact each child's ability to learn or develop. The overall number of students also has an effect on some types of health and safety issues—especially when social distancing is a requirement.

The more people packed into one indoor space, the easier it is for viral particles (and bacteria, such as streptococcus) to spread. To decrease the risks of illness, preschools limit the number of children in each room. Even though the state group maximum for a pre-K classroom is 20 students (in Pennsylvania), it's not likely every program has the physical space to safely hold this number of children.

Unlike teens and adults, young children may not understand the health and safety reasons to social distance. To follow social distancing guidelines of six-feet or more, some preschools may need to decrease class size. This gives each child their own play or learning area and helps the teachers to separate students easily.

Is your child ready to start their first early learning experience in a preschool program? Contact Small World Early Learning and Development Center for more information about the programs we offer and how we can assist your child’s learning.

Every Step of the Way: How Your Child Grows

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 17:14:00 GMT

As new parents, you may worry if your baby doesn't roll over when they hit four months or start reading by the age of three. But each step in the process is an achievement and each milestone worth celebrating, whether this is your first child or fifteenth.

Use a timeline like the one below to track your baby's development throughout the months, while recognizing that your little one will accomplish what they need to in due time.

Year One

Children have a lot of learning to do when they leave the womb, so the first few months are mostly about adjusting to the outside world. In the first few months, your baby will learn how to move limbs, process the information all the senses bring in, and grab for things if he or she wants them. Muscles start to develop as time goes on, from head and neck muscles at the beginning to arms and hands as time goes on.

Additionally, their mobility will develop before you know it. One day (between four and six months on average) they'll be able to push up on their arms and roll from side to side. Then around seven or eight months they'll be crawling and scooting around. As early as eight months, but usually around a year, your little one will start walking, and you'll have all you can do to keep up with them after that.

Year Two

While playfulness and responses to some outside stimulus (clapping hands or copying facial expressions) start to develop in the first year, year two is when your child will learn to communicate more.

Talking happens on a very loose timeline, and input from caregivers makes a lot of difference, but between nine months and two years old you should start hearing words. Children this age can begin to identify colors, numbers, animals, and body parts if taught.

At two, most children will learn to understand interactions with others one way or another. In a carefully structured environment, they can learn how to handle situations that would have scared them their first year and explore with more freedom than their limited mobility allowed before. Two-year-olds are often curious and want to learn about things, so when your child communicates a question, take the opportunity to teach.

Year Three

Social skills begin to develop early on and continue to grow as your child learns more about the world around them. Language is crucial in these first few years, and your toddler might well be able to carry on conversations and identify themselves or others with ease. Connecting details to people, like names and ages, will grow easier; and ambitious parents may start teaching them to count or memorize the alphabet. You'll have to judge what your child can do.

Beyond

The milestones start slowing down after the first couple of years, but that's no reason to stop celebrating new skills and progress. As language comprehension continues to grow and your little one interacts with others, they'll have a lot to learn. Encourage them when they do well and help them understand when they do something wrong so they can learn how to evaluate and adapt their behaviors of their own accord.

While the timeline above is a good general indicator of what you can expect, remember that every child will develop at his or her own pace. Stay in touch with your pediatrician and any childcare providers to make sure your little one gets everything necessary to grow and function in the world.

An expert preschool will work with you to monitor your child's progress and promote healthy growth environments for every kid under their care. For the quality care and nurturing your baby deserves, use Small World Early Learning and Development Centers, a group committed to helping your child reach their full potential.

Boost Your Little One's Brain: 4 Things Parents Can Do

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 12:32:00 GMT

You've heard many times before that a child's infancy and pre-school years are crucial for their development. When an infant or toddler is first learning about the world, they set patterns of learning and thinking that set the tone for the rest of their lives. If you want to make sure your child is equipped for their futures, you can implement some of these strategies to help them along.

1. Talk and Read Often

Babies learn language through exposure, but simply putting on music or TV for them won't connect with their minds correctly. Instead, talk to them as much as you can during the time you are with them - some suggest exaggerating tones, sounds, facial expressions, and gestures so that the child can absorb all the facets of the language.

Reading is a helpful way to expose your child to more language, especially when you don't feel like you can talk all the time. When you read to your infant or toddler, even if they don't remember the information itself, they pick up broader skills in language and communication, as well as learning to connect the sounds you make with the pictures in their favorite books.

2. Build Broad Skills

While teaching your child to read by age three or speak bilingually by age two are admirable goals, they have more important things to learn during this time. Instead, focus on teaching them how to respond when they can't have their way, appropriate ways to interact with other people, and how to solve problems as they come up.

Learning how to deal with people is one of the reasons children need playdates and time with others their age. Many children who grow up focused on intellectual development have trouble with friendships, practical problem solving, or temper tantrums when they don't get their way. When you put several two-year-olds in the same room for extended times, they'll have to learn how to keep peace with each other.

Children don't come by this on their own, of course. You as the parent can guide your child in the right direction if you step in when things start going badly, help them figure out what went wrong and express it, and brainstorm with them to come up with a better way to do things next time. As your little one grows, they'll become more adaptable to the people and situations around them.

3. Be a Hands-On Parent

While being involved in your child's life is a given at this age, the focus here is on touch. Children can suffer in multiple developmental areas if their caregivers do not touch them or interact with them much physically. At every point in life, but especially during these developmental years, touch is critical for a healthy child.

By something as simple as picking your little one up, wiggling their fingers or toes when you say the word, playing pattycake, or stroking their nose to help them fall asleep, you can promote healthy, positive touch. Just a couple more bonuses of touch: it helps your little one realize they have your attention, and it helps their attention to focus on you as well.

4. Let Them Set the Pace

You may find yourself trying to do everything experts recommend, all at once, and drive your entire family crazy in doing so. In fact, your child doesn't need all of the brain stimulants, educational TV shows, bright lights, and loud toys. What they need most of all is you, their parent, and to play and learn at their own pace. If you let them do that, they have every chance to grow up happy and healthy.

Are you looking for a daycare that promotes your child's development? Check out Small World Early Learning & Development Center for a rich learning environment your child will love.

Your Child, Anxiety, and the Parent-Teacher Partnership: What to Know

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 20:46:00 GMT

Does your young child seem stressed or anxious? Major events and the changes a new normal require could lead to nervousness and anxiety. But that doesn't mean your child should or needs to live in fear. Take a look at how parents and preschools can work together to help children feel comfortable and confident.

Should You Worry About Your Child's Worrying?

You likely want your child to stride into daycare in the most fearless way possible. In an ideal world, fear, stress, and anxiety wouldn't exist. Even though you might want your child to live a completely stress-free life, some level of anxiety or nervousness is normal — especially if:

There is a major life event. This could include anything from the pandemic to a divorce. Any major change or upheaval in your child's life is likely to cause at least some stress. Anxiety or nervous behaviors are normal reactions to these out of your child's control situations.

There is a new transition. Is this your child's first day of daycare or their return to preschool after weeks or months at home? A change, such as the home-to-school transition, can cause stress or anxiety. Again, this is also a normal reaction.

There is a developmental reason. When infants develop the ability to understand object permanence and toddlers start to seek independence, they may also develop separation anxiety.

While any level of anxiety may seem worrisome, stress related to these causes is normal and often expected. If you have concerns about chronic stress, unexplained anxiety, or a developmental issue, talk to your child's teacher or pediatrician. The early childhood professional can help you to better understand your child's behaviors, offer encouragement, and provide you with referrals if needed.

Should You Discuss Stressful Events With Your Child?

Does your preschooler know something is different? Whether they overhear the news or notice a change in their daily life, the new information or transition may make them nervous. How can you help them to handle their anxiety? Unlike an older child, teen, or adult, a deep discussion may not successfully stop the stress. But this doesn't mean you should ignore your child's questions or anxieties.

You can help your child to overcome their temporary anxiety and feel happy and confident again. To discuss touchy topics with a young child in a way they'll appreciate and understand:

Stay calm. Your child can feel your fear or worry. Stay calm as you discuss any stressful situation. Even though you may feel anxious too, present your child with facts and not your emotional opinions.

Use simple language. Stick to language that's on your child's developmental level. Avoid jargon or long words. These may make your child lose interest or confuse them.

Reassure your child. Let your child know you're there for them — and so are the other adults in their life (such as their teachers).

Ask for questions. Whether your child suddenly has to wear a face mask to daycare, has a new teacher, is moving to a new school, or has another major change in their life, they likely have questions. Open the discussion up to any question your child has.

If you're still not sure how to talk to your preschooler, ask the educator. Their teacher can start a conversation during the daycare day or give you a few simple prompts to use at home. This type of parent-teacher partnership can help your child through temporary anxiety, make the preschool day easier, and give your child the confidence they need to succeed at school and at home.

Want to help your child start daycare or preschool successfully? Contact Small World Early Learning & Development Centers to learn more.

Understanding Mask Protocol for Children

Fri, 10 Jul 2020 17:05:00 GMT

Does your preschooler need to wear a face mask to daycare, the grocery store, or grandma's house? Take a look at the top school-related and developmental face covering questions parents of three- to five-year-olds have answered.

Do Children Have to Wear Face Coverings to Daycare?

The answer to this question depends on several factors. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children under age two should not wear face coverings. If your child is three and over, the decision to wear a mask to daycare depends on:

The local laws. Your state, city, or county may create rules that regulate the requirements of wearing face masks.

The daycare's policies. Along with the local laws, the daycare center may have a policy for face masks inside the center's building.

Your child's health. Children and adults who have trouble breathing or some types of medical conditions should not wear a covering.

Face mask rules may also depend on where your child spends time in daycare. Again, the specific requirements depend on your local area's laws. But your child may not need a mask if they are outdoors and can consistently stay at least six feet away from other people.

The state of Pennsylvania does require children two years and older to wear face coverings.

How Can You Help Your Child to Wear a Mask?

Some children don't like face masks. Even though you understand the purpose of a face, your young children may not have the cognitive skills to grasp this concept. It's normal for a young preschooler to question the rules or your requests. But at this stage of development, it's not likely they'll fully understand or care about the reasoning behind the rules.

If your child has questions about the face covering or won't wear it, you can help and:

Talk to the teacher. Whether your child needs to wear a mask at daycare or somewhere else, their daycare teacher has the developmental knowledge needed to help. Ask the teacher for ideas or strategies based on your child's developmental stage and needs.

Act as a role model. Wear a mask in front of your child, and maintain a positive attitude. You can also remind your child to look at their daycare teachers or other adults they know and love.

Use a pretend friend. Put a mask on your child's favorite stuffed animal or doll. This can make the process fun and more inviting.

Let your child choose. Your preschooler is developing their sense of independence. Give your child choices and allow them to select their own face covering.

Read picture books. While a lengthy lecture on the benefits of masks may do little to help your child, photos or illustrations in a children's book can make the process easier for your preschooler.

Your child may continue to question the mask or face covering. Use simple sentences to answer your preschooler. Avoid explanations that may frighten your child. Instead, focus on the idea that a mask can keep them healthy and happy.

How Does Motor Development Affect Mask-Wearing?

Your child's fine motor development may impact their ability to put on, adjust, or remove a mask. By age three, your child has the hand and finger skills to hold writing utensils, feed themselves, button clothing, and draw simple shapes. These growing skills can help them to put on/take off their mask.

To help your child improve fine motor skills and make mask-wearing easier:

Practice. Give your child plenty of time to practice putting on and taking off their mask.

Choose an easy to handle mask. Instead of complicated ties, choose a mask that slips on easily over your child's ears.

Use other fine motor activities. Other activities such as drawing or building with blocks can help to build fine motor skills. These general skills will help in other areas, such as mask-wearing.

As your child moves through the preschool years their fine motor skills will improve. This means a three-year-old may need more adult assistance with their mask than a five-year-old.

Is your child ready to start preschool? Contact Small World Early Learning & Development Center for more information

Is Your Chosen Daycare Soon Reopening? Help Your Preschooler Adjust

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 11:19:00 GMT

Is your child ready to go back to their regular early childhood education center after weeks or months away? Whether you went on vacation, the center had to close, you had to work from home recently, or there's another reason for your child's absence, take a look at the easy ways for your child to transition back into the daycare day.

Talk to Your Child

Even though your preschooler isn't ready for a deep discussion, they can talk about the upcoming change. If you're not sure how to broach the subject or start a conversation about their return to school:

Ask the educator. Talk to the teacher before your child's first day back at school. The early childhood educator has the knowledge and experience to tackle this type of subject in ways parents may not think about.

Ask your child. Open the conversation up to your child and let them take the lead. Start with a simple question, such as, "Are you ready to go back to preschool?" and encourage your child to direct the discussion.

Ask yourself. What do you want to get out of this conversation? Before you start a discussion, ask yourself what you think this parent-to-child talk should accomplish. This can help you to create conversation starters or questions for your child.

Use simple words/phrases and keep a positive tone during the discussion. Your child may have questions about the upcoming transition. Encourage these questions and do your best to answer them fully.

Get the Facts

Was this a whole-school closure? If the entire childcare center closed for a period, make sure you get the reopening facts before your child's first day back. These may include:

Drop-off/pick-up procedures. Can you bring your child into the childcare center or will you need to drop them off with a staff member?

Sick policies. Have the center's sick policies changed? Make sure you know when your child can and can't go to school.

Room assignments. Will your child stay in the same classroom they were in before the closure? If not, what room are they assigned to? Even though you may not need to enter the building, you need this information in the event of an emergency.

Personal belongings. Can your child bring a backpack, their favorite toy, or a blanket? Ask the school's staff what your child can and should bring on their first day back.

What should you do if you have concerns about the center's reopening? Write a list of questions concerning the first day back to daycare. The director or staff can address your concerns. This knowledge can make the process easier on everyone — including your child.

Role Play the First Day

Has the memory of daycare faded? If your child no longer talks about their friends, teachers, or daycare day activities, refresh their memory with a role play game. This type of game may include:

Assigned roles. Decide who will play the role of teacher and who will play the student. Your child can take turns trying out each role. Add in friends or other people your child may see at school.

Props. Use school-like props, such as books, toys, or a backpack.

A set. Magically transform your living room or playroom into the preschool classroom. This can set the scene for lifelike pretend play.

Start at the beginning and role play everything from preschool drop-off to the end of the day at pick-up. Even though this game may only seem like pretend play to your child, it's a valuable way to prepare for the first day back at school.

Is your child ready to return to or start preschool? Call us at Small World Early Learning & Development Centers for more information.

Gross Motor Development, Your Child, and Play

Tue, 12 May 2020 16:11:00 GMT

Movement. It's something that you probably don't think about. At least, not often. But to your young child, movement is something that doesn't always come easy. You can walk, run, roll, jump, skip, and hop with ease. That's not always the case with kids. Toddlers and preschool-aged children are building gross motor skills. This means that they need plenty of time and practice to get moving.

Understanding what gross motor development is, what it includes, and how to help your child develop it is part of parenting. This includes learning about the developmental steps that are typical for most children to take and what types of toys and activities can impact these budding skills.

Gross motor skills, such as muscle strength, coordination, or large muscle groups and balance, start at birth. As your child ages and goes from sitting to crawling to standing and later walking, your child is able to move in more complex and dynamic ways. How can you encourage gross motor development in your preschooler or young child? Take a look at these easy ways to encourage the growth of gross motor abilities.

Safe Space

Your formal dining room isn't the place for your 4-year-old to practice hopping on one foot. It's probably not even the place for your child to walk, run, or twirl through. You need a safe space to help your child develop these skills, and it may not be in your home.

Obviously, parks and playgrounds provide space galore for your child to move and play. But it's not always practical to bring your child to the park. Whether it's a rainy day, the wind is whipping, or your child just doesn't like the chill in the air, you need other options. And these do exist.

An interactive play center is an out-of-the-home space that provides plenty of room for your little learner to build gross motor abilities. These centers are specially designed to encourage development and provide young children with the chance to move and play in a safe, welcoming, indoor environment.

That means your child can climb, see-saw, crawl, roll, hop, and jump without you having to worry. With open areas, carpeting, and padding (and no breakables in sight), the fear of your little one bumping into a sharp table edge or tripping over a TV cord will fade away.

Open-Ended Experiences

Open-ended play experiences provide young children with the chance to create their own activities. Instead of adult-directed games and play-time activities, open-ended ideas have less structure. Keep in mind that this doesn't mean that your child is running wild. You'll create a structure, or scaffold, for learning.

For example, setting up soft mats to see what your child does (maybe they'll roll from side to side, army crawl, crab walk or jump up and down on the bouncy surface) allows them to build skills while designing their own movement-related ideas. And the fun just goes on from there. Child-sized play structures, such as climbers and tubes, make it easy to set up open-ended activities.

Pretend Play

Adding pretend play to movement activities can help your child in more than just a gross motor way. Even though your child will get plenty of motor play in, an imagination-based activity also allows your child to develop creativity, critical-thinking skills, and problem-solving abilities.

How can you include pretend-play in your child's gross motor activities? Offer imaginary scenarios that allow your child to act out stories or role-play within the framework of movement. This may mean something simple such as, "Pretend to be your favorite animal as you move on the mats" or, "Let's pretend that we're different vehicles moving through the play tube."

Do you need a safe space that will encourage gross motor skill development? Contact us at the Small World Early Learning and Development Center.

4 Tips for Encouraging Independence in Your Young Child

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 19:37:00 GMT

Children require a lot of time and attention, relying on others to meet every need when they are young. But once a child reaches 2-3 years of age, they are ready to start learning how to do things on their own. Here are four ways to encourage independence in your toddler or preschooler.

1. Don't Underestimate Their Ability

We love our children and want to provide everything they need. However, many parents develop the bad habit of doing for children what they should be doing for themselves. This behavior can lead to learned helplessness and delay a child's independent skills.

Most young children are more than capable of performing small tasks by themselves. For example, the average 3-year old can push their dining room chair in and take their plate to the kitchen counter when they are done eating. You can encourage your child's independence by expecting them to participate in every aspect of family life.

2. Give Them Chores to Do

If you teach your children to pick up after themselves and do things around the house when they are young, you will instill valuable habits for the future. You will also have less to do yourself. If you have a dog, show your child where the dog food is and how to put a scoop in their bowl. Give them the dishcloth to wipe the table.

You can also combine chores with learning activities. For example, have them help you sort laundry, separating colors from whites. Matching socks is another excellent job for a toddler or preschooler. Sorting through the plastic kitchen containers and finding the right lid for each container is another good job.

Make chore time both fun and educational whenever you can, and they will be more likely to willingly participate in the game. Be sure to praise them for a job well done when they complete each task — this will foster their future cooperation and independence.

3. Allow Extra Time to Complete Activities

Life is busy and parents are often in a hurry. This is especially true in families with working parents and a child who attends daycare or preschool. Mornings can be hectic getting everyone ready and out the door on time, so parents often do things for their child for efficiency’s sake.

However, continually dressing or feeding your toddler or preschooler rather than letting them to do it on their own will delay independent development. Wake your child up 15 minutes earlier or rearrange your morning schedule so they have plenty of stress-free time to actively participate in getting ready for the day without having to rush.

Don't forget to allow time to transition from one activity to the next to reduce stress and remember each child is different in terms of temperament and development. Daycare facilities are sure to allow transition times between activities for these reasons.

4. Implement Routines

Children thrive when their environment is structured. This includes establishing predictable routines, rules, and consistent consequences for undesirable behaviors. A structured environment also encourages independence. When a child knows what to expect, they can anticipate what comes next.

When their environment is structured and consistent, they eventually figure out the routine. For example, if immediately after eating breakfast you have your child brush their teeth, they will quickly grasp the pattern and will eventually go brush their teeth on their own when they finish eating. Creating routines at home also makes it easier for children to adapt to other routines, such as the schedule at preschool.

Whether your child is currently in our care or you are considering our facility, contact us today to learn how Small World Early Learning and Development Center can foster your child's independence or answer any questions you might have.

Why Are the Early Years and Early Education Important for Your Child?

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 20:45:00 GMT

Long gone are the days when childhood education started in kindergarten. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), in 2017, 86 percent of five-year-olds and almost 70 percent of four-year-olds were enrolled in a pre-primary program. Take a look at why the earliest years of your child's life are an important time for their learning, development, and future education.

Build the Basics

Your child may have rolled over, sat up, stood, and walked without much adult assistance. But that doesn't mean they'll develop complex language, literacy, math, science, and other skills on their own too.

The first few years of life are a time when young children build the basics. Think of these years as a foundation to add to over a lifetime. Basic skills your child will develop at home and in preschool or daycare include:

Early literacy. Language and literacy (reading and writing) development starts in the early years of a child's life. Opportunities to communicate with adults and older children, listen to stories, handle books, and draw or write will help your child to build literacy basics.

Early math. Counting to 10 is a major accomplishment for your young child. The counting, geometry, number recognition, and other basic math skills your child develops in preschool will help them as they move into the grade school years.

Early science. Physics, biology, chemistry, and Earth sciences are all part of most preschool classrooms' content. Your child will learn about scientific concepts in an age-appropriate way, build their science-related vocabulary, and expand critical-thinking through explorations.

Along with the traditional academic areas, these years are also a time when young children develop basic arts and creative abilities. From finger painting to singing songs, your child can learn how to express themselves, use their imagination, and explore the visual and performing arts (music, drama, and dance) from an early age.

Develop Across the Domains

Developmental changes allow your child to build these academic or pre-academic skills. Without cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth, your child won't succeed in school — or in life.

The early childhood education young learners get during the first few years can pad development across all four (cognitive, social, emotional, physical) domains:

Cognitive growth. In the first few years, young children develop memory skills, concentration, and other mental abilities, including object permanence. The early childhood educator can help your child to build these skills through games and classroom activities.

Social growth. By the older toddler years your child may have the language skills to interact with other children and adults. While they may still need time to play appropriately in groups, the pre-k teacher can help them build a social foundation during these early years.

Emotional growth. The first few years are a time of emotional upheaval. Your child may frustrate easily or throw tantrums. But the early childhood education environment can help them to identify, understand, and communicate emotions effectively.

Physical growth. Your child will develop movement, balance, strength, and coordination skills at a rapid rate during the first few years of life. A formal educational setting gives children the chance to engage in plenty of large motor movement and fine (small) motor activities.

Even though there are different areas of development, each one is dependent on the other. A child who lacks emotional development may not show the social skills you would expect. Given the importance of early development, activities (at school and at home) that bridge multiple subjects and domains can help your child as a whole.

Is your child ready to start preschool? Contact Small World Early Learning and Development Centers for more information.

Positive Impacts of Music in Early Childhood

Fri, 14 Feb 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Most people enjoy music. You may have even noticed your preschoolers enjoy music. Perhaps you've seen them running around while singing, or banging out a rhythm on pots. The integration of music has a positive impact on their development and later education, and it can even positively impact their future quality of life.

Below are some examples of the positives impacts of music in early childhood.

Developed Body Coordination

Children don't just enjoy listening to music. They can tap, clap, bounce, and dance to make music or to show their appreciation of music. Over time, such activities will help them develop fine and large motor control.

What's more, as they move with music, they develop connections across different regions of the brain . Parents can foster this development by helping them make the music and dancing along. The connections in their brains can help build coordination between the brain and body.

Enhanced Parental and Friendship Bonds

When parents or teachers move and make music with children, the engagement represents a multi-sensory activity that helps them build intimacy. Young children pick up a lot of cues from their parents, teachers, and other children. Early childhood exposure to music helps children develop interpersonal skills when they share enjoyment of the art.

In fact, you often see a lot of movement when young children play together. If they're moving to make or enjoy music, their brains are enforcing those connections related to actions and interactions. Their interpersonal skills will start to thrive because of those connections.

Improved Spatial-Temporal Reasoning

Children can start to learn an instrument as early as three years of age, which is when their brain pathways for music training are mature enough. Indeed, such training can improve their thinking power because it creates pathways in their brains. The piano is a common instrument for young children.

One study showed that children aged three to four who took piano lessons had good spatial-temporal reasoning, meaning they were able to think well in space and time. This type of skill has applications for math. Children who started playing piano early were often able to learn complex math problems faster at a later age than their non-musical peers.

Advanced Cognition in Infants

Music isn't just for toddlers. While infants can't sing and dance, they can enjoy listening to music. In fact, according to the National Association of Music Merchants, infants have an excellent memory for music — after a week or two, they can even recognize a song they've heard repeatedly. What's more, when they're listening to music, they can recognize pitch and rhythm.

This exposure to music helps advance their cognition. For example, they can listen to a song and tell when it's in a different pitch than before. They'll also react if notes are missing or dissonant. They like new music because of their natural curiosity. So, exposing infants to new music or changed music can stimulate their thinking.

Increased Interest in Music

Most parents want to raise well-rounded children with a variety of interests. Well, many of the interests children go on to develop start in their early childhood. So, if you provide a music-rich environment for your child both at home and in preschool, you're fostering a love of the art.

Naturally, the key is to provide music that your children can relate to. They'll obviously lose interest in songs that don't seem to pertain to them. The opposite is true, though. As they develop their love of music, they'll have an enhanced quality of life since the art form can both soothe and invigorate.

Foster your children's development and love of music by integrating the art form into their lives. If you're looking for a preschool that can help your young children develop in a learning atmosphere, contact Small World Early Learning and Development Center

5 Ways to Help Your Toddler Make Friends

Mon, 13 Jan 2020 22:19:00 GMT

Toddlers should have friends. Having friends helps toddlers have good self-esteem, and it encourages them to build social skills that can benefit them for the rest of their lives. Although you can't force your child to make friends, you can facilitate friendships in a few easy ways. Here are a few ways that you can help your toddler meet new people and make friends.

1. Look Into Daycare or Preschool

If your child isn't already enrolled in daycare or preschool, consider enrolling them. For younger toddlers, daycare might be the best option. For older toddlers, though, preschool may be a better fit.

Either option will make it easy for your toddler to meet other children. Naturally, this can help them build social skills and make friends. Plus, it might prove to be a good childcare option for you and your family; even if you are a stay-at-home parent, you can benefit from having a few free hours during the day to get things done.

2. Mingle With Families in the Neighborhood

If you haven't yet met with your neighbors, you could be missing out on great friendships for you and your toddler. Head to neighborhood events, or introduce yourself if you see a parent playing with their toddler in the yard.

Even if you and your toddler feel a little shy at first, this can be a great way to get to know the people who live near you. Plus, you won't have to worry about figuring out transportation or taking a long drive when arranging a playdate for your toddler and the kids in the neighborhood.

3. Head to the Park

If you have a park near you, it's the perfect place to go with your toddler. This helps encourage your child to be more active, and it can help them gain a better understanding and appreciation for nature.

Plus, your toddler is sure to meet other kids at the park. You don't have to worry about your toddler and their new friends being bored, either, particularly if your local park has lots of great playground equipment for the kids to use.

4. Hang Out With Family Members Who Have Kids

Even if you don't have many friends or neighbors who have kids, you might have a sibling, cousin, or another family member who has children. Consider getting together with one another and allowing your children to play together. This can help strengthen family bonds. Along with giving your child a chance to get closer to their family members, it can help you do so, too.

5. Spend Time at the Library

If you have not yet looked into the programs and activities at your local library, you and your toddler could really be missing out. Many libraries have a host of programs for small children and their parents, such as read-a-longs or meet and greets with favorite characters. Check your library's website, or give them a call to find out about any upcoming events.

This can be a fantastic way for your child to meet other children. Plus, your child might have a great time reading and exploring the library along the way, and you could even help your child foster a love for books and reading at a young age by regularly visiting the library.

If you want your child to build social skills and enjoy the benefits of having friends, try the five ideas above. If you are looking for a good childcare option for your toddler, contact us at Small World Early Learning and Development Centers today. We have programs for infants, toddlers, and pre-school children.

Prepare Your Child for the First Day of Child Care

Fri, 03 Jan 2020 18:30:00 GMT

Sending your kid off to the first day of child care is a big milestone for both child and parent. But if your child does not have a lot of experience being away from you at this point in life, it's understandable if you are feeling a little nervous about what's to come.

Thankfully, you can do plenty of things between now and the first day of school to get your child prepared for the road ahead. Here are some tips that can help make sure your child is ready to start his or her education off on the right foot.

Take Your Child to Meet the Teachers in Advance

If your child is the shy type, they might not react well to meeting their teachers or caregivers on the first day of school. If you know your child needs to warm up to new people a bit before they will feel comfortable, reach out to the child care professional before the day starts.

Most child care facilities are used to dealing with shy kids and will understand if the child needs some time to adjust. You can bring your kid in to meet with their teachers and get over the first day nerves of meeting someone new.

Of course, going to the facility early is also a great opportunity for parents to ask questions as well. Ask about what your child's first lessons will be so you can be prepared to help them or maybe even give them some guidance in advance.

Take Your Child on a Play Date and Leave Them With Another Adult

If your child has never been left alone, the first day of child care could be especially rough, as your child may go through a bit of separation anxiety. There are a couple different ways to approach this problem.

First, if you have any other relatives who don't frequently watch your child but who you do trust to take care of them, see if you can let them babysit for a while. Letting them hang out with an aunt or uncle they don't normally see will ease them into meeting up with new adults. For added bonus points, you could try scheduling a play date with a cousin.

If that goes well, you can amp things up by seeing if the facility will put you in touch with any other parents in your child's class. There's usually a mailing list or online forum where parents can gather to reach out to each other. See if you can find your child a play date with another kid who will actually be in the class. You might have to meet the other parent yourself first to feel comfortable, of course.

Schedule a play date where your child meets their classmate and is supervised by the other adult, with no you in the room. Get your child used to hanging out with other kids and adults and the first day of school will be much easier.

Let Your Child Pick a Toy or Supplies to Take With Them

Your child may be more excited about going to school if they feel they are actively taking part in the decision to go. You can give your child some agency by taking them shopping. Let your kid pick out his or her own school supplies or backpack. If the school allows it, consider letting them buy a new toy they can take to school with them.

The first day of child care can be stressful for both children and their parents. But a little pre-planning will help your child conquer separation anxiety before it really starts. Small World Early Learning and Development Center has years of experience helping kids just like yours get their education off to a great start. Contact us today for more information.

Should You Enroll Your Child in Preschool?

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 17:27:00 GMT

Though it may be hard to see during the most exhausting infant days, your child will be three or four years old before you know it. Once you're out of the woods of toddlerhood, you'll likely start to consider preschool to prepare your child for kindergarten. Here are some reasons why preschool is a good option.

They Learn Social Skills

One of the biggest benefits of enrolling your child in preschool is the social skills they'll acquire. Children learn how to work in groups to complete tasks, take turns, share materials, and have meaningful conversations in preschool. Kindergarten classes are usually larger than pre-k programs, so giving your child a head start on working with others and making friends will make the transition much easier.

Learning to follow directions, focus on a task until it's completed, and wait until their turn to speak are other important social skills your child will need in order to succeed in kindergarten, and preschool programs offer a gentle introduction to following teachers' expectations.

Preschool becomes even more important and advantageous if your child hasn't attended daycare since preschool gives them supervised opportunities to practice interacting with other kids outside of your family and friends. This helps your child build self-confidence that will serve him or her well in future classroom settings since kids with higher self-esteem are more willing to try new things.

They Are Introduced to Academics Early

Academic readiness is another major advantage to kids who attend preschool when it's time to start more formal schooling. Kids who attend preschool learn important early literacy skills, including listening comprehension, recognizing letters and letter sounds, and expanding vocabulary.

Counting and other early math and science skills, such as recognizing shapes and numerals, sorting, categorizing, and recognizing cause and effect, will also give your child a solid foundation for kindergarten.

Most pre-k programs blend age-appropriate academic work with plenty of time for art, music, physical activity, and free play, so don't think your child has to be ready to sit quietly at a desk all day to be prepared for preschool.

They Are Better Prepared for School

Early childhood education researchers from some of America's top universities compiled information from studies spanning decades on the effects of preschool and came up with a clear result: Children who attend preschool programs are better prepared for school in kindergarten and beyond. This is especially true for economically disadvantaged and bilingual children.

How to Know If Your Child Is Ready

You should consider several factors to determine if your child is ready for a preschool program or whether you want to hold off a bit longer. Some preschool programs also act as daycare and are more play-oriented, so even kids who aren't quite ready for a more rigorous academic program can benefit from a program that's a little more loosely structured.

Some things to ask yourself include:

Is my child ready to spend time away from me?
Can my child follow basic instructions?
Is my child toilet-trained?
Can my child communicate clearly for their age?
Is my child able to work on things independently for short periods?
Can my child handle transitions from one activity to another?
If your child has a basic grasp on most or all of these skills, they are most likely ready for preschool.

Enrolling your child in a pre-k program, particularly one that uses evidence-based curriculum, can help set them up for success in the school years ahead, but determining whether your child is ready is a decision only you can make.

Small World Early Learning and Development Center accepts children between six weeks and five years of age in child care and early learning programs. If you're looking for a preschool program for your son or daughter, contact us to ask any questions you have and discuss availability and rates.

4 Ways Your Family Benefits When You Return to School

Wed, 16 Oct 2019 15:02:00 GMT

Are you thinking of returning to college even though you have small children? This is a big decision for most parents of little ones, but it actually has many benefits to the entire family. What are some of these benefits? Consider this list of ways everyone wins.

1. Kids Socialize at Child Care

Most student parents use child care so they can attend class and study. However, they may feel guilty for this because they’re not spending all their time raising their children. But, far from an option that should be avoided, child care is actually a wonderful opportunity for growing children.

How does your child benefit? They spend time with other children their same age range as well as other adults, learning needed social skills and coping mechanisms. Child care is provided by trained professionals who have years of experience handling all sorts of development needs and challenges. And you as a parent may be able to make use of their experience in your own time as well.

2. Parents Get a Break

Having young children at home can be overwhelming for many parents. A single parent may try to do too much while a parent who stays at home with the children could become burned out being without adult companionship and personal interests.

When you go to classes and socialize with other adults or pursue passionate interests of your own, you get that break many parents desperately need. With modern, enriching child care options open to parents today, you can feel confident knowing that your little ones are busy engaging their own interests and learning about the world with professional child care experts.

3. You Encourage Education

Children learn from the example of their parents. If you value education, taking on a degree program even when it's inconvenient shows your kids that this is something valuable and worth working for. It may even increase their likelihood of following suit and valuing their own education later on.

Talk to your kids in a positive way about you going back to school. Let them see you studying and putting in the hard work. Show them where you go to learn more, and equate it to their own child care learning experience. Let them be a part of the process. They will likely gain an interest and learn that education is a good thing.

4. Your Career Track Doesn't Suffer

Many parents — particularly women — tend to see their career track and future earning ability suffer due to the responsibilities of parenthood as well as jobs. They may even see a loss of 4 percent of income for each child they have. There are a variety of reasons for this, prominently including needed time off work and flexibility in schedules as well as an often-hidden bias against working mothers.

If you have suffered a career trajectory problem or you want to prevent it, getting more education is one of the best ways to do so. And as you increase your earning potential while your children are young, you can provide what your family needs for a lifetime as well — better access to health care, good schools, and their own career interests.

These benefits are just a few of the many ways that your own higher education can boost the family unit. What can it do for your own specific situation? If you're still unsure, talk with the child care experts at Small World Early Learning and Development Center today. We are ready to be your partners in balancing your own needs with the welfare of your family. Call for an appointment today.

How Can Your Preschooler Develop Math Skills Through Other Areas?

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 21:21:00 GMT

How can your child learn about numbers, geometry, measurements, and more without flashcards or worksheets? Early childhood math weaves its way into almost every other area of the preschool classroom. Take a look at how your child can learn basic math concepts through the arts, literacy, and science.

Art and Math

What does art have to do with math? One is a completely creative pursuit and the other revolves around strict facts and figures. Even though the two content areas may seem like polar opposites, they can combine into one hands-on way for your child to learn.

How can art help your preschooler to learn about math?

Cross-curricular art-math activities can teach:

Counting and numbers. Art provides your young child with a concrete way to understand basic counting concepts. Whether your child counts how many squiggles they draw or paints a numeral, this creative approach to learning can help your child to learn.

Pattern play. The ability to understand, recreate, and make patterns are part of early childhood math education. Your child can use collage, printing, coloring, painting, and other art-making activities to play with (and better understand) patterns.

Measurements. Children don't necessarily need a measuring tape or yardstick to explore this area of math. Preschoolers can create their own measurement tools with paint and paper, crayons, or other art materials.

Spatial development. The ability to understand the relationships between objects in space is central to math. Art activities, such as drawing, painting, and sculpting, can help your child develop spatial awareness. Geometry. Your child can create and explore with basic shapes while creating art.

Art can help your child develop skills that get them started on the road to learning math. Along with art, other preschool classroom areas can also help your child to learn about math. Literacy and Math

How can reading and writing help your child better understand basic math concepts? Early literacy is central to your child's preschool education. The link between literacy and math comes into play when your child:

Reads books about math. From counting to measurements/quantities, children's books can provide your child with a concrete way to learn about a variety of math concepts.

Talks about math. Language use is an important part of an early education in literacy. Your child can connect literacy and math through new vocabulary terms and teacher-student or student-student discussions about the subject.

Writes about math. As your child explores writing they can add math words and basic math word problems to the mix.

While complicated word problems can wait until your child gets to elementary school, your preschooler can start the process with the basics. Short stories and simple sentences can help your child to think about math concepts and improve problem-solving skills.

Science and Math

As two of the primary components of STEM education, science and math often go hand-in-hand. In the preschool classroom, your child can connect the two during activities such as:

Measurement-based observations. When your child conducts simple science experiments, they need to make observations. If those include making measurements (such as measuring a plant's growth over time), they'll have the chance to use math too.

Collections and sorting. Your preschooler may make collections of natural materials, such as flowers, pebbles, shells, or other similar objects. The opportunity to sort these items combines science and math into one easy learning activity.

Kitchen-based explorations. The kitchen is the perfect place to combine science in math. Preschoolers can make measurements, watch transformations, and explore how science and math connect.

Along with art, literacy, and science, the early childhood educator can extend math into other major content areas. This may include gross motor, social studies, or performing arts play.

Is your child ready for a new preschool program? Contact Small World Early Learning and Development Centers for more information

What Do You Need to Know About Choosing a Kindergarten For Your Preschooler?

Fri, 23 Aug 2019 02:19:00 GMT

Your child is ready to start kindergarten. The preschool teacher gave the go ahead and your child is ready to make the leap into a new learning environment. Now what? Before you register your child for kindergarten, take a look at what you need to know about the educational options.

What Types of Kindergarten Options Are Available?

The answer to this question depends on the available programs in your area. But if you want to explore the alternatives, you can learn about the different types of kindergartens children regularly attend. The differences between kindergarten programs may come from the underlying educational philosophy or a more general private versus public approach.

Beyond the public-private kindergarten division, the most common types of kindergarten programs include:

Montessori. Unlike traditional classrooms, the Montessori kindergarten is part of a larger early childhood program that includes children from ages three through six. This type of program encourages exploration and allows children to take the lead.

Waldorf. This approach to early learning is based on the research of educator and scientist Rudolf Steiner. Students in Waldorf classrooms engage in hands-on experiences, explore, and have the opportunity to nurture who they are as an individual person.

Reggio Emilia. These classrooms use a project-based approach to learning. This allows the young child to engage, explore, and investigate in their own way.

Along with philosophy-based programs some parents choose parochial kindergartens. These schools are supported by churches or parishes and may include religion as part of the curriculum or in daily practices.

Which Kindergarten Program Is the Best Option?

Kindergartens are not one-size-fits-all. The early childhood educator is your first stop on the road to kindergarten. As your child completes their last preschool year start a conversation with the teacher about available options in your area.

When you're ready for the nest step (choosing a program), consider:

Your educational philosophy. What do you want your child to get out of the kindergarten year? If you choose a private program that's based on a specific philosophy, make sure it aligns with your educational values and family's goals.

Who your child is a learner. What program best meets your child's needs? Your child might do exceedingly well in the local public kindergarten — or they may do better in a private philosophy-based program.

What your family can afford. Finances are a practical part of your child's education. If money is an issue, a public school program may be the best option for your child.

The location of the school. Local public schools are often the closest and may even offer free transportation via school busses.

A parent's vision for their child's kindergarten year doesn't always match up with the realities of a specific classroom. Read on for more information on how to make an informed decision.

What Else Do Parents Need to Know about the Kindergarten Choice?

Now that you know what your available options are, you need to do some serious recon. Your kindergarten search can include:

Classroom visits. Before you register your child for kindergarten you can visit the classroom. This can help you to see the learning environment in progress and will give you a better idea of what your child can really expect.

Preschool teacher conference. Again, talk to your child's pre-k teacher. They know your child as a student and can help you to make an informed decision.

Kindergarten teacher conference. When you visit the potential kindergarten classrooms, talk to the teacher. Come prepared with a list of questions and go home with a contact phone number or email for additional questions.

Other parents can also provide valuable insight. Ask your friends, family members, or your child's preschool peers' parents about their choices.

Are you looking for a preschool program to prepare your child for kindergarten? Contact Small World Early Learning and Development Center for more information.

Food Allergies, Preschool, and Your Child

Tue, 30 Jul 2019 13:59:00 GMT

More than seven percent of children in the United States have a food allergy, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). If your child is one of five million plus under the age of 18 with this medical issue, take a look at what you need to know about food allergies, safety, and daycare or preschool.

Inform Other Adults

Don't assume every other adult who interacts with your child understands their food allergy. The more people you educate on your child's allergy, the safer your child is. Young children, especially toddlers and preschoolers without mature verbal skills, may not have the ability to inform the adults around them of their allergy restrictions.

If your child can't speak for themselves, or you have concerns that they won't, you'll need to inform all adults who interact with your child about their allergy. Before your child starts daycare or preschool, prepare a brief information sheet or guide to hand out. Include allergy education points such as:

Background on food allergies. Some people, even adults, don't understand the difference between an intolerance and an allergy. Avoid potentially dangerous care mistakes and inform other adults about the difference.

The type of food allergy your child has. Eight foods (milk, eggs, wheat, soy, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, and shellfish) cause 90 percent of food allergies, according to John Hopkins medicine. Include the specific allergy or allergies your child has.

The type of reaction your child has. Does your child break out in hives, feel queasy, or have a full-blown anaphylactic reaction? Specify the type and potential severity of the reaction your child may have.

The type of treatment necessary. How can the adults around your child help them in the event of an allergic reaction? Provide specific instructions. You can also use this section of your information guide to educate others on treatments for different food allergies/severities.

Safe handling procedures. How should adults who have contact with your child handle the allergen? Provide information on handling, hand washing, and other preventative steps. This includes cross-contamination and unintentional ingestion.

Non-food contamination issues. Cross-contamination doesn't just happen in the kitchen. Make sure the adults understand that a child/adult who touches the allergen, and then touches a toy, can cause a reaction in your child.

Who should you give your guide to? Your child's teachers are an obvious first choice. Other adults who can benefit from the information sheet include the daycare or preschool's administrators (such as the director), food prep staff, assistants or aides, and parents of your child's peers.

Ask About Snacks

Stay on top of what your child eats, or will eat, during their day. Prior to the start of the school year (or before your child joins a daycare group), ask the teacher or director about:

Meals the school provides. Does your child eat breakfast or lunch at school? Ask for a detailed menu with an ingredient list.

Meals the school doesn't provide. If the children bring their own lunch, ask the director or teacher about allergy-friendly policies. Are there separate seating arrangements? Does the school limit or ban specific allergens?

Snacks. Along with meals, ask about snacks the school provides or the children bring.

Special treats. Does the center allow birthday treats or other special snacks parents bring from home? If so, ask about allergy policies for these items.

Foods used in activities. Some teachers use foods and beverages as part of learning activities, such as sensory explorations. Ask about the school’s use of food in these situations.

Along with these items, ask if you should bring your child's own meals or snacks in — instead of relying on what the school or center provides. This allows you to control what your child eats and gives you full access to ingredient lists.

Is your child ready to start daycare or preschool? Contact Small World Early Learning and Development Center for more information.

Preschooler Problems? Demystifying Challenging Behaviors

Wed, 26 Jun 2019 03:14:00 GMT

The early years are often filled with hugs, snuggles, and plenty of smiles. But along with the memorable moments come the challenges. Before you start to stress over these growing pains, take a look at what you need to know about preschoolers, difficult behaviors, and the upside of this developmental stage.

Defying Direction

Is no your child's favorite word? The seemingly defiant behavior is actually a normal part of the young child's development — within reason. For many children, defying an adult's directions is a step towards independence. Chances are your typically agreeable child is simply testing limits or acting as, what they perceive as, their own independent person.

If your child is defiant at school or at home, you can:

Talk to the teacher. Communication is a key problem-solving tool in the parent-student-teacher relationship. Ask the teacher why they feel your child acts defiantly, what situations are connected to this behavior, and what they feel will help.

Provide choices. Your increasingly independent preschooler might feel stifled by a steady stream of restrictive rules. Offering alternatives can provide them with a sense of independence and control.

Talk to your child. Discuss the issue — on their level. Use plenty of examples and offer guidance based on real-life experiences.

While some degree of defiance is normal, when it gets in the way of daily activities, becomes a problem for your child's peers in the classroom, or doesn't resolve over time, talk to their teacher about next steps. You may need to consult an early childhood intervention specialist or another behavioral professional for advice or recommendations.

Being Unwilling to Share

Young children can find sharing difficult. Preschoolers are still in the early stages of developing this social behavior. If your child refuses to share a favorite toy with a friend or take turns:

Accept age-related behaviors. Children under age three don't share easily. As your child reaches three or four, expect this behavior to gradually increase. This doesn't mean your child will learn to share the moment they turn three. Instead, they'll take small steps towards mastering it.

Provide plenty of practice. The only way to learn how to share is by engaging in the action. Provide plenty of chances for your child to interact social — at school and at home.

Avoid forcing the behavior. Taking a cherished toy out of your child's hands and giving it to a peer isn't sharing — it's forcing. Learning how to share involves understanding the reasons behind the behavior. Forcing a share can turn the process from a positive experience to a negative one.

Discuss the act of sharing. Instead of forcing a sharing situation, talk about it. Ask your child why they should want to share and how they would feel if a friend wouldn't share with them.

Along with these steps, you can encourage sharing behaviors by acting as a role model. Share with your child, and let them catch you in the act of sharing. The more they see the adults in their life sharing, the more the behavior will make sense to them.

Acting Bored

If your child seems bored, inattentive, or restless, the root of the issue may stem from:

The challenge level. How challenging are your child's daily activities? If the activities don't challenge them developmentally, they'll likely show signs of boredom.

Not enough activity. Sitting for lengthy periods isn't exactly exciting for a young child. Your child probably needs more physical or mental activity.

Interest level. Your preschooler is starting to develop their own interests. A child who adores art, but wants nothing to do with sports, may seem bored by a soccer game.

A bored child doesn't always equal a child who needs more adult help. If your child can't quell their own boredom, provide them with a few activity options, materials, or toys and let them create their own interesting ideas.

Is your child ready to start preschool? Contact Small World Early Learning and Development Center for more information.

Toddlers | Small World Early Learning and Development Center

Sat, 15 Jun 2019 15:14:00 GMT

Is your toddler on target with their speech and language development? The ability to communicate effectively can reduce frustration, cut down tantrums, and help your young child in plenty of other ways during their school and at-home days.

If you're not sure what's typical, take a look at some of the most common toddler-speech development questions answered.

Are There Definitive Milestones in Toddler Speech Development?

This is a tricky question to answer. While there's an expected progression of speech and language development, some children reach specific targets earlier or later. If your child is weeks (or in some cases a few months) ahead of schedule or behind, you may have nothing to worry about.

Even though developmental milestones aren't set in stone, children who are far behind the expected target goals or skip essential steps may need additional evaluation. Talk to your child's pediatrician or daycare teacher. These professionals can help you to find a speech-language expert who will assess, diagnose, and (if needed) propose a treatment plan.

How Many Words Should a Two-Year-Old Say?

Some toddlers are extremely outgoing and verbal, while others are shy to speak. However, your two-year-old likely knows up to 50 words. But you don’t need to worry if your child's magic vocab number is only 30 or 40.

If your child hasn't spoken any words or progressed in their language development, contact a speech professional for evaluation and more information.

In some situation (such as the first day of child care), your typically talkative toddler may suddenly seem like they're at a loss for words. This makes communicating with the teacher absolutely essential for every parent. Fill the teacher in, letting them know what your child's language strengths/weaknesses are.

Should a Toddler Speak in Sentences?

Don't expect lengthy monologues or complex mixes of words yet. While many toddlers can form basic sentences, they don't have the verbal or language abilities to create sophisticated strings of words. A two-year-old may only use two- to three-word sentences. This basic form of communications is typical for the age.

As your child transitions into the preschool years, they'll likely start speaking in longer four- (or more) word sentences. If your child doesn't use multi-word sentences or isn't developing the ability to create complex (more than two or three-word) sentences by the preschool years, a speech-language pathologist can assess your child's current ability and help to build their communication skills.

What Can Parents Do to Help Speech and Language Development?

Talk to your child. The more words your child hears, the better able they are to understand speech and build their own vocabulary.

You don't have to create at-home speech or language lessons to speak to your child. Instead:

Ask questions. Whether you're at daycare drop-off, the grocery store, or anywhere else, ask your child questions. Stick with basics, such as, "What do you see?" or, "What color is that sign?"

Discuss your day. When you pick your child up from daycare, ask about their day and tell them about yours.

Read books. Read age-appropriate picture books to your child, asking questions along the way.

If you're not sure how to start building your child's vocabulary, talk to their teacher. The early childhood educator can provide ideas and activities that get your child talking. Ask about specific vocabulary words (such as color or shape words) your child is learning in class. The at-home reinforcement can add to their language development in a familiar way.

Are you looking for a new early learning experience or is your toddler ready to start preschool? Contact Small World Early Learning and Development Center for more information.

Toilet Training | Small World Early Learning and Development Center

Sat, 27 Apr 2019 20:09:00 GMT

The toddler years bring forth a lot of growth and milestones, but few are as momentous as toilet training. Many parents are more than ready for their toddler to be out of diapers, but toilet training can be quite intimidating. The change from wearing diapers to learning how to use the restroom independently is a big step for a toddler to make.

If your child attends a day care center, work as a team with the day care workers to facilitate your toddler's toilet training. Use the following tips to toilet train your toddler who attends daycare.

Don't Push Your Toddler

Before you decide to begin toilet training, make sure that your toddler is actually ready. While many toddlers begin showing signs of readiness around the age of two , many may not be ready to begin toilet training until closer to three years old. Every toddler is different, and thus the age that a toddler begins toilet training will vary from one child to another.

Some common signs of toilet training readiness in toddlers includes being able to recognize the urge to urinate or have a bowel movement, ability to follow simple instructions, ability to use the appropriate words to describe needing to use the restroom, and interest in wearing underwear or wanting to use the toilet.

Waiting to toilet train until your toddler shows that he or she is ready will make the entire process easier and less stressful.

Talk to Your Toddler's Day Care Teacher

Your toddler's day care teacher is an excellent resource when you plan to start toilet training — few people know as much about toilet training as an experienced teacher in a toddler classroom!

Talking with your toddler's teacher will help ensure that you are both on the same page, and then the two of you can develop a plan that will be used both at home and at day care to help your child transition from diapers to using the restroom independently. Your toddler's teacher may also have a number of useful tips that you can use during the toilet training process.

Be Consistent at Home

Like any other skill, toilet training involves practice and consistency. Since many children begin toilet training during the toddler years, most toddler classrooms in day care centers have a routine that is used to help children become toilet trained.

In many cases, this involves frequent bathroom breaks throughout the day, according to a schedule. In order for toilet training to be most effective, try to follow the same schedule as your child's toddler day care program.

Don't Expect Instant Results

Even when you and your child's day care teachers work in tandem to teach your toddler to become toilet trained, that doesn't mean that it will happen overnight. On average, a toddler may take three to six months to become completely toilet trained during the day.

For some toddlers, becoming toilet trained at night and while sleeping can take a lot longer. So even if you are working hard with your toddler and you know that your toddler's teacher is helping as well, know that toilet training can take some time.

While your toddler is toilet training, always send in extra changes of clothing to day care each day, just in case. Your toddler may have a great week, or even a great month, while toilet training, but accidents still happen. If your child does have an accident at home or at school, do not get upset — instead, praise your child when he or she does well toilet training instead of punishing for accidents.

Work with the professionals at a day care center to help you child as they become toilet trained.

Preschoolers and Kindergarten Readiness

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 19:18:00 GMT

What should your child know before beginning kindergarten? School readiness means much more than knowing the ABCs or 123s. If your preschooler is on the cusp of kindergarten, take a look at the answers to common readiness questions parents have.

Is There an Age Requirement for Kindergarten?

Most public schools require young children to turn five before starting kindergarten. Some have a cutoff date in September, allowing a four-year-old who will turn five soon to start. Each district's date is slightly different. Contact your local school for more information on their age cut-off regulations.

Does Age Equal Readiness?

Even though there are generally accepted childhood milestones, development isn't always standard. Some variation between children of the same age is normal and can result in readiness differences.

What Academic Skills Should a New Kindergartner Have?

Academic knowledge is a major concern for many parents when making the kindergarten decision. Some school districts may have their own list of academic skills they expect of kindergartners. If your district doesn't, common expected skills include:

Letter identification. Don't worry if your preschooler can't read the entire alphabet yet. They'll learn all the lower- and upper-case letters in kindergarten. But they should know at least some of the letters by sight by the end of preschool.

Writing their name. It's common for preschoolers to learn familiar or well-used letters, such as those in their name, first. By the time your child goes to kindergarten, they should have some practice writing their first name.

Counting. Research from the University of Missouri found that learning to count (not just numeral identification) can prepare preschoolers for later math success. Your preschooler should know how to count to 10 before starting kindergarten.

Even though academic knowledge has a primary place in the readiness equation, it's not the only piece. Along with these skills, your child's social development also plays a major role in whether they should start kindergarten now or wait another year.

What Social Skills Do Kindergartners Need?

Like academic knowledge, your child doesn't need to enter kindergarten a master of all social skills. Kindergarten is a transition time when children are learning about the social world, making first friendships, and exploring how the structure of school works.

Social skills that preschoolers should have as they enter kindergarten include:

Following directions. The ability to listen to, understand, and comply with directions is part of the structured school routine. This skill is necessary for adequate classroom and behavior management.

Understanding peer-to-peer interactions. Development of these social skills allows the child to get along with others.

Managing conflicts. Even the best of friends have conflicts. Children in kindergarten should have some idea about what to do when these issues arise.

Emotional development goes hand-in-hand with social skill building. Along with these social abilities, your child should also identify their own emotions and know how to appropriately regulate them.

What Else Should Preschoolers Know Before Starting Kindergarten?

While academic, social, and emotional skill-building are all crucial steps towards kindergarten, your preschooler also needs to develop practical and self-care skills. These include:

Using the restroom. Your child should have the ability to use the facilities (this includes washing their hands) without adult assistance.

Self-feeding. If your child will eat breakfast, lunch, or snack at school, they need to know how to properly use utensils.

Dress themselves. Kindergartners should know how to dress themselves, including putting on shoes, coats, and other outerwear.

If your child is struggling with self-care tasks, start working on these developing abilities now. With time and practice, your child will master these everyday activities.

Are you searching for a preschool program that will prepare your child for future school success? Contact Small World Early Learning and Development Center for more information.

6 Everyday Activities That Can Teach Math to Your Preschooler

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 07:11:00 GMT

The preschool years are a time when children learn fundamental mathematical concepts. This important early math learning is the basis for their future math education. You can easily support your child in developing these early math understandings through daily life activities. These exercises also support the math learning your child is doing in preschool.

1. Grocery Shopping

The grocery store provides many excellent opportunities to build early math skills. Have your child count items as you put them in your cart. Encourage your child to sort objects by size, color, or shape. Compare quantities together by asking your child questions such as "Do we have more carrots or corn in our cart?" Ask your child to identify different shapes in the grocery store as you shop.

2. Picking Up Toys

While your child is cleaning up their toys, have them pick up blocks or dolls by picking up large ones first, then small ones.

Ask your child to line up toy cars to make a pattern by color (example: red, green, blue, red green, blue), or line them up yourself in a pattern and have your child identify the pattern. As you clean up the toys in the kitchen set, ask your child to identify the different shapes of the food containers or other kitchen set items.

3. Setting the Table

Teach your child to set the table before meals. Ask your child to count out silverware and napkins for each person. As they set each place, ask them to find the pattern that the table settings create: napkin, fork, plate, knife, and spoon. Instruct your child to say the words out loud as they lay down the silverware to reiterate the pattern.

4. Cooking

Ask your child to count out ingredients before they give them to you. For example, ask your preschooler to give you a certain number of potatoes. When stirring batter or ingredients, instruct your child to stir the spoon a specific number of times.

5. Riding in the Car

While you're in the car with your preschooler, use the opportunity to build their math skills and play simple games. Count all the blue and black cars, then discuss whether you saw more blue or more black by the time you arrive at your destination.

Ask your child to identify patterns that they see, or point out such patterns yourself. For example, you may point out a row of cars at a traffic light that follows a red, white, red, white pattern.

6. Doing Laundry

Let your child help you sort the laundry, and build their math skills at the same time. Have them sort the white clothes from the colored clothes, and ask them to compare piles of laundry to say which one is larger.

Ask your child to load clothing in the washer and count pieces as they do. Once the laundry is cleaned, ask your child to sort the laundry as you fold it in preparation for putting it away. Sorting by laundry type or by person who wears the clothing can help your child build their skills in categorizing and comparing items.

Work With Your Child's Preschool

Stay in close contact with your child's preschool teachers to find out what lessons your child is learning in school. If you know what your child is being taught, you can have some direction as you decide which lessons to incorporate in your everyday life.

Is Your Toddler a Reader? Understanding Expectations for Literacy Development

Fri, 08 Feb 2019 04:47:00 GMT

The early years provide the building blocks for a life-long love of reading. But that doesn't mean you should expect your ever-energetic tot to sit and read with you for hours. What do you need to know about toddlers, their developmental stage, and early literacy? Look at the realistic expectations that parents should have for their 2- or 3-year-old's literacy development.

Performing a Magic Trick

No magic trick exist that can turn your toddler into a reader overnight. You want the best for your child. But building literacy skills takes time — and patience. No one top or best way exists to help early literacy development. Websites, apps, flash cards, and other educational aids may not get you the results they promise.

Instead of aiming for a quick fix that puts your tot grade levels ahead of themselves (which probably won’t happen), rely on your child's teachers. Early childhood educators have the education and experience to help your child gradually build reading, writing, and language use basics.

If you're not sure what these basics are, read on to learn more about toddlers and early literacy development.

Becoming a Pre-Reader

Put a picture book in front of your toddler and watch the magic that unfolds. Your child will likely pick up the book and page through it as if they're reading the pages. You know that they can't read the words or understand the complexities of the sentence structure on the pages — yet. But your tot can engage in early literacy behaviors.

As a pre-reader, your toddler learns about what books are, how to handle them, and what the basic structure of a story is. At the same time, your child increases their vocabulary at what may seem like a lightning-quick pace. They learn and use new words daily. This makes exposing them to language — in books and through the spoken word — essential.

Learning to Write

Don't expect your toddler to sit down and write their own story anytime soon. Writing skills are a major part of early literacy development. But they also require skill-building in other areas, such as fine motor development.

By the time your child is two, they've often started scribbling. As the 24-month mark nears, your child's fine motor skills — like hand and finger control and coordination — most likely include the ability to hold and control a crayon, marker, or other writing tool. Even though your tot may not use the same grasp you use when writing, your toddler's budding scribbling style will eventually grow into real writing.

Most young toddlers scribble randomly at first. This allows them to explore movements and materials such as crayons as they progressively build skills. Between the ages of two and three, many children start to control their scribbling. While they may not draw what looks like a picture to an adult, the child purposely makes marks — and possibly lines and shapes as well — that they may name or identify.

Like with reading, the more opportunities the child has to write, the more they'll learn. Exposure to writing utensils, such as crayons and markers, and the freedom to draw or scribble reinforces their developing skills and helps the toddler to move into the next phase of making meaningful marks or writing letters.

Understanding Communication

Reading and writing are crucial to literacy development. But these aren't the only skills your child needs to learn. The ability to understand spoken language and communicate with another person is fundamental.

Developing language skills includes learning when to remain quiet and when to speak, how to engage in a two-way conversation, and which words to use and when. Interactively reading to your child can help them to build these abilities. Not only will your child get to hear new words (building their vocabulary), but they'll also get to practice listening, speaking, and asking questions at the appropriate time.

Do you want an early childhood program that will help your toddler to build literacy and other early skills? Contact Small World Early Learning and Development Centers for more information.

3 Details to Consider When Choosing a Childcare Center

Fri, 18 Jan 2019 01:46:00 GMT

When selecting a childcare center for your child, there are multiple details to examine to ensure that the center is a compatible fit for your needs. Not only do you want to check that the center meets all of your state's licensing requirements, but you should see if it has accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children or National Early Childhood Program Accreditation.

These accreditations indicate that the center exceeds expectations and meets the proper standards to provide children with high-quality care. Here are a few other details to keep in mind as you evaluate potential childcare centers.

1. The Experience and Quality of the Caregivers

Look for a childcare center that employs experienced caregivers. When you visit the center for a tour, ask how many years the staff members have been providing child care or if they hold a degree in education or child care.

While someone with less experience and no degree may still be a good caregiver, chances are your child will get higher-quality care from someone with more experience and/or a formal education related to child development.

In addition to asking about education and experience, get a feel for how the caregivers act around children. Are the caregivers friendly and attentive? Do they look engaged rather than bored or distracted? According to Psychology Today, studies show that children benefit from having caregivers who are warm, kind, and responsive.

Also, search for a daycare with a history of low staff turnover. Low turnover is often an indicator that the center fosters a positive working environment.

If the child care center you’re looking at has caregivers who’ve worked there for several years, then that likely means their staff love what they do. And that passion for educating and caring for children will make your child’s experience at the facility a positive one as well.

2. The Availability of Extracurricular Activities

Many childcare centers partner with museums, libraries, parks, and recreational programs to enhance the children's learning experiences. It might devote specific portions of a designated day to a certain outing or schedule seasonal outings.

For example, the childcare center might have a weekly field trip to the library or it may take the children to see local plays and child-centered performances. Extracurricular outings outside of the childcare center exposure your child to a large variety of activities from a young age.

If you prefer a childcare center that offers multiple activities, make sure that you understand the pricing for these items. Some childcare centers may include the cost of these items in your monthly fee, while others might require you to pay for extra outings as they occur.

3. The Location of the Center

Give the location of your childcare center ample consideration, especially if you want the option to visit your child mid-day while you are at work. You may want to check in from time to time to observe the center firsthand or attend special activities. Or, if the mother is nursing, she might want to stop by for a daily nursing session.

Another logistical issue to examine is who will transport your child to and from their childcare program. The childcare center should be within close proximity to their daily commute. This makes pickup and drop-off more convenient, and it allows the individual who handles transportation to quickly pick-up your child when they are ill.

Are you searching for a childcare center that exceeds your expectations? Call Small World Early Learning and Development Centers today to receive more information about our programs. We are happy to answer any questions you have.

Help Your Shy Preschooler Adjust | Small World

Thu, 13 Dec 2018 17:38:00 GMT

If your shy child is about to enter an early learning center or preschool, you might expect a few challenges ahead. Shy kids sometimes find social interaction and making new friends difficult. These types of situations may require a bit of patience and encouragement on your part. Here's how you can help your shy child adjust to this new journey he or she is about to embark on.

1. Accentuate the Positive and Learn Acceptance

Acceptance is an important first step for your child to develop self-esteem. Rather than trying to drastically change your child or alter his or her personality, embrace the positive and let that winning personality shine through. For instance, many shy children are more perceptive and good listeners. Draw on the positive aspect and your child will develop traits that will help him or her in later years.

By focusing on the positive aspects, your child will come to realize that being shy is not a personality flaw, and there is nothing wrong with being introverted.

2. Help Build Self-Esteem

Developing self-confidence may help bring the shy child out of his or her proverbial shell. Parents can help build self-esteem in the shy child through praise and encouragement. When your child does something exceptionally well or learns to overcome new challenges, reward and praise is a good incentive.

When your child faces apprehension head on, compliment him or her for being brave or taking the initiative. For instance, when your child greets the new student with a hello or volunteers an answer in the classroom, express your pleasure and pride.

3. Foster Your Child's Interests

Does your child show an interest in music or sports? Encourage his or her special abilities in an area of interest. When your child begins to excel, not only will confidence begin to flourish, making friends becomes easier as well.

Encourage team sports if that's an area of interest. Group activities are a good idea as well. Your child may feel more comfortable around others when they interact with children who share similar interests. Getting involved is a good way to make new friends as well.

4. Don't Compare Siblings

Every child is a unique individual. If you have two children who are complete opposites, try not to compare one to the other. If Billy is shy and his brother Bobby is outgoing, refrain from telling Billy to be more like Bobby.

Constantly comparing the two siblings may make the shy child feel like he is inferior and this may lower his self-esteem. When your child realizes he or she is loved and supported unconditionally, they may find being outgoing easier.

5. Avoid Labeling Your Child

Try not to label your child as "shy" or "timid". Doing so may reinforce this behavior and become a stigma for your child throughout the years. Rather than telling your child something like, "You're shy, and I wish you'd be more outgoing and friendly", try a different approach.

Tell your child something such as, "I know it takes you a little time to feel at ease when meeting new people, and that's alright. When you're with your friend Amy, you have lots of fun, and making new friends will be even better".

6. Communicate With Your Child

If your child feels apprehensive when encountering strangers or new situations, ask what makes him or her scared. Communication between a parent and child can be a constructive activity.

Once you know what circumstances makes your child feel uncomfortable, you can help him or her overcome the fear. For instance, you might read books about making new friends, or share similar experiences and tell how you overcame being scared.

As a final thought, speak to your child's preschool teacher and explain that your child may take a little time to warm up and feel comfortable. You might also take your child on a little tour of the learning and development center before enrollment.

How Can Block Play Help Your Child's Development?

Sat, 27 Oct 2018 21:07:00 GMT

The early childhood classroom is a place of wonder for your preschooler. From finger painting to dressing up, your child will learn and grow through play. Along with everything else your preschool-aged child does during their day, block play often takes the center stage. If you want to know what this seemingly simple activity can do for your child, look at the developmental benefits of block play.

Early Math

Math in the preschool classroom is much more than addition and subtraction. At this young age, children need concrete ways to make the abstract world of mathematics accessible. Manipulatives, such as counting bears, an abacus, or blocks, can make concepts easier to understand.

Blocks provide the preschooler with many different ways to learn basic math concepts. These include (but aren't always limited to):

Geometry. Block play can help preschoolers to develop shape recognition skills. By using a variety of three-dimensional shapes, young students are able to connect the shape words with the actual structure in a hands-on way.
Numeracy. Counting blocks or using them to create different quantities (including adding or subtracting them) can lead to numeracy development.
Pattern. Alternating shapes, colors, or sizes of blocks can help young children to learn about patterns.
Spatial relationships. Spatial reasoning is a challenge for many preschoolers. Block play gives children the chance to explore and experience three-dimensional objects and how they move through space or relate to one another.

Along with these early mathematical concepts, block play can help children to sort and classify. Depending on the types of blocks the child uses, they can group them into meaningful categories. While this might not seem like a math skill right now, down the road the child will use this growing organizational ability to solve complex problems.

Creative Thinking

Block play is much more than building towers or stacking walls. Instead of a one-by-one stacking activity, preschoolers can create anything that their imaginations allow. While you may already know that the dress up bin and play kitchen area foster creative or dramatic skills, these aren't the only places that spark imagination.

How does block play foster creative thinking? Given the chance to explore with blocks without limits or a specific direction, children are free to create their own narratives. Whether they imagine that each individual block is a pretend friend or they use the blocks to create a story-like setting, this type of play builds creativity and the cognitive skills needed to think in this way.

Problem Solving

The engineering aspect of block building requires a sophisticated set of problem-solving skills. Think of creating a tower that won't fall like a puzzle that a child needs to solve. As the preschooler builds, creates, or designs their own creations, they solve internal problems. Likewise, educators can prompt their young students to solve problems with the blocks. Through directed ideas (such as "How can you use three blocks to build a bridge?" or "How can you make the blocks stand in a tower?"), children begin to think critically. This valuable skill is something that they'll use throughout their life, in school, and well beyond.

Social Skills

Block play isn't always a solitary activity. Even though a child can play with blocks alone, group builds provide the chance for preschoolers to work cooperatively together and develop social skills. Through negotiation, communication, and idea sharing, preschoolers learn how to interact with others in a social world.

Hand-eye coordination, muscle strength, and dexterity are all skills that block play can help the young child to build. Building with blocks gives the young child the abilities to manipulate small items and make progressively more sophisticated hand movements. Do you want a caring environment that will help your preschooler to learn and grow? Contact Small World Early Learning & Development Center for more information.

The Importance of Teamwork for Preschoolers

Thu, 18 Oct 2018 16:49:00 GMT

One of the first skills children learn in school is the ability to work in groups. Teamwork offers many different advantages to children, especially as they grow older and need to complete schoolwork and eventually find a career that involves working with groups to accomplish a common goal.

Teamwork requires children to cooperate with each other, and children who learn these skills are also on their way to establishing solid skills in problem-solving, communication, listening, creativity, and self-esteem.

To see how preschool and home life can benefit your child’s teamwork skills, continue reading.

How Parents Introduce Teamwork

While children often learn to work in teams and groups at school, they can also learn these skills at home. You can facilitate children learning crucial skills by finding teachable moments.

Often, children learn skills simply by playing with their peers in an unstructured environment. It is important that children have the opportunity to free play with their friends and siblings.

Sharing is one of the bases for teamwork. Children often learn to share by playing with siblings, but they can also learn this skill in any social situation. You can model sharing behaviors in front of your child.

Children can also learn empathy at home. Empathy is a skill that requires your child not only to be kind, but also to listen intently to the needs of others. Modeling these behaviors is helpful, as is discussing your feelings with each other. Many books are also written to help children understand the concept of empathy.

Conflict resolution skills are also critical for building teamwork. Conflict resolution involves listening to other people's feelings, speaking directly with others, and finding ways to solve problems. Children often learn these skills with friends and siblings, and you can step in to provide a template for resolving these issues too.

If your child has screen time at home, you might want to focus on sharing movies and TV shows that have a positive message. Many shows are created with promoting ideas like teamwork in mind.

How Preschool Introduces Teamwork

Children in preschool will sometimes work in pairs and small groups to finish projects. Projects could include anything from arts and crafts to completing puzzles. You should always discuss your child's school's plan for emphasizing the role of teamwork as a life skill.

Sports are also helpful for building teamwork skills. Physical activity allows children to exercise their bodies and their minds, building emotional connections. Preschool can emphasize the need for students to learn how to be cooperative, not competitive.

In very young children, one of the best teamwork activities is to learn how to build groups. For example, teachers might ask their students to act like one of two animals. The children will pretend to be this animal and try to find a partner or group. Games like Follow the Leader also promote the skill of teamwork and team-building.

Art can also bring groups together. Children learn how to build art projects together. Perhaps one student uses yellow, another uses blue, and another uses red. The goal is to work together to complete one piece of art with each child contributing.

How to Find a School that Promotes Teamwork

Many parents think to ask a preschool about the literary and mathematical skills their child will learn, which is smart. Unfortunately, many people forget to ask about citizenship skills. Make a point to discuss the different activities your child will participate in to become a better learner.

Are you considering a preschool for your child? Small World Early Learning & Development Center understands the need for young children to learn teamwork skills. Call our facility today to set up an appointment to visit.

6 Ways to Make Your Preschooler More Confident

Tue, 11 Sep 2018 15:45:00 GMT

Proper instruction only makes up a part of a child's future academic success. A child's confidence level is also a contributing factor. In fact, self-confident children often perform better than children do with less confidence. Learn how to foster self-confidence in your child to improve their future academic performance and sense of self.

1. Invite Questions

Children who lack confidence can often be too shy to ask questions in the classroom. Reluctance to ask a question may cause a child to miss valuable information and fall behind as a result.

Invite your child to ask questions at home. Create an atmosphere where your child feels they can ask anything. Your child should not feel like their questions are senseless or that he or she is a bother for asking you. The more your child understands the connection between questions and learning, the better.

2. Assign Responsibilities

Responsibility helps foster confidence in a child because this gives them a sense of value. Give your son or daughter a short list of tasks for which they are responsible.

For example, by the age of four, a child can help set the table or sort the laundry. The duty might seem unimportant to you, but to a small child, this means a lot. A child with responsibilities or chores feels like they play an important role in the family.

3. Encourage Adventure

Confidence and adventure often go together. As a parent, you might find shielding your child from disappointment or failure easier. However, belief in yourself is a learned behavior. Allow your child to learn from their experiences to improve their self-assurance.

Encourage your child to take safe chances. For example, if your child wants to take the training wheels off their bike, take them off. Provided the child understands proper balancing on their bike and wears protective gear, your child will gain more from the experience than they will lose.

4. Be an Example

Young children imitate their parents. Learn how to set a shining example of self-love and confidence in everything you do.

For example, when you dress in front of your child, avoid pointing out your flaws. Picking yourself apart is not healthy for you. The practice can also inspire an unhealthy habit in your child. While you do not have to overpraise yourself, show your child what a healthy sense of self looks like.

5. Teach Dedication

No one becomes the best at anything overnight — this takes hard work and effort. However, children who believe the opposite may be more apt to view themselves poorly when they do not get something right the first time.

You have the duty of teaching your child the importance of hard work and dedication. When your child hits a roadblock, do not focus on the failure. Take the opportunity to remind your child that they always have a next time and that if they try again, they will only get better. Even a small glimmer of hope can improve confidence in a discouraged child.

6. Limit Praise

Praise is a helpful confidence-building tool. Yet, too much praise is problematic. Learn how to praise your child only when the praise is earned.

Telling your child that they win all the time sets them up for future disappointment. Parents who offer praise when the praise is earned have more confident children.

Instilling a sense of confidence in your son or daughter is a lifelong gift. At Small World Early Learning & Development Centers, we want to help your child reach their full potential. Contact us to learn how we encourage confidence and high achievement in our students.

Build Independence: Your Growing Toddler's Development

Fri, 27 Jul 2018 21:56:00 GMT

A growing sense of independence is a hallmark of the toddler years. Now that your child walks on their own, they're ready to take off and explore. While this new sense of self-authority can provoke anxiety in parents, this is a positive step in your child's development — one that you need to foster.

Understanding how independence fits into your toddler's development is a step towards helping them to become a confident child with a healthy sense of self-esteem. Look at what you need to know about toddlers, independence, and child development.

Understand Developmental Milestones

As your child reaches the one-year mark, and transitions into a toddler, they're physically more capable than they were as a newborn or infant. Gone are the days when your child needed you to do everything for them. Your toddler still needs you, but they're also expanding the range of activities that they can do by and for themselves.

Your toddler's development pushes them towards independence. By age two, many toddlers can speak in short sentences and follow very simple instructions, as well as run, climb onto furniture, and walk up/down stairs.

With these developmental milestones comes the ability to move and explore on their own. You may notice that your toddler's willingness to act independently increases along with their physical, cognitive (intellectual), and emotional development.

Provide Opportunities

Even though your toddler's sense of independence develops on its own, you can help to boost this skill. By providing plenty of opportunities for your child to act independently, you help them to feel comfortable and confident with their growing abilities.

What can you do to foster independence? Start by taking a step back. This does not mean that you stop supervising your toddler. But this does mean that you can give your child a reasonable amount of space, allowing them to explore and do things for themselves.

You have no need to create elaborate independence activities or schedule independence lesson time. Use everyday activities to build this skill, incorporating opportunities to act independently into the things your toddler would normally do.

This may mean letting them choose their own outfit in the morning, asking them to carry their own backpack to preschool, or giving them choices during snack or meal times.

Incorporate the Childcare Into Your Plan

Helping your toddler to become an independent child can, and should, include every aspect of their life. While allowing your child to act independently may take longer than simply doing everything for them, the extra time provides a valuable opportunity for growth and development.

This means you may need to add extra time onto your pre-preschool daily routine. Leaving extra time to let your child try to dress themselves, brush their own hair, choose a breakfast meal, find their shows, or carry their school bag to the car will pay off for your toddler's overall independence development.

The more they practice these skills right now, the more likely they'll be to feel confident in their own abilities as they move into the preschool and school-age years.

Keep in mind, your toddler's childcare or preschool teacher is part of the developmental equation. The adult supervisors at child care want to help your toddler to grow, develop, and succeed. As a partner in your child's education and development, they need to know your independence-building plan.

If you expect your child to self-feed, wash their hands themselves, or put on their own jacket, talk to the teacher and explain you'd like your child to continue these activities at school.

Are you searching for a new early childhood program that will help your toddler to grow and develop? Contact Small World Early Learning & Development Center for more information.

Creativity and Your Preschooler: What Parents Need to Know

Thu, 14 Jun 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Creativity isn't something that's isolated to painters, musicians, and artsy individuals. The ability to create, think outside of the box, solve problems, and imagine is something that your preschooler has deep inside them. The key to unlocking this creative potential is providing the right environment, which is exactly what a high-quality early education program does.

Understanding what creativity is, how your child builds these skills, and the ways creativity helps your child is all part of parenting. Even though your young child is developing creative abilities during their preschool day, the learning doesn't stop there. Read on to learn how you can help your child bring out their inner creative self.

Creativity and Curiosity

Your child is a curious kiddo. They're into absolutely everything and adore exploring. The natural curiosity that your preschooler possesses can lead to creativity.

Creative thought takes the type of inquisitive mind that your child has — especially if they enjoy experimenting and making discoveries. Fostering curiosity can sometimes help your child be more creative. However, this depends on your child, the activities that they engage in, and how they interact with others like you, their teacher, or their preschool peers during exploration-based play.

Creativity and the Arts

When it comes to activities that foster creativity, the obvious choices are art lessons. The visual arts along with the performing arts set the stage for a young child's creativity to take flight.

Even though the arts are ideal for building creative abilities, the way you (or your child's preschool teacher) use them is important. An art activity that involves following a precise pattern, without deviating or making any changes to the steps an adult provides, won't add to your child's creative skill-set. Instead, it may have the opposite effect.

However, a process-based activity that allows the child to explore materials or the art itself can help your child to develop creativity.

Process-based activities encourage children to get hands-on and experiment within the framework of the art. These activities cross the different arts disciplines and are easy to use whether your child is playing with paints or trying on costumes.

Creativity and the Sciences

Creativity doesn't always mean drawing, painting, or sculpting. Your child can build on their creative skills through other areas — such as the sciences. While science doesn't immediately strike most people as a creative pursuit, the process used to experiment and make discoveries takes imagination, critical thought, and the types of problem-solving skills that creative thinkers use often.

Like with the arts, a step-by-step product-based activity won't encourage creativity. However, giving your child a scientific concept or idea to explore will encourage creativity. Using open-ended questions during science play, asking your child to make predictions, and encouraging them to come up with their own experiments, are all easy ways to promote creative growth through the sciences.

Creativity and the Community

The development of creativity doesn't happen in just one location. While your child will be more creative at preschool, they'll continue building their skills at home. In addition, you can use plenty of community venues and events as opportunities to help your child develop their creative skills.

Art or dance classes are obvious places that will encourage creativity. Along with these classes, community activities, museums, science centers, and performing arts companies (such as the ballet, the symphony, or a theater troop) can also help young children to use their imaginations and get creative.

Whether it's watching creative performers at work or thinking about the artworks that they view, your child is growing as a learner and as a person.

Are you looking for a challenging, creative preschool environment for your young child? Contact our team at Small World for more information.

6 Tips to Address Common Challenging Toddler Behaviors

Fri, 25 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Parents often trade stories about the Terrible Two's, yet the truth is that the toddler years do not have to be completely tumultuous. While toddlers do occasionally exhibit challenging behaviors as they push for more independence, most meltdowns are simply your child's way of expressing a need.

When your fairly easygoing child suddenly throws a few curveballs your way, you can use these tips to get a handle on the most common toddler challenging behaviors.

1. Know What's Normal

Toddler tantrums are often upsetting to parents who may worry that something is wrong with their child. Alternatively, you may question your parenting abilities when your child refuses to stop engaging in bad behaviors such as biting. Although meltdowns are not acceptable, they are most likely normal reactions to stress.

Right now, your child is making major leaps in their development. For instance, they may insist upon doing things for themselves. However, their motor skills and emotional regulation abilities are still developing, which leads to frustration.

When frustration builds up, tantrums, biting, and a refusal to follow the rules are all normal behaviors that your child uses to express their emotions. Recognizing that your child is merely exhibiting a common behavior for their stage of development helps you to stay calm as you work on helping them manage their emotions.

2. Keep a Consistent Schedule

Toddlers thrive on consistent schedules that help them to know what is expected of them. When possible, try to keep your child's meals, naps, and playtimes on a similar schedule to the one that they follow at their early childhood learning program.

If your child also visits family members, then ask them to follow a similar routine. By making sure that your child knows what happens throughout the day, you minimize their frustration.

3. Encourage Them to Burn Off Some Energy

In addition to a consistent schedule, toddlers need to run, jump, and play to burn off excess energy. Try to incorporate physical activity into parts of your toddler's daily routine that tends to generate challenging behaviors.

For example, you could give them an opportunity to play outside before you expect them to sit down for lunch or dinner. Your toddler may also enjoy doing things such as jumping up and down ten times before they have to ride in the car.

4. Talk to Your Child's Teacher

Early childhood teachers are constantly observing the children in their classroom for signs that they need help learning how to adjust their behavior. If your child is consistently exhibiting the same negative behavior such as biting, then ask their teacher if this is also occurring at school.

Often, kids exhibit similar behaviors at school and home, and your child's teacher can give you ideas on how they handle it, such as by redirecting the child’s attention to a new activity. Using similar behavior modification strategies at school and home helps reinforce desirable behavior.

5. Strengthen Their Verbal Skills

Many of the most common toddler behaviors arise from an inability to fully express their emotions. Provide your child with the vocabulary words that they need to work through their problems. For instance, teaching your child how to ask another child to share is one way to approach bad behaviors.

6. Provide Simple Choices

Toddler meltdowns sometimes occur when your child tries to assert their control in an unacceptable way. To prevent this from happening, give them a sense of control by offering limited choices. For example, you could let your child pick from two different shirts to head off a daily meltdown that occurs when they get dressed.

At Small World Early Learning and Development Centers, our toddler programs are designed to strengthen positive behavior in young children through activities that stimulate their development. Reach out to us today to learn more about how our program helps toddlers develop self-control.

A Parent's Guide to Finding a Quality Early Learning Program

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Every child deserves to grow up in a nurturing environment that supports their development, yet early childhood learning programs vary significantly from one location to another. As a parent, you can use this guide to identify the right program to help your child reach their fullest potential.

Ask About Teacher Training and Experience

Your child and their teacher will spend many hours together, and you should feel comfortable leaving your child in their teacher's care. Begin your search for a learning program by asking about the requirements for becoming a member of the staff at the center.

In a quality program, you should find that the majority of the staff members hold a degree within the early childhood education field, or they have years of experience. Staff members who are just beginning their careers in an early learning environment should be mentored by more experienced members of the team to foster their development.

Each member of the staff should also undergo continuous education training throughout the year that helps them to stay on top of the latest practices for teaching young children. These trainings may also include opportunities to enhance their safety skills in first aid and CPR.

Check for Age-Appropriate Practices

In an early learning environment, teachers should adjust their strategies to fit the needs of young children. For instance, a teacher who works with infants may set up the classroom to encourage safe exploration by limiting furniture such as shelves and chairs.

Alternatively, a preschool teacher may nurture independence by using child-sized shelves that are filled with learning toys and labeled with pictures so that your child can help during cleanup time.

Discipline should also be prevalent in the classroom. However, teachers should avoid using harsh punishments. Instead, they use conflicts in the classroom as learning opportunities. For example, a teacher may have two older children brainstorm ways to share a toy rather than arbitrarily giving possession of it to one child or the other.

Look at the Lesson Plan

Every classroom should have a lesson plan that is tailored to fit the needs of each child. Although the teachers may follow a curriculum, the plan should include a wide range of activities targeting skills that young children need to develop, such as letter recognition and oral language.

Inquire About Arts and Culture Experiences

Academic learning is critical for young children, but remember that your child also benefits from being exposed to arts and culture experiences. When your child attends events such as a live play at a theater or a musical performance, they learn valuable social skills and refine their worldview.

In the classroom, art and music lessons allow children to develop their creativity, and activities such as drawing or plucking a child-size guitar help kids to strengthen fine motor skills that affect their ability to learn to write.

Observe the Classroom Environment

You can learn a lot about a learning program from a short classroom observation. During your visit to the center, ask if you can visit the classroom where your child will learn. Then spend a few minutes observing. You should see the children actively engaged in activities that interest them as the teacher scaffolds their learning.

Find Out About Parent Involvement

You should always feel welcome in your child's learning program, and quality teachers recognize the importance of helping young children make school-to-home connections. Ask about how teachers communicate with parents, and look for answers such as through bulletin boards, emails, newsletters, and verbal communication.

At Small World Early Learning and Development Centers, we recognize each child as a unique individual who is eager to reach their fullest potential. Contact us today for a tour of our learning center to see how your child thrives in a nurturing environment.