Do You Believe...

Do you remember when you were young and it seemed like Christmas would never come? 
Do you remember making your Christmas list and writing your letter to Santa?
Do you remember the anticipation of that special morning?

Christmas brings back all kinds of memories, but the ones we usually cherish the most are the ones of childhood.  As we grow up, Christmas brings on different meanings and different memories.  When we become parents, we have the opportunity to see the magic of Christmas once again through the eyes of our children. 

The holidays can bring stress with all that needs to be done from buying gifts to decorating and cooking, but if you just slow down long enough to watch a child - whether it is your own or someone elses, you may just feel that magic once again.

Children do not have a difficult time believing, whether it be in the real meaning of Christmas or in Santa Claus.  They embrace the spirit and live in the moment.  Take just a few moments to stop, to watch and remember your own childhood - your own sense of wonder.  Feel the magic and rejoice.

Merry Christmas 

Five Fat Turkeys

 

Five Fat Turkeys are We

We Slept All Night in a Tree

When the Cook Came Around We Couldn't Be Found

So That's Why We're Here You See!

This is one of the children's favorite songs to sing during the Thanksgiving season.  They love the idea of the trukeys climbing in the tree to hide from the cook.  "Gobble, Gobble!"

 

Thankful can be a difficult word for young children to understand but that does not mean they do not understand the concept of being thankful.  At first we will say thankful is kind of like being happy.  When asked what makes them happy - they are able to come up with all kinds of ideas from their favorite toy, to their favorite place to go or perhaps their favorite food.  They are even able to grasp the idea of the turkeys being happy they were able to get away from the cook.

 

As the conversation continues we explain to the children that being thankful is more than being happy.   Thankful is a feeling we have WAY down in our heart towards someone or something.  Immediately the children know what they are thankful for and on the top of their list is MOMMY and DADDY!  Grandparents, siblings, pets, blankets and stuffed animals are quickly added to the list of the many things the children know give them real joy, hope, love and security. 

 

Young children do understand thankfulness.  It just may take a little explaining before they completely understand what the question means. When we take the time to have meaningful conversations with children about life they can give us answers that melt hearts. 

What are you thankful for in your life?

 

Blending Trends

I believe things develop and grow in cycles from humans, animals, plants and even trends.

Children used to run out the front door in the morning and return as the streets lights came on. There was much to explore and do in one’s own neighborhood from riding bikes, playing ball, roller skating, climbing trees, collecting rocks, pinecones, seeds, insects and more. Children negotiated their own schedules and agendas and played mutually with siblings and next door neighbors.

Children were learning how to figure out social situations, understand time, be creative thinkers and problem solvers all on their own. They learned not only about themselves but the natural environment around them, how things worked, all while their bodies grew and developed along with their minds.

Of course our world was safer then, not as many people, cars or need for closer supervision. For a variety of reasons the trend started to turn more towards providing a variety of different activities for our children.

Lessons and activities like dance, sports and art that seemed more productive and educational emerged, while taking place in safer environments rather than running around the neighborhood. These activities would teach things where you could see the progress from one lesson to the next all while being safe, social and fun for the children.

With these new activities new challenges developed from time management becoming a family discussion with who would be doing what activity, where and when and how to get there not to mention the added cost. We want the best for our children, we want them to participate in what others do, so we adapt.

I question whether we are missing something as we have shifted from one trend to another. Would it be perhaps better to blend the two together and provide a more balanced experience for our children? Can we still learn how to dance or play a sport while still running out into our own backyards to explore the outdoors with our siblings and friends? Perhaps arrange to go on a hike to explore nature and take a picnic lunch instead of having the play date at a fast food place and play center.

I am not only asking these questions of parents but of teachers as well. Our motto is children learn through discovery and play. Our goal this year is to bring back much more of the natural environment to our yards and classrooms. To blend trends, to provide real items mixed with the beautifully manufactured items for our children to learn, grow and develop as they explore and engage together in safe and exciting environments.

The children are using cedar slices, tree limb blocks, tree stumps, river rock and wild animals to explore and create.   Later on spray bottles filled with water were used to wet the wood and rocks to see the interesting details of these natural items and it also brought out the wonderful scent of the wood.   

Busy at Preschool

In one of our four-year-old classes the children were discussing shapes.  As you can see it was "Circle Day."  The project for the morning was to make a caterpillar out of different color circles.  The children could either use a hole punch and brads to attach the circles or they could use staplers.  Both require a different skill and muscle strength.  With the hole punch the child needs to squeeze and with the stapler they need to push all while deciding where to attach the next circle.  Eye-hand coordination is used to line up the two circles and either staple or insert a brad.  With the brad the child then needs to turn both pieces over without losing the brand and use very fine motor skills to seperate the legs of the brad.  The child repeats the process until they have a caterpillar as long as they like.

Children also were attaching pipe cleaners for antennas  and legs with a third option of masking tape.  Stickers and markers were provided to add facial features as desired.

What skills are involved in this project?

• Shape and Color Recognition
• Counting
• Fine Motor Skills
• Eye/Hand Coordination
• Concentration
• Following Multi-Step Directions
• Cooperation and Sharing

The children are working on this project while many other activities are going on in the classroom.  Therefore, they needed to be able to concentrate on the task at hand while not being distracted by the surrounding noise and fun.

All these skills are used in just one project!

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins

 

Fall is finally here with the leaves starting to tumble off the trees and the opportunity to wear jeans and sweaters once again.  Of course in Southern Calfiornia the weather could turn to 90 degrees in a flash of an eye but we are hopeful for traditional fall weather for our pumpkin hunts in the garden at the preschool.

Each classroom will walk to the garden and every child will search for just the right pumpkin to take home.  Many activities can be done around the theme of pumpkins at home and school incorporating all kinds of skills including our five senses, cognitive and social skills.  

 

At school we have been learning how a pumpkin grows and will soon clean out a real pumpkins feeling the slimmy insides, washing the seeds and roasting them for tasting.  We have been cutting, painting and gluing around the theme of pumpkins, reading books about pumpkins and acting out the song of the "Five Little Pumpkins Sitting on a Gate."

 

At home you might try making a pumpkin pie together.  If you aren't up to making one from scratch there is a good and easy recipe on the back of the canned pumpkin found in the grocery store.  Children love to help cook at home and it is a learning moment using math, science, the five senses and provides good old family fun.   Enjoy! 

 

Positive Behavior - Loving Discipline

As children grow up one way they learn about their world is by challenging limits and boundaries.  These limits and boundaries not only provide a sense of order to their world (and ours) it provides a sense of security. We all do better when we know what is expected of us.  Sometimes, it just seems easier to give in and let them have their way.  When we do that we are giving them mixed messages which is confusing and frustrating.

Discipline works best when parents and teachers provide children with a balance of love, respect, clearly defined rules, and understanding.  Here are some secrets of effective discipline:

Make the rules clear

Talk about family rules, explaining the consequences clearly.  For example, for a rule such as "Take care of belongings," you might tell them if they leave their legos out, they don't get to play with them the next day.  As your youngsters learn to read, write down the rules and put them on the refrigerator as a reminder. 

Tip:  Children are more likely to remember the rules if there are a few broad ones, rather than many specific ones.

Be Consistent and firm

You can expect your child to "test" the rules from time to time.  When they do, gently stand your ground and apply the set consequences.  Being firm and consistent lets them know that you mean business and provides a sense of  security instead of uncertainty.  The more you give in the more they will test because it works. 

Give positive feedback

Try to focus more on what your child does right than on what they do wrong.  This will encourage them to try even harder to behave.  Also, always state more of what you want instead of what you don't want.

Example: "Please clean up your legos now" instead of "Don't leave your legos all over the floor."  This is clear and to the point. When you see behavior you would like repeated, let them know.

Example:  "Thanks for putting your dirty clothes in the hamper."