Choosing the Best Early Childhood Program
How do you choose an early childhood program?
Location and cost are important to the family looking for child care outside of the home, so how do you find the best fit for your budget, yourself and your child?
In my experience, word of mouth is the first stop for most families. Start by asking your friends, acquaintances and colleagues about where their child is in early care. Keep in mind looking for the best fit for you cannot be judged by your friends alone. I would advise looking at more than one place and perhaps making more than one visit. The decision of where to place your child outside of your home should be made keeping in mind that research shows the importance of quality care in early developmental years. Convenience and price might not be in the future generation’s best interest.
Next make sure that the child care on your list is licensed. In MA you will find a listing of all licensed child care providers both home based and center based at www.eec.state.ma.us. You will be assured of health and safety standards as defined by the Commonwealth.
A higher level of quality for a center based childcare is national accreditation by the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) www.naeyc.org for home based care go to www.nafcc.org
Since you will have needs specific to your family, gather more information by looking for a website or making a phone call to verify that the childcare centers on your list offer the days and hours of operation you require. You might ask about other policies that are important specifically to you for example, celebrations, family involvement, wellness policy, cancellation, or closures.
Next you will need to arrange to visit the child care setting. It is advisable to call ahead to find out if you can “drop in”. There are a range of safety pre-cautions that vary from site to site, home to home from very lenient to very strict policies of no admittance without an appointment.
Once at the site, assess the atmosphere. Ask yourself how you feel. Does the environment welcome you and your child? Are the children happy? Is the noise level appropriate for a group of children at play? What are the children doing, how about the adults? Are the children being supervised? You should see smiles all around, hear pleasant sounds, notice hands on play and activity. There should be enough materials for everyone.
Pay attention to interactions between children and between teachers and children. They should be mostly positive without overuse of the word “no”. Guidelines and rules should be clearly understood and explained for everyone.
Equally important to the indoor space is the outdoor space. Asses this space as you would the indoor space.
Lastly, would your child be comfortable, happy, and engaged in the environment you are visiting. If all of the above is met, you’ve met your match.
Family-Teacher Conference Time
It is time for family-teacher conferences. This means different things to different families. While one family might really be looking forward to meeting with the teacher another family may really be dreading this meeting.
What is the family-teacher conference? It is a time to reflect on the goals, objectives and even dreams of your child. It is a time to forge mutual respect for the parent and teachers role in your child’s education. Educators prepare for your child’s conference by combining a series of observations, rating scales, checklists, observations from other educators and their own expertise. These data points are compiled into a progress report for your preschooler.
During the conference the educator will want to find out more about your personal culture and family life. There should be a sharing of information about the child that results in teamwork and collaboration for your child’s education.
Progress reports generally review your child’s progress in the following areas: language, math, history, social science, science, health and integrated arts.
NAEYC suggest that families prepare for conferences in the following ways.
Be willing and ready to share information about your child and family. You are the most important influence in your young child’s life. You know your child better than anyone else and have valuable insights to share with the teacher. Share things about your child’s life at home. Focus on the things you believe your child’s teacher needs to know.
Stay focused on your child. While it is easy to wonder how your child is doing compared to other children, his/her own siblings or even yourself at the same age it is important to focus strictly on observable progress for your child. Stay focused on your child and his or her unique temperament, individual needs, and special interests. .
Attend every parent-teacher conference. Arrange to be at all scheduled conferences whether in person or by phone, use the conference as a time to exchange information with the teacher and discuss ways to work together to enhance your child’s education.
Arrive on time. Teachers usually have a tight schedule for conferences. If you think you will need additional time ask for it in advance.
Remember, children can hear and remember what is said. Conferences are generally a time for adults to talk. It’s best to arrange for a caregiver for your child.
Listen with an open mind. Ask questions when you don’t understand. Speak up if you disagree with a strategy or don’t understand how it will support your child’s development and learning. Explain the reasons for your views and voice your concerns, but be open to suggestions. Stay on the subject: your child’s progress. This is important dialog for your child’s education.
Be prepared. If you have specific question to ask the teacher, it’s a good idea to ask the most important question first, in case time runs out. Remember, while teachers have a specialized education, they don’t have answers for everything nor can they diagnose or speak to issues outside of their specialization.
Keep the conversation focused on what can be done for your child. When there are problems, both teachers and parents need to stay calm and work together for the best interest of the child. Follow up conferences/meetings will be scheduled if necessary.
Stay involved. Try to visit the center or school frequently, not just for conferences and Back to School Night. Ask the teacher to suggest activities you can do at home to reinforce your child’s learning. Look for opportunities to engage yourself in your child’s education. If you have questions find out what format the teacher likes to receive and answer so that lines of communication remain open!
Source: Adapted from H. Seplocha, 2004, “Partnerships for Learning: Conferencing with Families,” Family Ties, Young Children 59 (5): 96–99.
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Pre-School Science Blog Series
Since there is a recent emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) this blog series will start with science in the preschool curriculum with two more to follow.
Science is a way of thinking.
Science is NOT something you know it is something you do. Science answers questions, it is a way of looking at the universe, it is a way of investigating. The product of science answers questions, how we do this is the process of science.
Young children are naturally curious. A preschool science curriculum includes experiences to broaden thinking and build new understanding. It involves questioning, trying things out and taking risks. Inquiry and exploration, what things are called, how they work, and why something happens, these questions are the basis of science.
There should not be a specific science time in preschool. Science is integrated into all content areas for the naturally curious young child. It is best to let things unfold rather than correcting ideas, teaching information or providing an explanation.
In discovery children will use all their senses to gain information about their environment. The science curriculum for the young child will support observing environmental change, cause and effect, systems and cycles. Classifying living and non-living, weighing and measuring, gravity and magnetism, making predictions are all aspects of a preschool science curriculum.
Let’s look at science in a typical preschool day.
During morning circle a teacher lead activity may include discussing the daily weather. As the educator leads a discussion about the weather and children share experiences from home, the discussion may turn to caring for a pet or finding shells on the beach. Many times music is played at morning circle. Conversations regarding the music allows for the discovery of sound and the instruments that create it.
During center time, in dramatic play the children might be seen balancing tea cups and plates trying to defy gravity or they might compare and contrast the dolls to real babies. Young children act out having a baby by stuffing dolls in their shirts. This is science, remember that you do not need to correct, teach or provide an explanation. Science is all about discovery.
At the writing center, science might be comparing colors or discovering what happens if you press down very hard on a pencil point.
At snack time body processes and functions is a very popular preschool science investigation! The nutritional content of food is another popular topic at snack and lunch time. During the process of preparing snack one might witness the transforming of whole apples into applesauce, witnessing solid to liquid.
Project time might be color mixing or making play dough where the dry ingredients mix with the wet and then cook into a malleable solid. Watch what happens when you dip dry chalk into water and draw on dark paper. Again this is all preschool science.
Growing seeds, caring for plants, caring for school pets, hatching caterpillars or eggs, watching the sunset, collecting insects, using magnets and magnifying glasses, watching a pumpkin rot, listening to your heart with a stethoscope, brushing your teeth, on and on this is preschool science!
Runny Noses, Coughs & Colds
Can you believe that the simple act of hand washing can keep your child healthier this winter? I was reading an article by Dr. Marz of Bass River Pediatrics where he says that young children entering preschool for the first time will spend the next 18 months or so experiencing the entire inventory of cough, cold, runny noses and viruses in the area. If you relocate the pattern continues with “new” local bugs. In fact this is a normal pattern. Your child’s immune system is not sub optimal.
Many of us take hand washing for granted as a way of staying healthy and perhaps focus on good food, sleep and exercise which are all important to our good health. Pair this with hand washing and your child’s health might improve.
What is proper hand washing? Soap and water are integral to good hand washing. Using soap and running water, hands should be rubbed vigorously together for 10 seconds, be sure to include the back of the hand, wrists, between the fingers and under the fingernails. Dry thoroughly with a paper towel and repeat as necessary throughout the day!
Great news, young children love washing their hands. Here is a fun poem to wash to!
Little fingers like to play
In mud and paint and sand all day.
To get those fingers squeaky clean,
Wash the fronts and backs
And in between!
We used finger paint and made our handprints on a separate piece of paper and then sprinkled on a bit of corn meal “dirt” and then recited this poem. It is now hanging on the wall to remind us to wash often.
We also have fun with this poem, as we teach the children to put their coughs or sneezes into their “wings” or elbows.
If you need to cough or sneeze,
Put it in your elbow please.
Throw your tissue in the can,
Now it’s time to wash your hands!!
May these little tidbits keep you healthier this winter!
The Benefits of Dramatic Play for Children
Why do early child centers have dramatic play areas?
Dramatic play can expand your child’s imagination and allows him/her to create his/her own world and safely act out life experiences, role play emotions and concerns. In this area children act out what is important to them, what they have experienced and what they are comfortable with all within the confines of what they can control. During dramatic play cooperation and negotiation skills can be practiced. This supports the young child’s social/emotional development.
Pretend play provides opportunity for language development as different props are introduced. When introducing woodworking tools imagine the vocabulary and learning that will take place. Dramatic play allows for expansion of language capabilities. When adding pencil and paper, writing can be added as a skill developed in the dramatic play area. Research shows that children who have opportunities for dramatic play are better readers and writers with a more comprehensive vocabulary.
Math in the dramatic play area can be setting a table using one to one correspondence by placing one plate, one cup, one fork, knife and spoon at each place, sorting doll clothes for “washing” or dividing play foods evenly among plates. Children can match pairs as well.
Learning about diversity and other cultures is an area often reinforced in the dramatic play area for the young child. These social studies as well as learning about oneself and others are met by introducing various traditions by adding special clothing, tools or objects to the area. Children have an opportunity to explore various customs and celebrations. I have added for example, a menorah, wedding veil, chop sticks and birthday hats to the center at various times.
The small motor skills of dressing dolls, zipping, snapping, buttoning and tying dress up clothes/costumes can easily be integrated into dramatic play. Young children can practice simple home chores such as sweeping, folding and serving.
Science can be integrated into dramatic play as you set up a “forest”, a cave, a fishing pond or a tent. We add different supplies that correspond to our curriculum.
At home: Set up a space for dramatic play with props such as: dress up clothes/costumes, dolls, kitchen props and a telephone. Remember you can use old mail, calculators, paper, pencils and a briefcase so your child can play “office”. Stuffed animals, small blankets and a doctor kit can be a pet shop or vet. Emptied and clean food containers and flyers can make a grocery store. Extend all of these areas with paper and a pencil for writing lists, prescriptions, bills or notes. Use your imagination and allow your child to use his/hers. Have fun!
See you next week!
The Importance of Art in a Pre-School Curriculum
What is the value of art in the early childhood curriculum?
This month I will continue to explore each area of our curriculum. Last month I started with cooking. Let’s look at art.
Art can be enjoyed through all areas of the early childhood curriculum. Art in the nursery school is about exploration. The experience is about the process of creating not the final product though we all know there are limits on some creative behavior for safety reasons!
First, let’s consider art and social/emotional development. Art is for the pleasure and the satisfaction of creating something very personal. The product is very personal and need not be judged by anyone other than the creator. For the young child art provides the opportunity for freedom of expression through color, shape, texture, modeling and design. This can be accomplished with paint, playdough, paper and glue to name a few.
In the art center children learn to respect each other’s work and to accept differences amongst themselves. The practice of sharing supplies and space happens in the art center. Often children might have to take turns, another skill that can be learned in the art center. Art helps the young child build self confidence in his/her ability to make choices and decisions.
Art can build literacy skills as young children tell stories through drawing and painting. Additionally, looking at the art work in children’s books and offering the same materials is a great way to submerse the child in art. Art vocabulary can be very informative and impressive as the young child says “illustrator”, “mosaic” and “three dimensional” to name a few. Listening skills and following directions are important for safety and the setting of rules for using artists’ tools, for example, a paint brush, rolling pin or scissors.
How else is art important for the preschool aged child? In the area of math in the art center children can observe color, texture, size, and shape of objects. Often they may need to count out enough materials to complete a project.
In the art center, making play dough and paper mache are materials through which young children can participate in science. Young children thrive with hands on learning.
The art center can provide for physical development when exercising the small muscles of the hand while drawing, cutting, gluing and painting. Eye/hand coordination can also be developed. The large muscles of the body can be used in art as well, using the upper body when taking broad painting strokes.
Finally, at home provide materials and a space for your child to create. Fill a box, bin or bag with crayons, chalk, markers, pencils, playdough, rollers and cutters, scraps of paper all kinds, child scissors, glue and paint. You need not be fancy, recycled materials work well. Color or paint on old newspaper or cereal boxes. Throw in an old table cloth or sheet to catch the spills. Choose a space for creating and a special place for displaying what your child creates.
Next week I’ll take on the dramatic play area.
Promoting Wellness & Independence for Pre-schoolers
How do routines promote wellness and independence for your nursery school aged child?
There are many ways to promote well being while allowing for independence for your pre-schooler. Let’s look at a few basics.
Your young child can begin taking care of him/herself. This does not mean that he/she should do this alone! A family member should be modeling good self care. The most important and easiest way to promote wellness within your family is proper hand washing using soap and running water. Although hand sanitizer will do in a pinch, soap and water is the preferred method of cleaning. This simple task will keep everyone healthier.
Children thrive when given schedule and routine. There are many fun ways to invite your child to participate in healthy daily routines. Let’s look at cooking and housekeeping chores. Preparing nutritious foods is a favorite task of many pre-schoolers. Young children can wash, mix, and stir. Make sure that the cooking task you give your little one is age appropriate with a bit of a challenge. Use family dinners as a time to provide opportunities for practicing using utensils, non-sippy cups and good manners.
Cleaning up can be fun. How about playing a sorting game or getting the task completed before the music ends? Putting things away in familiar places help children to be self sufficient. Folding laundry provides many lessons in dressing for the weather. As the temperature changes so should the clothing in your child’s bureau/closet. Clothing battles can easily be won when you having a selection of seasonally appropriate clothing that your child can choose and put on him/herself. It is a good policy to choose your battles keeping in mind that some things are “must do’s” and are never left up to the child’s choice. Establish this for yourself and your child early. Remember there is no negotiating “must do’s”.
In keeping well make sure that your pre-schooler has the opportunity for gross motor movement/exercise every day. Climbing, running, jumping, catching, lifting, balancing and reaching. This can be accomplished either at a playground or dancing to music in your living room! Just like adults children should move enough to raise their heart rates.
Young children need routine bedtimes. Allow your child to wind down un-stimulated by electronics before bed to assure a good night’s sleep. After getting into pajamas, washing up, tooth brushing and flossing is another important self care routine that you can do together.
Whatever healthy routines you establish keep with them until your child’s next developmental stage. You will recognize when this happens as your routine will need change, sometimes this is dramatic, as in it just no longer works, but often there is just a subtle shift. Flow with it, remembering the basic well being issues discussed above.
Be Well!
Holiday Traditions, A Book on Every Bed
I was recently introduced by my friends at The Coalition for Children, to a new holiday tradition, “A Book On Every Bed”.
Imagine… One million children across America waking up on Christmas morning (or another winter holiday) to find a gift-wrapped book on their bed!
Amy Dickinson of “Ask Amy” and USA Weekend are encouraging families across
the United States to start this special holiday book tradition. You can help by sharing it with all of the families you know, http://www.familyreading.org/.
I love it; your children from pre-school age on up, will as well!
After your child has fallen asleep on a winter holiday evening, place a gift wrapped book at the end of his/her bed. The child will awaken to find a special present that can be opened and read right away, beginning this wonderful new tradition. This is a great way to keep your children in bed a little longer while spending quality time with you. This may help to get them to bed a bit earlier as well, as they look forward to reading or hearing read their new book again!
Additionally, you will be building a lovely keepsake library to pass on for generations. Wouldn’t it be fun to add a special pair of pajamas with one of the books making this a perfect way to cozy up and enjoy the season of giving?
Remember to spend quality time during this season of rushing around. We too often forget how this type of gesture adds up to great lasting memories.
Some titles for pre-school age children you might consider:
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
The Grinch Who Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
Frosty the Snowman
Rudolph
Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present by Charlotte Zolotow
Who’s That Knocking on Christmas Eve by Jan Brett
T’was the Night Before Chistmas by Clement C. Moore
Llama, Llama, Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney
Teaching Children About Charity
The winter holiday season is a good time to teach your young children the gift of charity, however there are many opportunities year round to practice being charitable. Let’s explore a few charitable ideas.
First, children between the ages of three and four are beginning to learn that other people have feelings. At this age children develop and hone a sense of empathy; the very basis for charity. Let’s start early teaching charity to our pre-schoolers.
To begin with, charity begins in the home with the family. Parents are closest to the young child and can set the best example most easily. A great way to reinforce charitable values is to make giving a regular fun filled family activity. The best charitable activities are those that connect with your child’s everyday experiences or interests. It is easiest for younger children to understand direct and concrete examples of charitable giving. For example, encourage your young child(ren) to donate their outgrown toys and clothing to other children. You might even start with an older sibling passing his/her things down to a younger sibling, cousin, family friend or a neighbor’s newborn.
Food is always most welcome at your local food pantry. Pick up an extra can a week and put it aside for a special trip to the food pantry. Purchase toiletries or write a letter for servicemen and women serving overseas. If your child is interested in animals you might donate food and blankets to an animal shelter. Collect hats, mittens, coats and/or diapers. There are many organizations that collect any or all of the above. Imagine the “feel good” sense when teaching your child to care about others.
Additionally, encourage everyone in your household to participate in volunteer activities. Many organizations need a helping hand. Praise your children when they show generosity and empathy to others. When you help out with your gift of time at a charitable event, a soup kitchen, or picking up trash, ask your children to join. Bake or rake leaves for your neighbor. Remember that children learn what they live. Kids thrive when they feel a sense of responsibility and will get involved with any activity that makes them feel empowered. Teach pre-schoolers that they are part of a larger community, and that we are all responsible for everyone around us. Don’t you want to live in a world where people care about one another?
You are your child’s first teacher.
Improving behavior
A sigh of relief: Routines
Let the wild rumpus end! I can hear a collective sigh of relief from parents of pre-schoolers. It is time to go back to school, back to “normalcy”, and maybe even time to grab a moments peace when the little ones go to pre-school.
We’ve all had fun and stayed up too late but now it is time to get back on track. Time to get back into the school year rhythm after routines have been broken, limits stretched and boundaries redefined. You are ready for a break!
Children need routines, boundaries and limits to feel safe at home and at pre-school. Children have almost no control over their lives and routine offers stability and comfort. Routines ensure for children that their basic needs will be met. The added benefit is that pre-schoolers are learning good behavior and good habits.
At pre-school we have established routines that basically do not change. Our flexibility lies in that the pre-schooler cannot tell time so the order of things is what becomes important. You can create that same type of order at home.. First we do this and then we do something else.
Here are a few suggestions for either creating routines at home or transitioning back to routine if you have lost it during the summer/holiday break.
Waking up should be around the same time everyday.
The routine of washing up and brushing your teeth establishes good hygiene.
Pre-schoolers love to get themselves dressed, make sure that you have seasonally appropriate clothing in their drawers and let them choose their outfits. Anything goes as long as it is seasonally appropriate.
Remember to have regularly scheduled meal and snack times, children need reassurance they will eat.
Have bedtime ritual and routines, if this has been upended during the summer/holiday break, try to ease back into your regular, earlier time a few days in advance of going back to school. This way everyone is refreshed and ready to go.
Have a special place for items that are going back to school so that they are easily located during the hectic morning pace.
Once you establish and/or stick to a routine, you should notice an improvement in behavior.
Enjoy the last few days of summer break.
See you back at pre-school.