Author: fuelingbrains_AdMEEn

Preschool circle time activities are often the highlight of the day for many youngsters. Kids take turns leading the circle games and even get to suggest their fun time favorites each day. They respond well to the comfortable feeling and stable routine that comes with a regular circle time. It provides an open opportunity for important social interactions, zealous movement, and spirited learning.

Preschool circle time activities
Scheduled circle games for kids also helps them transition from one part of the day to the next. This includes making it easier for preschoolers to occupy themselves during periods they have to wait. For example, some children may need to wait longer than others for a parent pick up. An end of day circle game for kids helps make the time pass more seamlessly.

Circle games for kids
Circle games for preschools can include some newer games mixed with traditional favorites. Children can participate either upright or by sitting in the circle. All of these options are sure to win the hearts of most preschoolers and add value to your program:

• Doggy, Where’s My Bone? One child goes outside the room while a second kid in the circle hides a paper bone behind him or her. The first child needs to figure out who has the bone.
• First Sounds and Rhyming Words: All the preschoolers are seated in a circle. One child says the beginning sound of a word, or a states a rhyming word. The speaker then rolls a ball toward the chosen person to complete the word or come up with another rhyming word.
• Name that Tune: A familiar song is played, chosen by one of the children. The kid who recognizes the song and offers the correct answer gets to pick the next tune.
• I Spy: Children recite the familiar phrase, “I spy something with my little eye, and the thing I see is…” Kids can use anything in the room. The child who calls out the correct item now has the next turn.
• Shopping for Alphabet: The first letter of a preschooler’s name is matched with an item to buy that starts with the same letter. A child named Tracy may say, “My name is Tracy and I will buy a train set.”
• Quiet and Still Mouse: With everyone seated the leader states who has become the mouse, by remaining very still and quiet.
• Hot, Warm and Cold: One child departs the circle while another kid is appointed “It” duty. The first one returns and wanders around the circle as the rest of the kids call out “hot”, “warm” and “cold” as the kid get nearer or further away from “It.”
• Simon Says: If a youngster follows a command without hearing, “Simon Says,” he or she has to sit. Some commonly used Simon says circle time commands include, touch your nose, lean to one side or stand on one foot. For hearing-impaired preschoolers, stick figure drawings can be used.

Keep in mind that most kids can’t handle being cast out during preschool circle games. Provide easy crafts or a book area for children who are sent away as part of a circle time activity. Also, modify the games to accommodate special needs children so everyone can participate and have fun.

Camps offer a wonderful experience for kids, filled with friends, fun and a lifetime of fond memories. Typical activities for children include singing and campfires, swimming and hiking. Team and character building drills and games that help encourage leadership. Both day camp and overnight camp are fun and the rewards can be priceless. Here are ten reasons some recently surveyed parents and camp-enthusiasts believe that every child should experience the benefits of summer camp.

1. It Expands Your Child’s World
Camp allows children to meet other youngsters of different backgrounds that they may have never met otherwise. This includes a diverse group of camp mates, leaders and counselors from different areas and social statuses. It takes them out of their everyday, ordinary bubbles.

2. Camp Helps Boost Self-Esteem
When children attend camp, they are on their own. They don’t have their parent’s help approaching new people. Self-confidence comes from putting themselves out there and making connections. Every time a child learns a new skill, like swimming, how to operate a canoe or archery it helps him or her grasp how capable he or she can be.

3. Learn to Appreciate Nature Again
Enjoying nature and being outdoors are cornerstones of camp life. Today, kids spend much less time outside as their predecessors. An outdoor summer program provides the opportunity to get them away from their electronics and back to basic fun.

4. Breeds Independence
Camp is a good way to encourage independence away from mom and dad. Kids need to make their own decisions throughout the day and take care of themselves, with direction from the counselors. At overnight camps, they are responsible for getting themselves up, making their beds and getting to breakfast at the scheduled time.

5. Provides Leadership Skills
Campers are allowed to choose their summer activities and direct their own schedules. Natural leaders develop in this setting, without peer pressure. It just happens that some kids will naturally set the pace for other children. This is one of the most valuable benefits of summer camp.

6. Treasured Memories
Your child will gain so many memories, some of them silly, others deep and meaningful. There will be lots of zany shenanigans and fun activities alongside a pivotal time of self-discovery. Friendships will be developed; some may last for the long-term. Regardless, the experiences will be ingrained for years.

7. Confidence When Meeting New People
Interacting with new people all summer is a great networking opportunity. Kids can connect with lifelong friends from different regions. It is a very valuable and unique opportunity to branch out of their comfort zones and feel more comfortable with new
social interactions.

8.Put Down Their Devices
Day camp and overnight camp offer the chance for kids to learn how to play again. Many have banned the use of electronic device so kids can get the most out of their outdoor
time. They are forced to get up and move around. So many children are way too sedentary these days.

9. Discover New Interests
Passions are discovered and nurtured in camp settings. Horseback riding, craft-making, rock climbing, hiking through the woods, these are all activities for kids that campers may not have been exposed to if the camp was not an option. Many of these interests can continue after camp ends.

10. A Place for Summer Fun
Parent’s work and children need to be occupied. It is necessary to find activities for children over the summer months. Day camp is the most practical solution. Camp isn’t just a place to store your children until you can retrieve them after work, it is a place of fun and learning.

Teach your child to eat healthy from the very first bite they experience. You control which flavors and textures they will become used to eating. Your child will decide what to eat from the choices you provide.

Healthy food habits include knowing how to listen to your body. Children innately know to eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full. When we force them to finish what is on their plates, we mess with the natural internal order. We need to share the responsibility with our kids so they don’t lose touch with their internal cues. They need to be taught to eat slowly and always stop when full.

Here are some additional tips on how to instill healthy habits for kids:

• Maintain a set snack and meal schedule, every day. Children’s bodies function best with a regular routine. Make meal time important family time. Eat together.
• Kids usually favor only a few new foods at a time. Focus on one favorite choice from each food group makes it a regular staple at most meals.
• Start eat day with a healthy breakfast. This will help regulate metabolism, weight control and enhance energy levels and learning.
• Provide healthy snacks for kids and keep them in reach. Carrot sticks, grapes, and rice cakes are good choices.
• Make positive eating and lifestyle choices yourself. Provide a good example that your kids will follow.
• Offer portions sizes that are age-appropriate and always include an abundance of fruits and vegetable each day.
• Get them used to drinking water more than anything else.
• Make fast food and sweet drinks occasional treats and order small portions.

Also, never use food as a reward or take it away as a form of punishment. It can be fun to teach healthy food habits for kids by letting them help you with the grocery shopping. It is a great way to show them how to choose healthy snacks. Children also enjoy helping to cook. Keep them involved and engaged. The good food habits they learn now will last the rest of their lives.

Forgiveness for Kids

The act of sincerely forgiving someone is a powerful choice that demonstrates self-love and empathy for others. It allows the person who chooses to forgive, the opportunity to release negative energy and not become overwhelmed by anger. The ability to manage emotions in a productive way doesn’t come easy for most. The act of forgiveness is an important skill that needs to be learned and regularly put into practice.

Teaching Kids about Forgiveness

Although some kids are born with a forgiving and peaceful nature, many others aren’t inherited with this gift. Parents must spend a generous amount of time teaching children the trait of empathy for others, which in turn allows teaching children about forgiveness to be much easier. Caregivers and teachers should pose as an extension of parents and take some time to focus on how to teach our children forgiveness. Children need guidance on how to handle their emotions and lessons on everyday coping skills needed to achieve a pleasant life within a community. One of the most impactful approaches to teaching kids about forgiveness is to lead by example.

Here are some suggestions on how to teach children and encourage forgiveness for kids:

Activities to Teach Forgiveness

• Recognize and support – Acknowledge instances that leave your child feeling angry. Don’t discredit your child’s feelings, kid’s need validation just like adults. Sometimes just the fact that you showed support and allowed your child to own their feelings can be enough to put the youngster at ease.
• Let go of stress – Let your child release the feelings of frustration. There is nothing wrong with feeling angry. The buildup of such negative emotions will create stress for the child. When a difficult scene arises, shift your kid away to a place where the child can vent. Several minutes of screaming, stomping or pounding on something soft will release the bad energy and help restore calm.
• Have a dialogue – When your child has regained composure, encourage a simple discussion with the person involved in the conflict. Teach them to speak their minds and stand up for themselves. Try to come up with forgiveness games for children as a way to lighten the mood.
• Inspire empathy – Analyze and explain the situation in a way that allows your child to consider the other person’s feelings. Encourage activities to teach forgiveness and caring for others.
• Say “I forgive you” aloud – Saying the words out loud will help rid the child of some negative feelings and help move the healing process forward. The goal is for the child to realize that relationships are important and that we all make mistakes. Forgiveness for kids can be learned and will become a rewarding habit.

 

 

Factors to Consider in Implementing Engineering Experiences

Connecting with youngsters through engineering has numerous advantages. It permits instructors to coordinate all four of the STEM disciplines (science, innovation, designing, and arithmetic) seamlessly into their learning exercises. Such problem solving activities for kids will reap benefits in other areas of their development. One very important domain that is strengthened is “Approaches to Learning.” This relates to how well a child adapts to new learning situations and is considered a school readiness area. This includes problem-solving skills, engagement, creativity, and more. These qualities are necessary for academic success. Solving techniques and activities geared for the child engineer will hone all of the essential skills needed for school readiness.

Encouragement Techniques

As educators we devise solving techniques to be used where students are already working. We believe that problem solving activities should be part of the daily classroom culture. Learning exercises that include solving activities should permit each child to engage in a highly desired experience, figuring out the best way to move water from the sink to plants that have been placed up high on a shelf, fixing a broken toy, or tracking how often incubated eggs have been turned. These actions all require child engineer problem-solving techniques.

Problem Solving

Our teachers encourage problem-solving by fighting the temptation to tackle youngsters’ issues for them. For example, don’t instinctively tie a student’s loose shoelaces, but point them in the right direction so they may help themselves. Assess each situation and decide if the child is able to sensibly conquer the issue independently.

Another helpful approach when planning solving activities is to ask yourself, “does this activity offer children the opportunity to decipher a problem?” This helps our instructors to set up opportunities to design, test, and problem-solve that attract and keep students engaged. Problem-solving activities for kids can include the use of building blocks, cooking, bubbles, and other creative tools that provide props for children to help them engage in engineering drills.

Self-Sufficiency

By allowing students adequate time to work through problems, it promotes an environment of self-sufficiency. This can mean anything from minutes, days or months. At times it takes a while for a child to discover a problem and come to a solution. By allowing them to stay and focus on solving a problem, it will aid in the development of persistence and avoid frustrating the student.

Observation

Lastly, we observe students closely and take mental notes. As teachers, we consider the interaction between the child, the classroom and their peers. We gain an understanding of just how productive the work-space and materials are, and how the students are engaging with them. After close observation of how each child works, our teachers can make informed decisions on how to arrange spaces, and on which materials to keep or remove, providing more information to create the best problem solving activities for child engineers. You can apply these rules in your home as well!

Toddlers bring a lot of fun into their parent’s lives, but at times, parenting them brings many challenges. They are at an age where they are still unable to communicate effectively. That often can lead to frustration and tantrums. They are newly mobile, curious, and determined to have their way. Toddler training is an acquired skill. The following parenting tips for toddlers will help keep the energetic child happy and maintain a reasonable degree of calm for all involved.

Be Consistent

Being consistent means setting rules and expectations and not wavering from them. This consistency makes the toddler’s world predictable and less confusing. This is one of the most important parenting tips for toddlers. They never worry about what might happen and it teaches them accountability for their actions. This type of discipline can be challenging. Discuss how you will react to such behaviors as tantrums or dealing with picky eaters with your partner to decide ahead of time how you’ll both respond and then stick to that set plan.

Parent-Toddler Time

When each parent spends regular quality time with their toddler the result will be a much more settled, less stressed, more secure, confident and more cooperative child. This routine with each sibling will greatly minimize sibling rivalry. Children naturally want quality time with their parents. Making one-on-one time will reassure them they are special and valued.

Promote Independent Problem-Solving

One of the toughest toddler tips for parents to adhere to – knowing when to back off. Parents who step in and help too much can hinder the toddler’s ability to become self-reliant. Let them struggle through difficult tasks. Offer encouragement, but don’t provide too much help. Buttoning a shirt or completing a puzzle may be difficult for a while, but once the child successfully completes the task, the sense of accomplishment will be priceless and lasting.

No Explaining

If your toddler has been told what to do, there is nothing left to discuss. Don’t continue talking about it or making eye contact. If necessary, give a verbal warning or use the one-two-three countdown. If the child continues to persist, give a time-out or other appropriate consequence.

Encourage New Foods

Don’t stick with chicken nuggets, corn dogs and animal crackers because it’s easy. Most toddlers are picky eaters. Some kids need to try foods many times before they finally develop a taste for it. It is good toddler training to expand their palates. Encourage your child to try new nutritious foods.

Keep the Crib Until the Child Asks for a Bed

Cribs are designed to keep little ones safe and help them to develop good sleeping habits. If the toddler graduates to a youth bed too soon, the child may not sleep well and end up spending more nights in their parent’s bed. A good time to move the crib out is when your child asks for a bed or starts climbing out of the crib. This usually occurs at about 2-3 years old or when a child reaches a height of about 35 inches.

Don’t Rush Potty-Training

When children are ready they will use the potty. When parents try to rush the process a power struggle will result. The best strategy is to show the toddler the toilet, explain how to use it, and if you are up to it – provide a demonstration. Be sure to offer loads of praise if the child decides to give it a try.

Avoid too Much Screen Time

Research has shown that children under two can’t fully comprehend what is being presented on TV and other digital media. Those who watch a lot of television tend to have learning problems later on. Some wise toddler tips include reading to them regularly, offering hands-on creative activities, and lots of conversations that actively encourage talking and listening.

Let the Tantrum Run its Course

Emotions have taken over and your child is temporarily insane, there’s nothing to do in the moment that will make things better. In fact, almost anything you try will make it worse. If it starts in a public place, amongst glaring, judgmental onlookers, remove your distressed child and find a place away from prying eyes so the tantrum can run its course. Once the toddler calms down, give the child a hug, talk about it and move on with your day.

When looking for an early childhood program for a child, there are many factors parents take into account. Some pressing ones are convenience and cost, but at some point there is a potential and inevitable trade off with the quality of the care, and in particular the process quality.

Process quality is focused on how interactions happen and how the curriculum itself is implemented during caregiving. According to the science of child development, it is one of the most important things to focus on. Various studies have shown that children benefit enormously from a learning environment where they experience responsive, warm, sensitive and language-filled interactions. The quality of these interactions can have a huge bearing on whether children learn to grow, explore and fulfil their potential.

For parents, various different factors can play a role in choosing a childcare center. Process quality can easily take a back seat to something like proximity, when the convenience of dropping a child off before work tops everything else. However understandable this is, it is a shame since process quality should be one of the paramount factors in guiding the decision of where to send children for daycare.

It also stands to reason that higher quality costs more, and many parents are trying to economize on cost, too. Cutting costs almost always results in lower quality, and so a trade off has to be made. But exactly what are we trading?

Truth be told, little is really known about how to calculate the cost of process quality. Exactly what is being priced, and how? Are the inputs involved things we could calculate and scale? How do we transform these inputs into a high quality process?

Another problem with process quality is that it is only sustainable if it is approached systematically. Moving to a systematic approach from a programmatic one can add to costs in various ways, and also add some difficulties when thinking about quality.

Another problem with process quality is that it is only sustainable if it is approached systematically. Moving to a systematic approach from a programmatic one can add to costs in various ways, and also add some difficulties when thinking about quality.

• Enough staff for all the different programs annually
• Attractive compensation for staff so they are encouraged to grow over time
• Training opportunities exist, as do coaching and mentoring. These encourage staff to stay in the childcare field and advance professionally
• Quality is monitored via data and published to families, program coordinators and other interested parties can act to make the best decisions for the children
• There are standards set in place which are consistently met by caregivers

To install all this criteria is clearly an expensive and timely process. Quality, therefore, is costly.

So, how do we approach the trade-off between quality, cost and convenience? Well, frankly, there should not be a trade off. Quality is such an integral part of childhood programs that it should be absolutely non-negotiable.

If there is a choice between investing less or more for quality, for the best outcomes possible we should absolutely invest more in order to reap the benefits later on with a group of healthy citizens that are given every opportunity to reach their maximum potential.

All parents of infants and toddlers know that keeping children in early childhood education organized and focused is difficult to say the least! We frequently hear from parents trained in the Montessori Curriculum that, when it comes to their own child, it’s almost impossible to apply the setup. Of course! Children will be children, and so when trying to apply the Montessori environment we have to be flexible and adapt. We’ve put together some tips to help you on your way.

Have some things on low shelves. Try to have one or two low shelves in your child’s bedroom that your child can safely climb on. On these shelves, place the books, toys and one or two larger pieces of equipment.

Cut down on shelves in a school room. If you’re setting up a school room for toddlers, try to cut down on the amount of shelves you’re using. If you set it up in the Montessori way, the stuff will be on the floor in a blink of an eye. There’s no use reprimanding the children just yet, so simply cut down on the amount of shelves.

Don’t bother with mats.Infants and toddlers are too young to learn to work with mats, so simply have one large carpet in the middle of the room.

Have one box full of items to explore.Small, interesting items will work best. When your toddler gets older, you can add another box.

Create a block area with a block box.Make sure the box itself is comfortably big enough to fit all the blocks in, so there’s no trouble putting them away.

Group items on the shelf. This should make it easy for everything to be put away. Toys go on the toy shelf, books go on the bookshelf, and so on.

Keep the floor space clear! Make sure there’s enough room for your infant or toddler to be able to crawl all around the room and scatter things as they go. Make sure things won’t be lost easily and nothing will be damaged.

Prioritizing Education- Your Child’s Right

As your child grows and reaches the pre-school age, choosing the right education system becomes a priority. With all the different education forums available these days, this can be a challenging task. Ultimately, the decision is up to you. One method of study that is often preferred and recommended by teachers, trainers and researchers alike is the Montessori Method.

Choosing Montessori- the Upsides

If you are choosing the Montessori Method of study for your child, here are a few reasons why you may just have chosen an amazing method that’s changing education across the globe:

Pays special attention to developmental stages: The Montessori Method is mainly for children from the ages of 3 to 5. At 3 years old, the focus is emphasized on toning language skills, 4-year-olds focus on motor skills and getting through everyday activities while 5-year-olds are taught more community-based skills through trips and social activities.

Child centered learning: Unlike many other methods, the Montessori Method keeps each child’s needs and abilities in mind while trying to encourage them to explore and discover their talents on an individual as well as group basis.

Children learn naturally: Even though the Montessori Method is open to innovative methods to ensure that children are having a good time learning, there are rules of behavior that the children pick up on as they move along.

Creativity: Montessori pushes for creativity and puts a constant emphasis on praising the children and encouraging them to develop their individual creativity.

Facilitating teachers: Teachers in the Montessori system act as guides rather than determiners of exactly what the content should look like. They help the children pick up on learning techniques, which they can use to learn on their own, rather than constantly being dependent on the teachers.

Learning through play: The children help each other by playing together and learning in groups while having a good time. This greatly enhances their social skills while developing their rate of comprehending education contents.

Hands on learning: Children are taught through hands on activities and involvement.  Teaching is not only about the typical board and marker nor is it about the latest technological uses. Children are taught through a combination of both conventional as well as old-school methods, which keeps hands on learning at a focal point.

Dyslexia- A Common Challenge

Many parents who have children with dyslexia may find themselves facing a challenge that seems never-ending. But the reality of the matter is, dyslexia does not need to have such a huge trial if dealt with positively and effectively. This would prove to be successful, not only for the child’s overall development but for the child-parent bond as well.

Dealing with Dyslexia

For parents with dyslexic children, there are numerous accounts of accomplishments and success tasted by individuals worldwide who struggled and overcame dyslexia. Some of these individuals have their names marked in history books worldwide. This in it of itself should be a constant reminder to these parents that dyslexia may be a small hurdle to overcome with the proper strategy.

Keeping the above in mind, the following points should also be taken into consideration:

1. 1. Make note of accomplishments: Rather than focusing on what your child cannot do or is slow in getting done, make note of all the other things they can do without much effort. What are they good at? What do they love?
2. 2. Compliments: Never underestimate the power of complimenting your child for even the smallest achievements. These compliments can go a long way in helping them overcome their weaknesses, not only in their education but also in their life in general.
3. 3. Go easy: Your child will not learn to read on grade level at the same time as his or her peers and that’s okay. Set goals accordingly and enjoy your time with your child until those goals are achieved. Baby steps lead to big changes.
4. 4. Be present: Whether it’s reading aloud to your child, being present at school meetings, shows, games or just being present to listen to your child’s struggles; being present can help dyslexic children in overcoming their weakness with confidence and reassurance.
5. 5. Keep teaching: You stand as their greatest role model. Teach your child how to learn and appreciate their abilities. Being a slow reader is nothing to be ashamed of. Teach your child the importance of patience and help them overcome low confidence or low self-esteem concerns.
6. 6. Share your fears: Don’t feel shy in sharing your fears from time to time, thinking it will scare your children further. It may just help your child realize that you accept negative realities are out there but you won’t let them stop you from getting ahead and they shouldn’t either.