Author: fuelingbrains_AdMEEn

Raising children to become generous, loving and socially-conscious citizens starts at an early age. Which is why at Kids U, we are always looking for ways to involve our children in charities. December’s food and toy drive was an immense success, and the Calgary Interfaith Food Bank and Calgary’s Hope Mission were overwhelmed with the generosity of our families!

This month, Kids U Bridgeland will be contributing to the Generations of Hope fundraiser, which will be taking place on March 7^th, 2015 at the Telus Spark Center. Not only are we encouraging families and teachers to donate items to the fundraiser’s auction, but we will also be putting up some masterpieces painted by the infants themselves. Parents and guests will have the chance to bid on these precious, one-of-a-kind canvases, and all proceeds from the silent auction will benefit to Generations of Hope.

The children will begin painting their contributions on Tuesday, February 17^th, and all items will be available for auction immediately. The silent auction will run from February 23^rd to March 6^th. If you have any further questions about this amazing charitable opportunity, please see our program coordinators Ms. Cassi or Ms. Kay at the Bridgeland front office.

For more information on this wonderful charity, please visit: www.generationsofhope.ca

First of all, Fueling Brains Academy McKnight would like to thank all of the parents who made it to our January Parent Workshop on Thursday, January 22nd. It was a huge success! We absolutely love seeing our parents so involved in the educational progress of our students!

For those of you who were unable to attend, here is a quick roundup of the content that was covered during the workshop.

The following presentation was prepared and presented by Ms. Celeste Leclerc:

BrainBuildingforParents

Additionally, we have provided several videos for supplemental information.

Video 1- Experience shapes Brain Architecture

Video 2- Serve and Return

Video 3- Toxic Stress

Those who attended the workshop were able to delve into some hands-on activities to help them better understand how the brain works and develops. It was such a wonderful sight to see our parents in the Fueling Brains Academy classroom, learning, just as their kids do every single day!

The Fueling Brains Academy philosophy emphasizes that learning starts at an early age, but it doesn’t stop once you become an adult. The implementation of these Parent Workshops help to promote the idea of continuous learning, which is why we intend to offer these types of sessions throughout the year. Like Maria Montessori once said, “Only through freedom and environmental experience is it practically possible for human development to occur.”

It’s not the ghosts and the ghouls parents have to worry about this Halloween Holiday! Kids tend to get a little hyper, and a little adventurous when they’re dressed as their favorite character; or perhaps an alter ego for those truly dedicated. Keep them safe, and harm free with these tips and tricks.

In sight

Making sure that your kids are always in your line of site is important to making sure that they are safe and protected, whether it be from boo-boos (get it!) or just ensuring that they don’t overfill on candy too soon. Some ways to prevent kids from wandering out of sight: trick or treat before sunset; carry a flash light; place glow necklaces on the kids or some other light necklace or bracelets.

Costume safety

Whether it’s a princess’s ball gown, or a grim reapers robe, costumes can sometimes hinder little ones movement, or make it easy for them to fall. Make sure that the costume is form fitting enough to avoid snags, and that the length allows for the child to run, and jump comfortably, to avoid any missteps or falls.

Candy filter

Oh the bounty your child will have! Just make sure that if they have any allergies that you are screening their candy before consumption. It’s also unsafe for them to eat partially opened candy so make sure to keep an eye out for those.

Neighbourhood safety

Little ones will usually hold a parents hand as they walk from house to house, but sometimes the Halloween excitement can get to them and cause them to run, or break free from your hold. Make sure that you have a proper talk with them about crossing the street, strangers, and to always look for mom or dad if they feel lost.

Party proof

If you’re throwing, or going to attend a party this Halloween, make sure to kid proof your decorations, or keep kids away from hazardous objects. Part of the Montessori experience is learning with your senses, and intuition—kids are naturally curious this way—so make sure object within a child’s reach do not pose any harm to them.

Talk to the kids before

Always have a discussion with the kids about safety, and expectation before you head out to gather their sugared treasures. Know that they are overjoyed to be dressing up, and get treats that they may not pay as much attention while in costume. Have the discussion a few days prior, and reiterate once more before they put on their costume for the night the rules you want to set, and safety guidelines.

Happy Parenting!

We are leaving in an exciting time. The exponential growth of technology is leading mankind to a future bright with capabilities in improving science, medicine, and even education. But with all this change, can come a bit of worry. This new generation of children is experiencing something completely different from previous generations; complete immersion in the Internet, and the technologic age. Tablets, cell phones, computers: all with the capability of connecting our children with mountains of information, and entertainment. But how much of that is good, and how much is bad?

Since we do not have the luxury of years of history, and research to refute any claims of whether technology is bad or good, lets consider some of the implications it can have on some aspects of development in children.

• Concentration: In the past, reading was the primary focus of information gathering; which requires the use of memory, attention, and imagination. With our fast paced, information driven world of today, children are exposed to an environment where distraction is the norm, making it difficult to keep their attention, and the use of memory or imagination are insignificant. Studies have shown that reading encourages “faster completion and better understanding, recall, and learning than those who read text filled with hyperlinks and ads… (and it helps develop) critical thinking, problem solving, and vocabulary better than visual media.” Technology doesn’t offer just detrimental qualities: “Research shows that, for example, video games and other screen media improve visual-spatial capabilities, increase attention ability, reaction times, and the capacity to identify details among clutter.” Balance between both technology, and more traditional forms of media can help children navigate this new age successfully.

• Retention: There are billions of pages on the Internet, each offering a vast amount of information that makes it difficult for adults, let alone children, to comprehend and take in. When we try to take in too much information at a time something called “cognitive overload” can occur that will hinder the brains ability to comprehend, and retain information. There is a distinction that needs to be made: accessing information is different from thinking and retention. Children who are being bombarded with data need to be taught to think about the information, and not just try and access as much information as possible. Retaining the information for further thought is fundamental to teaching a child to thrive in the digital age. It is the parents’ duty to control the information the child receives, and engage the child in a thought process that allows them to think and reflect on any information they accessed. 

• Morals: Kids can have a difficult time when it comes to making decisions, and the advance of technology may cause some confusion for them; cyber bullying, sexting, over sharing, etc. “Children start off at a severe disadvantage when it comes to decision making because the prefrontal cortex doesn’t fully develop until well past adolescence. The prefrontal cortex is instrumental to so-called executive functioning, namely, determining good from bad, planning, recognizing future consequences, predicting outcomes, and the ability to suppress socially inappropriate behavior.” When children are exposed to rapid information sharing, the impulses that we feel when angry, sad, confused… can be shared immediately: where as before, people had ample time to adjust, and reflect on those emotions. Controlling your child’s access to certain medias that encourage impulsive behavior, and teaching them that actions can last a lifetime can spare them from learning those lessons the hard way. 

• Education:  The constant stream of information can essentially overload a child’s mind, causing stress or anxiety: both things harmful to a developing mind. Reflective periods should be incorporated into the time children spend with technology: “Research conducted over the last three decades has demonstrated profound physical and psychological benefits including more positive emotions, greater resilience to bad experiences, reduced stress, anxiety, and depression, improved immune system activity, and increased sense of well-being following a regimen of mindfulness exercises.” It’s a balancing act between information gathering, and thoughtful reflective or retention. Parents should guide their child’s thinking to consider both the outside world, and their own thoughts.

Happy Parenting!

-Taylor, Ph.D., Jim, “The Power of Prime: The cluttered mind uncluttered” 2012

The best way a toddler learns limits is by testing them. You will always see a toddler asserting their independence by saying no to you or by escaping situations. Setting limits does not mean that you are stunting their development, it only means that you are slowly and gently laying foundations of discipline and personality.

Keep expectations realistic

Young toddlers do not understand what we mean when we tell them to hurry or ask them to wait or to take turns and share. Each child develops at their own time and so it is crucial for parents to keep teaching and reinforcing. Patience is the key. Our teachers at Memorial Montessori Preschool always use this formula.

Notice the good things

You will notice that toddlers are attracted to certain adults in the family or circle of friends. These are the people who always notice the positive things kids do and who always comment positively on their behaviour. These are also the people these young ones want to please because the attention delights them. The key is to praise good things and you will get more of the same.

Mind your tone

Nagging, shouting and pleading affects the willingness of your child to comply. Always take the path of being calm and positive and never let your child see if they have successfully managed to push your buttons. Speak calmly, politely and firmly when your child misbehaves. You may need to physically remove your child from a situation but always mind your tone of voice.

Give clear instructions

Toddlers need simple and clear instructions so they know exactly what is expected of them. Instead of telling your child not to mess up the room, tell them to clean up. Instead of telling them not to run on the road, tell them to hold your hand. Children are able to understand requests better than sentences with ‘don’t’.

How do you set limits for your toddler?

The daily pressures of managing a family can consume our energy and peace of mind. If you have preschool children and toddlers in the house, double that! Here are five ways to find some serenity amid all the chaos.

1. Rise Early

For busy mums, try waking up about 20 minutes before you have to wake your young children up. Have a cup of tea in peace, do some yoga stretches and say a few words of gratitude for a great day ahead and you will see that your entire persona is different when you wake your kids up. The few minutes that you spend awake earlier them gives you the chance to freshen up and have a better attitude when you wake them up.

2. Be Here Now

Our minds are often filled with worries of the future. The best way to avoid this stress is to immerse yourself in the moment, always. This anticipatory thinking gets you nowhere and will not let you focus on the present either. To fully be here, focus on what you are doing and what you need to do the rest of the day.

3. Talk It Out

The one tool mums have and should always use is the power of ‘self-talk’. This is a great way to control emotions and to manage situations. Develop your inner voice and let it guide you when you need help in a situation. This inner voice is your instincts and it is a good friend to depend on.

4. Laugh

Humor heals. Life’s little annoyances won’t seem so annoying if you laughed a little more. According to researchers, we all experience at least 30 situations every day where our heart is affected. Heal your heart by laughing and see how it heals you.

5. Take a Break

I’d say this is one of the most important and effective things you can do to relieve stress. You don’t need to plan a week-long vacation (though that would be bliss). All you need is little breaks throughout the week. Meet your girlfriends for a cup of coffee for an hour. Go for a massage. Forget about the to-do list once in a while and indulge in a manicure. Take some time out regularly and you will never see stress building up.

Happy Parenting!

I was having a casual Sunday lunch with my family in a trendy restaurant last weekend, all of us having a good conversation and an even better meal. The peace was suddenly disturbed by a couple of children at another table who thought it was fine to run around, make lots of noise and pretend they were in their homes. I looked at my children and thought…..they never did this.

So when is it a good time to introduce socially acceptable behaviour to your children? The answer is, from the start. Good parenting cannot begin when children are older; in fact it should begin with kids as young as babies.

When children reach a preschool age, it is even more important to model good behaviour and instil it in children as these are the formative years when they pick up things and add it to their personality banks. At our daycare, we encourage children to always use good manners and positive behaviour.

Here are some ways you can do the same at home….

1. Model it

If you are in the habit of not picking up after yourself, chances are your children won’t either even with several reminders. Children have this habit of aping adults so if you always say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’, if you never litter, if you ask for permission before using other people’s things, chances are your children will do it too.

2. Praise it

When you catch your preschool child modelling good behaviour, praise them for it. One of the best ways to praise them is through reward charts where they can put up their favourite sticker on a chart every time they behave well; be it at the dinner table, a party or at a friend’s place. At Kids U, we have reward charts for all our preschool children and they can exchange their stickers for a gift at the end. Praise and acknowledgement always gives way to more good stuff.

3. Guide

I sometimes see very young children who are obviously very frustrated vent out in ways that we are not able to handle. Young preschool children are still learning about feelings and emotions. Teach them the appropriate vocabulary so they can tell you when they are tired or bored so they don’t act up. If they can tell you what they feel, you can do something about it.

Happy Parenting!

We are under the impression that parenting is all about children. Although a big part of that is true, parenting is also largely about you. Your attitude, your relationship with your partner and your outlook towards life matters a lot too. Here are the all-time top tips of parenting….

1. LOL

Lighten up, says a mother of six and grandmother of three Sarah Peters. Parenting can become stressful and frustrating at times, but the trick to successful parenting is your attitude. If you are going to let yourself get wound-up at every little bend, you will miss the best parts of parenting. Laugh a lot, lighten up and chill and situations will seem so much more simpler and easier to handle.

2. Perfection

Often, we aim at the destination of perfection and forget to enjoy the journey to it. We are so engrossed in creating the perfect children, with the perfect reading habits, perfect education and perfect upbringing that we forget to enjoy the precious moments of parenthood. When you have young preschool age children, enjoy their innocence and curiosity. As they get older, enjoy their outlook towards life and guide them well. If you enjoy parenting perfectly, your children will come out perfectly.

3. Your Mental Health

Celebrate parenthood by treating yourself to a day to yourself regularly. If you can’t manage that, make sure you get a few child-free hours regularly. Your sanity and mental health is very important as it plays a direct role in how you bring your children up. If you are feeling glum or depressed, seek help and take charge of your mental health. Happy parents equate to happy children.

4. Your Marriage

Your relationship with your partner or spouse should not take a back seat just because you have had a child. Nurture your relationship with some time together every week. Look for a reliable baby sitter if you don’t have any other form of help and spend an evening out child-free. This not only gives you the time to connect, but also gives your relationship the chance to grow further.

Happy Parenting!

Most parents face this ‘monster under my bed’ at some time or other. Preschoolers around this age sometimes find difficulty sleeping alone thanks to the phantom monster and an overactive imagination. Children often experience anxiety when separated from their parents and with night time fears of the dark and monsters. Parents’ frustration does not help in this area; it just makes the situation worse. Instead of getting frustrated, try these things out with your preschool child and you might help them overcome their fears.
#1. Lights On
If your child is afraid of the dark and monsters lurking in their closets or under their beds, simply leave a light on. Check the closets and under the beds with them and tuck them in and let them sleep with the lights on. Tell your child that if they wake up in the middle of the night, they can always come into your room and look for you. This simple assurance usually makes kids less anxious.

#2. Patience
As a parent, your role is to understand your child. Their fears are real and you discounting them or laughing about it will not help. It will make your child even more anxious because they will not know who to turn to with their problems. Never scold your child for having these fears. Get them to calm down and talk them through it.
#3. Night lights
Once your child seems calmer sleeping with the lights on, switch to a smaller night light. These come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be quite fascinating. Let your child pick out one they like and encourage them to turn it off when they are ready. It is completely alright if this takes longer time.
#4. Hunt for monsters
Young children have a tendency to trust adults, especially parents completely. Plan a hunt for the monsters and look in every corner of the room for them. After the hunt, declare the room monster free and see how your child will be calmer. Notice the type of TV programmes your child is watching as these could be a contributing factor to the monster sightings.
Talk to your child as often as possible about their feelings and fears. Talking always helps.
Happy Parenting!