Meet The Teacher

April’s Employee of the Month is:

Name: Ms. Ashley

Position: Teacher in the Panda Classroom

Background: Ms. Ashley has worked in the Child Development field since 2000. She has worked with children from infants to school age. She is currently pursuing Bachelor's degree

Favorite part about working with children (and why): My favorite part about working with children is the look on their faces and the warm glow of excitement that flashes over their faces when they understand what I am teaching. It is comforting to know that I have helped make a positive difference in a child’s life by teaching them and helping them understand what they were taught so that they can later use their knowledge to help others.

I enjoy working at the Goddard School because of the great management and staff we have here and I can learn new ways of teaching for all ages from them.

What we say about Ms. Ashley:She is a real team player and is well liked by her co-workers, the parents, and the children.

Teaching Little Ones To Help Mother Earth

Last week we celebrated Earth Day and for the month of April we will be teaching the children about ways to help Mother Earth. Through some of the suggestions below you can have your kids help out at home and learn about recycling.

Start by teach your children about what types of trash is recyclable. Post a brochure or outline from your local government entity that explains what items are eligible to be recycled in your area, perhaps on your refrigerator door.

Assign Recycling Chores

1. Give younger children the job of being the "Recycling Police", and they will gladly enforce the rules on other family members, who may be throwing out items that could be recycled! They can also be in charge of bringing your reusable bags into the grocery store from the car.

2. Make rinsing out jars, bottles, and cans a part of your child's clean-up routine after meals (what child doesn’t want to play in water). Place a container in your kitchen, where your child can place the cleaned items to recycle.

3. Assign another child to police turning off lights or any other electronics when someone leaves the room. We know how much children like to tattle on each other.

4. Have a central location in your home where clean, dry recyclable paper can be disposed of and later be emptied by your child into the main paper recycling bin. If you’re trying to teach counting skills have your child count how many containers of paper you recycle in a week, a month or a year. Encourage them to use the backs of paper or scrap paper for drawing and other craft projects.

Lastly, set goals and reward your children and your whole family to let them know how happy and proud you are of them. When recycling skills are taught at a young age, children are much more likely to have a stronger sense about helping the environment.

Source: http://reducing-waste.suite101.com

Hop-A-Thon

Hopping up-and-down is normal activity for toddlers. So isn’t it great that they can do what they love and help other children affected by neuromuscular diseases.

The pre-school and kindergarten children of The Goddard School Ashburn will be doing just that on Friday April 23rd when they take part in the Muscular Dystrophy Hop-A -Thon.

The children will be obtaining pledges from family members, friends, and neighbors for the number of pogo-like hops they make in a 2-minute period. Then they will donate the funds to MDA. The Hop-A-Thon is part of MDA’s national disability awareness initiative, organized by child-care centers and schools across the country.

All the money raised by this event will be used to fund summer-camp getaways for children with neuromuscular disease, assist with buying and repairing wheelchairs and leg braces, fund research seeking treatment and cures, provide support programs for families, and more.

Let’s get hopping for a great cause on Friday!

Great Outdoors

Being outside is important for children and this is a great time of year to be outside, with plenty of sunlight and moderate temperatures.

The outdoors is a great place for young children to master newly developed physical skills and movement. With today’s busy schedules it’s sometimes difficult to find the time to get outside with your kids. But, considering the important role that activity plays in the physical, social, and emotional development of our children, it’s worth finding the time.

Physical Benefits of Outdoor Play for Children

Childhood obesity is a concerning trend in children. Children who play outside are more likely to maintain a healthy weight because they get the chance to burn off extra calories. They also view play with friends as “play” not exercise, this makes burning off the calories fun. Outdoor play is also important for children because it builds small and large muscles, strengthens bones, conditions the lungs, and improves their overall health.

The exposure to sunlight also helps our bodies make the vitamin D it needs for the development of healthy bones, and reduces the future risk of conditions such as heart disease, and high blood pressure. But, it’s also important to apply the sunscreen before sending your child outdoors to reduce the risk of skin cancer.

Parents also receive an added benefit from outside play. Children have the chance to use up the extra energy that can make the restless around the house. This can lead to better sleep, improved behavior and better concentration.

The benefits of outdoor play for children are endless. Playing outside makes kids happier, by providing a number of physical, social, and emotional developmental perks. On Tuesday April 20th Goddard Ashburn will be celebrating the Great Outdoors with obstacle course, yoga and relay races.

Sources: http://www.babiestoday.com/
http://early-childhood-development.suite101.com

Gardening With Kids

This week Goddard Ashburn’s lessons will highlight the theme of plants. We are celebrating spring and it would be a good opportunity to plant a garden with your little ones. Planting a kid’s garden can help teach your child about nature, the environment, plants and what plants need to grow.

Gardening with your child can also help teach your child independence and confidence. As your preschooler tends to their garden by planting seeds, watering, and pulling weeds they will be rewarded with flowers, plants, or vegetables.
Where to start:
Take a trip to the local nursery to get your little one excited about planting. Children can pick out their own flowers and/ or vegetables for their garden or they can start from seeds.
You can really develop this experience for your child by supplying them with their own basic tools, gloves and watering can. Perhaps there is an area in the yard that could be designated as their own garden, giving them the freedom to plant whatever they like.

Next comes the fun, show your child how to plant the flower or seeds in their garden, kids love this part because they get a chance to play in dirt! When they are done planting, it’s time to play with water by watering the new plants. Watering is sure to be a favorite for most children.

What to plant
1. Sunflowers are a great choice because of their height
2. If your child really likes to help out in the kitchen how about an herb garden
3. If you decide to grow vegetables, pick vegetables they already like to eat. Also carrots and strawberries always peek a child’s interest.
4. Plant a Pizza Garden – grow tomatoes, herbs, peppers etc. and then make a pizza with all the ingredients.

Always supervise your child in the garden so they stay safe and Happy gardening from Goddard Ashburn!

Sources:
http://www.preschool-learning-and-crafts.com
http://kidsactivities.suite101.com

Goddard Kindergarten

Choosing the right kindergarten for your child is a big decision. Once your child begins to develop friends and roots in a school it becomes difficult to make a change. So spend the time to find exactly what you’re looking for. We hope you’ll choose Goddard Ashburn but here are some questions you want to consider in making an informed decision.

* Does your daycare/preschool provider fit your work schedule (long day care options, extended hours)?

* is your provider in the best geographic area (close to work or close to home)?

* Does the provider’s philosophy match yours (balance of instruction vs. play)?

* Do the personalities of key staff work well with your child’s (warm, loving, positive)?

* Does the provider offer activities that match your child’s interests?

* Is the facility roomy, updated, clean and above all safe?

Ultimately only you can judge the nest daycare/preschool for your child because you know your child the best. We encourage prospective families to visit us and ask as many questions you need to make the best decision for your child.

Goddard Ashburn is having an Open House on April 13th from 6 to 7 pm

The Importance of Yoga for Young Children

Students at The Goddard School® located in Ashburn VA, benefit from our daily yoga class provided for children ages infants to six.

Teachers use the Apple Blossom Yoga guidelines, developed by the Yoga School, to augment cross-curricular learning through motor skills, science, math, language arts and social skills. Using nature, animals, and a little imagination, young learners gain improvements in focus, body awareness and control, balance, creativity and flexibility.

• The program is designed to educate the “whole” child through age-appropriate activities to enhance the emotional, social, intellectual and physical development of each child.
• Regular yoga practice helps children become more aware of their inner selves which can help them learn to release anger, frustration and fears.
Having children practice yoga is becoming an increasingly popular trend. Like adults, many expert feel that children do not get enough exercise and this can also lead to tension and stress. Yoga can offer the perfect solution to these issues.
Why is it important for kids?

Just like parents, children need to find balance and peace of mind. Since yoga is so successful with adults, a natural progression seems to be developing and adapting it for children through Yoga fitness exercises.

The benefits of yoga in young children
*Promotes Calmness
*Reduces Stress
*Increases Confidence
*Improves Concentration
*Develops a Healthy Body

Benefits of Teaching a Second Language to Young Children

It may seem that your toddler is still working on their language skills and that attempting to teach them an additional language would be wasted. Recent research shows that many preschoolers are in fact able to learn multiple languages. By starting a second-language with a your child, the more they will gain from it. Children can often learn a second language quicker than adults because they are not bogged down trying to learn verb tenses and grammar, they learn naturally through play and their brains are more open to absorbing new languages.
What are the benefits of learning a second language?

* Statistics show that students who study a second language perform better academically in verbal skills, logic and math.

* Students gain respect and understanding of Family Heritage and Diversity. They will also learn that there is nothing wrong with something that is different, but instead that differences should be appreciated.

* Students will have a better understanding of the English language. For example, since many of our words have origins in other languages, students will have a better chance to make sense of unfamiliar vocabulary.

At The Goddard School Ashburn, we offer Spanish and American Sign Language to our children. We feel that it is very important for children to learn a second language at an early age.

Sources: www.brighthub.com