I want it now!

You may remember that saying from Veruca Salt, in Charlie and the Chocolate factory and some days you may feel like she’s your child. What’s a parent to do? Here are a few tips to help you through these rough parenting waters.

Set Expectations

Children a very predictable. In most cases you know when you are going to the market that your child will ask for a treat in the check out line. So set expectations before you get their. Tell them they are not getting a treat and deal with the fall out at home. They may still act out when your checking out, but they may also simply accept the fact that they are not getting a treat and move on.

Stick to Your Guns

Children are experts at testing boundaries. Unfortunately, the more you give in, the more your child will push the limits of the word no. You can’t always say no but, when you do lay down the gauntlet, don’t give in. Let them know that the word no means no. If your children don’t expect flexibility in the word no, they will accept no for answer more easily.

Don’t Dwell

If your child has a tantrum don’t dwell on it. The more you make of the episode, the more your child get’s the wrong message. The extra attention may reinforce that bad behavior gets noticed.

Moody Toddlers

Many parents get frustrated and concerned about their toddlers mood swings. In most cases a toddlers mood swings are normal. There are many causes or mood swings in toddlers but here are a few causes and some tips on how to deal with them.

· Inability to communicate feelings or wants and needs. It’s very frustrating for your toddler to be so limited by their vocabulary and understanding. Until your toddler develops their vocabulary expect that they will be emotional as they try to communicate.

What you can do: Tell your child to take their time when trying to express themselves. Give them enough time to get their point across. If they still can’t get their point across, give them hints to help them along. However, try not to speak for your child as this can lead to confidence issues with communication later on.

· Testing boundaries – Your toddler is experiencing more independence than they ever had before. It’s natural for them to begin to test the rules you have set for them. This may manifest in your child saying “no they don’t want to go to school” or “no they don’t want to go to bed”.

What you can do: It’s important to reinforce the rules. Toddlers need stability in their lives. It might seem like the easier road to give in to your toddler to avoid an emotional outburst but this could lead to more moodiness and behavior problems later. This defiance might just be your toddlers attempt to understand rules. Try explaining the reasoning behind each rule. That may be all they need.

· New feelings – With new experiences (like school) comes new feeling for your toddler. Feelings like fear of separation are new for toddlers. This could lead to moodiness.

What you can do: Reinforce to your child that you will always be there for them. Try to explain that change is a natural part of life. Give your toddler more attention during times of change.

Moodiness is normal for toddlers but if you have any question about what’s normal and what’s not, see a qualified healthcare professional.

Play-Based Education Drives More Effective, Well-rounded Learning; Effects Seen by 4th Grade

by Sue Adair

Leading preschool chain shares the power of playful learning with children around the nation

Over the last two decades, children have lost eight hours of unstructured playtime in their week. Since 2002, 34% of kindergartens have eliminated recess. This trend of cutting back on playtime may have more negative effects than most parents are aware of. Although the debate on whether rigorous academic learning or play-based learning is more effective rages on, recent studies have shown playful learning has many positive, lasting effects unmatched by academic-based learning.

“When compared to academically-based preschool programs, children in play-based programs outperform the other group socially and academically by the time they reach the fourth grade,” said Kyle D. Pruett M.D., a child psychiatrist, published author, and advisor to The Goddard School®.

In a study conducted by psychologist Rebecca Maron of the University of North Florida, 1,200 toddlers and preschoolers were followed to measure the long-term academic effects of play-based learning vs. academic-based learning. The results strongly show the play-based learners outperforming the academic group both socially and academically by 4th grade. These findings support the claim that play-based learning increases a child’s ability to both learn abstract concepts and interact with peers.

Supported by a growing body of research from Play for Tomorrow, the consortium behind the respected “playful learning” movement, The Goddard School believes in and supports the power of play for learning and has incorporated the concept into their proprietary FLEX™ Learning Program. Playful learning is not a new concept at The Goddard School. It has been at the heart of their curriculum from the beginning, reflected in an approach to learning that presents new skills to children in a playful and engaging way.

Research has shown many lifelong benefits of learning through play, including an increased ability to learn from mistakes, develop independent decision making and fine-tuning of children’s physical development and perceptual motor skills.

“Young children who learn through play are more capable of making their own decisions, advocating for themselves and using creativity to solve problems as they grow. Play is essential to the development of your child’s brain, triggering trillions of neural connections that form the basis of healthy cognitive function and mastery of your child’s physical world,” says Dr. Pruett.

To further support these learning techniques, The Goddard School has launched a system-wide initiative, the Goddard Community Games event, on February 5. During the event, families in schools across the country will have the opportunity to enjoy a “hands-on” playful learning experience with a variety of programs, ranging from Sign Language, Yoga and Nutrition to World Cultures Voyages, Everyday Math and “Rock ‘n’ Tot” pre-dance and creative movement. The focus will be on fun, as parents and their children share in a day of discovery and enrichment.

“The children attending The Goddard School today are the leaders of tomorrow,” says Sue Adair, Director of Education at Goddard Systems, Inc., franchisor of The Goddard School. “Our teachers nurture each child’s self confidence and foster their lifelong love of learning by incorporating teacher-planned and child-directed learning activities into each day. When children enjoy learning, they take away not only knowledge of the task or concept but a sense of personal accomplishment that prepares them for a successful journey through life.”

Source: http://blogs.goddardsystems.com/blog/2011/02/01/play-based-education-drives-more-effective-well-rounded-learning-effects-seen-by-4th-grade/

Keeping the Attention of a Preschoolers

The most difficult thing a parent will ever have to do is to try to keep the wandering mind of a preschooler occupied. They have such a short attention span that you need to have a library of games, activities and events to entertain them. Since a bored preschooler can only lead to no good, here are some simple activities that you might want to keep in mind.

Outdoors

In the winter time it’s sometimes difficult to have your child play outside. However, every once in a while the temperature moderates and that is the time to head out for a walk. It is true what they say about the fresh air, it can really wear kids out. Of course, don’t forget to bundle up. And if it is too cold, head to the mall and do some window shopping.

Arts and Crafts

If you can’t get out of the house, try a craft activity. Craft stores have made it easy, even if you’re not a crafty person. Packaged craft-in-a-box activities are very popular with kids. They include making beaded jewelry, bookmarks, birdhouses and more.

Indoor Play Centers

The Y, gymnastics centers, indoor play centers, mommy and me classes, activities of all types to fit all budgets are going on right now in your community. Look in your local paper, check online and check with your local library or community center for more information on how you can get involved

Interaction is Important for Your Baby’s Development

Experts suggest the first three years of life are extremely important in the long-tern development of young children. You can jump start your babies emotional and intellectual development by providing the right kind of stimulation.

· At a basic level, facial expressions, like playing peak-a-boo or smiling can begin to stimulate your baby’s brain from a very early age.

· Reading aloud to a baby can provide stimulation and the basic building blocks of speech and language development.

· The stimulation your baby receives by touching various types of fabrics, shape blocks and even playing with water during bath time can help develop a baby’s motor skills as well as stimulate their brains.

· Hugs, kisses and other positive interactions can help stimulate your baby’s brain and provide emotional development and support to make your baby feel secure.

· There is a fine line between providing enough stimulation to your baby and too much. Soothing music and baby massages are a great way to stimulate your baby’s brain why at the same time calming them.

The best way to make sure your baby is getting enough stimulation is to fill their environment with books, colorful objects and pay toys of all different sizes and shapes.

Why Read To Babies

New moms often are told that they should read to babies, even if they are less than six months old. But if they can’t understand what you’re reading, how does it help your baby? Here are some ways reading to your baby can be beneficial.

• It gradually introduces concepts such as stories, numbers, letters, colors, and shapes that are critical for your child’s development.

• Your baby might not understand but by reading to them you are teaching them to listen.

• Reading can also teach your baby the concept of communication through using sounds before they can speak.

Here are some tips on what types of books work best based on your baby’s age.

• Newborns – books with bright colors and shapes

• 4 and 6 months – books made of cloth and soft materials they can grab onto

• 6 and 12 months – the more pictures the better, your baby is starting to focus

You can’t read too much to your baby so go crazy. Take every opportunity to pull out a book, at the doctor’s office, at the market and in the mall. This will keep your child’s attention and teach them that reading is fun anywhere and anytime. Teach your kids good reading habits and they will keep them for life.

The Importance of Sleep In School

According to the National Sleep Foundation, children ages 5 to 12 need 10 to 11 hours of sleep a night. Studies show that most kids are getting about an hour less sleep each night than they did 30 years ago.

Children have a lot more distractions than they did 30 years ago including extracurricular activities, more homework and video games. It’s easy to understand how today’s kids have a hard time winding down at night. You might be wondering if your child is getting enough sleep. Well, here are some signs that they might need more:

• Behavior Changes – when your child doesn’t get enough sleep it can become difficult for them to control their emotions. This can result in emotional outburst, grumpiness and poor behavior.
  

• Attention Issues – if your child is normally a good listener but they begin having difficulty following detailed instructions or maintaining focus during activities this could be a sign of a lack of sleep.

• Memory Loss – sleep is like a rest button for your child. During sleep, everything learned during the day is committed to memory and the brain is readied to absorb more information the next day. If your child shows a change in remembering directions or information this could be a sign of not getting enough sleep.

What can you do to help your child get enough sleep?

• We have said it before and here it is again, establish a bedtime routine for your child and stick to it. Make sure your child get’s to bed around the same time every night.

• Give your child time to unwind. Turn off the TV, video games and eliminate distractions 15 to 20 minutes before bedtime.

Source: www.sleepfoundation.org/article/sleep-topics/children-and-sleep

Selecting the Right Daycare

Today, parents have several quality childcare options to choose from. Parents can choose to place their children in daycare or preschool for different reasons, but it's safe to say that all parents are seeking the same end -- a safe and caring environment for their children.

Here are the 3 factors that could weigh significantly in making your selection:

QUALIFICATIONS:

It’s important that you check if a day care center has employees who have been trained to work specifically with infants and toddlers. If your center is state accredited it’s more likely to have qualified personnel.

Each Goddard School’s faculty is made up of warm and nurturing teachers with a combination of formal education and experience. Goddard School teachers are:

· Selected for their ability to engage children warmly in the learning process through the use of effective and unique lesson plans.

· Required to fulfill education and/or experience requirements.

· Provided opportunities to participate in Goddard Systems University (GSU). GSU has been approved as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).

· Required to complete an exclusive training series developed specifically for Goddard School teachers. This unique program coaches teachers in the areas of health and safety, curriculum, developmental guidelines and enrichment programs.

ACCREDITATION:

Check your daycare center or preschools accreditation. The standards for accreditation are often more stringent than state standards.

Goddard Schools, are accredited by CITA - the Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation. CITA is the same accreditation board that accredits private and public schools, colleges and universities. The CITA evaluates quality, continuous improvement and student success. You can be assured that the Goddard programs meet or exceed the accreditation standards and support the emotional, social, behavioral and educational development of your child.

SAFETY:

Ask yourself: Is the facility a safe and protected setting? Look for the obvious child safety precautions. Are electrical sockets in the infant room appropriately protected, are steps securely blocked by safety gates, are first aid supplies readily available and up-to-date. Also, make sure your provider has procedures on who can pick up your child and how visitors to the school are accounted for.

Goddard School Owners are committed to the safety and security of the children and teachers in their Schools and choose security systems that work best for their individual locations. In addition to formal security, School Owners and their Directors provide the most effective security - that of a personal nature. Visitors are required to present identification and register in Visitor Logs. Alternate caregivers, authorized by children’s parents, must present identification and password information. In addition, GSI developed the Goddard Quality Assurance (QA) program to monitor health and safety policies and procedures, curriculum guidelines and program standards at all Goddard Schools.