Ways to Introduce Your Kids to Foreign Languages

December is learn a foreign language month, so now is a perfect time to teach your child a second language. Because the brain of a young child is in language hyper-drive learning mode, they can learn a foreign language much faster and much more effectively than a teen or adult.  We found some successful ways to help your young one to learn a new language.Click here to read the article.


For more information on Goddard Ashburn please visit our website : http://bit.ly/1wYOYNW

A Big-Kid Bed for Your Toddler

Parents struggle to figure out the right time to move their toddler from a crib to a big kid bed. Toddlers struggle with how to deal with this new freedom. We found some advice to make the tradition easier for everyone. Click here to read the article.

For more information on Goddard Ashburn please visit our website : http://bit.ly/1wYOYNW

Kids Say the Darnedest Things

Every parent has had their child say something that isn’t nice. It makes you want to step behind a tree or hide behind playground equipment. Here are a few tips that could help your child learn and grow from the experience.

Experience: Your child yells “this is my toy” and grabs the toy away from another child.

The learning opportunity: This could be a great opportunity to reinforce sharing with others. Concentrate on the benefits of sharing. Correct your child and then go one to tell explain the benefits of sharing:

it helps others feel good about themselves
it helps to make new friends
new friends might share new toys with you

Experience: You ask your child to do something and they scream “it’s not fair”

The learning opportunity: Explain why you’re telling your child to do the task. Give them consequences for not completing the task. For example: if they don’t clean their room they can’t watch TV when they get home. This will help your child make the connection between actions and consequences.


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Developing Literacy

How does your child develop literacy?
Literacy skills (reading and writing) start to develop in preschool when teachers begin to expose children to spoken and written language.

During this time you’ll find a teacher using a combination of pictures, printed letters and words, and speaking. Through this process your child will begin to make the connection that objects or pictures represent words that have meaning.

There are many ways this occurs in the classroom including:

• Nursery Rhymes: Children love the sing song cadence of nursery rhymes. In many cases children have heard these rhymes since they were babies, and a common classroom activity is to have them fill-in-the-blanks on favorite nursery rhymes and stories.

• Scribbling: as we spoke about in a previous blog, scribbling is the start of writing and scribbling on paper should be encouraged as much as possible.

• Printed Letters and Words: Classrooms that are full of pictures and words are the best environment for children to learn the basics of literacy.

There is no better way to develop literacy than reading with your child. The time you invest in reading to your child will be paid back as your child becomes a strong reader. Let your child guess the words as you read. Let them understand that pictures often give clues to the words on the pages.

Here are some other ways that you can reinforce literacy at home:
• Make books available
• Label objects around their room
• Read in front of your child. When they see you read they will want to read too.
• Encourage your child’s creativity. Writing, drawing and even finger painting all encourage literacy.

For more information on Goddard please visit our website : http://bit.ly/1wYOYNW

Special Offer

Visit The Goddard School in Ashburn or Waldorf.

Our purpose is providing early childhood education at its best. We live to see each child discover and grow their own brilliance, and in doing so, set them on a path to a lifetime of learning!

Our programs are:

• Customized to meet each child’s needs,
• An ideal balance of academics and play,
• Inclusive of both shared and independent learning experiences, and
• Award winning!

PLUS! October is National Children’s Health Month and to celebrate families that schedule a visit will receive a free Choose MyPlate for Kids with Nutrition Lesson Plan. It is a fun and easy way to help kids establish healthy eating habits!

 

*Offer is valid at The Goddard Schools in Ashburn and Waldorf until October 31 or while supplies last. New families only.

Click or Call A Location Below to Schedule Your Visit Today!

 

Ashburn

(703) 724-0601

 

- OR -

Waldorf

(301) 638-9777

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spark A Family Tradition This Father’s Day

Father’s Day is this weekend. We found some examples of Father’s Day traditions you can start with your family. Click here to read the whole article

Tooth Care for Preschoolers

Caring for teeth is important and so is establishing a routine when brushing your little ones teeth.  Establishing good habits will help lead to good oral hygiene that will continue through adulthood. Here is a great article on dental care tips for kids.

Does Your Child Have Trouble Sleeping?

Parents sometimes envy the deep, restful sleep that their children enjoy. However, not all children are peaceful sleepers. Some children wake up in the middle of the night for no reason and have trouble falling back to sleep, others wake due to storms or bad dreams. Here are some reasons kids have sleepless nights and some steps you can take to reduce them.

Scary Dreams – It’s normal for children to occasionally wake due to thunderstorms, or a scary dream. If your child is frequently waking due to scary dreams, you might want to begin to ask some questions to understand the nature of their fear. In some instances, siblings are telling scary stories or your child might be watching a scary TV show without your knowledge. You also could discover monsters are living under the bed or in the closet. A night light can be an easy cure for monsters and all other types of imaginary creatures. A quick check under their bed each night can help to banish all monsters for good and make you a hero to your child. The good news is that as your child ages, monsters like all other fairy tales, will begin to disappear. 

Bathroom Breaks – Children have small bladders which can trigger your child’s natural instinct to wake up prior to wetting the bed. Install a night light in your child’s bathroom. This can avoid the shock of bright lights, which can further awaken your child. Also, if your child wakes, don’t talk to them if you are assisting them with the bathroom. Engaging in conversation will further stimulate your child’s senses which can prevent them from falling back to sleep.

Too Much Energy – make sure your child is getting enough exercise and eating properly. Lack of exercise can lead to boundless energy at bedtime and trouble winding down. Try getting your child involved with a sport or exercise program. You can also cut out dessert and reduce sugary snacks in your child’s diet.

If you are concerned those sleepless nights are a result of a medical issue, or if you need help with your child’s diet and nutrition contact your pediatrician.

Treating Poison Ivy

The spring and summer months are a great for getting the kids outside to play and burn off some energy. One of the issue you may run into is poison ivy. Here is a great article that offers some advice on what to watch out for and how to treat poison ivy. Click here to read the article.

Moody Toddlers

Some parents get concerned about their toddler’s mood swings. In most cases a mood swings are normal. Here are a few causes and some tips on how to deal with them.

* Inability to communicate feelings, 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 cause some emotional outbursts of defiance. Your child may say“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 feelings for your toddler. Feelings like fear of separation are new. 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.

End-of-Day Meltdowns

Parents with babies and small children all know about end-of-day meltdowns.  Many parents struggle with this time of day along with their child.  Parenting Magazine offers some great tips to help you get through this difficult time of day. Click here to read the whole article.

6 Holiday Safety Hazards

A few weeks ago we talked about keeping our kids safe during the holidays.  This week we are talking about keeping our home safe from holiday hazards that can come from candles, lights and decorations. Parents.com offers tips on keeping your home safe this holiday season.  Click here to read the tips.

12 Days of Fun (and Cheap!) Christmas Activities for Families

With the holidays quickly approaching there are plenty of family fun activities to help create wonderful memories that can last a lifetime. Family Education offers 12 ideas on celebrating the holidays with the kids without spending a small fortune. Read more on FamilyEducation

Making the Holiday’s Safe

The holidays can be an enjoyable and fun time for your family, but there are also hazards every parent should be aware of. KidsHealth.org offers tips to help keep children safe and avoid a trip to the emergency room this holiday season. Click here to read the article.

Preschool Cliques

It is not unusual for preschool children to form cliques. They tend to pick a few children that are similar to themselves to be friends with rather than the whole class. Because preschoolers are still learning the concept of friendship it’s important that parents and teachers help children navigate their way through this time.

If you are a parent of a new or shy student, it may be difficult for them to break into existing cliques in the class. If you are concerned about your child making new friends, you should work with your teacher on ways your child can foster friendships and break through cliques. Talk to your child’s teacher to find out how they are behaving around other children. They may be shy or acting out which can cause other children to shy away.

Here are a few tactics your child’s teacher might use to help them develop new friendships:

• Grouping your child with a variety of children during small group activities

• Working with a "buddy" to complete a task (e.g., handing out snack)

• Making suggestions about fun things to do with different children during free play

Here are a few ways you can help:

• Try role playing situations and ways your child can approach other children during school to make them comfortable with the act of making friends.

• Approach a parent of an outgoing child. See if they are open to a play date or other ways your child can be paired up with their child inside and outside of class. This may help your child learn from a peer how to make new friends.

Keep in mind that your child might simply be shy and don’t expect them to develop friendships overnight. Teaching them the skills to make friends over time will benefit them as they experience cliques throughout their lifetime.

First Sleepover

This is a true sign that your child is growing up. When your child is ready for their first sleepover it is certainly a milestone. But it can also be an anxious time for both you and your child. Here are a few tips to take the anxiety out of a sleepover.

* Make sure your child knows the family they will be spending the night with pretty well. The best situation would be for your child to have several play dates and maybe even a meal with the family prior to sleeping over. This will help acclimate your child to the particular habits of the family they are staying with.

* Make sure that you feel comfortable with the family that will be hosting the sleepover. If your child knows that you are uncomfortable, they might sense your discomfort. This can lead to your child feeling uncomfortable.

* Set expectations with your child for what a sleepover will be like. Tell them what activities they will do and how much fun they will have.
* Pack some of your children’s favorite items to take with them. This will remind them of home and comfort them.

* Anticipate the midnight call. Don’t be disappointed if your child calls and wants to come home. This is not a failure on their or your part. Take some time and try again once you feel they are ready.

Spark A Family Tradition This Father’s Day

Father’s Day is this weekend, why not start a new family tradition to celebrate this special day. Education.com gives some examples of Father’s Day traditions you can start with your family. Click here to read the whole article

Travel With Kids

With the unofficial start of summer starting today, many families are planning summer trips. Your family may choose a long trip or a day trip. As parents we all dread the question "Are we there yet?" With a little preparing you can make traveling with your little ones enjoyable and stress-free by following these simple tips:

1. Travel at night or get a very early morning start to your trip and let the kids sleep.

2. When traveling during the day, it helps to plan several short stops.. Find kid-friendly places to stop such as parks with playgrounds, historic monuments to give the kids a short break to work off their energy.

3. 1,000 bottles of root beer on the wall or B-I-N-G-O can really help to pass the time, and create some happy or sad memories depending on how good of a singer you are.

4. Bring a goodie-bag. Toys, games, bubbles, coloring books can all help pass the time during a long trip. Bring footballs, frisbees or soccer balls, to help gd the energy out during short stops.

5. Have your children write a journal to document where you’re going or where you have been on your trip. They can also practice the lost art of letter writing to friends they miss at home.

6. Of course, if you need to, you can always fall back on the hand-held games, tablet, CD and portable DVD players with earphones.

Let each child pack their own box or backpack of activities that way you can make sure they will like what they brought and it will keep their things organized and accessible.

Should You Let Your Kids Play Video Games

Kiwi magazine wrote a great article about allowing kids to play video games.  They offer advice on ways to select age appropriate video games.

http://www.kiwimagonline.com/2012/01/are-video-games-okay-for-kids/

The Benefits of Eating Meals Together

Dining together as a family has become rare in today’s hectic life.  School activities and career demands can make dining together impossible. But, if you can squeeze out time twice a week to sit down together for dinner or any meal, you and your family can benefit in several ways. Eating meals together can help:

• Develop and maintain open lines of communication
• Build stronger relationships
• You share the events of the day and discuss news and ideas
• Reduce teen rates of addiction and lessen teen depression (several studies have shown)
• Show children how they are the priority in their parent’s lives
• You find out more about your children’s likes and dislikes, which can form the basis for meaningful conversation
• Parents to direct their kids toward positive activities and behaviors.
• Children get higher grades on average (several studies have shown)

Sitting down for every family meal simply isn’t possible today, but trying to sit down together a few nights a week can help your children even when you’re not there.