Win the Bedtime Battles

With school starting soon and the relaxed summer schedule coming to an end, it may mean bedtime battles in your household. Parenthood.com offers advice on taking the stress out of the bedtime battles. Click here to read the article.


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

Packing Healthy Lunches

 It’s that time of year again and the kids are going back to school. Many parents struggle with what to pack in their kid’s lunches. Here are a few healthy lunch ideas that hopefully will keep you and your little ones happy.

 • Cold-cut roll ups (lean, low-fat turkey, ham, or roast beef with low-fat cheese on whole wheat tortillas)
 • Single portion-sized cups of unsweetened apple sauce or fruit without added sugar
 • Trail mix made with cereals, nuts, pretzels, dried fruit or raisins, and a few chocolate morsels
 • Low fat cheese spread on whole wheat crackers
 • Veggie sticks with low-fat dip or dressing
 • Baked chips or pretzels are a better choice than high-fat potato chips or cheese snacks
 • Whole grain bagels topped with cream cheese-vegetable spread
 • Air-popped popcorn flavored with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese
 • Low fat cheese cubes and seedless grapes make a delicious side dish for sandwiches or wraps
 • Cold strips of grilled chicken with honey mustard dip
 • Dried cranberries or cherries are a sweet alternative to raisins
 • Cold pizza (shredded mozzarella cheese with pizza sauce on a flour tortilla, whole wheat pita, English muffin, or mini pizza shell)

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

Learning through Play - Part II

What makes play good or good play at Goddard Schools ?

Experts agree that play creates a successful experience for children of any age, learning anything if the following four elements are in place:

1) Atmosphere,
2) Materials,
3) Adult intervention and
4) Regard for individual differences.

The Goddard School atmosphere provides these four aspects within a relaxed sense of anticipation and freedom – freedom from evaluation/correction and to perform less than perfectly. It is this freedom that generates the higher levels of sophistication that children more often produce in play than in their lessons.

We Provide an Optimal Learning Environment that is Creative and Fun

An enriched learning environment fosters well-rounded, happy and confident learners. Our extensive resources include the creation of a warm, nurturing environment where children can make many supportable choices, independently explore learning materials and develop socialization skills as they interact with others. Toys and equipment are carefully chosen, first for safety and then for how they stimulate young imaginations and help children develop. Enrichment programs augment the Goddard School’s core curriculum to expose children to the skills necessary to support their active lives, develop positive self-esteem and set the foundation for a healthy lifestyle. These programs include sign language, yoga, fitness, art history, music, sports, world cultures and foreign languages.

Goddard’s Professional, highly-Trained Faculty make the most of every teachable moment.

Our professional educators are intentional in guiding and extending children’s play to ensure key developmental milestones are achieved across the learning domains. Teachers facilitate learning through responsive interactions with children as they learn and have fun! Our teachers skillfully weave in academic and learning objectives as they build upon what the individual children can do and encourage them to try new things.

Our Flex Learning Program gives structure and purpose to play. Ask your current daycare/preschool provider for their curriculum and compare to see the Goddard difference.

Part 2 of the Flex Learning Program

Earlier this week we began to outline our Flex Learning Program. This blog will continue to outline the elements of Flex Learning and how it can benefit your child.

Optimal Learning Environment that is Creative and Fun:

An Enriched Learning Environment fosters well-rounded, happy and confident learners. Our extensive resources include the creation of a warm, nurturing environment where children can make many supportable choices, independently explore learning materials and develop socialization skills as they interact with others. Toys and equipment are carefully chosen, first for safety and then for how they stimulate young imaginations and help children develop.

Enrichment programs augment the Goddard School’s core curriculum to expose children to the skills necessary to support their active lives, develop positive self-esteem and set the foundation for a healthy lifestyle. These programs include sign language, yoga, fitness, art history, music, sports, world cultures and foreign languages.
Child Centered Learning and Teachable Moments with a Personalized Approach:
Professional, Highly-Trained Faculty make the most of every teachable moment. Our professional educators are intentional in guiding and extending children’s play to ensure key developmental milestones are achieved across the learning domains. Teachers facilitate learning through responsive interactions with children as they learn and have fun! Our teachers skillfully weave in academic and learning objectives as they build upon what the individual children can do and encourage them to try new things.

Goddard Schools’ educators are professionals. They’re provided ongoing training through Goddard Systems University (GSU), a fully accredited, exclusive professional development program…which assures our teachers are constantly at the forefront of the latest in child development concepts, trends and research.

Child-Centered Learning lays the foundation for continuous discovery, academic success and school readiness “Young children who learn through play are more ready to make their own decisions, advocate for themselves and use creativity to solve problems as they grow,” says Dr. Kyle Pruett, a Yale University child psychiatrist and consultant to The Goddard School. Making learning fun is at the core of The Goddard School FLEX Learning Program and, each day, Goddard School children select activities and materials to discover, explore and invent in their own imaginative and creative way. Child-centered learning is absolutely essential to advancing children’s development and their readiness for school.

The FLEX Learning Domain Chart (below) features the core, academically accepted, learning domains and illustrates how the Goddard core curricular and enrichment programs cover these learning areas. These are the standard learning domains that are included in most state guidelines for quality early childhood education. This aspect of the poster helps to reassure parents that their child will receive a well-rounded program designed to bring out their full potential.

The Goddard School® FLEX Learning Program™

One of the factors that differentiates Goddard Schools from other preschools is the quality of our curriculum. A the heart of the Goddard curriculum is our FLEX Learning Program
What is the Goddard School FLEX Learning Program?

Flex learning is based on a unique learning continuum that encompasses developmental guidelines with formative assessments, child-focused lesson plans, a creative and fun environment and a personalized child-centered approach. Here are some of the benefits of the Flex learning approach:

· Helps meet the needs of the individual child
· Helps develop a more confident learner who is ready for school
· Helps your child to develop more independence, socialization, self-esteem and school
readiness
Here are a few elements of the flex learning program. We will cover some additional elements in the next blog later this week.

Developmental Guidelines, State Standards and Formative Assessments:

Developmental guidelines set the stage for individual achievement. This is the foundation of our continuum. These guidelines, based upon national and state standards, form the basis of The Goddard School FLEX Learning Program and the belief that each child develops in his/her own way. The guidelines outline each key stage of development and specific milestones across the core, academically accepted, learning domains (personal, social, language/literacy, mathematical, scientific, creative and physical.)

Formative assessments set the course for each child’s unique learning path. In the next phase, Goddard Schools’ teachers observe and assess how each child learns and evaluate his/her developmental progress. Our teachers use observational and formative assessment methods to collect, synthesize and interpret information about each child in order to plan engaging and playful activities, thus creating the optimum learning environment.

Child-Focused Lesson Plans:

Lesson Planning and the Goddard School Curriculum Guide provide proven road maps for success. In this phase, teachers use knowledge gained from their observations and interactions with the children to develop unique and challenging lesson plans. The Goddard School Curriculum Guide provides teachers with a cross reference of materials, programs and activities across the learning domains. Teachers use the guide to create an imaginative, rewarding learning program for all of the children in their classrooms.For more information on the Goddard Flex Learning Program call or stop in to Goddard Ashburn