Keeping the Attention of a Preschoolers

The most difficult thing a parent will ever have to do is to try to keep a preschooler occupied. With their short attention spans, you need to have a lot of tricks up your sleeve. This can include arts and crafts, games and learning activities that you know will entertain them. Keeping your preschooler occupied allows them to maintain a healthy lifestyle and learn through activity.

Outdoors
Take advantage of days when temperatures moderates to send your children outside. Once winter comes it’s easy to forget that the backyard exists. A healthy dose of fresh air, can pep kids up and wear them out. Of course, don’t forget to bundle up. For an alternative when it is too cold, head to the mall for a brisk walk.

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.






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

Protecting Kids From Sun Dangers

With the hot summer, we have been having many of us are heading to the beach, pools or water parks to keep our kids cool, but being outside can pose a big risk to our children.


Protecting your child’s Skin
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, even one or two blistering sunburns can significantly increase a child's risk of developing skin cancer later in life, With that said, you don’t need to hide indoors during daylight hours to protect your kids.


Here are some tips for how to keep your kid's skin healthy:

• Schedule your play times before 10am or after 3pm
• Pay close attention to cheeks, backs of hands, and the tops of feet when applying sunscreen
• Wear hats and t-shirts to protect faces and bodies
• Sit in the shade under a tree or an umbrella
• Choose a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15 or higher
• Remember just because you have sunscreen on doesn’t mean children can’t get burned
• Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before leaving the house
• Reapply after swimming or perspiring even if sunscreen is waterproof, or reapply every 2 hours.
• Apply the appropriate amount of sunscreen. A quarter size dollop will cover one toddler arm.
• Stock up on sunscreen. During the summer months, you will go through a lot to keep the kids protected.
• Teach your kids to apply sunscreen regularly and you will be protecting and teaching them good healthy skin protection habits.

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

Things to Look For in a Preschool Play Environment

Last week we discussed the importance of play to a child’s development. We also discussed the progression of how children develop important skills through play. Here are some things you should look for in a preschool setting that fosters learning through play.

* Do children seem engaged and happy?

* Do the children have choices for types of play?

* Is there an organizational system such as shelving, labeled containers, or cubbies?

* Are areas clearly distinguished for different interests like dressing up, art, etc.?

* Is there an outdoor play space, with barriers on all sides, kid-safe landscaping, and a soft surface under the play structure?

* Are toys clean, in good shape, and set up for play? They should be inviting to kids, but too many toys can be overwhelming?

Visit us today to see how we foster learning through our great indoor and outdoor play spaces, and bring a friend.


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

Preschool Bullying: Steps to Stop Child Aggression

With so much talk in the news about bullying, I found this article about preschool bullying and the effect on young children. Click here to read the article.

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

Making Time For Your Family

 Today’s parents have a lot to balance; work, school, kids’ schedules, doctor's’ appointments, shopping, cleaning, making dinner and more. It’s hard to find time to spend quality time with the kids. That means you need to put the smartphone down too.

Meal Time: One of the easiest ways is to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner with your kids at least 2 -3 times a week. Talk to your kids about their day, what’s going on in school or even make plans on how to spend time together in the future.

Reading Together: For younger kids it means you read a story to them for older kids have them read to you or read a chapter from your favorite book or a great article that you saw in the paper today

Family Games: Whether it’s old fashioned board games or even video games that the whole family can play, games are a great way to spend time together with your kids.

Movie Night: Make some fun treats, get out the pillows and blankets and cuddle up with your kids to watch the latest hit movie on DVD. Make it a monthly event and give each kid a chance to pick their favorite movie.

There are many easy ways to spend time with your kids, make time on your to-do list to get it done
 


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

The Importance of Art and Children

At Goddard we often make art the focus of activities and creativity in the classroom. You might think that art itself is the subject of lessons, but art offers other opportunities for teachable moments.


You can expand the lessons of art outside of the classroom by visiting museums and reading old art history textbooks with your children. Not only will they learn an appreciation of the most famous works of art, they will also learn the following:

Counting – play games with your children to count each color in a painting

Shapes –find hidden shapes in paintings and sculpture

Colors – teach the concept of texture through sculpture and paintings

Observation – I spy helps make a day at the museum even more fun

Computer skills – tour the most prestigious museums online and see world class art all around the world with the click of a button

Visit and support your local art museum. Many museums offer ½ price days so that you won’t break the budget on admission. Try a family membership that will let you access multiple museums throughout the year.

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

The Benefits of the Nutritional Snack

 

Toddlers and young active children grow rapidly. They need good nutrition through plenty of healthy meals and snacks, but kids can also be very picky eaters. Here are a few basic tips that can help you establish healthy eating habits from the start.

 

Balance Is Important
Meals should contain a balance of fruits, vegetables, protein, dairy and grains. The USDA’s Food Guide Pyramid should be used as a guideline, it says meals should contain at least six servings of foods from the grain section daily, three servings of vegetables daily, two servings of fruits daily, three servings of meats daily, and three servings of dairy products daily.

 

Snacks Can Help
Many parents find it difficult to prepare and serve complete balanced meals all the time. Snacks are very important for growing children, especially those picky eaters who don’t eat much at meal times. Nutritious snacks like fruits and vegetables, especially green vegetables, which are high in iron and fiber, vitamin C and potassium.

The key is to keep snacks readily available around the house. Food that are quick, easy to prepare and nutritious include microwave popcorn, graham crackers, fruits, frozen fruit juice on a stick, trail mix, pretzels, low-fat yogurt, and low-fat milk. Encourage plenty of milk and water rather than sodas that have low nutritional value.

 

Eat a Rainbow
A good strategy for having a balanced diet is to try to include foods of every color throughout the day.Here is a great example of including color variation in your child’s meals:

Breakfast

Milk (white)
Banana slices (yellow)
Apple (red)
Orange juice (orange)

Snack

Blueberries (blue)
Whole Wheat Crackers (brown)

Lunch

Cheese sandwich with whole wheat bread (brown)
Celery sticks (green)
Peach (peach)

If your child is an overly picky eater or their diet continues to cause you concern, seek out the assistance of a registered dietitian who specializes in working with children to develop strategies to provide for the good nutritional health of your child.

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

Storytime Strategies to Boost Early Literacy

We found 7 storytime strategies you can uses when reading to your little one to help boost their early literacy. By sneaking in some of these strategies you can help to build literacy in your toddler. Click here to read the article.

10 Tips for Dining Out With Kids

When taking your kids out to eat it can be a little stressful. You want you little ones to be respectful to the dining staff and other dinners in the restaurant. You also want to enjoy your meal to. Here is a great article on 10 tips to make dining out with your little one a little less stressful. Click here to read the tips.

School Friendships: Stay Connected Over Summer Break

Summer can be relaxing, but it can also be pretty busy with family vacations, day trips, and spending time with an aunt or grandparents . Young children sometimes have a hard time understanding that their schedule has changed and why they are not seeing their best buddy all the time. Here is a great article on maintaining friendships over summer break. Click here to read the article.

Ashburn School Receives Top Honor

Ashburn School Receives Top Honor

The Goddard School® located in Ashburn earns SACS CASI Accreditation

The Goddard School located at in Ashburn earned accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), an accreditation division of AdvancED. Recognition by the organization is highly coveted and rarely given to childcare companies.

SACS CASI provides nationally recognized accreditation, the purpose of which is continuous school improvement focused on increasing student performance. To earn accreditation, schools must meet SACS CASI’s high standards, be evaluated by a team of professionals from outside the school, and implement a continuous process of school improvement.

"We’re proud to earn the mark of quality from SACS CASI, and be recognized for our commitment to reach the highest professional standards," says Madhu Govil, owner of The Goddard School located in Ashburn. "SACS CASI accreditation demonstrates to our community that children in our program receive the best possible care and early learning experiences. Our management and faculty have earned this achievement by performing their very best every day."

The Goddard School located in Ashburn opened in January, 2007. The school accommodates 135, ages six weeks to 8 years. Parents are encouraged to drop in for a tour or call The Goddard School directly at 703-724-0601 to arrange a personal appointment.

"Parents look to The Goddard School for quality childcare and SACS CASI accreditation further emphasizes to the community that Goddard programs have been reviewed by the experts and meet or exceed their expectations," said Dzana Homan, COO of Goddard Systems, Inc., franchisor of The Goddard School.

Dr. Mark Elgart, President/CEO of AdvancED, the parent organization of SACS CASI, stated, "SACS CASI Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school on the primary goal of creating lifelong learners. The Goddard School located in Ashburn is to be commended for engaging in this process and demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement."

Parents and interested community members can learn more about accreditation at www.advanc-ed.org.


The Goddard School®: Celebrating 25 Years of Learning through Play.
Learning for fun. Learning for life.℠ The Goddard School uses the most current, academically endorsed methods to ensure that children from six weeks to six years old have fun while learning the skills they need for long-term success in school and in life. Talented teachers collaborate with parents to nurture children into respectful, confident and joyful learners. The Goddard School’s AdvancED and Middle States-accredited F.L.EX.℠ Learning Program reaches more than 45,000 students in nearly 400 Goddard Schools in 35 states. The Goddard School’s comprehensive play-based curriculum, developed with early childhood education experts, provides the best childhood preparation for social and academic success. To learn more about The Goddard School, please visit www.goddardschool.com.


About AdvancED and SACS CASI
Dedicated to advancing excellence in education through accreditation, research, and professional services, AdvancED is the world’s largest education community, serving and engaging over 27,000 public and private schools and districts in 69 countries and serving nearly 16 million students. AdvancED is the parent organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI).

SACS CASI is a non-governmental, voluntary agency that accredits nearly 13,000 public and non-public institutions throughout the world.

Toddler Teeth

Toddlers usually feel two ways about brushing their teeth. They are either excited to be a big girl or boy, or they are uncooperative. It’s important to help your young one develop good oral hygiene. Here are some tips on handling common teeth brushing problems.

• Start with good habits early – when your baby's first tooth pops out, you can begin to brush their teeth.

• Take advantage of your child’s curiosity – if your child wants to brush their own teeth, and you feel they have the ability to brush their own teeth, let them. However, you should supervise the process up until your child is school-aged.

• Let Your Child Express Their Independence– let them have fun picking out the toothpaste and the brush they want. This is just another way to get them interested.

• Be Creative – there have been a lot of changes in tooth brush technology since we were kids. A toothbrush can now play music, speak to your child, and they are shaped as your child’s favorite character. Take advantage of these gimmicks to increase your child’s interest in teeth brushing.

If you have a real dental question you should always contact your friendly pediatric dentist.

Keeping the Attention of a Preschoolers

The most difficult thing a parent will ever have to do is to try to keep a preschooler occupied. With their short attention spans, you need to have a lot of tricks up your sleeve. This can include arts and crafts, games and learning activities that you know will entertain them. Keeping your preschooler occupied allows them to maintain a healthy lifestyle and learn through activity.

Outdoors
Take advantage of days when temperatures moderates to send your children outside. Once winter comes it’s easy to forget that the backyard exists. A healthy dose of fresh air, can pep kids up and wear them out. Of course, don’t forget to bundle up. For an alternative when it is too cold, head to the mall for a brisk walk.

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.

10 Fun Ways To Celebrate Valentine's Day With Kids

Valentine’s Day is just a little over 7 days away. Have the perfect holiday with the kids with these 10 fun ways to celebrate Valentine’s day from The Parent Squad. Click here to read the article

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

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.

Tips on Stopping Tantrums

It has happened to all of us. We try to squeeze in a few more errands before nap time and this causes your child have the dreaded public tantrum. Anyone who has been a parent or guardian has had to endure the public tantrum. Instead of losing your cool, and your senses, try taking a deep breath, smile at an understanding adult nearby, and then see if one of these tips will work:

1.   A reward for good behavior can do wonders. Something along the lines of, “if you stop crying now, I'll let you watch your favorite video tonight”.  Your child's favorite things can be wonderful motivators to use to help reinforce good behavior. But don’t overuse this tactic or your child. You can reinforce this behavior if your child starts to act out simply for the reward.

2.   Do not overwhelm a child that really just needs some peace and calm to settle down. Your child mirrors your response to their tantrum. If you respond by yelling at your child, this might just increase the tension and raise the level of your child’s tantrum or make it last longer. Try a calming hug and some kind words instead. Your child may just be looking for some validation for their feelings or frustration.

3.   It is ok to choose your battles. Sometimes you need to step in and stop the tantrum, other times, if they are not hurting themselves or anyone or anything around them, let the tantrum continue. This can help get their anger out. After the tantrum you can calmly explain to your child the consequences of their actions.

4.   Distract her/him with something. This is a great way to help your child calm down. Put a video on, listen to music, read a story, watch television, or read their favorite book. This is might not be easy to do during a tantrum, but if you find a distraction that works it might be enough to settle them down.

Fire Safety Web Site

To continue with Fire Safety week, I found this great website called the US Fire Administration.  They have a kid’s page that offers fire safety tips and color pages, cross word puzzles and much more.  Click here to check out the site

Summer Safety Tips

Now that summer is in full swing I thought it was a good time to share an article with you about Summer Safety. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers some great tips on keeping kids safe in the water, around those pesky bugs, fireworks and many other tips. Click here to read the full article.

Keeping Your Child’s Teeth Healthy

Parents often have questions about how to take care of their child’s teeth. Whether it’s when they should go for their first dental visit, or when they should start flossing. Kids Health offers some great advice to help answer parents most common questions on taking care of their child’s teeth. Click here to read the whole article.