Travel With Kids

With the unofficial start of summer starting this later this week, 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?" 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, plan several short stops. Find kid-friendly places to stop such as parks with playgrounds and historic locations. Let the kids take 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 get the energy out during short stops.

5. Have your children write a journal to document 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 activities in a backpack that way you can make sure they will like what they brought and it will keep their things organized and accessible

10 Ways to Improve Reading Skills

It’s important that parents find creative ways to encourage and improve their child’s reading skills. This article, 10 Ways to Improve Your Child’s Reading Skills, offers some great suggestions and clues on what to look for when reading with your kids. Click here to read the article

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.

10 Ways to Improve Reading Skills

It’s important that parents find creative ways to encourage and improve their child’s reading skills. This article offers some great suggestions and clues on what to look for when reading with your kids. Click here to read the article.

The Importance of Play at Preschool

Preschool prepares your child for elementary school, but how does play time help your child learn. Here are several reasons why play is an important aspect of the preschool curriculum.

Before age 2, children tend to play by themselves with little interaction with others. But after age 2, preschool age, children’s play becomes more of a learning activity filled with interaction.

Soon after starting preschool, kids begin to seek out other children with similar interests and they begin to interact with them. And as language skills continue to develop you begin to see elements of cooperative play.

Between 4 and 5 years of age, the level of play becomes even more elaborate. Children make creative play scenes, they take turns, and they begin to work together toward mutual goals.

For younger children 2 to 4 years old, you can encourage play at home by setting up a space for your child and a friend and helping them find the words to express their questions or needs. As children get older play becomes natural and they need less help to socialize.

Ask about play when choosing a preschool

When you tour potential preschools for your child ask for their philosophy about play. Preschoolers need opportunities to play, prepared spaces for them to explore and responsive teachers to support their learning. Such a setting prepares children not only to become students who will work with others cooperatively and approach learning with excitement.

8 Great Sick-Day Activities

When your child is home from school because they are not feeling well, you may struggle with ways to keep them entertained while the get better.  Scholastic.com offers 8 great sick day activites. From reading stories together to doing a simple craft.  Click here to read the article. 

Why Read To Babies

New moms and dads 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.