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Tips to build the habit of sharingEvery successful relationship, personal or professional is built on the foundations of cooperation, collaboration, and teamwork. Sharing time, money, or resources makes the world a kinder and happier place. This is a quality that must be built in the young generation at the earliest. Kids ‘R’ Kids, an educational preschool in Valrico, shares some tips on imbibing this wonderful quality of sharing in children. Developmental Readiness for SharingThe ability to share is directly related to empathy. Children are developmentally able to share only when they are cognitively able to understand another person’s point of view. Young children are naturally very egocentric. They have difficulty seeing anything outside their point of view. Studies show that during the ages of approximately 2 – 7 years old, children are slowly learning to understand that others have different thoughts, perspectives, and ideas than their own. Sharing will be vehemently resisted by this age group as they are only just beginning to understand other people’s points of view. Like any developmental milestone, there is an age when children can be expected to share. And just like any other skill, sharing takes practice, time, and positive reinforcement. Tips for Teaching Sharing
Sharing transcends objects. It is not just about sharing a favorite toy but also about sharing time and resources. A child who waits his turn to play is sharing his time and patiently waiting for the other child to finish his turn. A child who is investing time and energy to console a friend is sharing. By modeling, this behavior at every opportunity adults can encourage children to share.
The developmental milestone of sharing may not have been achieved yet but the language of sharing can be taught and reiterated at an early age. Toddlers can be explained how a younger child needs more attention at one point and that they must wait their turn to receive the desired attention. Helping children assign words to their feelings while waiting for their turns can help. Praising the children for their ability to share can also give them the confidence to repeat the action.
Games that require children to cooperate and wait for their turns are a great setting to learn to share in. For instance, taking turns while playing a board game or putting together a puzzle allows children to practice sharing with others.
Children don't need to share everything, every time. A favorite toy could become a bone of contention and is, therefore, best kept away during playdates, for instance. It’s important to set up children for success by not forcing them to share something special with them. Giving them the liberty to choose to share their favorite toys may help them be more willing to share later.
A heads-up on a possible situation where they may have to share allows children to process the information and be prepared. A simple explanation of the situation can go a long way. For instance, informing the kids that a family is coming over with two kids for dinner, and they all can play with their toys together. Also giving them an option of keeping away their favorite toys sets up the children for success during the social interaction and gives them the freedom of choice.
Positive reinforcement lies at the foundation of all learning. Therefore, children must be praised when they gracefully share their toys with their peers. On the other hand, escalating the situation and trying to force a child to share does not have a positive effect in the long run. Suggesting an activity that requires all children to work together such as play-doh or coloring may diffuse the pressure of sharing and give them the comfort of choice and liberty. They may feel comfortable eventually sharing and must be showered with praise for their efforts. Why Kids ‘R’ Kids?The philosophy of “Hug First, Then Teach”, defines every aspect of what Kids ‘R’ Kids, Valrico stands for. Unlike many daycare centers or childcare providers, its methodology is a whole-child approach. It constantly strives to strengthen and encourage every child’s emotional, intellectual, social, and physical well-being through the expertise of its childcare providers and a unique partnership with parents. Kids ‘R’ Kids International is accredited by AdvancED®, the world’s largest education community, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS/CASI). SACS/CASI is an accreditation division of AdvancED®. This accreditation ensures that the high accreditation standards are met and exceeded. Via https://kidsrkidsvalrico.blogspot.com/2022/05/kids-r-kids-shares-how-to-teach.html How to set your child for success?Early childhood is the time for setting a strong and balanced foundation for future success. Every parent and teacher aims to raise and educate their children to become well-rounded, confident, self-motivated, and independent adults. Kids ‘R’ Kids, an educational preschool in Circa Fishhawk, shares some important tips for parents to set up their children for success at school and in life.
Play is the most underrated yet most impactful form of learning for young children. Children must engage in free play every day beside the structured play at school and home. Extracurricular activities are great for kids but their creativity and problem-solving skills are best developed during unstructured play.
Reading to children opens up a whole new world to them. Reading not only enhances their language skills, imagination, and critical thinking skills, and also encourages parents-children bonding. Reading helps develop children’s emotional maturity and helps them assign words to emotions they feel. This is an activity that allows a dialogue and discussion between children and parents that encourages thinking and communication.
Independence is a life skill that must be taught to children early. Allowing a child to make mistakes and learn from them to make better decisions is a skill that will make a massive difference in their lives as adults. Parents can begin teaching this skill by allowing children to resolve their conflicts with friends among themselves, encouraging them to do some homework independently, packing their bags every day, and taking responsibility for some age-appropriate chores.
The American Psychological Association states that grit is what separates the very best from those who are simply good enough. Angela Duckworth, a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania, found in her research that a combination of grit and self-control, reliance, and ambition were the most reliable predictors of a positive outcome, rather than intelligence. The kids who won the spelling bee, for instance, weren’t necessarily smarter than their peers; they just worked much harder at studying the words. Parents can offer challenges to children to work through and overcome. Adversity and even failure are critical to a child's development.
All children have different strengths, weaknesses, interests, and passions. It is children’s emotional need to be accepted as individuals and be allowed to pursue their natural inclinations. Giving children the opportunity and the encouragement to experience all extra-curricular activities at school such as drama, music, dance, and public speaking besides academics is crucial for their development. Children must be allowed to indulge in activities they feel naturally drawn to. These interests may convert into valuable career choices later on.
Distress, disappointment, frustration, relief, anticipation, anger, fear… these are emotions that are a part of everyone’s life. Protecting children from these experiences can weaken their ability to handle adversity later in life. Children must experience disappointment and acquire the skills to cope with this emotion. Not having these skills when parents are not around to help can prove to be a huge source of stress. So disappointment is good.
Children must cross certain developmental milestones before they are ready to acquire certain skills. Forcing certain skills such as reading, writing, and math skills before children are developmentally ready can lead to learning gaps later on. Pushing children to learn something they are not ready for not only disrupts their foundational skills but also takes away invaluable time they would have spent in free play and in exploring their curiosity.
Adults are accountable for their actions. And this ability to accept accountability must be taught at an early age. For instance, if children leave their toys all over the floor, they are expected to collect them. If they hit another child, there are consequences. This is a life skill required in professional as well as personal equations. Why Kids ‘R’ Kids?The philosophy of “Hug First, Then Teach”, defines every aspect of what Kids ‘R’ Kids, Circa Fishhawk stands for. Unlike many daycare centers or childcare providers, its methodology is a whole-child approach. It constantly strives to strengthen and encourage every child’s emotional, intellectual, social, and physical well-being through the expertise of its childcare providers and a unique partnership with parents. Kids ‘R’ Kids International is accredited by AdvancED®, the world’s largest education community, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS/CASI). SACS/CASI is an accreditation division of AdvancED®. This accreditation ensures that the high accreditation standards are met and exceeded. Call today at (813) 654-7000 to learn more about the Kids ‘R’ Kids before and after school programs (Kindergarten to Grade 5) or to schedule a visit. Via https://kidsrkidsvalrico.blogspot.com/2022/05/kids-r-kids-shares-8-tips-to-help.html Self-regulation skills for preschoolersAccording to many studies, self-regulation is necessary for the social-emotional and academic success and well-being of a child. It is one of the most important life skills that parents and teachers must work together to build from an early age. Kids ‘R’ Kids Valrico, an educational preschool, shares below certain tips to help develop self-regulation skills in early childhood. What is self-regulation?Self regulation is a person’s ability to manage emotions and behavior as per the demands of the situation. This set of skills enables children to inhibit their emotional or behavioral responses and direct their behavior towards a goal. For instance, controlling the urge to hit another child because their demands are not being met is a skill that needs to be slowly built. The ability to resist highly emotional reactions to upsetting stimuli, to calm oneself down when upset, to adjust to a change in expectations, and to handle frustration without an outburst is an important ingredient to living an emotionally stable and productive life. This skill helps to direct one’s behavior towards a fruitful end despite the unpredictability of the world and one’s feelings.
Steps to improved emotional regulation skills
Children imitate what their caregivers do. So it is important to be a role model when it comes to emotional regulation. The way parents and caregivers handle daily stress is constantly being observed by the little ones. These are life skills and strategies for coping with problems that children start learning at a very young age.
Certain situations, environments, and sensations can trigger children and upset them. The reasons could be lack of sleep, hunger, loud noises, crowds, too much screen time, and disruption of routine. Recognizing the reasons that cause excessive stress to a child can help create awareness and empower the child as well as the caregiver by preparing them. Challenging behaviors such as whining, defiance, or emotional meltdowns can be prevented or mitigated if there is clarity on the triggers. This discovery of emotional triggers is also a common anger management activity for kids.
Emotional triggers can make children feel “out of control” and cause anxiety in its wake. But teaching a child to recognize their emotions, especially in the way they show up in their body helps to create self-awareness. The way emotions manifest in the body such as sweaty palms, racing heartbeat, and restlessness can be identified and checked before they take over completely.
Besides identifying the physical signs of certain emotional triggers, it is important to name the emotion. Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one’s emotions and the emotions of others. An emotional vocabulary goes a long way in helping a child identify emotions and working through them. Visual tools can help children through early elementary ages to learn to manage their emotions.
Once an emotion and its triggers are identified, children need help with discovering healthy and productive outlets for these intense emotions. Every child’s unique nervous and sensory system means that the self-regulation trick would also be unique and will evolve. This requires some trial and error but it is worth exerting this effort. Some children may require physical touch when they are upset while some may resist it. Some children calm down in their own particular space while others need their caregiver’s company. Generally, young children are physiologically helpless to calm down by themselves. Another effective approach to expanding a child’s emotional regulation skills is to practice co-regulation. This is active participation in helping a child deal with anger and other intense emotions by being present with them.
There is an undeniable connection between the body and mind. Besides maintaining consistent routines, mealtimes, and bedtimes as well as building healthy habits, caregivers can teach children the importance of breath. Research proves that deep, mindful breathing can calm the nervous system. Research on mindfulness shows that it strengthens the prefrontal cortex and one’s ability to regulate emotions and behaviors. Simple mindfulness practices can help maintain a low baseline of emotional arousal in children. This calming strategy can also be used anywhere, anytime to help them manage their emotions and maintain their calm. Why Kids ‘R’ kids?The philosophy of “Hug First, Then Teach”, defines every aspect of what Kids ‘R’ Kids, Valrico stands for. Unlike many daycare centers or childcare providers, its methodology is a whole-child approach. It constantly strives to strengthen and encourage every child’s emotional, intellectual, social, and physical well-being through the expertise of its childcare providers and a unique partnership with parents. Kids ‘R’ Kids International is accredited by AdvancED®, the world’s largest education community, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS/CASI). SACS/CASI is an accreditation division of AdvancED®. This accreditation ensures that the high accreditation standards are met and exceeded. Contact Information: Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academy of Valrico 4321 Lynx Paw Trail Ben Fernandes Via https://kidsrkidsvalrico.blogspot.com/2021/09/kids-r-kids-talks-about-self-regulation.html Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Valrico, FL, aims for all the children enrolled at the educational preschool to have the opportunity to grow physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually by playing, exploring, and learning with others in a fun, safe, and healthy environment. The staff and teachers, working in conjunction with the parents and caregivers, fulfill this mission by addressing the whole child. Studies confirm that children benefit from exposure to outdoor levels of illumination which far exceed the lighting level in a typical classroom. Bright light, which improves mood and concentration, may help prevent disease, circadian rhythm disorders, and nearsightedness. Breaking research indicates that bright light has a significant effect on the brain and may foster the formation of new nerve endings and improve learning. Comparison of outdoor daylight and artificial indoor lightingSunlight:
Artificial Lighting:
Indoor lighting is dramatically less than outdoor sunlight, which is disconcerting. The bright light levels found outside benefit children. Consider the following benefits of sunlight and bright light. Benefit: Bright light offers positive effects on mood.Bright light has an animating effect on people. The mood is elevated by bright light, and bright light therapy can effectively provide some relief for depression. Benefit: Daily exposure to bright light of 15,000 lux or higher may protect children from developing myopia.According to research on the matter, outdoor playtime decreases the risk of developing nearsightedness. Reasons are not entirely understood for the decrease, but the effects of exposure to light seem to be the source of the improved eyesight. Benefit: Sunlight helps children generate good levels of vitamin D.Sufficient amounts of vitamin D helps protect children from a wide range of unwanted health conditions. Low levels of vitamin D can put children at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, poor bone health, and a reduction in the function of the muscles. Vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to a decrease in mental planning skills or brain fog. Benefit: Sunlight may keep children from having multiple sclerosis (MS) when they grow up.Numerous studies link high levels of sunlight exposure during childhood to a reduced risk of MS. Sunlight, apart from vitamin D, maybe the agent that helps stave off MS. Benefit: Exposure to bright morning sunlight can help prevent delayed bedtimes.Children who have been out in the sunlight seem to be more prone to go to sleep earlier and less prone to experience sleep-related behavior problems. Parents should be aware that delayed bedtimes may not have a negative impact as long as wake-up times are later. However, when children must rise early for school, delayed bedtimes and the corresponding lack of sleep can negatively impact children. Research seems to suggest that delayed bedtimes and lack of sleep are linked with poor academic performance and behavior problems. Catch up sleep, such as a nap, can help to overcome the effects of a sleep deficit. Why do kids fail to go to sleep on schedule? Part of the problem stems from lighting. There is exposure to too little sunlight during the day and exposure to excessive amounts of artificial lighting at night. Children’s circadian rhythms are out of rhythm with a twenty-four-hour day. Some practical and easy solutions that can be implemented include:
Does daylight make children smarter?Consider the following research:
Bright lighting has additional benefits:
It is important that children be exposed to bright sunlight and bright artificial lighting in the classroom. Parents, preschool teachers, and caregivers have something to gain by going the extra mile to ensure that every child receives his or her time in the sun. Precautions do need to be taken against harmful UVB rays. Hats and sunscreen are vital protective gear when sunlight is intense. Children need daylight for their health and overall well-being because research suggests that enjoying nature and being outdoors is intrinsically beneficial. For more information about the Valrico, FL, preschool, contact Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Valrico, FL, by phone at (813) 657-6200. The post Preschool Learning Center Highlights the Benefits of Sunlight for Children appeared first on Valrico. via Blog – Valrico https://kidsrkids.com/valrico/preschool/preschool-learning-center-highlights-the-benefits-of-sunlight-for-children/ The preschool years are a formative part of a child’s life. From brain development to emotional and social development, children are growing rapidly, learning from and being shaped by their interactions with the adults and children they interact with. Preschool offers a prime opportunity for children to develop life skills through respectful interaction with other children and an exploration of new information, such as letters, numbers, and shapes. A quality preschool learning center program not only prepares children for kindergarten, but it also prepares them for a well-adjusted, healthy life. A Robust Preschool Learning Experience: Foundational to Lifelong SuccessThe Source, an online educational resource, highlights a statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), noting that “early brain development is strongly affected by the child’s surroundings and experiences. Children who have positive, educational early childhood experiences are more likely to experience school success, have higher graduation rates, demonstrate higher proficiency in math and language skills, have better cognitive and social skills, and are more skilled at self-regulation…. The AAP states, to focus only on the education of children beginning in kindergarten is to ignore the science of early development and deny the importance of early experiences.” An appropriate, effective preschool learning program includes:
A Child’s Mind: Fertile Ground for LearningDuring the first five years and especially between age three and age six, children are highly receptive to new information. As much as 90% of brain development occurs within this five-year time period. K-12 education, college ambitions, career goals, and life in general can be set up for success by tapping into a child’s potential during these formative years. When children grow, connections form between brain cells, and the brain matures, creating new pathways that empower children to think and act in ways that are more complex. Positive experiences and interactions at an early age help a child’s neural pathways develop properly. The Edvocate, an online magazine focused on education equity, reform, and innovation, writes, “The early years of a child’s life are the most important as they lay the foundation for the remainder of their life. As a young child grows and matures, it is the interactions they have with the adults in their life that dictate their mental growth…. Positive interactions help form the stepping stones for the brain which allows for greater intelligence and a healthy mind.” A Focus on Relationships: Encouraging Healthy Social-Emotional DevelopmentRespectfully playing and learning alongside other children at an educational preschool fosters many important social skills, such as:
With guidance from an adult, children also learn how to process emotions and manage these feelings in a healthy way. Even negative emotions can provide teachable moments. Disappointment about having to share a toy can create an opportunity to learn a valuable life lesson. By interacting and engaging with others, children learn how to respond socially and emotionally to a variety of situations. Proper social and emotional development at this young age provides children with a solid groundwork for the rest of their lives. Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy: Hug First, Then TeachAt Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Valrico, children are provided with a secure, encouraging learning environment. The Valrico, FL preschool is a place for children to bloom into responsible, considerate, and contributing members of society. Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy strives to provide children with opportunities to grow physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually by playing, exploring, and learning with others. A family-owned and operated school, Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Valrico encourages positive family involvement and a parent-teacher approach in which the needs of every child come first. The preschool learning program encourages cognitive, social, and emotional development. Through purposeful play, children at Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Valrico are immersed in hands-on activities that empower them to understand their world and discover their strengths. For more information about the educational preschool, visit Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Valrico on the web at kidsrkids.com/valrico or call (813) 657-6200. The post Preschool Learning Center Explains the Lifelong Benefits of Preschool appeared first on Valrico. via Blog – Valrico https://kidsrkids.com/valrico/preschool/preschool-learning-center-explains-the-lifelong-benefits-of-preschool/ |