Preschool

Discovering Labor Day Together - Honoring Hard Work and Fun!

smccue — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 14:15:24 +0000

Discovering Labor Day Together - Honoring Hard Work and Fun!

smccue Mon, 07/31/2023 - 10:15

As Labor Day approaches, it's the perfect time to teach our little ones about the significance of this special day. Labor Day isn't just about an extra day off, a BBQ with friends and family, or the end of summer; it's an opportunity to celebrate the hard work and contributions of workers across our great nation. So, let's embark on a fun and educational journey with our children to explore the true meaning of Labor Day and how to teach them the importance of the day in a way they will understand.

The History Behind Labor Day: First things first, let's delve into the history of Labor Day. This holiday originated in the late 19th century to honor the labor movement and the contributions of workers to our society, later becoming an official federal holiday in 1894. Now, we celebrate it on the first Monday of September each year. By sharing this historical context with our little ones, we help them understand the reasons behind the day's existence and the importance of recognizing the hard work of others.
The Celebration of Workers: Labor Day is a big 'thank-you' to all the people who work tirelessly to make our lives better. Just like superheroes, workers include military, teachers, doctors, police officers, farmers, firefighters, construction workers, and so many others. It's the perfect time to talk to your little one about the different jobs people have and how each one plays a crucial role in building a thriving and caring community. You can even encourage your child to think about the jobs they might like to do when they grow up!
Fun Ways to Celebrate Labor Day: Teaching kids about the significance of Labor Day doesn't have to be all serious. We can infuse the day with fun-filled activities to make it even more memorable! How about organizing a "Career Dress-Up Party"? Let your little ones dress up as their dream job for the day, be it an astronaut, chef, or artist. We can also engage in pretend play activities where we mimic different professions, sparking their imagination and curiosity.
Acts of Kindness: Labor Day is not just about celebrating the efforts of workers; it's also an opportunity to teach our children about gratitude and kindness. We can engage in small acts of kindness, like preparing a thoughtful thank-you card for the people who work hard to make our lives better. Whether it's a note for their doctor or a kind message to the local librarian, these gestures will teach our kids the value of appreciating others' efforts.
Make a Labor Day Craft: Arts and crafts are an excellent way to engage children and reinforce the meaning of Labor Day. You can create a "Gratitude Tree" together, using construction paper leaves with the names of different jobs written on them. Stick these leaves to a branch, and each day leading up to Labor Day, discuss one profession and what they do to help the community.

As parents and caregivers, we play a vital role in teaching our children about the significance of Labor Day. By exploring the history, celebrating workers, engaging in fun activities, and practicing acts of kindness, we instill valuable lessons about hard work, gratitude, and the importance of supporting one another. So, let's make this Labor Day an unforgettable one as we nurture our children's understanding of the world around them, one kind lesson at a time!

Tags

child care

Daycare

child care

Preschool

holiday

Nurturing Little Hearts: Helping Your Little One Handle Their Big Emotions

smccue — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 20:24:42 +0000

Nurturing Little Hearts: Helping Your Little One Handle Their Big Emotions

smccue Thu, 06/01/2023 - 16:24

Children are bursting with energy, imagination, and, let's not forget, big emotions! As they navigate their expanding world, it's common for them to experience intense feelings that they may struggle to express and manage. As parents and caregivers, we have a crucial role in helping our little ones understand and handle these emotions in a healthy and positive way. So, let's explore some realistic strategies that can support your preschooler in navigating their big rollercoaster of emotions!

Create a Safe and Supportive Environment: Children need to feel safe and secure before they can effectively manage their emotions. Foster an environment where they feel comfortable expressing their feelings without judgment or punishment. Encourage open communication, active listening, and validate their emotions by saying things like, "I understand you're feeling sad right now." This creates a foundation of trust, allowing them to share their emotions with you freely.
Teach Emotional Vocabulary: Help your little one develop a rich emotional vocabulary by labeling and discussing different emotions. Use picture books, visual aids, or even facial expressions to help them identify and understand various feelings. Encourage them to express how they feel by saying things like, "I can see you're feeling frustrated. Can you tell me more about it?" This empowers them to express their emotions effectively and reduces the likelihood of tantrums or outbursts.
Practice Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Empathy is a powerful tool in helping children manage their emotions. Teach them to recognize and understand the emotions of others by modeling empathy yourself. When a situation arises, ask questions like, "How do you think your friend feels right now?" Encourage them to consider alternative perspectives and help them find compassionate solutions to conflicts. This helps develop their emotional intelligence and fosters positive relationships with others.
Embrace Calming Techniques: Preschoolers often benefit from simple calming techniques to help regulate their emotions. Teach them deep breathing exercises, such as taking deep breaths in and slowly exhaling, to calm their bodies and minds. Introduce relaxation techniques like gentle stretching or guided imagery to help them refocus their energy. These techniques provide a sense of control and can be used during moments of frustration or overwhelm.
Offer Healthy Coping Strategies: Help your child discover healthy ways to cope with their big emotions. Encourage them to engage in activities they enjoy, such as drawing, dancing, or playing with sensory materials like clay or kinetic sand. Create a calm-down corner with cozy pillows or soft toys, where they can retreat and self-soothe when needed. Encourage them to use their words to express their emotions and find solutions to conflicts, promoting problem-solving skills and self-regulation.
Set Realistic Expectations: Preschoolers are still learning to navigate their emotions, so it's important to set realistic expectations. Understand that meltdowns and outbursts are a normal part of their development. Be patient and provide gentle guidance, helping them recognize triggers and find appropriate responses. Remember, consistency and repetition are key as they learn to regulate their emotions.
Celebrate Emotional Growth: Acknowledge and celebrate your little one's progress in managing their emotions. When they demonstrate self-control or find constructive ways to express themselves, praise their efforts. This positive reinforcement reinforces their confidence and motivates them to continue their emotional growth journey.

Helping your child handle their big emotions is a loving and compassionate journey that requires patience, understanding, and open communication. By creating a safe environment, teaching emotional vocabulary, and practicing empathy, you're equipping them with valuable skills that will serve them throughout their lives. Remember, you're their biggest supporter and role model, so embrace the opportunity to guide them on this beautiful path of emotional discovery. Together, you'll navigate the ups and downs with love and resilience.

Tags

emotions

communication

Preschool

Is Your Child Prepared For Kindergarten?

lba-admin — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 19:19:10 +0000

Is Your Child Prepared For Kindergarten?

lba-admin Wed, 11/09/2022 - 14:19

When most parents think about kindergarten readiness, they usually think about if their child has the academic skills they need to be successful. Academics are an important component, however, social-emotional development also needs to be included in order to excel in kindergarten. Here at Lightbridge Academy, all aspects of learning are targeted. When graduation time arrives, your child will have a considerable advantage being a Lightbridge Academy graduate!

As you may already know, we have partnered with LifeCubby Vine Assessments™ to help our teachers observe and assess all the developmental milestones your child achieves throughout their year using the Seedlings Early Childhood Education program. Some of the social skill milestones teachers will be focusing on are:

Listening Skills: Does your child actively listen when others are speaking?

Sharing: Is your child able to easily play and share with others?

Following Directions: Can your child follow one direction at a time?

Patience: Is your child able to wait their turn?

Collaboration: Can your child respect others’ opinions even if they are different from theirs?

In conjunction with social skills, teachers will also focus on academic skills such as:

Language and Literacy Skills

Recognizes two rhyming words (e.g., pan and man)
Can recognize their name in print and attempt to write it

Math Skills

Can count to 10
Able to classify items by size, color, pattern, or shape and is familiar with basic shapes

Gross and Fine Motor Skills

Can run, jump, hop (with one and two feet)
Able to bounce a ball and attempt to catch it

How have our graduates done so far? Children who were engaged and instructed with Lightbridge Academy’s Seedlings Early Childhood Education Curriculum proved to be 92% proficient and possessed the skills, knowledge and attitude needed for future success in their elementary years!! This can make all the difference in your child’s self-esteem, desire to learn and setting the proper foundation for their elementary school years. Feel confident that Lightbridge Academy will help your child build their confidence and put them on a path to success.

For more about the Vine Assessments: https://www.lifecubby.com/vine-assessments/

Tags

Kindergarten

Preschool

Signing Sprouts - Top 10 Signs for Preschool

lba-admin — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 14:57:22 +0000

Signing Sprouts - Top 10 Signs for Preschool

lba-admin Mon, 11/04/2019 - 09:57

Tags

Signing Sprouts

American Sign Language

Preschool

Is Your Child Ready For Kindergarten?

lba-admin — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 14:02:31 +0000

Is Your Child Ready For Kindergarten?

lba-admin Thu, 06/13/2019 - 10:02

This is the question that weighs on every preschool parent's mind in June!

Preschool curriculum has definitely changed over the years in order to prepare children for the rigors of Kindergarten. Standardized testing now begins in second and third grades, mandating that Kindergarten becomes more academic in nature. Many parents struggle to understand what their child is expected to "know" before they enter Kindergarten. However, there are other areas of development that are important to consider in order for children to easily transition into a larger student environment and be able to thrive academically. In particular, social and emotional development often has a major impact on a child's ability to succeed in Kindergarten. Your child's maturity, self-esteem, independence skills and understanding of how to positively interact in a group learning environment are important keys for their success.

Here are some important questions for any parent to consider. Is your child:
Able to play well in a group setting, such as while in child care?
Completely potty trained?
Able to tie their shoe or zipper their own jacket?
Able to sit, listen and follow direction?
Still taking long naps?

While many of these areas are emerging and may not be fully mastered, they can impact a child's ability to learn academically. Parents that are concerned about their child's developmental progress should always consult their pediatrician first to rule out anything that may be compounding their ability to progress.

However, the parents that struggle the most with these questions are often the ones with children that "just miss" or "just make" the cut-off date. They often ask "Does turning 5 years old mean that my child is automatically ready?" "Will my child feel overwhelmed in a larger class size?"

It is important to recognize the difference between a child's chronological age and his or her social and emotional development. It can make all the difference in their self-esteem, desire to learn and setting the proper foundation for their elementary school years. Considering all of these important developmental areas will help you to understand your child's readiness, build their confidence and put them on a path to success.

Tags

Kindergarten

Preschool

Routines - Things to in the Morning vs. Things to do at Night

lba-admin — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 12:15:51 +0000

Routines - Things to in the Morning vs. Things to do at Night

lba-admin Wed, 09/26/2018 - 08:15

Do you have trouble getting your child dressed in the morning? What about having them brush their teeth before bed? Even simple tasks such as washing hands can seem like climbing Mt. Everest with children! There IS hope.

We are always teaching children routines - it is how they learn to tell time, gives them a sense of security and helps them develop self-discipline. When we keep to a daily routine, the day just flows better because the children know what to expect. They may not know what art project we will do today, but they know when it’s art time. The same concept applies at home - when you have the same routine each day, the process just flows.

With consistency, you will find your child is more cooperative and willing to do simple tasks. In time, these routines will become a habit to your child and you will experience less friction and frustration. Who wouldn’t want that?

It’s hard to establish and teach routines to your children when your day starts by mumbling "Have you seen my keys?" to your spouse. (Smile. Help is on the way.) Linked below are two checklists for you to use as your guide – ‘Things to do in the Morning’ and ‘Things to do at Night’.

As your little one completes each task on the chart, they can put an ‘X’ in the box for that day and you will start a new chart at the beginning of each week. As they complete each task, they will increase their ability to be independent and achieve set goals.

Establishing routines for preschoolers and toddlers that actually work may seem like a daunting task, but the results will be well worth it! We wish you easy mornings and care free evenings!

Click here to download the Things to do in the Morning checklist.

Click here to download the Things to do at Night checklist.

Tags

routine

Toddler

Preschool

The Common Cold and Tips to Prevent it

lba-admin — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 12:53:32 +0000

The Common Cold and Tips to Prevent it

lba-admin Thu, 11/02/2017 - 08:53

Today is the most important meeting of your career, or a least it feels like it. Associates contacted, meeting room arranged, presentation complete, and guess what? Your preschooler wakes up with the sniffles and a slight fever. So what do you do? Give her some juice, stuff some extra tissues in their pocket and take them to school hoping that dose of pain reliever/fever reducer medication doesn’t wear off before your meeting’s over. It might sound cruel, and it certainly brings on the guilt, but most of us have taken our children to school when they were a bit under the weather. And it’s no wonder! According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (March 2001), the common cold is the leading cause of doctor visits and school and work absenteeism. The common cold is also the most frequent illness among young children.

In the United States, most colds occur during the fall and winter. Beginning in late August or early September, the incidence of colds increases slowly for a few weeks and remains high until March or April, when it declines. Colds spread more in colder weather when people spend more time inside and children spend more time together in school and child care.

When we enroll our children in preschool and child care it often seems like they are getting sick more often than their stay-at-home counterparts. And they might be since colds spread more when children are clustered together inside. On average, kids in group care during the first three years of their lives get about twice as many colds as their peers during those years. But here’s the good news. Each time a child fights off a cold, they develop immunity to that virus, reports the February 2002 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

By 6 to 11 years of age, the children who had been enrolled in large day care centers were reportedly 60% to 70% less likely to have frequent colds than their at-home peers. In other words, child care kids are spared through the elementary school years when being home sick might make a bigger difference. The Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine adds, “It is hard to see our children suffer through common childhood maladies, such as the common cold, but this is an inevitable part of the development of their immune systems. Whether they acquire that immunity during preschool or elementary, it will be acquired on their way to a healthier future.”

Although there is no cure for the common cold, there are several things we can do to reduce the spread of colds. Here are 10 tips that may help prevent the spread of colds for your and your family this cold season. This list was created by the National Network for Child Care adapted from Rice and Pollard’s book, Colds, Flu, and Other Respiratory Infections, 2001.

1. Wash hands. Washing hands literally rinses germs away. Be sure to use soap and warm, running water to best wash germs off the hands. Teach children to say their ABCs while washing so they keep their hands under the faucet long enough.

2. Don't share cups. Using paper cups can be helpful to avoid spreading germs. Having a dispenser of small cups in key areas (e.g., kitchen, bathroom) can help children to make it a habit.

3. Use paper tissue. It is best to blow the nose on paper tissue and throw it away. It is important to keep the nose gently blown to rid the body of mucous; however, throwing the tissue away immediately is also important because it is a source of cold virus that can be spread by leaving it on a counter, desk, couch, chair, etc.

4. Don't touch eyes, nose, or mouth. If exposed to someone with a cold, don't touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, which is where germs can be passed. Try to help children to understand how germs can be spread in this way. Encourage children to wash their hands frequently.

5. Use disposable towels. In the kitchen and other areas, it is best to use paper or other disposable towels instead of cloth towels. Both bacteria and viruses can live on cloth towels for hours.

6. Keep toys clean. Toys often carry germs. Regularly wash children's toys in warm, soapy water to kill bacteria and viruses.

7. Sneeze away. That is, sneeze away from others and into a tissue that can be thrown away. If you have to cover your mouth with your hands, be sure to wash your hands afterward. Model these behaviors for children.

8. Ventilate. Open windows when the weather permits because germs may remain stagnant in air. Also, keep the air moist to avoid nose irritation. Use a humidifier.

9. Wipe up germs. Germs may rest on surfaces (up to three hours) that are touched a lot, such as door knobs, handrails, light switches, telephones, remote controls, and counter tops. Use a disinfectant as often as possible to wipe them clean.

10. Don't smoke or allow smoking. Smoking can irritate the nose and lungs and drastically increase children's susceptibility to colds. It's best to make your environment a smoke-free one.

Even though we parents of preschoolers are often frustrated by our children's frequency of colds and the lack of an effective treatment for the common cold, we should take heart in knowing that our children are developing immunity which will protect them against similar illnesses in the future. That’s sometimes little comfort when a sick child requires our attention and the demands of work are still calling.

Tags

child care

Preschool

cleanliness

Making Household Tasks Fun! Training Preschoolers to Help Around the House.

lba-admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 15:06:27 +0000

Making Household Tasks Fun! Training Preschoolers to Help Around the House.

lba-admin Mon, 02/06/2017 - 10:06

Did you know? Research shows that children who participate in helping around the house are more likely to help others outside the home. This is because once a child is used to helping, they begin to see their contribution as valuable. Helping out around the house also teaches independence and satisfaction--two very important character building traits.
Most children already help out at their early learning center. Some of their tasks may include passing out papers, cleaning up toys or being the line leader. So why not carry those skills over into your own home? Here are a few tips to get you started.

Make the Task FUN! If you make the task or chore like a game, the child will be more inclined to help. For example, how fast can your child match the family's socks or how well did they make the refrigerator shine? Preschoolers love to be included in everything so helping out in a fun way makes it easy for your child to participate.

Whistle While you Work! Sing a song together or play your favorite music while working. This will help your child to associate the task with joy and make the time go by faster.
Enjoy the Connection. Instead of dreading peeling potatoes, or setting the table, see it as a wonderful opportunity to spend time with your child. Have your child fold the napkins or scrub the potatoes. They will love it!

Believe it or not, even toddlers (18 months to 2 years old) can learn to help out around the house! They can open mail, wipe baseboards with a duster or dry rag, put trash in the wastebasket, unload produce from the grocery bag and even put dirty clothes in the hamper. Three to five year old children can help empty trashcans, pick up toys, match socks, tear lettuce for salad and even make their own bed. They can even wipe down the television or refrigerator!

Once your preschool child learns that helping around the house is expected and appreciated, they can take on more difficult tasks as they get older. This will help make managing the household much easier and make everything run smoothly.

Enjoy those household chores with your child. Teaching them these skills now will help save you from frustration later.

Tags

Preschool

Helping Around The House