Posts Tagged ‘preschool’

« Older Entries

Healthy Packed Lunch Ideas

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

With the new school year coming up, here are some ideas for packed lunch from The Goddard School. Introduce your children to healthy eating by involving them in the lunch preparation. Children have a tendency to eat and try new foods that they helped to prepare. And children who help in the kitchen build their confidence which makes them feel important and proud.

Avoid brown bag boredom and try the following healthy, easy and fun options. Bonus – your children will want to eat these choices!

Turn lunch into an adventure:

* Cut sandwiches into playful shapes with cookie cutters. Children are more excited about eating a star- or dinosaur-shaped sandwich because it makes the experience fun! Choose cheese or deli meats to replace breads and cut them into fun shapes, too.

Make lunch fun by including a dip:

* Yogurt is a great dip for fruit.
* Provide hummus for veggies.

Use a variety of ‘sandwich’ options:

* Bagels, pita bread, wheat wraps or crackers.

Consider packing applesauce or yogurt as a treat in lieu of a ‘sweet’ dessert.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in General | No Comments »

Positive Parenting Tips

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

The Goddard School supports positive parenting techniques and we hope you enjoy the guest article below!  Many of our own teachers are “Love and Logic” graduates via the workshops offered to enrolled and non-enrolled parents at our school.

When children whine and argue it is tempting to say, “Stop!,”  “Quit whining!,” or “Calm down!” However, the next time your child has a meltdown, try repeating, “I will be happy to listen when your voice is calm like mine,” or, “I will be happy to help when your voice is calm like mine,” in a non-emotional voice.  Parents report that if they are calm and consistent, it doesn’t take long for their children to learn that the adult is not going to get hooked into the argument.  And, the child learns to calm down quickly!

Shockingly diverse kindergarten group in Paris
Image via Wikipedia

After facilitating a Love and Logic Early Childhood Parenting Made Fun!™ introduction session, I received an email from a mother that attended and tried this technique.  Shawn wrote, “I have already started using some of the tools and they are not only working to give some power back to the kids, to problem solve and make better choices, but more important for us all is that I FEEL CALMER!  Thank you for this taste of sanity.  Ahhh…”

If you could use a “taste of sanity,” please join us for this five week course that focuses on children from birth through age six.  We explore easy-to-use skills to help parents raise respectful, responsible kids and lower our parenting stress.

This program holds a 30-year track record of success and is designed to help parents in FIVE key areas:
•    Preserve and enhance the child’s self-concept.
•    Teach children how to own and solve the problems they create.
•    Share the control and decision-making.
•    Offer empathy, then consequences.
•    Build the adult-child relationship.
As a stay-at-home mom, I have the opportunity to put these principals into practice everyday.  My husband and I have found that the Love and Logic techniques allow us to spend less time handling behavior, giving us more time to enjoy our children.

And as a facilitator of this course, I have the opportunity to see parents come back to class each week more relaxed and more confident.  My own experiences as well as their success stories inspire me to spread the word about Love and Logic.

The Goddard School of Cedar Park, located at 1905 El Salido Parkway, is hosting the Love and Logic Early Childhood Parenting Made Fun!™ course on Tuesday evening, October 19th from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm.  Childcare is available.  To register, visit www.highfiveparenting.com or contact Laura at 512.784.5231 or highfiveparenting@gmail.com.

Don’t miss this opportunity to make parenting less stressful!

Laura Baker
Independent Facilitator
Love and Logic Early Childhood Parenting Made Fun!™

Enhanced by Zemanta

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Parenting | No Comments »

Sun Safety for the Family

Thursday, July 1st, 2010

Infants & Teacher with Bubbles A

At The Goddard School of Cedar Park, we’re asked about summer sun safety tips.  Here are some good ones and  enjoy you summer!

Babies under 6 months:
The two main recommendations from the AAP to prevent sunburn are to avoid sun exposure, and dress infants in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats that shade the neck to prevent sunburn. However, when adequate clothing and shade are not available, parents can apply a minimal amount of sunscreen with at least 15 SPF (sun protection factor) to small areas, such as the infant’s face and the back of the hands. If an infant gets sunburn, apply cold compresses to the affected area.

For All Other Children:

  • The first, and best, line of defense against the sun is covering up. Wear a hat with a three-inch brim or a bill facing forward, sunglasses (look for sunglasses that block 99-100% of ultraviolet rays), and cotton clothing with a tight weave.
  • Stay in the shade whenever possible, and limit sun exposure during the peak intensity hours – between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
  • On both sunny and cloudy days use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater that protects against UVB and UVA rays.
  • Be sure to apply enough sunscreen – about one ounce per sitting for a young adult.
  • Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.
  • Use extra caution near water and sand (and even snow!) as they reflect UV rays and may result in sunburn more quickly.

Source: http://www.aap.org/advocacy/archives/tanning.htm

Enhanced by Zemanta

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Pre-K Curriculum Enhancements

Sunday, May 16th, 2010

The Goddard School of Cedar Park will be incorporating several enhancements in our Pre-K and Junior Pre-K program for 2010.  These will be included in our FLEX curriculum described in more detail below.  The enhancements include:

  • SMART Board to engage all of a child’s learning styles and promote technology education
  • Zoo Phonics to facilitate literacy development
  • Computerized academic assessments (CPAA) to individualize each child’s lesson plan and provide valuable feedback to parents and teachers

The Goddard School FLEX Learning Program, based on the latest research in how children learn, provides the optimal environment for a young child’s development. The program’s foundation is the learning continuum that encompasses developmental guidelines with formative assessments, child-focused lesson plans, a creative and fun environment and a personalized child-centered approach that meets each child’s needs.

FLEX Learning is delivered by professional, trained teachers who use assessment results to select the materials and activities that create a fun, challenging and safe learning experience. The result is a confident learner who is ready for school!

The key elements of FLEX Learning are:
1. Developmental guidelines, state standards and formative assessments;
2. Child-focused lesson plans from the Goddard Curriculum Guide;
3. Creative and fun learning environment; and
4. Child-centered learning and teachable moments for a personalized approach

FLEX Learning incorporates seven core, academically accepted learning domains. These are the standard learning domains that are included in most state guidelines for quality early childhood education and are part of the curriculum requirements for most accreditations. The domains are:
1. personal and social development;
2. language and literacy;
3. mathematical thinking;
4. scientific thinking (including technology);
5. social studies;
6. creative expression; and
7. physical development.

Find out what we’re doing that’s educational and fun each month with the Goddard School monthly events newsletter SUBSCRIBE HERE

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Reading & Literacy | 2 Comments »

Family Vacations

Sunday, March 14th, 2010

In these economic times, travel may not be a viable choice.  As spring recess is approaching in Texas,  Goddard School has some suggestions that may be helpful.

Stay-cations may not only provide a more frugal family vacation, they may also provide an opportunity to create and experience a higher level of bonding with your children.

Upsides to stay-cations include nominal packing as well as minimal airplane or car ride entertainment.   Stay-cations, however, provide the challenge of getting into vacation mode when the remnants of your day-to-day life are all around – planning ahead is the key.

Fun, frugal stay-cations include:

  • Go on nature walks, hikes and bike rides.  Collect rocks to paint.
  • Organize day trips to zoos and/or museums.  Create a family scrapbook to commemorate your experiences.
  • Choose a miniature golf outing and enjoy a little healthy competition.
  • Plan a family mini-spa day.  Prepare a healthy lunch from your vegetable garden.
  • Go camping in your own backyard.  Don’t forget flashlight tag and S’moresPlan and prepare yummy goodies and enjoy a picnic together in a local park.
  • Rainy day stay-cations are fun too!

o Play board games
o Assemble jigsaw puzzles
o Watch family movies

Find out what we’re doing that’s educational and fun each month with the Goddard School monthly events newsletter SUBSCRIBE HERE

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Parenting | 3 Comments »

Ready – Set – Grow!

Thursday, March 11th, 2010
Part of a parterre in an English garden. Photo...
Image via Wikipedia

Gardening is part of our curriculum at The Goddard School.  Following up on our last post about gardening with preschool children, here are some more tips!

Children are fascinated by nature and the simple pleasures of smelling flowers, picking vegetables and studying insects. Gardening provides family fun, teaches patience and responsibility and builds self-esteem.

Pique your child’s curiosity:

  • Plant things your children like to eat – such as veggies they like on a pizza or in a salad or create your own salsa using tomatoes you’ve grown.
  • Make a scarecrow to deter pests or plant daisies and petunias to attract butterflies.

Be sure to plan special time for gardening, but keep sessions brief. Frequent activity changes, such as planting, watering, mulching, weeding and harvesting will help keep children engaged. Allow plenty of time for catching toads, gathering bouquets of dandelions and planting the seeds from yesterday’s snack of fresh watermelon.

Find out what our preschool is doing that’s educational and fun each month with the Goddard School monthly events newsletter SUBSCRIBE HERE

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Tags: , ,
Posted in General | 1 Comment »

Gardening with Your Child

Monday, March 8th, 2010
Brian Farrell with helper plants at Our Commun...
Image via Wikipedia

At The Goddard School, we have garden beds to incorporate into some of our science and nature curriculum.  As our summer camp is approaching, here are some ideas for home gardening with your child!

If you want your child to grow up to be a gardener, it’s important to remember to share gardening experiences with them throughout their childhood. These include frequent, pleasurable occurrences, designs that include messy, colorful plots and great memories of working together in the garden. Each child’s capabilities and attention span will vary so it’s important to adjust your expectations. The goal is to teach your children to respect and enjoy gardening as well as experience a feeling of “I did it myself” at harvest time.

The Composting Council of Canada developed the following good reasons to foster a lifelong love of gardening in children.
1. Health:  Growing your own vegetables makes it easier to get enough servings each day.
2. Exercise: Digging, turning, spreading compost, mulching, hoeing, excavating rocks – all burn calories, help build muscles and strengthen hearts and lungs.
3. Save Money: Even a small vegetable patch can reduce your expenses.
4. Education:  Gardening is terrific for providing hands-on lessons in botany, zoology, weather, hydrology, as well as cycles of life, death and physical decay.
5. Waste Reduction and Recycling: Compost piles transform kitchen scraps, leaves and yard waste into rich soil amendments. Gardeners can reuse of all kinds of cans, cartoons, meat trays and more.
6. Stress Relief: Planting seeds and tending plants can restore balance and perspective.
7. Togetherness: Use vegetables grown together to make delicious meals together and donate abundance to people who need it.
8. Helps Improve Reading and Math Skills:  Children can make plant markers, read seed packets and even help pay for nursery plants.
9. Memory Building: Provides great memories for the years to come.
10. Satisfaction: The more time you spend with your children in the garden, the more they will feel the garden is truly theirs and the more eager they will be to take care of it.

Visit our website @ http://www.goddardschool.com//Schools/Cedar-Park-TX/Schools.gspx and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Tags: , , ,
Posted in General | 4 Comments »

Thumb sucking and Pacifiers

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Dr. Kyle Pruett AThe topic of thumb sucking comes up with our toddlers at The Goddard School.  Here are some ideas by Dr. Pruett, MD:

Thumb-sucking and pacifiers are guaranteed to evoke debate whenever the topic is raised with parents, especially new ones. We have no trouble remembering relevant stories in our own families about thumb-suckers and how old they were when they stopped. Fact: Many children choose to suck their thumbs from before they are born because it is an important form of self-soothing and comfort.

Here are a few considerations that shape this debate as you make your decision about skin versus plastic:

  • Contemplating germs?  Thumbs and pacifiers are about equally un-hygienic, but both can be washed frequently.
  • Concerned about teeth deformity? Dentists have found that genetic tendencies forecast the need for braces more often than sucking a thumb or pacifier in infancy. The exception may be “24/7-suckers” through kindergarten and beyond.
  • Pacifier versus thumb?  Your thumb is always with you – no late night 911’s to the nearest pharmacy.  The pacifier, however, is easier to remove when the day comes (typically first in a parent’s mind), and seems less self-indulgent to many parents.
  • Partner consensus?  Talk to your partner. Do not assume that your partner has an identical philosophy about thumb versus pacifier as yours.

This is an important conversation to have and revisit. Discuss this topic with your child’s teacher.  Most parent magazines also cover this issue regularly.

Try not to make this a big deal.  Very few children go to college with their pacifiers.  At the same time, denying your children their comfort at a time when they may need it most will backfire more often then not, increasing their attachment to it. Children who know when it’s time for their comfort are showing you they know a thing or two about their needs, not that they have a habit.

Kyle D. Pruett, M.D. is an advisor for The Goddard School®.  Dr. Pruett is an authority on child development who has been practicing child and family psychiatry for over twenty-five years.  He is a clinical professor of child psychiatry at Yale University’s Child Study Center.

Find out what we’re doing that’s educational and fun each month with the Goddard School monthly events newsletter SUBSCRIBE HERE

Tags: , , ,
Posted in General | 2 Comments »

The Difference between Discipline and Punishment

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

The question of how to discipline a child comes up regularly in discussions with parents at The Goddard School.  Here are some helpful ideas on this topic.

goddard school cedar park child care

Contrary to popular belief, discipline and punishment are not equal.  Discipline is positive and should prevent the need for punishment.  In fact, the word “discipline” is derived from the Latin “disciplina” which means teaching or education.  Discipline helps to guide children toward positive behavior, promotes self-control, encourages children to think before acting and is not damaging to their self-esteem.  Punishment, on the other hand, is negative – whether physical, verbal, withholding rewards or penalizing.

Positive discipline teaches children rules and behaviors in a respectful, loving and considerate way.  It requires thought, planning and patience from parents and caretakers, such as:

  • “No, don’t run inside!” becomes, “What happened to our walking feet?  Where do we use our running feet?”  or “We will go outside soon and you can show me how fast you can run.”
  • “No, don’t throw the blocks!” becomes, “When did our blocks grow wings?” or “Let’s try building a castle and see what happens!”

Use positive discipline to redirect your child’s behavior, and you validate the legitimacy of your child’s desires and shows you care and understand.  Redirecting endorses your child’s right to choose and begins to teach that others have rights, too.

Children also respond to reasoning – it just needs to be put into their language.

  • ‘Inside feet’ versus ‘outside feet’
  • ‘Soft hands’ versus ‘hard hands’
  • ‘Inside voices’ versus ‘outside voices’

Create a Positive Environment

  • Show the love; smile, touch, hold, caress, kiss, cuddle, rock and hug your child!  This will not only make your child feel secure and happy, but is essential for normal social development.
  • Listen and answer as an equal – not as an instructor.  This will help build your child’s self-esteem and foster respect.
  • Spend time with your child every day.  Make time every day to drop everything and play with your child – even if it’s only for a couple of minutes.  Your child will realize they don’t need to have a temper tantrum to gain your attention.
  • Catch your child doing something good – praise and compliment!  “You’re doing a great job feeding yourself and keeping your food on your plate!”
  • Provide simple rules and state them in positive terms.
  • Demonstrate the behavior you want your child to adopt – actions speak louder than words.

Find out what we’re doing that’s educational and fun each month with the Goddard School monthly events newsletter SUBSCRIBE HERE

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Tags: , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

Children’s Educational software

Friday, January 15th, 2010

At The Goddard School, parents are interested in educational software applications appropriate for children.  Here are some suggestions for ages 3 years to 6 years old and areas of cognitive development focus.  If you’ve some other suggestions that you like, let us know!

Computers for small children
Image by petaj via Flickr

CURIOUS GEORGE
Ages 3 through 5
* Creativity
* Shape Recognition
* Color Recognition

LEARNING IN TOYLAND
Ages 3 through 5
* Number Recognition
* Animals Sounds
* Telling Time
* Shape Matching
* Following Directions
* Shape Recognition
* Visual Discrimination

CASPER
Ages 3 through 5
* Memory
* Listening Skills
* Mouse Control
* Mix and Match

I SPY JUNIOR
Ages 3 through 5
* Word Recognition
* Problem Solving
* Letter Recognition
* Matching Words to Objects

ELMO’S PRESCHOOL
Ages 3 through 5
* Turn Taking
* Sound Discrimination
* Problem Solving
* Sound Patterns
* Letter Recognition
* Animal Names
* Color and Shape Recognition
* Counting

LEGO PRESCHOOL
Ages 3 through 5
* Number/Letter Recognition
* Spatial Relations
* Color Recognition
* Creativity

READER RABBIT PRESCHOOL
Ages 3 through 5
* Critical Thinking
* Shape Discrimination
* Recognizing Patterns
* Auditory Perception
* Counting
* Number and Letter Recognition

BLUE’S CLUES BIRTHDAY ADVENTURE
Ages 3 through 6
* Shape Recognition
* Problem Solving
* Matching
* Logical Thinking
* Visual Discrimination
* Spatial Perception
* Deductive Reasoning
* Color Recognition

MR. POTATOE HEAD
Ages 3 through 6
* Problem Solving
* Following Directions
* Counting
* Shape Recognition
* Matching

Visit our website @ http://www.goddardschool.com//Schools/Cedar-Park-TX/Schools.gspx &  follow us on Twitter @  http://twitter.com/GoddardSchoolCP

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

« Older Entries