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June 2022: Too Cool for “School”?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”141913″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Too Cool for “School”?” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%2333334a” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It’s summer, the school-aged kids are out of school and in your care. However, sometimes, you will have one who thinks they are WAY too cool to be there. They are usually right at the age cut off for your center or maybe just a little more mature for their age. Of course they would rather be at the pool or running around the neighborhood with their friends. So how do we make them more comfortable? How do we give them a summer to enjoy while in child care?

It is important to remember that just like you, they are “confined” to mostly one room for several hours a day, everyday. So, give them some responsibility! Giving them the idea that they have some kind of authority is an ego booster for school-aged kids. It gives them the feeling of accomplishment and something to be proud of. Even if it is something as simple as sweeping the floor after lunch, being responsible for watering the plants or flowers in your classroom or reading a book to the younger school age children in your classroom.

Speaking of responsibility, let them pick something to be responsible for during their time there. Encourage them to plant a flower, fruit, vegetable or herb at the beginning of the season. You can even come up with some way to track and predict how their gardening skills are. Something else that they can be responsible for is a reading log. You could reward them for milestones that they reach throughout the summer, giving them something to look forward to.

When you run out of ideas, because it happens to all of us, have a “Bored Jar” handy! This is exactly what it sounds like, a jar full of ideas. You can find 32 ideas in the link at the bottom of this blog and even let them come up with their own ideas. It is as simple as encouraging them to draw one idea from the jar when they claim to be “bored” or have “nothing else to do”! Let them write the ideas on popsicle sticks or cut them into strips of paper.

Next to safety, having fun is the GOAL for the summer. Just remember, it is important to try to understand their frustrations with being in childcare when they believe that they should be home. Listen to them, ask them what they would like to do, and encourage them to try new things![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

’Til next time, friends!

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March 2022: Supporting Families With Special Needs Children

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”135118″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”Welcome To Our Blog” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:30|text_align:left|color:%2333334a” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]As a recent addition to the many useful tools we offer at Bright Minds Training, we will now publish a monthly blog! Here, we will feature what is new in the Early Childhood Education world, along with information about our newest and upcoming courses, and free monthly curriculum![/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”black” border_width=”2″][vc_column_text]

As early childhood educators, we have all been put in awkward situations when it comes to discussing certain topics with parents and caregivers. One of these is difficult topics may be a potential delay in a child’s ability to learn. In this month’s blog, I will give you some ideas and advice on how to go about having these tough conversations. You might find that this goes hand-in-hand with two of our courses: “Communicating with Families to Support Children with Developmental Delays” and our newest course, “Autism 101: An Overview of Early Identification and Supporting Families”. So if you are in need of some training hours, check them out!

One of the most important things to do with the families in your care is to establish and maintain good, open communication with families. Do not hesitate to ask that parents and guardians not be on their phones when they are picking up and dropping off their children. That includes calling, texting, etc. This ensures that you get their undivided attention and are able to tell them about their child’s day, remind them of anything they need to know and give you the opportunity to ask when they would be able to have a Parent/Teacher conference.

So, how do you go about actually telling the child’s caregiver that you believe the child might have a learning disability, without actually saying it? Make sure to ease into it with something positive that their child has done, a milestone they have reached, or something to start the conversation on a lighter note. Maybe even having some of the child’s newest artwork to show them will help lighten the mood! Now, it’s time to get to “the point.”

Finally, it is essential that you do not give parents or caregivers the impression that you are trying to diagnose their child. The only thing you can do is explain the behaviors that you have observed while they are in your care. For example, mention that you have noticed that Johnny loves to line up his crayons on the table in rainbow order before he begins to color. If one falls out of place, he feels the need to throw away his project and start over. Or, that he doesn’t like to use soap when he washes his hands because of how it feels, or maybe that he doesn’t like to turn the pages in a book because of the feeling he gets when pages rub together.

It isn’t always sunshine and rainbows while taking care of children. There are boo-boos and potty accidents. There is that one baby doll that all the kids want to “mother” and that one ball on the playground that nobody wants to pass. But this is different. You have people’s hearts and souls running around your classroom. They are all perfect in their caregiver’s eyes. But because you are an Early Childhood Educator (aka Superhero), YOU GOT THIS.

’Til next time, friends!

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February 2022: 3 Essential Life Skills for Children

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”132701″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”Welcome To Our Blog” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:30|text_align:left|color:%2333334a” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]As a recent addition to the many useful tools we offer at Bright Minds Training, we will now publish a monthly blog! Here, we will feature what is new in the Early Childhood Education world, along with information about our newest and upcoming courses, and free monthly curriculum![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”3 Essential Life Skills for Children” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%2333334a” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]

When it comes to teaching the children in your care, there is so much more than just ABC’s and 123’s. I remember thinking many years ago, during circle time with my 4- year-old class, “WOW! These kids are so smart! They know 10 animals in sign language, can count to 10 in Spanish, can sing their ABC’s and spell their names.” However, I found myself thinking on a fairly regular basis, “Why do they have such a hard time sharing? Why aren’t they using their manners? Why won’t they take turns? Why do they leave their empty milk cups on the table?”

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Here’s why: You can’t teach life skills to children with worksheets, flash cards and songs. There are several life skills that children should be taught beginning at a young age. This month’s blog goes hand-in-hand with our newest course, “Preparing Preschoolers for Kindergarten.” Here, I will explain the importance of 3 of these skills and how to teach and encourage them in the classroom.

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Self-Control

This one is tricky. According to a research study done by ZERO TO THREE and the Bezos Family Foundation, children do not even begin to understand what self-control is until they are 3.5-4 years old. This is because the part of the brain that is responsible for processing emotions and impulsive feelings is not yet developed in children under the age of three years old. We all know that self-control isn’t easy, even as adults. It can be hard to put the chips down after just one handful. So, how do we teach self-control to young children? We introduce the act through play in FUN and simple ways!  Games like “red light, yellow light, green light” and “freeze dance”, exercise children’s ability to stop when they really want to GO!

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Communication

Language is tricky and I do not mean just the words that we speak. Communication also includes nonverbals like facial expressions, body language, and more. We begin communicating as infants with coos and cries and eventually speak in full sentences. During the first years of life, a child’s brain is growing at such a rate that we forget that while they are learning how to sit, crawl, walk, eat, play, they are also learning how to communicate.

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One of the best ways to foster a child’s ability to learn how to communicate is by providing them with a language-rich environment. Putting ABC posters on the walls of your classroom is great. However, ensuring that the children in your care know the way they communicate is seen and heard is even more beneficial. When we stop and really talk to the children in our care on a one-to-one basis, we see how differently each of them communicates. Take a minute to ask them how their day is going, describe how the rest of the day will play out, or point out their body language. For example, when you’re speaking to a child and they look happy, say something like, “I see a smile on your face. You must really like doing that!” And finally, make sure you READ to them!

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Responsibility

One of the most important things to teach when it comes to responsibility is that it is a positive thing, not a burden. All children want to feel independent and be able to do things on their own. We have all spent our fair share of watching a child put their jacket on all by themself for 5 minutes.. Part of this process is patience on the adults part. Teaching responsibility requires us to give a lot of reminders like, “don’t forget to hang your jacket in your cubby” and “make sure you wash your hands after you go potty.” It is also important to learn to say “no” when needed. Teaching responsibility gives children the feeling of being proud and worthy, it gives their life meaning. As we remind them to throw their lunch plate in the trash when they are finished, make sure to follow up with a word of affirmation. Watch their face light up with joy when they realize they did something responsible. Think about how you would feel if someone said “great job” after you folded all the laundry.

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Life skills are essential to, well… life. As early childhood educators, sometimes it is just as important to teach the children in your care to flush the toilet as it is to write their name 🙂

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To learn more and to earn some of your annual training hours at a great price, take our course “Preparing Preschoolers for Kindergarten.” To get 10% off, use discount code: LIFESKILLS 

’Til next time, friends!

-Kasey

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