Enjoyable shopping with Young Children
Running errands with little ones can be stressful. Here are a few ideas that may help.
PAMELA EVANS
The Preschool Parent Blog
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Spring Is a Great Time to Get Moving!
We all need movement to keep our muscles toned and strong. For preschoolers, there is nothing quite as satisfying as skipping. It’s feels a bit like flying. Young children tend to skip naturally and joyfully. I once stood outside a 3rd grade classroom and watched a girl in the class get up and skip to the back of the classroom to sharpen her pencil. Then she skipped back to her desk and happily sat down to write. I wondered, when do most people stop skipping?
Too Hot for Your Preschooler? Bring Nature Inside!
This summer is a hot one. In many places it’s not much cooler even in the early morning or evening. Families and young children who regularly play outside, may have to cut back on outdoor time. So, what’s a nature loving family to do? Bring nature inside!
Pleasant Travels
Travel can be a joyful experience, but it can also be exhausting for parents with young children. Here are a few tips to keep your travels on the pleasant side.
Learning Respect for Nature
Learning to care about the environment, plants, and animals requires exposure. Without that exposure children may not develop concern for the natural world. How do we allow our children to explore without harming the very plants and animals we want them to learn about? It's all about respect.
Art Is For Everyone
When you think of art and preschoolers do you think of crafts and splashes of paint at an easel? Preschoolers are ready for so much more. Sharing a wide variety of fine art with your child at an early age can ignite the imagination. Preschoolers are the perfect age to go to an art museum. They often see more in a painting than many adults. Children are drawn to color, movement, mystery, and emotion.
Separation Anxiety - It's That Time of Year
For many of us it’s time to prepare to send a young child to school. A time when many parents notice their child experiencing some form of separation anxiety.
Exploring Nature
Here are my favorite tools for learning about nature with your child. Start with outdoor time, good shoes, and a sketchbook. Children are natural explorers.
The Constant of Change
Change is all around us: Seasons, Weather, End of a School Year, People. As soon as we get a comfortable rhythm in life—the baby has regular nap times, your child is happy at school pick up, you have a familiar morning routine—it changes. But you can learn to love change or at least live well with it.
Traveling and Preschoolers in Three Easy Steps
Travel builds understanding of others and opens up a world of possibilities for children. Though it can seem like a daunting task at first, particularly for those of you who are not used to traveling yourself, trips near and far build confidence and adaptability for both you and your child. Here are a few basic things to keep in mind as you travel with your little one.
The Joy of Rainy Days and Preschoolers
As we’ve learned from the Swedes, There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes. Many of us try to hide from the rain as we grow up, and if that sounds like you, you may be missing the joys of spring rain with your preschooler.
Help for Over Stimulation
A recent day working with special needs preschoolers reminded me of an important truth to remember for all young children, over stimulation is one of the main stresses for children (and adults).
The Importance of Repetition, Reassurance, and Flexibility in a Changing Preschool World.
As we all adjust to our new normal, how do we meet the specific needs of young children?
Reading and Preschoolers
Parents, anxious to get their young child to read, often ask when and how to start. Here are some tips for making it a joyful experience for everyone and not a chore or a fight.
The New Baby
Adding a new member to the family is an exciting and exhausting time for everyone. Strong emotions will surface during this time of growth for a family. Let's focus on how to help your preschooler make the adjustment in as positive a way as possible, knowing that there will be difficult days for everyone but there is nothing like bonding with a sibling.
The Most Important Question
The most important question to ask yourself when you’re having parenting challenges with your preschooler. What do I love about my child? What is going well?
New School Year and Parent - Teacher Communication
As the school season starts here is a gentle reminder of the importance of clear parent-teacher communication, along with kindness and patience.
Space - The Fun Frontier
We live in amazing times when it comes to new knowledge about the universe. You can learn with your child about planet Earth, our solar system, and beyond. Unless you are a major science geek, you’ll probably find there have been a lot of new discoveries since you were in school. The new pictures from the James Webb Space Telescope are a treat for all ages.
Don’t forget to let your kids get bored this summer!
It’s easy to over schedule young children. Make sure your child has plenty of down time. It takes quiet time to process everything your child learns each day. Try not to fill that time with too many classes and video distractions. Not only is rest important, but creativity often comes out of boredom.
Music lessons are for learning to play an instrument, right? Maybe, but there’s more.
Many people think music lessons are a good idea for children. This post is not about the specifics of why music lessons help with language skills, cognitive development, confidence, etc. I want to focus on what music lessons do for kids who aren’t going to play in the audition orchestra – even kids who hate to practice.
Science—Observations and Experiments to Enjoy with your Preschooler
Spring is a great time for science/nature investigation and experiments with preschoolers.
Gardening with Kids
As spring approaches, it’s time to get out there and share the joys of gardening with your child.
Friluftsliv
Friluftsliv (Free-loofts-liv) is the Nordic notion of the outdoor life.
Creating Space To Grow
Children need space. Space to grow, learn, reflect, share, and enjoy. You don’t need a big house to provide space. A small clear area where your child can relax works. Perhaps a little corner where you can place a small table for projects and a shelf for art supplies and books. For young minds, less really is more. It’s hard to think and be creative if there is stuff everywhere.
Children's Books Are For All Ages
As someone who loves to read, I want to remind adult readers about the joys of a well-written children’s book. If you want a pick-me-up, some deep philosophy, beautiful artwork, or some great humor, you can find it and more in the children’s section. If you have young children, you are probably already aware of these treasures, but if it’s been a while since you’ve checked out the children’s section, you might be surprised. Here are a few favorite books I reread, share, and even gift to adult friends.
Enjoy this time with your preschooler
Hi friends. This post comes after recent conversations with a couple parents who currently feel overwhelmed by the world at large. Raising young children has always been stressful for many, but these are unprecedented times.
When should my child start music lessons?
I am often asked about when to start music lessons for young children and what to look for in a teacher. Here are a few thoughts.
Learning beyond the Story
When we, parents and teachers, read a book to young children it is often for fun, for interesting characters, or to learn about our world. Beyond the pleasure and bonding, stories are deep learning opportunities for children.
Separation Anxiety and Moving Forward for Parents
At this time of year, we often talk about separation anxiety from the child’s point of view. This year I want to talk about it in a slightly different way, with a focus on the feelings of the parents.
How to Inspire Joy in Reading
Many parents struggle with when to help their child with reading. Here are some tips for making it a joyful experience for everyone and not a chore or fight.
Water Safety for Little Ones
As we roll into summer it’s important to think about water safety. We’ll be focused on swimming and playing in the water.
Feel Confident Outdoors!
It’s time for the yearly get outside, but with knowledge, for safe, rewarding time enjoying nature post!
Stepping Back Is Hard, but Necessary
Building resilience and confidence in your preschooler is important. It’s all about learning when and how to step back and let your child learn through experience.
Nature Alphabet
March is a great time to get outdoors. I know, I say that about every month! But there is something about a nice spring day that makes a walk outside invigorating and we can make learning letters outside fun too.
Using Picture Cards for Language Development
In preschool we learn through play and imagination. Children love to tell stories. Picture cards are an organic way to strengthen children’s natural language development.
Exploring the Little Things This Winter
January is a great time to get outside even if (especially if) your world is frozen. No need to travel to discover new worlds – they are all around you and your child. Study rocks, tree bark, grass, leaves, snow, and ice. What can your child see with their eyes? With a magnifying glass? With a pocket microscope?
Too Much Stuff - A Holiday Reminder
Perhaps this year more than most, as many of us are spending so much time at home...it's important to remember that too much stuff gets in the way of enjoying life.
Puppies, Dogs, and Preschoolers
Children and pets are a wonderful mix as long as your child is taught to respect animals. Many families are getting new pets, but if you are new to owning a dog, here are a few things to keep in mind.
Reggio Emilia Preschool Philosophy
Today we continue to explore various preschool philosophies to help you guide your child at home!
You may have heard of the Reggio Emilia approach. Local parents and Loris Malaguzzi, who was a teacher near Reggio Emilia, Italy, after World War II, created this curriculum. This is an arts and community based approach.
Play-Based Learning
As we continue to look at tools and methods used by preschool teachers, today we discuss a fundamental: Play-Based Learning.
Without a doubt Play-Based Learning is a natural way for children to learn and something you are already doing at home. This is one of the best methods a preschool teacher can use and with a little thought, you can build on your "play" at home.
Inquiry Based Learning
This is the first in a series of blog posts with brief descriptions and suggestions for bringing the preschool experience into your home. The series will cover various teaching styles that help preschoolers blossom. Hopefully a little something for everyone. Today, Inquiry Based Learning.
Wildrock - Get Outside!
Getting outdoors is always important for kids and parents, but even more so in difficult times. Wildrock offers booking times for small groups and families to get away from it all.
https://www.wildrock.org/family
Shout out to Parents of Preschoolers
As we move through these unprecedented times, I am so impressed with the resilience and creativity of the preschool parents in my community. It’s easy to become so stressed and worried that you shut down - but if you have a preschooler in the house – you don’t have that luxury. Thanks goodness!
I'm Bored - Great, You're Half Way to Being Creative!
We live in interesting times. Children are often over-scheduled in the best of times and now with schools closed, children of all ages have had dramatic changes to their schedules. This may be a time for your family to make some changes. It is definitely a time for creativity to thrive!
Playing Safely Outside
Time outside is wonderful, but there are things you and your child need to avoid. This post is my yearly outdoor hazard update because it's important to know what to look out for, especially if you are not used to spending a lot of time outdoors. If you and your child are already used to spending a lot of time in nature you may want to skip to the bottom of the post for some good links
Music At Home - Part 2
In Music at Home Part 2, we’ll do a short sample music session. You can always extend this session by following your child's lead for movement, dancing, and singing. Repetition is key for developing internal beat.
Remember It should be music that’s fun for you and your child.
Music At Home - Part 1
You can sing or make up rhythms anywhere, anytime, but today we’ll talk about some ideas for having a regular music time at home. Some of my preschool families have been asking for ideas for a music class at home so in this, 2-part series, I plan to cover some of the basics to get you started.
Saying Goodbye to a Pet
Today a few thoughts on preschoolers and pets. Pets are a great way to teach children about responsibility and empathy, among other things. Unless you have a macaw parrot most pets do not live as long as people. The loss of your pet family member may well be your child’s first experience with death.
