Young Scholars Academy

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Let’s Skip Stuffing Those Stockings To the Max

December 6, 2018 by Admin 1 Comment

little girl reading a Christmas book
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Now that Thanksgiving has passed, the countdown to Christmas is in full swing! Decorations all over town are going up, Christmas lights are shining bright, and the Christmas music is blaring. As you walk into every store all the Christmas displays are set up and all the advertisements are filled with Christmas sales. I’m sure your kiddos have started to make requests about things they want for Christmas and all the relatives are asking what to buy. Some might be feeling a bit of anxiety as the season approaches when this should not be the case. I would like to share how to take a step back a little on the Christmas presents this year and to focus on what matters most.

As you start to plan out what your Christmas will be like this year, it doesn’t have to be consumed by the number of presents under the tree. This is something to really think about when your children are young. As you begin starting your Christmas traditions, don’t make it about filling the stockings to the brim. If you are stacking gifts under the tree to the max, they may start to expect it as each year passes and they become more aware of what is going on. This could cause your kiddos to loose sight of what Christmas is all about.

A really awesome idea I heard about a few years ago was to plan your gift giving around this mantra: Give your child what they want, need, wear and read. So simple! It really narrows it down to four easy categories to shop for and will drastically cut down on over giving. This really works great for all ages! Maybe you feel compelled to do a few items in each category depending on your family dynamics, but still stick to the categories. Buying even 2 items from each one will still cut down on the overflow of gifts. Continue to have fun and have your child create their Christmas list, but have them break it down into these categories.

Christmas stockingsInclude them in the idea of not buying all the toys off the shelf and help them to understand as they grow older as to why. Also, it’s super important to not spend beyond your budget. Set a budget for each child and really stick to it! It is hard, I know! But doing the want, need, wear, read breakdown really helps!
Be intentional about filling Christmas time with other things instead of presents. Make the memories and show kindness to others during the holiday season. There are lots of events around town to attend, looking at Christmas lights while drinking hot coco is always fun, or even reach out by having you and your children do kind things for others or those in need. Christmas is really not about checking every item off your child’s Christmas list; it’s about spending time together, creating memories and starting lasting traditions as a family.

-Ms. Whitney
Curriculum Coordinator
Lead Pre-K Teacher

Filed Under: Activities, Family Tips, Health & Wellness, Holidays

Finding Santa

November 26, 2018 by Admin Leave a Comment

Children love the magic of Christmas and Santa Claus coming to town has made many Christmases merry and bright. Santa can be found in many different locations during the holidays but finding the perfect Santa experience for you children and family can be a little daunting. Listed below are a few of the Winter Wonderlands you and your family can visit this year.

youngscholarsacademycolorado.comSanta at the Chapel Hills Mall is a fun and convenient way to let your children visit Santa while also getting some Christmas shopping done. Santa is available Monday-Saturday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm with breaks from 1:00-2:00 pm and 5:00-6:00(Even Santa has to stop to eat), Sunday 11:00 am – 6:00 pm with a break from 2:00-3:00 pm, and December 24th from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm with a break from 1:00-2:00 pm. He will be at the Mall through December 24th. Do your fur babies want to meet the big guy? Chapel Hills Mall offers pet night every Monday through December 17th from 6:00-8:00 pm. Pictures can be purchased at the time of visit.

Another convenient way to meet Santa is through the Citadel Mall. They have the same hours for Santa as the Chapel Hills Mall but instead of offering pet night, the Citadel has partnered with NORAD Tracks Santa. Their web page https://www.noradsanta.org opens December 1st and tracks Santa though the Christmas season.

Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops offers a different free craft each week, a free 4X6 photo, and games and activities. From now through December 1st Santa is available Monday-Friday 5:00-8:00 pm and crafts from 5:00-7:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm with crafts from 12:00-5:00 pm, and Sunday 12:00-5:00 pm with crafts those same hours. December 2nd-24th hours are Mon-Sat 10:00 am – 8:00 pm and Sunday’s and Christmas Eve from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. with crafts on weekday evenings 5:00-7:00 pm and weekends 12:00-5:00 pm.

If you are looking for a Santa tradition for your family, catch the Santa Express Train from the Royal Gorge Route Railroad. Pricing Varies from day and seating; $44-$74 for adults and $34-$69 for children ages 1-12. Guests can pre-purchase meals or purchase them on the train. Passengers can also buy a photo to document their Santa Express experience. Call or log on to make reservations 719-276-4000 or https://royalgorgeroute.com/santa-express-train/ Santa Fe Depot off of Highway 50 Canon City CO 81212

Holiday Evening at Rock Ledge Ranch invites you to celebrate an old fashioned Christmas with light tours, blacksmithing demonstrations, barn dancing, Victorian celebrations, Edwardian festivities, and a visit from St. Nicholas. The general store will be open for purchasing hot cider and other goodies. This event takes place December 15th starting at 4pm. 719-578-6777. 3105 Gateway Rd 80904. Adults $8, Seniors $5, andChildren 6-12 $4.

Here are just a few places near Colorado Springs to bring the magic of Christmas to your family. No matter how you chose to visit Santa, with kids and/or pets, in the mall or on a train, be sure to have fun and enjoy time making new holiday memories!

-Ms. Blair
Lead Preschool Teacher
Health & Wellness Coordinator

Filed Under: Activities, Calendar, General Updates, Holidays

5 Things Your Child Will Learn in our Colorado Springs Preschool

January 25, 2018 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

Your child’s first years in school are crucial for their development. Their pre-kindergarten activities play a significant role in not only in their brain development but also in their physical, social and emotional development. For this reason, choosing the right preschool for them is something that parents should take seriously. Select the one that offers the preschool program that will equip your kids with the skills they need to prepare them for kindergarten. At Young Scholars Academy, it’s not all about fun and games. Our preschoolers learn a lot more through creative activities. They are not just entertained but they will be able to practice problem-solving skills and build their confidence and self-esteem.

Here are five things that your child will learn when you enroll them in our Colorado Springs Preschool.

Language and literacy

Colorado Springs preschool
Preschool is where kids learn first about language and literacy

In our Colorado Springs preschool, your child will spend most of their day with their classmates. They will have more conversations with other children and adults in school. This will help develop your preschooler’s thoughts and language. Teachers will read simple stories aloud so that the students will learn that text is read from left to right. They will be exposed to new vocabulary words. Writing is also taught as teachers model writing for them. They will learn how letters correspond to sounds and how these letters go together to form a word.

Math

In preschool, kids will also learn about the foundations of Math. They will learn how to count as they are taught to memorize the sequence of numbers from 1 to 10. Kids will also be given the chance to work with geometric shapes like rectangles, triangles and squares as they work on making art projects. The teachers will let them arrange objects following a series or a pattern when they work on projects or collages. And when it comes to presenting simple concepts, the teachers will also be using simple graphs and drawings.

Science

Preschool is the best time for your kids to learn about Science. In our Colorado Springs preschool, they will learn to understand the basics of Science by observing their surroundings and doing simple experiments. They will also be given the chance to plant seeds or watch the transformation of solid to liquid through melting of ice in a warm room.

Socializing and independence

Colorado Springs preschool
Children in preschool develop skills and learn through play.

For most kids, preschool is the first time that they will be away from their parents. This is also an excellent time for children to learn to be independent. They will be able to build the confidence and self-esteem necessary for Kindergarten. In preschool, your kids will be given a lot of opportunities to interact with their classmates. With plenty of group activities where they have to actively participate, they can practice cooperation with their teacher and their peers. Children are taught how to follow simple directions and to express their needs. If they need help, they will learn how to ask for it without being shy.

Fine and gross motor skills

Before entering kindergarten, it is important for your preschoolers to learn some fine motor skills. For instance, they should already know how to cut with scissors. In preschool, they will learn to develop their eye and hand coordination. Kids will get to practice fine-tuning their grip as well as their finger strength. As the children work on projects and activities, they further practice these skills. Gross motor skills are also being developed in preschool through dancing and outdoor activities. Your kids won’t have to stay inside the classroom and sit on their chair while listening to lectures. They will be given activities that will encourage them to move and be physically active.

If you are for a preschool, consider Young Scholars Academy. We offer a preschool program that will surely fit the needs of your little ones to get them ready for Kindergarten.

Filed Under: Activities, Programs & Curriculum

How to Help Kids Explore Their Interests During National Hobby Month

January 23, 2018 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

Every kid should have something they enjoy doing outside of school. National Hobby Month is a great way to help your child explore hobbies he may not be aware of!

Why hobbies?

Adults aren’t the only ones who benefit from having a hobby.Hobbies are an enjoyable way to gain new skills and learn something new about yourself and the world around you.Children who excel at something grow to perform well at other tasks because of the confidence they gain from their hobbies.

When your child enjoys one or more hobbies she will:

  • Develop strong social and emotional skills
  • Grow academically
  • Learn to be more patient
  • Gain a sense of accomplishment which leads to confidence in other areas
  • Develop willpower, concentration, determination and dedication
  • Learn how to set – and meet – goals
  • Feel more confident when asked to try new things
  • Develop good reading habits by actively participating in a hobby; not sitting passively and being entertained (e.g. reading vs watching tv)

Kids who excel at something tend to define themselves by what they’re good at. For example, think back to your school days.
Maybe you had someone in your class who always had his head in an engine fixing up old cars, or maybe your friend always knew the best fishing holes.

National Hobby Month
Preschoolers enjoy playing football

Each kid was the best at his particular hobby, and because he loved it so much – and grew to be competent at it – he became an authority among his peers.

What do your kids enjoy doing?

Your kids are probably already enjoying a hobby, but they may not think of it in those terms. For our purposes, a hobby is simply defined as an activity done outside of work or school that you enjoy doing.You may have thought of some things your kids love to do already. But are there other things they have shown an interest in that you can explore this month?

How to help your child explore her interests

Take some time this month to brainstorm ideas with your child. Encourage her to think of all the hobbies that people do, all across the globe.Then, narrow down the list to those things which interest her as well as those things you believe she might enjoy if she gave them a try.
Ask her to choose which one she’d like to try first and help her get started. Of course, some hobbies may be more realistic – such as stamp collecting or scrapbooking – than others, such as falconry or deep sea diving! So it’s important to discuss all the factors that go into choosing a hobby.

Even if it’s not practical to help your child start a particular hobby, that doesn’t mean you can’t explore the idea. Look for videos and/or articles about people doing the hobby(ies) that interest your child.

National Hobby Month is the perfect opportunity to take some time to help your children explore different hobbies. They’ll never know what they can do until they try it!

Filed Under: Activities

Creating Community Leaders

March 21, 2017 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

The biggest goal for the Young Scholars Academy Spring Break was to help these kids become self-aware of what they could do here at school and in their communities.

We partnered with the Colorado Springs Police Department and they were able to come down and help us in this plan! We discussed all kinds of safety, being road safe, gun safety, and ways to advocate for themselves and friends- we even had kids coming up with plans after their visit!

Another way we incorporated a “giving” mindset was by making hero sandwiches with the kids and delivering them! They loved seeing the direct reaction that the officers had, they were able to work hard and show how just a simple act could change someone’s day!

Filed Under: Activities

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5815 Tutt Center Point
Colorado Springs, CO 80922
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