A parent’s most important role is to teach their children a few basic social skills, which are essential for mental health, success, and happiness. Children who can interact and relate to others positively will be better able to establish and enjoy meaningful relationships with peers and others. In addition, they will find academic success and career fulfillment.

Through play dates, group activities, and other ways to interact with other kids, you can introduce your child to some essential basic social skills. While it is important not to force these experiences on our children, it is important for them to be exposed to them in order to practice and develop their social skills.

Here are five basic social skills that every preschooler should learn:

Sharing

Children’s willingness to share can go a long way when it comes to forming relationships and making friends. Sharing a snack or a toy is important for kids to learn as early as possible. At first, it’s not always easy because young children are often reluctant to share things that are important to them.

By presenting your child with opportunities when possible, you can instill this basic social skill. It is also possible to make it a game, such as, “Let’s see who can share their toys the best,” or, “How many things can you share?” When children see you value sharing, it is more likely to become a habit, and can even improve their confidence.

Taking turns

Children need to learn how to take turns as another basic social skill. It teaches children to listen, wait for their turn, and be courteous to others. Waiting for a turn while playing a game or speaking can be practiced.

Taking turns can be learned by playing games at home, drawing on a chalkboard, and even cooking.

Asking and answering questions

Children need to learn how to ask questions. It gives children confidence to initiate conversations and get to know others when they are able to ask questions effectively. Asking questions also motivates kids to pay attention and explore their surroundings.

Try encouraging your preschooler by asking open-ended questions such as, “What do you think about that story?” or “How does that make you feel?”. Consistently respond enthusiastically to children’s questions so they know their curiosity is valued. 

Apologizing

All of us make mistakes. Learning to apologize for our mistakes is a basic social skill. By saying sorry, we demonstrate humility and acknowledge that we made a mistake. Apologizing motivates children to improve certain behaviors and prevent repeating them in the future.

You can teach apology by example. When you apologize, this is a good opportunity to teach your child how to apologize in a sincere and appropriate way. Use a spilled cup of juice as a chance for your child to observe as you apologize and clean up the mess you made. 

Listening

Listening is more than just being quiet while someone else speaks. Listening means paying attention to what someone else is saying, and it’s the key to healthy two-way communication. Make eye contact, don’t interrupt or fidget, and give your full attention to the speaker.

Children who are able to listen well show others that they are interested and respect their opinion. You can teach your child the value of listening to others. Listen carefully to children when they speak. After they finish talking, repeat what you heard them say to show you are attentive.

Social skills are integral to children’s emotional and social development. Children can be taught these basic social skills and become well-adjusted, confident individuals with your help.

At Young Scholars Academy, we understand the importance of nurturing the development of children’s social skills. We offer activities that promote friendship and social interactions. Just like our preschool classrooms, we invite you to come and get a first-hand look at the classroom, meet our teachers, and observe our nationally-accredited program!

 

Mathematics can be a tricky subject for many kids. Some kids even dread the thought of learning math. Fear of math isn’t uncommon among children, but there are ways to help combat fear. As a parent, you can help make learning math a more positive experience for your child. Here are seven tips for teaching mathematics at home!

Kids learn best when they’re having fun

While this tip may seem obvious, there are some parents who forget the importance of incorporating fun into the process of learning. Even math can be fun sometimes! Think about the various creative tools you can use when teaching your child math. For example, you may inject your little one’s favorite cartoon characters into a math problem, and the solution will come more easily than before! Or, if you are teaching your child the concept of addition, you may use some of your child’s favorite toys (such as Legos or colorful blocks) to represent numbers. Kids tend to be more engaged when fun materials are involved, as opposed to traditional paper and pencil.

Start with the basics, like counting

Counting is the foundation of all mathematical concepts. When children reach age two, that is usually a good time to introduce the concept of counting. Start by using small sets of objects. For example, you can show your child different sized cups or spoons, and ask which cup has one spoon inside it, and which one has two.

Incorporate everyday objects

You can use an array of household items as teaching tools when teaching kids about math. Make use of any things you have at home, such as pennies, cups, popsicle sticks, books, and anything else! For example, if you want to teach your child about addition, place two or more pennies on top of each other on a flat surface. Ask your child how many pennies there are. Then, show your child a larger amount of pennies and ask for the total amount again. Repeat this process until children learn how to solve this type of problem independently.

Practice practice practice!

The more opportunities children have to practice new math skills,, the sooner they will be able to master these concepts. As time goes by, you can start to introduce larger numbers and harder equations. Just be sure to give your little one adequate time to process each math problem or concept before moving on to the next level.

Play math games

There are so many board games and card games that can enrich the process of teaching math to kids. Some fun ones include checkers, chess, Monopoly, Uno, Bingo, Super Why! (online game), and even some apps (like Math Evolve.) You can also play games like Chutes and Ladders to help teach children how to count in different increments like twos, fives, and tens.

In addition to math games, there are also other ways to make learning numbers more fun and exciting. You can create a math scavenger hunt with your kids around the house. Hide various items of different values or quantities, and have your child count and collect these. For example, give kids a set of coins to place in a space on their board. This is a great way to teach them how to solve subtraction problems (like “10 – 8 =”)

Read math-themed books together

Reading math books is another great way to help you teach mathematics at home with zero effort! Reading exposes children to a variety of mathematical concepts in a way that can make it easier for them to understand. The best time to do this is when you are teaching your child how to read. You can also buy teaching books at bookstores or borrow them from the library. There are plenty of teaching materials for math, so go ahead and have fun!

Incorporate math into your daily activities

Math is a regular part of our daily lives. Teaching kids some basic math concepts can be made easier when they are able to understand how math shows up all around them every day.

For example, if you’re baking cookies together, show your child how to measure flour using cups and spoons. You can also use grocery shopping together as an opportunity to demonstrate how you use subtraction or division to check the price of items.

Mathematics can be overwhelming for some kids, but it doesn’t have to be. Use these tips to help you teach mathematics and foster the math wiz in your child!

At Young Scholars Academy, we provide developmental emphasis through hands-on discovery experiences. You can see in each area of curriculum, those areas being; science & sensory, math, and language & literacy.

Starting school is one of the significant milestones in a child’s life. As a parent, you want to make sure your little one is prepared for this significant transition and has an enriching experience. So how can you ensure that your little one is ready for school? What types of things can you do to adequately prepare children for this new, exciting journey?

School readiness is about more than just one’s academic skills. It also encompasses a child’s social and emotional readiness for this transition. It’s important that we help children develop other critical skills that will help them be successful in school and beyond. You can help your child develop the skills needed to be ready for school with these helpful tips!

Read and tell stories

It’s important to incorporate reading into your child’s daily routine. Carve out time to read together. You can make it fun by engaging children in the story and stimulating their imaginations. You can also encourage your little one to take on different parts of the story. Invite your child to share comments and ask questions about the characters and what might happen next. This activity helps build vocabulary and comprehension skills that will help your child learn to read independently later on.

Set up playdates

You can start by scheduling playdates for your child with friends or your neighbors’ kids. It’s essential that children have opportunities to practice and sharpen their social skills. These opportunities will help them build friendships both in and out of school.

Be sure to provide your kids with ample opportunities for social interactions. In addition to playdates, you might also consider enrolling your child in after-school programs, sports, or art classes, as these can help them connect with other kids who share similar interests.

Master the ABCs

Helping your child learn the alphabet goes beyond just teaching your child letters. It’s also about learning how to write letters and recognize words, phrases, and sentences, even if children don’t know how to read yet. You can start by printing some easy puzzles or showing kids flashcards of common words, objects, and mnemonics (like the days of the week or months of the year.) Other helpful items include school supplies like magnetic letters your little one can play with on a cookie sheet or school books and magazines around your home.

Build healthy habits

You’ve probably already started teaching your child about the importance of eating healthy and choosing fruits and veggies over junk food or soda pop. Promoting school readiness also includes school-appropriate nutrition. If your child’s school serves food, encourage your little one to eat what is served at school. By doing so, children’s proper nutritional needs will be met. Make an effort to keep sugary treats out of reach in order to prevent unnecessary temptation (and cavities!)

Map out your child’s day

Another important component of preparing your child for school is becoming familiar with the layout of the school. Take your child to the school and find out if you can walk through the building together. It will help ease any worries or anxiety if you’re able to point out the location of your child’s classroom, where kids go for recess, and other important spots in the building. You may also be able to take pictures of these places so that your child can study these maps at home too.

Review the daily routine

You can help your child develop an increased sense of security by discussing the routines at school. It’s beneficial for kids to become familiar with how things work in the classroom, and what will happen at specific times of the day (such as lunch

Talk about school

Many children are excited for school to start and looking forward to playing with their friends all day long! Take time to discuss what a typical school day will look like to help prevent  surprises. Engage your child in conversations about how school works, and encourage questions about school rules and classroom expectations.

Read books about school

Knowledge is power! Reading books to  young children about school will help them become familiar with what to expect before the first day arrives. Kids can get an idea of what a classroom looks like, how a teacher might behave on the first day, what kinds of activities and projects they might do each day. You can also read school-themed books to help your child learn some basic school-related terms and what some typical school situations might be.

Starting school is one of the most exciting events of your child’s life. These activities will help prepare your child for this transition, and make school a happy and fun experience!

At Young Scholars Academy, we connect with our families on a deeper level than most corporate child care centers are able to. We aim to understand the needs that are most important to your family, and the developmental goals you have for your little one each day. Contact us to learn more about our center today!

Learning the alphabet is one of the most essential steps for children when it comes to learning how to read. No matter what books you provide or which language you are teaching them, it always starts with the basic alphabet. Children must learn the letters before they can move on to more complicated reading and writing concepts. In this post, we will provide you with a variety of tips and alphabet exercises so you can help your child learn about the alphabet successfully.

Alphabet Exercise Tips

The attention span of most children is usually limited, and they tend to lose focus very quickly.  This can happen especially when they do not see any immediate results or benefits from learning something new. This is just one of many challenges that teachers and parents face when teaching children how to read.

How can we hold the attention of children when teaching them the ABCs? Here are some of our top tips you can implement when teaching ABCs:

1) Help them become engaged

One of the best ways to teach children their ABCs is by ensuring that they will be interested. You can do this by associating letters with something they like or enjoy, like animals, food, or cartoons. For example, if your child is a fan of the cartoon “Tom and Jerry,” you can start by teaching your little one how to write and say his or her own name. Next, you can teach your child the letter T, and how it is associated with the name Tom. Show your child a picture of Tom and Jerry, and ask which relates to the name “Tom.” You can continue this by teaching children other letters in the alphabet. Eventually, they will start linking letters when creating words.

2) Use high-quality learning materials

The internet is an excellent resource for finding a variety of learning resources for children. Many websites can provide you with free learning resources, such as tools for learning letters and learning through music, and games. You can also use a range of infant development DVDs that provide children with interactive visuals and sounds.

3) Use tools to help children recognize letters

Another great way to teach children their ABCs is by using tools that help them learn to recognize letters. For example, use refrigerator letter magnets that children can attach and remove as they become more familiar with letters.

4) Incorporate learning into playtime

The best way to teach children their ABCs is by combining learning with playtime. For example, you can teach kids how to create the alphabet by using building blocks. Then you can then help them build something that starts with a particular letter.

If you are teaching them the letter F’ you can build a fort together. If children are learning about the letter P’ you can show them how to make a paper plane.

5) Teach kids how to connect letters with sounds

Another important aspect of learning ABCs is teaching kids about the connections between each letter and the sound it makes. If children are learning about the letter S and you want them to connect that letter with his /s/ you might have them practice saying words that start with the letter ‘S,’ such as sun, star, snake, spider, and so on.

6) Teach Them How to Recognize Words

Once children have mastered their ABCs, you can also teach them how to recognize words. Do this by introducing simple, short words such as “cat” or “dog”.You can also ask them which words they think might be used to describe a cat or dog in a picture.

7) Make alphabet exercises fun and easy

It’s important to engage in activities that don’t result in your child becoming bored or uninterested. That’s why it’s beneficial to  incorporate learning with something fun, such as playing games, reading books, or watching TV together.

You can also use a variety of educational tools, like alphabet flashcards. There are plenty of great learning materials that will help your child learn how to recognize, spell, write, and identify the sounds each letter makes.

Effective alphabet  learning activities are a key aspect of our curriculum at Young Scholars Academy. For more information, contact us today!

I’ve been teaching preschool for many years. Let’s just round it to about twenty years. I love my job! I’ve seen many people go into and out of this field. Perceptions about what we do are shattered or evolved every day. It is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. It is also one of the hardest. Here is why. A teacher doesn’t just teach ABCs and 123’s. A teacher doesn’t just sit around and watch the children play. We are involved in every aspect of the children’s lives. Guiding them as they grow up. We help lay down the foundation on which they will grow and learn upon. We support the families of the children we teach. We teach them academics, how to socialize, how to love themselves, and how to problem-solve through life’s frustrations. As a teacher, you will wear many different hats!

To get started – Educating yourself is the first step and a continuous affair. Get your degree in Early Childhood or Elementary Education. These classes will give you a steady foundation and distinguish you as someone who is serious about your career choice as a teacher. Just keep in mind that you will be taking classes and training throughout your career. We teach but we never stop learning! One o the best ways to learn is to find an experienced teacher that you can lean on. Ask them questions and listen to their guidance. They will be great at encouraging you, a shoulder to lean on, and a sounding board.

An average day – Let’s start the day at seven o’clock clock in time. Now rewind to when most teachers arrive at work. It could be anywhere from fifteen to thirty minutes early. This is when teachers prep for the day. Gather supplies, prepare for the day’s activities. Many times, you will be also conversing and answering questions to other teachers and parents that you see. Finally, you clock in. Time to start. During your day, you will work with your children on these academic foundations: math skills, science experiments, reading, and literacy skills. Don’t forget the fine motor capabilities of holding a pencil and using scissors. Then you need to address the large motor skills such as skipping and moving their body safely in relation to the other twenty children in the class. Intertwined in these daily activities you will be dealing with what I like to call “life”.

Here we go: plunging a toilet with a whole roll of toilet paper in it, milk spills from lunch (never just one), shoes that need tying (knotted from where they tried), a child screaming for a box of Kleenex with snot running down their face, children arguing of a toy car, tattling because “Johnny” is looking at them or “Linda” is breathing too loud, and so on. These are the normal events that teacher uses to teach self-help and self-management with their children. You teach them that less is better with things like toilet paper, how to wipe up milk without the whole roll of paper towels, and just spreading it all over the floor and wiping their own nose and washing their own hands after. The most important is teaching them how to talk to their friend about how they feel when they take their toy car, how to compromise while playing together with it, and most of all how to accept the different ways people act and communicate with each other. We teach them to speak with the proper tones, use kind touches and words, table manners, how to listen to others, and how to work together and be safe.

Working with the families of the children in our class is another important part of your day. How to include them in their children’s activities and how to include the many beliefs and parenting styles. You will field questions about their child’s development, where they lost their socks, why they won’t sleep or eat their green beans. Then there are the things you do that parents don’t see. Scheduling and taking a CPR class, researching, and developing the curriculum you want to do the next week, and buying those really cute pencils because you think car pencils will help spark an interest to write. Sounds busy and hard, and yes you will be tired. But…….

You get to see the smiles, hear the laughter, and receive so many hugs! You get to see and feel the pride they have when they finally sound out the word cat by themselves or write their name on their own. You get to feel accomplished when they move on to the next class and are successful. You know you have made a positive impact on their family when you help them solve everyday issues and help to bring just a moment of peace to their busy lives and ease a parent’s worries about the little things.

Teaching is the hardest yet most rewarding career you could ever choose.
Being a teacher is a calling.

Ms. Dotty
NAEYC Coordinator
Lead Pre-Kindergarten Teacher