Emergent literacy has been taking place since birth and continues through early childhood. Books, magazines, newspapers, even crayons are their first experiences to literacy. Want to make a larger impact on your child’s success through all of their schooling, and a life-long love for reading and writing? Here are some helpful tips!

1. Always have writing materials available to your children! Crayons, paper, pencils, markers, etc. are always great to even place in a little make up bag. Then ask them to tell you about their drawing while you write down what they are saying; like writing a little book together. Again, this could all take place in five minutes (you know your child).

2. Always make time to read aloud to your child every day. It could just be one book during bath time or bedtime. If they have a favorite book, then read it over and over again until even they become sick of it. That repetition will make them feel very awesome when they memorize the words and they think that they are reading. The key at this point is to help them realize that reading is fun! And those brain connections they are making by memorizing that story!

3. Depending on the age of your child practice words and sounds. For those just learning to talk repeat those sounds with them (dada, mama, doggy, etc.). For older children constantly point things out to them when you are driving or in stores. They will start to put things together in their brains and realize that the sign said “STOP”. Doing things like this regularly will introduce them to new vocabulary. Make sure that you are also giving them time to respond and ask questions- that you are giving answers to.

4. When you are not reading their favorite book try to mix things up. Have books with words you can easily point to and they can follow along with. Have rhyming and alliteration books (Dr. Seuss is a good reference) at hand so that the story is exciting to them! Picture books mean you guys can make up the words yourselves and have fun with it! More exposure to different types of print and stories makes it easier for your child to find what they really enjoy reading about.

5. All interactions will make your child smarter! Talk to them about anything, even before they know how to talk. Their brain is making so many connections, and you want communication to be one of them. That is their first step into reading and writing. Talk to them about what you are doing together (changing diapers, eating, bathing). Play music and sing together (no matter how it may sound). Play games and teach your children how to do things.

Conscious efforts to make time for reading, drawing, and talking will put your child ahead of the game. Tying in these tips will ensure success later. It’s so much easier and more fun to teach these things at an early age, so take advantage now! When children are older and don’t have these skills it’s possible for them to fall behind. Let’s all strive for a future full of high intelligence and readers!

~Ms. Brooke
Pre-Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Curriculum Coordinator
Early Literacy Coordinator

Oh the two ‘C’ words that I dread the most: cleaning and cooking. They are the two things in my house which take up a lot of time, drive me bonkers, and leave me feeling stressed when they don’t get done.

Over the years I have tried many things to get these two items done each day that just haven’t seemed to work. It’s hard to find the time and balance to get all the cleaning and cooking done in a day.

I want to share what is working for me ‘right now’ that has seemed to cut back on my anxiety for these chores. At the end of the day this has even made them easier to complete.

Cleaning– Seriously, the thing that is always on that silly list. Clean, clean, clean. I feel so guilty cleaning when my kids are awake. I feel like I should spend all that evening time after work devoted to them. For a while I was trying to just clean when they napped, or even worse when they were in bed. So I would be spending my free nights cleaning: yuck!

I have found a balance that works, for now. I have a cleaning list that goes day by day. So Mondays are cleaning the kitchen, Tuesdays the bedrooms, Wednesdays the playroom. Etc. I also make sure to do one load of laundry everyday.

Sometimes the laundry doesn’t make it out of the dryer, but hey that’s okay. I feel like breaking the cleaning schedule down day by day has helped so much. I also try and do this cleaning as soon as I get home from work.

I have my older kiddo do her homework while I clean and my younger child does his “homework” with her at the table. For him, I have him color, stamp, or do puzzles while I am busy. Sometimes it works better if he follows me around and helps, just depends on the day. If it is a no-homework day, I have both kids help me clean. They can either clean their playroom together or work with me in the room I’m trying to get done.

Let your children help clean! You know those baseboards that are super low to the ground? Those are perfect for children to reach and wipe down with a wet rag. Make it a fun game, turn on music and have ‘cleaning dance parties’, let them be apart of keeping their house nice and gain some of that responsibility.

Cooking– Oh! I know my list is full of the list that has the list of what to get for dinner. (Hahaha!) Some nights are not as busy and there is time to fully cook a meal and have it on the table by 5:30. On those nights, take the time and let your child help you!

Even the young kiddos can hold a spoon and stir, teach them about cooking and learning about different foods. Invest in this time to help them develop a love of cooking. Cooking with your children is such a wonderful time for conversation and connection!

Those other crazy nights when the schedule is full and it can feel like a marathon trying to keep everyone happy? I advise you to invest in a crockpot! The crockpot is a game changer. You get your ingredients and toss them in before work and dinner is done when you get home! So easy and simple.

There are a ton of recipes online for crockpot meals; a quick Google search will hit you the jackpot! But, if you are like me, I hate cooking ‘new’ things and I like a tried and true recipe that someone has recommended.

A fun and easy way to get those recipes is to have your co-workers, mom group, church people, etc. do a recipe swap. Have each person in your group print off enough copies of their favorite crockpot recipe for everyone and exchange! You make 20 copies of your favorite crockpot recipe and then you get 20 new recipes back! So easy and it’s a little fun to see what everyone brings!

Bottom line, don’t stress about the cleaning and cooking! Find ways to make it easier on you and your family. Find what works for YOU! Get the entire family involved in these chores so that you are working together, laughing, spending time with one another!

-Ms. Whitney
Pre-Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Curriculum Coordinator

I see more growth in a few weeks by making the children in my classroom do things for themselves than anyone would see making these kiddos watch what we are doing for them. For you to fully grasp this you need a huge helping of patience. Yes it’s going to take more time, so make more time for it to happen.

Depending on the age of your child allow for appropriate lengths of time for them to simply struggle. I know that can sound so mean, but just do it. When they ask you to zip their coat say, “You try first” or “I bet you can do it better”. Let them try, let their little brows furrow, let them get a little mad. Often that is just the push they needed to do the task. That frustration immediately flips to total elation! This is something you definitely do not want to miss. That moment when they say “I did it!”

Now I am not talking about independence without limits. Children need limits and choices (all of which you are willing to accept). We are not giving them free reign to do as they please. You are not letting them decide if they are going to have spaghetti or candy for dinner. Instead, you are offering to let them help with the dinner process, serve their own plate, pour their own drink, and eat by themselves. Support them in their efforts. If they make a mess, give them the tools to clean it up and try again.

All kiddos of a certain age (some born this way) all want their independence. They want to pick out their clothes, and help clean, fix, and make things around the house. They want their voice to be heard, just in the same way that we do as adults. Things that we may find boring, is a huge step for a child. Taking the time to let your child do the little things will make your days go smoother and have children that are self-confident and full of pride for their accomplishments.

Letting them do the little things now, is preparing them for the bigger things later. If you always do everything for your child how can you expect them to grow into young adults who are going to make decisions about their future? Let’s put it this way, do you want a child who sets the world on fire and goes down in history doing something great, or a couch potato who relies on you to cook them dinner and do their laundry because they simply never had to learn for themselves? Give them that initial push to start making decision and making things happen. Give them self confidence that they can build on for the rest of their lives. And it all starts with putting that shoe on all by themselves.

-Ms. Brooke
Early Literacy Coordinator
Curriculum Coordinator
Lead Pre-Kindergarten Teacher