Summer is upon us, but for early childhood this is simply a new chapter in our adventures. We are here year round, rain or shine. Our focus of what we expect from ourselves to give back to the children does not change hardly at all transitioning from school year to summer time.

Yes, we often have new children and new responsibilities, but at the end of the day we are still here to help children develop their cognitive, fine motor, gross motor, and social interactions and most importantly have FUN! Early childhood lays the ground work for the next 13 years of schooling. Making a positive impression now will have a much more positive impact on all of the other years of school.

As teachers and parents we need to remind ourselves that learning should always be fun, and that learning does not have to be fancy. Any item in a room can strike an interest or conversation. Depending on how the adult chooses to introduce things to children plays a huge part in what kind of understanding that child will take with them.

Answering your three year-old’s one-thousandth question of the day is maddening, but the benefit your child takes away from that moment could be the life changing one. To a small child the whole world is a new and exciting; they are soaking up every inch of it.

Whether you realize it or not young children are gathering as much information as possible, and growing all of those connections in their brains. The 5+ year old kiddos that we have for the summer are using and pruning what they have learned in the past five years or more to get the best picture of their world.

Summer can be a fun yet stressful time for all. There are new adjustments to make, and you know that they are temporary. However, many parents can feel afraid that their children will lose all of the progress that they have gained over the school year.

This is a legitimate fear, so let’s alleviate that fear. This can be avoided in many ways: find your child a great summer camp like the 3 different ones offered at Young Scholars Academy! This will ensure that your child is getting time to work both their minds and bodies in a safe and social setting.

In addition to this, do simple things at home to keep them from turning into the ever dreaded “couch potato”. Here are some simple and cute baking activities to try from the Food Network: Recipes Kids Can Make

These recipes will range from some work to no work on the adult’s part depending on the age of the children. With younger children have them stir and lick spoons! Just them being included, spoken to, and getting to watch, and touch the process is enough to have their brains firing in all directions. With somewhat older children trace your finger along the words of the recipe as you read, and have them help measure things out.

For older children let them read the recipe and do the preparations (including cutting, cracking eggs, or handling the heating device). This will simply only require your attention for safety and help if needed. Just be engaged with your kiddos the entire time. Once the cooking is done does not mean that the learning is done. If possible extend this activity to an outside dinner setup, or create a snack stand.

Summer comes and goes very quickly so make the most of it by having fun. Each fun activity will have teaching moments. If you are doing things with your children and giving them the attention that they deserve, then nothing learned in previous school years will be lost in a few months of excitement. Get out and enjoy a hands on summer with your kiddos!

~Ms. Brooke
Curriculum Instruction Coordinator
Early Literacy Leader

As we get ready to take on summer there is such an exciting feeling that the sun will come out and shine down lots of fun for all of us. We are preparing to soak it all up and really make this summer the best yet with lots of laughs and learning.

I am so excited to dive in and really create a summer of fun memories for my students. Some students will be traveling to visit family and see different parts of Colorado and other states. I want to take students on animal safaris, underwater with sharks, and dig deep for dinosaur fossils. Summer will be lots of fun spent learning about multiple topics from different parts of the world.

While children are creating memories within the classroom, there is a lot of conversation to be had with your child that can extend the lessons that they are learning at school. We try to make sure that parents know what the weekly lesson topics are.

A few places you can find updated information are located in the classroom where the entire lesson is posted, the hallway where the theme is announced, and daily updates are sent through LifeCubby. We want to make it easy for you to know what your child is learning at school so that you can carry on conversations with your child to make meaningful connections about their day.

When picking up your child from care, having discussions with them about what they learned at school is so exciting! You may find out something you didn’t even know! How awesome is it, that simply asking about your child’s day could result in full conversations about new topics that you might now discuss on the regularly. It could lead to you discovering common interests you may have with your child that you could explore together and activities you might want to recreate at home.

Some ways to help spark the conversation about your child’s day could include:

• Asking open ended and specific questions. Simply asking, “How was school” may not get in depth conversations. Asking “ During centers, what was something that you really enjoyed, was it about dinosaurs today?” Getting your child to focus specifically on one moment of their day will help them to remember details and really be able to discuss with you what was going on at that moment.
• Talk about their masterpieces! Check those folders and discover all the amazing wonders and ideas that are going on in your child’s mind! Take time to discuss their artwork at great lengths. Ask multiple questions about what they have taken time to create and are so excited to show you. Even when the picture might not make sense or look “perfect” to you, ask them anyway! Trust me, they remember what they drew, they know and will be excited to share the details with you.
• Let them stall at bedtime. Yes, I know when you say its bedtime, its bedtime. But sometimes bending the rules a bit for good conversations is okay, right? If your child is cuddled up to you as your saying goodnight and their busy mind has slowed down a bit, it could be a small window of quiet conversation to talk about their day. Getting a little chance to have your child open up for a bit and discuss the fun that they had is worth the extra 5 minutes before they fall asleep.

Lets all take the opportunity to make this the best summer ever and really connect with our children! Having meaningful and memorable conversations with them is a great way to start!

-Ms. Whitney
Curriculum Instruction Coordinator
Young Scholars Academy

May is National Foster Care Month. This month is set aside to recognize the individuals and families who give their time, their resources and their homes to children who are going through the most difficult times of their life.

Foster Parents

Most people would have a difficult time letting a stranger in their home to shower, sleep and eat. It would be the equivalent of picking up a homeless person and taking them home. You know nothing about this person except what you can see and perhaps what they have told you.

For foster parents, the person is a child. This child may have severe mental or physical trauma that is not apparent to the naked eye. Emotional damage may be hidden under layers of disdain, hatred and aloofness. Now imagine that you open your home, your family and your heart to this child. Is that hard to imagine? That is what foster families do every day. It is all about placing your fears and doubts aside to meet the needs of a child who has nobody else to turn to.

National Foster Care Month

May is the time to bring awareness to foster care. Foster parents are honored during this month. The need for more families to volunteer is brought to the forefront of the public eye. The needs of the foster care families are recognized. Resources are introduced to help meet the needs. After all, foster care is more than just opening your home up to a child in need. Foster care awareness is critical to help families and communities meet the needs of the children and the families that care for them.

Where to Find Help

Many people caring for children do not know that there are resources available to help them. Respite babysitting services, community clothing closets, support groups and even activities and sports programs for the children are all in place to help families foster these children. However, the problem is that not all families know about the resources available. During May, resources of all kinds are brought to the forefront in an attempt to help families caring for foster children.

Grandparents, aunts and uncles are often kinship caregivers. This means that they have assumed the role of caregiver since the parents of the child are not an option. Often, this causes a change in family dynamics. An adult child may resent the grandparent becoming the primary caregiver of their child. Maybe a grandparent does not know what to do about things like medical care, legal issues with the school, etc. Resources like

The Grandkin Guide can help grandparents to navigate the legal system, family issues and the new role of caregiver.

Such resources are critical to helping foster care families cope with the changes that come from having a new child in the home. Online resources, support groups, financial aid and more can all be beneficial for the care of foster children. Whether kinship care is decided between family members or set up by child welfare services, there is no reason to feel alone and adrift in this new circumstance. Help is available.

Why is Public Awareness so Important?

Foster care is often shown in a negative light. News stories of tragedies, rumors of greed and horror stories from former foster children get the spotlight, while great foster successes go unheralded.

Care of these children must be brought to the public in a positive light. People will remember success stories of foster children who went on to college and beyond. Foster parents who go above and beyond to help children find their passions, like painting or horseback riding, should be highlighted and commended. The children should have their success stories shared, just like in a traditional family. These children can thrive if the parents have the resources available to help them. Even severe mental and physical abuse of the past can be overcome with love and support from foster parents who really care.

Foster care takes a whole community to be successful. Outreach groups, support groups, legal and financial help, respite caregivers, teachers, child welfare advocates – everyone must work hand-in-hand with the foster caregivers to ensure these children are protected, loved and given the chance for a successful, happy life.

Use May as the month to educate yourself about the foster care system and how you and your community can help these families. A community picnic, a toy or clothing drive, volunteering your time or even offering your talents (like free piano lessons) – there are plenty of ways you can help with foster care. The keyword is ‘care’.

There is the breakdown at the store. I know it isn’t the first or the last. I know he isn’t trying to torture me. But I am tired and want to get home. I can guide and preach. However, can I always follow my own advice? The majority of the time, yes. However, there is no perfect parent! The balance of positive and disciplining is a true struggle. The never ending give and take balance of it all. The bargaining of life.

My key to anytime I am dealing with my tiny humans (I parent like I teach. I also love my class like they are my own) is make it about them, not me. Focus on the message being sent through their actions and behavior. But I am human, and sometimes I want it to be about me. Sometimes I feel their pain and want to throw myself on the floor and scream too!

My biggest struggle in this parenting adventure is to remember I am not only mom; I am a strong woman, a wife, a sister, an individual who had has her own needs. Guilt is a heavy feeling that I don’t think any parent hasn’t felt. That overbearing guilt that makes you question am I doing this, right? But maybe we are asking the wrong question. Shouldn’t the question be; am I doing the best I can?

Is there a balance between all the roles of a parent, and still being you? I am sure there is. However, I don’t believe I am even partly close to gaining that balance. I have been raising a free spirited, “wild” little boy for two years now. I have been teaching little ones for seven. Another little boy on the way. They are my priority in everyday life. My wind down for the night is “did I do the best I could to guide those amazing minds to greatness”?

Luckily my husband embraces my passion and supports me beyond expectation. So being the wife is made a little easier with that kind of support. I should remind myself to save a little bit for him. I must remind myself that he works, and is a parent too. So, my biggest support for him is to stay in touch with his hobbies and activities. Which I can be bitter about at times because of guilt. Not his fault I didn’t open my mouth and say, “I could use a little me time.” I think dads are over looked in the huge scheme of things. But, they have the same struggle as us moms and are trying to balance just as much as we are.

Taking me time is the biggest struggle that I have faced. To remember that I need to step back and be me if I am going to be the best for them. This I am not sure I will ever be able to master. The second you get alone time your mind goes racing. You spend it either talking about those little humans or worrying about them. At least that’s me.

So is there any real way to achieve balance? I am sure there is. However, it will be an ever-ending teeter-totter for me. A balancing act that will ever be in motion. I am also okay with that. Life isn’t always easy but it is always an adventure. One I feel blessed to be on.

“A good life is a collection of happy moments”- Denis Waitley

Michaela
Child Advocate