A lot of us parents say how we wish time would slow down and that our kiddos will always be our baby. I get it, every time I turn around it seems like they boys are in a new size clothing or hurdling over the next big milestone. I stop for a quick second and ask where did the baby go? However, it is not about us as parents or our “need” or want to keep our kiddos babies forever.
It is our job and of utmost importance to build self help skills in our children. Not only does it make our life so much easier for our little ones to be helping with the basic factors of getting the day going but, it helps them become confident and self-reliant to be able to do for their selves a little. Below are five things that I think every three-year-old needs to be introduced to in regards to self-help skills and why they are important.

1. Potty training
   Potty training is not an easy task at all and requires a lot of planning out and packing to make this task become a success. But it is also one of the major steps of becoming independent to a little person. It is their first introduction into being able to make a call and choice of their own.
2. Picking out clothes
   Talk about handing of the reins. Allowing a child to express their selves through clothing is a big step for everyone involved. We have all seen those kiddos in underwear over their pants, rainboots and a swimsuit top. But it is okay because your child has been given a choice and can also learn about weather appropriate clothing and help with prepping themselves for the next day. We always pick out our outfits the night before so we are able to do the next self help skill.
3. Getting dress
   This self-help skill really focus on patience and self-soothing to get through out. But oh the wonderful independence gained by dressing yourself is priceless for a little person. This skill at first will take time to guide and talking through. Buttons, zippers, and buckles can be frustrating at first. Do not give up because once this self-help skill is mastered you get to sit back and enjoy getting yourself ready while your little does the same. Being able to independently pull their pants up and down is a skill your child will need before you can start potty training.
4. Clean up after self and basic household chores
   No one likes to feel like they are picking up constantly and doing all the household chores. This self-help skill is important to teaching helping out and being apart of the household. This includes putting clothes in dirt laundry basket, clearing their plate from meals, picking up toys after they have used them. Our job as parents is not to cater to our children none stop but guide them in the skills necessary to become amazing adults.

Ms. Michaela
Child Success Advocate
Lead Preschool Teacher

I have never been an anxious person, but wow has COVID-19 played a leading role in my lack of a carefree life. I was skimming random articles on the internet when one titled “COVID stole My Motherhood Joy.” That headline stopped me in my random scrolling and I read it. It made me think how much parent guilt, worry and questions have been on my mind these past couple of months. It was good to know that someone else was feeling like it did, but didn’t really make me feel any better.
As the summer comes to an end, the school year is staring at us again.

One of the hardest decisions you will have to make in 2020 is the choice to do e-learning, in person, or home school your child(ren). There is no wrong decision here, but the anxiety and guilt of wanting to do right by your child is ever present. There are several factors that will play a part in what is best for your child(ren) and family, and no it doesn’t get any easier.

I am sure a lot of you have seen the three options parents have regarding the magical question of what to do with their children and their learning for the 2020-2021 school year. The thing is there is no right or wrong answer. Family dynamics, the necessity of work for the parents, and the learning style of the child all play into attempting to figure out what is best for each individual family. There have been three factors that I focused on to help me decide what is the best fit for my family regarding the children returning to care/school. Hopefully this can help you wonder and help guide your decision as well.

1. Social emotional and mental health of my children.
   I have two boys and they are very opposite of one another. One thrives in group play and making friends wherever he goes. Another is very content to have alone time for most of the day but never turns down a good playgroup session. Social emotional health will differ from child to child and their need for those social interactions will vary as well. Home school or e-learning may have an impact on your child if they thrive being around other children.
2. Health of my children and the immediate family surrounding the children.
   My children rarely get sick and our household is healthy overall, so we have a little bit more liberty and wiggle room with the risk to others in our household. Anytime family wants to come visit or anything like that we do let them know our children are in school. That way they can be informed and decide on that information as well. However, this decision may have to take more consideration if there is a family member who is high risk or has a susceptible immune system in the immediate household. Everyone wants their children to be protected from any kind of virus or bacteria. Understand that whatever you decide, it was the right decision for your family.
3. Not letting guilt or others bully me into making me paranoid about my decision.
   Like previously stated this is not a decision that has a wrong answer to it. What works for one family might not work for the next. This is not a one size fits all solution. So we need to give ourselves some grace and know and our heart of hearts that we made the best decision that we could for our child(ren). Do what you can by feeding them an unnecessary amount of chicken nuggets (if it calls for it) and go face mask shopping if you need to. Take a breath and just try your best.

I wish nothing but the best for every parent who had to make this decision this year.

Ms. Michaela
Lead Preschool Teacher
Social Emotional Coordinator

Spring break is coming up quickly. When students are on breaks, they tend to back slide in their routines. Families spend more time together and stay up later. Kids have more time to play and lounge around the house too. This can reek havoc on a parents sanity and on the child’s typical schedule.

I don’t know about you, but my work schedule stays the same while my kids are on break. This makes it easier for me to keep up with their morning and evening schedule. My kids love to stay up late on nights when they know they don’t have school. Instead of letting them stay up late, we have started to let them have a sleepover in each other’s room and have some screen time before bed but they still need to be in bed on time. Bedtime stays the same on week nights because they still have to get up in the mornings for care while I am at work. By changing the rule slightly but keeping up with the everyday schedule, it is easier to keep them on track for when school starts again and they feel like it is still special.

When hanging around the house more and having more time to play, things can get pretty messy. Set a timer for twenty minutes (adjust time according to the size of the mess) before the kiddos get ready for bed to have them put their toys and books away. This way, their space does not become out of control.

Homework routines are hard to bring back so instead of reintroducing it to your child’s daily routine, why not keep it. Part of our everyday lineup while the kids are in school is homework and reading. While homework is not sent home during spring break, there are ways to keep up with it. Practice math facts for ten minutes a day. They can do math pages or practice math Flashcards that are on their level. Make flash cards of sight words, past spelling words, and vocabulary to keep them in practice. Kids should also read at least 20 minutes each day. This way your child keeps up uo on their typical schedule while also getting the practice they need to continue to succeed during school.

Some fun ways to keep them invested in their education is taking them to the library to pick their own books. The dollar store has workbooks with math and literacy pages. Find a few on your child’s level then let them pick which book they like best. At the end of each day, have your child write a sentence or more telling something fun they did each day. This helps them practice their penmanship while crating a small memory journal from their time off.

Keeping up on routine can get tricky while kids are on a break from school. These ideas will help prevent back slide while also helping parents keep their sanity through routine. Good luck to you and happy spring break.

-Ms. Blair
Health & Wellness Coordinator
Lead Preschool Teacher