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Young Scholars Academy

Where Children Develop a Love of Learning

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5 Qualities of a Great Summer Program

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Summer camp is an excitable time for all ages. The school year is over. Your excitable 4-year-old is home for the summer. You want your child to continue their education. Whether it’s to help them do activities or you cannot take care of them over the summer, a summer program is a perfect opportunity. There are many different types of camps your preschooler can go to. The benefits of a summer program could help your child prepare for the school year or even for kindergarten.

Importance of Summer Programs for Academic Success

Attending a summer program will benefit your preschooler in many ways. It helps the children begin to build structure, preparing them for when they go off to regular school. The activities provide a way for your child to gain many skills. Math, writing, and reading can be skills learned. If your child has not yet been to a school, independence is another benefit. Your child will learn how to interact with other children and trustworthy adults when you are not around. According to summer program statistics, summer camps help children gain achievement in school. Sending your child to a great summer camp will help your child be the best that they can be before they begin kindergarten.

5 Qualities

1: Variety of Activities

For your child to get the most out of their experience, the camp should have plenty of activities for them. Each activity should enhance their education as well as entertain them. Activities can have art, music, swimming, sports, and other kinds to keep your child entertained while learning.

Sample Activities:
• Arts and Crafts
• Swimming
• Music
• Camp wide games

2: Good Supervision

importance of a summer program for academic success | Young Scholars Academy in Colorado
The children will have adult supervision

Every parent wants their child to be safe whatever activity they are doing. That is why it is important for there to be good supervision. There should be counselors for the campers, and at least 2 with each group. For preschoolers, the counselors should always be with them until the end of the day. You should make sure the place you choose has quality supervision of their campers.

Good Supervision:
• Campers should be with their counselors always
• Counselors should be able to respond to any situation involving a child
• All children should be accounted for by the counselors
• Counselors/supervisors have the phone numbers of parents in case they need to be contacted

3: Fits the Needs of Your Child

Whatever the need of your child, the camp should be able to provide it when you’re not there. For example, if your child has an allergy, the summer camp should be able to address it. Children should be able to bring their own lunches in case they have an allergy. If not, an alternative should be provided. If an allergic reaction does occur, counselors should be prepared. If your child has a special need and can attend the program, assistance should be provided. If possible, your child should receive as much help as possible. However, your child should still be able to enjoy all of the camp activities.

4: Safe Environment for Time Outdoors

benefits of a summer program | Young Scholars Academy in Colorado
Outside play for children in a safe environment

Summer camp can be a time to spend outdoors playing in the environment. The program of your choice should have plenty of time dedicated to outdoor play. Whether it is daily or through field trips, preschoolers should have time to be outside. It allows them to get fresh air and to get a lot of exercise. Children will also have a chance to explore their surroundings. Being able to explore enhances their learning and need to try new things.

Safe Environment:
• Distance from things that could possibly hurt children
• Constantly supervised
• First aid available in case of accidents

5: A fun a place for your child to grow

Your child should be able to have fun while they are learning new things. Each activity should enrich your preschoolers learning, as well as have them enjoy it. Over the summer, your preschooler should be growing educationally even while not in school. That way, they are prepared for the upcoming school year, while having fun along the way.

When summer comes, it is good to have options. Having a place for your young preschooler would be a nice opportunity. There would activities for he/she to do and friends he/she could make. If your child’s needs are met and there is proper supervision, it can be a safe environment for your child to grow. With the best qualities, the summer camp of your choice will be an enjoyable experience for your child.

Introducing Mandarin Chinese!

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Here at Young Scholars Academy, we are now teaching our staff and children Mandarin Chinese!

We believe communication is vital–no matter what part of the world you come from, live in, or travel to! And being able to connect to other cultures can do so much good in the world — it can create meaningful connections, promote deeper understanding and awareness, as well as inspire new friendships to flourish!

Young minds have the wonderful capacity to learn languages faster and easier than when they are older. (It’s why we also teach American Sign Language here as well!) Enjoy–and Xie Xie!

7 Sensational Ways Sign Language Classes Benefit Your Child

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There are many ways to teach your child. Whether they are visual or auditory learners, you have to mold the way you teach to their required learning ability. One of the best ways to teach your child is sign language classes. Not only is it a noble language to learn, but it can help if your child is primarily a visual learner.

If your child encounters a deaf student, communicating will be much easier and will help build social skills. Today, we will go over the 7 ways teaching your child can be fun and beneficial and how Colorado Springs child care is a great learning option for your child.

1. Teaching Sign Language Can Decrease Tantrums

Every child has their bad morning, or night…or days. But you have to think to yourself, why does my child have a tantrum? That question can be easily answered because there is a communication block. Younger children haven’t adapted the entire alphabet and the best way they know to get what they want is to scream and hit things. By adopting sign language, the language barrier is broken and communicating with your child is much easier.

2. Teaching Your Child To Sign Can Increase Their Vocabulary Skills

Young Scholars Academy teaches ASL!
Anyone can learn to sign!

Not only are you teaching your child visual learning skills when teaching them to sign, but auditory as well. With sign language classes, you constantly repeat the word out loud and repeat each letter as you sign it.

This benefits your child because they are learning how to physically sign the words as well as how to pronounce it when talking out loud. Believe it or not, you are teaching little Einstein two vocabularies at the same time.

3. Teaching Sign Language Can Increase Your Child’s IQ

Not that they will be taking a serious IQ test anytime soon, but you are teaching your child two different languages, two different vocabularies. This will not only help them down the road with other disabled students but you are helping sound out the words clearer with visual and auditory learning improving their spelling as well as reading skills.

4. Teaching Your Child to Sign Can Help if They’re A Visual Learner

Most kids today are both auditory and visual learners. By physically shaping the letters in their hand while teaching sign language, it helps visual learners in a massive way. Even with auditory learners, when signing you are also going over the syllable of every letter improving their auditory listening skills. In the end, you are improving both their auditory and visual skills and making it easier to teach if they are a specific type of learner.

5. When Your Child Knows Sign Language, Talking To Deaf Students is Easier

Like we mentioned before, learning sign language can improve social interactions with a deaf student. Not many schools teach sign language, and not knowing the language can present and obvious language barrier separating certain disabled students. Not only will learning to sign make a deaf student more comfortable at school but your child can make some great friends as well.

6. Teaching Your Child Sign Language Can Be A Great Bonding Experience

Interactions make for a great bonding experience. When you are teaching your child to sign you are using your eyes, hands, fingers, and mouths. These numerous interactions with your child help you understand them more which can promote a more strengthened relationship. Not to mention your child will thank you down the road when they can speak a different language which can help build more important skills down the road.

7. It’s Fun to Speak a Different Language!

Sign Language Classes Fort Children | Young Scholars Academy in Colorado Springs
Learning a new language is a great bonding experience!

It can’t get simpler than that! Learning a new language is not only a great bonding experience (as mentioned above) but is extremely fun for you and your child!

There are great activities to do on a day to day basis when you combine sign language with the English language and helps create a quieter and calmer atmosphere. Your kid will also love signing with other students their age if they participate in sign language classes for children.

It doesn’t matter what kind of learner your child is, auditory or visual. Attending sign language classes for children will not only improve either learning skill but will help with other skill sets like reading and writing. The most important are always challenging your child with new activities daily to promote constant growth and teaching to sign is a very important ability.

If you’re ready to start, you can select some rather affordable sign language book on Amazon or check with your local library if not the internet. In case you want more help with sign languages classes for children, check out Colorado springs day care. Colorado Springs preschool also offers excellent classes to improve visual and auditory learners with sign language classes for toddlers.

You can contact our Colorado Springs child care here. I wish you and your child the best of luck. Happy signing!

What is the Difference Between Preschool and Daycare?

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If you want to start your child’s education early, you may need a preschool.  If you need child care in a positive environment, you may need a day care.  The process of evaluating each can be confusing. It can also be hard to tell the difference between preschool and day care.  There are distinct differences between them which may sway your decision in either direction.

How Preschools and Day Cares are Similar

When looking for a good Colorado Springs child care facility, you will want to check the details of each.  Both preschool and day care centers should have licensed and accredited teachers and caretakers. Both preschool and day care centers should have a structured curriculum.  This structure will give your kids a proper pre-kindergarten or supplemental education.

The cost is about the same for your child with either choice in Colorado Springs.  Don’t think that preschool should to be more expensive.  If you find that preschools are more expensive, it might be a better idea to save money and enroll your child into day care.  Either choice should provide a great education for your child.

How Preschool and Day Care Differ

difference between day care and preschool - Young Scholars AcademyBoth preschools and day cares can give your kids the education they need to excel in kindergarten.  The first big distinction between preschool and day care are the age limit differences.  Preschools are designed for children ages three to five. They lay the foundation for kindergarten.  Day cares accept a wide range of ages.  They care for children in households where both parents work.

Because of the limited age range, preschools tend to have a specific curriculum aimed at pre-kindegarten children.  But is a preschool considered a preschool only if there is a focused curriculum?  The short answer is no. While day care centers are often seen as babysitting solutions. Many also have focused and structured curriculums.  These are usually geared for children of different ages.  These centers can tend be larger to accommodate different age groups.

One important thing to consider is that you may need to be more involved with your preschool.  For example, if your child gets sick, you would need to come in to take care of the problem.  Some preschools also require your child to be properly potty trained.  Preschools also have stricter rules then day care centers.  A day care centers’ emphasis is on caring for your children while you are working.

Another consideration will be their hours of operation. Preschools tend to have shorter hours and often operate on the regular school calendar.  Day cares are generally more flexible. They have hours to focus on caring for children with working parents.  Day care is the preferred option for households with working parents as they need to pick up their children after work.

Other Things to Look For

There are other things to consider when looking for a Colorado Springs child care center.  For example, some centers will have music and art programs to help your kids develop their creative brains. Other centers may have language classes to get your kids started on a second language at an early age. While these programs are nice, not all Colorado Springs preschools offer these programs. Try to focus on what is most important to you and your child when deciding on a Colorado Springs day care or preschool.

You may want to avoid child care centers that have an accelerated education curriculum unless your child has already started kindergarten.  Understanding that child care centers provide a foundation for education is helpful.  Toddlers may not be able to comprehend or keep up with the details of accelerated education. These centers charge more than average preschools because of the advanced education level.

If you’re looking for a reputable Colorado Springs child care center, you should consider the Young Scholars Academy. We offer education for a wide age range, have diverse child care programs, and also have before/after school programs for busy parents.  Contact us to learn more about how we operate and how we can accommodate to your needs.