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Why It’s Important to Set Limits with Kids and 8 Tips to Do It

March 15, 2022 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

Our goal as parents is to raise happy, successful children. However, sometimes giving our children too much is not good for them. Because of this, it is important to set limits with our children to help them become responsible and well-adjusted adults.

Limits are guidelines for expected behavior both inside and outside the home. Setting limits can help kids develop self-control, take responsibility for their choices, and prevent them from feeling entitled.

Why it’s important to set limits

Putting reasonable limits in place is beneficial for kids because:

  • Limits teach children about self-control and taking responsibility
  • Limits set boundaries and teach kids about which behaviors are appropriate
  • Limits help prevent children from developing a sense of entitlement
  • Limits can help enrich children’s interpersonal relationships
  • Limits teach kids self-discipline

In order to learn which behaviors are acceptable and appropriate, we as adults need to establish clear expectations. Follow these tips to help you set limits with your little one:

8 Tips For Setting Limits With Kids

Establish rules and limits early on

The earlier you establish your family’s rules and limits, the easier it will be for your child to follow them. With young children, you may want to set simple rules, such as “Stay near me,” or “Keep your hands and feet to yourself.” As kids grow, you can add more specific rules, such as “No hitting,” “No screaming,” or, “No leaving the house without permission.”

Be consistent

If you make a rule one day but don’t enforce it the next, this will be confusing. Your child won’t know what to expect. Try to be as consistent as possible with your rules, as well as the consequences that may come if a rule is broken.
playdates

Explain the reasoning behind your rules

Explain to your child why following rules is important. When you set a limit on how much TV children can watch, explain that too much TV can be bad for their eyes and overall health. If you have rules regarding how many unhealthy snacks or desserts children can eat, explain that eating too many sweets can harm their health. Your child will follow rules more consistently if they understand the rationale behind them.

Be firm and fair

It’s important to set rules and expectations that are realistic, and enforce them in a way that is fair and consistent. For example, if you don’t want children to watch TV for more than an hour a day, decide which hours of the day during which TV will be allowed. Be sure to enforce the rule consistently, even on weekends.

Use positive reinforcement while setting limits

Praise your children when they follow the rules you’ve set. By associating positive behavior with desired outcomes, they are more likely to follow the rules going forward. You may also wish to reward good behavior occasionally. The rewards do not have to be material. In addition, they can include things like extra time to play a favorite game, or getting to choose the meal for the week.

Make sure limits aren’t too restrictive

It’s important to establish firm yet achievable limits for your child. If the limits you set are too restrictive, children are more likely to become frustrated and angry. This will only make it harder for them to follow the rules.

As an example, if you set a limit that children can only talk to people they know, they may become frustrated or confused if they are not allowed to speak to the cashier at the store. Examine your rules and make sure they are attainable and fit each situation.

Be prepared to adjust your limits as your child gets older

As children mature, their abilities and needs will change, and so will the limits that you establish. Be prepared to adjust your expectations and rules as kids grow, and learn about their own actions and choices.

Be patient with your child

It takes time for children to learn and follow rules. Try to avoid becoming frustrated if your little one doesn’t always comply right away. Try to be patient, and keep reinforcing limits. Children are likely to get the hang of it as long as you’re consistent with your expectations.

It can be challenging to set limits for children. Some kids may be resistant at times. It’s important, however, to set limits for the good of our kids’ development and well-being. With a little patience, you’ll be able to successfully establish expectations and raise children who are happy, well-adjusted, and responsible individuals.

At Young Scholars Academy, we aim to create an engaging learning environment for children. Our program is filled with meaningful and fun activities that create wonderful memories. If you enroll your kids with us, they will remember their time at Young Scholars Academy with happiness throughout the years! Learn more about us by visiting our website.

 

Filed Under: Activities

Supporting Independence

March 8, 2022 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

One thing that children have in common on their journey to adulthood is the constant strive to become independent. Starting from infants when they are grabbing the spoon at feeding time, through the “I want to do it,” into those teenage years where they know what is best. It can become quite a power struggle between parent and child. Especially when there are time restraints, and they are taking thirty minutes or more getting dressed. Power struggles led to stress which makes feelings run high and deep. So, take a breath and consider that children gaining independence eventually help relieve daily pressures and help your child be a strong adult. There are many things you can do encourage independence and self-help skills.

Setting routines and expectations or those times helps children to e prepared and to transition their thinking to what they need to be doing. In the morning tell them it is time to get ready for school and tell them how much time they must be ready. Give them a countdown such as ten more minutes, then five more minutes. Be sure they are aware of the tasks that required to be ready such as put your shoes on, have your backpack ready. Older children can prepare their own sack lunch, prepare pets for the time you will be away or even help with a younger sibling.

Let your child make choices. Children should be able to get dressed themselves even at age three! Let them pick out their own clothes and just give them a time frame to be finished. Some children will pick out the most outrageous and miss matching outfits, but it is a terrific way to give them a chance to express themselves. Different colored socks, wearing stripes and polka dots together means a lot when they can say “I did it myself.” They can also choice and prepare their own snacks. Putting cheese and crackers on a plate, poring ranch or their carrot sticks can be a simple and easy start.

supporting independenceGiving your children chores and letting them help in daily housekeeping can be great way of establishing responsibility and independence. Children can pick up and organize their own room, take out the trash, set the table or take care of a pet. When children help, they gain confidence and knowledge that they are capable of doing things that are important. Giving them the opportunity to choose that their cars can go in a red bucket while dress up can go in blue basket gives them a chance to think and make decisions for themselves. When they can decide they are more willing to complete a chore.

One of the best ways to encourage independence is or children to strengthen their critical thinking skills through problem solving. When a child loose a toy under the couch the first thing they do is ask for help. Instead of reaching under the couch to get it for them walk them through scenarios that enables them to get it themselves. “Have you tried to extend your reach?” “Try using a broom or a clothes hanger.” When they spill their drink on the table try letting them clean it up before you jump into the rescue. The mess may get bigger at first but given the opportunity they will figure it out for themselves.

In the beginning stepping aside to give children more choices and opportunities to do thins themselves may feel frustrating but eventually as they accomplish the simple tasks, they will gain skills that will allow them to complete more complex actions. Life becomes so much simpler when power struggles evaporate and growing up becomes more like teamwork and family.

Ms. Dotty
Lead Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
NAEYC Coordinator

Filed Under: Family Tips

Emotional Parenting

March 8, 2022 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

I have decided nothing will make you more of an emotional mess than becoming a parent. From pride, joy to sadness and anxiety. We all know that time marches on, but as a parent sometimes we wish we could just freeze it for a moment. The emotional roller coaster that is parenting is in fact, never ending.

I used to say I wouldn’t be that parent that got my heart strings pulled and got emotional over every little milestone. Turns out, I am SO “THAT” parent! Even though I am THAT parent there are still a few things that I didn’t expect to get emotional about that I figured I would share for those who can relate.

1) Hearing that my children are kind humans.emotional parenting

As a parent we all question and pray that our children are kind, and that this world doesn’t steal their kind hearts or break them to become bitter. So, every time I hear that my children are kind it makes me think that just maybe I am on the right path in this parenting thing. But more than thinking I may be okay at this parenting job it makes me get filled with prideful tears and a smile that won’t go away for the whole day.

2) Milestones that we know are going to happen.

These milestones can be a baby’s first steps, sleeping through the night, transitioning into their cribs, first foods first words, preschool spirit days, Kindergarten graduation, and even losing their first tooth. Honestly the list is never ending. I know these things are all going to happen, but it tugs and makes this mama’s heart a mess. It makes it very clear that time marches on and it will not be slowing down for anyone.

3) The first “I got this, or I can do it myself, or I don’t need any help.”

Don’t get me wrong I love independence and hope that each of my children leave my home feeling like they can take on anything and everything. However, I also hope they know that parents are their first cheerleaders and remember that when they do fall, we will be the first ones cheering them on to get up and try again because “they got this.”

4) Leaving the nest.

The closest I have come to this is my children going to public school. I was emotional mess sending them off to school like I wasn’t going to see them at the end of the day so I can’t imagine how I will feel when they go off into the world on their own. I am sure they are excited and will do great and that is all we can hope for as parents. However, doesn’t mean we are not emotional about even though we know they will crush it.

Being a parent is probably one of the hardest jobs out there and the emotional roller coaster will never stop even when our little ones are adults because to us parents, they will always be our babies. Appreciate the in the moment opportunities and try to slow down yourself to recognize the moments themselves.

Thank you.
Ms. Michaela
Lead Preschool Teacher
Social Emotional Coordinator

Filed Under: Family Tips

The Importance of Reading with Toddlers

March 8, 2022 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

reading with toddlersThis is probably the most challenging group to read to because they are not going to stop moving. The trick is to find books that are interactive and asking them to move around. Here’s a few good ones:

  • There’s a Dragon in your Book by: Tom Fletcher. In this book there is something to smash, splash, fire to put out, or words to say to the dragon. It’s bound to get a lot of attention from little ones.
  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar by: Eric Carle. This book is just a classic to be loved by all. Kids love to pretend to eat the foods with the caterpillar. Then the pages with the holes and the partial pages make it extra fun.
  • Where is Fuzzy Penguin by: Yayo Kawamura. Each page and even the cover page has a fuzzy textured penguin to find. Some are easy and some are more challenging because there’s hundreds of penguins in the book. Your toddler will have a great time running their fingers over each page to find him.
  • Never Touch a… (series of different animals) by: Rosie Greening
    Or any books with buttons, pop ups, or textures are sure to be a hit!
    The importance is still there as much as it was during infancy. The main goals are the same; creating a love of reading by tying books to bonding and love and exposing your young child to more words than they hear anywhere else.
    The magic number is 15. If you can spend at least 15 minutes out of your family’s day reading, your kiddo will be miles ahead in life. It doesn’t have to be before bedtime. It doesn’t even have to be 15 minutes all together. If they will only hold still for 2 minutes and again later, you only have 5 minutes between the oven timer. That is just fine. All the minutes will add up the same. your child’s brain will thank you all the same at the end of each day!
    Lastly, here are some easy ways to sneak in reading (it’s not like we’re busy or something, ha).
  • Audio books in the car
  • Bath time
  • While getting dinner ready
  • Bedtime
  • Early morning
  • While they eat a snack
  • Outside time
  • Free play (read a truck book while they drive cars on the floor)

Thanks for reading about reading with toddlers!

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

Filed Under: Activities

Four Ways to Have Your Preschooler Practice Writing this Spring

March 8, 2022 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

pre writingIn our classrooms we work a lot on developing fine motor skills. Working out those tiny hands to strengthen their finger mobility and strength is so important before we can even begin writing pencil to paper. Many parents ask for recommendations on how to get their preschooler to practice writing, its as simple as just letting them have a piece of paper and a writing tool and letting them free write. A lot of kiddos really enjoy doing just that! But, I wanted to offer some other ways to work on building up those fine motor skills that help with writing at home that are simple and enjoyable.

  1. While having outside time, have your preschooler find a stick and have them practice writing in the dirt/mud/sand! This is a great way to work on writing that can strengthen hand muscles, as there is a small bit of resistance when writing into these different mediums. Your kiddo could spell out their name, letters, numbers, and practice drawing shapes or pictures.
  2. If you have started to prepare for Easter and have some of the plastic eggs on hand you can have your kiddo open and close eggs. Those are a challenge and are awesome to work on hand strength. If you have a few, put a cotton ball inside one of the eggs and have your child open eggs to find the hidden cotton ball. You could take turns hiding it and opening the eggs and I bet y’all loose count of how many you have opened/closed by the end!
  3. Spring Clean up outside is another opportunity for your preschooler to get some fine motor practice in. As you are sprucing up your yard as it gets warmer, have your child take kid scissors to the dead grass, bush, sticks, whatever else you don’t mind them cutting up. Kids LOVE to use scissors. Another important skill to master in itself, but another way to exercise that hand. Let them cut and explore the different textures as it’s a fun experience and they really will love it.
  4. Chalk! Yes, don’t forget about the chalk. Such an easy medium for kids to use to promote writing. I let my kiddos write and draw on our trampoline and they absolutely love it! Washes away quick and easy too. Try rainbow writing, where the child traces over their name/word/shape in one color and switches to another color tracing over the initial markings with a new color. Continue to trace the markings in multiple color layers.
    When writing skills are a focus, its not just about paper to pencil. Working on the strengthening on those tiny hand muscles has to come first and still need to be worked on even after your preschooler beings to write independently. Really makes holding the pencil a lot easier in order to be able to gain better control.

Ms. Whitney
Lead Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Curriculum Coordinator

Filed Under: Family Tips

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