Welcome to a new year! I know most of us are sitting at the bottom of expectations for 2021 or life in general. The upside to this is that we can only go up from here!

Our children have been jostled around for a year (which isn’t great), but they have learned to be more flexible and go with the flow. This hasn’t come easy to most, but it has been a great learning opportunity for children. Now that we all kind of get the gest of what is happening in the world. We can better plan for this year; it’s not such a slap in the face.

At this point you have recognized whether e-learning is working for your littles and/or what is working with your schedule. You may just have to ride out what is in place for now but come May you will be able to change your child’s learning paths or make adjustments at work to do so.
So, if nothing else, feel like you are back in charge of your life in 2021. Take back what is yours! Keep on building, keep on encouraging, keep on dreaming. Life is not over, it’s just changed.

If you can work from home, work at night, or not work at all consider changing your kids over to a home school learning. If you want to keep them in school, make sure you have back up plans in case of closures and keep yourself in the loop. If you need to have somewhere for your kiddo to be during the day and get help with their e-learning find a nanny or a childcare center that is able to accommodate those needs. Now that we know the problem, it’s time to find permanent solutions and keep on trucking.

Fill your house with the things that may not be accessible anywhere else. Some examples are water play, playdough, slime, and all the other messy doughs, ice cubes, finger paints, planting, housework, cooking, meal prepping, and using foods as learning tools and craft supplies. Schools and public places have been severely restricted of the things that adults don’t think much about. All these hands-on sensory items are so important to your child’s’ fine motor development and independence. We have had to “take so much away” from them that it needs to be given back in a safe environment. These are also little things that can keep children busy for hours.

I hope that some suggestions and tips have helped you in mapping out 2021 for your children. Good luck! And always reach out to us for help, we love helping!

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

Baby Sign language can look much different than American sign language in the way that the signs are articulated. While some signs do remain the same, quite a few are modified to accommodate their developing cognitive and fine motor skills. The modifications serve as a platform for baby’s and toddlers to more easily and efficiently convey their message, while also still learning and ironing out other new skills that they are acquiring. Our babies, at Young Scholars Academy, are communicating with us daily through the help of our highly trained teachers and their abilities in ASL. The question is… are you listening to these messages? If not, you are probably like most parents that are completely in the dark on what their small children are saying to them. Just like cooing and crying, these small jerky and sometimes uncoordinated hand motions are a form of communication.
Here are some pointers on what to look for when looking for signs in your babies and toddlers.

1. Repetitive motions- for the the most part, sign language is depicted by repeating a motion at least twice. Small children will typically repeat the motion that they witness using added emphasis. This is typically seen in the form of agressive repetition, meaning they might repeat the motion five or six times in a row to obtain your attention.
2. Body language- what does your toddler’s body language suggest? This can play a major factor on how the sign looks and what it means. If they are frustrated the sign may be a little more hasty and to the point. Are they tired? The sign could look a little more drawn out, slow or even sloppy. Sign language illustrates a ton of nonverbal emotion in addition to the vocabulary they are portraying, therefore, it is extremely important to pay attention to these body language cues.
3. Verbal communication- Toddlers will inevitably begin ununciating small words in addition to signs they have learned along the way. Most of the time, toddlers begin verbal communication by saying the word they are trying to articulate with the sign that the word is also associated with. Make sure you are paying close attention to signs that are present when a word is being used in conjunction. You may not always connect the two but understanding one or the other will help you understand what you didn’t pick up on.
   Finally, sign language is a “complete natural language that has the same linguistic properties as spoken language,” therefore signs that your baby learns count as a portion of their early vocabulary. Additionally, studies have been conducted to compare babies who learned sign language over babies that only learned verbal communication to “show how babies and toddlers who know signs have improved cognitive and emotional development which also lead to increased rates of verbal development in toddlerhood.”
   https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/american-sign-language….
   https://www.babysignlanguage.com/basics/research/….

Thank you for reading! For real examples find us on Facebook and check out our videos!
-Ms. Morgan
Parent Connection Coordinator

One of the things that contributes to a person’s likelihood to be successful is his or her academic achievements. Individuals who are academically successful are more likely to build stable careers and enjoy more opportunities for professional growth. School success is also important because this helps us tackle the challenging demands of life in general. When we progress academically, it can help to boost our self-esteem and equips us with skills needed to be better prepared for the future. 

As parents, we play a significant role when it comes to helping our kids achieve academic success. Our support and involvement of our children’s academics is crucial. However, it’s also important to remember that parental involvement doesn’t merely entail helping with homework. So how do we as parents help our children achieve school success? 

Read on for some tips you might find handy!

Create a routine

One of the most common mistakes many parents make is lack of direct involvement or discussions with our kids about school.  This is especially true for families in which both parents work. However, it’s important to remember that our kids need our help and involvement. As parents, we need to carve out time to support our children’s learning. If we don’t do this,  it’s more likely that our kids will become more dependent on screens and electronic gadgets. 

It’s crucial that you establish a routine in your home. Set a specific time for homework, and be sure this schedule works for both you and your kids. Establish a window of time for homework, either before or after dinner, so you’re available to monitor your child’s homework, and assist if needed. Allow your child independence, but remain available to offer guidance and be ready to help if your child gets stuck.

Dedicate a space for homework and studying

Some kids focus better when studying in their bedrooms, curled up on their beds, while others may need a dedicated space for schoolwork. Find out what works best for your child, and be sure to provide necessary materials and other items. If your child works best in a quiet workspace that allows him or her to concentrate without distractions, carve out a quiet corner or a spot in your home that is conducive for homework. Make sure everything your child needs is accessible and organized nearby. This area should also be free of screens so your child can focus and perform his or her academic tasks efficiently.

Establish rules

Rules are essential when it comes to providing the structure that children need to accomplish their daily school-related tasks successfully. Rules around homework will help ensure that your kids, as well as the rest of the family, are aware of the “dos and don’ts” pertaining to homework and school responsibilities.

For example, access to screens should not be permitted during school assignments. Another rule may be that homework must be finished before  children can use their game consoles. Some families don’t allow children to watch TV the night before an exam. 

Consider offering rewards

Some parents believe that kids shouldn’t be rewarded for doing things that are expected. However, offering incentives may work for some families. When we use a reward system, it can boost a child’s motivation and inspire him or her to make academic progress.

Incentives or rewards don’t necessarily need to be in the form of toys or tangible objects. They can be as simple as giving your child more time for outdoor play, offering a favorite snack, or taking a trip to the beach over the weekend. After all, our kids deserve to earn something good for a job well done.

Encourage a positive attitude towards education

We’ve all had varying experiences in our own educations. Some of us have enjoyed positive academic experiences while others’ may have been more difficult or challenging. These experiences have shaped how we may view the institution of education. In order to help your child achieve school success, it’s important that we foster a positive attitude towards education, even if it means putting aside our own negative experiences. We need to avoid perpetuating the notion that teachers have “favorite” students, or that all kids can be mean. Instead, work to cultivate a positive attitude towards school in your home, as this will help to inspire your child to be more motivated, and hopefully even to love  school. 

Our parental involvement and support plays an important role in our children’s academic success. Help your child achieve his or her academic goals, and provide your kids with the academic support they need by following these tips!

Quality education is an important factor in one’s success. Be sure to send your child to a school that offers the best quality early childhood education – Young Scholars Academy. Please give us a call for more information.