Events & Updates - Young Scholars Academy

What happened? Fours & five!

August 25, 2020 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

One morning you wake up and wonder what happened to my child. They don’t want to give you a hug as much. They roll their eyes at you when you ask them to do something. All you hear is “I can do it. Don’t help me”, “I already know that”, and the dreaded” whatever”. It seems that your child is now a walking attitude and confrontational monster. Welcome to the ages of four and five. Don’t worry it is a natural transition. There is a reason for it. You just need a few pointers on how to get through this latest storm. The main thing to consider is that your child is going through a huge emotional and physical change. The biggest thing to remember is to supportive and consistent.

Physically your child, according to them are having all kinds of problems. Their ones might hurt (growth spurt), they lose their teeth (what is up with that?). Since their bodies are changing their balance will be off and they may seem a little awkward in their movements. You may want to stock up on band-aids. You will see changes in their face too. You can look at them and be surprised that they look older. A little thinned out. The checks aren’t as pinchable. The physical changes are the easy part. They are explainable. They are expected.

The hard part is the emotional changes they will be going through. Let’s start with friends. They will be best friends with a child one moment, then they hate them, then they are best friends again. The best thing for this situation is to go with the flow. Let them complain. Just be there for them. Remind them that they can as many friends as they want and that there will be disagreements that need to be worked out with their friends. The thing to remember is that they are seeking acceptance with their peers and don’t know how to go about it. Guide them through by teaching them to be kind and respectful. Teach them how to solve their differences with words and understanding. The next thing they are trying to navigate is independence. They are realizing that they are growing up. They need to have some autonomy and control. Find things that they can do on their own. Picking out their clothes and getting dressed by themselves is a good start. Let them share in some responsibility in the house by doing a few chores. There will be a lot of frustration with you and your child during this. They want to be able to do this that they have never done and expect themselves to be able to do them one the first try which as adults we know that isn’t always the case. Give them the opportunity to keep trying. Be patient. As they are building their skills of independence you may notice a bit of a negative attitude coming out. They may be a bit sassy, use a tone of voice you don’t appreciated and let’s face it word usage may not be what you would like. Being consistent in reminding them of expectation will be in order. Try to remember that they are uncertain about what they are feeling and doing right now. They are afraid of making mistakes, being left out. They are trying to figure out who they want to be and how to go about accomplishing it. They are learning so much and their perception of their world is changing.
PS. Find a friend to help you. Someone to talk to who understands because you are going to need some emotional support yourself

PSS. Think of all this as a trial run to teenage years when it all happens again. LOL.

Ms. Dotty
Lead Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
NAEYC Coordinator

It’s ok to make out of the box decisions

August 25, 2020 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

This is by far the most personal and vulnerable thing I’ve written in awhile, but I feel that in my position as Parent Connection Coordinator, it’s pretty spot on for what we’re dealing with as parents right now. I’ve worked in Infant A here at Young Scholars Academy for 2 years. Before that I stayed home with my two boys, and before that worked with infants and toddlers for 7 years. Ask me anything about infant feeding, sleep, development, car seats, etc and I either have the answer or I know where to find it. Most of my knowledge base is invested in those topics because they are what I’m passionate about. My boys are 6 and 3 though, so as a mom I’m in uncharted territory. My 6 year old is in 1st grade this year and the entire mess of trying to figure out schooling truly started this past spring when everything shut down and schools were forced to implement a last minute e-learning schedule. I felt it right along with other moms (and dads too!) when the stress of all the decisions came into play. I’ve been stressed along side them. We’ve all seen the memes and posts on Facebook about no decision being the right one or the wrong one, but for our family (and so many others) it was extremely difficult.

My 6 year old has special needs, some of which we’re still in the process of screening and figuring out. These make it very hard for him to process and regulate the flow of sensory input and how his body reacts to those stimuli. The first Zoom meeting we had with his teacher this spring ended about 30 seconds in when she un-muted all the students so everyone could say hi. He slammed the laptop down and ran away with his hands over his ears and needed about 30 minutes to regain his composure and talk about what had happened. We didn’t attend anymore Zoom meetings after that. The other struggles of simply getting him to do the assignments seem to be echoed by so many parents that I actually felt a smidge better. We didn’t know what e-learning was going to look like until kids could return in person, but we knew we didn’t want him in school quite yet. Sensory issues were going to make so many things more challenging and I didn’t want to put that on him or the teachers and staff.

Less than a week before e-learning was to begin for this school year, a schedule was released that included quite a few Zoom meetings everyday, and that set my panic mode and my mom mode into overdrive. I needed to find the best solution for my son and our family. This schedule wasn’t going to work for him with me at work full time, but I also really love my job and didn’t want to have to leave to make this work. Zoom meetings were a nightmare and his ability to work independently has been historically disastrous. It looked like a lose lose situation for quite awhile. I think I must have googled “can you home school and work full time?” 3 or 4 times before it really started to look like a viable option. I know I annoyed my poor co-teacher talking myself from one decision to another, then to yet another. It’s like I felt if I could convince her it was going to work, then it was going to work. Really though, I was trying to convince myself.
We attended back to school day and left even more confused and uncertain and the next day we sat down to talk. Our options were to push forward with e-learning and hope that someone could convince him to do his work and get through the zoom meetings, or I could pull him from school and home school. Ultimately we decided to pull and home school. I found an amazing curriculum for core subjects and have the flexibility to supplement with other subjects like STEM, art and music in ways that I know he’ll enjoy. It’s actually been a huge relief going this route and connecting with many more families who have done the same thing. An amazing bonus is that I still get to come to my amazing job every day.

None of this is to say that I appreciate the teachers, staff and administrators any less. This entire situation has been insane and everyone is getting through it the best way they know how. Ultimately though, giving myself the permission to make the hard decisions that are in the best interest of my son was amazing. There isn’t just one right way to educate children. One child may learn a different way and won’t fit in to one mold. While we prove this everyday at YSA, once the kiddos are older it’s hard to see there are other paths. A very big piece of the puzzle is having the support to carry out those plans and to figure things out. So, while things are still uncertain and hazy going forward, know that YOU are going to be the best one to make decisions about what to do for your family. It’s so true that there isn’t a right or wrong answer when it comes to school right now, but supporting each other and our kids is the first step.

Thank you for reading.

Ms. Amy
Infant Nursery Supervisor
Parent Connection Coordinator

What is Mindful Parenting and 5 Ways You Can Practice it

August 24, 2020 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

Parenting may not be rocket science, but oftentimes, we may get caught off guard when we encounter challenging moments. This can cause us to give in to our emotions, the outcome of which may be ugly and unhealthy. That’s where the concept of “Mindful Parenting” comes to play. Mindful parenting is when parents give conscious attention to their children’s actions as well as their own actions towards their children. It is important to remember that you are the parent, and the number one rule for mindful parenting is to never engage in an incident when your child is exhibiting behavior that might cause you to react emotionally. Parents need to take a firm stand on things, especially when making a point. No matter the circumstance, it’s best to “Respond, not react.”

A child’s upbringing is crucial to their psychological development. If there’s one thing a child craves during these pivotal early stages of development, it’s attention. This plays a significant role in discussions about mindful parenting. For many children, gaining attention from a parent is bliss. It can feel like their favorite candy bar or ice cream. They crave it. They have to have it. Have you ever noticed how young children may act stubborn and misbehave at times? It may be their way of trying to get your attention. As the saying goes, “You can’t give what you don’t have.” It’s exactly the same with mindful parenting. Be attentive, so you can give attention.

Parenting is multi-faceted. And just like any other responsibilities, parenting comes with its own set of challenges and processes. Emotional management plays a big role in effective mindful parenting. For example, you yourself need to be regulated first before imposing regulation on others. Effective parenting can’t be delivered if you as the parent are unstable, stressed, or simply not your best self. Remember, the energy you give out to your child is the same energy (or less) you will receive.

Also, bear in mind that attention is “currency” when it comes to establishing a nurturing relationship with children. Mindful parenting isn’t as complicated as it seems. Some may relate this kind of parenting as Authoritative Parenting. This is said to be the most effective among the 4 types of parenting styles. It’s been claimed to have positive effects on the child’s social-emotional wellbeing, academic progress, and behavior. Try to remember that there is a fine line between being too strict and being too lax.

When parents who “spoil” their children, this is often misconstrued as bad parenting, or it could be the other way around. Some parents tend to spoil their children because they think it’s a good way of being present. The key is finding the right balance between love and discipline. It is a tricky process, yes. Quite challenging, too! But here are five good strategies that may help you become more effective in mindful parenting:

Be present for your children. Always, all ways

Being present means, again, giving your child as much attention as you can. Receiving attending is a fundamental need for little ones, and it is essential for their emotional development and growth. Their constant need for attention is also their unconscious way of asking for love. So if your child surprises you with whining or with an attitude, this could be a signal for you.

Find the right balance between love, respect, understanding, and discipline

This might be the trickiest part! This involves the delicate process of setting boundaries and expectations. Just be careful not to overdo it! Find ways to give your child credit for making positive choices, and try not to be overly critical of their mistakes. Remember that it’s also essential for their self-esteem and self-confidence as children learn to receive both criticism and praise equally with grace. Too much of either can make them, or break them.

Keep your cool

Anger is actually a healthy emotion when used sparingly. Our brain has a natural response to a certain emotion, especially when it is triggered. Try to notice and get a hold of your thoughts, especially when they are negative ones. These are the types that may amplify your feelings in a certain way. Try your hardest to do away with over-generalizing, “mind-reading”, and especially blaming.

The longer the patience, the lesser the drama

As the saying goes, “Patience is a virtue.” In this equation, patience really is gold. It is one of the core elements of parenting. Exhibiting patience requires a lot of understanding and self-control. Of course, children need their parents’ utmost understanding, especially at a time when they still have a lot to learn.

Embrace the imperfection

Nobody’s perfect. Human as we are, we all have flaws, and we all make mistakes. There’s also no such thing as perfect parenting. Children have a lot to learn from their parents, and parents also have a lot to learn from their children. A parent-child relationship is a give and take thing but either way, it can be a win-win situation. Like all things in this world, everything is a process. Everything takes time, and nothing is perfect.

Parenting in general is really quite a challenge, especially when it comes to figuring out what kind of approach best works for you and your children. Whichever method you choose, these mindful parenting strategies are surefire ways to improve your approach to parenting.

For more helpful and effective parenting tips, feel free to visit Young Scholars Academy.

CANVAS DRILL ART

July 28, 2020 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

Don’t go into this project thinking you’re going to come out clean, wear clothes you have no emotional attachment to at all. Your kids are going to have as much fun with this project as ours did, so let’s get messy!

Supplies:

Canvas (any size you want)
Acrylic paint (colors are up to you)
Drill & drill bit Scrap piece of wood (long enough to fit two ends of your canvas)
Two small screws

First,you’ll take your scrap piece of wood screw it into the wood frame edge of the canvas. Then in the middle you will make a hole. This is how the drill will spin the canvas and create a splatter effect later. For reference on what it should look like, look at this!

You will have to set up your area and keep an eye on the wind. We recommend a tarp or cut up garbage bag to attempt to keep paint off your driveway or sidewalk. (Notice the word attempt there!)

Once you do this, now it is really time to have some fun.

We let each of our kids pick whatever color they would like for their canvas. We also let them squeeze and open the bottles themselves. These kinds of movements are great for fine motor skills. It additionally requires patience and hard work as the easy thing to do is to just do it for them. Not the case here, we wanted the kids to do this project pretty much by themselves, well expect the drill of course

So once everyone had their turn, and anyone who wanted to go again could, it was time for the drill!

Using the premade hole, you did at the beginning, you’ll insert the drill into that hole again and spin away! In this instance we did not let the kids do it just because their clothes get dirty enough without acrylic paint. However, if you are going to do this at home, why not let them try? Just tell the in-laws the kids need clothes for Christmas…

Here is the final masterpiece!

Didn’t it turn out amazing?

After our project we talked with the kids about wind, force and what made the colors move. Of course, everyone had to try out the drill later and there definitely were some attempts at trying to touch the paint.

Overall it was a great art project and we can’t wait for you guys to try this at home!

The School Decision

July 28, 2020 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

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.

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.
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.
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