Young Scholars Academy

Where Children Develop a Love of Learning

 5815 Tutt Center Point - Colorado Springs, CO 80922
 (719) 522-9099
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Wellness in the Workplace

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What is wellness in the workplace? “Workplace wellness is any workplace health promotion activity or organizational policy designed to support healthy behavior in the workplace and to improve health outcomes.”

Find your wellness!
Find your wellness!

I struggled a bit with this new position as Wellness Coordinator only because I am one to want to help everyone. To boost their moods and help make everyone’s day but a wise woman once told me, “you can’t fix anyone.” You can try and help by giving them the tools but everyone gets through matters their own way so it might not always work.

So, I learned to accept that and did what I could for those who may have wanted or needed the boost. With my amazing co wellness coordinator, we came up with activates to get the entire YSA team involved to try and keep up the morale of the building.

We are a strong group of ladies, so there weren’t too many days when we NEEDED the boost – but who doesn’t love fun and games at work, just because? We had a variety of activities to meet all aspects of wellness; personal, mental, physical. We did things for individuals going through tough times, we had activities just for fun, to lift negative moods or mindsets flowing throughout the building, and we even had friendly competitions to stay fit. All of that to hold one another accountable and be there for one another.

But something about working at Young Scholars Academy made my job that much easier. How many people do you know who absolutely hate their job? Who dread going to work? Who are constantly talking about work drama?

I am one who doesn’t have that problem. I love going to work, I love who I work with and I leave any drama at the door. But no really, I consider YSA and the people in it, family; from the team, the parents, and the children. You create these connections that will last a lifetime and you meet people who will help you through anything. We have each others’ backs here at YSA and that helps the workplace wellness across the boards. Are we perfect? GOODNESS NO. But we keep our heads up and push through any setback together as a group.

So how is that workplace wellness? Well what is wellness? Wellness is “the state of being in good health in body and mind.” Well how do you define good health; “free from disease and pain, enjoying health and vigor of body, mind, and spirit.” So, you see, enjoying where you work decreases the stress and increases positive moods and behavior. Promoting good health through different activities is just a boost to keep that positivity alive or even to take a step back to reevaluate what needs to happen at a certain point.

Given the opportunity as wellness coordinator, I have reevaluated myself a lot and see the changes I need to make to reach certain goals to obtain my personal wellness. I encourage new coworkers and friends to make this evaluation for themselves as well. Best of luck!

Preparing For Kindergarten: 13 Reasons Summer School Is A Huge Help

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What does my child need to know for Kindergarten?

Every parent, especially with their first child, wonders what the answer to this question is when their baby begins closing in on the magic age of five. The problem is that there really isn’t a right answer. The best thing parents can do is make sure they are preparing their child for Kindergarten. If you are not sure how to do that, then getting some help would be a great idea. Whether you teach your child at home or send your child to a trustworthy preschool in Colorado Springs, consider signing them up for summer school before entering Kindergarten. Here are 13 reasons why:

When School Starts…

They’ll Be Focused Instead Of Distracted From Being Upset

Most children are upset, frightened, or anxious the first few days of school. Having experience with a summer course can make a child less likely to display those emotions and more likely to remain calm and focused.

They Will Be Comfortable In The Social Setting

This gives children a chance to participate in a socially engaging environment. They will become comfortable in such a setting before Kindergarten even begins.

They will develop an interest in books

Reading can be a fun adventure for children. It introduces them to a whole new world. Kindergarten teachers have amazing reading tips that can develop a child’s interest in reading. Reading will get children ready for school. The reading tips they learn at Kindergarten will come in handy, as it will be a daily activity at school.

They Will Be Familiar With The Structure Of A School Day

School is usually the first time children experience a routine schedule of their own from day to day. It can take a little while for kids to make adjustments and adapt to an every day schedule. A summer session will not only introduces the routine to children, but will allow them to make those adjustments before entering Kindergarten.

The Routine Will Prepare Their Body And Mind For The School Day

Until they reach school age, children usually wake up whenever they want, and very few of them are likely to take a nap at the same time. A summer course will assist in giving the child a more definitive sleep schedule.

They Will Be Introduced to The Student/Teacher Relationship

For most kids, other than their parents, a teacher is the first person of authority they meet.

Fine Tune Their Academics

Counting, the alphabet, and more will be taught to prepare the kids for Kindergarten. This is a nice head-start for the child as well as the teacher.

They Will Build Friendships With Peers

preschool student | Young Scholars Academy in Colorado
Kindergarten improves social skills

For many children, school is the first time they are able to interact with other kids in their own age. This can lead to some awkward times as children with siblings will try to establish a ‘pecking order’. Others may try to be more reserved if they are an only child. Why not let them work out the awkwardness during the summer? It will allow the kids more comfort when they enter Kindergarten.

Learn Respect And To Be Courteous To Their Peers

Of course, this and the previous one on our list go hand in hand. Learning respect and being courteous to others is still noteworthy. Both are characteristics the children will apply to everyone they meet, not just other kids of the same age.

Sharing And Taking Turns

Patience is embedded in sharing and taking turns, and patience is a virtue. Better to learn and develop patience as early as possible, right?

They Learn What Is Expected Of Them And What They Should Expect

This one speaks for itself.

They Start Absorbing Information And Listening

Getting into the habit of listening and focusing on everything being said is another great characteristic. The sooner a child develops this skill, the better.

It Fills The Summer With Activity

Give your child’s summer enrichment by filling it with activities. Guess what? A summer school session will do exactly that.

It Creates Opportunities For Parents To Provide Positive Reinforcement

The last on the list may be the best. A summer program like Kindergarten prep will also create things for parents to talk about with their child. It gives parents a chance to provide positive reinforcement to the child for their effort and successes over the summer.

Stressing about Kindergarten can take the fun out of an enjoyable experience. Whether or not you’re sure how to prepare your child for Kindergarten, consider enrolling your child in a summer school enrichment program. The benefits are tremendous and everyone comes out winning in the end, especially the children.

7 Ways to Enjoy National Ice Cream Month with Your Children & Stay Healthy

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July is National Ice Cream Month. This probably makes your kids very happy and your waistline a little concerned. It’s hot, and eating the cool treat sounds like a fun way to turn the temperature down. However, one cup of the dessert has about 260 calories and 14 grams of fat. How do you celebrate National Ice Cream Month and stay healthy at the same time? Chill out. It’s possible.

  1. Try Low Calorie Ice Cream

You don’t have to pack on the calories to enjoy your favorite icy delight. Many brands offer low-calorie versions of your favorite flavors. These alternatives aren’t always so healthy, though. They’re often loaded with artificial sweeteners and preservatives. After all, you have to replace the fat and calories with something else, right?

Eat This, Not That ranked Halo Top Vanilla as the best diet option out there. One pint contains 240 calories. You don’t have to challenge yourself to stop when you’re halfway through. Plus, it contains healthy fats, has no fake sweeteners and is low in sugar. Your kids won’t know the difference. Neither will you.

  1. Go For Low Sugar Ice Cream

When you cut back on sugar, you may end up consuming fewer calories. Plus, keeping sugar away from your kiddos can prevent them from turning into hyper little monsters.

So Delicious No Sugar Added Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert is sweetened with natural stevia. It contains healthy fats from coconuts. You can feel good about feeding this to your family.

  1. Make Your Own

low calorie ice cream | Young Scholars Academy in Colorado
Opt for healthier homemade options

When you make your own frozen treats, you can control the ingredients that go into it. A quick internet search will deliver lots of options for homemade recipes.

Here’s one to try:

Ingredients 3 ripe peaches, diced ¼ cup cream or coconut cream ¼ tsp vanilla extract Stevia to taste

Directions

  • Freeze the peaches for four hours.
  • Blend the peaches with the cream in a high-powered blender.
  • Add the stevia if you want more sweetness. You might not need it.

This produces a soft dessert that you can eat right away. Stick it in the freezer for another hour if you want a harder treat.

  1. Turn Bananas Into Frozen Deliciousness

Did you know that frozen bananas can be whipped up into a creamy snack or dessert? Slice bananas and freeze them on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Transfer them to plastic bags or an airtight container, and store them in the freezer. Whenever you want some frozen goodness, place some bananas in a high-powered blender. Add cocoa or peanut butter for an added punch. Blend them until they become smooth.

  1. Try Strawberry Banana Frozen Lemonade

ice cream | Young Scholars Academy in Colorado
Experiment with natural ingridients

Ditch the dairy altogether. Make a refreshing indulgence without using milk or yogurt. In a blender, combine strawberries and bananas. Mix them until they’re smooth. Add them to your ice cream maker along with some lemonade. After about 30 minutes, you’ll have a combination that tastes like a snow cone. You can also make these into frozen treats using molds.

  1. Make Themed Play Clay

Purchase or make dough for your kids to play with. Provide utensils and options for them to pretend that they have their own sweet shop. Make your own ice cream play clay by mixing one can of pre-made frosting with one cup of cornstarch. This recipe is great for toddlers. It’s edible, and it won’t harm your child if he or she makes the mistake of eating it. However, it won’t taste as good as the real thing.

Materials you need to make your own faux sundaes:

  • Play clay or dough
  • Small bowls
  • Cones made of paper or cardstock
  • Large scoops and spoons
  • Small spoons
  • Glitter or confetti for sprinkles
  • Beads, pebbles and buttons for chips and cherries
  • Straws
  • Wooden sticks for making “frozen” dessert bars

  1. Print Out Some Coolness

Use paper and scissors to celebrate the month without making your kids crazy or worrying about your weight. Print out images of cones and scoops, and have kids glue them onto paper to make their own creations. You can also make 3-D popsicles and other colorful delicacies. The best part is that these won’t melt in the summer heat.

You don’t have to fill up on fat and calories to celebrate National Ice Cream Month. Get creative. Buy something new from the store. Purchase fresh ingredients to whip up healthier options at home. Use your art supplies to make a cool dessert that won’t melt.

Parent Guilt. Yes it’s real.

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Maternity leave has taught me a few lessons this time around that I didn’t learn the first time around. The most powerful of those lessons is NO ONE has this parent thing figured out to perfection. Second- EVERYONE has an opinion on what you are doing and if they believe it is right or wrong. The best place to go if you want unsolicited advice or to feel judged is the playground or community park. (We all judge so we might as well as get that out of the way.)

Love and guidance is all they want!
Love and guidance is all they want!

Let me start this off with a positive. We are all trying our best and just hope to get our kids through this crazy thing called life. Our kids don’t need the breast over the bottle. It really doesn’t matter if we choose co-sleeping or separate room arrangements. Our children will survive if they don’t have organic everything.

All our children need in this crazy adventure that us parents have chosen to go on, is guidance and love. Yes, we need to make sure they have the essentials of life but when it comes to everything else love and guidance is all they want and truly need from us.

Guilt is a powerful thing that will consume your happiness and make you question everything in a matter of moments. (okay at least it does to me) As a parent I am constantly questioning- am I doing it right? Am I damaging this poor kid(s) by the choices I am making? I don’t usually openly say that I am concerned or questioning my choices. I truly believe in faking it till you make it. Especially in this parenting adventure.

I sit at the park letting my tiny little adventurer run up the slide, jump off the top tier of the platform and am embracing the energy that is my spazzy child. I take the parent approach of free range and reasonable risk. I live by the notion of if he doesn’t fall or fail how will he know to get back up or try again.

I don’t even realize the mom group that has formed at the picnic area next to me till I start hearing the whispers and the “don’t climb the slide that is not how we use it.” This is where I stop and cringe and try to not be that crazy mom or teacher going off the deep end about why it is okay for them to climb the slide or take a little risk. (This is where my judging comes in) We all parent different and we all have different notions on what is acceptable and what is not.

I can’t even pretend to be an exclusion of the parent shaming, judging every move another parent makes. I do and I even judge myself as I am doing it. There is no perfect parenting style or way. If there was we would all own the book and have saints of children and no tantrums or behavior issues. However, that book has not come out yet. It most likely won’t anytime soon. Not only because there is no perfect way but because each child is different in their own amazing way. So, there can’t be one way parenting.

So how do I deal with being the parent guilted from the choices I make? I pick my emotional battles. I realize that no matter what I love the tiny humans I brought into this world. I conclude that if I guide them to kindness and love them it will all be okay. I choose to let it go and try to be more understanding as I am standing at the park being the black sheep that didn’t pack the organic snacks or bring the sunscreen. I choose their happiness and my emotional sanity.

I also promise to work on my own judgmental ways and remind myself that we are all on this journey together and have various solutions to making it through this parenting thing.  And for a giggle, watch and enjoy!

 

Marshmallow Caterpillar

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Painting with food--how fun is that??!!
Painting with food–how fun is that??!!

The Summer Camp class Safari had a lot going on with their curriculum, and this gem came out of the classroom last week!

With their overall curriculum theme being “Insects” and a side lesson of the kids studying different textures and tastes, our amazing teachers went ahead and incorporated both!

Here are the steps used; this would be a great activity for a camping trip, a night around the camp fire or if you’re just feeling crafty!

Supplies:

  • 1 bag of Jumbo marshmallows
  • Paint (assorted colors)
  • Paint Brushes & Paper

Instead of using the paint brush as you would normally, have your kids put the marshmallows on the other end! Pour paint onto plates or bowls so the kids have access to multiple options. Now to allow creativity to happen we recommend you pull up a picture of a caterpillar or some other insect (if your child wants) and have them create it! They will make it look as they see fit, and that’s the beauty of it all!

Just something super easy and super cute, plus you’ll have more than enough marshmallows so be sure to make s’mores for some S’MORE memories (ha get it?!)