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5 Things to Avoid When Potty Training

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So as parents there is always the unsolicited advice of how to do things. Which foods are best, the best diapers to use, the best parks. It can all be so overwhelming!

Patience and understanding go a long way!
Patience and understanding go a long way!

This is very true when it comes to Potty Training as well. From when a child should be potty trained to how one should go about it, there are just so many “ways” you can or cannot approach this development milestone. Social emotionally potty training a child can be a very hard thing for a child to comprehend and establish.

From one mom to another, and with my background in Early Childhood Education I have compiled just 5 things you should avoid, good luck!

1. Do not make it a battle. 
If you both are in tears by the time you get your little one to sit on the potty, it is not the right time. It shouldn’t be a game of bribing and fighting. If a child is truly ready to be potty trained they will sit and try freely and with enthusiasm. When be forced to sit on the potty the child becomes even more scared of the act and thus the whole process will take longer.

2. Do not reprimand children for having an accident or shame for not using the potty. 
As stated above potty training is more about the social emotional aspect. It should never be about embarrassing the child or making them guilty for having an accident. Along with anything children try to master there will be digression and progression till full on mastery, patience can and will be your best friend throughout this process. (Note: Pediatricians claim to not worry that your child is not potty trained until age 4!)

3. Do not start potty training in a transition or in times of stress. 
If you are moving into or out of a house, have any major changes in schedule or the household we strongly encourage you to wait on potty training. Children are some of the best feelers in the world and they understand when something in their routine is off. Instead wait till a positive routine can be
established, studies show that parents are much more successful at this time as well.

4. Do not limit yourself to one method! 
Just like when we teach our curriculum, we always have different learning methods for our different learners. This is something to be considered when you are implementing potty training methods! A good rule of thumb is try a practice for 2 weeks, if it doesn’t work that’s when you can transition to something else! What worked for the first child might not work for the second child. Allow yourself trial and error. Remember to keep positive!

5. Do not compare your methods or progress with someone else’s.
It is said that comparison is the thief of joy, don’t take away your child’s small victories because another child in their class is at another level. Every child is different! There are many cases when a child can become potty trained in 3 days and others in 3 months. It is a good thing to try and learn new methods from other moms and dads, but always take into consideration your own child and keep in mind that you are their biggest advocates!

I guess you could say that “Mommin’ Aint Easy” and potty training most definitely is not for the faint of heart! Steal your kids capes from dress up, put them on and tackle potty training like a pro!

Thanks for the read,
Michaela R. 
Young Scholars Academy, Child Success Advocate, Early Childhood Educator

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

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What does my child need to know for Kindergarten?

Every new parent wonders what the answer to this question is. Especially when their child begins closing in on the magic age of five. The best thing parents can do is make sure you prepare your child for Kindergarten. If you aren’t sure how to do that, then it’s time to do some research. Whether you teach your child at home or send them to a trustworthy preschool in Colorado Springs, consider signing your child up for summer preschool before entering Kindergarten.

Here are 13 great reasons why summer preschool is a good way to prepare children for Kindergarten:

When School Starts, They’ll Be Focused Instead Of Distracted By Separation

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Kids have fun at summer school

Most children become upset, frightened, or anxious the first few days of Kindergarten. Having experience at a summer program makes children less likely to display those emotions and more likely to remain calm and focused.

They Will Become Comfortable In A Social Setting

Preschool gives children a chance to participate in a socially engaging environment. They can become comfortable in such a setting before Kindergarten begins.

They Will Be Familiar With The Structure Of A School Day

School is almost always the first time children experience a routine schedule from day to day. It can take a little while for kids to make adjustments and adapt to an everyday schedule. A summer session will not only introduce a routine to children but also allows them to adjust to it before entering Kindergarten.

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

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

They Will Gain An Understanding Of The Student/Teacher Relationship

For most kids, other than their parents, a teacher is the first person of authority they meet. Children will learn how to approach and communicate with teachers appropriately and with respect.

They Can Start Academics

Counting to 20, the alphabet and more is taught to prepare the kids for Kindergarten. They often start to read small words and expand their vocabulary. Summer preschool is a nice head start for the child as well as the Kindergarten teacher.

Start Building Friendships With Peers

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Summer school helps kids bond

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. Some children with siblings will try to establish a ‘pecking order’ while others may be more reserved due to being the only child. Why not let them work out the awkwardness during summer preschool to allow the kids more comfort when they enter Kindergarten.

Learn Respect And How To Be Courteous To Peers

Regardless, learning respect and being courteous to others is still very important. Both are characteristics the children will apply to everyone they meet, not just other kids.

Learn How To Share And Take Turns

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

Understand What Is Expected Of Them And What They Should Expect From School

They start to understand what is expected of them in regards to classwork and behavior. Children come to rely on the structure of the class, which helps to reduce anxiety about not knowing what to do. It better prepares them for entering grade school.

Listen And Absorb Information

Getting into the habit of listening to and focusing on everything being said is another great characteristic. The sooner a child develops this skill, the better. Our preschool in Colorado Springs will build on these skills while making learning fun.

Preschool Fills The Summer With Activities

Give your children some summer enrichment and fun by filling it with activities. A summer preschool session will do exactly that. Activities that are age appropriate and keep children engaged is what you can expect in a summer program.

Creates Opportunities For Parents To Provide Positive Reinforcement

A summer program like Kindergarten preparation will also create reasons for parents to talk with their child. Giving parents a chance to provide positive reinforcement to the child for their effort and successes during the summer. Stressing about Kindergarten can take the fun out of an enjoyable experience. Whether or not you know how to prepare your child for Kindergarten, consider enrolling your child in summer preschool. The benefits are tremendous, and everyone comes out winning in the end, especially the children.

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.