Events & Updates - Young Scholars Academy

Holiday Joy to You and Yours!

December 22, 2016 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

We hope you all have had such a great time this holiday season!

One thing we try and foster with the kids in community and the importance of giving. For the 5th year in a row we were able to support the Colorado Springs Christmas Tree project! The CSCTP donates Christmas trees to families not just in Colorado Springs but all over the state to families who are in hardship, just went through crisis or simply just need some help.

We wrangled up a couple different recipes and the kids put on their aprons and went to work! We are more than a little proud to say that our kids collectively made OVER 700 handmade ornaments for these families! To learn more about this for next year visit: The Christmas Tree Project

Merry Christmas from the Young Scholars Academy kids, parents and team!

What is the Difference Between Preschool and Daycare?

December 20, 2016 by Admin 1 Comment

If you want to start your child’s education early, you may need a preschool. If you need child care in a positive environment, you may need a day care. The process of evaluating each can be confusing. It can also be hard to tell the difference between preschool and day care. There are distinct differences between them which may sway your decision in either direction.

How Preschools and Day Cares are Similar

When looking for a good Colorado Springs child care facility, you will want to check the details of each. Both preschool and day care centers should have licensed and accredited teachers and caretakers. Both preschool and day care centers should have a structured curriculum. This structure will give your kids a proper pre-kindergarten or supplemental education.

The cost is about the same for your child with either choice in Colorado Springs. Don’t think that preschool should to be more expensive. If you find that preschools are more expensive, it might be a better idea to save money and enroll your child into day care. Either choice should provide a great education for your child.

How Preschool and Day Care Differ

Both preschools and day cares can give your kids the education they need to excel in kindergarten. The first big distinction between preschool and day care are the age limit differences. Preschools are designed for children ages three to five. They lay the foundation for kindergarten. Day cares accept a wide range of ages. They care for children in households where both parents work.

Because of the limited age range, preschools tend to have a specific curriculum aimed at pre-kindegarten children. But is a preschool considered a preschool only if there is a focused curriculum? The short answer is no. While day care centers are often seen as babysitting solutions. Many also have focused and structured curriculums. These are usually geared for children of different ages. These centers can tend be larger to accommodate different age groups.

One important thing to consider is that you may need to be more involved with your preschool. For example, if your child gets sick, you would need to come in to take care of the problem. Some preschools also require your child to be properly potty trained. Preschools also have stricter rules then day care centers. A day care centers’ emphasis is on caring for your children while you are working.

Another consideration will be their hours of operation. Preschools tend to have shorter hours and often operate on the regular school calendar. Day cares are generally more flexible. They have hours to focus on caring for children with working parents. Day care is the preferred option for households with working parents as they need to pick up their children after work.

Other Things to Look For

There are other things to consider when looking for a Colorado Springs child care center. For example, some centers will have music and art programs to help your kids develop their creative brains. Other centers may have language classes to get your kids started on a second language at an early age. While these programs are nice, not all Colorado Springs preschools offer these programs. Try to focus on what is most important to you and your child when deciding on a Colorado Springs day care or preschool.

You may want to avoid child care centers that have an accelerated education curriculum unless your child has already started kindergarten. Understanding that child care centers provide a foundation for education is helpful. Toddlers may not be able to comprehend or keep up with the details of accelerated education. These centers charge more than average preschools because of the advanced education level.

If you’re looking for a reputable Colorado Springs child care center, you should consider the Young Scholars Academy. We offer education for a wide age range, have diverse child care programs, and also have before/after school programs for busy parents. Contact us to learn more about how we operate and how we can accommodate to your needs.

Holiday Spirit

December 9, 2016 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

Winter is coming, and that means that the holidays are on their way. It’s the perfect time to feel the holiday spirit and try to help your fellow man. There are a lot of different ways to do that, so it’s easy to find something that can make a difference for a small part of the world that anyone can handle.

Donate Blood

The Red Cross always needs blood donations, but the need increases during times when people are more likely to be injured. People travel a lot around the holidays, which means there are more accidents and thus more injuries, so blood banks can run into trouble during the holidays. Blood also spoils quickly, so you can be sure that your donation is needed, especially if you have a rare blood type. Donating blood is quick, easy, and free, so it’s a great option for people who are interested in giving back to others without going to too much trouble.

The best way to donate blood is to schedule a visit to a local blood drive. Most blood drives will advertise for several days before the event, so it’s relatively easy to find one. The Red Cross can also help you to find the nearest blood drive if there aren’t any local advertisements. If there aren’t any blood drives to attend, consider organizing one of your own. It takes more work, but blood can save lives, so it’s certainly worth the effort.

Volunteering as a Tutor

Education is one of the keys to building a better life, but sometimes getting an education is easier said than done. Volunteering your time as a tutor can give the gift of knowledge to someone in need, and that gift can pay dividends for years to come. There are several ways to do this, so most people can find some way to help.

Literacy is one of the most important skills because it enables people to learn other things, but some people have trouble with it. Children need to practice reading if they’re going to get good at it, but they don’t always get that chance at home. Providing it is a great way to give back to the community. Simply handing out simple books and giving children the chance to read to you as you fix their mistakes can be a big help. Reading to them is also useful, and almost any adult can do it.

Older students often need help with specific subjects. Helping them requires more specialized knowledge, but you can still do it if you understand the subject. Adults with specialized skills, like woodworking, can also take the chance to pass those on. They aren’t always taught in school, but they’re still useful.

The best way to get involved through tutoring is to contact a local school and ask if they need help with any of their clubs or programs. Libraries are also a good choice, especially for people who want to help with literacy issues. Even if they don’t need volunteers themselves, they can usually point you towards a program that does.

Cook a Feast

Most holidays involve big meals with big groups of people. If you’re filled with the holiday spirit and want to give back in a way that fits the season, you can’t go wrong by contributing to a meal for the community.

These community meals help to solve several different problems at the same time. At a basic level, they can help to fight hunger in the community. They can also spread some holiday joy to people who aren’t able to afford the traditional meal on their own. One meal may not seem like much, but it can make a big difference to people who are on the verge of poverty.

Community feasts also offer a hidden benefit. It isn’t much fun to be alone for the holidays, but it happens to a surprising number of people. These events give those individuals a chance to come together with other people for the holidays that would otherwise be denied to them. That’s a powerful gesture, and it can make the holidays much brighter.

Remember the Essentials

In the end, the holidays are a time to give back to the community. Even a small effort can make a big difference, so there’s no reason not to do something to help others. As long as you remember the golden rule when you volunteer, it’s hard to go wrong.

image credits: http://kut.org/term/thanksgiving, https://dougmatlock.wordpress.com/2013/11/13/i-hate-giving-blood-but/, http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/haveamagnificentday/2011/12/holiday-spirit-the-spirit-of-giving.html

8 Tips for Choosing Childcare

November 3, 2016 by Young Scholars Academy 1 Comment

Your child is the most important and precious person in your life. Therefore, when it is time to choose child care, there are several things to consider to ensure that your little darling will be in the best care. After all, every parent believes that their child is most protected with them. Although this may be true in many aspects, there are strategies that you can utilize in order to give yourself peace of mind when it is time to put your child in child care. Here are eight tips for choosing childcare for your child.

Tip #1: Make certain that it is safe and secure.

When you are taking a tour of the centers, check for safety concerns such as security systems, child-proofing, and the separation of the little kids from the older ones. Ensure that the building and other equipment is well-maintained. That way, you will know whether there are potential hazards that will threaten your child’s welfare.

Tip #2: Examine the cleanliness.

Make sure the childcare center is fun and educational!

When it comes to choosing the best center, cleanliness is one of the top priorities. Look around and observe whether the caregivers are instructing the children to wash their hands after using the bathroom, before mealtime, and after coming in from playing outside. It is common knowledge that children are exposed to a variety of viruses in centers than at home.

Tip #3: Make sure it has a friendly and warm environment.

When your child is leaving your home’s amiable environment, one of your main concerns is whether your child will be in the same caring surroundings. When you are viewing the centers watch and observe the one-on-one attention from the caregivers. Are the children smiling and laughing? Are they conversing with the caregivers? Are the teachers being kind to the kids and tending to each child’s individual needs? The answers to these questions will let you know whether your child will be in an affectionate center when he or she is away from you.

Tip #4: Check for specialized child development training.

While observing all of the center’s qualifications, do not forget to ask the center’s director as well as each caregiver for their individual qualifications. Confirm that each staff has the necessary training when it comes to dealing with young children.

best childcare in colorado springs — The best childcare programs are educational and fun!

Tip #5: Ask for references.

What better way to check the quality of a child care center than to ask for references. Request contact information for current or past parents from the center. Another effective way to acquire recommendation is to check online. There are a variety of ways for parents to search the website for center testimonials.

Tip #6: Ensure that the center is accredited.

Keep in mind that when a center is accredited, they have gone through a difficult process for their accreditation. This means that a nationally-recognized outside agency has observed the classrooms, and health and safety checks have been completed. Center accreditation will give you the comfort in knowing that the center had to meet the extremely high standards of the agency in order to gain its accreditation.

Tip #7: Make sure that the staff communicates well with the parents.

Parents must be a high priority for the center. When the children’s parents come for pickup, stay to observe the way that the caregivers update the parents on the children’s day. When caregivers are able to provide parents with the kids’ daily activities and their unique individual experiences, it means two things–that the caregivers care about each child’s needs and progress and that they respect the parents.

Tip #8: Check to see if the childcare center is stimulating.

An excellent and superlative center will offer educational child care. When viewing the centers, examine how the caregivers spend the day with the kids. Is it a center that allows the kids to run wild or does the staff teach them? What type of learning materials are used? Are there puzzles, books, blocks, and an area for dramatic play. You want to make certain that your child will not be in a disorganized environment. Your perfect center will be one that cares about your child’s cognitive development.

It is every parent’s worse nightmare when they have to finally separate from their child and choose outside care for their beloved child. That is why these eight tips are there to see to it that you select that five-star center. Remember that your child’s safety depends on your clever choice in the best childcare center.

Difference Between Preschool and Daycare

October 31, 2016 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

After having a child, many parents are faced with the decision of child care for when they are at work. There are two different options that parents can choose from – preschool and daycare. Many parents have to consider the differences between the two forms of child care. Let’s take a look at what the main differences between preschool and daycare are and how you can decide which is best for your family.

daycare in Colorado springs, image of child with a guitar. — Daycare is for all ages!

Pre-School

Typically, preschool (pre-k) centers are focused on preparing a child to begin school and provide for an early learning program. However, most pre-k programs are usually limited on the age ranges they can accept. Many preschools typically are only able to accept children beginning around the age of three who are fully potty trained up to the age of five. A pre-k program generally provides care for shorter hours to essentially mimic a school day and do not provide care for children during school breaks, holidays, and summer vacations. Some pre-k’s may offer extended care programs, which may keep them open during school breaks and summer vacations. An immense benefit to a pre-k institution is that your child will be in a program that allows them to interact with children their own age. This level of interaction allows your child to create and sustain relationships with his or her peers based on any similarities that they may have.

PreK Pro’s include:

– a school like schedule
– age based programs
– grow strong relationships with peers

Day Care

Child care providers, or daycare centers, are typically more flexible in their hours and encompass a care plan for a wider range of age groups. Many working parents feel that child care is more convenient for them because the hours are typically longer than a preschool center and they do not have to have a larger back up plan for any school breaks. Going with a daycare route does not limit your child to interacting with child who are only in their specific age group and can provide additional benefits in their development. As a daycare provider is able to have children of multiple age groups coexist in one central location, many children are provided with the benefit of learning things about their peers who are in different age groups and can ascertain a level of compassion earlier on in their personal development that they may not have a chance to cultivate in a pre-k program. In many instances, parents may not see a difference between a daycare or a pre-k program.

Day Care Pros include:

– more freedom for a work schedule
– develop a sense of compassion due to the expansion of age groups involved in care
– lower cost

Pricing

Typically, pricing between a daycare center and a preschool are relatively similar. Each institution also requires similar, if not the same certifications. However, many times a parent may pick an in home daycare ran by a private provider that does not have as strict of a certification plan to follow in order to cut daycare costs. This is not a bad idea, if the family is comfortable with the provider they have selected.
Care Provider Introductions
It is always best practice to have your child visit with the person/people whose care he or she may be in for the day. Setting up a visitation allows for everyone to meet and for parents to see how their child will react with the care provider.

Emphasis on Education

Many times, parents are also concerned with the chance of any educational differences between a typical generic daycare program and a pre-k setting. However, generic daycare can provide as much of an educational day for your child as a pre-k program. The best day care programs are focused on providing your child with a day that will encourage cognitive, social, and physical development. It is important for families to keep in mind that preparing your child for elementary school does not always mean that you have to put your child into an exceptionally scrupulous academically based program. If your child’s daycare provider thoroughly cares for the development of your son or daughter, they will ensure that the daily routine for your child encompasses a strong emphasis on educational marks that are developmentally appropriate for your child.

As new parents, it is imperative that you and your significant other look at each type of program that is available in your area and weigh out your personal pro’s and con’s to each available program. However, when families are making their decisions, they must also include the location of each program in their pro/con list. Many times, you may feel rushed in the mornings as you get into a new routine with your child and you want to ensure that your mornings go as smoothly as possible which is why location is key. Each family may have a different opinion regarding the best child care and best preschool choices that will work better in the benefit for the schedule of the parents and the development of their child.

Preschool and Daycare at Young Scholars Academy in Colorado Springs.

At Young Scholars Academy in Colorado Springs, we want you to make the best childcare decision for your child and your family. But we also want you to check out our great preschool programs and stop by our childcare center. We will be happy to answer all your questions during your search! Contact us today!