Events & Updates - Young Scholars Academy

Benefits of Preschool Education

February 29, 2016 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

Preschool is a unique opportunity for children to learn in ways that they may not ever be able to again. The brain of a preschool age child is at a stage of development where it is structured to quickly adopt new information and utilize it. There is more learning going on in a preschool age child than there is in college students. They are literally absorbing the world around them.

As parents, you want to make sure that you are offering your child the best opportunities for a successful academic future. The first step to giving your children a boost is to enroll them in a quality preschool education program. A quality preschool education program will ignite your child’s curiosity and fuel their life long pursuit of learning. Here’s how:

The Transition: Preschool Education

As the name suggests, “pre” school is supposed to be a training ground for real school. It’s kind of like a bike with training wheels. It has all the parts of a bike. It looks like a bike. But it also has extra supports in case something goes wrong or the rider needs a little balance. Preschool provides the balance and support children need before they are thrown into formal learning.

Without an introduction to formal learning in preschool education, the abrupt beginning of kindergarten can shock and overwhelm a child. Preschool education offers the perfect transition between informal play and formal learning, which will give your child a leg up when they get to kindergarten.

Academic Benefits of Preschool Education

The academic benefits of preschool programs have been well studied and documented. According to a report on the effectiveness of New Mexico’s pre-K initiative released by the National Institute for Early Education Research, four year old participants showed increases in math, early language and literacy skills.

Another study of Oklahoma’s preschool initiative reported that the study results “provide solid support for the benefits that such a program can have on the test scores of young children of differing ethnic and racial groups and from differing socioeconomic backgrounds.” The authors of the study go on to say that “the program appears to have its largest effects on the Letter– Word Identification subtest, which assesses pre-reading abilities; followed by the Spelling subtest, and finally the Applied Problems subtest.” Because of these statistically solid results, the authors conclude that “our research supports the proposition that a universal pre-K program financed by state government and implemented by the public schools can improve pre-reading, prewriting, and pre-numeracy skills for a diverse cross-section of young children.”

Preschool Education at Young Scholars Academy

The preschool programs at Young Scholars Academy in Colorado Springs are both fun and educational! Our goal here at Young Scholars Academy is to challenge the kids but do so in a way that is going to make the most impact (they’re only kids once!) Come check out our preschool program and contact us today! We look forward to hearing from you!

Preschool Music Programs

February 3, 2016 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

Taken by themselves, the benefits of preschool and early childhood education for children are incredible. Children exposed to a preschool setting are given the opportunity to socialize and learn in ways that many children have to wait until kindergarten to explore. Even more, a preschool education coupled with a music education program is highly beneficial for the children who get to participate in them. Music education helps develop the child’s motor and intellectual skills in ways that far exceed the qualities of normal classroom learning.

What are Early Education Music Programs?

Preschool music programs are designed to give young children their first exposure to music as a way of learning. They are also introduced to music as an object of learning. Your child has no doubt by this stage developed an ear for music and perhaps sings along to their favorite songs on repeat, over and over, much to your enjoyment and exhaustion. The next step is to teach the rudiments of music theory. That is what preschool music programs do.

Some Benefits of Preschool Music Programs

According to research compiled by PBS, music education imparts a number of positive benefits on all age groups. In preschool age groups specifically, music programs have been shown to develop the part of the brain involved in language acquisition and speech. Language development, the article continues, is essential for proper social development as well.

Another benefit of preschool music programs has been revealed in measures of intellect. According to the results of a study conducted by E. Glenn Schellenburg at the University of Toronto at Mississauga, six year olds who were given weekly music lessons showed an increase in IQ test scores over children who did not participate in any music education programs. This should come as no surprise. Neuroscience has discovered that the brain of early musicians works more efficiently than that of a non-musician.

Even further, because of the more efficiently functioning brain and neural network of the child exposed to music programs, these children also exhibit improvements in fine motor skills, sound discrimination and spatial temporal skills.

All these subtle benefits of preschool music programs are also displayed academically. According to a 2007 study, students who were involved in music education programs scored 22 points higher in English and 20 percent higher in math scores on standardized tests.

Music Education Programs at Young Scholars Academy

At Young Scholars Academy of Colorado, we are proud to offer quality preschool and school age programs in the Colorado Springs area. The mighty moves program emphasizes the importance of both exercise and music. Our children become active while dancing to music, learning spatial awareness, how to incorporate your 5 senses, stability, loco-motor skills, object manipulation, all while Learning from our Food Friends how to eat healthy! Come check out all our programs and contact us today!

Ideas For Busy Parents For Creative And Healthy School Lunches

January 26, 2016 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

There is a wealth of information available about the importance of good nutrition in brain functioning. Growing kids, in particular, need to have a balance of complex carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats and of course, all the vitamins and minerals their little body needs.

The good news is that kids that bring their own lunches and snacks to school don’t have to end up with the same old thing every day. There are a lot of simple, quick, and easy ways to make really interesting, tasty and healthy foods your kids will love.

Go Insulated

One of the best things to invest in is an insulated lunch bag. These will be very helpful in keeping cold foods cool, especially when paired with an ice-pack. By placing the ice-pack in a zip-lock bag, you can prevent any problems with leaks and still keep fresh fruits, vegetables, dips, cheeses and meats at the right temperature.

Healthy Lunches and Snacks

For some healthy yet simple to make lunch options besides traditional sandwiches consider the following:

• Turkey or chicken or cheese wraps using lettuce, thin strips of red or yellow peppers, and a bit of salsa rather than mayonnaise.
• Pasta salad with mixed vegetables, cheese, diced hard boiled eggs or even diced ham. Use an Italian dressing for something different or a ranch dressing for a more traditional taste.
• Whole grain crackers with cheese, meat and your kid’s favorite pickles. Each can be packaged separately, and the child can make his or her own “stackers” for some fun finger food.
• Fresh cut vegetables with a dip made of ranch dressing or plain yogurt with fresh or dried herbs. Try some unique vegetable options such as colored bell peppers, purple or orange cauliflower, fennel and sugar peas for variety.
• Cube up fresh fruit and provide a creamy dip. This can be made with vanilla yogurt or any other flavor your child enjoys. Remember, fruit and vegetables should be paired with a protein for energy.
• Homemade trail mix can include dried fruits, berries and nuts depending on your child’s preferences and what the school allows.
• Mini-pretzels with a side of salsa for dipping are a great snack and healthier that chips or sugary treats.

Be sure to check with the school regarding any issues with children having peanuts or other types of nuts or foods in the school. Providing a good selection of different items for the child in the lunch is always a good option, as is having your child help you in choosing what they would like to have.

Relationship Issues For The New Kids At School

January 21, 2016 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

tips for new kids on the block — It’s tough being the new kid on the block

As adults, we sometimes forget how difficult it is for a child to go to a new school. They have to go by themselves to a new school, a new classroom, and to have to try to form a whole new group of friends.

For many children there is a lot of anxiety and stress around the first few days and weeks at a new school. This discomfort can be a lot more pronounced if the child is naturally more introverted and shy or has difficulty in starting conversations.

Parents can help their children as the “new kid” by working with the child on how to strike up a conversation, what to look for in a friend, and how to meet new peers and adults in the school. At the same time, parents of kids familiar with the school and with an already established peer group can also talk to their kids about how to include new students in a way that is welcoming and inviting.

New Kids

To help with children going to a new school, or when they are in a school where they know only a few people, parents can help by:

• Brainstorming a list of important qualities to look for in a friend
• Develop a list of conversation starter topics that the child is comfortable with and that are interesting to other kids
• Learn about the neighborhood and the school together by doing some online research. This will help the child feel more comfortable about the school itself as well as local areas.
• Go to the school and spend some time on the playground, ideally with other kids around, so your child gets to know a few recognizable faces
• It is also important to encourage your kids to stay connected to their existing friends. They can write letters, send emails, or make phone calls to keep that connection and to help them feel in a group.

Returning Children

For parents of kids returning to the same school, helping them to understand the challenges for the “new kids” can help them to come up with ways to make newcomers feel welcome.

The same activities, including brainstorming what a new person to the school would need to know, can help parents and kids develop some concrete ways to help new children adjust to the school. Encouraging kids to introduce themselves, start conversations and be helpful is a gift a parent can give that will help their child have positive interactions with others for life.

Thank you for reading!

What Parents Need To Know About Kids And Dirt

January 11, 2016 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

Young Scholars Academy Colorado — Mud pies aren’t for eating!

As a parent it can be more than a bit unnerving in having to deal with all the strange things that kids do. As spring comes around and children who have been cooped up indoors all year take to the backyard, playgrounds, and parks parent may observe some very perplexing and potentially concerning behaviors.

Children, especially toddlers, are very likely to be learning about the world around them for the first time. This often includes putting things in their mouth, including things like dirt and mud. As a parent your first instinct may be to rush your child to the hospital, but the behavior, if a rare incident, may not be any reason for concern.

Normal Kid Stuff
Believe it or not the EPA or Environmental Protection Agency of the United States has actually completed a study on the prevalence of children eating dirt. They have discovered that about 20% of all normal, healthy and well-adjusted children will eat approximately one teaspoon of dirt sometime before the age of three.

When children are tasting and sampling small amounts of soil it is typically natural curiosity about the world around them. This behavior should be minimal and should not be part of a pattern. In addition, children will often put other objects in their mouths such as toys, sticks, rocks and even dirty hands that may also have some quantity of soil on their surface.

Concerns
There is some natural and real concern in children eating soil, dirt, mud, sand or dust. The biggest issue is contamination with pesticides, herbicides and heavy metals that can be present in any soil.

With a small amount of soil this is typically not a health issue. However, if the child continues to eat soil or other non-food items it is important to contact your doctor immediately.

If you have pets such as cats or dogs, there is an increased risk there may be parasites in the soil. Not all parasites of dogs or cats can be passed to humans, but some can. Treating your pets regularly for worms and parasites can reduce this risk to almost zero. It is also critical to keep the yard free of any animal waste.

As a parent, talk to your doctor if you notice any signs of a child eating dirt. In the vast majority of cases it is just normal experimentation, but you and your doctor can ensure that the child is safe and is not at risk for any possible health issues from the consumption of soil.

Let kids be kids! Thank you for reading!