Cook Up a Little Something for the Kids This Thanksgiving

For most of us moms, Thanksgiving means cooking something at some level.  You may be preparing that special pie, ordering the relish tray from the market or making the whole turkey with all the yummy fixin's!  If you are not too tired you may want to whip up something to keep the kids entertained after dinner is over. My guess is you may already have some of the ingredients in your cupboards. Check out the blog post from Little Bins for Little Hands about a recipe and ideas to make some homemade pumpkin play-dough.  Collect some small sticks, field corn, leaves, pine cones and cooking cutters for the kids to use and you have an afternoon of kid ready fun, while you relax and let the tryptophan take over!

 

http://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/thanksgiving-no-cook-dough-sensory-play/

Baby It's Cold Outside!

It is here, that white fluffy stuff and lots of it! It has arrived a little earlier than we all would like I think I can safely say.  Snow, blowing and drifting, sub-zero temperatures all make us desire to hibernate and retreat inside!  If this winter is anything like last winter we will be spending a lot of time hunkered down in our homes.  When this happens, often our go to activity is to allow more TV, movies, computer games or other technology to keep the kids occupied and the parents sane.  Even infants are sometimes placed in front of the TV to watch an educational video, or toddlers are offered mom’s phone or the iPad to play a game.  It seems harmless and in some cases even good for our kids’ right?  The fact is the American Pediatric Association has recommended that children under the age of two should not be exposed to any screen time at all during this critical time of brain formation. Many studies have revealed that, extensive exposure to screens can lead to attention problems, school difficulties, sleep and eating disorders and obesity.  There has even been a link to “background media exposure” (ie. times when the TV is just on but no one is really watching) leading to some of these same effects. Some studies have linked fast-paced children’s cartoons to affecting a child’s executive functioning.  What is executive functioning anyway?  Executive functioning is the process that enables us to plan, initiate and complete an activity while controlling temper, maintaining attention and responding to feedback from others. For preschoolers, this is a critical school readiness skill that paves the way for learning academic skills such as letters, and number concepts.

So as the flakes fall and blow and the winter season becomes a reality, plan ahead for ways to fill your days.  There is NO better way to build your child’s brain than through quality interactions with you and other caregivers.  Here are some ideas to fill your days:

 PLAY OUTSIDE: Get the whole family suited up with the proper clothing to spend a little time outside.  Outside of extreme harsh temperatures, getting outside in the winter is good for everyone!, Pull your child in a sled, build a snowman, dig in the snow, make snow balls to throw, look for animal  tracks and fill your yard with snow angels!

 CREATE: There are many ways to create things with your young child, stock up with some art supplies, glue, glitter, crayons, paper, pipe cleaners, beads etc.  Stock up on the ingredients to bake cookies together or make some homemade play dough, add in some scents such as peppermint or other spices to add interest to your creation.  Build forts and communities from materials around the house for Barbie’s, other super heroes, or farm animals to live. Cut pictures and letters out of magazines and glue onto paper or in a book.  

DO THINGS TOGETHER: If you know that a snow day is on the horizon, make a stop at the library and stock up on some special books to read for that day.  It is good for your child to hear stories over and over again so if they ask for it, please oblige! Work on puzzles together, or make your own out of used cereal boxes and cut them up into different shapes that will fit together.  Write an old-fashion letter to a loved one, where your child tells you what they want to say and you write the words; enclose a special picture and get it ready to put in the mailbox! Play a board game.  Get moving, by putting on some music and dancing together, follow your child’s moves—you might learn some new ones!

Of course there may be a time to cuddle up and enjoy a favorite movie together but overall planning ahead for some back up activities will in the long run be more beneficial for both you and your child.  If you are interested in learning more about the effects of screens on the development of young children here is an article that highlights the research and recommendations specific to children under the age of three 

: http://www.zerotothree.org/parenting-resources/screen-sense/screen-sense_key-research-finds_final3.pdf

This blog post was submitted by Cheryl Granzo, Director of Early Childhood Programs for Ionia ISD.

October: A "Sticky" Month of Learning

Kindergartners learning how to stretch our words and “label” by first labeling their teacher with sticky notes and then our classroom too! Kids can practice labeling items in their homes as well by using scrap paper or sticky notes!

Welcome to my favorite time of year!  The kids are changing as much as the seasons are right now. Expectations are growing for our young learners, and parent teacher conferences are right around the corner as well.

So, what skills are we looking for at the end of October? Please realize that when making this list, that there are always exceptions to the rule, which is why teachers work so hard to differentiate the curriculum to best suit the needs of the individuals in our classrooms.

• Children are putting more details into their drawings and coloring with real colors. No more purple cats!
• Children are labeling their pictures and writing down the sounds that they hear when they S T R E T C H out words.

• Students are learning how to reflect on their writing through conferring with their teacher and focusing on strategies that they can use to make their writing better.
• Students should be writing their names with the appropriate use and size of upper and lower case letters.
• They are beginning to predict what may come next in a story, or how a story might end.
• Asks and answers questions about a story.
• Produces rhymes, isolates initial consonants and some children are beginning to blend sounds.
• They are grouping items and counting by 5’s and 10’s and are learning to use a 10 frame mat/structure. http://youtu.be/p6RaMGDPfJg

• Students are working on number sense to 5 as well as beginning level addition and subtraction by using a variety of math tools such as bean counters (with one side painted orange),              

rekenreks,  unifix cubes, etc. They are also learning to solve math problems with drawings and/or numbers and are learning how to explain their solutions/answers.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp_ogl2iH_Q

• Identifying Numbers to 20 and counting to 100 by ones and tens.
• Counting by 5’s to 30
• Counting objects with 1:1 correspondence to 20
• They are learning to monitor their own progress by keeping track of either a journal of work, or possibly a writing folder. Many children may be working with math or science journals as well.
• Socially, students are being asked to work alone, in small groups and large groups as well.
• They are learning problem solving techniques for dealing with both academic and social day to day difficulties.

Finally, I would like to add just a note about kindergarten parent-teacher conferences. Parent-teacher conferences are the best way for you to stay informed and updated on your child’s progress. It is vital that the lines of communication stay open between home and school. Please take this time to ask questions and learn about new curriculum. Ask what resources are available if your child needs help, and don’t be afraid to say if you feel that your child needs to be challenged! Bring a pencil and notebook with you to list questions that may arise or things that you might need clarification on. List possible parent resources and tips that the teacher might give for working you’re your child at home. Generally, conferences at the kindergarten level are for parents only, as it gives all adults the opportunity to be honest about the child without them hearing any criticism. Remember that the relationship between your child and their teacher is an important one!

More than anything, your involvement in your child’s education sends the message to them that school is important. Be your own child’s advocate and become an active part of their success at school!  

Renee Gillespie authored this blog, she has taught kindergarten and developmental kindergarten in Belding for 28 years. She has a first-hand account of what is required of children and of teachers during this first year in the public school system.