All Hands on to PLAY Outside!

Now that it is warming up outside, it is the perfect time to yield the important advice that is offered in this blog post.  The first few sentences of the blog resonate with all of us that are early childhood educators, we need less sedentary play with devices and more active learning with the world we live in. 

"I get asked ALL.THE.TIME. for my recommendations of learning apps for babies and toddlers. Hands-on play is the best learning app, and the the perfect classroom for that learning right outside your back door. "

Click on the link to read more about the classroom that awaits you just outside your front door.

Nature is The Best App

Vocabulary Matters!

This is just a message that can not be emphasized enough. Early vocabulary is very important to a child's ability to read and write later.  

Research suggests that poor children hear just 600 words per hour, while more affluent children hear 2,000.

TALK, READ, SING AND PILE ON THE WORDS!

Click on the link below to learn more.

Georgia's Plan to Close the 30 Million Word Gap

The Power of WAITING!

It might not be something you think of; but as parents with children who are developing language, sometimes the best thing you can do is wait and listen.

In my 12 weeks as an Early On intern, I have observed how a concept so simple can have such a large impact on a child’s language development.

What it looks like….

Give Them a Chance

When you wait patiently for your child to formulate his thoughts or make a request, you give your child the opportunity to show you what he/she knows and can say. Showing your child, by waiting, that you are interested in what they are doing will instill confidence in young children as communicators.

Let Them Lead

Wait and follow your child’s lead when choosing an activity or toy. When children are participating in an enjoyable activity, it increases the chance your child will be interested in communicating or talking about those interests. Waiting for them to take the lead provides young children with the opportunity to practice communication while having fun.

Silence Isn’t Always Bad

As adults, it might feel natural to want to fill the “silence” with chatter. Children who are still learning how to process incoming language might need a little extra time thinking. The chatter can sometimes be overwhelming and distracting. Pausing and waiting clearly indicates to your child that it is their time to speak and gives them time to formulate a message and respond. Don’t be afraid of pauses. Slow down and take the time to listen to what children have to say.

Too Many Questions

Too often parents bombard their child with questions upon questions and don’t wait and allow them enough time to respond on their own. Kiddos have a lot to say; but if you don’t allow them the chance to speak and formulate a response, it could be limiting their chance to grow in their language development. A good rule of thumb for this strategy is to try and wait between five to ten seconds after asking a child a question.

Waiting is probably the most difficult thing for parents to do—but you will be surprised once you wait and listen how much more your kiddo may talk. So go ahead, wait and see what happens!

 This post was provided by Hannah Duke, a Michigan State University graduate student and intern with the Early-On program in Ionia County.

4 Focuses When Picking the Perfect Preschool

It is May and that may mean you are on the hunt for a preschool program for the fall. If you are looking for a high quality preschool program that is a good fit for your child you may want to consider some of the suggestion in the following article.

4 Focuses When Picking the Perfect Preschool

Cooking in Preschool

Once a month we incorporate a cooking experience into our room.  I send home a letter asking for donations of what we will need to become GSRP Chef’s.  Since there is no oven available, we use simple recipes. The experience of creating meals together can help build children’s self-confidence and lay the foundation for healthy eating habits.  

It may take a little flexibility and some simple prep work, but with the right expectations, your time in the kitchen with your preschooler can be a culinary adventure you'll both enjoy.   This will not only be a fun and messy day, we are also learning:

Math: Following directions, measuring and number concepts.

Science: Life Science and making predictions.

Literacy: Vocabulary and language development and reading directions on recipe cards.

Fine Motor: using tools such as knives and developing muscles and coordination in the hand and fingers

Whenever possible we try to include a picture recipe so children can start be independent if possible when choosing to “cook” and item.

The following are some pictures of children preparing applesauce in the crockpot in the preschool classroom.

This blog post was contributed by Michelle Aldrich, teaching assistant in the Great Start Readiness Program operated by Eight Cap, Inc.