Teaching Mini Manners, Part 2

Manners to be enforced in preschool years: Do not make fun of someone’s appearance or call names: As mentioned, children are bound to say anything that crosses their minds. It is important to teach a child that insulting someone is unacceptable. A child may not understand she is insulting someone but only pointing out a fact such as someone has a large nose or is overweight. A child also may not understand that laughing at another person is hurtful. Children are egocentric and need constant direction in this area. Take swift action if your child insults another person or child. … Continue reading

Fun Ways to Teach ABC’s

Teaching the alphabet is magical. A child gets to see how those letters she never recognized come together to form words she does recognize. Once she learns the sounds and begins to form words she realized the magic in books. Soon you will have an avid reader on your hands. Before you check out all the books in the juvenile section of your local library you need to start off with the basics. The basics begin with letter recognition and simple phonics. There are fun ways to teach ABCs and here are a few. Paint Strip Letters: Go to your … Continue reading

ABCs and 123s

As a toddler parent, should I be singing the ABCs and 123s more than I do? I am always singing and talking to Jessie, but I forget these basic songs. We have a number of toys that stress the alphabet and Jessie enjoys playing with them. I still feel I should do more. Today in Gymboree we had a substitute teacher. Kyle is really energetic and a lot of fun. He’s been training at our location for a few weeks now. Jessie hasn’t been too keen on Kyle because she’s generally not OK with men other than daddy. She did … Continue reading

Teaching through Song

One of our roles as parents is teaching our children things that we feel are important. It begins by helping them learn about the little world around them when they are tiny and expands into teaching them about the great big world out there as they grow. Soon, we’re helping them get ready to start school and before long, helping them with homework. Memorizing facts, and especially lists, can often become monotonous. One of the great ways to make memorization more fun -not to mention more effective- is to make up little songs. I remember being taught this way in … Continue reading

Have a Kickin’ Kindergarten Graduation Party

They may be little, but graduation day is still a big deal for kindergarteners.  Young kids love to celebrate and while mastering the ABCs and 123s may not compare to earning a college degree, it warrants some type of ceremony. Fortunately, you don’t have to break the bank honoring your little graduate.  Rather, keep the shindig simple by selecting a theme that yields itself to inexpensive fun.  For example: Books:  Ask your child’s teacher what books the kids read in class during the course of the academic year.  Then, select a few titles and incorporate them into the theme.  You … Continue reading

Room Fairy: Begin in Preschool?

Is preschool too young for chores? Is it too young to keep a bedroom clean? No and no. A preschooler needs to begin learning chores and have a feeling of purpose in the home. Preschoolers love to please so doing chores is often not a struggle at first. Yet, when the novelty of helping wears off then chores do not seem like as much fun. No fun will equal struggling with chores. If you can get your child to complete chores the fun way then everyone wins. The chores become a habit and soon the games you play to encourage … Continue reading

Favorite Books for Preschoolers

Reading bedtime stories is a wonderful tradition. It is hard to keep up with it in our busy lives. I must admit that I do not read bedtime stories every night to my children. However, a story at the end of the day is best way to drift off to sleep. It is relaxing and a wonderful way to spend some quiet time with your children. Some books are classics and find their way into the hearts of children. Here is a short list of the books that are a favorite for the children in my home. Please share any … Continue reading

Preschool Jitters

Summer is almost over and it’s time to begin a new school year. For many this will be the start of a brand new world. Some children who never entered a classroom will walk into preschool for the first time. It will be the first time some children are away from their parents for any length of time. The first time a child may be expected to sit and listen. The first time a child will be introduced to lessons and classmates on a regular basis. It is a very exciting world yet it can be overwhelming and intimidating for … Continue reading

My Day- I have a Substitute!

Today as you are reading this article, I will have a substitute in my classroom. I hope that all is well with her and my students. I am venturing with my mom and two children to Nashville, TN. There I will be visiting Pennington Elementary School’s field day. My twin first grade nieces attend this school. They have no idea that we are coming and they will be truly surprised to see us at their school! I am very excited about getting to view a Nashville school. Teachers always find pleasure in observing and seeing how other schools are decorated … Continue reading

The Creation

When I was growing up, there was a big hype over creationism vs. evolution, or sometimes creationism vs. Darwinism. How blessed I feel to have been raised with ready access to the book of Genesis, which tells us, right upfront: “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1. In a world where more and more people are leaning away from religion and seeking to solve their problems either by their own merit or by relying on science, it brings me comfort to have the knowledge that the world was created by God. Compare the two side … Continue reading