6 Things You Can Do to Complement What Your Child is Learning at Preschool

There’s a lot for your child to absorb and process during a regular day at preschool. From interactions with friends during playtime to grasping new STEAM concepts, and learning how to navigate time without your input as a parent – there’s always something new and different going on.

As a parent you want to equip your child to get the most out of their time at preschool while also helping them to process their emotions and learning effectively. There are six things that you can do to help them once you pick them up from school:

Have a snack ready in the car

Being a preschooler is busy work, and they might get into the car hungry after a morning of running around, playing, and learning. A healthy snack will help get their energy levels back up and can even prevent a meltdown as you stabilize their blood sugar.

Make space for some downtime after school

Children are sponges for new information and experiences, so there’s a good chance that when they get home from school that they’re overwhelmed by everything that they’ve learned. A preschool environment is also a busy place, so if your child is more introverted, they may need a bit of time to reset. Whether your child needs a nap after school, some time in their room to play or read quietly, or even just 20 minutes watching their favorite TV show, this can be an important way to help them recharge.

Spend some one-on-one time with them

Just as you’ve missed your child, they’ve missed you – even if they’re not able to articulate it. Making time to hang out without scheduled activities will help them feel connected to you and will mean that they’re less likely to act out because they want attention.

Ask about their day at preschool (and share about yours)

This teaches your child how to process their experiences and will let you know if there’s anything they’re worried about or looking forward to. It also helps keep you up-to-date with who they’re playing with and the type of activities they’re doing at school. If you’re struggling to get more than one-word answers out of your child, try sharing about your day so that they learn how to share information.

Take a walk and get some fresh air

Getting out into nature is excellent for cognitive development and to promote a sense of calm. It may not be possible to go for a hike, but a walk around the block or a stroll to your local playground is the next best thing. A quick outing will give your child a chance to work off some energy and is another excellent opportunity to find out more about how they’re doing.

Read a book before bedtime

Reading books is an integral part of the day at preschool and is usually done in a group context. Reading at home before bed reinforces the importance of reading time, while also giving your child undivided attention so they can discuss the book at its concepts with you. The added advantage, of course, is that you get in extra cuddle time as well as calming them down before they go to sleep.

Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Circa / FishHawk believes in working with parents to bring out the best in each child. They focus on providing stimulating, well-rounded child care and early education for children from the age of six weeks through to four years. They also offer before and after school programs for children between five and twelve years of age.

 

The post 6 Things You Can Do to Complement What Your Child is Learning at Preschool appeared first on Circa Fishhawk.

First Published on: Blog – Circa Fishhawk https://kidsrkids.com/circa-fishhawk/after-school-program/6-things-you-can-do-to-complement-what-your-child-is-learning-at-preschool/

Preschool in Circa FishHawk, FL Shares Handwashing: An Essential Life Skill

Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy, a preschool in Circa FishHawk, FL, highlights a report from the CDC that offers evidence of the essential health benefits of proper handwashing.

How important is handwashing? Is it really a necessary life skill for young children? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention presents evidence that handwashing is more than a “life skill.” Handwashing is a life-saving skill.

In the article entitled, “Show Me the Science—Why Wash Your Hands?”, the CDC demonstrates the importance of clean hands by highlighting the following statistics:

• Washing hands with soap and water could reduce certain gastro-intestinal-associated deaths by up to 50%.
• Researchers in London estimate that if everyone routinely washed their hands, a million deaths a year could be prevented.
• A large percentage of foodborne disease outbreaks are spread by contaminated hands. Appropriate hand washing practices can reduce the risk of foodborne illness and other infections.
• Handwashing can reduce the risk of respiratory infections by 16%.
• The use of an alcohol gel hand sanitizer in the classroom provided an overall reduction in absenteeism due to infection by 19.8% among 16 elementary schools and 6,000 students. However, hand washing is more effective and safer than alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Often, people do not realize that 80% of all disease is spread by the hands. The hands are contaminated by touching doorknobs, cellphones, pets, pet food, contaminated food, soiled clothing, or diapers. The hands then transmit the germs and other pathogens to the eyes, nose, and mouth where the bacteria can breed and cause sickness. Sneezing and coughing spread germs to the surrounding environment. It is wise to wash hands after sneezing, coughing, or blowing the nose. Simple hand washing is an effective strategy to keep germs down and keep the living space clean and safe.

Five Steps from the CDC for Washing Hands the Right Way

Washing hands is easy, and it is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. Clean hands can stop bacteria from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community—from the home and workplace to childcare facilities and hospitals.

When people wash their hands, they should follow these five steps every time.

Step#1: Wet hands with clean, warm running water, turn off the tap, and apply soap.

Step#2: Lather hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of the hands, between the fingers, and under the nails.

Step#3: Scrub hands for at least 20 seconds or the time it takes to hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.

Step#4: Rinse hands well under clean, running water.

Step#5: Dry hands using a paper towel, a clean towel, or an air dryer.

Kids “R” Kids Learning Academy, a Circa FishHawk, FL preschool, takes great care in providing an environment where the child can thrive both in mind and body. Unlike many daycare centers or childcare providers, the mission at Kids “R” Kids Learning Academy in Circa FishHawk embraces “a whole child approach” that works to strengthen and encourage every child’s emotional, intellectual, social, and physical well-being through the expertise of our childcare providers and a unique partnership with parents. At the educational preschool, it is important to provide opportunities for children to construct their own knowledge through exploration, interaction with materials, and imitation of positive role models. The team prides themselves on their innovative educational strategies that focus on the overall development of the child.

A pillar of the learning academy is the emphasis they put on a safe and secure environment. The cleanliness standards are an industry benchmark. The staff at the Kids “R” Kids Learning Academy takes pride in the clean, state-of-the-art facilities. The trained staff practices disease prevention techniques to protect the health and safety of all children in their care. Some of these practices include:

• Disinfecting classrooms, equipment, and toys multiple times throughout the day.
• Teaching and observing proper handwashing techniques.
• Preparing all food away from the classrooms in a commercial-grade kitchen.
• Wearing disposable gloves to prevent the spread of germs when preparing food and while attending to the sanitary needs of children.
• Maintaining a separate laundry room at each school to avoid contamination of public areas and ensure proper storage of cleaning products.
• Following cleanliness and sanitary standards from checklists for each room.

The post Preschool in Circa FishHawk, FL Shares Handwashing: An Essential Life Skill appeared first on Circa Fishhawk.

First Published on: Blog – Circa Fishhawk https://kidsrkids.com/circa-fishhawk/preschool/preschool-in-circa-fishhawk-fl-shares-handwashing-an-essential-life-skill/