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.

 

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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.

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Sara Smilansky and the Importance of Play Share By A Preschool in Circa FL

Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy Circa FishHawk, a Circa FishHawk, FL preschool, prides itself in providing a unique combination of safe surroundings, loving interactions with the staff, and advanced curriculum founded upon play-based activities. The mission at Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy is to provide a secure, nurturing, and educational environment for children to bloom. Where they learn how to be responsible, considerate, and contributing members of society. Children at the educational preschool have the opportunity to develop physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually by playing, exploring, and learning with others in a fun, safe, and healthy environment. Being family-owned and operated, Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy welcomes positive family involvement and encourages a parent-teacher approach where the needs of every child come first.

The motto “Hug First, Then Teach” defines every aspect of Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy. This “whole child approach” strengthens and encourages every child’s emotional, intellectual, social, and physical well-being. “Play-based activities” and “playing with a purpose” are the core pillars of Kids ‘R’ Kids approach to learning and teaching.

Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy inspires learning with a loving environment that nurtures inquisitive minds to prepare children for the age of innovation. The First Class Curriculum is a comprehensive core curriculum designed to empower children to learn through playing with a purpose. Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy learning methods are research-based and standards-driven supported by the leading educational theories of Piaget, Vygotsky, and Sara Smilansky. An early pioneer in child development, Sarah Smilansky spent her entire life researching children at play. The conclusion of her life’s endeavor is summed up in the words “play is important.”

Who was Sara Smilansky?

Sara Smilansky (1922-2006) was a professor at Tel Aviv University in Israel and was also a visiting professor for many respected universities such as the University of Maryland, College Park. Her research focused on play training and its effects on children. She wrote much on children’s play and its relation to learning. She worked with Jean Piaget, a giant in the arena of developmental psychology in the twentieth century for her research on children and play.

The Four Types of Play

Smilansky focused her research on children’s play, how they learn through play, and how it relates to their future success. One of Smilansky’s main findings in her studies was that children engage in four types of play.

• Functional play: This play begins at an early age in the development of a child. It includes activities that utilize muscles or sensorimotor. This type of play strengthens and refines motor skills and seems to satisfy a child’s need to be active and energetic.
• Conditional play: This type of play involves sensorimotor activities that arouse creativity.
• Games with rules: This play includes both table games and physical games. Play of this nature allows children to understand the idea of rules, accept the rules, and play by the rules.
• Dramatic play: Children are beginning to understand their surroundings and imitate what they see.

Smilansky and her colleagues concluded that these types of play had positive effects on the future academic success of children.

Sociodramatic Play

Smilansky’s research also focused on sociodramatic play and its impact on children’s learning. It is part of the dramatic play where children engage in a social setting. There are two elements of Sociodramatic play: Imitative play and Imaginative play. Imitative play involves imitating what already exists and has been observed. Imaginative sociodramatic play is where the child creates what they imitate. Sociodramatic play improves speech patterns, verbal skills, vocabulary, overall communication, and interactive skills.

While sociodramatic play can be directed and purposeful, it’s also free, unfettered, innovative, exciting, creative, and spontaneous. It is in this unencumbered environment that sociodramatic play – which to a greater or lesser extent involves the other three types of play – meets its maximum potential and has its greatest impact.

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The Whole Child Approach and the Importance of Teaching Art

A Preschool Learning Center in Circa highlights seven benefits art offers for child development.

A foundational principle at Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy is “Hug First, Then Teach.” Unlike many daycare centers or childcare providers, this methodology is a whole-child approach that works to strengthen and encourage every child’s emotional, intellectual, social, and physical well-being. The whole-child approach is present in all the curriculum at Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy, including STEAM studies.

Most people are familiar with STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. However, there is also a hybrid movement that is gaining more and more traction: STEAM. STEAM is an abbreviation for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. The STEAM movement works towards more effectively sparking the imagination of the student. As a result, the movement is helping shift children’s focus towards innovation through hands-on STEM projects.

STEM or STEAM

The main difference between STEM and STEAM is that STEM encompasses a modern approach to science and related subjects. STEM concentrates on problem-solving with critical thinking and analytical skills. STEAM education explores the same topics but incorporates creative thinking and applied arts into teaching and real situations. This brilliant addition enriches educational pursuits.

Art involves discovering and creating interesting and ingenious ways of problem-solving, integrating principles, and presenting information. By adding the element of art to STEM-based thinking, children and students can employ both sides of their brain —analytical and creative— to become the best thinkers of the future. The STEAM paradigm shapes young minds to be problem solvers with a creative, innovative flair.

Moving from STEM to STEAM

Some critics are concerned that studying the arts would take time away from focusing on traditional STEM subjects. It is true that mastery of STEM concepts is necessary for technological progress. However, the inclusion of the “A” for arts is essential for students to achieve their full potential. Studying the arts provides students with the freedom and opportunity to fully harness the capabilities of STEM subjects.

The arts is a term that encompasses the liberal arts, language arts (reading, writing, and speaking), social studies, physical arts, fine arts, and music. STEAM education focuses on applying creative thinking to STEM projects in order to ignite youthful imagination and creativity through the arts. The approach seeks to explore how art elevates and amplifies the STEM subjects. Studying art subjects strengthens the development of essential skills like collaboration, communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Art also improves a student’s flexibility, adaptability, productivity, responsibility, and innovation. These skills are essential for a successful career in any field of study and for life in general.

Science and art go hand-in-hand

At first glance, it seems that scientists and artists have little in common. If people dig a little deeper, they soon realize that art and science are not so different. While science has changed the creative fields through advanced technology, artists offer new insights and perspectives that impact scientific progress. Art’s contribution to technological advancement is all too often overlooked or ignored. With technology becoming faster, smaller, and more complex, the scientific field has started to rely on the arts more than ever for solutions and creative ideas.

As the STEAM paradigm is adopted in classrooms and other learning environments, new teaching methods have emerged. Teachers can add arts into STEM by applying graphics to projects, or they can use the performing arts to communicate a STEM project. The possibilities are vast. By encouraging students to use their artistic talents to generate innovative thinking, teachers allow art to become a powerful catalyst that excites learning.

About Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Circa FishHawk

Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy is a Circa FishHawk, FL preschool that is widely recognized for its positive use of concepts and innovative projects, activities, and toys that grow the child along many dimensions. Children are exposed to hands-on learning, and they are challenged and encouraged to think critically and creatively. They have the freedom to apply essential content knowledge in meaningful and fun ways. For more information about the educational preschool, contact Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Circa FishHawk at (813) 654-7000

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Circa Preschool Shares How to Settle in Your Own Routine as a Parent

Parents Were Provided Tips by Circa/Fishhawk Preschool on How to Get Settled with Their Routine for Their Preschoolers

If your child started pre-school this year, there’s a good chance that you’re struggling to adapt to the change, especially if, up until now, you’ve been at home with your child. Here are some things to keep in mind if the transition hasn’t been smooth, and you’re still in the process of adapting to the new normal.

1. Preschool parents should recognize their child’s anxiety and focus on turning it into excitement

It’s completely natural to worry about how your child will fit in, whether they’ll make friends and if they’ll enjoy the learning environment. Instead of trying to turn off those worries, transition them into excitement. Think about your role as your child’s parent in helping them navigate this new season. 

 

2. Parents should not forget that their preschoolers still need them

You are your child’s rock as they settle into a routine and get used to the preschool environment. You’re there to support them and help them to feel comfortable with the change, which means keeping your own emotions to yourself. Keep the conversation around preschool positive and upbeat and, as they become accustomed to going to school, ask them about their day, focusing on the positive; and use this as inspiration for staying happy. 

 

3. Preschool parents should keep themselves occupied

It can be easy to dwell on worrying about your child, especially when they’ve kept you on your toes for the last couple of years. You’ll still feel your child’s absence, but rather than waiting for the school day to end, it’s important to keep busy. Take up a new hobby, get back into the exercise routine you’ve been meaning to restart, make lists of tasks that need doing around the house (and then do them), get the shopping done, or prepare meals in advance. And stop checking your phone – it’s not going to take the time pass more quickly, and it’s likely to make you feel even worse, especially if you spend your time scrolling through your social media accounts.

 

4. Parents of Preschoolers should go easy on themselves 

Don’t judge your parenting and try not to judge your emotions. What you’re feeling, whatever it is, is completely normal – even if you’re feeling really sad that your child is growing up, or worried about whether they’re making friends. By accepting your emotions as they are, without trying to mold yourself into something different, you reduce the power that they have over you and make it easier to move on. 

 

5. Parents should focus on self-care for their preschooler

For the last three or four years (at least), you’ve focused all your time and energy on your child. But they’re no longer a baby and, for them to develop properly, they need to start exploring the world outside of their home. This gives you more personal time to catch up on things that have been neglected for a couple of years, and you now have the space to take care of yourself as well. There’s more time to focus on what makes you happy, and you have the freedom to explore different parts of yourself other than being a mother.

Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Circa / FishHawk is fully accredited, offering the ultimate foundation for young children. They provide effective educational programs and industry-leading innovative facilities for children from the age of six weeks through to twelve years of age. 

They believe in working with parents to bring out the best in children and encourage a parent-teacher approach, which prioritizes the needs of every child. The educational environment is secure and nurturing, where children can learn and progress at their own pace.

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How Pre-K Age Children Learn Through Play

Play is one of the most often overlooked, yet critical, parts of childhood learning that should remain a priority as research and experience show the importance of play. Local educational preschool, Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Circa / FishHawk shares on the science of play, why it’s important, and how the classroom environment can be set up to maximize this opportunity.

The Science Behind Play-Based Learning

Play as a tool for learning has been shown to have a profound, long-lasting impact of the development and learning of students. This is because children learn well when they are mentally stimulated and engaged in a social environment where there are meaningful connection and interaction with the subject matter. Neuroscientists have found that play activates the brain in ways that other teaching techniques are not.

In general, people of all ages tend to learn well when they take an active role in the learning environment, are engaged with meaningful information and interact during the learning experience with others. Play-based learning in a pre-k environment facilitates these requirements. 

Additionally, play is an essential component of development for children offering a source of fun and social interaction as well as facilitating the emergence and strengthening of intellectual, physical, social, and emotional abilities. Children tend to test out newly acquired knowledge and ideas in the context of play, re-enacting scenarios to further solidify their understanding. It’s also how children tell stories, negotiate with others, and problem-solve.

Just Because It’s Play-Based, Doesn’t Mean It’s Not Real

Previous generations of thought-leaders were quick to dismiss the benefits of play, deeming it a frivolous waste of classroom time. But, more and more, teachers are learning that it is critical for the development of children. It fosters and promotes creativity and, when done right, can be more impactful than traditional teaching methodologies.

Purposeful play can be constructed and guided by a teacher to create deeper learning experiences that a child will be more likely to remember and internalize. The key is the creative development of hands-on learning activities that have intentionality behind them. So, while there is certainly a place for worksheets that showcase a child’s learning, there should be space for a less rigid approach.

At the kindergarten level, when children are playing, they are doing their deepest learning which is much more effective than having children fill out worksheets.

A Classroom Environment That Contributes to Learning

Play-based learning utilizes the classroom in the teaching process, where the teacher becomes the guide. Each activity and object in the learning space has a specific purpose, will contribute to the process and will help facilitate a deeper learning experience for each child. To this end, there will often be different areas that facilitate art, science, reading and more. In this environment there is space for children to ask questions, learn through conversation, and solidify understanding of different, interrelated concepts.

 

Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Circa / FishHawk offers a diverse, rich learning environment for children from the age of six weeks through to four years old. For children who attend local elementary school and are between the ages of five and twelve, they also offer before and after school programs through to the fifth grade.

They understand the importance of play in allowing children to use their innate creativity and curiosity, focusing on developing their imagination, as well as their physical and emotional strength. They aim to create a space for children to learn to work with others, sharing and negotiating, and resolving conflict, as well as learning self-advocacy skills. 

At Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy, the needs of each child are put first, and family involvement and a parent-teacher approach is encouraged.

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How to Choose an After-School Program