Creating Transitions

A preschooler’s day is all about moving from one activity to another one. Sorting and putting away toys at the end of play time helps give a clear ending to the activity and a sign that something new is about to happen. Just as they do at preschool, set up bins at home and label them with pictures of blocks, Legos, and dolls. Work with your child to correctly clean up and put away each toy in its correct spot. Remember to keep them working those little fingers. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other topics you would like to have discussed. Share this post with your family and friends. Remember to always praise your child.

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Make Them Work Those Little Fingers

Preschool calls for more use of kids’ fine motor skills. My daughter, Jenna, struggled with this so we set up some activities to challenge her. We had string beads and macaroni or I would give her tweezers and have her pick up art supplies like pom-poms and then sort them into toilet paper rolls. Other ideas could include having your child rip paper into long strips or get kid-safe scissors and practice cutting or even pull out some age appropriate puzzles. Practicing these activities regularly will give your child the finger and hand strength to do these simple tasks. Want some practice with letters, check out this post. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other topics you would like to have discussed. Share this post with your family and friends. Remember to always praise your child.

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Go Letter Crazy

Just because your child can sing their ABC’s does not mean that they know their letters. It means that they have memorized a song. To help them become more familiar with the letters they will start seeing every day in the classroom, try this little exercise.

• Write each letter on an index card
• Mix them up on the floor
• See if your child can arrange them from A-Z

You can help them by putting out every fourth letter and encouraging them to fill in the blanks. With repetition they will soon become familiar with the order. Keep in mind that by age 4 most preschools expect a child to recognize their name, and will encourage them to start writing it. Make this a fun activity by writing it in chalk on the sidewalk or with a stick in the sand. Check out our post on setting the stage. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other topics you would like to have discussed. Share this post with your family and friends. Remember to always praise your child.

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Set The Stage For Their Routine

Even if your child had attended preschool the previous year, summer break can seem like an eternity at this age. So in the weeks leading up to school resuming, start talking about what their new routine will look like. You do not need to be over the top excited, but you do want yur child to feel good about school. Let them pick out their own backpack and lunchbox, walk or drive by the school, and read some books about it. One of my favorite preschool books is Llama Llama Misses Mama. You can check it out here. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other topics you would like to have discussed. Share this post with your family and friends. Remember to always praise your child.

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Help Them To Speak Up

It is one thing for your child to tell you that he wants a snack or needs to go to the bathroom. It is completely another thing for him to communicate that with his teacher while 20 other kids are running around having fun. Try some role playing situations that will come up during the school day with your child. You want your child to feel comfortable saying, “I have to go to the potty, or I need help.” It is also important for your little one to learn to express his feelings. If he can say, “I am frustrated because… or I am angry because…” that is much better than hitting or biting a classmate. Check out another post on getting your child ready for school. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other topics you would like to have discussed. Share this post with your family and friends. Remember to always praise your child.

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Getting Your Little One Ready For School

These summertime activities will help your little one get ready for their first day of school.

We all love a relaxing summer. But the transition to a structured school day in the fall will not be quite as big a shock to your child if you begin a routine and integrate some learning into their day now. Whether your little one is going to preschool for the first time or returning for another year, try these simple ways to make the shift to the classroom a smooth one. In our following post we will give you some great ideas to help in this transition. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other topics you would like to have discussed. Share this post with your family and friends. Remember to always praise your child.

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Get Creative With A Back To School Countdown

Check a few things off of your to do list and have some fun at the same time.

Week 4: Rock the fall style–shop Crazy 8 for the new and now looks that your kids will love. Help them express their unique style, have one less thing to do before school actually starts, and always get a good deal!

Week 3: Channel some of that summer energy into a project that will benefit your community. Community service is an integral part of most school curriculums, and it will help you and your child connect with others. Contribute to your school directly and look for Tyson Project A+ labels on participating Tyson packages. For every label that you submit, Tyson will give your school 24 cents for whatever it needs.

Week 2: Host a back to school playdate for your children and their friends to help them to get back in the swing of things. Provide healthy snacks like deliciously baked, gluten-free Pirate’s Booty, Welch’s Fruit Snacks made with real fruit, and Mott’s 100% Juice. Mix in some fun with activities like “Telephone Story”. Have each person take a piece of paper, write a sentence, and pass it to the next person on their right to write the next line until you have a one of a kind story to share!

Week 1: Play with your food. Try using Mini Babybel Original semisoft cheese to create fruit and cheese skerers and Hillshire Farm Naturals Lunchmeat to create ham and cheese roll-ups. They are sure to be exciting and healthy additions to your kid’s lunchbox!

Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other topics you would like to have discussed. Share this post with your family and friends. Remember to always praise your child.

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Handle Offenses Immediately

If you suspect that your child has stolen something (or if they are caught red handed), you should rehash why stealing is wrong and help them see it from the other person’s perspective. “How would you feel if David stole your coloring book?” Go light on the talk of police involvement or breaking the law. These scare tactics can stop your child from being honest about their misbehaviors and can cause them to fear police officers rather than viewing them as helpers in an emergency situation.

Instead, you should right the wrong. Help your child apologize and return the item to its rightful owner. If it is not returnable (as in the case of my niece, who was already munching on the cookie), pay for it and make your child do an extra set of chores to pay you back. If you have already left the store or find an item at home, take it back (if possible) and follow through with consequences that fit the crime. For example, if your kid steals a toy, they might have to donate one of their own to an organization that helps needy children. Repeated thievery or other troubling behavior may require help from a therapist. Fortunately, most kids who take something once or twice and face real life consequences (having to apologize, angering a friend, disappointing parents) do not steal again. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other topics you would like to have discussed. Share this post with your family and friends. Remember to always praise your child.

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Leading By Example

If you eat a few grapes at the grocery store without buying them or claim an older child is younger so that you could pay less at the movie theatre, your child will notice. This will send them the message that it is okay to take things you have not paid for. It is important to model the behavior you expect of your child. Keep in mind that even little innocent acts can look dishonest. When you grab a free magazine from the dentist’s office, your child may think you are stealing. A little explanation can help him understand the difference between freebies and stealing. Make a comment like, “Awesome, this magazine is free.” Then point out the word “complimentary” or the sign that says “Take One.” Tell your child that if they are unsure whether an item is free or not, it is always best to ask first. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other topics you would like to have discussed. Share this post with your family and friends. Remember to always praise your child.

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Role Playing Requests

Kids may pick up something because they are afraid to ask for it. They do not know what to say or they think the response will be a no. Focus on helping your child learn how to ask permission and practice it with them. You might guide them through asking a friend to borrow a bookmark, for instance, or asking a teacher if they can have a sticker. Praise them when they do the right thing in their daily activities. “Jenna, I appreciate that you asked for the crayons before taking them.” Explain to them that requesting permission does not automatically mean that they will get what they want all the time. The person may just say no. Discuss other ways that they could get what they want, for example, adding it to a birthday wish list, or doing some extra chores around the house to earn it. If they know there are other ways to get sunglasses, they may be less likely to swipe those that belong to a friend. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other topics you would like to have discussed. Share this post with your family and friends. Remember to always praise your child.

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