I'm a Mom - What's Your SuperPower?

The first day of school is a major change for young children and their parents, especially if the child has never spent time in a preschool or childcare setting. It can be extremely stressful for everyone involved, but you can help your child adjust more easily to a more structured learning environment . Set a Bedtime and Stick to It Kids who get the correct amount of rest/sleep do better emotionally, socially, and academically in school. A good night’s sleep is a must for success at preschool and throughout their academic career. Create a Relaxed Morning Routine Start your family’s day off right with a relaxed, calm, unrushed morning routine. Although this may mean that everyone wakes up a bit earlier than usual on school days, it affords parents and children the opportunity to enjoy a healthy breakfast and time to get ready for the day at a more casual pace. By slowing down in the morning routine, everyone can start the day off in a better mood. Control Your Anx...

Toddlers love to spend time with Mom, Dad, Grandma or Grandpa but sometimes it can be difficult to find activities that are both fun and educational without a high price tag. One standby I used with my daughter when she was still little was art. It didn’t need to be extravagant – often, we took a box of crayon shaped chalk and created murals on the porch or used objects we already had in the house to create our artwork. Here is a cute and easy art project for parents to spend quality time with their preschooler. Baby Bird’s Nest What You'll Need: Paper plate Shredded brown paper – you can use a brown paper bag 1 piece of colored paper (orange or any color your preschooler wants to use) Three pom poms (use the color your preschool likes) Three Popsicle sticks Googly eyes Brown paint (a small amount is needed) Paintbrush Scissors Glue Make It: Cut a paper plate in half and staple the rims together (leaving the top of the nest open). Paint the plate and let ...

Many camp programs take children as young as 3 years old - and while this might sound too young, you may want to reconsider that stance, especially if your child will be entering preschool or kindergarten in the fall. Introduction to School-like Structure Summer camp helps give preschoolers a preview of school. This is especially true for children who have not been in a daycare or preschool before. The change from laid-back, flexible days at home with a parent or caretaker to the more structured classroom environment can be difficult for young children. Summer camp introduces kids to ideas like following a schedule, learning group rules, taking responsibility for their belongings (backpack and lunchbox), and getting along with other children in a group setting.  Summer Camp Helps Ease Separation Anxiety Summer camp gives preschoolers a great "practice run" for children who don't have a lot of experience being away from parents and caregivers. Afte...

Critical thinking skills, or for that matter much of early-childhood education takes place right at home, months or years before children begin preschool. Kids learn to talk and to walk, to color and to cut with scissors as well as developing their critical thinking from the people around them. Children develop these important thinking skills as they learn to cooperate with their peers and when they learn to read short picture books by themselves. Though critical thinking is emphasized from pre-kindergarten to college or graduate school, it is a skill that parents can begin to introduce to their children from a young age. It is less complicated than the term implies. Here are three ways you can foster critical thinking skills in your little scholar: 1. Encourage Your Preschoolers Natural Curiosity Young children are naturally inquisitive. This starts very early in their lives, even before they can verbalize their curiosity, as they make discoveries about their environment us...

I remember when I took my now 9-year-old daughter to preschool for the first time. She was a happy, energetic social butterfly but I had read so many books and blogs on what I should expect during the first few days at school that I became a ball of anxiety. Would she cry and hold my leg, begging me not to leave her? Would she be scared or upset? How could I help my precious little girl get through such a major life event? As it turned out, I was making a mountain out of a grain of sand. My daughter was a bit timid at first but then she was eager to go play with the other kids. On the other hand, I was an emotional wreck, pulling her back to me for more hugs, kisses, and promises that I would be back soon. After a few minutes of me making a scene, she calmly patted my cheek and said "Don't worry mommy, I'm Ok. I want to play. Are you okay?" When I said I was okay and that she could go meet her new friends, she was off like a rocket to the nearest group of ki...

As a parent, I remember exactly how patient my daughter was as a toddler. Long story short - she had exactly zero patience. Too many shopping trips ended with me carting a screaming, struggling octopus of a child surfboard style under one arm while I desperately try to make it to the car with as few witnesses as possible. Typically, these events occurred as a result of making her wait for something she wanted. For example, I had told her she needed to wait until after dinner to eat a cookie. Her response... Yes, the world was ending because I told her to eat the tater tots that she had requested with her dinner before she could have a cookie. She was screaming in a fit WHILE she ate the tater tots. She would stop just long enough to chew her food and swallow before renewing her angry howling. Luckily we were at home during this particular tantrum occurred. My point, though, is that I wish I had come across this video when my child was much younger. I am happy to report th...

I will go ahead and put this out there in advance - this blog discusses one of many ways to redirect and discipline a child for their behavior. Discipline is an extremely difficult topic to address. It is an extremely personal decision, so naturally, everyone knows how to do it "the right way" and many people are more than happy to inform you that you are doing it wrong. I am not advocating for this or any specific discipline style, Instead, my intention is to provide a possible tool that you can use if it works for your child. Conscious Discipline is an emotional intelligence program where children learn to express their emotions, resolve problems with words, and work with others. It was developed by Dr. Becky Bailey, an author, and early childhood educator. It is designed to create an environment where the motivation to behave comes from the nature of the relationships a child has with others. The best way to discipline a child is something all parents think ab...