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

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...

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...

An attitude of gratitude is an important character trait for everyone to have. No one is born knowing how to demonstrate gratitude. Gratitude is a learned skill that takes time, patience, and consistency to develop. Here are a few tips on how you can help your child develop an attitude of gratitude. Demonstrate Your Attitude of Gratitude Your child is always watching you and will mimic the behavior they see in you. Model the behaviors you want your child to imitate and reinforce those behaviors verbally. For instance, during meal-time when your child helps set the table at our school, we respond with “Thank you for helping me set the table for lunch. You did a great job!” Use Those “Magic Words” Frequently Please, thank you, you’re welcome – make these magic words a solid part of your family vocabulary. Your child is learning how to interact with others by how you interact with them and with others, so it is up to you to reinforce cour...

1. Say it early, often and very clearly. Tell your child: “Never go with anyone unless you come and ask me.” With my child, we also created a passphrase. If anyone comes to pick her up that she doesn't know, she has a very specific question. If the person doesn't answer it correctly, she may not go with them. 2. Talk about uncomfortable feelings Keeping it low-key, talk about situations you know would make your child uncomfortable. Ask him if he’s ever been in one and to describe how he felt. Thinking through those situations now can help keep him safe later. But if he seems fearful while you’re talking, back off and then discuss what he’s feeling at that moment. Then talk through the scenario another time. 3. Talk about “tricky people.” The concept of strangers can be confusing to some kids. And some unsafe people are people kids know. One way to explain who to watch out for is to discuss “tricky people.” When your child is young, say, “Most people are pretty...

It is an exciting and emotional time. Your child is getting to that age that they are almost ready to head off to school. If the phrase "Kindergarten readiness" has been flooding your news feed like it has mine, you may be wondering what it really means. From a teachers' standpoint, we understand that all kids may start off at different levels. Each child has a different background, so we don't expect them to start off school already having been taught half the basics. There are 6 things that almost all teachers can agree on that are crucial to kindergarten readiness . A readiness to learn By readiness to learn, we mean the parent has helped instill a desire to learn more information, and to want to know the answer. Parents can help this ideation prosper by talking about stuff with their children and being willing to answer questions. Kids are like sponges, so it doesn't matter if you think the answer you have to give is too advanced, go ahead and share. By ...