Early education is a critical time for a child’s social and emotional development. Studies have shown that early childhood education can have long-term benefits for children, including higher earnings and better health outcomes. Unfortunately, many of America’s youngest learners are not receiving the high-quality care they need to thrive. More than half of 4-year olds in U.S. public schools were enrolled in programs with some form of learning or developmental delay. What does this mean for kids?
For one thing, it means that these children will likely face obstacles throughout their lives – both educational and personal – which could impact their success well into adulthood. The good news is there are steps parents can take now. We will cover some of these in this ultimate guide to children’s success in life and school.
Emotional Intelligence and Why it Matters in Preschool
When it comes to educating your child, you’re probably thinking about academics. Early childhood education has become almost synonymous with the “Three R’s” (reading, writing, and arithmetic). While studies are necessary, young children require other abilities to succeed. As a result, Legacy Academy places a high value on emotional intelligence and academic development in childcare. Whether you’re a parent or a daycare provider, it is essential to grasp why emotional intelligence is so important and how it benefits our kids. Have you ever asked yourself any of these:
- What is emotional intelligence?
- Why is emotional intelligence is so important?
- How do you teach these skills?
- When should you start teaching these skills?
If you have any of these questions running through your mind, then our blog post about Emotional Intelligence and Why It Matters In Preschool is right for you!
Why Encouragement Improves Toddler Learning Activities
Are you using your toddler’s development as an opportunity to teach them things? When it comes to your child’s growth, the toddler years are a critical period. Your toddler is absorbing everything around them during this time. As a result, fostering your toddler’s learning now is an excellent idea. We cover a few topics in this article here. Remember, all young children learn at different rates, but encouraging activities such as counting, signing, and shape and color identity will make them more eager to learn.
Raising Compassionate Children
You may hope your child takes over the family business one day or that they will become a doctor or join the military. You may think about what it would be like to have grandchildren or if your adult children will be in the same town. But, indeed, every parent’s objective is for their children to grow up to become responsible and compassionate individuals. While life does not come with guarantees, you can use methods to purposefully instill these qualities in your children while they are young.
Here is a link to our blog, where we discuss what it takes to raise considerate children. It is essential to see things from other people’s perspectives and show compassion towards everybody.
Raising a compassionate child is not easy work, but it is worthwhile. By consistently modeling your own emotions like acceptance and kindness while encouraging your child to consider others’ needs, you create an environment where compassion can grow. When you express empathy, you’re modeling it for them. Compassionate children may also make a difference in the world!
Helping Your Child Transition to New Childcare
When it’s time for your child to transfer between childcare centers or perhaps a new classroom, you’ll want to prepare yourself and everyone else involved. Kids are frequently delicate to change and do not yet have the ability to communicate their different emotions and concerns in words. Giving them the tools they need to deal with the upheaval can assist them to feel more secure and ready. Here are five ways you can help your child as they transition to changing circumstances:
- Acknowledge your own feelings about the change.
- Talk about it a lot for your well-being.
- Visit if you can.
- Confirm all the details.
- Prepare to give whatever support they need.
Read on: “Helping Your Child Transition to New Childcare”
What You Should Know About Your Three Year Old
Your three-year-old social and emotional development happens at a breakneck speed. Every time you look, your child has learned something new. Childcare, home, and playtime all provide new and fascinating experiences for your three-year-old. This rapid development may be overwhelming and emotional at times. You’re not alone here! Every parent of a three-year-old has gone through what you’re going through. Here are a few specific things that you can expect.
Four Ways to Help Your Child Adjust to Preschool
Preschool is an exciting time for everyone in your family. Your son or daughter is growing and learning rapidly. They become more responsible, aware of their place in the world, and excited about growing up. At the same time, adjusting to childcare can be a struggle. Even if a child has been in daily childcare for most of their life, preschool will likely present new and different challenges. Here are four examples to encourage and support your child as they adjust to preschool:
- Talk about it.
- Accept all of your child’s feelings and emotions.
- Establish goodbye rituals to limit stress and behavior conflict.
- Practice through make-believe play.
Are you looking for more in-depth information on this topic? Keep reading here.
Preparing Your Preschooler for the Transition to Elementary School
Families of children approaching first grade are frequently concerned. Thankfully, this is a thought that seldom crosses the lips of their children. On the other hand, children appear to be rather pleased about the fresh experience in front of them. However, parental anxiety and emotions are understandable, considering how big a transition to elementary school can be. Instead of being anxious, there are numerous strategies for parents to prepare their kids for elementary school. Here are a few ideas to help ease the transition:
- Maintain a positive attitude and show minimal stress.
- Focus on communication skills and social interactions.
- Get involved at their school or with groups.
- Develop age-appropriate responsibilities.
- Ask teachers for feedback.
The entire family will be enthusiastic and prepared if they have done everything necessary. Read more here: “Preparing Your Preschooler for the Transition to Elementary School.”
Keep Your Child Learning All Summer Long
The past couple of years have been a wild ride for parents all around the country! Having to inform your child they will not be returning to school at the end of the year. How did your child react when you told them the news? Were they disappointed or not understanding that they wouldn’t be able to see their friends and teachers? Elated because they wouldn’t have to take another spelling test? In any case, summer learning was probably quite far from your thoughts.
Now, though, children were marathon-ing their longest summer vacation ever, and their parents are searching for methods to incorporate education into the mix. How can you keep your kid learning all summer? Legacy Academy’s summer learning program may be of assistance. Here’s some info to help you plan for the summer this coming year. Our summer program encourages the development of:
- Curiosity
- Social skills in an engaging environment
The Science of Early Childhood Development
Social and emotional development, through social norms, is vital when your children turn into young adults and manage conflict. Introducing your child to social situations through positive environments is an excellent way to influence the proper social skills and emotional quotient naturally. Understanding positive relationships with a child through consistency is crucial.
Personal relationships and forming self-confidence are aspects to incorporate when children learn to manage emotions and other people’s feelings. Engage with family members, or consider a play date, to help your child develop empathy and take turns sharing with other people and develop these essential skills early on.
How to Encourage A Love of Learning
The proper influence on a young child’s emotions early in childhood should be of the highest importance when talking about emotional and social development. In fact, high emotional intelligence does play a role in your child’s ability to attain new knowledge. Understanding how to help your child develop a love for learning and a few ideas can be found in our blog here.
- Chase their questions
- Read
- Explore
- Model learning new things
- Set a family goal
Four Considerations When Choosing a Private Pre-Kindergarten
Choosing a private pre-kindergarten is no small decision. Even if your child has attended school since they were young, the move to pre-kindergarten is an emotional and significant one. You want to make sure that your toddler is well-cared-for, engaged, and understood. Private pre-kindergarten childcare might be a great alternative, but which educational institution should you select? Do they provide structure to the social and emotional development of your child? Consider these four factors while making your selection:
- Does the school meet your family’s needs?
- What opportunities does the school have for your child?
- What curriculum do they practice, and how?
- How do you feel at the school?
Aside from emotional and social development and how it plays a role in choosing the right private pre-kindergarten, keep reading to find out a little more in detail here about “Four Considerations When Choosing a Private Pre-Kindergarten.”
Tips to Select the Top Childcare Activities for Your Child
Every parent wants to provide their young child with enjoyable, enriching, and beneficial activities. There are endless resources on the internet and books to choose from, which may be overwhelming. What is the best preschool activity for your child? What if things don’t go as planned? Here are a few things to consider as you sift through the many choices and possibilities available: particular interests, learning styles, and local resources. Read about them here.
Why Field Trips Are Important for an Educational Experience
Field trips may be inconvenient to think about. They need additional financial and logistical preparation away from the classroom’s daily operations. Field trips are increasingly being phased out by schools, claiming they are extra-curricular and superfluous. However, according to research, it is only through participating in educational activities in the real world that children can combine and comprehend what they learn in class. Why are field excursions so vital for young minds? You could say “fun” or “something new,” but the advantages go far more profound. Here are some specific ways that field trips help to improve education:
- Apply classroom teaching to real-world situations
- Inspire students for the future
- Reach children of all backgrounds and learning styles
If you’re interested to learn a little more on this topic, we go more in-depth in our article here on “Why Field Trips Are Important for an Educational Experience.”
The Benefits of Music Programs for Toddlers
Music is a great way to keep the kids occupied. Some children like to sing, while others pound on drums and others dance to the rhythm. Every child’s attention is captured by fun, intriguing, and rhythmical songs. Music isn’t only fun for a kid, though; it also has numerous advantages for their growing brains. Here are some of the ways that toddler music programs contribute to a child’s overall growth:
- Increased ability to learn
- Language development
- Social skills and school readiness
- Body-brain connection
- Academic gains
There’s a lot of evidence that music exposure and instruction enhance academic performance in kids. We wrote an article on “The benefits of Music Programs for Toddlers” as well as a reference to an article PBS covering the topic as well. You can find it here.
Tips for Encouraging Your Child to Read
Reading is an essential part of childhood success. Reading not only provides a high-quality pastime for kids, but it also helps them learn and comprehend the world. With this in mind, many parents and guardians are looking forward to the day when their children will begin reading. Every kid goes through this process at their own speed, but there are things you can do to make the road smoother, like reading together. You may help foster a love of reading by gently encouraging your child to read. Don’t wait to begin! Research shows that a child’s reading ability and interest start to develop from birth. You can assist in encouraging a love of reading that will last throughout their lives by doing so.
Eight Must-Read Children’s Authors and Why We Love Them
Once you have established an encouraging reading regime with your child, you can reap the benefits! Reading is a fantastic way for you and your young child to chat with one another. It is also essential in the social and emotional development of children’s reading abilities, according to research. There are thousands of children’s books available, many of which are excellent. On the other hand, some authors stand out from the crowd, keeping us captivated with their words like Dr. Seuss. Here are eight of the best children’s authors to share with your child and just some of the reasons they’ve won our hearts.
The Best Children’s Books for Learning Social Skills
The reading benefits continue! One of the best ways to teach your child social skills is to let them socialize with other children. However, children’s books can help as well. With books, you can practice and teach your child about complex concepts and let them see how their actions make a difference, benefiting emotional and social development. There’s no shortage of children’s books for learning social skills, but here are just a few of our favorites.
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