When it comes to early childhood education, child’s play may well be serious business. Fun and games bring more than just joy. They may be the key to helping children thrive in tough times, experts say. Click here to read the full article.
An encouraging study published in JAMA Pediatrics suggests that young children can recognize emotions on people’s faces at about the same rate whether the person was wearing a mask or not. One concern from the pandemic was that face masks might hurt preschool children’s development. According to one developmental psychology expert, it’s clear from the research that a mask is not going to hurt a child’s development as the face “isn’t the most important way we communicate our emotions.” Rather, other forms of communication are also important such as tone of voice and body posture. Read more here.
According to a recent CNBC article, four main parenting styles exist: permissive, authoritative, neglectful and authoritarian. Studies confirm that authoritative parents are “more likely to raise confident kids who achieve academic success, have better social skills and are more capable at problem-solving.” Read the article to understand why experts agree that authoritative parenting is the most effective style.
At Bethel Early Learning Center, one of our goals is to prepare your child for kindergarten readiness. According to the article from NAEYC, self-control is a critical skill for children to learn. Parents can help children learn self-control through several helpful tips including doing activities together that require following directions; finishing what you are doing before responding to a child’s request; and working with your child to finish a puzzle with a few more pieces than they are used to. More examples can be found here
Based on a recent article, education psychologists stress the importance of play for a child’s learning and development. According to Dan O’Hare, founder of an online community for educational psychologists, unstructured child-directed or child-led play is essential because it allows children to develop their own imagination. He also pointed out that research has associated boredom with increased creativity and therefore parents shouldn’t rush to fill all of a child’s time with activities. At Bethel Early Learning Center, our curriculum incorporates learning through play. To read the article, click here.
Interesting article on CNN.com regarding “childhood amnesia” and why most of us do not have memories from the first three to four years of our lives. According to the article, language plays a role in forming lasting memories, specifically citing a study where toddlers over 26 months who could verbalize about an event at the time it occurred could recall the event up to five years later while children under 26 months who couldn’t talk about it recalled very little. Potentially most note worthy and certainly relevant to early childhood education: “In the meantime, it's important to remember that, even if we can't explicitly remember specific events from when we were very young, their accumulation nevertheless leaves lasting traces that influence our behavior. The first few years of life are paradoxically forgettable and yet powerful in shaping the adults that we become.” To read more, click here:
At Bethel Early Learning Center, our teachers share God’s love daily while developing students physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. Our curriculum combines center-based activities with student-driven activities while incorporating learning through play. NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) offers a list of what children learn in a high-quality preschool program. We encourage you to read here all the ways that a high-quality preschool prepares your child for future success.
As the world begins to come out from under the COVID-19 pandemic, parents should pay particular attention to their children’s mental health. According to an article in Psychiatric Times, “predictability is a stabilizing force for children and adolescents, but it has been disrupted since the COVID-19 outbreak.” As the article states, uncertainty in parents’ lives makes it difficult to calm anxieties in children. The pandemic has led to increased depression and anxiety among children and adolescents. Parents should seek evaluations if ever they have any concerns about their children’s mental health. To read the entire article, click here.
An interesting article in Psychology Today reports that kids who seem “wired and tired” and thus agitated and exhausted often times are given a mental-health diagnosis and offered corresponding treatments. However, the article suggests that parents should first attempt to “address the most common environmental cause of such symptoms – everyday use of electronics.” In fact, according to the article, an “electronics fast” may be in order allowing the nervous system to “reset.” As stated in the article:
If done correctly, this intervention can produce deeper sleep, a brighter and more even mood, better focus and organization, and an increase in physical activity. The ability to tolerate stress improves, so meltdowns diminish in both frequency and severity. The child begins to enjoy the things they used to, is more drawn to nature, and imaginary or creative play returns.
Bethel Early Learning Center encourages its students to learn through play, without the need for electronics and screens. To read the entire article, click here.
One of the best ways to give kids practice in real-world kindness is to serve others. Christmas is a great time to put this into action. Get the whole family involved to serve those in need by finding opportunities to lend a hand. When kids realize the impact they can make by serving and being kind to others, you begin to foster a servant’s heart in them and that’s a beautiful thing. To explore more ideas about how you can help little ones be more like Jesus and focus their hearts toward others, read the article by clicking here.
In an article, the American Academy of Pediatrics stressed that quality early childhood education should be viewed as an investment in a child’s future and those investments result in positive returns. Specifically, the article states that when care is “consistent, developmentally appropriate, and emotionally supportive, and the environment is healthy and safe, there is a positive effect on children and their families.” Bethel ELC, through its curriculum, facility, and staff seeks to develop key school readiness skills that will serve our young learners throughout their lives.
It is never too early to start discussing with your children the concept of bullying. A recent article reports that girls are “bearing the brunt of a rise in US cyberbullying.” According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there’s a rise in cyberbullying nationwide, “with three times as many girls reporting being harassed online or by text message than boys.” Bethel ELC has an anti-bullying policy and is committed to creating a school culture that encourages students, teachers and parents to disclose and discuss incidents of bullying behavior, both experienced and witnessed.
The old saying “You are what you eat” is especially true for young developing bodies and minds. In a recent article, the authors noted that “switching to a healthy diet can have a profound effect on children’s health, helping to maintain a healthy weight, avoid certain health problems, stabilize their moods, and sharpen their minds.” Bethel Early Learning Center emphasizes the importance of good nutrition and includes a healthy lunch and snacks within its tuition. To learn more about how “eating well can support a child’s healthy growth and development” and also how to encourage healthy eating habits, read the article below.
It is well known that play is important for developing minds. Bethel Early Learning Center creates an environment where play is encouraged including boasting both outdoor and indoor play areas. NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) gives you ten things every parent should know regarding the value of play. First, children learn through their play. To uncover the other nine things every parent should know about play, you can read the article in its entirety through the link below.
Does it seem like your child is too wound up or too tired? How much sleep do children really need? Nap time at school is required by state licensing and the daily routines at the BELC encourages healthy sleep habits. We have seen first-hand the positive impact sleep can have on our little learners. The question is why. A recent article in Healthy Children states that preschoolers (ages 3-5) need 10-13 hours of sleep per day. To read about healthy sleep habits and how to develop those, click the link below.
“Growing data suggests that exposing young children to too much time front of a TV or computer can have negative effects on their development, including issues with memory, attention and language skills.”