I’ve been teaching preschool for many years. Let’s just round it to about twenty years. I love my job! I’ve seen many people go into and out of this field. Perceptions about what we do are shattered or evolved every day. It is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. It is also one of the hardest. Here is why. A teacher doesn’t just teach ABCs and 123’s. A teacher doesn’t just sit around and watch the children play. We are involved in every aspect of the children’s lives. Guiding them as they grow up. We help lay down the foundation on which they will grow and learn upon. We support the families of the children we teach. We teach them academics, how to socialize, how to love themselves, and how to problem-solve through life’s frustrations. As a teacher, you will wear many different hats!

To get started – Educating yourself is the first step and a continuous affair. Get your degree in Early Childhood or Elementary Education. These classes will give you a steady foundation and distinguish you as someone who is serious about your career choice as a teacher. Just keep in mind that you will be taking classes and training throughout your career. We teach but we never stop learning! One o the best ways to learn is to find an experienced teacher that you can lean on. Ask them questions and listen to their guidance. They will be great at encouraging you, a shoulder to lean on, and a sounding board.

An average day – Let’s start the day at seven o’clock clock in time. Now rewind to when most teachers arrive at work. It could be anywhere from fifteen to thirty minutes early. This is when teachers prep for the day. Gather supplies, prepare for the day’s activities. Many times, you will be also conversing and answering questions to other teachers and parents that you see. Finally, you clock in. Time to start. During your day, you will work with your children on these academic foundations: math skills, science experiments, reading, and literacy skills. Don’t forget the fine motor capabilities of holding a pencil and using scissors. Then you need to address the large motor skills such as skipping and moving their body safely in relation to the other twenty children in the class. Intertwined in these daily activities you will be dealing with what I like to call “life”.

Here we go: plunging a toilet with a whole roll of toilet paper in it, milk spills from lunch (never just one), shoes that need tying (knotted from where they tried), a child screaming for a box of Kleenex with snot running down their face, children arguing of a toy car, tattling because “Johnny” is looking at them or “Linda” is breathing too loud, and so on. These are the normal events that teacher uses to teach self-help and self-management with their children. You teach them that less is better with things like toilet paper, how to wipe up milk without the whole roll of paper towels, and just spreading it all over the floor and wiping their own nose and washing their own hands after. The most important is teaching them how to talk to their friend about how they feel when they take their toy car, how to compromise while playing together with it, and most of all how to accept the different ways people act and communicate with each other. We teach them to speak with the proper tones, use kind touches and words, table manners, how to listen to others, and how to work together and be safe.

Working with the families of the children in our class is another important part of your day. How to include them in their children’s activities and how to include the many beliefs and parenting styles. You will field questions about their child’s development, where they lost their socks, why they won’t sleep or eat their green beans. Then there are the things you do that parents don’t see. Scheduling and taking a CPR class, researching, and developing the curriculum you want to do the next week, and buying those really cute pencils because you think car pencils will help spark an interest to write. Sounds busy and hard, and yes you will be tired. But…….

You get to see the smiles, hear the laughter, and receive so many hugs! You get to see and feel the pride they have when they finally sound out the word cat by themselves or write their name on their own. You get to feel accomplished when they move on to the next class and are successful. You know you have made a positive impact on their family when you help them solve everyday issues and help to bring just a moment of peace to their busy lives and ease a parent’s worries about the little things.

Teaching is the hardest yet most rewarding career you could ever choose.
Being a teacher is a calling.

Ms. Dotty
NAEYC Coordinator
Lead Pre-Kindergarten Teacher

Last month, Young Scholars restarted the Financial Peace Junior program by Dave Ramsey. This program is implemented into the Prekindergarten through Advanced Junior Kindergarten classrooms over the course of the academic school year. There are 4 different categories that are included in the program: working, spending, savings, and giving.

We work on each area separately for two weeks at a time and go over each section in detail. The program includes a series of storybooks covering each area with the main character named Junior. So, if your kiddos are coming home talking about a boy who works for money named Junior, this is what they are talking about! A great opportunity to ask them questions about the story and how their job at school is going.

After all categories have been covered, we then combine them so that the kids are practicing each area simultaneously. In the past month, we have covered the working and spending areas. The kids were introduced into jobs within the classroom and have been practicing being held accountable and responsible for their job each day. Each day they do their job they are paid $1, if they do not complete their job for the day, they do not get paid. Just like in the real world, if you don’t show up for work you can’t make the money.

At the end of the week, the spending part comes into action, and they get to visit their classroom store where they get to put their money towards different little toys and prizes. We have had kiddos save $20 before! It’s a lot of fun for the kids and teaching them such amazing life skills at the same time!

In the next few months, savings and giving will come into the mix. Be sure to ask your child about what giving/savings project they are saving for! As a class, we get to vote on each option. Jobs change every week, so this is a great conversation point to make on Mondays after new jobs have been given! It’s the highlight of circle time!

Be proud of your preschooler! They are working hard!

Ms. Whitney
Curriculum Coordinator
Lead Pre-Kindergarten Teacher

I know that the sense of control over situations often gets the best of us as parents. We want what is best for our children and always want to rush to their side to help them.

Consider taking a couple of steps back. And just see what your children are capable of. You will have to give cues and prompts along the way, but the result often is that your child can complete most tasks on their own. Here’s a list of things that your child (ages 2+) is fully capable of doing:

• getting dress (from picking out the clothes to putting them on, and buttoning and zipping)
• wiping up spills and messes that they made
• putting away their belongings
• making some of their daily choices
• taking responsibility for their actions
• toileting (whatever step they are on, let them try to do what they can)
  These simple tasks will not uproot your way of doing things; it’s honestly going to make your life easier. That’s right…easier!

You are guiding your child in the direction of success at a young age. It’s easier to start teaching how to do things and setting expectations earlier in life. Age appropriately putting more on your child a little at a time. By the time they are five, they will be overqualified for Kindergarten-Ha!

Ms. Brooke
Literacy Coordinator
Lead Pre-Kindergarten Teacher

Effective communication is at the heart of any healthy relationship. The same is true when it comes to parenting. Positive parent-child communication is a vital part of every healthy parent-child relationship. When communication is open, it helps to foster a more loving and warm connection in your family and mutual respect between parents and children.

Parent-child communication is a two-way street, and here are a few ways to help you improve communication with your child:

Understand how your child communicates

Kids are surprisingly complex creatures. They use an entire arsenal of non-verbal cues to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and desires. These include facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, and gestures. Some kids are more vocal about their thoughts and feelings, while others are more reserved.

As parents, it’s crucial that we understand how our children communicate so we can determine the most effective way to speak to them. Whether your child is the quiet or the outspoken type, it’s crucial that your little one feels comfortable coming to talk to you about anything. Knowing how children best communicate will also help you find the best approach when trying to connect with them.

It’s also important for you to understand how your child prefers to communicate with others. For example, does your child communicate well in school? Does your child enjoy spending time with friends and talking with them with ease? Or does your child tend to be more reserved around people outside of the family?

Don’t force communication if it doesn’t come naturally. Parenting is a learning process that requires patience on both sides, from parents as well as children. It’s natural for kids to require some time to warm up before opening up during conversations. If you push too much, this can make them want to pull away. Don’t be afraid of silence when talking with children. It’s important to give them space and allow this quiet time in order to encourage them to open up when they’re ready.

Avoid lecturing

Parenting is not easy, and nobody said it would be. No matter how skilled you are as a parent, there will be moments of your parenting journey that are overwhelming, and times when you need your child to listen and understand what you’re saying. In these moments, it’s important to remember not to lecture your child. As tempting as it may be, lecturing is never helpful. In fact, it may even do more harm than good to your relationship with your child. Being lectured can even cause children to shut down communication completely.

During those times when you feel like you’re hitting a communication wall, it’s best to set the discussion aside and revisit the topic again later when you’re both ready.

Listen to your child, even if you disagree

Parenting is about teaching and guiding kids through life. At the same time, parents need to remember that children are human beings with opinions of their own. While their opinion matters but may differ from your own, make sure you listen when your children speak, even if your judgment dictates otherwise. When you truly listen to children, it sends a message that no matter how much your views may differ, you still respect them enough as individuals who can think for themselves and express their thoughts and feelings freely, without fear of judgment.

Encourage communication through play

Parent-child communication is not limited to serious discussions. You can also accomplish a lot with simple games too! By playing together, you are able to bond and connect with your child as you create a warm and loving environment.

Strike up conversations between activities

Can you recall the last time you had a good conversation with your child? How did it go? What were you doing at the time? Perhaps you were driving your little one to school, sharing a meal together, or getting your child ready for bed.

Regular daily activities are excellent opportunities to connect with your child. Talking throughout the day is a great way to encourage your child to open up. The key is not to wait for the perfect time but make an effort to connect when possible.

Focusing on the quality of your communication with your child can help improve the quality of your relationship. Practice these habits to help you communicate and connect better with your child, which will strengthen the foundation of your relationship.

For more parenting tips, or if you’re looking for the right child care center for your child, please visit Young Scholars Academy.

Early childhood education begins as early as infancy and goes until children reach kindergarten. This is an important time when it comes to children’s development. Exposure to their environment, hearing sounds, and learning the building blocks of language all play key roles in your child’s growth and development during this period. This post answers the question, “Why is early childhood education important?” 

Throughout these early years, early childhood education programs are beneficial as they help children start to build the foundational skills they’ll need for school. 

Why is Early Childhood Education Important?

Improved academic performance

According to studies, kids who attend early childhood education programs become stronger students when they reach the K-12 levels.  Before children enter kindergarten, they have already begun learning the basics of math and reading.

Another study from Harvard has shown that early childhood education lessens the need for children to receive special education services, and boosts the chances of successfully graduating from high school.

Other research reveals complementary results in terms of graduation statistics and academic performance. 

Promotes lifelong learning

Among the powerful advantages of early childhood education is that it instills a love of learning that can last for a lifetime. During children’s preschool years, they discover the world around them. This is made possible through fun games and activities during lessons.

When children are exposed to knowledge from an earlier age, it creates a sense of curiosity to learn and find out new things. Their thirst for knowledge increases as well. Children who attend early childhood education programs tend to also display increased confidence and self-esteem.

Improves socialization

Social skills of kids who take part in an early childhood education tend to be stronger. Little ones acquire necessary life skills, including sharing, listening, and taking turns with other children.

Preschool teachers lead lessons through a variety of games, stories, rhymes, and other activities that foster appropriate social interactions among children. Play is an essential part of learning the social skills needed to interact with others throughout their lives.

Kids also learn how to express their emotions effectively and clearly through social interactions. Whether they’re happy, sad, or angry, enhanced social skills enable them to more effectively manage their feelings. When children are together in a group, it enhances their listening skills. And since there are more children than adults in the classroom, children learn the importance of taking turns as well.

Increased attention span

Research has proven that children tend to learn more new things during their younger years. Their concentration is typically shorter than those who reach kindergarten and beyond. Currently, maintaining children’s focus can be even more challenging for parents because of the ease of accessibility of technology. This is why it’s important to give children an early start on their education, this can boost the amount of information they can retain in the long run.

Provides STEM skills foundation

During the preschool years, children are exposed to STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Math, and Engineering). They can boost their STEM skills and analytical skills through early exposure to these subject areas.

STEM jobs will always be in high demand. That’s why it’s important to enrich children’s interest in these subjects.

When looking for an early childhood education program, ensure that your chosen school and teachers have the necessary tools to encourage children to learn about STEM concepts. 

Little ones are often further inspired when learning in a group. As they see other children working hard at an activity, they tend to be motivated to do the same. In a group setting, children must exert concentration and effort in order to complete a challenging task.

Improves creativity

Most children love to paint, make arts and crafts, and get messy! The great thing about early childhood education programs is that they give children plenty of opportunities to be messy and creative. Art projects are an essential element of early childhood programs. 

Another way to enhance children’s creativity is through music. Early childhood development programs feature classes that involve singing, dancing, clapping, and other exciting activities that can help with children’s fine motor skills. Singing is a great way to establish coordination between the brain and body. Creative activities are excellent for a child’s overall development. 

Keeps children healthy and active

Children can become bored easily when they sit in one place for extended periods of time. That’s why education experts are backing the development of curriculum and programs that focus on learning through physical activities.

When kids go to schools that instill the importance of movement, they learn to be healthy and active. Early childhood programs will expose your child to activities where they can run around and explore their surroundings.

Whether children are engaged in active sports or merely playing tag with their friends, the most important goal is that they are moving. Providing activities that promote an active lifestyle helps children in the long run.

Lifetime benefits

The takeaways from early childhood education lead to lifelong benefits  for children. Overall success, healthy growth, and development are all linked to the overall positive effect it will have on your child.

At Young Scholars Academy, we understand the many benefits of a quality early childhood education program. Our programs are built around children’s lifelong success. Contact us today for more information.