Young Scholars Academy

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Get Your Kids Brushing!

February 16, 2021 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

Growing up, dental health was a huge deal in my family. My dad was a dental laboratory technician in the Air Force for 20 years and still continues that same line of work almost 20 years later. He used to bring home these sneaky plaque revealing tablets to trap us if we didn’t brush well enough, and I myself had a LOT of dental work done. I had braces, expanders, head gear…the works. Taking care of my teeth after all that has been important and teaching my boys to do the same is a priority. This has been a huge challenge with our oldest with his sensory processing and autism spectrum disorders. I’ve come up with some tips for brushing teeth with a child with sensory concerns and difficulties. They aren’t all perfect but they’re a start, even if your kiddo is simply having a tough time with it in general.

  1. Find a toothbrush they love. Soft bristles, comfy handle, with a color or character that they’re interested in.
  2. Grab a fun timer or find a video they can watch for the span of time to brush. Remember to start small and build up to a longer time frame. Some brushing is better than no brushing. It can be you doing the brushing, the child doing it, or a combination of both.
  3. Try a finger brush, silicone bristled brush, or a brush designed for children with special needs if the bristles of a regular brush are too much. You can massage their hand or cheek to familiarize them with the sensation.
  4. Start with no toothpaste if they have an aversion to it and slowly introduce small amounts.
  5. Lean the child back against you with their head on your chest for brushing and flossing. Go slow and speak/sing softly.
  6. Use praise and rewards rather than consequences and negativity. This is an important skill but also something that can be very difficult to handle, so keep it light and upbeat. We love to use “if, then” in our house. “If you let me brush your teeth for one minute, then you can play for 5 extra minutes before bed.” Whatever works!
  7. Practice good oral hygiene even if it isn’t perfect everyday, encourage healthy eating (as much as you can!), and visit a dentist every 6 months. Make sure the dentist is aware of your child’s special needs! I cannot begin to tell you how difficult dental visits are for us and how much I dread them, but having a dentist who had a heads up and knew the circumstances was a huge help. The visit may be a total bust but keep trying!
    Remember to be patient and allow you and your child so much grace. We have really great days, not so great days, and some where we scrap the idea altogether. Consistency is key!

 

Ms. Amy
Infant Nursery Supervisor
Parent Connection Coordinator

Filed Under: Activities

Letting Go and Saying “NO”

February 16, 2021 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

The work ‘No’ to a child can get a variety of reactions. You know, the huge blow-out fit, the whines, the eye roll, the stomping of tiny feet, etc. It can be a hard spot to be in when you are standing in the middle of the store and you know the build up is coming as you approach that last end cap of candy…. Your child asks/points and requests to add it to the cart, but do you need it? No. Is the fit going to happen when you tell your child that answer? Maybe. What are you going to do about it?

Say it with me…. No, nope, not today. Sorry, but no maybe next time.

Telling your child ‘no’ is not the end of the world. Its something we need to be doing more of. If the fit happens, you must work though it! In the adult world, we get told ‘no’ daily, all the time. We work though it and process those steps. Allowing your child to have “xyz” all the time and always saying ‘YES’ is setting them up for a fake dream world.

I understand the fits, and the whines can be overwhelming and exhausting. The more they hear the word ‘no’ and can work though what that means for them in their world and process that effectively is setting them up to be able to problem solve and realize that the world is not just for them, we share it with others and our actions effect other people.

So in the store, you tell your child ‘no’ to the candy as you are checking out and the full blown fit explodes. HOLD STRONG. People may stare, who cares! Let it Go! Likely you will not see them ever again in your life and the ones with kiddos will silently be saying, “Yea, I know how that goes.” Explain to your child the reason. The whole “because I said so” reply doesn’t cut it. Give them more than that, they deserve an answer in a way they can understand. Give them the reason and an alternative. “You can’t have the candy at the store, but you can have those cookies we baked after dinner tonight.” Or “You can’t have the candy at the store, but when we get home you can eat the yummy fruit we just bought.” Whatever fits your reasoning. Give them the two sides, make it simple for them.

But what if that doesn’t work? Then they will need to process, and you will need to further work on this communication with them. Explain, don’t let your emotions/embarrassment get the best of you. We MUST tell our kiddos ‘no’. They need to work though these emotions; we don’t always get what we want when we want it. If you are dragging your kiddo out of the store screaming, its fine. Its truly fine. Take a deep breath, don’t give up on them. Work with them. Allow them (and you) time to calm down. Then take the time to reexplain until they come to an understanding. They might not fully get it this round or even the next, but you have to keep trying and working though it every single time.

You’ve got this! Keep trying, keep communicating! Remember, telling them ‘no’ is not the end of the world. They must learn how to process being told no and you must take the time to work though the meaning, emotions, and resolutions with them.

Filed Under: Activities

For the Love of Your Baby’s Hair

February 16, 2021 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

Before giving birth to my beautiful baby girl I knew to keep an open mind of my children having any type of hair from thick and wavy like mine to thick and coarse like their father’s or anything in between.

I knew some different things would have to be done with her hair than how I care for my own hair. I was however naïve enough to think that running some coconut oil through their hair would be enough. Even though I have known of my own husband’s hair care needs for years I did not think that it would fully apply to our children and vice versa my husband did not have knowledge of her hair having different needs than his. We both learned some things.

As our baby has grown from infant to toddler her hair has changed from straight and fine to thick and curly. The needs of her hair have changed dramatically through the months.

I want to educate myself on the proper hair care for my biracial baby. So, I started doing research and reading blogs from mothers all over the world with many different backgrounds. I wanted all of the information. I read harsh blogs that made me feel like I was not doing right by my daughter AND I read blogs that were insightful and filled me with a fire to learn how to do my daughter’s hair to the best of my ability. I recently read a magazine article about a woman who was afraid to wear her hair bonnet around her roommates of four years because she did not think they would be accepting. What a terrible feeling of not being able to be your full and true self in your own home due to fear. I would never want anyone, especially my own children to grow up with those feelings. I had a takeaway from each blog that I read. But in the end, I had to just take the advice that I could use and toss the rest, as with all parenting advice.

I did her hair up one day and felt like the master. Another day I could not get her to hold still and I could not focus on what I was doing. I have cried over this, felt overwhelmed, and powered. For those that had no idea that hair could cause this much emotion they have never had to experience it. I leave you all with this information not as judgment, but as a learning opportunity. You may have to learn to care for a different type of hair from your own. And I want you to know that if you already realized you would have to do things differently from how you care for your hair, then you are already ahead of the curve. You can do this! If you haven’t ever put much thought into other people’s hair. Take as step back and realize that many hair “styles” are less about style and more about care and protection of beautiful locks.

My personal goal was to learn the correct ways of taking care of my daughter’s fragile curls. I want her to grow up to be an empowered woman who embraces her curls and has learned how to properly take care of her own hair from me.

There is no clear-cut route to take when it comes to biracial hair. Each child’s head of hair is as unique as they are. I have taken advice into consideration, tried out many different products, and adjusted to fit my daughter’s needs.

So, the next time there is judgment passed on someone’s hair ask the person questioning it how much they know about natural hair and the crazy journey that that person has been on with their own hair. Keep on reading folks and having conversations; just when you think you know it all you learn something new.

Ms. Brooke
Lead Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Curriculum Coordinator
Literacy Coordinator

Filed Under: Family Tips

4 Ways to Practice Positive Discipline for Preschoolers

January 22, 2021 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

Disciplining a preschooler can be one of the most challenging phases of parenting. It requires a lot of patience and know-how. There are all types of parenting recommendations and advice available, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach for every parent. One approach may even have worked with your child last week, but it may not work the next time. We can all agree, managing children’s behavior difficulties during their preschool years can be challenging. This is where the importance of positive discipline for preschoolers comes into play. 

Challenging behavior is a natural part of a preschooler’s development. At this stage, kids begin to establish independence and push their boundaries from time to time. This quest for autonomy results in trying out new behaviors. However, because of their unrefined motor and verbal skills, they may become frustrated about not being able to do what they want to do, which can lead to difficult behaviors. 

Instilling discipline in a preschooler goes beyond teaching your child the difference between right and wrong. When parents use positive discipline, the focus shifts from negative actions and misbehavior to encouraging positive behaviors while also addressing the difficult ones. 

So how can you practice positive discipline with your preschooler? Take a look at these tips for more information!

Be a good role model

Learning appropriate behavior starts at home. As parents, we are our kids’ first teachers, not only in terms of literacy but also when it comes to teaching them values and appropriate behaviors. This is best accomplished by setting a positive example for children to follow.

Talking about the difference between right and wrong at home is a good start, but that alone is not enough to instill discipline in children. We have to be model positive actions for our kids because they observe everything we say and do. Be sure to display the kinds of behavior you want your preschooler to emulate. If you want your child to be kind and compassionate, make sure that these values are also displayed by you and other members of your family.  

Determine the root cause of the behavior

One common mistake many parents make is that they are quick to react to the behavior before hearing all of the information. Let’s admit it, many of us find ourselves screaming at our children as an immediate reflex.

It’s important to remember that kids don’t just misbehave for no reason. Your child doesn’t just have a tantrum throw his or her toy without a reason. There are always underlying triggers for why children behave the way they do. It’s our job as parents to find out why. 

Take time to learn about the root cause of your child’s behavior. Find out what triggered his or her actions before giving a consequence. Maybe your little one was trying to get your attention. Perhaps your child was triggered by his or her sibling’s actions and responded in an inappropriate way.  

Empathize

When children misbehave, our initial reaction is usually to get angry or yell. Instead of this knee-jerk reaction, have you ever tried meeting your child’s misbehavior with empathy? Parenting doesn’t have to entail constant stress as long as you know how to deal with the challenges in a  composed and calm manner. 

So, how does one do this? you do it? When your child throws a toy, try approaching the incident with a sense of calm instead of getting irritated or angry. Find out the reason behind your child’s actions and help your little one feel that he or she is understood. You can say something like, “I understand you were upset when your sister accidentally destroyed your favorite doll. I’d be upset if that happened to me too. But that isn’t a good way to express our feelings, and we will have to deal with that, but not right now.”

Strengthen your bond with your child

Giving children consequences for misbehavior shouldn’t make them feel unloved or unwanted. Make sure your child never questions your love and understands that disciplining him or her is a form of love. Instilling discipline needs to be coupled with love and affection. Positive behaviors will follow when children feel safe and secure in their parents’ love.

Parenting styles come in different forms. If you feel like you’ve already tried a bunch of strategies and none of them are working, you might want to consider incorporating positive discipline when it comes to your parenting approach. These tips can help you practice positive discipline with your preschooler. 

For more tips and resources on parenting, please visit Young Scholars Academy. 

 

Filed Under: Activities

Let Toys Be Toys

January 7, 2021 by Young Scholars Academy Leave a Comment

Children love to play. They love to play with toys. Toys should not however define their play. It is an unconscious thing to classify toys as being for girls or boys. I’ve done it myself. When shopping for a boy’s birthday I naturally find myself looking at cars and action figures whereas if I’m shopping for a girl, I’m looking at dolls and stuffed animals. I’ve parents complain that they feel judged when their son wants a doll, or their daughter wants a dump truck. The idea of girl toys and boy toys is ingrained into our psyche from an early age. I think it is growing more important everyday that advocate for our children and their interests. Toys should be given to align with their interests and what we want our children to learn through play than the stereotypical ideas of what they are playing with.

If your child has a personality that leans toward nurturing, empathy and taking care of others then dolls, kitchen play, and stuffed animals should be accessible whether your child is a boy or a girl. The same concept should be applied to children with interests that lie in construction toys, boxing gloves, or footballs. Allowing children to participate in activities and play with toys that center in their wants and needs despite their gender will encourage them to be confident in who they are and not what they are expected to be. Little girls should not be defined as being princesses in pink frilly dresses if they don’t want to be. They should be permitted to be fire fighters, superheroes, or sport stars if that is who they are. Little boys should not be defined as muscled knights in shining armor always rescuing damsels in distress. They can be artists, teachers, or stay at home Dads if that is where their heart lays.

I’m not saying you should analyze every toy you purchase for your children to teach them a lesson in life. Slime is just plain fun! I think it is important to realize who your child is and to help encourage them to be unafraid to follow their ideas despite what society and advertisements say. Teaching your child to embrace their interests will help to build them up and help them to embrace their true selves. The happiest adults that I know are the ones who bucked common stereotypes and preconceived ideas of they should be when they grow up. They are also the one who were given opportunities to play with that chemistry set, sit and read books, play in the mud, or put together puzzles despite what others might have said they should be doing.

Children learn a lot through play. They learn who they are and who they want to be. They learn how to communicate and cooperate with others. They learn how to solve problems whether it be with their peers or how to get a car from point a to point b without touching the car. Children learn how to be leaders, inventors, and care takers through play. It is not always and cannot always be about being a girl or a boy but about who they are and what they want to be.

Ms. Dotty
Lead Kindergarten Teacher
NAEYC Coordinator

Filed Under: Family Tips

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5815 Tutt Center Point
Colorado Springs, CO 80922
(719) 522-9099
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