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Healthy Eating, Your Kids and National Snack Food Month

February 15, 2018 by kingstreetearlylearningcenter

February is National Snack Food Month. This is the perfect opportunity to show your kids how healthy snacks are the best snacks for their growing minds and bodies!

Let’s face it, kids aren’t always enthusiastic about healthy eating.

But both parents and educators know the more interested and involved a kid is with what they’re trying to do, the more enthusiastic and engaged they’ll be.

This makes for easy teaching and better retention – a win-win for kids and the ones teaching them!

And it is possible to get them interested in trying new foods – if you make “fun” the name of the game!

Here’s how:

National Snack Food Month
Teaching Kids How to Eat Healthy

They’re watching you

Like it or not, your kids are always watching what you do.

If they see Mom and Dad choose – and enjoy – healthy foods and beverages, they may be more open to trying something new.
[Read more…] about Healthy Eating, Your Kids and National Snack Food Month

Filed Under: Health and Wellness

How to Help Kids Explore Their Interests During National Hobby Month

January 20, 2018 by kingstreetearlylearningcenter

Every kid should have something they enjoy doing outside of school. National Hobby Month is a great way to help your child explore hobbies he may not be aware of!

Why hobbies?

Adults aren’t the only ones who benefit from having a hobby.Hobbies are an enjoyable way to gain new skills and learn something new about yourself and the world around you.Children who excel at something grow to perform well at other tasks because of the confidence they gain from their hobbies.

When your child enjoys one or more hobbies she will:

  • Develop strong social and emotional skills
  • Grow academically
  • Learn to be more patient
  • Gain a sense of accomplishment which leads to confidence in other areas
  • Develop willpower, concentration, determination and dedication
  • Learn how to set – and meet – goals
  • Feel more confident when asked to try new things
  • Develop good reading habits by actively participating in a hobby; not sitting passively and being entertained (e.g. reading vs watching tv)

Kids who excel at something tend to define themselves by what they’re good at. For example, think back to your school days.
Maybe you had someone in your class who always had his head in an engine fixing up old cars, or maybe your friend always knew the best fishing holes.

[Read more…] about How to Help Kids Explore Their Interests During National Hobby Month

Filed Under: Health and Wellness

Teaching Kids How to Share on National Re-Gifting Day

December 20, 2017 by kingstreetearlylearningcenter

It’s often thought of as tacky, but is it really?

Re-gifting is the practice of individuals giving unused gifts that they received from others.

Declared a national holiday by money management website Regiftable.com, National Re-gifting day is celebrated each year on the third Thursday in December.

The date was chosen because it’s when companies are most likely to hold their office holiday parties giving individuals the chance to offload unwanted or unused gifts.

Re-gifting as a teaching tool

wrapped gift box
Giving gifts teaches generosity

At first glance you might not believe that regifting offers any benefit…other than perhaps cleaning out your closets, but this common practice gives parents and child care educators the perfect opportunity to teach kids how to share.

Thoughtful giving

Gift giving is a way to show someone that you care. Help children to understand that giving someone a gift is not a way to “show off”, so there’s no need to spend more than your budget allows.

In fact, in classroom situations, teachers set a limit on the amount each student can spend to avoid the chance of any hurt feelings.

To help children connect with the purpose of gift giving, ask each child about the last present they received. Who gave it to them? How did it make them feel?

Discuss what the other person must have been thinking when they gave it to them and ask what they think this person might like to receive from them.

[Read more…] about Teaching Kids How to Share on National Re-Gifting Day

Filed Under: Health and Wellness

Let’s Talk

November 8, 2017 by kingstreetearlylearningcenter

We have all heard so much about the preschool debate. The two basic questions are these: “Should I send my child to preschool?” and “Which preschool approach or philosophy is best?” Let’s talk about these two important questions.

First, the question of “Preschool or not?” Deciding whether to send your child out into the world for their first experience away from you can be heart wrenching. If you are a stay at home mom, the question can even seem ridiculous. Why would you send your child anywhere when you’re at home and can offer your child everything that is needed? This is understandable, though myopic. A mom’s job is to nurture her child and to give him or her the tools needed to grow into a confident human being who enjoys life and is a good citizen.

Children need to be in a peer setting in order to gain the self-confidence that comes from these particular successful social exchanges. That is not to say that relationships with family members, neighbors and weekly lessons don’t count, but the real test comes when children are faced with the struggles that arise from the need for turn taking and patience, on a daily basis, which are inherent in a school environment. A family member or neighbor will likely have an agenda or a bias, simply because it is human nature.

Karate instructors and coaches may have a set of specific goals, which may or may not be aligned with early childhood development. Again, not to be unfair to anyone. But, children deserve the opportunity to develop their social skills and self-confidence through real life experiences. So, after the familial bonds have been firmly established, and the child has a base of language, usually somewhere around age 3, school becomes increasingly important. Add to that the importance of feeding the developing brain by keeping those neurons and synapses busy, which happens when children are permitted to explore, and are engaged. Which brings me to the second question of “Which philosophy or approach is best?” To me, the answer is cut and dried. Children need to play. It is crucial to their understanding of the world. It is crucial to their sense of self, their natural curiosity, their need for connection. And play is crucial to a happy life.

Through decades, there has been a vast amount of research, and it all comes to the same conclusion: Children learn through play. Therefore, children MUST play. A child who is not offered plenty of opportunity for play is a child who is being denied the basic needs of human development. So, again, unless you have several children around the same age, endless time and endless patience, as well as an uncanny sense of reasonable expectations for your child’s ability for self-discipline, how can you possibly achieve a stimulating environment at home?

Consider for a moment, children entering kindergarten. For those who have not had a preschool experience, what must it be like to suddenly be spending six hours a day among twenty or so kids with an authority figure who is not mom? I can only imagine that it would be terrifying. Of course, there may be reluctance on the part of both mom and child for the initial preschool separation. But there is no doubt in my mind that it is the best thing for both mom and child.

Within the first couple of weeks, you both will get used to the idea of going your separate ways for a few hours. And before you know it, your child will be exhibiting new skills and new ways of being, that will cause you to realize that sending your child to preschool was, indeed, the right thing to do.

Filed Under: Health and Wellness, Kindergarten Prep, News

Halloween Fun

October 23, 2017 by kingstreetearlylearningcenter

I have always loved Halloween, especially as I became old enough to savor the opportunity to be creative. Costumes during my childhood were generally store bought and what my mom chose, but it was still exciting, maybe for the simple reason that it only happened in the fall. The unmistakable clues that special night was approaching: the smell of people’s wood stoves, morning dew turned to frost, the sound of leaves all around.

When my sister and I were in about second grade and kindergarten, our mother’s choice of costume was Nun. Okay, admittedly not very exciting. But we didn’t see it that way. We still got to wear a costume and go door to door during what was dinner time the rest of the year.

Middle school age, of course, saw the standard “hobo” costume. That was just right to indicate that I was too old to really commit to a costume, but still young enough to want to participate. A little burnt cork smudged strategically around your face, your big brother’s clothing, or your dad’s if he let you, and you were good to go. Although I do fondly recall at age 13, taking my six year old sister around the neighborhood. I had made her up to be a witch, and painted my own face to be a clown. No costume for me. I was too old for that! Just the clown face with my pea coat and jeans, my little witch sister in tow.

My late teens into early twenties were the most fun Halloweens I could imagine. My group of friends were all theater people who had wild imaginations, and the skills to really pull off their fantastical ideas. I was right at home. So, how I married a man who dislikes Halloween as much as he does, will forever remain a mystery! But he refuses to participate. He wouldn’t even have to use any brain power. He could just help me execute my ideas by agreeing to wear what I design. I mean, come on! How simple is that! I still harbor a fun image in my mind of him playing a six foot two Cher to my five foot five inch Sonny. I am willing to wear the Fu Man Shu mustache and leisure suit. He could do the hair flip with a long, black wig and a sequined gown. What husband in his right mind would refuse that! I mean, that’s funny!

Making my kids’ their costumes was a joy that would again cause that wonderful anticipation that only came once a year. I would go all out, doing them from semi scratch. Whatever they wanted, I would make happen. Even when my four year old’s heartfelt desire was to be a pink dog with red spots. Even when my six year old was insistent on being Snow White. (We are so not a Disney family). Point is, Snow White costumes could be bought anytime, anywhere. But not by me. Never by me. She was the only homegrown Snow White in her school. So much fun!

My kids now make their own costumes, but remnants of past Halloweens are boxed and in the attic. So, it’s up to make my own Halloween fun once again. But no longer for my kids. Definitely not for my husband. So … how lucky am I! I get to conceive of and offer an entire Halloween party for the children in our area, complete with games and crafts. Nothing scary. Nothing gory. Just fun, silly, creative fun!

So, if you’re looking for a fun, safe, easy daytime alternative to figuring out where to trick-or- treat, come and join us at TRUNK OR TREAT! It’s October 29 at 201 S. King Street. Trunks arrive at 1:00, and open at 1:15. Bring your costumed kids and your trunk full of goodies!

Our teachers are having a ball creating Halloween activities for you and your kids to enjoy! In the event of rain, all activities will take place inside. RAIN OR SHINE.

Filed Under: Events, Health and Wellness, News

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Miss Mia’s Early Bird Preschool
201 South King Street
Danbury, CT 06811
Phone: (203) 743-5427
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