Issue: # 52March 31, 2014
                    

"You already possess everything necessary to become great."

-American Indian proverb

News
Helping Children Develop Self-Discipline

Children's misbehavior can be frustrating and disturbing to adults, but we also can see it as an opportunity to teach, a chance to model self-discipline and character. Emotional development, like other learning, takes time and learning opportunities. And children, being the excellent imitators they are, will follow our example - for better or worse.

 

If we yell at children, they will yell; if we hit them, they will hit. Or they will become the perpetual victims of others' aggression. We get better results when we discipline calmly and teach our children to express their feelings in acceptable ways. When teachers share, children share; when parents are courteous, children are more cooperative.

 

Here are a few things we do in the classroom; they also work for parents.

 

Be clear and consistent. Set and discuss rules and consequences. Rules should be clear, simple, and few. Some adults have only one basic rule: You may not hurt yourself, others, or things. For example, to stop a child from hitting another child, kneel and calmly state, "You may not hit Ben. People are not for hitting." Then add, "I know you are angry. Can you tell me why? ...OK, how can you let Ben know that you want to use the blue crayon?"

 

Offer choices. "Do you want to brush your teeth now, or do you want to brush after we read a story?" "Would you like milk or juice with your snack?"

 

Ignore certain behavior, like cursing or stomping if it is not harmful. A child will quickly learn that he will gain nothing by acting up. On the other hand, he will learn that good behavior gets results and a favorable reaction from grown-ups.

 

No matter what we adults do, there are times when children lose control. Aggressive acts may call for removing the child from the action in a brief time-out. However, a time-out period may backfire if used in the spirit of punishment ("Go to your room right now!"). The point is to give the child a few minutes to cool down. Those minutes come in handy, too, for helping a frustrated parent or teacher cool down - and think of what to do next!

 

Taken from Diffily, D., & Morrison, K. (Eds.). (1997). Family-Friendly Communication for Early Childhood Programs. Washington DC: NAEYC.

Preschool 
Sewing Field Trip
 
Clothing Celebration!

This week we wrap up our clothing study with a celebration on Thursday and Friday. Students will take part in making picture boards to document what we learned and different activities we participated in.

 

Each child will create his/her own tie-dyed shirt at the end of the week. Please bring a white T-shirt for your child by April 1. We will provide all other materials.

 

Conferences: It's not to late to sign up for a conference. Please sign up for a time on the sheet posted on the door to our classroom. If there is not a time that works for you, see Ms. Jenny for additional times.

 

 Focus question for the week: "What other special clothes do people wear?"

Toddler
Rest time with Beckham & Teddy.
 
Individual Goals

The first few years of a child's life are filled with excitement and change; full of bittersweet developmental milestones the help show parents the special individual that is their child. Although children typically progress through a predictable sequence of stages and growth patterns during this time, each child's development is unique and complex. Children proceed through these steps at their own pace, in their own way, with environmental factors and life experiences helping to define the way this progression occurs.

 

The Toddler Room is a safe place for a child to learn and grow, with teachers striving to help each child reach the next appropriate developmental level. Understanding how children learn and develop, help teachers support each child through a process called scaffolding.

 

Keeping in mind that each child is a unique individual progressing at his or her own pace, toddler teachers set individual goals for each child. These goals vary, including skills like drinking out of a cup, stacking blocks, or recognizing colors or shapes. Teachers work one-on-one with each child on a daily basis, providing activities that focus on meeting the individual goals of the child. In this way, children are always being encouraged to try things that are just a little more complex than what they are currently able to do, helping them to make natural progressions in their learning. When one goal is met, it is replaced by a new goal meant to challenge the child in a different way.

 

If there are specific developmental goals that you would like the toddlers teachers to work on with your child, please let us know. We are happy to work with your family to help your little person be the best that he or she can be!


                  

Phone: (269) 387-2277                                    
Email: childrens-place@wmich.edu
Website: wmich.edu/childcare                                       
In This Issue
Helping Children Develop Self-Discipline
Preschool
Toddler
Important Dates
KC Ready 4s
Things To Do
Tax Information
Important Dates 
Billing for 
Mar. 24-Apr. 4
Due Mar. 24
  Late by Apr. 4
  
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Mar. 31-Apr. 4
Will Your Child be 4 years old by Oct. 1, 2014?
  
The Children's Place Learning Center is a KC Ready 4s and GSRP approved site. These programs offer tuition assistance to attend our Preschool Program.
  
Please see Kathy for an application or more information.

      

April 5, 2014

2 pm - 4 pm

Central Library

 

Take your family to the library the first Saturday of every month! Enjoy fun, free activities with your family.

 

On April 5th, we'll do some STEM activities with the Kalamazoo Valley Museum.

Tax Season Information

Tax information is available at the bottom of your child's billing statement.

 

On each statement through April, your statement will include a line "Yr. Total 2013". This is the amount of child care tuition you were billed for 2013. Our Tax ID is also listed under this line.

 

If you need additional copies or other

 information, Kathy or Anne should be able to help you.