HUB Happenings

May 25, 2016
Issue XLII
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Who's Got Spots! 

Name
Location
Available Spots




Kensington, MD

(5) spots for children ages 2-3 and (1) spot for a 4-year-old




Silver Spring, MD

(10) spots available for ages 18 mos. - 5 yrs.








Bethesda, MD

(1) part-time spot open for all ages now and (2) toddler and up spots starting Aug. 28
 

 


NE, DC

(1) spot for an infant and (4) spots for two-year-olds


Vienna, VA 
 
(1) infant spot, (2) PreK1 spots, and (3) PreK2 spots

Chevy Chase, MD

 A few spots remain in 1st - 3rd grade



Olney, MD

Limited openings in PK -8



North Potomac, MD

(2) spots for age 2 and up

Click here to search our entire database of child care centers, daycares, and schools that have current and anticipated openings.

Does your daycare or school have current or anticipated spots?  
Email them to DCschoolHUB@gmail.com

How do you get our children so well behaved?
Recently, a friend with young children asked how my husband and I 'grew such well-behaved kids' (now age 10 and 15). My mind immediately went to the moments when they aren't so well behaved, the moments when we, as parents, have the option of telling our children what to do and asserting our power as the heads of our houses by giving consequences when requests aren't met. My husband and I work best when working for someone who approaches situations with empathy, works collaboratively and holds a consistent set of expectations. We attempt to actualize these values when parenting.

My mind goes to one morning about six years ago when waking our children I was greeted by my pre-adolescent son with "I'm TIRED, GO AWAY!" who didn't appreciate me saying "I am choosing to interpret this as 'Mom, you are the best, but may I please have five more minutes?'" From my daughter I received a grunt and a near kick at my face. My son then silently moved through the morning while my daughter clung to her grumpy mood like a well-loved security blanket. That evening, as bedtime approached, our daughter, still holding on to the mood of the morning declared that she was not putting on her pajama bottoms and "that was all there was to say!" Being a four year old and quite a bit smaller than myself, I knew I could either physically put the bottoms on her and issue consequences which would have been quick and taken little energy or I could redefine the idea of a successful day.

Letting go of all pretenses of a Norman Rockwell evening, I shifted my expectations for success and recognizing she needed an 'out', I quickly grabbed her pajama bottoms declaring "Of course you aren't going to put on your pajamas, I need them for my crown because I am the Queen of Pants Land", did my best to make them look like a crown and promptly put them on my head. As you might imagine this was met with a look of confusion and then a rambunctious wrestling match and enough laughter to compel my son to join us (an increasingly rare event as he rapidly approaches adolescence). In no time, our daughter had successfully taken the pajama bottoms, put them on her own head and stated she was in fact the Queen of Pants Land and my son and I were now relegated to being a Prince and Princess.  READ MORE
Yelling-Free Parenting
 To yell or not to yell at your kids? That is the question. 
by Beth Anne Feldman, Ph.D.,  Georgetown Psychology Associates

Every parent has yelled at their kid. Most parents know they should stop yelling, but still believe yelling is the only way to get their kids to listen. But when we yell, it teaches our kids not to listen to us until we yell. It trains our kids to yell back at us. And for most parents, after the screaming match is finally over, you are left with a big pit of regret and guilt at the bottom of your stomach.

So what should you do when you find yourself in the middle of another screaming match with your kid over not cleaning a room or getting dressed? Take a break, as long as you need. Leaving the situation does not mean you've lost the battle; instead it models self-control to your child. How can we expect a child to learn to control their own emotions if we can't control our own?  Change your thoughts so you can change your feelings and actions. In the heat of the moment, thinking becomes distorted and anger becomes the lens through which you see the world.

Rather than allow yourself to be consumed with angry and resentful thoughts that don't calm you down (e.g., She is a such a brat; I can't let him think he can get away with that), change them to be more constructive and rational (e.g., My daughter is acting like a child because she is just a child; I bet I acted like that when I was her age; Most adults don't like to stop what they're doing immediately).

Don't take whatever your child just did personally. The situation is not about you. Take deep breaths or count to fifty. Put water on your face or use another active strategy that works for you to help regain your composure. Say very little. If you don't, inevitably you will find yourself launching empty threats and regrettable words. If you can do it calmly, tell your child you need to cool down and think about what happened before you are ready to talk again.

When you are ready to return to the crime scene, you will know because your body no longer feels like it is going to explode, your mind no longer is on a warpath, and your child no longer is enemy number one. Where to go from here depends on many factors such as the issue at hand and age of child. But the universal place to start is to apologize for letting your anger control you and agree to redo. Tell your child, "I'm sorry that my anger got the best of me. Let's try this again." Remember, you ultimately cannot control your child's behavior but only your own.



Which private school has the best lunch program?



Top 3 so far:

1. St. Andrew's Episcopal School
2. Holton-Arms School
3. Bishop Ireton High School
Want to tout your school, child care center, or child care provider? Find their listing and write a review today!
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Featured Schools & Care Centers

 
    
   
 
 
6 weeks - PreK

Alexandria, VA

Established in 2014, Discovery Time Learning Center is dedicated to providing high quality early childhood education to infants, toddlers and preschoolers using our research-based curriculum and highly trained teaching team.

We encourage parent involvement at all age levels and offer a variety of parent-oriented activities throughout the year. In addition, we have an Open Door Policy and Secure Classroom Cameras that allow parents to view their child from anywhere at anytime.


Age 2 - Kindergarten

Gaithersburg, MD

The Epworth Preschool and Kindergarten program has served the children and families of Gaithersburg for over 30 years. Our reputation for excellence in early childhood education has grown throughout this time, and we look forward to welcoming you into the Epworth Preschool and Kindergarten family!


Grades 3 - 12

Alexandria, VA

Commonwealth Academy is a welcoming school where many different kinds of learners can succeed. Average to gifted students who require the individual attention available only in very small class sizes, as well as students who have been diagnosed with a specific learning disability (LD) and/or with AD/HD will find an environment that celebrates their unique talents and supports their areas of need. 
Would you like to see your care center or school featured?  
Contact us at: DCschoolHUB@gmail.com

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