Should my 3-year-old be in school?

should-my-3-year-old-be-in-school

By Siyona Varghese

Children between the ages of three and six have a natural curiosity and enjoy exploring their surroundings. Like tiny sponges, their minds are constantly absorbing and storing information. At this critical age, kids can pick up new ideas that will give them a solid foundation for their future developmental years.

By providing them with the knowledge and skills they need to develop their future, a quality preschool feeds the young brains of its students. Additionally, it cultivates in them a love of studying and gets them ready for their academic journey.

Preschool can benefit parents just as much as it does children. Preschoolers spend roughly 40% or more of their waking hours at home with their parents, which is more time at home compared to any other age group in childhood.

How Can a Preschool Help Your Three-Year-Old?

A wonderful method to get your kid ready for kindergarten is to enroll them in preschool. In addition to giving kids a good start in their education, it also helps them get used to the more academic setting found in kindergarten.

Almost like a practice wheel on a bicycle, preschools are a necessary step that properly balances playtime and learning. Early education ensures greater performance for the student’s present and future. Along with helping them academically, it also helps them develop their personalities and build their self-esteem.

Pre-schooling has the following benefits for your child:

  1. Enhancement of Fine Motor Skills: Your child will be better able to write letters and numbers when she is grows beyond three years old if she starts preschool. The skills and abilities help them in their kindergarten education.
  2. Improved Self-confidence: The development of self-confidence in young children is among the most significant advantages preschool programmes offer. Preschoolers who have the opportunity to socialise with other kids, learn new things and grow more self-assured, which helps them perform better academically and socially throughout their life.
  3. Language acquisition: Any child’s preschool education must include the development of language. Young children are exposed to new words daily in preschool, which aids in vocabulary development. A preschooler’s vocabulary will expand as they learn to form phrases. Young children that participate in preschool programmes also tend to perform better in elementary school.
  4. Preparation for Further Studies: Preparing your three-year-old for kindergarten before they turn into big four-year-olds is one of the most significant advantages. By teaching letters and numbers in preschool, young children are given a head start in developing their communication skills later on. Numerous studies have shown that since preschoolers get early childhood special education with a lifelong learning focus, they typically perform better in elementary school.
  5. Academic Excellence: You want to set your child up for the academic achievement you know they are capable of as a parent. Children who start preschool at age three actually do better once they enter elementary school, according to many parents and educators. You are giving your child a learning foundation they will use throughout their academic career by placing them in preschool.
  6. Social Skills Development: The need for assistance in social skill development in three-year-old toddlers is well known. The first time a child interacts with another child outside of their immediate family is frequently in preschool. Why not acquaint your child with the world in a calming and pleasant setting? Children who attend preschool have stronger emotional intelligence, making it easier for them to handle challenging circumstances and control their negative reactions
  7. Safe, Orderly Environment for Your Child: Preschool gives your three-year-old a safe, secure atmosphere where they’ll feel free to study and develop. For instance, personal safety fundamentals like what to do during a crisis or while encountering strangers are often covered in preschools. Furthermore, the majority of preschool programmes usually encourage good practises like cleaning one’s teeth or washing one’s hands after playing outdoors.
  8. Resuming your Work and Aspirations: It’s not just your toddler who gains from attending preschool. You undoubtedly find yourself thinking about your life before children or doubting whether you will ever have another moment to yourself to pursue your interests or profession. You may spend more time doing the other activities you enjoy by placing your kid in a preschool programme. Imagine going back to work without being concerned about your kids. Write the novel you’ve always wanted to write, finish your degree, or just sit back and relax with some friends over a cup of coffee.
  9. Fueling your kid’s Curious mind: Your child’s mind is like a sponge at age three, ready to suck up all the information. You should give your kids room to explore their surroundings. They start to question everything at this age. similar to the reasons the sky is blue and the birds go southward for the winter. They want to know why the sun rises in the morning and where it vanishes at the end of the day.
  10. Better Parent-Child connection: Preschool still fosters a bond between you and your three-year-old even when you are not with them all day. Your child will quickly find that preschool is enjoyable, despite any initial reluctance. They start to take that fun back with them as a result. You may interact with your child in fresh and interesting ways thanks to the tales they tell, the activities they do, and the learning they share.

References

By vitalmadevadmin in Development and Milestones 0 Comment

How can I make my child Independent?

How-can-I-make-my-child-independent.

Dr. Dhanalakshmi N.

Ph.D. (N), PG Psychological Counselling, M.Sc. Psychology

Introduction

Around 3 years of age, children start growing more self-reliant and begin to concentrate more on adults and kids outside the household. They start to explore and ask about the things around them even more. Their interactions with their family and their environment will influence how they think and behave, as well as how they express themselves. During this stage, children should be able to ride a tricycle, be able to dress themselves, play with other children, recall part of a story and sing a song.

How can we encourage independence in pre-schoolers?

Set predictable routines

It can come as a surprise, but fostering independence requires establishing a reliable routine. Even brushing your teeth is a routine because there are several procedures that are constantly performed in the same order: turning on the water, rinsing the toothbrush, applying toothpaste, brushing, rinsing, and drying your hands and mouth. Likewise, going outside requires putting on shoes/slippers, packing a snack and so on.

Let your child choose

Involve your child in deciding what to wear, what to play with, or whom to call. Provide two or three options, and then praise their ability to make a choice.

Let your child help

Children love to help! In addition to building independence, this is a great tool for calming tantrums or redirecting behaviour by giving them a sense of control.

Give your child task or responsibilities

Giving kids responsibilities will encourage cooperation and the growth of empathy. Your child can display appropriate responsibility by performing simple activities like gathering toys or placing laundry in the hamper. In fact, you can incorporate these duties into your regular schedule. For instance, helping load the dishwasher or carrying their plate to the sink might be a part of your child’s mealtime ritual.

Let your child solve problems on her own

Allow your child to attempt difficult tasks and handle minor issues on their own. We frequently blame kids for our tension or frustration. We must allow kids to fall while they are initially learning to crawl or walk. Similar to this, we must allow kids to put their shoes on the wrong foot when they are learning to do so. To move your child on to the next stage, wait until they ask for assistance or make a minor suggestion. Don’t forget to give credit to the effort made.

Nurture free play

Independent and unstructured play is very important for development of creativity, problem-solving and independence. Offer your pre- schooler a variety of art materials such as crayons, markers, chalk, finger paints and building materials/blocks.

Things to say when they work/play

  • Offer verbal feedback, when you are giving positive comments about the qualities that you want to foster in your child and making it more likely these behaviours will happen again.
  • Praise your child’s right behaviour. For example, “Good job building up those blocks!” or, “I’m proud of you for replacing the toys in place.
  • Use reflective speech in order to convey to your child that you are listening and comprehending, For instance, if your kid says, “I constructed a tower,” you can respond, “You made a tower, Wow!”
  • Play and interact in ways that are appropriate. This encourages teamwork by rewarding good behaviour with favourable attention, which is the most effective reward. For instance, when your child constructs a tower, you start stacking blocks as well.
  • Explain the behaviour of your child. This reinforces your child’s constructive play and gets their attention. I notice you drew a rainbow, or we’re building a tower together, these are some possible responses.
  • Show Interest while talking with your child. Your interaction with your child feels warmer and more engaging as a result. You may, for instance, speak in a fun tone, speak with exaggerated emotion, and smile frequently.

References

  1. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting/preschoolers.html#:~:text=They%20will%20become%20more%20independent,ways%20of%20thinking%20and%20moving.
  2. https://childmind.org/article/how-to-build-independence-in-preschoolers/
By vitalmadevadmin in Behaviour and Discipline, Development and Milestones 0 Comment

Study Strategies for Pre-schoolers

study-tips-for-pre-schoolers

Dr. Dhanalakshmi N.

Ph.D. (N), PG Psychological Counselling, M.Sc. Psychology

Introduction

Pre-Schoolers are special. They are changing from playing alone to playing together and their language capacity is developing. They learn and develop skills such as naming colors, shapes, etc., As the child grows, they become more independent and begin to explore the world. They are more curious and ask many questions. Learning or study strategies help parents to plan for their children to achieve successful learning.

Learning strategies

The below factors promote learning for kids:

Environment: It is important to provide a comfortable environment to promote learning. The environment includes natural ventilation, adequate lighting and a lack of noise. A proper environment will influence the child to focus better and prevent distraction.

Plan: “Make every day learning day” making a daily schedule for kids learning will minimize confusion and arouse interest among children. Schedule a fixed time to study daily. Plan regular breaks between studies since children’s minds cannot concentrate for more than 15 to 20 minutes. Children are naturally curious. All you have to do is give enough material and exposure. Don’t force them but encourage them to do the activities. Show excitement in learning and get them excited to learn new things.

Child’s Interest: Consider your child’s interest while planning the schedule. Consider the child’s interest in subjects, books, topics, stories and methods of learning.

Rewards: Provide positive rewards or reinforcement to strengthen the learning process. Encouragement influences the child to learn better.

Focus on strengths: It is important for parents to identify their children’s strengths and weaknesses to work with them better. Focus on children’s strengths and also  find ways to convert weakness to strength. For example, if your child finds maths difficult, use simple techniques. Make mathematics practical. For example, have her count bangles or objects she likes. Ask her to distribute, say three bangles, to each of the people in the room. Give her two green bangles and three red bangles and ask her how many bangles in total she has.

Focus on performance: Some parents are concerned about their children getting the highest score or grades. Parents must focus on how well the child learns rather than the grades.

A balanced life: Adequate rest, physical activity, a positive mindset, good environment and nutritious food will promote a child’s learning success. Regular physical activity promotes not only physical health but also promotes self-confidence, focus and concentration.

Role model: Parents should be role models to their children in learning, taking an effort to learn and showing enthusiasm. Pre-schoolers observe and imitate their parents. Try to be seen reading a book, writing and doing other positive things you want your children to emulate.

Review: Review with your child what was learned on the previous day before you teach a new topic. Recollecting information about past learning promotes a child’s memory.

What Learning Methods or techniques can be used to teach kids?

Observation: Children can be exposed to the natural environment and they can observe and experience sensory learning. Learning by seeing, hearing, touching, smelling and tasting. Studies have proven that visual learning retains memory longer than auditory learning.

Learning through play: The play method is the best method for younger children. Theme-based play can be organised. This method arouses the child’s interest and maintains her interest to learn more. Game-based learning is the best way to teach new ideas and knowledge to kids. Theme-based learning can be planned through

  • Singing and dancing,
  • Role play or acting out
  • Telling stories or reading stories
  • Interacting with other children
  • Hopping and climbing
  • Arts and crafts etc.,

Audio-visual aids: Audio-visual aids such as flashcards, posters, radio, tape-recorder, blackboard, pictures, models etc., are more effective and promote learning.

Sensory learning: Sensory play stimulates a child’s senses through hearing, seeing, touching, smelling and tasting. Children can be allowed to play with water, sand, clay, colour pencils or paints, puzzles, building blocks, planting a garden, playing with food etc., sensory play promotes language, gross and fine motor and cognitive development. It also strengthens the social interaction between children while playing. This method can be used as an alternative to reading.

Brainpower boosting activities and Yoga poses for kids

Clapping hands: Studies have proven that hand-clapping games improve a child’s writing skills and handwriting. It also improves mood and releases tension.

Squats (Thoppukaranam): Studies have shown that this is a great yoga technique to boost brain power. Daily practice of squats improves a child’s concentration, social skills, academic performance and class participation.

Tree poses: Making the child stand on tree poses daily will improve concentration.

Shavasana (corpse pose): Daily practice of Shavasana calms the mind and improves concentration.

Padmasana: It is also called the lotus pose. Daily practice of this pose helps to relax the mind and improves focus, concentration and memory power.

References

 

By vitalmadevadmin in Development and Milestones 0 Comment

How to engage toddlers in productive learning

how-to-engage-toddlers-in-productive-learning

By Dr. Dhanalakshmi N.

Ph.D. (N), PG Psychological Counselling, M.Sc. Psychology

Introduction

It can be challenging to keep preschoolers and toddlers interested. How can you engage a toddler whose favorite word is “no” and whose favourite question is “why”? The trick is to take advantage of their enthusiasm and narrow focus. Early childhood education participants have greater test scores and lower dropout rates. Additionally, it makes kids more likely to succeed in life later on.

How young children learn

Having connections with you, other family members and caretakers like early childhood educators is the cornerstone of your child’s healthy learning and development. A young toddler learns via routine play and exploration in a welcoming environment. Spending a lot of time playing and interacting with both you and other people will help your child develop life skills including talking, thinking, problem-solving and interacting with others.

Active participation in their surroundings helps your child learn best. Some of them include:

  • seeing objects, observing people and hearing voices
  • paying attention to sounds, producing sounds and asking questions like “But why?”
  • experimenting with objects, colors and elements like sand and water
  • Building things out of materials like cartons or toy blocks or otherwise engaging in activities that engage their senses of touch, taste, smell, vision and hearing is an example of discovering.
  •  Other activities include feeling objects, shaking them and turning them around. Toddlers also put objects in their mouths to learn about them. That’s natural. Just ensure they are protected from choking hazard and unclean surroundings.

Your child also learns by getting involved in decision making. This could be as simple as:

  • selecting reading material or playthings to use.
  • selecting an outfit to wear.
  • choosing vegetables for dinner, etc. All kids gain from experiencing a wide variety of activities. As a result, kids have several opportunities to practice what they have learnt. Your child needs both indoor and outdoor activities, physical activity and calm activities, unstructured play and more structured play, for instance.

Tips to engage your child to learn

  • Keep it brief: For children aged three and four, the typical attention span is eight to ten minutes. Make the most of your time while you have it because small kids have short attention spans. Schedule a 10-to-15-minute break between activities. If you need to finish a lengthy task, divide it into smaller sections and give the kids breaks in between to keep their attention.
  • Engage your child: by reading, singing and talking to them as often as you can.
  • Introduce various learning styles: Each child has preferred learning methods and learning styles that work best for her. You can utilise strategies to increase your child’s learning rate and quality by assisting her in identifying her preferred learning preferences. There are seven basic types of learning: auditory, visual, verbal, physical, logical (numerical), social and solitary. Children who are primarily visual, for instance learn best by observing how things operate.
  • Use Game-based learning: Playing video games in the classroom stimulates students to desire to learn while also providing opportunities for deeper understanding and the cultivation of non-cognitive skills. When a child is actively participating in a game, their brain finds it enjoyable to learn a new system.
  • Limit your child’s Media watching: Try to limit your child’s Media consumption (TV, Phone, Computer etc.). This applies whether you are home alone, have a babysitter or your kid is with you. Children need to hear and speak with adults in order to develop their language skills. It is possible and healthy to withhold TV altogether and keep the phone usage to a minimum of 15 minutes per day. Let your toddler learn from the people and environment instead.
  • Make sure your child does homework: Every night, review your child’s homework. Your child should be able to articulate what she is studying. Ensure that homework is finished. Find a quiet area for your kid to study if you can and devote time each night to homework.
  • Identify and celebrate achievements: You should acknowledge and applaud your child’s accomplishments, no matter how minor they may be. Children in elementary school need regular encouragement to study and improve, therefore this is particularly crucial for them.
  • Focus on strengths: For your child to develop and advance in a balanced academic and emotional way, you must concentrate on his or her strengths. Another technique for encouraging your child to keep learning is to emphasise her strengths.
  • Tell a story: Every now and then, children have trouble remembering certain information. But if you weave that content into a story, children will frequently get the lesson very quickly. You can tell stories about specific bits of information, such as the names of shapes or the alphabet’s letters.
  • Use colour: Learning in colour is exciting. Objects, words and images in vivid colours should be included in learning activities. Give children colouring pages with basic shapes, letters or numbers on them and then let them decorate the images with their own colours.
  • Make learning fun and every day a learning day: You may motivate your child to learn something new everyday. Keep it fun. Expose your child to new things, books and learning objects and they will automatically learn.

References

  1. https://www.readingrockets.org/article/simple-ways-encourage-learning
  2. https://www.educationcorner.com/motivating-your-child-to-learn.html
  3. https://raisingchildren.net.au/babies/play-learning/learning-ideas/learning-baby-to-preschool#how-babies-and-young-children-learn-nav-title
  4. https://www.helpteaching.com/blog/how-to-engage-young-learners-toddler-and-preschool.html

 

 

By vitalmadevadmin in Development and Milestones 0 Comment