Preschool in Ypsilanti Suggests Tips For Going Back to School

Is your child enthusiastic or unhappy about the new school year?

Does your child find his or her new school intimidating?

Are you having a hard time motivating your child for the new school year ahead?

Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered!

Whether your child is a new or returning student at our preschool in Ypsilanti, there’s always a solution to help ease your child into the idea of going to school.

PBS Parents recommends the following steps:

1. Practice going to school to help your child get familiar with the route and routine.

2. Describe to your child what will likely happen on their first day of class.

3. Ask your child compelling questions about what they’re looking forward to the most, and what concerns they have.

4. Schedule play dates with other children your child may not have seen all summer to acquaint them with familiar faces.

5. Walk your child into the classroom on the first few days.

6. Read books about starting school and how exciting it can be!

We hope these tips will help you and your child shift from summer back to a school schedule with ease. Have you found other ways that get your child excited about school? We’re not talking about bribes, we’re talking about techniques that work without you caving into your child’s demands. If you have any techniques, please share them with us! We always appreciate more ideas! 

Do you know of a parent looking for a quality preschool in Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor or the surrounding area? Please encourage them to contact us to schedule a tour of Little Angels Preschool & Daycare.  

Little Angels Preschool & Daycare Preschoolers and Staff Bake Cookies and Get Connected to the Elderly

Little Angels Preschool & Daycare will celebrate National Senior Citizens Day on August, 21, 2013.  The preschoolers will bake dozens of cookies and deliver them to the Ypsilanti Senior Home and to the CHS Group.  CHS, which shares space in the same building that is home to LAPD, assists the elderly and people living with Alzheimer’s, Autism, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis and other challenging health issues.  

Celebrate National Senior Citizen’s Day along with Little Angels Preschool & Daycare. 

See the press release for this event. 

http://www.prlog.org/12184786-little-angels-preschool-daycare-ypsilanti-deliver-sweet-treats-to-michigan-seniors.html

There are several volunteer and school-based programs throughout the country that encourage interaction between children and the elderly or “inter-generational connections.”  This concept appears to be successful in many ways.  Elders have extra time to spend mentoring and passing their wisdom onto the children.  Children learn social responsibility and compassion for elders.  Children also reciprocate by bringing an immense amount of joy to the elders.  Thereby, reducing the elder’s depression, loneliness and boredom.

One such program is The Grace Living Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  The Grace Living Center houses two classrooms with 60 kindergarten and pre-kindergarten students with 170 elders.  The “grandmas” and “grandpas” mentor the children with their academic and social development through reading, dramatic play, crafts and more.  There have been proven results of higher competency in reading and vocabulary. Children also learn more about aging including illness, physical limitations such as mobility, eyesight loss, hearing loss and ultimately even death. 

There are many ways to encourage your child’s “inter-generational connections.”  Spend time with grandparents, elderly family members or neighbors.  The elders can teach your child skills such as fishing, knitting, cooking, story telling etc.  Your child may help elders learn about technology perhaps with e-mail, Facebook, games, cameras, iPods or iPads.

If your child doesn’t have an elderly relative or neighbor close by, here are several alternative suggestions:

• Volunteer at an assisted living home.

• Read to the elderly and allow the elderly to read to your child.

• Serve and/or deliver Meals on Wheels.

• Volunteer with a pet therapy program that takes pets to assisted living homes.

• Be a pen pal to an elderly person.  Everyone loves getting mail!

• Do crafts together.  It will help fine motor skills in children and the elders!

We all can learn a great deal from our elders.  Listen to their life stories: happy moments, times of struggle, proud accomplishments, regrettable mistakes and so much more. 

 

Read more about The Grace Living Center posted by Lisa Morehouse

http://www.edutopia.org/grace-learning-center-prekindergarten-community

How to Help Develop Your Child’s Love For Reading. Preschool Daycare Ypsilanti

Are you trying to help develop your child’s mind and get them prepared for school? 

One of the best ways to instill the importance of education is to teach them to enjoy reading.  Reading is not only a way to increase knowledge, it’s also a great form of entertainment.  And don’t kids and adults both love doing fun things?   

Start early by reading to them with age-appropriate books.  They’re never too young to start.  You can even read to babies.  Many infant books also have noise and different textures added to further stimulate your child. 

Choose good books that are age-appropriate so they’ll enjoy them.  Try to choose books about topics they’ve shown interest in or that they can relate to.  Once they begin to enjoy reading, then open them up to new ideas, genres and topics.

When your child is old enough, enroll them in a library program.  They often have coordinating games, crafts and speakers that go along with the stories. 

Set up a special reading area in the house.  It could be under a blanket fort or a spot with a comfy chair and lamp.  Encourage them to decorate with pictures of their favorite book characters. 

Set aside family time for reading.  You can all read the same book or enjoy your individual materials.  It may be best to make it a routine, like after dinner or bath time.  It is also important for them to see you reading and hear you talk about the book you’re reading.    

Reading doesn’t have to be just books or the iPad.  Try sharing newspaper articles, magazines and blogs.  Tons of games also require reading like board games, crossword puzzles, coloring books, word searches and more. 

Never make reading a punishment.  Nothing will make them dread it more than being forced to read!

Make colorful bookmarks with your child and track their progress with reading charts to help celebrate each chapter read.  You may also want to reward them with something positive, perhaps with a new book they have been wanting or watching a movie made from a book they’ve previously read. 

At Little Angels Preschool Ypsilanti | Daycare Ypsilanti we incorporate reading into our daily routine.  Please contact us if you need suggestions on appropriate books for your child’s age and ability. 

www.littleangelsypsilanti.com         734-998-0233       littleangelspsd@yahoo.com