Discovery Bottles For Your Favorite Bedtime Story!

Does your child just LOVE a great story? They may love it even more brought to life in a discovery bottle!
 
Discovery bottles are an easy activity to go along with a story to make it more fun. We found this awesome activity on TeachPreschool.org.

Example provided by TeachPreschool.org

Materials:
Well it depends on which story you choose. But, it’s recommended that you use a Voss plastic water bottle, water, baby oil, and a drop of dish soap, and/or food color. Depending on the story you can put things in it that relate back to the story’s theme.
 
Directions:
While you read a story to your child have them look at the discovery bottle and describe what they see. You can also display the bottle with the book in their room.
 
For discovery bottle examples visit TeachPreschool.org for more information!
 
This activity lays down the building blocks needed for reading and comprehension development. This discovery bottle activity helps develop your child’s cognitive senses for memory, reading and analyzing. If you try this activity at home, please share pictures of your discovery bottles in the comment section below. We’d love to see the kind of fun you had while putting these discovery bottles together!

Little Angels Preschool in the Ann Arbor area has been serving Saline, Ypsilanti, Milan, Pittsfield Township, and the surrounding areas for more than 20 years. Your child will gain positive self-esteem, confidence and a healthy sense of value through Experienced Based Learning at our daycare center. Call (734) 998-0233 to schedule a tour!

Little Angels Preschool in Ypsilanti utilizes the Reggio Approach

"The value of a toy is not merely in the having of the toy; it is realized when a child plays. The right toy played with at the right time elicits the joy and wonder of learning."

 

Julie Schneider, preschoolengineer.blogspot.com

Little Angels Preschool in Ypsilanti is working to become a Reggio inspired learning community. We know that children learn best when they are challenged to think for themselves. Kodo Kids equipment offers high quality tools for study. 

Children must be given the opportunity to the experience of empowerment. These tools allow team work, or a chance to work alone.
Children need to develop problem solving skills using past knowledge, trial and error, and logic. When a child is able to succeed at moving the water from point A to point B they are struck with pride and accomplishment. They continue to try new things, learn perseverance.

In an ever changing world we must learn to adapt, using tools with multiple uses or solutions shows children there can be many answers to the same problem.

We need your help to better our learning community. “With donations from Go Fund Me for the Kodo Kids equipment our hope is to fully enrich the lives of individuals in our community by developing problem solving and adaptation skills”, says Diana, Director of Little Angels Preschool & Daycare in Ypsilanti.

Any donations are well appreciated, as it gets us one step closer to becoming a Reggio inspired learning community! Donate on our Go Fund Me page here: https://www.gofundme.com/qb6sj934  

Schedule a Tour of Little Angels Preschool & Daycare Today!

We've been serving the Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, Milan, Pittsfield Township and Saline area for more than 20 years. Your child will gain positive self-esteem, confidence and a healthy sense of value through Experienced-Based-Learning at our daycare center.

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

Looking for Family Groups in Ypsilanti or Ann Arbor?

Are you looking for parent or family support groups in Ypsilanti or the surrounding areas?
 
There are many parents in the area who have similar interests and children at the same milestones as your family. Many groups in the area provide opportunities for parents to mingle, get advice, and support each other in their parenting endeavors.

Some groups in the area include:
 
1. Hike it Baby
2. La Leche League
3. Ann Arbor Parents Without Partners
4. Ann Arbor Parents Meetup Group
5. Lamaze Family Center
6. Saint Joseph Hospital Breastfeeding Club
7. Ann Arbor Baby Wearers
 
If you need a few more suggestions on family groups in the area, feel free to ask our staff. We’re always willing to help support and guide our Little Angels parents and guardians.
 
If you decide to try some of these parent groups, we’d like to know how they work for you. In addition, are there any other alternative parent groups that you’re already a part of that you’d like to suggest to other parents? Please let us know in the comments! At Little Angels Preschool in Ypsilanti serving Saline, Ann Arbor, Milan, Pittsfield Township, and the surrounding areas, we’re dedicated to our students’ health and well-being. (734) 998-0233

Why Does My Child Lie?

Does your child tell lies?
 
Are you wondering why?
 
Do you worry that your child may be developing a lying problem?
 
No need to worry! Telling lies is completely normal stage for children. Most of us did it at one point or another, but it’s important not to let the telling of lies get out of hand. Instead, imagine what your life would be like if you had a steady flow of truthful communication between you and your child?
 
If you and your child were able to speak openly about everything, there would be a lot less opportunity for lying. Trust is the KEY!
According to Parenting.com, here’s why certain ages groups tell lies:
 
Toddlers: Telling small fibs is common for ages 2-3. These are often fibs “denying they’ve done something wrong or in order to gain something for themselves.”
 
Preschoolers: “This is the age of invisible friends, horned monsters and talking rainbows. Preschoolers who tell tall tales can be pure play, or sometimes wishful thinking, usually insisting their fantasy world is real.”
 
Schoolkids: When 5 – 8 year-olds lie, it usually “benefits someone else or is told to avoid hurting someone’s feelings.”
 
Tweens: Tweens (ages 9 – 12) tend to be a little bit secretive but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. It usually means they’re maturing and wish for more independence.
 

How Should I Handle My Child’s Lies?

The best way to help wean your child from lying is to encourage them to express themselves truthfully. Building a relationship is critical, because without a trusting relationship, getting to know one another can become difficult.
 
Don’t be afraid to open up your feelings to your child and tell them how you feel when they lie. Do you feel angry? Are you filled with disappointment? Are you sad? This can help open up a dialogue and hopefully get your child to open up as well, if you handle it calmly and with love.
 
If you decide to try some of these things with your child, we’d like to know how they work for you. In addition, are there any other alternatives that already work for you that you’d like to suggest to other parents? Please let us know in the comments! At Little Angels Preschool in Ypsilanti serving Saline, Ann Arbor, Milan, and the surrounding areas, we’re dedicated to our students’ health and well-being.

6 Ways to Deal with Aggression in Toddlers and Preschoolers

Is your child aggressive toward other toddlers or preschoolers?

Does your child have a history of biting, kicking, or hitting?

What have you done to help solve the problem?

If you’re having a hard time dealing with an aggressive child at home, you’re not alone! Many toddlers display aggressive behavior around two years old mostly because they’re frustrated. Toddlers have a limited vocabulary to express how they’re feeling, which results in frustration. 

Photo Credit: George Hodan

How would you like to get a good report from your child’s teacher every day? You would have less frequent trips to the preschool and daycare in Ypsilanti, and have more YOU time!  

According to Parents Magazine, “if your child has a tendency toward aggressive behavior, it's up to you to help him develop judgment, self-discipline, and the ability to express his or her feelings in appropriate ways. Here are six ways to do that:

1. Set firm consistent limits.
2. Help your child find new ways to deal with their anger. 
3. Instill self-control in your child.
4. Avoid encouraging your child to be tough.
5. Don’t spank as a form of discipline.
6. Control your own temper.”

Give these recommendations a try. It’s important that you portray how your child should behave yourself because, after all, they learn from you! Your child will pick up on your signals. If they continue to struggle, it may be beneficial to speak with a doctor regarding your child’s behavior.

If you decide to try some of these things with your child, we’d like to know how it works for you. In addition, are there any other alternatives that already work for you that you’d like to suggest to other parents? Please let us know in the comments! At Little Angels Preschool in Ypsilanti serving Saline, Ann Arbor, Milan and the surrounding areas, we’re dedicated to our students’ health and well-being.

Achieving Kindergarten Readiness Milestones in Preschool

Kindergarten can be an exciting time for children and parents, but it can also be scary. Knowing if your child is ready to learn in a new environment can be tricky, and knowing what to look for is sometimes difficult.

During this important time, it’s likely you have a lot of questions.

“How do I know if my child is ready for kindergarten?”

“What should I be doing to make sure they’re learning at home?”

“What skills does he/she need to be successful?”

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, or have more concerns about kindergarten readiness, your Ypsilanti preschool teachers and daycare professionals want to help!  

Here are several areas that Pre-K students, parents, and teachers should be focusing on, according to Ann Barbour, a professor of childhood education at California State University, Los Angeles:

Self-Care

By the time kindergarten starts, your child should be able to get dressed by themselves, and know basic self-help skills like using writing utensils, etc.

Using Language to Express Needs and Wants

It’s important for your child to be able to talk with adults and other children. They should also be able to play well with their classmates, so make sure to talk with them about sharing and making friends. 

Shape, Color and Letter Recognition

Your child should be able to write basic letters, especially the letters in their own name. Shapes and colors are important and easy to work on at home. Alphabet magnets are a great way to teach your child basic spelling, and using food dye and cookie cutters can be a fun way to learn both shapes and colors.

Eagerness to Learn

Showing curiosity and a willingness to learn new things is an important development for young children. Teaching your kids that learning can be fun instead of scary will help them

Most kindergarten readiness skills are already being taught in preschool or daycare, but your child can benefit from continuing to learn at home. The more you can do to prepare for kindergarten, the less scary it will be for the both of you.

According to Barbour, “you can also help your child prepare for the actual transition to kindergarten by talking about what will happen.” Much of the preparation is about making sure that your child is comfortable and happy.

Kindergarten readiness involves both you and your child, and your Ypsilanti preschool professional can help! Make sure to find out what your Pre-K teachers have planned for your child, and find out what you can do to make their learning experience as beneficial as possible.