Separation can be hard for many children, but it’s a normal stage in development. Our teachers at our preschool in the Ann Arbor area understand the difficulty separation has on parents and their children. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of things you can do to help your child ease through this important challenge in their lives.
1. Allow your child to get comfortable with change. Change is scary even for grown-ups! It’s important to communicate that both you and your child are safe when you’re apart.
a. Find things your child enjoys at preschool
b. Talk about the good things about your child’s preschool in Ann Arbor while at home and on the way to preschool.
c. Ask your child what they enjoyed when you pick them up and what they plan to do when you drop them off.
d. Help your child label their feelings and give them better ways to comfort themselves.
e. Describe different emotions to them, ask if and when they feel those emotions. Talk about how it’s okay to have these feelings, and that we can change them if we try. Singing a happy song can help make your child feel happy instead of sad or angry. A pair of sunglasses or a super hero mask may also help make them feel brave when they’re scared.
View this as a learning opportunity to establish trust, emotional regulation, and resilience. By learning these skills now, they have a chance to fine tune them before they’re in a larger class in kindergarten.
2. Establish a routine!
a. Bedtime routine – Getting enough sleep the night before never hurts the next morning. Read a story about preschool or tell a story about it. Talk about positive things at school.
b. Morning routine
Wake up at the same time every day, allow your child to pick out their outfit, chose a comforting tool for the day (a blanket, family photo, photo album, stuffed animal, etc.). Drive the same route to school, pointing out landmarks, and ask what landmarks comes next. Discuss their plan for the day. Give them a job – make them in charge of pushing the button to open the door to the building or entering the door code.
c. Drop-off routine/ Goodbye routine
Keep it short. Walk into the classroom and allow them to put away their coat and comfort tool. Decide beforehand how you’ll say goodbye; hug, high five, secret hand shake, song (silly laughter never hurts). A teacher will lead them to an activity of their choice (maybe what was discussed in the car?)
d. Classroom routine
Teachers can discuss with them what the plan is.
Example: Breakfast, then story, outside, then blocks or art, lunch then nap, snack then story, outside then Mom or Dad come to get you.
Please tell the teacher who will pick up your child and at what time, this way we can communicate with your child and be consistent.
Little Angels Preschool in the Ann Arbor area has been serving Ypsilanti, Saline, Ann Arbor, 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. We have infant, toddler, and preschool programs available. Call (734) 998-0233 to schedule a tour!
Is your child vocal about their feelings?
Can they explain critical parts of a story?
Can your child recognize feeling words like sad, hurt, confused, loved, etc.?
We recommend this great activity to practice vocabulary and expression that we found on FamilyEducation.com:
Materials
• Your child's favorite book
Directions
• You can take a favorite story a step further after you read it by asking the child what a particular character felt like at some point in the story.
• Help to extend vocabulary as your child searches for ways to explain feelings.
Extensions
• Make a list of words together that describe what a character felt.
• Ask the child if there is another way the story could have ended.
• Ask if there is another way a character could have acted.
• Ask the child how they feel about a particular part of a story.
This is a fun activity to do toward bedtime to boost your child’s understanding of the characters in their favorite story. The earlier your child develops analytical and logical thinking skills, the easier reading will become!
Little Angels Preschool in Ypsilanti have been serving Saline, Ann Arbor, 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!
Does your child go on playdates?
Or, do you host playdates?
Either way, you’ve come to right place if you’re looking for the 411 on playdates! Playdates are a great way for children to socialize, learn, problem solve, discover and make lifelong friends.
We’ve collected a few great tips provided by Parents Magazine to help make playdates fun for every child and easier for parents, including:
- Limit the number of people you invite, so your child can have one-on-one fun without anyone feeling left out.
- Drop off your child only when you know he or she is ready and most comfortable.
- Be on time dropping off and picking up your child.
- Insist on helping with the cleanup!
- Have your child “Thank” as soon as they’re old enough to talk.
- Accommodate your child’s food allergies by bringing your own snacks.
- Have fun activities planned out in advance if you’re hosting.
- Make the effort to alternate locations.
- Check with the other parent on restricting certain privileges like TV and computer use.
What do you find that works for you on playdates? Do you have tips for fellow parents? Let’s start the conversation on our blog in the comment section.
Little Angels Preschool in Ypsilanti have been serving Saline, Ann Arbor, 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!
Want to set your child up for success by teaching him or her all about shapes?
Can your child already recognize certain shapes because of everyday items found around your house?
Is your child aware of different size objects around your home?
We recommend a great activity to practice shapes and sizes by Trish Kuffner, found on FamilyEducation.com:
Materials
- Colored construction paper
- White construction paper
- Pen or marker
- Scissors
Directions
- Cut basic shapes (circle, square, rectangle, triangle, heart, and so on) out of colored construction paper.
- Trace all the shapes onto a piece of white construction paper.
- Have your child match the colored shapes to those drawn on the white paper.
This might seem like just a fun playtime activity, but you’re really helping your child to be set up for success. Want your child to be the next great mathematician? The earlier fundamentals are learned, the better your child will perform in school and beyond! This shape matchup activity helps develop your child’s cognitive senses for math concepts from geometry to sorting and patterning.
Little Angels Preschool in Ypsilanti have been serving Saline, Ann Arbor, 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!
"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.
Yay or nay for baby talk?
Do you believe that imitating your babies babbling can be beneficial to your child’s vocabulary growth?
Or, do you think that speaking in a regular tone rather than a sing-song voice would be just as beneficial for your child, and that’s why you don’t baby talk?
According to PBS Parents, “Experts call this musical way of talking “parentese” and report there’s a true value to it. Parentese helps parents and caregivers connect to their babies and helps babies develop language skills.” If it can help benefit your child in the long run, why not try speaking baby talk every now and then. It couldn’t hurt!
With baby talk every child is exposed to drawn out vowels and exaggerated facial expressions, which allow a baby’s brain to remember the sounds they hear to help better recognize language. Before you know it, your baby will be rolling out sentences and performing in the school play!
Has baby talk worked for your children? Why are you for or against baby talk? Let’s start the conversation on our blog in the comment section.
Little Angels Preschool in Ypsilanti have been serving Saline, Ann Arbor, 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!
Do you want to spend more time bonding as a family?
Day-to-day tasks that need to be done at home would be a great place to start! Chores can teach your child the valuable skills and lessons they need for their future. In addition, chores give children a connection and a sense of purpose in your family.
Our teachers at Little Angels Preschool in Ypsilanti have compiled a list of chores you can do as a family around your home, including:
1. Fold laundry
2. Dust shelves
3. Wash dishes
4. Make beds
5. Clean up toys
6. Pull weeds
7. Plant flowers
8. Shovel snow
9. Bring in light grocery items
10. Cook or help prep dinner
11. Clean spills and dirt
Imagine how fulfilled you’ll feel when your family feels a sense of closeness after you’ve added bonding time. The more time you spend together, the closer the family bond you’ll have for years to come!
Have you tried implementing something like this already in your home? Do you notice a difference in your family’s closeness or your child’s skills? If you decide to try some of these chores as a family, we’d like to know how it worked for your family.
Little Angels Preschool in Ypsilanti have been serving Pittsfield Township, Saline, Ann Arbor, Milan, 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!
