Kindergarten Readiness

Moving from early childhood centers or from homes to Kindergarten is a major transition for young children. Transitions are always stressful to some degree, and we want to be sure that the young child is prepared for them. Transitioning to Kindergarten involves adjusting to a new peer group, taking on a new role as 'student', accepting a new authority figure, adjusting to new surroundings, routines and expectations, and, in some cases, separation from parents for the first time.

Children with more preschool experience (center based or licensed family home care) displayed fewer stress behaviors during the early weeks of Kindergarten because they have already adapted to separation from their primary caregiver, met and interacted with new peers, accepted new authority figures, been exposed to new routines and developed many of the skills needed through participation in a structured program.

Certain major areas involving specific skills should be considered when preparing children for Kindergarten. The average child who is ready for Kindergarten will have familiarity with the following:

Size: big and small; related size concepts; matching predicated on size

Color and Shape: primary colors; circles, squares, triangles and rectangles

Numbers and Math Readiness: counting; matching; one-to-one correspondence

Reading Readiness: basic vocabulary; verbal expression; awareness of letters; sentence sense; story comprehension and storytelling

Position and Direction: word meaning (up, down, here, there…); relative positions; left to right progression; top-middle-bottom progression; descriptive language, including opposites

Time: day or night; seasons; calendar

Listening and Sequencing: sound recognition; story recall; attending

Motor Skills/Gross: hopping; running; jumping; climbing; kicking; throwing

Motor Skills/Fine: coloring; cutting; drawing; buttoning; zippering

Social and Emotional Development: self help; knowing one's full name, address and phone number; the ability to work independently; cooperation and general social skills (very important)

Speaking Skills: should be able to take an active part in conversations with the teacher and with classmates; should speak clearly enough to be understood

A definite link has been found between social skills and school adjustment and performance. Actively disliked children who were rejected by Kindergarten peers have a significantly less favorable school perception, demonstrate more school avoidance behavior and poorer performance. Children who have difficulty relating to peers are at risk for difficulties throughout the school years. Certain social behaviors - playing cooperatively, demonstrating positive peer group entry behaviors and communicating effectively with peers increase the likelihood of successful adjustment to Kindergarten. Adopted from www.about.com

Dog Hiking Tips

Beautiful scenery, fresh crisp air, and your best friend at your side. Hiking with your dog is a great way to spend an hour or a day. Here are a few ways you can make the hike a great experience for both of you.

• Choose a trail suitable for your dog's fitness level. Dogs accustomed to strolls around the city block may not be ready for a strenuous hike up a hill! Likewise, small dogs, dogs with flat faces or short legs, and older dogs may have special needs too. Pick a trail that fits your pooch's abilities. Let him rest if he shows signs of tiring.
• Always carry water. Dogs need to stay hydrated just like we do. Collapsible pet travel bowls are perfect for hikes - they're small, compact, and fold up when not in use. Offer your dog water at regular intervals.
• Hike when the temperature is comfortable. During hot summer days, it's best to hike in the mornings or evenings when the temperatures are cooler.
• Try to avoid recreational use trails. Trails meant for ATVing or other activities can be dangerous for dogs. You or your dog may be caught by surprise and an accident may occur. You will also want to avoid areas where hunting is permitted. This can be especially dangerous if your dog is running off-leash.
• Respect wildlife. Dogs and wildlife simply do not mix. Avoid areas where wildlife is known to be mating. The parks office should be able to advise you. Don't let your dog chase or harass wildlife under any circumstances.
• Respect the trail. Stay on the trail to avoid unnecessary damage to the park. Some areas also have fragile ecosystems - these areas may not permit dogs, but if they do, be extra careful and make sure your dog doesn't stray from the marked trail. Pick up after your dog.
• Keep your dog under control. Carry a leash at all times even if dogs are allowed to run leash-free. Make sure your dog responds to your call. If he doesn't reliably come back to you, you may wish to leash him to minimize potential conflicts with wildlife or other hikers.
• Be courteous to other users of the trail. Don't let your dog rush other hikers (or their pets). Step aside and let groups pass if the trail is narrow.
• Check your dog's paws during and after the hike. Remove any debris that may have gotten caught in your dog's coat, and clear out any debris that gets lodged between your dog's paw pads. In the summer, pebbles & dirt may accumulate. In the It's uncomfortable and painful for your dog, just like if you were to walk with a pebble in your shoe! Adopted from http://www.petfriendly.travel

Recipe Of The Month: Peanut Butter & Jelly Surprise Muffins

If you make up a batch over the weekend, your kids can enjoy them as after school treats all week long.

Ingredients:

• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/3 cup sugar

• 2-1/2 tsp. baking powder

• 1/2 tsp. salt

• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

• 1 large egg

• 3/4 cup milk

• 1/3 cup butter, melted

• 1/2 cup strawberry, raspberry, or grape jelly

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a 12 muffin tin with muffin papers. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, mix the peanut butter with the egg. Add the milk, a little at a time, then mix in the butter. Pour the wet batter into the bowl with the dry ingredients and stir gently to combine. The batter will be stiff.

Put a heaping tablespoon of batter in the bottom of each muffin cup. Use a finger to make an indentation in the center and put a teaspoon of jelly in the hole. Cover with another heaping tablespoon of batter or enough to fill each cup about 2/3 full. Spread the batter gently until no jelly is visible. Bake for 20 minutes, then turn the muffins onto a wire rack to cool for at least 10 minutes. Be careful: the jelly centers are hot. Makes 12 muffins.

Children's Eye Health and Safety

It is a good idea to have your child's eyes and vision examined by an eye care professional (optometrist or ophthalmologist) at least once a year. Scheduling this around your child's birthday is a good way to remember to do it (and is also a birthday gift of sight!). Do not wait until your child complains of blurred vision, red eyes, and/or headaches. And do not rely on the school's vision screening program because that is designed to only detect the more common eye and vision problems (pink eye, nearsightedness, etc.) in asymptomatic children.

Children often do not know how they should be seeing because they assume everyone sees the way they do. Because of this, the American Optometric Association recommends that all children receive a professional eye and vision examination at critical stages in their visual development. These critical stages are by six months of age; at 3 years of age; before first grade; at least every year between ages 6 and 18 while they are continuing to grow.

By having your child's eyes examined at these critical stages of development, permanent vision loss from amblyopia ("lazy eye") and other pediatric eye diseases can be prevented. But children at any age with signs and/or symptoms of vision problems, like red eyes, tearing eyes, unusual sensitivity to light, eye pain, or squinting should be examined as soon as possible.

A national program called "InfantSEE", which is co-sponsored by the American Optometric Association (AOA) and the Vision Care Institute of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Vision Care, is available AT NO CHARGE to parents who have infants under the age of one. Over 7,000 volunteer optometrists throughout the United States will donate pediatric eye exams for these newest and youngest American citizens. To schedule a free eye examination for an infant by an optometrist in your area, please visit www.infantsee.org.

Parents often ask how very young patients can be examined. Fortunately, there are many new instruments available today to objectively (i.e., no patient response needed) measure focusing problems (refractive errors) of the eye. In addition, young children enjoy playing the visual acuity game of identifying common objects on a hand-held card like school busses, telephones, houses, and birds that are presented in smaller and smaller sizes. And most eye health tests, like pupil responses, external examinations, eye muscle testing, and internal (ophthalmoscopic) examinations only require children to sit still and watch a picture, a toy, or a cartoon to keep their eyes fixated on a distance target.

For children who need to wear prescription glasses, polycarbonate lenses are the safest and most durable lens material to choose. In addition, if a child plays a rough sport like baseball, basketball, or hockey, goggles such as "Rec-Specs" are wonderful eye safety devices. Adopted from www.netwellness.org

Monthly Stress Reducer - Back To School Blues For Teachers

Oh where did the summer go, it's lazy days all too soon slipped away, Didn't I just pack up my classroom and strip the walls bare in silence lay? Vacation seemed to pass so quickly and the new school year looms in view. I'm getting a migraine just thinking of all the things to do.

I think fondly of beaches, clear blue water and white sand
Of sunsets and picnics and picturesque lands.
But I quickly snap back as I make my list of things to do,
My brain is so taxed as I think this new year through.

Time to unpack, stock and plan lessons without end,
Do bulletins boards, centers, and write letters to send.
I'm pulled away by meetings and workshops to bear,
I'm bombarded with papers and agendas to share.

I need desperately to work in my classroom, my nerves to steady, My room is a disaster, for that ominous first day, will I EVER be ready? Time to think of each new student and what new experiences they will bring, I'm getting that all too familiar excitement when I hear the school bells ring.

And even though I'm exhausted already, and knee deep in paper and books, I imagine the first day with all the anticipation and nervous looks. I can put aside all the hours and hours I prepare, And think of these bright minds that I'll open with care.

Just maybe I'm getting that teaching passion anew,
And amidst all the yet million things to do,
I yearn for the difference I'll make in each life,
I put aside my weariness and my overwhelming strife.

And I look to this new year as fresh and alive,
With possibilities to make great strides.
So I persevere and push on with all the preparations,
I slog through the posters, the folders and decorations.

To welcome my students into a haven of learning,
To open my arms and meet each yearning.
Yes, I miss vacation and the endless summer sun,
But I look forward to each young life, so my quest has begun. Adopted from www.inspiringteachers.com

Vitamins For The Mond! - Keep Your Eyes On The Prize

While playing sports in high school, I was often told by my coaches to keep your eyes on the prize. The prize being to win.

After high school lots of things change. What we think of as winning changes as do the prizes we want. But the basic principles of how to win stay the same. Your prize may change from winning a sports game to: Graduating college; Losing 10 pounds; Eating healthier; Exercising more; Getting a promotion; Buying your first home…

There will always be things we want in life. Some are just a passing whim, others are real desires or prizes. When you come across one of those prizes, don't let it slip away. Keep it in focus. Remembering what you want and why, so you can continue to move toward it step by step.

That is the essence of keeping your eyes on the prize. If there is something you really want, keep it in your thoughts. We often come up with great goals when feeling optimistic and strong, but then as life moves on, we get caught up in our routines and schedules. Suddenly a strong want or goal slips away.

The tips below are designed to help keep your goals in front of you. If you see your goals on a regular basis, you are more likely to be motivated to work on them. As you consistently work on them, you will be moving closer and closer to accomplishment. People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.– Zig Ziglar

Here are 5 tips to keep your eyes on the prize

1. Use your Computer: Set your desktop background with a picture that represents your goal. You can also add some text as a reminder or motivator.

2. Print them up: Print your goals and post them in important places that you're likely to see. Some great places to use are - the fridge, bathroom mirror, and by the alarm clock.

3. Wallet sized card: Create a wallet sized card with your goals printed on it. Keep this with you all the time. Put it in your wallet, pocket, or purse near something you use daily, perhaps your atm or credit card. This way every time you use your atm card, you'll also see your goals.

4. Use a dry erase board: A dry erase board is an excellent tool. You can write your goals and add an inspirational quote.

5.Twice a day: Commit to reading your goals twice a day. Once in the morning and again when going to sleep.

Remember to keep it simple. Using the above tips should be an easy part of your routine. Pick one and give it a try. Keeping your goals in front of you on a regular basis will refresh your positive mind set. you may still hit a rough patch at times, but that's normal. Setting up reminders are like having a personal cheering section. They are there to support you and remind you of how you felt when you first chose the goal - inspired, strong, and optimistic. Good luck with your goals. Adopted from www.greatest-inspirational-quotes.com

Money-Saving Tips For Back To School Shopping

Summer is winding down and anticipation for a new school year is building. Back to school season means shopping for new clothes, school supplies, computers, textbooks and dorm room basics.

The market research firm Morpace reported in 2010 households with school-age children spent an average of $404 on back to school items.

To make the most of those dollars, shopping experts at DealTaker.com have put together some tips:

1. Wherever possible, look for bargains from sites that post deals and discounts.

2. Stick to the school district’s lists of required supplies, and avoid the fancy stuff. Light-up erasers, pencils with feathers, and binders that play music are a distraction for teachers and students.

3. Some teachers send home a list of supplies for specific courses such as musical instruments, art kits, graphing calculators and sports equipment, so look for these items online where you can find deals for 50%, 60% and even 70% off of retail prices.

4. Start by gathering pencils, paper, scissors and other items that are still in good condition and sitting around the house. Also, clean-out the closets and hand down clothing to younger siblings, but be sure to mix in fun new outfits too so they don’t feel left out.

5. Look for bargains on name brands when quality counts. Getting a great deal on a cheap backpack isn’t so great when the zipper breaks in October. Name brand crayons, color pencils, markers, binders and dry erase supplies all tend to last longer.

6. Buy in bulk at online stores like Costco or Walmart to save money this year and next, but be sure to send just the items needed to school saving the rest for future semesters.

7. Once all supplies are purchased, organize and label them with each child’s name. This reduces the need to purchase additional school supplies later in the year. Happy shopping! Adopted from http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/08/06