Well, it is hard to believe that 2019 is already here and 2018 is a thing of the past. December was filled with lots of holiday fun and learning. Thank you to all the families and guests who were able to attend the Cookies with Santa and Winter Wonderland events as wel as all the PJ donations for our Scholastic Pajama Drive. We are looking forward to our January Family Movie Night that is scheduled for January 17th at 6:00 p.m. in the gymnasium. We hope everyone can make it. More information will be sent home with students later this month. I also wanted to invite each of you to our second Parent Advisory meeting scheduled for January 10th at 5:30 p.m. to discuss fundraising and additional ELC event ideas.
One of the major focuses of preschool is social emotional development and I wanted to share a couple of ideas that support all the learning at school.
Practice sharing.
Model this behavior for your preschooler. Take turns at games, and use praise when your preschooler takes turns or is able to share. Put away any toys your child may not be willing to share when friends come over.
Use your words.
Vocabulary is huge. Preschoolers should be using five-to six-word sentences and understanding concepts like "big" and "small." When they ask "why," respond with "What do you think?" Storytelling builds confidence and teaches children to communicate and use language. You should also encourage your child to begin to identify letters. Stuttering can be a normal phase, especially when your preschooler is excited to get the words out.
Bedtime may become a battlefield.
Do what you can to make it a pleasant event. Give your preschooler a night light, soft music or special blanket if needed. Try to stick to your routine as much as you can, such as brushing teeth, reading a book and talking about the events of their day before tucking your child in at night.
Your little one is growing up.
But don't be surprised if it sometimes feels like your preschooler is going back to old behaviors. Your preschooler is trying new things and entering new situations. Fear will sometimes cause them to go back to old behaviors so they can get your attention and feel safe. Whining may occur more often. They may suddenly become afraid of the dark. Provide reassurance and comfort. Encourage using words to express feelings, and then use praise when your child does.
Tempers may flare.
Temper tantrums will fade as your preschooler learns how to manage feelings. As a parent it is helpful for you to remember that your preschoolers' actions are connected to feelings they are having. Help your child identify different feelings and use words and actions to express them in ways that are okay.
Finally, below I have shared a fun winter idea to keep your preschooler busy and learning. Try out the Winter Sensory Bag. Thank you for your continued collaboration and support. As always, please contact me with any questions.
Winter Sensory Bag
Materials: Clear Hair Gel Glitter Plastic Bag Marshmallows
How To: 1. Combine the hair gel, glitter, and marshmallows in the plastic bag. 2. Seal the bag, and store in the fridge until playtime. 3. Let your children squish and mush the wintery mix through the outside of the bag!
Adrienne Carter, Principal
“From tiny seeds, grow mighty trees!”
