"Oh You Better Watch Out..."

'Tis the season to use the incentive that "Santa's watching" to keep your little ones on track with good behavior.  I've done it.  Oh yes, when my girls were little, upon observing any contrary moods or misbehavior, many times I would just start singing, "Oh you better watch out.  You better not cry.  You better not pout.  I'm telling you why.  Santa Claus is coming to town."  Often it worked...at least temporarily. I'd rather not admit it, but I also made the standard "threats" that if they weren't good they might get a bag of coal...or a bundle of switches...or at least something similar that conveyed the idea that Santa just might mark some items off his list if they didn't do the right thing.  I guess that as parents it gives us a personal reprieve to put discipline issues on Santa's shoulders...but is that the wise...and lasting way to handle shaping our child's personality,set of standards, and motivations?  And what happens when Christmas day has come and gone?

As a teacher (with lots of years of experience under my big black belt..Ho Ho!) I have observed a frightening trend in parenting.  There seems to be a lot of "looking in the other direction" on the part of parents when they ask a child to do something and the little one doesn't obey.  What provokes this?  Are we afraid to say "No"?  That little word seems to have become taboo in some circles, yet often it is needed to make a point.  Do parents fear that their offspring won't "like" them if they correct them?  Are there thoughts swirling around in their heads of "what will they (neighbors, peers, teachers, any onlooker) think" if I discipline my child?  Shouldn't we, as parents, be more frightened by the fear of raising children with no concept of absolutes...no understanding of right and wrong...no realization that there are behaviors that are acceptable and others that are unacceptable?

Now, understand me here, I am one that surely errs on the side of grace in the classroom.  However, that is after my expectations have clearly been stated...and re-stated...and illustrated.  The same can work at home.  Your child should be informed in language that they can understand how you expect them to behave...in the car, when you are talking to another adult, inside vs. outside, when visiting in someone's home, when at church, and so on.  Explaining and reminding them of your guidelines before you engage in those situations will help set the stage for success.

Then communicate that "Obedience brings blessing" and "Disobedience brings consequences."  Again, make a plan ahead of time.  What types of "blessing" will you offer?  This does not have to be a treat or something that costs money.  It might be a high five...a word of encouragement...a special privilege...or maybe a sticker on a chart that can be filled in order to receive a treat (ice cream, movie, a trip to the park).  I think in this day and time our children are rewarded with "gifts" far too often.  (And I am often just as guilty as the next guy!)  Children need love and affirmation way more than they need another trinket.

And believe it or not, they need boundaries.  They even want them.  It makes them feel more secure. 

What are your "consequences" going to be?  Consider what works for your child.  What gets the point across that a behavior is unacceptable?  What makes an impact that would keep your child from wanting to repeat that act?  Children are different.  What works for one child might not work for another.  Find out what works for your child and do it.  For some children simply having a firm discussion works.  For others you need to find another course of action.

Keep in mind that parenting decisions that you make even with young children convey your standards.  Consider the long term effects.  Ponder your desires for your child as they grow.  Set the boundaries now that will help them learn and mature to their fullest potential.  And assure them of your love...that is unconditional...even when you correct them.

Come on parents, let's be good...for goodness sake.  Merry Christmas!

The Gift of a Year...Before Kindergarten

Before we know it, the date for the new school year will arrive...and there will be mommies shedding tears as little ones take those first steps toward the Kindergarten classroom. Many of those children are more than ready to begin, but some of them would benefit greatly from an extra year of readiness...and a little more time with those sweet moms! Transitional Kindergarten provides a wonderful option for "young fives". Children whose birthdays occur in the spring, summer, or very early fall, even though making the school cutoff dates, could often benefit greatly from the extra time to develop physically, academically, in emotional and social maturity, as well as the area of independence. It can be so beneficial for parents to consider the foresight in making a decision that may seem obvious and trivial at the time, but can truly have long term effects on the educational journey of their child.

Transitional Kindergarten is the place where a child can blossom and grow in a more relaxed environment, and one that offers smaller class sizes. It is not just another year of preschool, but rather a place that introduces the structure of Kindergarten with allowances of more time for learning through play. Opportunities are provided for socialization, fine and gross motor development, reading readiness...including print awareness, introductions to letters and sounds, and oral development. Math is hands-on, activity-based...encompassing patterning, sorting, classifying, counting and number recognition, and graphing. As the children learn "through play," social skills are developed, attention spans are expanded, and a love for learning is inspired! Transitional Kindergarten offers another year of preparation and maturity...building stronger students...who succeed rather than struggle and who have a greater likelihood for becoming leaders instead of followers.

The years go by way too fast. You can't get them back. Consider Transitional Kindergarten...what a great option for prolonging childhood!

We're Off to Kindergarten!

The Start of Something New!

I am almost giddy with the excitement of this writing adventure! I guess it's the teacher in me, because I love fresh starts! I look forward to the beginning of the school year...a roster full of new students thrilled to come to Kindergarten with their cute little backpacks and lunchboxes...a spic and span classroom with its gleaming waxed floors and recently painted walls...a blank lesson plan book yearning to be filled with new ideas as well as those "tried and true"...school supplies with sharp pencils, unopened boxes of crayons and markers, new scissors (Fiskars brand, of course), and boxes of gluesticks...shelves filled with a rainbow of colors of construction paper...Oops! Sorry! I got carried away!! Yes, I love the start of a new school year!

You see, I've always wanted to be a teacher...as far back as I can remember. As an elementary student, I would line up my stuffed animals and dolls (wishing desperately that they would come to life) and "make them do work." I just loved it when my teachers would give me the extra copies to take home for "my students." Even well into middle school I "played school." My best friend, Judy, and I spent hours at her house practicing to be teachers. We both had our own chalkboards. (Yes, that was back in the day! I think her Mama still has chalkdust in her baseboards!) One of us would work in her living room and the other in her den. The kitchen was our "teacher's lounge" where we would snack on Wedding cookies and discuss all the difficulties we were having with our students. We took it very seriously! When we got to high school, Judy and I continued to follow our passion and were given the opportunity to work in our local elementary school, assisting teachers and tutoring students. We both were "called" to be teachers and have spent many years instructing, nurturing, and loving our students.

I've taught Kindergarten through Fourth grade, enjoying the experiences at each level. But I've spent most of my 20+ years teaching Kindergarten. What a privilege to give children their first "Big School" experience and observe the amazing transition and growth that takes place! What a responsibility to formally introduce the process of learning...and experimentation...and success and failure...in such a way as to make them love school and want to come back each day!! What a thrill to teach a child to read...and open the gateway to all learning!

So here's the place where I hope to share some encouragement...and maybe a funny story or two...with parents of Kindergarteners...or whoever happens by! I hope to offer some insight into the mind of a teacher, as well as a few tips and pointers. Education happens with the teamwork of teachers and parents! Let's go for it!

New Teachers, New Schedules, My Baby...Oh My!

What Can I Do to Get My Little One Ready for Kindergarten?

Your little one is about to embark on the learning journey of a lifetime! What can you do to insure that they are ready?

First of all, enjoy every moment that you have before they begin! Take lots of pictures!! Play! Laugh!! Talk a lot!! Explore your surroundings...your neighborhood, your town, local museums, visit the library often! Read, read, read! Spend lots of time snuggling up with good books and good movies! (Do view them ahead of time. There are lots of great books and movies. There are also lots of books and movies that don't teach or encourage attitudes and behaviors appropriate for children. Be choosy!...And continue to supervise their reading and TV or movie watching as they grow!) Cherish the moments. Make lots of memories. The days and months and years will fly by. (It seems as if I blinked and my own little ones went from that first day of Kindergarten to a walk down a wedding aisle!)

In preparation for Kindergarten, here are some things you might want to consider:
*Provide opportunities for them to experience the supervision of someone other than parents or family. If your child is in Mother's Morning Out, a preschool program, or Sunday School types of situations, that is great.
*Provide opportunities for them to socialize and interact with other children...playdates, summer camps for preschoolers, age appropriate sports activities....Again the MMO, preschool, and church activities work wonderfully.
*Encourage the development of the ability to sit and attend (to a story or to an art activity) for 10-15 minutes. Again, visiting storytime at the library or your local bookstore offer great avenues for this.
*Practice using scissors and gluesticks.
*Teach them to hold pencils and crayons correctly. Use a pencil grip if needed. (Available at school supply stores)
*Play games like Candyland or Chutes and Ladders...and don't always let them win. They need to learn good sportsmanship.
*Go to the park. They need to climb and slide and swing. Teach them to "pump" the swing for themselves.
*Go outside and skip and hop and gallop and run and jump!
*Play with puzzles and Playdoh.
*Give them 3 step instructions to follow. (Ex. Go choose a book to read, brush your teeth, and get in your bed. Or at the park, go up the ladder, down the slide, and run back to me.)
*Teach your child to write their first name. Please check with your school to see what handwriting program they use. They can probably give you a sheet explaining each letter's formation. Teach them using that style. Please use capital letters properly...usually only the first letter is capitalized.
*Be sure that they can take care of their bathroom needs...completely. :)
*Teach them how to zip and snap and button and buckle belts.
*Also, those tennis shoes that have little stretchy bands across the top are so much better than those that tie and those with velcro!

Again, have fun! Make the most of every moment! Let your child be a child!!