Children's Learning Adventure

Weekly ABC's - Fish in the Sea

Attention: Observing My World

Have puppet time with your child. You can make a simple puppet out of your hands or out of your socks. Model a fun conversation for your child. Watch her delight in the silliness of the puppets.

Bonding: Feeling Safe and Secure

It is so important for the active toddler to take time to slow down and relax. How do you and your child enjoy downtime together? Celebrate your bond and recharge.

Communication: Reporting My Finds

Enjoy a conversation with your child on the way home this week. Ask about their learning on fish in the sea. Say the Spanish word for water, "agua." Ask them to show you the Sign for water. Sing a favorite song about fish. How many animals can they recall from the story, Commotion in the Ocean?

Weekly ABC's Fun Fact and Spanish Word

Brain Fact

A child's brain thrives on feedback from its environment and "wires" itself into a thinking and emotional organ based on early experiences. Read more about how the brain is built in the book, The Scientist in the Crib by Alison Gopnik, PH.D.

Spanish Word

Agua (ah-goo-ah) - the water

Helping Your Child Think Imaginatively

Creativity is difficult to define, but if you observe children at any preschool or day care program, you’ll doubtless see many children using their imaginative thinking skills. In fact, preschools and after-school programs are chockfull of toys that encourage creativity, such as dress-up clothes and arts and crafts. Certain activities can help encourage your child’s imagination, which involves his or her ability to think of new ideas, work through problems, and explore relationship dynamics. Here are a few ideas for supporting your youngster’s imagination:

Encourage Role-Play

Young children love to pretend play, particularly when they are around the age of preschool. Role-playing gives them the opportunity to develop empathy and social skills. Encourage your child to pretend that he or she is someone else, such as a veterinarian. You could be the pet owner bringing a stuffed animal to your child for an examination. Role-playing also allows your child to learn how to cope with emotions. For example, children who pretend play that they are going to the doctor’s office might not experience as much anxiety when it’s time for the real visit.

Read Regularly

Set aside time each day to read aloud with your child. Preschool teachers agree that it’s never too early or too late to begin sharing the benefits of reading. Books open up your child’s imagination by allowing him or her to think about what he or she would do in certain scenarios. Extend the creative benefits of reading by asking your child open-ended questions about the story.

Support Experimentation

Children use their imaginations to gain a sense of control over their lives. They’ll learn in school that there are right and wrong answers, but in imaginative play, the choices and possibilities are endless. Allow your child free choice in play activities like arts and crafts, and teach him or her that experimentation is a positive thing. If your child prefers to color outside of the lines on a picture, for example, praise his or her creativity.

At Children’s Learning Adventure, our preschool and day care programs support every child’s need for creative expression. Call us today at (888) 674-1487 to enroll your child in a day care program. Or, visit our website to take a virtual tour.

Weekly ABC's - Sand and Water!

Attention: Observing My World

Talk to your child about the number two. We focused on two-by-two this week; while counting arms, legs, eyes, and ears. Count with your child before bedtime; all the body parts that come in twos!

Bonding: Feeling Safe and Secure

Sing and move with your child. It is okay to be a little bit silly! You will both benefit from the unstructured time, the movement, and the music. If you don't want to sing, just move to the music.

Communication: Reporting My Finds

Enjoy a game of "I Spy" with your child during the dinner hour. Use descriptive words, and encourage your child to repeat the words after you. Celebrate when you spy the item! Guessing games are a great way to keep a two-way conversation going!

Weekly ABC Fun Fact and Spanish Word:

Brain Fact

Repeat! Every time a connection is repeated, it strengthens brain functions. Rehearsal, or practice, allows the brain's connections to "fire" more easily each time. 

Spanish and Sign Words

Playa (play-yah) - the beach

How to Cultivate Good Nutritional Habits in Your Young Child

As a parent, you want the best for your child, and that includes a healthy body and strong bones. But did you know that good nutrition is also beneficial for your child’s academic performance, from preschool to high school and beyond? A healthy diet, particularly one that emphasizes omega-3 fatty acids, fuels your child’s cognitive development and boosts school performance. In addition to choosing a preschool or after-school program that encourages good nutrition, here are some ways to cultivate your child’s preference for healthy foods.

Cultivate Healthy Habits Early

Develop good eating habits in your child early in life. Even before the preschool years, begin introducing healthy foods to your child. Children who develop positive nutritional habits early are more likely to make better food choices throughout their lives.

Use Games to Introduce Healthy Food

Get your child involved in the food preparation process by giving him or her age-appropriate tasks. Doing so not only encourages your child to try new foods, but it also supports his or her natural learning process. Host family taste tests, in which each person dips a carrot or celery stick into a different healthy topping. Vote on your favorites. Or, conduct blindfold taste tests and challenge your child to guess which vegetable or fruit he or she is eating. Invent your own kid-friendly songs about foods with silly names, like jicama and bok choy.

Offer New Foods Frequently

Around the age of preschool, it’s natural for children to become picky eaters. While this can be frustrating, it may comfort you to know that children tend to try and accept new foods after being offered them between five to 10 times. Set up an array of healthy foods in front of your child and allow him or her to choose from them.

Reinforce Meals as Family Time

Did you know that family mealtimes can not only help your child make better food choices, but they also support your child’s academic success? Studies have shown that family time during dinner helps children become voracious readers, get better grades, and resist unhealthy lifestyle habits.

Help your child excel with the programs at Children’s Learning Adventure. Contact us at (888) 674-1487 to learn more about our approach to helping children learn. Or, visit our website to read about our preschool and after-school programs.

How Does Children's Learning Adventure Select Our Teaching Staff?

Enrolling your child in a preschool program is a great first step toward ensuring a lifetime of positive achievements. But it’s important to make sure that the teachers in the preschool program are highly qualified and can support your child’s healthy development. At Children’s Learning Adventure, we believe in selecting the best possible guides for your child’s learning journey. Our teachers have received extensive training in child development, and our programs support continuing education for all of our teachers throughout their careers at our institution. At Children’s Learning Adventure, our teachers regularly receive demonstrations of best practices and undergo periodic assessments. We are also committed to parent-teacher collaboration, with verbal communication with each parent daily, weekly written notes, and monthly connections. Parents are encouraged to take advantage of our suggested at-home activities to do with children after preschool.

If you have any questions, please call Children’s Learning Adventure today at (888) 674-1487. Or, visit our website to learn more about our preschool, day care, and after-school programs.