Teachers use the Apple Blossom Yoga guidelines, developed by the Yoga School, to augment cross-curricular learning through motor skills, science, math, language arts and social skills.  Using nature, animals, and a little imagination, young learners gain improvements in focus, body awareness and control, balance, creativity and flexibility.  To view TV coverage of our baby yoga program, CLICK HERE.

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• The program is designed to educate the “whole” child through age-appropriate activities to enhance the emotional, social, intellectual and physical development of each child.
• Regular yoga practice helps children become more aware of their inner selves which, in turn, helps them learn to release anger, frustration and fears.
• Physical fitness and basic movement skills assist in children’s spatial awareness, rhythm and creative expression.

The Goddard School of Cedar Park is the only private kindergarten and preschool in Texas accredited by both AdvanceEd/Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and National Accreditation Commission.  It is a curriculum based program for ages six weeks to 10 years.

The Goddard School of Cedar Park begins the “Love & Logic” parenting course begins Thursday, 1/19 (6:30-8:30pm) for non-enrolled, as well as enrolled, families.   Call us at 512-258-5292 to attend the first free 2 hour session or CLICK HERE for more details and registration.  It provides many great ideas for positive communications with your child, such as the tips below.

Children should begin to learn to respect limits from a young age. Most boundaries for children are set for health and safety reasons and are a very important and necessary developmental tool. Children are corrected every day, which can lead them to simply “tune out” any perceived negativity or become uncooperative. Regardless of their age, most people respond better to positively communicated direction. This is especially true for children. For example, “Grandma is worried about us getting stains on her couch. Let’s enjoy our snack in her kitchen instead,” will generate more cooperation than “No food or drinks in Grandma’s living room.”

Try telling your child what they can do instead of what they can’t. Practice the positive alternatives below to avoid overusing the word “no” while maintaining reasonable limits.

•     “Maybe later” can work to delay a request such as snacks or sweets before mealtime.

•    “Not today” communicates that the timing is wrong but leaves the possibility open.

•    “When we’ve done (this), then we can do (that).” This method is good for transition times and to help toddlers establish event routines. For example, “When all of your toys are put away, we can go play at the park.”

•    “I’ll think about it” replaces an automatic “no” by allowing yourself the time to think about your determination. Parents tend to make better decisions when they take the time to think about the request and their response.

•    “Sure, did you bring your allowance?” This technique allows you to communicate that they may have the requested item if they can pay for it themselves.

•    “Yes (with qualifier).” This strategy grants conditional permission. For example, “Yes, you may play the game after we eat dinner.”

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Children should begin to learn to respect limits from a young age. Most boundaries for children are set for health and safety reasons and are a very important and necessary developmental tool. Children are corrected every day, which can lead them to simply “tune out” any perceived negativity or become uncooperative. Regardless of their age, most people respond better to positively communicated direction. This is especially true for children. For example, “Grandma is worried about us getting stains on her couch. Let’s enjoy our snack in her kitchen instead,” will generate more cooperation than “No food or drinks in Grandma’s living room.”

Try telling your child what they can do instead of what they can’t. Practice the positive alternatives below to avoid overusing the word “no” while maintaining reasonable limits.

•     “Maybe later” can work to delay a request such as snacks or sweets before mealtime.

•    “Not today” communicates that the timing is wrong but leaves the possibility open.

•    “When we’ve done (this), then we can do (that).” This method is good for transition times and to help toddlers establish event routines. For example, “When all of your toys are put away, we can go play at the park.”

•    “I’ll think about it” replaces an automatic “no” by allowing yourself the time to think about your determination. Parents tend to make better decisions when they take the time to think about the request and their response.

•    “Sure, did you bring your allowance?” This technique allows you to communicate that they may have the requested item if they can pay for it themselves.

•    “Yes (with qualifier).” This strategy grants conditional permission. For example, “Yes, you may play the game after we eat dinner.”

About The Goddard School
The Goddard School (www.goddardschools.com) is a nationwide franchise of Goddard Systems, Inc. headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. With over 330 franchised schools nationwide and 42,000 children enrolled, Goddard is the fastest growing preschool in the United States. You can subscribe to our monthly events newsletter via the option under “School Information.”

Bullying is a common experience for many children and adolescents.  When your child is the victim of bullying it’s best to make sure the lines of communication are open, no matter how old the children are.

Parents and teachers are sometimes reluctant to intervene in conflicts between young children. They don’t want to see children harm or ridicule one another, but they want to encourage children to learn how to work out problems for themselves.

Some suggestions from National Association for the Education of Young Children on how to teach children assertive skills:

• Demonstrate assertive behavior (e.g., saying “No” to another child’s unacceptable demands) and contrast aggressive or submissive responses through demonstrations. Let children role-play with puppets or dolls.
• Teach children to seek help when confronted by the abuse of power (physical abuse, sexual abuse, or other) by children or adults.
• Remind children to ignore routine teasing by turning their heads or walking away. Not all provocative behavior must be acknowledged.
• Teach children to ask for things directly and respond directly to each other. Friendly suggestions are taken more readily than bossy demands. Teach children to ask nicely, and to respond appropriately to polite requests.
• Show children how to tell bullies to stop hurtful acts and to stand up for themselves when they are being treated unfairly.
• Encourage children not to give up objects or territory to bullies (e.g., say, “I’m using this toy now”). Preventing bullies from getting what they want will discourage aggressive behavior.
• Show children the rewards of personal achievement through standing up for themselves, rather than depending on the approval of others solely.

The key to promoting positive interactions among young children is teaching them to assert themselves effectively. Children who express their feelings and needs while respecting those of others will be neither victims nor aggressors.

It typically begins around a child’s first birthday and can persist until the child is two-and-a-half years old.  It is important to note that a child’s unwillingness to leave a parent is actually a positive sign of a healthy parent/child relationship.

The following strategies may help families manage separation anxiety:

• Practice being apart from one other and introduce new people and places slowly.  Make a few visits to your preschool/childcare center before your scheduled start date.  This allows your child to adjust to the idea that you and he will be away from one another.

• Explain how long it will be before you will return.  Use concepts that your child will understand (e.g., at lunch or after naptime).  It is extremely important that you follow through on your promises.  You should return when you say you will.

• Be calm and consistent.  Resist the urge to run back to your child at the sight of her tears.  It’s as essential to create a ‘separation routine’ as it is to reassure your child that you will return.  Work with your child’s teacher to establish this routine and have confidence that your child’s teacher has the ability to handle the situation.  After you’ve said your goodbyes, most teachers will probably engage your child in an activity or with a toy so you can depart.

• For your sake, establish a time to call the school to check on your child’s well-being.  By the time you make this call, your child will most likely have calmed down and adjusted to the day’s routine.

• You may also want to check with your school’s policy regarding a doll or blanket from home.  These comfort items may assist with transitions.

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Are you shopping for a preschool-aged child this holiday season? Look no further! Children and educators from select Goddard Schools – leaders in early childhood education – have announced their top toy picks for children ages two to six years old for the 2010 holiday shopping season. The Goddard School^® Toy Test is the only national toy test designed exclusively for children in the preschool age range.

The Goddard School is dedicated to providing an environment where teachers support the nurturing and learning children want and need. It is with this focus that Goddard Systems, Inc., named the number one childcare franchise company for the ninth year in a row by Entrepreneur magazine, has released its third annual list of top toy finalists.

After a national call for submissions, Goddard educators and children evaluated entrants based on a number of criteria, including:

• Interactive, child-initiated play focus
• Creative, social or engaging
• Appropriate for children from two to six years of age

“Goddard Schools are recognized nationally for our learning through play philosophy and our play-based FLEX^™ Learning Program, which focuses on the value of guided play,” said Sue Adair, Director of Education at Goddard Systems, Inc.  “We feel that our Top Five Toys list will serve as a great resource for parents, grandparents and other family members as they enter the gift-giving season.”

Baby Stella & Baby Stella Car Seat (Manhattan Toy Company)

The Baby Stella Soft Doll collection has lifelike toes, belly buttons and plump tummies with a wide variety of adorable outfits and accessories. Baby Stella gives children the chance to learn how to nurture and care for their loveable dolls and valuables.

(Suggested Age Range: 1 & up) Manhattan Toy Company

Baby Stella Cute Comfort Car Seat provides a soft carrier for your child’s favorite Baby Stella doll. This fun accessory supplies your child with a new way to play and take care of their Baby Stella doll so he/she can go anywhere your child goes.

(Suggested Age Range: 3 & up) Manhattan Toy Company

Citi Blocs 200 Piece Hot & Cool Colors Sets (Citi Blocs)

CitiBlocs inspire open-ended play and creativity. Start low and wide, and then stack them high and narrow. Whatever your preference, the CitiBlocs 200 piece set will keep the enthusiastic builder flexing his or her imagination while developing fine motor skills.

(Suggested Age Range: 3 & up) CitiBlocs

Kid K’NEX Railroad Pals Building (K’NEX)

The Railroad Pals Building Set includes an idea sheet with 20+ building ideas to inspire creativity and a handy storage container for easy clean-up. Build fun train cars, engines, cabooses and more!

(Suggested Age Range: 3 & up) K’NEX

Medium Classic Dino ZipBin (Neat Oh, International!)

The Dinosaur Zipbin’s dramatic exterior identifies the contents and will look great in your child’s room. When the bin is unzipped, it becomes a dinosaur island Playscape™! This activity mat is perfect for playing with dinosaurs, animals, vehicles, boats, action figures, etc. Fantasy play is encouraged by a prehistoric world featuring a volcano, a river, a tar pit and a mysterious cave.

(Suggested Age Range: 3 & up) Neat Oh, International!

Slimy Squishy Polymer Fun (DuneCraft)

Just add water to unleash the Slimy Squishy Polymer Fun in this set today. Hydrate Silly Squares and try to stack and build with them, watch your Slipper Spheres grow over 100 times their size in a matter of hours! Throw them, roll them, bounce them and watch their colors blend. Make your own multicolored slime however you like it, thick or thin, chunky or smooth! Grow your own multicolored miniature icebergs with JellyStones. Mix the polymers together and make your own creation!

(Suggested Age Range: 4 & up) DuneCraft

Age-Appropriate Chore Ideas
Toddlers

• Pick up toys and books
• Collect dirty laundry
• Dust with socks on hands

Preschoolers

• Make the bed
• Help with laundry
• Help in the kitchen – cooking and preparing food
• Set the table
• Take dirty dishes to the kitchen
• Carry and put away groceries

Pre-Kindergarteners

• Empty the dishwasher
• Feed the family pet
• Vacuum
• Take out the trash
• Fold and put away laundry

These activities are fun learning experiences, especially if you are teaching informally along the way. The chores may take a little longer as they learn the ropes and make mistakes, but the value for their learning and their self-regard are more than worth the extra time.

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Here are the “Top Toy” picks by The Goddard School of Cedar Park.  Our results will be included in the votes for the national toy test results.  CLICK HERE to see the toy finalists for 2010.

Preschoolers at The Goddard School determined the top five toys for the holidays amongst a selection of toys identified from a nationwide search. The toys selected not only encourage creativity, but are designed to encourage playful learning. The top five Preschooler-Approved Picks include (in alphabetical order):

1.      Green Toys Blocks
2.      Green Start Giant Floor Puzzle
3.      Kid K’Nex Railroad Pals Building Set
4.      Maisy in Overalls & Book
5.      Slimy Squishy Polymer Fun

With Thanksgiving “around the corner,” here are some ideas to keep in mind to make it a wonderful holiday experience from The Goddard School of Cedar Park!

We see our family and friends, eat too much pie, enjoy a few extra days off from school and work, but beyond that… How can we demonstrate to our children the importance of both Thanksgiving and giving thanks?

The first Thanksgiving. First, let’s start by making sure our children know the story of the first Thanksgiving. Pick up a developmentally-appropriate book or find information online. It is important to discuss this story of hardship, friendship and sharing in an age-appropriate way.

A new tradition. Establish a new family tradition revolving around what your family is thankful for. This Thanksgiving, have everyone write or draw what they are most thankful for. Together, decorate a shoebox or journal to everyone’s answers. Make a point of adding to this box or journal throughout the year, and by next Thanksgiving you will have an amazing record of thanks. Add to this year after year—what a great treat it will be for the family to read through each Thanksgiving as your children grow!

Share. What are some of the things your children are most thankful for?

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