Posts Tagged ‘goddard school’

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Yippee We Have Yoga!

Sunday, January 22nd, 2012

Students at The Goddard School® located in Cedar Park, Texas, benefit from our daily yoga class provided for children ages six week to six years.

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.

English: Balasana pose in Hatha yoga, commonly...

Image via Wikipedia

  • 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.

 

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Love & Logic Parenting Course

Friday, January 13th, 2012

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.Family - Mom Daughter A

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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Raising a Generous Child

Saturday, September 24th, 2011
Dalton-0155.jpg

Image by Lee & Ayu via Flickr

At Goddard School of Cedar Park, many parents enroll in our 2 or 3 day part time program specifically for the purpose of positive socialization for their child.  Our curriculum incorporates many opportunities for a child to learn cooperation and sharing.  Here are some ideas on how to raise a generous child.

The ability to give unselfishly to others is not a quality people are born with. Experiences we have and the values we are taught form the basis for the choices we tend to make in our lives regarding generosity. Similar to other behavioral and physical growth stages, researchers have found that children’s moral behaviors also evolve in developmental phases.

Usually young children up to about five years of age are a bit self-absorbed and fairly unaware of other’s feelings. They tend to believe that they should have whatever it is that they want. At around four-and-a-half to five-and-a-half years of age, children like to please adults and are more willing to be coached.

As a child’s moral reasoning develops, parents can model generous behaviors and discuss the importance of generosity. Children will more easily grasp a value such as generosity if they have early and frequent real-life exposure to it. Setting examples and reinforcing good manners at this stage will go a long way.

Don’t despair if your little one seems quite selfish. It’s almost as nature intends for us to learn to love ourselves before we can love others. Remember that a child’s behavior and train of thought will go through various transitions and eventually even a self-centered preschooler can become a warm and generous individual.

By giving your children many opportunities to experience the wonderful feeling of giving to others, they will likely grow up to be generous adults.

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Positive Alternatives to “No”

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

At Goddard School of Cedar Park, we offer the “Love & Logic” parenting course at selected evenings throughout the year to non-enrolled, as well as enrolled, families.   The fall series begins on 9/22/11 – call us at 512-258-5292 to attend the first free 2 hour session.  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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Balancing Breakfast: Quick, Creative Tips for Busy Families

Friday, September 16th, 2011

At The Goddard School of Cedar Park, we’ve parents wondering about the best way to be sure their child eats nutritionally sound meals.  Here are some tips for breakfast.

Though we’ve heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day—especially for children—it is often a casualty of morning mayhem. Start your child’s day off with a nutritious and energy-boosting breakfast. Children (grown-ups too!) who consistently eat balanced breakfasts have more energy, better diets, perform better and are less likely to be anxious or irritable. We’re busy with our daily routines and sometimes it seems difficult to find healthy foods that children enjoy. Serving up a balanced breakfast is actually easier than it seems!

Trying these nutritious breakfast tips and easy ideas can help make mornings cheerier, keep tummies fuller and help provide lots of energy.

  • Cutting foods into fun shapes with seasonal, animal or other cookie cutters is a quick way to turn a boring breakfast into a tummy pleaser.
  • Turn an ordinary bowl of whole grain cereal with milk into something more exciting by topping with sliced star fruit, pomegranate seeds or other unexpected bright fruit.
  • Scramble egg whites with low-fat cheese and diced, colorful veggies. Add tomatoes for eyes, a baby carrot for a nose, a slice of turkey bacon for the mouth—even broccoli for hair!
  • Whip up a mixed fruit smoothie using crushed ice, yogurt, fresh or canned fruit and add brightly colored frozen juice concentrate. Garnish with an orange wedge. This can be made the night before to save time in the morning.
  • Toast a whole grain toaster waffle, top with low-fat berry cream cheese. Create a flower or other fun design on top using sliced strawberries and peaches.
  • Spread peanut butter in a whole wheat tortilla. Add raisins and banana slices, roll up tightly and slice to create yummy pinwheels.
  • Serve up a ‘breakfast sundae’ by layering low-fat yogurt with fresh fruit and crunchy granola cereal in a fun, see-through container. Top with a cherry or grape and use colored cereal bits for “sprinkles.”

Create a ‘breakfast pizza’ using a whole wheat English muffin. Spread the English muffin with low-fat flavored cream cheese and top with diced fruits or veggies.

Find out what we’re doing that’s educational and fun each month with the Goddard School monthly events newsletter SUBSCRIBE HERE

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Age Appropriate Fitness

Friday, September 16th, 2011
Girl playing in a play ground

Image via Wikipedia

At The Goddard School of Cedar Park, fitness is an important part of our curriculum. Here are some pointers on fitness for young children.

Focusing your child’s physical fitness on fun activities will increase your child’s ability to move with confidence and competence. Exercise increases overall metabolism, builds a healthy heart and lungs, strong bones and muscles, and improves coordination, balance, posture and flexibility.

Infant
Encourage babies to explore activities that allow for reaching, rolling, sitting, crawling, pulling themselves up and walking. ‘Tummy Time’ is the perfect opportunity for babies to practice lifting their heads and develop strong muscles. Placing toys just out of reach encourages babies to reach for the toys, assisting in physical development.

First Steps/Toddler
Support young toddlers mastery of walking by allowing them to be active! Play with them as they learn to run, hop, dance and throw. Have them chase bubbles or invent a silly walk – play becomes exercise. Remember to always provide encouragement to toddlers as they build self-confidence.

Preschool +
Preschoolers need plenty of time and space to run around and play. Taking your child to a playground or park is a great way to release energy and exercise! Encourage creative dancing and riding scooters and tricycles. Play ‘Statues’ by playing up-tempo music. Have your child move while the music is playing and freeze into a statue when you pause it. Play outside with your child and teach hand-eye coordination by showing the basics of throwing, catching and kicking a large, soft ball.

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Back to School, Part 2

Friday, September 2nd, 2011

This is part 2 of “Back-to-school season.” If you have answered “no” to most of these questions in the previous blog post, it might be time to implement more routine chores. Aggen, owner of Goddard School of Cedar Park, suggests the following ideas that could help parents save time and institute organizational skills for their kids:Teacher & Girl
• Be sure to discuss the highlights and events that happened at school with your child each day.
• Help your child prepare for school the night before, including assisting your child in selecting clothes to wear for school. After a while, he or she will be able to do this without your assistance.
• Designate a time each night that your child should go to sleep. Children need 9 to 11 hours of sleep each night, depending on their age.
• Choose an area in the home, such as by the front door, to store your child’s school bag and any supplies he or she may need for school (e.g., art projects, thank-you notes/gifts for teachers).
• Have a daily to-do list posted in an area your child will see each day.

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.”

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Age Appropriate Fitness

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011
Child 1

Image by Tony Trần via Flickr

Focusing your child’s physical fitness on fun activities will increase your child’s ability to move with confidence and competence.  Exercise increases overall metabolism, builds a healthy heart and lungs, strong bones and muscles, and improves coordination, balance, posture and flexibility.

Infant
Encourage babies to explore activities that allow for reaching, rolling, sitting, crawling, pulling themselves up and walking.  ‘Tummy Time’ is the perfect opportunity for babies to practice lifting their heads and develop strong muscles.  Placing toys just out of reach encourages babies to reach for the toys, assisting in physical development.

First Steps/Toddler
Support young toddlers mastery of walking by allowing them to be active!  Play with them as they learn to run, hop, dance and throw.  Have them chase bubbles or invent a silly walk – play becomes exercise.  Remember to always provide encouragement to toddlers as they build self-confidence.

Preschool +

Preschoolers need plenty of time and space to run around and play.  Taking your child to a playground or park is a great way to release energy and exercise!  Encourage creative dancing and riding scooters and tricycles.  Play ‘Statues’ by playing up-tempo music.  Have your child move while the music is playing and freeze into a statue when you pause it.  Play outside with your child and teach hand-eye coordination by showing the basics of throwing, catching and kicking a large, soft ball.

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Fun Ways to Encourage Children’s Creativity at Home

Monday, August 1st, 2011

At Goddard School, we incorporate art and other creative activities throughout the day in our kindergarten and preschool programs.  Enjoy today’s guest article by Abrakadoodle on the topic of creativity.

Parents are always looking for meaningful ways for their children to enjoy their free time. Consider art as a great creative activity, especially when it is explored freely. How does your child typically approach art at home: mostly using coloring books, or does he/she enjoy more open-ended creative play? When children are placed in an environment that encourages exploration, creativity soars. Where possible, find ways for your child to discover his or her own style by exploring art with a variety of creativity materials with no set goal or expectation.

Abrakadoodle’s internationally recognized Artist-in-Residence Leonor Brazao, explains, “Most children are accustomed to trying to meet parent’s or teacher’s expectations and may create with that in mind. However, when children learn that their creations will be valued, they really blossom with individual expression. It’s a wonder to behold.”

How can you strengthen children’s creativity at home? Offer your kids opportunities to create original artwork, whether it’s recycling a cardboard box with a clever design, painting an original scene, arranging wild flowers, decorating an outdoor garden space, designing edible art or creating place cards for a special occasion. Give your child lots of age-appropriate art materials – paints, crayons, markers, modeling clay, glue and paper.  Research has confirmed what many people already know: prefabricated art, such as coloring books, tend to stifle children’s imaginations and artistic abilities. Celebrate and encourage the originality that is a natural part of your child.

Winner of seven Nickelodeon Parents’ Picks awards for “Best Art Class,” Abrakadoodle offers fun, engaging and comprehensive arts programs that help tap children’s imaginations while teaching skills ranging from painting and sculpting to drawing, designing collage and mosaics, as well as working with paper and fabric art and so much more! You can find Abrakadoodle in schools and community sites, providing integrated art instruction, as well as a wide array of creative art classes, camps, birthday parties and special events for children ages 20 months to 12 years old. To learn more, visit www.abrakadoodle.com

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Preschool homework?

Thursday, May 26th, 2011
Children's Blocks

At Goddard School, parents sometimes ask about whether their child, sometimes as young as 2 years,  should use flash cards or be doing “homework.”  A leading expert in child development and learning provides an interesting perspective:

“When you’re putting blocks together, you’re learning how to be a physicist,” agreed Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a psychologist at Temple University and author of Einstein Never Used Flash Cards.  “When you’re learning how to balance things and calculate how tall you can make your building, you’re learning how to be a physicist. Having your kid drill and kill and fill in worksheets at 2 and 3 and 4 to the best of our knowledge so far does not give your child a leg up on anything.”

“Yes, your child might know more of his letters than the child who spent Saturday in the sandbox,” she said. “But the people who are team players, who are creative innovators, they are the ones who are going to invent the next iPad. The kids who are just memorizing are going to be outsourced to the kids in India who have memorized the same stuff.”  CLICK HERE for full NY Times article.

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