The Goddard School®

Hello Sue,

My five-year-old daughter cannot seem to keep her hands and feet to herself and I am getting reports from her teachers that it is becoming a problem at school.  She is not doing it meanly (she’s not hitting or kicking), just trying to tickle, hug on, and poke at other kids.  We have had consequences at home (both negative and positive reinforcement) and when we talk with her about the behavior she has the right answers and knows it is unacceptable. How then do I go about getting her to keep her hands to herself?

Many thanks for the help,

Jennifer

Dear Jennifer,

This is a typical developmental stage as children learn about personal space and interacting with peers.

I recommend requesting a formal meeting with the school, to start.  See if the teachers are seeing the behavior at certain times of the day, and if so, is there a way to change the environment to stop the behavior. For example, does it happen at the table during snack time, is it the same child that she is touching–if so, consider separating them for a bit.

During this meeting, talk to the teachers about consequences for the unwanted behavior. It is important to come up with a consequence that is consistent between home and school.  So if the child exhibits the behavior at home, the outcome is the same.

Try this, along with positive reinforcement when appropriate behavior is observed.

Best,

Sue Adair

Director of Education, Goddard Systems, Inc.

There comes a day when your child will ask to sleep over at a friend’s house for the very first time. Whether because of homesickness or fear of bedwetting, sleepovers can turn into a nerve-wracking experience for children. As parents, how can you prepare for your child’s first sleepover? What should you expect?

Here are some helpful tips to guide parents and children through the first sleepover.

• Start somewhere comfortable. Spending the night in a strange environment with lots of other kids for the first time can be scary.  Try arranging a sleepover with a favorite cousin first. The familiar environment might be less intimating than going to slumber party with ten other children.

• Send a comfort item from home. Make sure your child packs a favorite pillow, blanket or stuffed animal – any item that brings your little one comfort. If the child is feeling nervous during the night, she will have something to snuggle up with.

• Communicate with the host. Talk to the slumber party host’s parents beforehand. Discuss any special requests such as keeping a nightlight on or a reminder at bedtime to use the restroom.

• Talk with your child. Once you’ve decided that your child is ready for a sleepover, have an open and positive discussion. Ask your little one what he/she thinks the overnight adventure might be like.  Answer any questions, and share tales from your own slumber parties.

• Be prepared to “pick up.” If your child becomes homesick or scared, he/she might just want to go home. Always be prepared to get the unexpected call to come pick up your child during the night.

Parents got to find out what it’s really like to be preschooler at The Goddard School in Hanover, MD.

For every parent that has wondered what it would be like to be a preschooler again, the Goddard Schools are providing that opportunity with the A Day in the Life of a Preschooler event. This week at Goddard Schools nationwide, parents are experiencing what it’s like during a typical day at preschool.

For a few hours in the day parents will:

• Be welcomed to their Goddard School classroom
• Participate in circle time and introductions
• Learn of the day’s activities
  • Pre-reading, math, and science skills
  • Activities for social, physical, and creative art projects along with learning a foreign language
  • All of this while playing and having fun

• Enjoy nap time and snack time
• And end the day with winding down – calming yoga activity giving time to reflect on the day

During the A Day in the Life of a Preschooler event, parents will gain a better understanding of the FLEX Learning experience. The Goddard School® FLEX Learning Program is designed to instill in your child a lifelong love of learning. Developed with the assistance of early childhood education experts, FLEX Learning is based on the latest research on how children learn. The program’s foundation is the learning continuum that encompasses developmental guidelines with formative assessments, child-focused lesson plans, a creative and fun environment and a personalized child-centered approach that meets your child’s needs.

From education to encouragement and advice, grandparents’ involvement can play a significant role in a child’s life. On September 13, 2009, National Grandparents Day will recognize the special bond between a grandchild and grandparent by providing a wonderful opportunity for kids to celebrate and honor their relationship.

To help celebrate Grandparents Day, here are fun and low-cost gift ideas that grandpa and grandma are sure to cherish. Kids can create these gifts at home, or get the grandparents involved for an extra special touch:

• Hand-Dyed Handkerchiefs. Lay out colorful flowers underneath a plain white handkerchief. Crush the flowers with a mallet. The color from the flowers will dye onto the hanky in an assortment of beautiful patterns.

• Flower Pot Pen. Now anytime your grandparents write, they can think of you! Just paint a small flower pot and fill it with green flower foam. Cover the foam with moss and glue a pen cap into the foam. Wrap the pen with green flower tape and you will have a pen disguised as a flower pot!

• Thumbprint Bookmark. Does your Grandma or Grandpa love to read? Then a fun and artful bookmark will make the perfect gift. Cut out a piece of sturdy paper in the shape of a bookmark. Then make thumb hearts from your own thumbprint and write “Thumbody Loves You” or add legs to the thumbprints and write “From Your Lovebug.”

• Necklace. Grandma will love this one-of-a-kind necklace. Have strings and various sizes and types of beads ready to go. Make sure to pick out the beads in Grandma’s favorite colors. You can make a necklace for each other, or just make one for her

• Build a Car. Gather together boxes of all sizes with the tops and/or bottoms cut out. You can use drink boxes, shoe boxes, cereal boxes, milk cartons, gift boxes, etc. Paint the boxes a few days before Grandparents Day, so the paint has achance to dry. Gather the boxes that the child has painted along with four wooden wheels. Work together with Grandma/Grandpa to build a car out of the boxes. You can even take a picture together and put it where the windows would be.

• Flower Bouquet. Make cut-outs of different types of flowers. Decorate the flowers with tissue paper, buttons, felt pieces, foam pieces, crayons, markers, paint, etc. Once the flowers are ready, attach them to either pipe cleaners or small wooden craft sticks (painted green). Wrap the flowers in tissue paper by the stems to create a beautiful bouquet!

• Neckties. Now Grandpa can dress up in style with this adorable necktie. Create cutouts of an oversized necktie and decorate the tie with pieces of fabric. Be creative and use exciting fabric designs like sports, cars, animals, etc. Glue a piece of string to the top of the necktie and have it ready for Grandpa to wear!

A new school year can be a nerve-wracking experience for both you and your child. Whether starting preschool or kindergarten, some children may be worried about the new setting and the new experience. From first day jitters to unfamiliar surroundings, going back to school isn’t always easy.

There are steps that parents and families can take to help their children make a successful transition.

From easing your child’s fears to learning how to say goodbye, the early childhood development experts at Goddard offer the following tips for the back to school season:

1. Familiarize your child with the new setting. Visiting the preschool classroom with your child a few times before school starts can ease the entrance into unfamiliar territory. This offers the opportunity to meet the teacher and ask about routines and common activities. While you’re in the classroom, let your child explore and observe the class in his or her own way. The idea is to familiarize your child with the classroom and to let him or her get comfortable.
2. Communication. Use this time to ask your child’s new teacher how he or she handles these first potentially tear-filled days. Ask questions like: how will the first week be structured to make the transition smooth?
3. Assess your own feelings. Young children can pick up on their parents’ nonverbal cues. If you feel guilty or worried about leaving your child at school, he or she will probably sense that. The more calm and assured you are, the more confident your child will be.
4. Establish the partnership. When you enter the classroom on the first day, reintroduce the teacher to your child and work together to establish a drop-off routine that will work for both you and the teacher. If your child clings to you or is reluctant to participate in the class, don’t get upset – this may only upset your child more. Follow the guidelines described by the teacher beforehand, and go at your child’s pace.
5. Saying goodbye. A predictable farewell routine can make leaving easier. Also, keep in mind that most children do well once their parents leave. Some parents wave from outside a certain classroom window or make a funny goodbye face, while others read a short book before parting. Transitional objects – a family picture, a special doll, or a favorite blanket – can also help comfort your child. It is important to be consistent and do the following:

   -Always say a loving goodbye to your child, but once you do, you should leave promptly. A long farewell scene might only serve to reinforce a child’s hesitation about this new experience.

   -Never sneak out. As tempting as it may be, leaving without saying good-bye may make your child feel abandoned.

Goddard Systems, Inc. is excited to announce its second annual Top Toys Test! This year, the Goddard Schools will partner with Eco Child’s Play, a leading “green” blog, to choose the hottest eco-friendly toys for the holiday season. The “green” toy focus was inspired by the foundation of the Goddard Schools curriculum – the creation of a safe and nurturing environment for young children based upon learning through play.

The team at Goddard Schools and Eco Child’s Play will select toys based upon the following criteria:

• Interactive, child-initiated play focus
• Creative, social, or engaging
• Eco-friendly
• Appropriate for preschoolers and early elementary school-age  children
• Affordable price range ($25 and under)

Once finalists have been announced, Goddard preschoolers across the United States will also have the opportunity to play with the toys and give their feedback. Participating Goddard Schools will then announce their “Local Preschooler Picks” – that School’s favorite five toys. Schools will donate all toys to the Toys for Tots campaign, or to a local charity of the school’s choice.

Goddard Systems, Inc. and Eco Child’s Play are now accepting submissions through October 1, 2009. To download the Goddard’s Toy Test guidelines and application form, visit http://childsplaypr.com/GoddardToyTest.pdf. You can also check the Goddard blog for updates on our Toy Test.

Many exciting activities have been taking place in the past few weeks at several Goddard School locations — from helicopter landings to fundraising activities to ground breakings!

• August 12^th – The Goddard School located in Ashland, VA welcomed several college students bicycling across the nation in the “Journey of Hope” cross country bicycle event. The members of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity participating in Push America’s Journey of Hope made a stop at the school to perform a puppet show, “Kids on the Block,” teaching the students about disabilities and how to interact with peers who have disabilities.

• August 10^th – Bob Lisaius, the “Dino Guy,” paid a visit to The Goddard School located in Mechanicsburg, PA to take the students on a trip throughout the Mesozoic Era.

• August 5^th – The Department of Homeland Security landed a helicopter on school grounds at The Goddard School located in Lake Orion, MI as part of transportation week.

• August 5^th – The Goddard School located in Rockville, MD participated in St. Jude’s Trike-A-Thon, raising more than $2,400 for the research and treatment of childhood cancer and other catastrophic diseases.

• August 3^rd – 20^th – The Goddard School located in Roswell, GA will be accepting back to school donations for children in the community as part of The Children’s Restoration Network’s 15th Annual Back 2 School Project.

• August 3^rd – New Goddard School opens is north Scottsdale, AZ.

• July 31^st – The Goddard School located at Lake Norman, NC had a ground breaking ceremony and carnival to celebrate their expansion and construction of a new 5,000 square foot addition and Gymnasium.

August is Get Ready for Kindergarten Month and with the summer almost over and school quickly sneaking up on us many parents are thinking, “Is my youngster ready for kindergarten?”

There’s no exact formula for determining when your child is ready, but there are certain signs that parents should look for to know when they should at least begin to think about kindergarten:

Self Help Skills:

• Uses the bathroom
• Uses a tissue
• Snaps, zips and buttons clothing
• Puts away toys and helps with cleaning up
• Asks for help when needed

Gross Motor Skills:

• Climbs easily on playground equipment
• Runs
• Jumps with both feet
• Skips
• Catches, throws and bounces a ball

Language Skills:

• Listens to and follows simple directions
• Tells a story or retells experiences in proper sequence
• Adults can easily understand what the child says
• Participates in discussions
• Enjoys listening to stories and rhymes

Fine Motor Skills:

• Holds and uses a pencil
• Can copy letters from a sample
• Cuts on simple lines
• Draws a human figure with torso, limbs and features
• Ties a knot

Cognitive Skills:

• Recognizes likenesses and differences of pictures or objects
• Matches letters and simple words
• Shares ideas
• Asks questions and tries new things
• Understands and follows the rules to simple games
• Orally counts to 10

Social/Emotional Skills:

• Adjusts to new situations
• Uses words to resolve conflicts
• Can sit for 5-10 minutes working on a task
• Completes tasks
• Cooperates with others and takes turns
• Uses control when frustrated
• Takes pride in achievements

If your child has acquired most of these skills then chances are they’re ready! Next step, getting parents ready for kindergarten. Much is expected of your child when school begins in September so use this month to make sure your child can handle the basics for kindergarten.

Summer is in full swing — day trips, vacations, BBQs, the works! With all this fun in the sun, it’s important to think safety first.

Sun safety is important all year round, but even more so in the summer when we spend most of our time outdoors. Too much sun can be very harmful to you and your family.

The Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that 80% of lifetime sun exposure occurs during childhood — and that just one blistering sunburn can double the risk of getting melanoma later in life. Protect your family by following these tips from the Skin Cancer Foundation:

Avoid Peak Sun: The sun’s UV rays are most intense between 10am and 4pm. If possible, avoid spending extended periods of time outdoors during the midday sun.

Generously Apply Sunscreen: Apply to all exposed skin using a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 that provides broad-spectrum protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Don’t forget nose, ears, hands, feet, shoulders, and behind the neck; lips can also burn, so apply a lip balm with SPF protection. Reapply every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating.

Wear Protective Clothing: Wearing protective clothing and hats is one of the most important ways of warding off UV damage. When wet, light-colored clothing transmits just as much sunlight as bare skin. Keep your kids covered with dark colors, long sleeves, and pants whenever possible. And don’t forget to pack sunglasses with UV protection to guard against burned corneas, and hats with brims to prevent sunburned scalps and faces.

Seek the Shade, Never a Tan: Bring along a large umbrella to the beach and park. Be aware, however, that sunlight bouncing off reflective surfaces can reach you even beneath an umbrella or a tree. There is no such thing as a healthy tan.

Stay Hydrated: Be sure that your children are drinking lots of water when they’re spending time in the sun. Children often don’t realize how thirsty they are or are too busy playing to stop and take a drink. Offer beverages throughout the day to avoid dehydration which occurs faster in warm weather.

If you find yourself in a situation where your child doesn’t like sunscreen, try using a spray-on sunscreen.. The application is a lot easier and can also be fun for the child.  I also recommend encouraging children to help with the application (if they are interested and old enough).

Don’t forget that healthy habits are best learned young. Because skin damage occurs with each unprotected exposure and accumulates over the course of a lifetime, sun safety for children should be a priority.