Overcoming First Day of School Jitters

Although I don't want to wish away the last few weeks of August, the start of elementary school is just around the corner for many young families. It should be a positive exciting time for everyone! Here are some tips to start off on the right foot.

1) Talk the Talk: Pick a time when your child is calm and well rested to sit down and have a conversation about the first day of school. Listen for any fears and talk about your own school experiences, or the first day memories from their siblings. Make sure you talk about the fun activities as well as explain some of the expectations around behaviour.

2) Visit the School: Take a field trip during August and visit the school playground. Have a look at the doors and look inside the windows. Point out things in the neighbourhood on the way.

3) Make it Easy: Plan the logistics for drop off and pick up so you don't have any unnecessary tense moments. Make sure your child is well aware of the plans and comfortable with the arrangements.

4) Assure Your Child: Give your child a strong sense of security by assuring them of the days schedule and how things works, such as lunches and play time. Children thrive on reassurances especially when starting something new.

5) Make it Special: If it makes starting school easier then splashing out on a new back-pack or pair of shoes can go along way. Having a special toy to return to after the big day could also be a pleasant event.

6) Security & Comfort: Think about including a special toy, picture, or book in your child's backpack to make them feel connected to home and secure. It might just make the difference between an okay experience and a great one.

7) Plan B: If your child is uncontrollably upset or stressed about the first day of school make sure you have a plan. Could you possibly stay with them for a short time in the classroom? Could you have a favourite toy at hand or a small gift for the teacher that your child can present to establish a connection? Is there a child in the classroom that you know and could be buddied up with yours?

Discovery Child Care offers interesting and educational before and after school programs. Call us for a tour. We'd love to meet with you and your child! 705-733-2052

Playing outside is so important to your child's development - Here's why..

The weather is perfect today. Crystal blue sky with white clouds and a gentle breeze. It's the type of day made for playing outside and learning about nature!

Playing outside may seem like all fun and games - but when you think about it, children are learning so much by being active in the open outdoor environment.

• preschoolers practice and master emerging physical skills like, running, leaping, jumping, ball-handling, catching, lifting objects, pulling and carrying.
• children burn more calories outside which helps prevent obesity
• outdoor light affects the pineal gland, the part of the brain that regulates the biological clock and is vital to the immune system
• outdoor games encourage communication skills and vocabulary
• children have an improved aesthetic awareness, an appreciation of the beauty around us
• being outside stimulates other senses like hearing (bird song, wind rustling), smell (fragrance of flowers, mud, plants), and touch (tree bark, grass, snow)
• being outside lets children be loud, messy, and boisterous - have fun with fewer limitations

Here are some activities from The Early Childhood News..

1. A nature walk is a great way to enhance children’s appreciation of the natural environment. Ask them to tell you what they're seeing, hearing, and smelling. Encourage them to touch – to discover the smoothness of a rock, the roughness of bark, and the fragility of a dried leaf. For young children, these are science experiences.
2. Set up an obstacle course with old tires, large appliance boxes, and tree stumps. Moving through it will teach important concepts like over, under, through, and around.
3. A "listening" walk makes for a wonderful sound discrimination activity. As you walk with the children, point out the sounds of birds, passing cars, whistling wind, even your footsteps on the sidewalk. What sounds can the children identify on their own? Which are loud and which are soft? Which are high and which are low? What are their favorite sounds? Bring along a tape recorder so the children can try to identify the sounds at a later time!
4. Bring the parachute or an old sheet outside and play parachute games (shaking it, circling with it, making waves with it, or bouncing foam balls on it).
5. Bring a portable boom box outdoors and let the children experience the joy of dancing in a natural environment!
6. Try "water painting," in which children paint the side of a building with a brush and a bucket of water. It exercises arms and upper torso while also teaching about wet and dry, light and dark, and evaporation.
7. Chasing bubbles gives children a chance to run!

The benefits of playing outside are easy to see - and like all things in life, it's about finding the right balance between the indoor classroom experience and nature's outdoor classroom!

Call us to find our more about our exceptional educational programs, including our award winning Nature Explore classroom. 705-733-2052 Visit our website to learn more..