- Dig out that introduction letter you got from us (generally a month before school) with details about classroom entrances, backpack, timetable, healthy lunches, school supply list, etc. and make sure you are organized in advance, so that you are not unduly stressed on the first few days. Make sure the back pack and lunch box you choose are easy to manage and think about the best clothes for your child to wear. That doesn’t mean their Sunday best. It means clothes your child can play in, without fear of paint splashes and clothes that are easy to manage when visiting the toilet. Closed toe, easy to put on, shoes are always a must.
- Talk to your child about preschool but resist the temptation of hyping it up too much as the child might be totally underwhelmed with the reality. ( We suggest visiting the library for some great first day books too) Refer to the teachers – who you’ve most likely already met – by their first names and tell your child about the other children, the painting, the play dough and the kind of activities you know that will interest them. Many children have already visited the preschool in advance of term start!
- In the week before the start day, explain to your child that you or another loved one will be dropping and collecting them from preschool and how that will work. Tell your child the two things you, or your minder, will do while they are at preschool to give the child a sense of the short time involved, like going to the bank and preparing lunch. It’s not too long and not long too short – in fact just enough time to have fun before being collected! It is okay to sound excited for your “work time” as should they…
- On reaching the door each morning, smile and treat teacher like a friend. Relax and don’t fuss and let your child know that you’re confident that they can manage. Remember that your child is alert to the emotional messages you send out, so don’t panic and don’t let the child see you crying.
- If your child is fine going in on the first day, just walk away and don’t look for problems where none exist. The majority of children will sail in, no problem. Treat yourself to a cup of coffee and a little treat – this is a big day for you too!
- If your child does cry going in, follow the lead of the teacher. Often children who come in the door crying are okay and laughing five minutes later. Rest assured that your child is in kind, nurturing, and capable hands!
- Make sure to return for pick up on time as children can fret when they see other children leave before them.
- Don’t expect the teacher to give you detailed feedback in the first two weeks when the whole group is really settling in.
- After the day, ask your child about the sand, the books, the “works/lessons” and the other children. If your questions are specific, you’ll get more information.
Asking (and Waiting) for Help
Like all good things, parenting takes practice. A lot of practice, trials and tribulations. As we all know, there is no clear cut manual. Each child and family is incredibly unique. Every parent wants a deep connection with their child and to successfully prepare them for the world. We all want to create responsible, strong, compassionate adults. These are the ultimate goals, but how do we get there?
Each day brings on so many unprepared situations. The screaming child in the grocery store, the child that hits at school, the first lie, and so many other special moments you will share with your children.To prepare for these interesting parenting moments, they can be broken down into a simple lesson similar to what we do in the classroom. The following is a practical example with an intentional goal.
How to ask for help and/or wait for help:
The demand for help or recognition may be the most difficult aspect of good manners to teach a child. Their need is immediate in their eyes. In order to have friends and be appreciated your child must learn patience.
This can be done in a couple of ways. One is do not come a running for every whim your child may desire. If you are busy it is okay to say, “I will be with you as soon as I finish my soup.” This derails the need for immediate gratification, creates trust (because you will follow through) and brings the gift of patience to your child – a skill for life every person needs.
Yes, the child may cry, scream and lay on the floor the first few times. Calmly, respond, “I see you are upset. I will be with you when I finish my soup.” Savor that soup and then follow through. Acknowledge the child the first time they fully wait. Thank you for waiting, how can I help?” It is your choice – do you want to train them to scream and whine for everything they want or patiently wait through communication? Raise your awareness of what you want to put out in the world through your child.
15 The Montessori Kindergarten Year – A Question for Parents
Peaceful Parenting Practice – Boredom
Solving the problem – Are we effectively solving or creating one?
Child: “I’m bored.”
Parent: “Oh, you’re bored? Well why don’t you go and get your puzzle in your room and work on that?”
Child: “No, I don’t want to.”
Parent: “Then why don’t you get your coloring book and color for a while?”
Child: “No, that’s boring.”
Effective response – “Boredom is a choice. I gave you some ideas.” Or say (depending on age and ability), “I have some extra chores for you to do!” That usually gets them running out to play or off to an activity of their liking.
Basically, remember to parent with the end result in mind. We want our children to recognize they can solve simple problems like boredom and be creative independent individuals. This is a simple effective tool to begin with.
5 Ways to Improve Self-Esteem and Confidence in Kids
(Kathryn Kvols shares 5 easy ways to boost our children’s confidence)
What would you be doing right now if you truly believed in yourself?
As parents, we want our children to feel good about themselves and feel fulfilled as adults. Here are five things that we can do to improve self-esteem and confidence in our kids.
1. Celebrate, honor and nurture your child’s uniqueness.
While honoring your child’s uniqueness sounds simple, it can sometimes be difficult – especially when your child displays qualities that you may not be fond of. As humans, we tend to encourage the things we agree with and to discourage the things we don’t like.
Since most children strive to please us, we must be careful not to discourage the true spirit of the child. By steering our child away from what they love to do, we run the risk of harming their fragile self-esteem. There are many people who are not happy in their work today because they are doing what they think their parents want them to do, rather than what would make them truly happy.
2. Use parenting methods that encourage personal responsibility.
Try to avoid the autocratic parenting tendency to just tell your child how to do the task. Let him figure it out on his own and you will take a big step towards not stifling the spirit of the child. Methods such as motivating through guilt or controlling through threats and punishment can act as roadblocks to close relationships and a healthy self-concept. Instead, help to improve their self-esteem and confidence:
- Offer children the opportunity to make decisions that deem appropriate
- Give them time to express their opinions
- Allow them to develop their leadership abilities without interference
These tools will help you show your children how to think – not what to think.
3. Model and teach your children the value of contributing.
Being helpful can make us feel truly valuable and improve our self-image. The more your child finds their value by being helpful, the more support your child will receive from society. Find ways to include your child in projects:
- Assign them small tasks you know they can handle
- Include them in age-appropriate ways
- Ask their opinion about how to do something
- Ask them how they think they could help (you may be surprised at the response!)
4. Instruct your child to be proactive.
It can be extremely discouraging to feel powerless. One of the best ways to empower your child is to explore together many solutions to a problem, go through possible consequences of each solution, and choose a solution that serves the interest of everyone involved.
5. Impart to your child the importance of valuing what he thinks and feels about himself over what others think of him.
When children start to think that another’s opinion is more valuable than theirs, they lose their sense of self. A great toll is taken when children give up who they are in order to be liked by others.
Parent Question: What words say can I say to redirect my child in a positive manner?
Here are a few positive statements that may help on a daily basis:
| Instead of this: | Say this: |
|---|---|
| Don't run. | Walking feet. |
| Don't go that way. Come here. | Stay with me. |
| Don't forget your jacket. | Remember your jacket. |
| Don't wiggle. | Sit like this. |
| Don't play with your food. | Use your fork. |
| Don't yell. | Use an inside voice. |
| Don't hit. | Use your words. |
March Open House
March 2, 2014
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
January 2014 – Dates to Remember
Jan. 6th- School Resumes
Jan. 10th- Tuition Due
Jan. 16th- PAB Meeting 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 20th- No School
Jan. 23rd- 100th Day of School/ Sing A Long
Jan. 30th- (6:30 p.m. Lakeview Library) Parent Ed. Evening- 4K vs. Montessori Questions & Answer Session
December 2013 – Peaceful Parenting Tip
This time of year can get a person stressed and frazzled. One mom said it was like being tied into a human pretzel (not a pretty picture)! If you can relate, the experiment we would encourage you to do is: create 20 minutes of Non-negotiable Me Time (NNMT) five times a week. Then go back to not having NNMT. Journal every night for the next two weeks (that’s not so long). I have determined that NNMT is the essential ingredient to have thriving relationships.
Stress is a relationship killer. Think about it! When you’re stressed, you are NASTY. You say mean things to your partner and your children (unfortunately close people get the most of it) and you feel like a witch. All of those great parenting tips you learned, fly right out the window, I know you have heard about taking care of yourself at nauseam but have you actually done it? Now is your chance. NNMT makes you a more calm, peaceful, loving parent.
Note: Make sure it is time that nourishes you. TV time, facebook time or other technological devices can actually drain your energy, not revitalize you.
NNMT ideas:
- Take a long luxurious bath.
- Write thank you notes.
- Make some hot tea or cocoa, wrap yourself in a snuggly, warm blanket and sit outside on your
- porch on a wintery night.
- Crank up the music and dance like you do when no one is watching!
Parent Question: Is your child well enough to go to school?
It is not always easy to decide if your child is sick enough to stay home or well enough to be in school. Children who come to school are expected to participate fully in school day activities.
Here are some guidelines that might help in a parent’s decision-making:
1. Fever: A fever of 101.5 degrees or more signals an illness that is probably going to make a student uncomfortable and unable to function well in class. Your child should stay home until her/she is feeling better; your child should be fever-free for 24 hours without using Tylenol or Advil/ibuprofen. If child is sent home due to illness children must stay home the following day of school.
2. Vomiting, Diarrhea or Severe Nausea: These are symptoms that require a student to remain at home until a normal diet is tolerated. If child is sent home due to illness children must stay home the following day of school.
3. Infectious Diseases: Diseases such as impetigo, pink eye with thick drainage and strep throat require a doctor’s examination and prescription for medication. Contacting the doctor and using the medicine as directed for the full recommended length of time are necessary. Once medication has been started and the child is feeling well, he/she may return to school. Student’s with chicken pox may return to school when all the scabs are completely dried and no new lesions are developing (usually 5 – 7 days).
5. Injuries: If a student has an injury that causes continuous discomfort, the student should not attend school until the condition is checked by a doctor or it improves. Injuries that interfere with class participation need a medical evaluation.