The achievement gap, which the National Governors Association calls “one of the most pressing education-policy challenges that states currently face” is almost universally defined as a problem of low-income children and the distance between them and their higher-income counterparts in academic achievement. Although that gap certainly exists, and absolutely must be addressed, there is a much larger and more significant gap to contend with. This gap speaks to the fact that children aren’t living up to their full potential and aren’t gaining the life skills they need to thrive now and in the future.
In studies of various employers conducted by the Families and Work Institute, employers report that young people don’t have the life skills – not just the content information- they need for the 21st century. Children certainly need the skills that include academic content, but having life skills enables them to use the knowledge they acquire. They are therefore interconnected.
Ellen Galinsky, President and co-founder of the nonprofit research organization, Families and Work Institute, says that life skills are at the heart of learning. For example, the skill of making connections – that is figuring out what’s the same, what’s different and sorting things into categories – is a skill that underlies literacy, mathematics, and the sciences. She goes on to say that making unusual connections is at the heart of creativity. And in a world where people can Google for information, this is a must-have capacity.
At Crème de la Crème preschools, all of our age-specific curriculums include activities that address social and emotional skills. In addition, the PATHS (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies) program for our three to five year olds offers children experiences that promote life skills. These life skills are promoted in age-appropriate ways that are also playful which engages children in learning. And lastly, parenting seminars have been presented in Crème de la Crème preschools markets that provide information on how to meet the five critical emotional needs of children. For more information visit www.emotionallyhealthychildren.org.
Ellen Galinsky concludes “If we do not address the life skills gap for all of our children we will not make the gains we as a country, as parents, and as teachers sorely need and deserve.”
Make Time to Talk
We know that talking to children every day and using the kind of talk that builds language and thinking skills is important. This phrase MAKE TIME TO TALK is to help you remember things you can do when talking to your child to help him learn new vocabulary and how to use language to express his ideas and needs, and that helps him have fun with language.
(Gary, write the letters M, A, K, E, T, I, M, E, T, O, T, A, L, K down the left hand side in bigger bolder colored letters and then each corresponding sentence that starts with the same letter next to it).
M Mealtimes can be good times to talk with your children.
A Ask questions that encourage your child to think – questions involving predicting things that might happen, using imagination, explaining why things happened in a particular way.
K Kneel or squat to be able to have eye contact with your child.
E Extend your conversation with your child by going back and forth with each person responding to the other at least a few times.
T Tell stories to your child and ask her to tell you stories about their day at school.
I Involve your child in conversation every day. Talk about what he has made at school or about his play.
M Make connections between what your child does at school and what you are doing at home to help build your child’s understanding of word meanings.
E Expand on your child’s language by repeating it with extensions (adding descriptive words, using words correctly that your child uses incorrectly), adding to or building on your child’s ideas.
T Two-way conversations are best. Your child should be doing at least half the talking.
O One or more individual conversations with your child in your home and car every day should be a goal.
T Texts such as books, posters, newspapers, and magazines provide things to talk about with children. Read them together, asking questions and discussing them as you go.
A Act out stories with your child, re-using words from a book you read aloud to him. Encourage him to retell the story with puppets, toys, and in his art work.
L Language should include rich, varied words that you want your child to learn to understand and use.
K Keep the conversation going through questions and comments
* Taken from the National Institute for Literacy publication Learning to Talk and Listen (2009), and the National Early Literacy Panel Report (2009).
Take the Sting Out of Outdoor Fun
As spring and summer roll around you will probably find that you spend more time outdoors and that you have lots of creeping, crawling, flying friend’s outdoors too. Most of these little friends are harmless and good for the environment. Some, like mosquitoes, cause painful or irritating bites and spread diseases. A few produce venom that can trigger life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis).
The insects that cause the most problems in the United States
If you or your child is bitten you will need to know the difference between a normal local reaction to a sting and a more serious systemic (whole body) reaction. Most people are not allergic to stings and will usually have a little swelling, pain and itching centered around the site of the sting. A cold compress or ice is the best treatment, along with antihistamines or calamine lotion to control itching.
A systemic or whole body reaction will set off other symptoms in other parts of the body, away from the sting. The most common symptoms are skin-related, such as hives or swelling in the mouth and throat, dizziness, difficulty breathing, headache, nausea or vomiting. Anaphylaxis is a life threatening allergic reaction that spreads quickly through the body, sometimes resulting in a sudden drop in blood pressure and loss of consciousness. These symptoms require immediate medical attention.
People at high risk of anaphylaxis should always carry and know how to use auto-injectable epinephrine. If you are concerned that your child might be highly allergic you will want to consult an allergist and if confirmed, have him prescribe auto-injectable epinephrine to keep on hand at Crème de la Crème preschools.
Ask the Expert
My four year old whines in the car, at the store and at the dinner table and wants my undivided attention all the time. How can I stop the wining and keep her happy?
Preschoolers often want to control their parents and may do so by whining or throwing tantrums. You can regain control by encouraging your child to communicate by asking her to tell you what is bothering her. You may need to remind your child to speak politely, and ignore her whining until she does.
Remember, if you give in you will teach her that whining works. As hard as it can be, it’s important to be firm and consistent, even when your child is making a scene in public. For the most part, other parents will understand and sympathize with your situation.
Sometimes it seems that preschool aged children make attention getting their part-time job! So give as much as you can, but set some limits too. For example, redirect your child to an activity that she can do on her own. This will encourage independence and give you a little time.
You can also try setting a timer to help her be patient in waiting for you to be able to give her the attention that she wants. You might say, “We can have a tea party in 15 minutes when the timer goes off.”
If you give more attention (praise, hugs) when your daughter is exhibiting good behavior, you will keep her from acting out to get attention. You could ask her to do an important job like picking up her toys, sorting socks, or setting the table and then be sure and acknowledge her efforts with specific praise. For example, “I like the way you placed your toys neatly on the shelf,” or “I’m impressed with how quickly you sorted the socks.”
Avoid “rewarding” only inappropriate behavior with your attention.
Please feel free to visit Crème de la Crème Pre School at CremeDeLaCreme.com or call 800 374 5715 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 800 374 5715 end_of_the_skype_highlighting to set up a tour today!
Other Crème de la Crème pre schools, childcares and daycares can be found in:
Greenwood Village CO, Buckhead Atlanta GA, Nesbit Ferry Alpharetta GA, Marietta East Cobb GA, Haynes Bridge Alpharetta GA, Peachtree Corners Norcross GA, Sugarloaf Duluth GA, Warrenville IL, Westmont IL, Glenview IL, Romeoville IL, South Barrington IL, Lincoln Park Chicago IL, Leawood KS, Mt. Laurel NJ, Bridgewater NJ, Mason OH, Allen TX, Colleyville TX, Coppell TX, Frisco TX, Plano TX, Sterling VA and Woodbridge VA.
18 years 8 ½ hours
Parents Whatever you can get!
Please feel free to visit Crème de la Crème Pre School at CremeDeLaCreme.com or call 800 374 5715 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 800 374 5715 end_of_the_skype_highlighting to set up a tour today!
Other Crème de la Crème pre schools, childcares and daycares can be found in:
Greenwood Village CO, Buckhead Atlanta GA, Nesbit Ferry Alpharetta GA, Marietta East Cobb GA, Haynes Bridge Alpharetta GA, Peachtree Corners Norcross GA, Sugarloaf Duluth GA, Warrenville IL, Westmont IL, Glenview IL, Romeoville IL, South Barrington IL, Lincoln Park Chicago IL, Leawood KS, Mt. Laurel NJ, Bridgewater NJ, Mason OH, Allen TX, Colleyville TX, Coppell TX, Frisco TX, Plano TX, Sterling VA and Woodbridge VA.
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