[MUST READ] HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY MEET THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN?

Meeting the emotional needs of children is one of the most important gifts we can give our children, yet it is one of the most under recognized problems facing families today. At Crème de la Crème, we believe it is important for teachers to understand the importance of meeting the five critical needs of children, but we also wanted to help parents recognize and satisfy the critical emotional needs as well. For this reason, Jody Martin, Vice President of Education and Training for Crème de la Crème has been providing parenting seminars outlining these five critical needs.  She has been presenting in various Creme markets this last fall and will continue to do so in early 2011.

The seminar provides powerful and practical concepts and tools to enable parents to interact with children and with each other in emotionally healthy ways.  Ultimately, when children see this role modeled by their parents and caregivers, they will tend to interact with each other in the same ways. This is so very important because emotional health provides a foundation for success in school, work, marriage, and life in general!

At Crème de la Crème, we understand that children and adults need to feel respected, important, accepted, included, and secure. As children experience what it’s like to have these five critical emotional needs met, they are more likely to become self-confident, independent, responsible, caring, civic-minded individuals.

We believe that parents and teachers should work individually and together to meet the emotional needs of children at home and at school. Consequently, we have specific curriculum that supports social/emotional learning and is an integral part of our philosophy.  In addition, through these parenting seminars, we offer information from Dr. Newmark’s book to share with parents.

INFANT ACTIVITY

Touchy Feely

Babies learn about objects in their world by touching them, feeling them, and doing things with them.  Babies need to interact with things in their world to understand them.  Put a cup, spoon and a rattle on the table.  Sit with your baby in your lap and pick up the cup and pretend to drink from it and say something like “Oh this is so good.”  Now offer the cup to your baby and encourage her to pretend to drink from it.  Continue this game with the spoon and rattle and any other items you choose.

TODDLER ACTIVITY

I Can Do It!

Create a book of actions that your child can do or can strive to do. For example, riding in a car, playing with toys, brushing teeth, holding a spoon to eat or a cup to drink, reading a book, taking a bath, etc.   Cut out magazine pictures of young children involved in typical activities and glue onto cardboard.  Punch holes in the pages and fasten together with yarn to make a book. Read the book with your child pointing out all the things he can do.

PRESCHOOL ACTIVITY

Self Portrait

Provide paper, crayons, markers, pictures and books of different careers.  Encourage your child to create a self-portrait of what she would like to be when she grows up.  You will need a mirror for your child to see her own features.  Keep this in the baby book to refer to many years later.

SCHOOL-AGE ACTIVITY

Mealtime Meeting

Mealtime can be an important family time to reconnect after being away from each other during the day.  Your child can learn about what you did all day and share important events in his life too.  Make sure there are no distractions.  Ask open ended questions like “What was your favorite part of the day or activity you participated in?”  If you ask if your child had a good day you might get a one word answer like yes or no. According to research, children who eat evening meals with their family are more likely to do well in school.

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FIVE CRITICAL EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN

The five critical emotional needs outlined below are excerpted from Dr. Newmark’s book How to Raise Emotionally Healthy Children.  For more information about the book and the nonprofit organization The Children’s Project, please visit www.emotionallyhealthychildren.org.

Need to Feel Respected

Children need to feel respected.  For that to happen, they need to be treated in a courteous, thoughtful, attentive and civil manner – as individuals, deserving the same treatment as others.  One of the best ways for children to learn about respect is to feel what it’s like to be treated respectfully and to observe their parents and other adults treating each other the same way.

Need to Feel Important

When a child feels like they have value and power, and are useful, they feel like they are somebody and then they feel important. Let your child make choices and problem solve the things she can.  Ask her opinions, give her status and recognition, and have patience with mistakes when it takes a little longer or is not done as well as you could have done it yourself.  If your child does not feel important then she might develop a sense of value in negative ways to get attention, to feel like she is somebody.

Need to Feel Accepted

Children have a need to fell accepted as individuals in their own right, with their own uniqueness, and not treated as mere reflections of their parents.  They should have the right to their own feelings, opinions, ideas, concerns, wants and needs.  Paying attention and discussing these feelings, even when you do not like or disagree with what you are hearing, strengthens the relationship.

Need to Feel Included

Children need to feel brought in, to be made to feel a part of things, to feel connected to other people, to have a sense of community.  Family activities offer a way to become closer and also to have fun, learn, and contribute to others.

Need to Feel Secure

Security means creating a positive environment where people care for each other and show it; where people express themselves and others listen; where differences are accepted and conflicts are resolved constructively; where enough structure exists for children to feel safe and protected; and where children have opportunities to actively participate in their own evolution and that of the family (e.g., planning, decision-making, problem-solving and family activities).
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Pete’s Column

Dear Crème de la Crème  Families:

As the New Year begins, I feel it is good time to reflect and review Crème de la Crème ’s commitment to early childhood education.  We understand that the most important years of your child’s development is during their time with us.  We take our role of preparing your child for school and beyond very seriously.

Our curriculum supports the needs of the total child and his or her physical, intellectual, communication, social and emotional development.   We focus on self-confidence and problem solving as well as values, virtues, manners and etiquette.

To expand upon the focus of social/emotional development that we introduced last fall with the new PATHS (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies) program, Crème de la Crème  has been offering parenting seminars in our markets nationwide. So far over 200 parents have attended the seminars and received the book How to Raise Emotionally Healthy Children by Dr. Gerald Newmark.  The participants were presented with information regarding the five critical emotional needs that all children (and adults) have and participated in exercises addressing these needs.  One parent said “This is information that everyone should know and use on a daily basis not only with their children but in all other relationships including family and work colleagues.”

We know you are your child’s first teacher and we want to continue to provide the best of the best curriculum for your child and resources for you. We look forward to partnering with you in your child’s growth and development in the New Year.

Ask the Expert

How do I know whether my child has high or low self-esteem?

Dear Parent,

Self-esteem is how you think and feel about yourself.  As children grow and develop, they form opinions about themselves through the words and actions of other people.  Children with high self-esteem feel good about themselves, helping them keep a positive attitude toward different circumstances.  Low self-esteem can cause a child to feel insecure, fearful, and anxious.  As a parent or caretaker, you play an important role in helping your child develop the self-confidence needed to succeed in many aspects of his life.

A child showing signs of low self-esteem will avoid new and unfamiliar experiences and situations; blame others for their own mistakes; is easily influenced or frustrated; puts down his own abilities; and is defensive and easily hurt by criticism.

On the other hand, a child with high self-esteem will approach new situations and challenges eagerly; is proud of achievements and is confident about appearance.  In addition, this child learns from his own mistakes and accepts helpful criticism.

You can help your child build a strong sense of confidence by helping him recognize and appreciate his uniqueness, acknowledging and encouraging his efforts, allowing him to make decisions and act independently even if he makes mistakes and by using positive and encouraging language.  Of course, being a model of self-confidence through your own words, actions, and attitude will go a long way as well.

By providing a loving and caring environment, parents and caregivers can positively shape a child’s self-image.

Please feel free to visit Crème de la Crème Pre School at CremeDeLaCreme.com or call 800 374 5715 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.