Big Book of Schools, Winter 2024 by Day Communications/DayCom Media

BIG BOOK OF SCHOOLS WINTER 2024

SPARK A LOVE FOR LEARNING IN YOUR CHILD

FUN WAYS TO

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ENJOY THAT PRE-K PREP

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

HELP FOR HANDLING ACADEMIC PRESSURE

ARTS, CAMPS, ENRICHMENT, STEM & UNIQUE PROGRAMS

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Winter 2024 1

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BIG BOOK OF SCHOOLS

INSIDE: 6

Here's How to Make PreK Prep Fun

Spark A Love for Learning in Your Child

How to Respond to Academic Pressures

Beyond the Classroom: Programs & Activities

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Winter 2024 3

2024 WINTER EDITION

You're the Key to Their Approach

ids are sponges from the moment they are born. As they grow everything becomes a curiosity because it is. And you are front and center there for all of that early learning. And so since PreK is more rigorous than ever, life at home needs to become one big learning experience. Sparking a love of learning in your child is all about knowing what your child is doing academically at school so you can enforce it positively at home. And then what do you do with a kid who's buckling under academic pressure? We explore all of these points in this issue and also give you access to some of the businesses and services in our area to take your child Beyond the Classroom. Happy reading! — the editors

BIG BOOK OF SCHOOLS is published by DAYCOM MEDIA, INC. Although every precaution has been taken to ensure accuracy of published material, DAYCOM MEDIA cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. Editorial and business offices are located at 10945 Reed Hartman Hwy., Ste. 323, Cincinnati, OH 45242. The phone number is 513-322-5052. BIG BOOK OF SCHOOLS is copyright 2024 by DAYCOM MEDIA, a member of the Family Magazine Syndicate. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.

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BIG BOOK OF SCHOOLS

by Susan Day

HOMESCHOOLING Your Preschooler

Kids between the of ages 3 and 5 are eager explorers, so you can give them lots of things to do. Homeschooling a preschooler is about learning playfully through everything you do together. With time and patience, you can prepare your child for the rigor of kindergarten. 6 Winter 2024

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ot a preschooler on your hands? Are you feeling the pressure to get her prepared for kindergarten next fall? Relax. Teaching preschool at home can be easy, rewarding and one of the greatest things you can do for your child. But because you truly do want to formalize a plan, let’s think of preschooling your child as homeschooling. Since you’re interested in teaching your preschooler, you’re probably already doing it, but just need a bit more awareness of things like life skills, routines and basic academics. The great news is, there are plenty of ways to integrate these three things into your day with your child, remembering that play, exploration and discovery are the most important lessons for little ones while they are young. According to Caring for Your Baby and Young Child, the essential parenting guide from the American Academy of Pediatrics, “the crucial factor that determines whether a student will do well or poorly in school is not how aggressively he was pushed early on, but rather his own enthusiasm for learning.” So your goal is to spark a love of learning in your child — easy! Let’s focus on 3-year-old kids, because that’s the age that a little one is ready for preschool.

Other life skills you can teach (as a process) to a preschooler include: • Being polite: Saying, “Hello,” “Please,” “Thank you,” “Excuse me.” Practice with examples and make it fun. • Dressing and Undressing: Young kids require some help getting in and out of clothes for a while, but teaching them how from an early age gets them on the right path for wearing clothes neatly and learning to match. • Tying shoelaces: This is tricky for little ones, so make it a fun activity. Watch a video on the Bunny Ear Method on YouTube to get started. • Brushing hair: Let your preschooler try combing her hair first and then you can fix it if you aren’t satisfied with the results.

rituals, and rituals build closeness. If your child knows that after brushing his teeth you will meet him at his bed for story time, that makes brushing his teeth easier to do. Remember also that routines require consistency, and consistency helps children feel secure and aware of what’s happening around them.

Academics

Preschoolers learn by doing. Once they get into more formalized education (in kindergarten), you will be able to identify your child’s learning style and be able to tell how your child learns best. But the main thing is, play is their job and education during the preschool years. That said, here are the things your future kindergarten teacher will want your child to know once he lands in her classroom:

PREK TO-DO

Your job as a parent is to look at EVERYTHING as an opportunity for teaching and learning.

Life Skills

Little ones depend upon you a lot for their daily upkeep, but at age 3 you can start working with them on things they can do for themselves. Your job is to look at EVERYTHING as an opportunity for teaching and learning. You can encourage independence in your child by teaching a process then guiding them through it. For instance: Hand-washing: You can’t just say, “Go wash your hands,” you have to teach each step: 1) turn on water 2) take one pump of soap 3) rub hands together on both sides 4) rinse soap off hands 5) turn water off 6) use a towel or paper towel to dry hands 7) return towel or throw away paper one

• name the letters of the alphabet • sit and listen to a book • retell events from a favorite story • draw and write shapes and letters • write his first name • label drawings • tell a story through drawing and/or writing

• Self-control: Beginning at age 3, little ones can begin learning self-control through game play. Use these games: “Red Light, Green Light;” “Freeze Dance;” “Simon Says;” “Ring Around the Rosie;” “Mother, May I?” and others. • Putting things away: Encourage your child to put things back where they belong so he can learn order. Picking up after yourself is important when living with others. You can use baskets in your child’s room to help make the learning easier.

Routines

Teaching a little one that there is a time and place for everything is a big lesson. In raising a learner, preschoolers can know that they eat breakfast then do a few morning chores. After that, you can have some loosely structured play and learning times with a plan for rest or nap as well. Routines aren’t meant to be unpleasant; routines are meant to provide what we can look forward to, so routines lead to

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• sort objects • make simple patterns • name shapes • identify numerals 1 - 10 • count to 20 • speak clearly and in complete sentences • take turns talking • listen to and follow instructions • identify emotions and feelings • engage in activities for 15 minutes or more • follow rules • play well with others • hold pencils, crayons, and scissors properly Susan Day is editor of this magazine and a mom of four.

Winter 2024 7

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Winter 2024 9

BIG BOOK OF SCHOOLS

by Janie Snyderman

SPARK! A Love for Learning in Your Child

You can instill an inquisitiveness and a passion for knowledge in your child by leading the way with curiosity.

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uriosity may have killed the cat, but it probably fired that little feline up first! And in there lies an important parenting dichotomy: curiosity may be what’s most important to inspire a love of learning in your kids, but safety boundaries matter, too. Once safety parameters are in place, spark your child’s curiosity to help him want to know more about practically anything. Successful students often show a rich depth of intellectual curiosity. Everyone is born with natural curiosity, but parents and teachers can strengthen it or squelch it in kids. Aim to build it up in your child, says author Paul Tough in his bestselling book, How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity and the Hidden Power of Character (Mariner Books; 2013). “What matters most in a child’s development is not how much information we can stuff into his brain in the first few years,” Tough says. “What matters, instead, is whether we are able to help him develop a very different set of qualities, a list that includes persistence, self-control, curiosity, conscientiousness, grit and self-confidence,” he adds. But where to begin? Four reasons curiosity is so important: It makes a kid’s mind active instead of passive Curious kids ask questions and search for answers. Their minds are always active. Since the mind is like a muscle which becomes stronger through continual exercise, the mental exercise caused by curiosity makes the mind stronger and stronger. It makes the mind observant of new ideas When kids are curious about something, their mind expects and anticipates new ideas related to the subject. When the ideas come, they recognize them. Without curiosity, the ideas may pass right past them. It opens up new worlds and possibilities By being curious, your child will be able to see new worlds and possibilities that are normally not visible. Possibilities that are hidden behind the surface of normal life; it takes a curious mind to look beneath the surface to discover more. It brings excitement into life The lives of the curious are never dull since there are always new things that attract attention and new toys to play with. Instead of being bored by life, life becomes an adventure. To be intellectually curious and interested in exploring the unknown is something that you can help to develop in your kids. It’s what drives children’s learning, Tough says. In fact, new research shows that the more

curious children are, the better they do academically in reading and math once they enter school, hence the more they like to learn. Curiosity is characterized by the joy of discovery, and the motivation to seek answers to what is unknown. Jean Piaget (1896 – 1980), the Swiss psychologist who first studied understanding in children, recognized the importance of curiosity as a foundation for early learning, referring to children as “little scientists.” Today’s pediatric guidelines highlight the importance of promoting curiosity during early learning with your children, so there’s a lot that you can do to nurture their desire to explore and learn.

How to Spark Your Child’s Curiosity: Practice the 5 W’s of wondering Look for opportunities to ask questions and wonder out loud together. Practice with the who, what, when, where, why. Point out changes Noticing changes in the world can spark a child’s desire to “figure out” how things work. Do you see how the toast looks different than the bread? What do you see that’s different? Why is that? Allow kids to try … and fail Rather than stepping in with the answer, ask a question. For instance, the block tower keeps falling down. Ask your toddler, “Why do you think that happens?” “What can we do to make it taller?” As the parent, you know that putting the giant rectangle block on top of the tower means it will come crashing down, but your toddler doesn’t. Letting your child experiment in this way nurtures his curiosity and helps him cultivate his “inner scientist.” Ask your kids what they want to know For example, after watching a squirrel running up and down trees in your yard or at the park, ask your child, “Where do you think he is going?,” “I wonder what is he doing?,” and “What would you like to know about squirrels?” And while younger kids may not have many questions to ask, as they grow, doing this exercise is a great way to help spark their curiosity. You guide the growth by modeling your own curiosity first. Follow your child’s lead Every kid is different, and the things that ignite curiosity in one child are different for another, Tough says. Observe what captivates your child’s interest, then find ways to connect with them. Plant seeds together to discover where flowers come from; collect fall leaves to discover how trees change

Big Book of Schools

during the fall; fill glasses with different amounts of water and wonder with your child why they sound different when you tap the glass. Learn to be this way about the world around you and your child will follow suit. Back-and-forth conversation Engage in activities that promote back-andforth conversation between you and your kids. By doing this, you’ll get a front row seat to what your child is curious about. Next, deepen the exploration of their interests by exploring books, visiting museums, finding relevant events and expanding their view of the world. You’re the most important ingredient The best thing you can do to nurture curiosity in your kids is to model it yourself. Show your child how you explore, discover and learn. Model for your kids how to find an answer when you are unsure or don’t know something. Use a wide variety of tools including the Internet, the library, documentaries and more. Emerging Research Current research says that you can create situations that prompt and guide your child’s curiosities. Harvard University cognitive scientist and researcher, Elizabeth Bonawitz, says curiosity is a sensation much like hunger or thirst. “It’s a physiological response that helps drive action and decision-making to support learning,” Bonawitz says. She encourages parents to literally focus on creating moments that generate a curious response. Highlight ambiguity Children as young as 4 years old can recognize conflicting pieces of evidence and perceive a mismatch between a prediction and an actual occurrence. When this difference is noticed, it sparks curiosity. Help your kids recognize gaps in their current knowledge. Bonawitz (and other researchers) say that when children feel their understanding is insufficient, they will seek more information. Curiosity gives them the confidence to proceed. Get children to predict outcomes through questions that point to a specific phenomenon. With questioning, children can actively engage their prior beliefs, see a mismatch and understand according to what they learn. The next time your kid launches a volley of questions, embrace it and encourage it. You’ll be supporting their mental development and, perhaps, even egging on the next Einstein. Janie Snyderman is a mom and freelance writer.

Winter 2024 11

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Winter 2024 13

BIG BOOK OF SCHOOLS

by Janie Snyderman

when the going gets

TOUGH

All of the focus on learning loss has caused an acceleration with academics again. Here's how to find the balance.

the pandemic was good for anything, it’s that we stopped putting academic pressure on our kids. But now, with the continued emphasis on learning loss and the heavy push to get kids reading, the pressure’s back. Maybe it's not coming from parents so much, but it is from academia. Kids may not be as over-scheduled as they were pre-pandemic, but you’d better believe they’re feeling like they have to work — and hard. But let’s not forget that kids put enough pressure on themselves in the classroom (not to mention their social lives). Either a student

14 Winter 2024

understands lessons or they don’t. Many kids will raise their hand even when they don’t have an answer just hoping the teacher will think they DO understand, but not pick on them. It’s a risk that some are willing to take. The pressure to do well in school is on all kids. The ones who are struggling with academics are also struggling in their heads. The smartest kids are always angling to stay ahead. And everybody wants to matter. We are similar in many ways in that we’re easily hurt, easily discouraged, easily torn apart, especially when we’re young. Childhood is fleeting, and none of us get to have a say in the ups and downs that come our way in life.

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So perhaps it’s good to gain a little perspective. Are academics as important as we make them?

When Parents Pressure

Doctor, lawyer, indian chief. Remember? We all hope for outstanding futures for our kids then ever so slowly their unique gifts reveal themselves. Some kids are average, some kids are intellectually gifted. No matter, they all have a chance at happiness in life, yes? But if parents or teachers place too-high expectations on their kids’ endeavors, they can usher in anxiety without even realizing it. Pushing your kids to succeed may seem like a good

idea, but it can also have a profound effect on a young mind. Parents who overdo academic pressure over do other forms of pressure too, staying on top of their kids no matter what, in the name of success. “There’s a constant monitoring of where the kid is and what they are doing, all with the intent of preventing something happening and becoming a barrier to the child’s success,” says Laura Hamilton, author of Parenting to a Degree: How Family Matters for College and Beyond (University of Chicago Press; 2016). And many parents with high expectations feel that “raising the bar” for their kids is the right way to go. It’s true if it’s realistic for your child. The problem comes in when the bar is set unrealistically high.

Putting Pressure on Yourself

Parents are often so relieved when they have a kid who’s happy to do homework, study for tests, hit the books. It’s wonderful when a kid is concerned about his grades, but some kids can take it so far they get headaches, stomach pains, anxiety attacks and even depression. According to a report by the Child Mind Institute, an independent nonprofit dedicated to changing the lives of kids with mental health issues, one in three teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 experience anxiety disorders related to the culture of their lives. Bestselling author Madeline Levine (Ready or Not: Preparing Our Kids to Thrive in an Uncertain and Rapidly Changing World, Harper; 2020), says added pressures have come to kids from social media and technology where everyone’s “incredible” lives are on full display. Levine refers to a “compulsive comparison,” where kids on social media or in the classroom are subject to comparing their successes to their peers. Then, along with comparing themselves, plenty of kids deal with sleep depravation, sports or other activities in addition to schoolwork — and a feeling of not being heard by their parents. “I’ve been a psychologist for 35 years,” Levine says. “No child has ever come into my office and said, ‘You know, my parents just listen too much.'” When kids measure themselves against unrealistically high standards, happiness takes a hit and and so does good mental health. You can let out some of the “steam” your child may be feeling by monitoring from the sidelines and creating an open dialogue. The worst thing you can do is to be silent.

HOW TO HELP YOUR KIDS • Beating themselves up over mistakes Remind your child that no one is perfect and that even the brightest, smartest kids make mistakes, Levine says. See if you can get your kid to understand the idea of self compassion and of being kind to yourself. Studies show that kids who are gentle to themselves cut themselves a little slack when they mess up, but also know how to confront their problem head on with determination to try again. • Thinking everyone else is so perfect The facade that everyone else has a perfect life is overwhelming, even to adults. In fact, a four-year-old Status of Mind study from the Royal Society for Public Health in the U.K. showed that Instagram — while beneficial for self-expression — is the most detrimental social networking app for young people’s mental

The truth is, kids need to hear that there is no such thing as failure

Teach your kids that not everything is instant and that the value of waiting and reflecting and understanding what happened is important. By keeping the inward pressure they feel in perspective they can learn to work through it.

The Happy Middle In wanting your kids to do well in school and in life, it’s pretty important not to be over the top about anything your child is attempting to achieve. “Once we take out the insane amount of pressure our children are facing, we can allow them to enjoy their childhood in a healthy and wholesome manner,” says Shefali Tsabary, a clinical psychologist and author of The Conscious Parent (Namaste; 2012). Tsabary says it’s the parents who need to back off of the kids because everything goes back to the parent. “By turning inward and checking on your own emotional temperature before unleashing expectations on your children, parents naturally begin to connect more and more with their children in an atmosphere of unconditional support and care,” she says. One great way to move forward is to recognize the difference between support and pressure. Pressure becomes a problem when it is relentless, says Tsabary, and when it is pushing toward achievement. Support means to recognize your child for who he is and to accept him. “Parents can be overinvolved in the wrong things and under-involved in the right things,” says Levine. So when you push your child to achieve, you may be cutting your child off from something he loves more and on his own terms. If you can spend time together just being together and without discussing grades or performance of anything they do at all, your child will understand that you love them for who they are, not what they can or cannot do. Think back: Isn’t that what you wanted from your parents, too? “Kids want to please their parents,” says Eileen Kennedy-Moore, co-author of Smart Parenting for Smart Kids (Jossey-Bass; 2011). “That sense of connection is powerfully motivating.” she continues. Praise your kids when you mean it, but be careful about how you praise; focus on effort and growth more than outcome. “Also, when they hit the home run or land the lead in the school play, or ace a test, be careful that your pleasure doesn’t swamp theirs,” Kennedy-Moore says. “We want the excitement to be theirs, so it isn’t all about us.”

and that life is a journey we all must step our way through, work at, and learn from. health followed by Snapchat. Teach your kids to push through the haze of photoshopped perfectionism and to see what really matters in life. Individualism is your child’s gift, no one else’s, and that’s what matters most. • Viewing setbacks as failures When you’re a 16-year-old kid standing around on the sidelines and never getting any playing time on the football team, you can start to think you’re probably no good at football. Same thing goes in the classroom if you keep getting “Ds” in science. The truth is, kids need to hear that there is no such thing as failure and that life is a journey we all must step our way through, work at, and learn from. For anything we do, we need resiliency to face life, good or bad. • Expecting quick results Again, because of technology advances, kids are into immediate gratification. They can know their grades instantly (so can parents), so if a grade isn’t what a kid hoped it would be — or needed it to be — he can have a mental decline all in the course of a quick moment.

Big Book of Schools

Janie Snyderman is a mom and freelance writer.

Winter 2024 15

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