DDC_Parent Source_Spring 2023

Parent Source

5 TIPS FOR PARENTS

Encourage a lasting love of reading

NEW SURVEY

Teaching practical life skills is essential in the classroom

ABCs OF FIRE SAFETY

Fire extinguishers can give you peace of mind

Serving DeKalb County Spring Resource Guide For Parents

5 tips

for parents to encourage a lasting love of reading

Reading opens the door to a lifelong love of learning, imagination and adventure. When parents instill a love of reading in their children from an early age, it increases their oral language skills and vocabulary knowledge, which helps to build a solid foundation for later reading ability.

According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress’ recent 2022 Nation’s Report Card, reading scores for students across the country are down following years of disrupted learning during the pandemic. Research indicates early literacy skills in the critical years from birth to age five are predictive of a child’s literacy skills through fifth grade and beyond.

Focusing on literacy during early childhood can help provide children with the skills needed to be a successful reader throughout their life. In addition, focusing on key early literacy skills during the preschool years can help parents and teachers identify potential indicators of learning challenges so early intervention can be provided. Beyond developing early language and literacy skills, reading may also increase a child’s ability to understand the emotions of others - a critical life skill that leads to empathy and compassion.

Dr. Maria Shaheen, senior director of early childhood education at Primrose Schools®, The Leader in Early Education and Care®, provides five tips to help parents encourage a lasting love of reading in their children during National Reading Month and all year long:

1 Introduce language as early as possible - even before birth. Oral language is the foundation of all other early literacy skills and helps build a child’s vocabulary. Speaking and reading to your baby during pregnancy establishes voice recognition and promotes cognitive development. The more words parents introduce their child to, the better. Parents should talk about the meanings of words and use them in everyday conversation to ensure children understand them.

2 Make reading a regular part of bedtime routine. Reading books should be a favorite bedtime activity. With daily “tuck-in” stories and snuggling together at bedtime, infants and young children begin to associate reading with comfort, warmth and security. During the first year of life, sturdy board books with bright illustrations are easiest to handle and invite participation. Books with familiar subjects, such as babies and animals, resonate since babies respond to faces and eyes before other stimuli.

3 Offer a wide variety of stories. This can include nursery rhymes, poetry, nonfiction and fiction from many genres, as well as books that celebrate a wide range of cultures and diverse characters. Parents can ask lots of questions, act silly and try out different character voices to make reading dramatic and engaging. Vivid illustrations, along with rhyming and repetitive text, will encourage lively dialogue.

4 Help children discover the magic of books for themselves. Books can help young children understand their

own feelings when characters face similar life events, so parents should pick topics their children may be curious about. In the first five years of life, children form their self-identity, which makes it important that they see themselves reflected in the world around them, including the books at home and in their classrooms. One example found in Primrose classrooms is, “I’m Like You, You’re Like Me: A Book About Understanding and Appreciating Each Other” by Cindy Gainer.

5 Make reading a fun learning experience. Parents can reinforce stories through related activities. Preschool children can create books with their own stories about things they do with their families. Parents can encourage their children to write a card to a family member or special friend and have them read it aloud. Many children memorize their favorite texts and pretend to read, which is a wonderful sign that they are identifying their favorite books and building confidence. Parents can also play silly word games that help children play with sounds, such as rhyming games or tongue twisters.

“Reading now pays dividends later. Starting a reading routine throughout daily life models for children the importance of reading as a way to gain information and valuable life skills, complete everyday activities, explore new worlds, encourage imagination and have fun,” Dr. Shaheen says.

To learn more about how parents can nurture a love of reading for their children, visit PrimroseSchools.com.

With warmer weather just around the corner, it’s the perfect time for you and your family to spring into action and really hone in on overall nutrition and wellness. Not sure where to start?

Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner shares easy ways to elevate your family’s goals! From fun physical activities you can do together, to healthy habits you can implement today, you won’t believe how these simple tips will impact positive change in your family!

1. Make the most of longer days and get active

As spring extends daylight hours, it’s easier for families to get outside and get moving, which allows you to enjoy even more quality time together! Blatner suggests adding a family bike ride, a neighborhood walk or an outdoor game to your after-dinner routine to promote physical activity. Need new ideas to encourage outdoor play with youngsters? Try creating a backyard obstacle course, relay race or nature scavenger hunt.

Oatmeal Snack Bars

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 25 minutes

Yield: 16 bars

INGREDIENTS

* 2 Large Eggland’s Best eggs

* 1 mashed ripe banana (about 1/2 cup)

* 1/4 cup maple syrup

* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

* 2 cups rolled oats

to boost your family’s nutrition and fitness this spring

Prep for better sleep with pre-bedtime habits

2.

Springtime, especially with Daylight Saving Time, can wreak havoc on your regular sleep schedule. If you plan ahead, however, good nighttime habits can improve relaxation, so the whole family can get a better night’s sleep.

You can encourage prep for rest by shutting down electronics an hour before bedtime and keeping phones and other devices out of kids’ bedrooms. This can help everyone to wind down and fall asleep faster at night, while lessening screen time.

3. Spring clean and organize your kitchen

The spring is a great time of year to de-clutter and sanitize your household, as a thorough cleaning can help reduce the levels of allergens, bacteria and viruses that could be present in your home. Blatner recommends starting with the most frequently used rooms first, like the kitchen. By cleaning out and reorganizing your fridge

and pantry, you can choose to put wholesome ingredients like fresh fruits and veggies, nuts, beans, oats, avocado and eggs at eye level. When meal-prepping for the school week ahead, you’ll tend to grab these foods more often and guarantee your kids will be getting in their nutrition.

4. Amp up your family’s nutrition with fun recipes

Make it a family goal to try a new recipe each week, with a focus on incorporating nutrient-packed ingredients. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack time, make sure you’re choosing wholesome ingredients like Eggland’s Best eggs, which have more than six times the Vitamin D and double the Omega-3s and Vitamin B12 compared to ordinary eggs.

Check out these Oatmeal Snack Bars from Eggland’s Best! It’s a delicious and easy recipe that provides a quick boost of energy in the mornings, or can be eaten on the go to support your family’s overall wellness and nutrition.

* 1/2 cup almond flour (or whole wheat flour)

* 1/4 cup mini dark chocolate chips

* 1 teaspoon baking powder

* 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

* 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

PREPARATION

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. In bowl, whisk Eggland’s Best eggs, mashed banana, maple syrup and vanilla.

3. In another bowl, mix together oats, flour, chocolate chips, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.

4. Add egg mixture (wet ingredients) to the oat mixture (dry ingredients) and stir.

5. Spread batter into an 8x8 baking pan lined with parchment paper.

6. Bake for about 25 minutes, or until set in middle and golden around edges.

7. Let cool and cut into 16 squares.

New survey shows teaching practical life skills is essential in the classroom

Reading, writing, science and math are subjects that have been associated with classroom instruction since school was established. And all are relevant, important subjects to master in order to succeed in society. But according to a new survey of 2,000 parent respondents conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care, these subjects are not the only skills parents are looking to have their children learn in early childhood education.

An astounding 81% of parent respondents believe educators should spend time teaching things outside academics like soft skills and current events, with 60% wanting current events instruction to focus on cultural happenings like festivals and heritage celebrations.

This survey makes it clear that parents of today are focused on developing their children into well-rounded members of society beyond just traditional school subjects.

Sixty-two percent of parents in the survey responded that they prioritize their children learning soft skills like

communication, critical thinking and problem solving before they’re 8 years old, with 40% of parents saying that practical life skills are the most important thing for their children to learn at a young age. The majority of parent respondents said that core curriculum classes should not begin until the first grade.

“Parents who place their children in a preschool environment that focuses on character development give children a strong start,” said Joy Turner, vice president of education for the Kiddie Academy brand. “Learning the ability to care about others, to communicate, and to understand how character affects the communities and world in which we live is important to early childhood education development.”

The majority of parents who took the survey think that social and emotional development are absolutely necessary to learn at their child’s school, with honesty ranked as the most important character trait to learn in

early childhood. Therefore, parents are leaning on child care providers to bridge the gap between what parents are teaching at home and what children are learning in the classroom.

So how can parents find child care that aligns with these priorities? By asking thorough questions when touring a facility, researching social media and websites affiliated with their early childhood education options and paying close attention to the interactions they have with a provider during a tour or interview.

“Parents have many choices to make when it comes to sending their children to an early learning program,” said Turner. “Making sure you’re on the same page with the facility where your children spend so much time is key to developing them into the people we hope they become.”

The ABCs safety of

You have smoke alarms in your home, you check them regularly and you practice your emergency escape plan with your family - but are you overlooking an essential component of home fire safety? Having fire extinguishers can give you peace of mind and help ensure your home and family are prepared in the event of a fire.

“We all lead busy lives, but it’s essential that people understand how to protect themselves from the dangers of fire,” explained actress and advocate Eva Longoria, who has teamed up with First Alert by Resideo as a brand ambassador to encourage families to install proper protection.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking is the leading cause of home fires and fire injuries. Having fire extinguishers in the kitchen is an important first line of defense.

First Alert and Longoria offer these tips you can keep in mind both in and out of the kitchen as you tackle your spring to-do list:

Learn your ABCs - Fire extinguishers have specific ratings that indicate what kind of fire(s) they are designed to extinguish. Extinguishers with a Class A rating can put out fires caused by wood, paper, fabric and other common materials, while Class B rated extinguishers are intended for fires fueled by flammable liquids like cooking oils or gasoline. Class C rated extinguishers are

meant for fires caused by electrical equipment, such as frayed cords. For trusted reliable protection, it’s recommended to choose a multi-purpose, or ABC rated, extinguisher, such as the First Alert Rechargeable Home Fire Extinguisher.

Equip your home - Experts recommend placing fire extinguishers in readily accessible locations in the kitchen and garage, and on every level of the home. Place extinguishers where each adult member of the household can easily reach them, like under a kitchen sink or mounted to a wall, and ensure members of the household know these locations.

Know how to use it - Once your home is equipped, it’s important to know how to use a fire extinguisher so you can act quickly should a fire start.

Every First Alert fire extinguisher includes instructions on proper usage - but when you need to act quickly, a simple way to remember is with the acronym PASS:

* Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you and release the locking mechanism.

* Aim low. Point the nozzle of the extinguisher at the base of the fire.

* Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.

* Sweep the nozzle from side to side.

Assess the fire - Fire extinguishers should only be used when a fire is contained. If the fire is small enough for you to manage, use the PASS technique to put the fire out. However, if smoke fills the room or the fire is quickly spreading, exit your home immediately and call 911. Inspect extinguishers regularly - Be sure they are not blocked by anything that could impact your access, and ensure the devices are not damaged, dented or rusted. Check your extinguisher’s pressure gauge. If the pointer is in the green zone, your extinguisher is properly pressurized and ready for use. If the pointer is in the red zone, your fire extinguisher should be serviced or replaced.

To learn more about fire safety, visit FirstAlert.com.

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