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How to Help Your Shy Child Make New Friends

If you are the parent of a shy or introverted child you may worry that your child may never make friends or relax in social situations. While you can’t make a child not be shy, you can help that child feel more comfortable interacting with other people, including their peers.

Will Your Shy Child Make FriendsAn article from PBS Parents, Helping Your Child Make New Friends, offers some advice on how to help a shy child who struggles with making friends come out of his or her shell. Here are some of the tips contained in the article:

    1. Talk about or brainstorm qualities that make a good friend
    1. Help your child understand how to start and maintain conversations
  1. Organize activities with other children

According to the article, it is also important not to put too much pressure on your child, realizing that some children are simply more outgoing than others. Friendship skills evolve even into adulthood so patience is key.

Premier Academy offers affordable childcare in the Omaha/Elkhorn area. To learn more, visit us at premieracademyinc.com.

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How to Help Your Preschooler Make Friends

Does your child seem to have trouble making friends? While it is true that shy or introverted preschoolers can have a tougher time making friends, that doesn’t mean that they will be friendless. Some children simply take more time to warm up in social situations but can still master the art of making friends!

Kids Who Need a Little Help to Make Friends

While you can’t make friends for your child, you can help them develop and practice key social skills. Skills that they will use and refine their entire lives.

How to Help Your Kids Make Friends

Helping your child navigate the mean streets of social interaction can be nerve-wracking. Unfortunately, the anxiety surrounding this issue can kick in sooner than you think.

Girl Friends

How Kids Make and Keep Friends

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that making friends is one of the most important missions of childhood and a social skill that will endure throughout their lives. Some children, however, struggle with this skill and, unfortunately, have trouble making and keeping friends.

If you would like to see the kind of place where your Preschooler can make new friends and learn and grow, schedule a tour at one of the Premier Academy Child Enrichment Centers today.

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Will Your Shy Child Make Friends?

It is a commonly held belief that children need to form social skills before they can develop friendships. Child development experts tell us that the opposite is actually true.

Friendships begin to develop around 18 months, when toddlers are discovering their own sense of self. As a result, when a child finds another child who seems to be interested in the same things, a special bond can emerge. Of course, such bonds can be short-lived because of the limits of empathy, for example, but they form the basis for friend-making skills.

If you are the parent of a shy or introverted child you may worry that your son or daughter may not be able to make friends since he or she is uncomfortable in social situations. It is important to realize that there is nothing wrong with shy children, they simply have a different temperament. While you can’t make a child not be shy, you can help that child feel more comfortable interacting with other people, including their peers.

It is natural that you want your child to be confident and immediately at ease but some children take more time to warm up in social situations, making establishing friendships more difficult. The key is to work with your child’s natural temperament instead of against it.

What follows are some ways to make sure that you are doing all you can to make your toddler or preschooler comfortable in social situations without causing unnecessary distress.

  1. Give it time. Don’t throw your toddler into situations before they are ready. For example, visit a new childcare center with your child and stay there with them before they go solo.
  2. Praise them. If you notice your child talking to another child or exploring their surroundings, let them know you are proud of them.
  3. Model friendly behavior. Say hello to people you meet and be friendly. Remember, children are always watching how you react in situations and will model your behavior.
  4. Don’t make it a big deal. If your child is upset and clings to you, being overly comforting can send the message that they are correct in being afraid. Instead, no matter how much you are struggling inside, let your child know that you are confident things will be just fine.
  5. Avoid labels. If your child is resisting talking to others, avoid telling people he or she is shy in front of your child. Instead say that your child needs a little time to warm up. Your child will appreciate knowing that you are their advocate.
  6. Avoid comparisons. Every child is different. Comments like, “Why can’t you be more like your sister?” will cause more harm than good. Instead, focus on helping your child become the best version of his or herself.

In the end, don’t project your own social expectations on your children. Some children prefer independent play while others want to be in the middle of large groups. If your child, no matter what their age, is happy with the status of their friendships, you should be, too.

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Keeping Your Child Safe from the Summer Heat

Keeping Your Child Safe from the Summer HeatSome of the best memories your child will make are running around, playing outdoors at Preschool, and being active in the amazing summer weather. However, all this running and physical activity in the heat of the day can put children, and adults, at risk for heat stroke, dehydration, harsh sunburns and other related types of complications.

Heat stroke can be very dangerous and not always obvious if you don’t know the signs and symptoms to look out for. The good news is that parents and childcare providers can teach their children to recognize when they are getting too warm and take the right steps to cool off before it gets to that point.

These symptoms may indicate that your child is showing signs of heat stroke:

  • Weakness and fatigue
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness and headache
  • Muscle cramps

If the child is not adequately cooled off at this point, the symptoms may progress to full heat stroke and include elevated body temperature, hot dry skin, lack of sweat production, rapid pulse, difficulty in breathing and agitation and confusion.

To help you child avoid heat exhaustion or the more serious heat stroke teach them to:

  • Always ensure that your child brings water with them outside and that they hydrate regularly throughout the day. At Premier Academy, each child has a water bottle that they have constant access to throughout the day. Children should be limited to water or sports drinks. Avoid soda, energy drink or anything containing caffeine.
  • Wearing a hat helps keep direct sun off of your child’s head and wearing lighter colored, loose fitting clothing allows perspiration to evaporate and cool the body.
  • Apply sunscreen. Use sunscreen with at least SPF 15 and UVA and UVB protection every time your child goes outside. For the best protection, apply sunscreen generously 30 minutes before going outdoors. Don’t forget to protect ears, noses, lips, and the tops of feet.
  • Limit activity during the hottest parts of the day or when humidity is especially high.
  • If possible, encourage your children to find games that can be played in the shady areas of the yard or playground during those hours
  • Teach your child to recognize when they are feeling too warm and to immediately notify you or their daycare

Last, and most important, never leave a child in a car unattended or leave a vehicle unlocked if there is a chance a child can climb into the vehicle and get stuck inside. The greatest cause of injury and death due to heat stroke is related to children being left in vehicles, often for as little as five minutes, resulting in tragedy that could have easily been prevented.
For any other tips or advice on keeping your child cool in the summer months, ask our amazing teachers and staff at Premier Academy. We are committed to providing you with quality childcare that ensures your child’s safety and growth.  Visit our website at premieracademyinc.com for more parenting blogs, tips, and tricks!

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Finding a Work/Family Balance

Finding a Work/Family BalanceOne of the most stressful parts of being a working parent is having a healthy work/family balance. It’s hard for a busy parent not to wonder if they truly are making enough time to spend with family. A quality childcare center will acknowledge that being away from your child is extremely difficult but that doesn’t mean you are a bad parent.

Your childcare teacher can be a big help as a constant support in your child’s growth and development while you are at work. But there is no one-size-fits-all solution to parenting, and there are many paths to feeling successful as moms and dads.

That being said, the internet can fill your head with many different versions of the “correct” way to parent and trying to force your family into someone else’s parenting mold can leave you feeling like a failure. Parenting is extremely personal, and a plan that works beautifully for your neighbor or colleague might leave you feeling sad, depressed or inadequate.

While there are many ways to be a good parent, it all starts with creating a home/work routine that feels right to you. Here are five things to try to make you feel good about the job you’re doing as a parent:

  1. Focus on Your Role of the Moment – Parenting takes plenty of multitasking as it is, so it helps to just focus on one task at a time. When you need to be focused on work, do so, but when you don’t need to check email or browse your phone, stop and focus on the kids. Undivided attention, even in smaller quantities, feels so much better than giving them half of your attention.
  2. Create Memories through Rituals – A tradition of eating dinner together at night, even if you don’t accomplish this goal every single night, can give you an opportunity to talk, create bonds, and cherish the time you spend together.
  3. Laugh – Break into song or dance, tell jokes, make light of serious situations, and soon everyone feels a little bit better. Even if it doesn’t come naturally to you, it always makes for a mood lightener.
  4. Give Your Kids a Little Space – You want to keep your kids close and safe, but there is something so refreshing about watching them spread their wings. Have your child show you in their own words what they learned at daycare or preschool. Give them a task that they are responsible for completing by themselves. This not only fosters independence in your child, but gives them a feeling of accomplishment
  5.  Show Unconditional Love – Make sure your kids know that you always have their backs. When they’re discussing what’s important to them and they feel supported, they’ll beam from feeling love and there’s no better feeling than that.
    Looking for more parenting tips? Premier Academy is your primary source for all preschool needs in Omaha, Nebraska!

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Raising a Confident Reader

Raising a Confident ReaderAs parents and teachers we recognize the importance that reading skills play in our personal and professional lives. We read on a daily basis, and as a matter of fact you are reading as we speak. Once your child hits the appropriate development level to being reading, putting together a reading plan can make later learning a much easier process.

Children who partake in early literacy activities at home or at daycare, have more confidence than children who are not offered this resource. Premier Academy has the tools and resources to encourage reading, as we feel increased confidence will enable your child to socialize better with adults and other children at your childcare center. Check out these tips that ensure reading will be fun and easy!

We Are Always Reading:

Road signs, billboards, magazines at the doctor’s office, shopping, reading is everywhere. While at the grocery store with your child, read the back of the cereal box, the magazine cover or the sale signs. Ideas live everywhere you and your child go, and actively engaging in conversation about them will expose your child to more information about the world.

Every Day Job

Your child’s ability to sit and listen for extended periods of time as you read, is an indication that your child is ready to start reading themselves! Reading to your child and having your child work on sight words and sounding out letters every day will help them have a longer attention span, better listening skills, and the ability to learn new concepts. These tend be more crucial when they start Kindergarten than being able to memorize the alphabet or count to ten. Don’t get us wrong, those things are important, but being able to pay attention, listen, and grasp new ideas makes what they’ll learn in Kindergarten a whole lot easier to understand.

Use Rich Vocabulary

How you speak at home and how your quality childcare center teachers speak around your children helps foster a healthy vocabulary; which makes reading easier. Using rich language enables children to better express their feelings and experiences. Using words like enormous instead of big or outstanding instead of good, gives your child the vocabulary to express themselves in more specific ways.

Have Your Child Read to You

If you read your child’s favorite book to them time and time again, your child may begin to memorize the words. In order to make sure your child is actually learning the concept of reading and not just memorization, let your child read to you! They may know all of the words as they are in order, but make them pick out letters and sounds; pick out a word at random and have them sound it out. Even if they are not reading everything correctly, this encourages your child to share reading with you and others they may encounter.

Comprehension is Key

As you read with your child, keep them involved by asking specific questions about the story, and let them fill in the blanks. Try talking about the theme of the book, lessons the characters learned, and ask your child their favorite part. This not only ensures that they are reading words correctly, but that they are comprehending what they are reading.

Not Just Books

Reading material comes in many different shapes and sizes, some of which may be more accessible to a new reader. Even things you wouldn’t think of like video games, magazines, and comic books all provide opportunities for reading practice. Other suggestions for adding reading into your home: playing board games, closed caption on your television, and having your child help with grocery lists are just a few great ideas.

Reading isn’t a Chore

Reading should be a choice, not a chore. Make sure there are a variety of books, magazines, and other materials available for your child to choose from. While it’s fine to make suggestions, children should be able to pick out stories on their own. Letting them control certain aspects of reading will help them view reading as fun and not just school work. Keep an eye on the reading level of the books your children choose. Let them stretch to the best of their ability, but be ready to help if they get discouraged.

Premier Academy promises to offer the best childcare to foster a love of reading in all of our kiddos!

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Is Your Child Ready for Preschool?

Is Your Child Ready for Preschool?What is the right age to start your child in preschool in Omaha and Elkhorn, NE?  You may worry about starting him too early when he’s not quite ready to grasp all of the new concepts that are introduced in a more structured, quality childcare setting. Or on the other hand, you worry about starting him to late and not giving him enough time to develop the skills necessary to succeed in Kindergarten.

If this decision proves to be difficult for you, you’re not alone. Parents seem to be strategically planning when to start their child in Preschool more and more these days. Certain childcare centers have cutoff birthdates for enrollment that can cause parents to worry about getting their child in to Preschool early. Other studies show that there are benefits to holding a child back to “buy another year” of maturity. This is so common, in fact, that it’s become popular in many parts of the country to have your child start school as late as possible. With a world full of articles and studies with sometimes conflicting results, how do you know what is best for your child?

The world of daycare and preschool isn’t always immune to trends, and the issue of holding them back intentionally to help them gain a competitive advantage is very trendy right now. But just like any trend, this one isn’t really proven to be as successful as parents may hope. At Premier Academy our preschool team can help you sweep aside the myths about early childhood education, and focus on the most important thing: Your child. The best way to answer the question of when your child should start Preschool is; when they are ready!

Signs That Your Child is Ready for School

Knowing when your child is ready to start school might feel like a daunting task, especially if you are not familiar with what skills and traits will make him successful in that environment. Don’t worry, Premier Academy is determined to provide the best childcare for preparing your child for Kindergarten. Here are some signs that your child is ready for our preschool program in Omaha or Elkhorn.

  • Is he comfortable working on art projects or looking at books on his own for a few minutes at a time? Can he focus on a task for short periods of time?
  • Basic skills.Can she (more or less) take care of washing her hands, eating, and the majority of her potty needs? Does she communicate her needs to you?
  • Has she spent time being watched by grandparents and/or other responsible adults? Is she comfortable being away from parents for a period of time?
  • Does he participate well with other children, not just playing, but in structured settings?
  • Predictability. Does she have a somewhat regularly scheduled day? Like eating, napping, playing at around the same time every day? Does she handle moving on to new activities well?
  • Can she handle the demands of the Preschool you’re considering with the amount of napping and activity she’ll get there?
  • Are the classroom size and the specific teacher a good match for your child?
  • YOUR preference.Would it work best for your family for him to go to preschool?

In the end, there is no perfect formula to decide when your child is ready for school. The best thing to do is assess your child based on the qualities listed above and make a decision that feels right to you and your family.  The staff at Premier Academy is here to offer expert advice about your child’s school readiness or any other area of concern. Come see us today!

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Infant Sign Language

Infant Sign LanguageAre there benefits to teaching your child baby sign language? Although some studies point to increased intellectual development, the primary benefit of using baby sign language is decreased frustration for both you, your daycare provider, and your baby. Babies can use sign language to communicate their wants and needs long before they begin using words. Premier Academy daycare introduces infants to sign language around eight months old.

Children who can express themselves are more likely to feel happier and more confident. Infants who are taught signs have fewer episodes of crying or temper tantrums. Parents also report feeling more confident because they have a better understanding of how to respond to their babies.

Some parents and childcare teachers have expressed concern that teaching infant sign language may hinder verbal language development. Research has shown the opposite to be true. Studies find that children who have been taught sign language may be a step ahead of children whose parents only encouraged vocal communication. Learning sign language may make other types of communication easier for your child to learn.

Best of all, teaching sign language to babies is easy!

Infant Sign Language Tips

  • Start small. Do some research on sign language books or websites to learn the basics. Your child’squality childcare center will be able to provide you with more information about the best signs to start with. Choose signs for words that will be used frequently by your baby, such as please, more, ball, or drink. To start, only teach your child three to five words.
  • Use signs during normal everyday routines and activities. Saying the word as you make the sign will help your baby learn sign language. For example, if your baby reaches for more food, say “more” while making the sign with your hands. Then give your baby their food as reinforcement. Consistently make this sign every time your baby asks for more food. Be sure to give lots of encouragement when your baby makes a sign independently. Say, “You did it! You told me you want more!”
  • Allow your baby to set the pace and progress slowly. As your baby masters initial signs, you can add a few more. Remember, though, your goal isn’t to make your child fluent in sign language so much as providing another way to communicate until verbal skills develop. Stick with basic signs for words that your child uses every day and introduce only a couple at a time. Premier Academy daycare is dedicated to being the best childcare for facilitating amazing communication skills, and social and emotional growth for your infant.
  • Keep it fun. Be sure to keep lessons brief and fun. The point of teaching sign language is to reduce frustration, simplify communication, and connect with your baby in a meaningful way.

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Understanding Quality Childcare

Understanding Quality ChildcareThese days, parents have so many different options when it comes to childcare. Parents can choose from childcare centers, home care providers, nannies, non-profit programs, state-funded programs, and so many others. There is a variety of titles for these services, including childcare, daycare, preschool, or early childhood education. Are these terms interchangeable? And how do they differ in terms of quality?

All of the options provide childcare, but saying “early childhood education” gives the impression of an additional educational component beyond basic care. High-quality care comes in many forms and under many terms. A program’s use of the term “early childhood education” doesn’t necessarily guarantee a high-quality program any more than “daycare” implies a lack thereof.

Regardless of what the organization is called, high-quality early education begins with some basic elements that children need to thrive. Children need and deserve teachers who understand them and treat them with kindness and respect. Families should feel that they are partners in their children’s care, who are wholly involved in the decision-making process. You will find all of this and more at Premier Academy!

Importance of Early Childhood Education

We see more and more in early education, the introduction of teaching methods and content designed for elementary-age children to the early childhood classroom. Studies about early education and child development have found that this could actually be extremely damaging to the growth and development of young children. The best childcare curriculum is based on a complete understanding of how young children learn – through engaging, hands-on experiences within a setting of comfort and trust.

Early childhood curriculum needs to take into account all developmental areas, including social-emotional, physical, cognitive, and language development.

Along with this, early childhood programs can and should address academic topics, such as early math, literacy, and science. The challenge lies in teaching these skills in a way that respects how younger children learn. When learning is introduced through a hands-on, playful, engaging curriculum with kind and nurturing teachers, children gain confidence and develop a lifelong love of learning. They enter kindergarten with “ready to learn” skills, such as being able to ask and answer questions, wait for a turn, follow directions, and work cooperatively with peers. Some children enter kindergarten already reading; others need more time. The point is that each child is offered a rich feast of learning opportunities and allowed to grow at his or her own pace.

Great early childhood development and care goes by many names. The difference between a quality early education setting and a mediocre one is not the location or the name. Good organizations hire and retain good teachers, are committed to training and developing their teachers, and focus on respect for children and families.

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Teaching Healthy Eating Habits and Positive Body Image

Teaching Healthy Eating Habits and Positive Body ImagePremier Academy knows weight and body image are extremely sensitive topics to discuss with your children. It is our goal as parents and as daycare teachers to teach healthy eating practices while also contributing to making sure our children have a positive body image. This can sometimes be tricky. We know we need to start young and set the stage for healthy lifetime habits early.

Children Model Eating Habits After Us

If parents and childcare providers have healthy eating habits, children are more likely to follow along. On the flip side, if children see adults eating unhealthy food, they are more likely to emulate that behavior. You can be good role models for a healthy lifestyle by building family nutrition and fitness into your family’s day and your quality childcare provider’s day on a regular basis. Can we share meals together – lunch or dinner – at least four days per week? Are there ways we can exercise together, for example, swimming, walking or bike rides to promote healthy exercise habits?

Be careful about the messages you may be sending to children about food and eating when you discuss/model healthy eating habits. One thing you may not know; it’s not the best practice for you to require children to eat everything on their plate at mealtime. There are different opinions on this, but some health educators encourage children to try one bite of everything, never pushing or forcing. Others advocate for offering children a favorite food and a new food together so they will have at least one healthy food option that they like.

Try to avoid labeling different foods as “bad” or “unhealthy”. This can be confusing to children when they then see a beloved caregiver or friend eating that food. You can say that healthy eating refers to the whole of what we eat, and not one specific food or foods which are “bad” for you. Premier Academy strives to be the best childcare by taking the approach of encouraging healthier snacks instead of singling out “bad” foods.

KidsHealth.org offers “Go, Slow, and Whoa!” as another approach to healthy eating:

  • “Go” foods are the healthiest options for kids and can be eaten almost anytime
  • “Slow” foods are those you can eat sometimes but not every day
  • “Whoa” foods should make you think, “Wait, should my child eat that?” These are the least nutritious and should only be eaten occasionally.

Healthy Habits for Youngsters

  • Infants: With infants, we pay attention to their cues, and stop feeding them when they indicate they are finished by turning away or refusing the breast, bottle or spoon. Be careful what food choices you make for your baby. It is recommended to wait until a child is four months old or later to start introducing solid foods. And if the child’s first sold foods are desserts or fruits, they can develop a preference for sweets over other foods.
  • Toddlers and Preschoolers: With toddler and preschool children, provide healthy snacks and beverages such as water. Eating slowly together as a family is a good practice. Never require children to eat when they are not hungry. Also, avoid using food or lack of food as a reward or punishment. If you notice that your child is developing eating issues, they should be discussed with your pediatrician right away.

Talking to Older Children about Healthy Habits and Positive Body Image

Children are constantly immersed in images and talk of the “ideal” body. And yet we all know genetics gives each of us a unique body type, few of which fall into the “ideal” category.

With tweens and teens, subtle and not so subtle messages about weight and body type have an impact. These body images come from people, television, magazines, social media, etc. If your son or daughter opens up the subject, use it as an opportunity to communicate that very few people look like models; models also feel stress about their bodies; and being really skinny isn’t always a good thing.

If your child says “I’m too fat” rather than jumping to “No, you’re not” right away, ask “What makes you think that?” to try to keep the conversation open and keep your child talking about this issue. It’s important to know how to communicate with your child. Spend time listening to him or her. Express your feelings about the topic, but rather than negating your child’s feelings, try saying, “Here’s what I think. . . ” so it feels more like your personal thoughts than a judgment on your child. At the same time, if you ever suspect an eating disorder, talk right away to your pediatrician to find resources.

Talking about weight, body image and health can be sensitive, but it is also very worthwhile to keep the topic on the table and encourage children to talk about what they think and feel. Remember that feelings about this body image start early so be thoughtful about the impact of your words and actions in your child’s life.

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