For the Love of Reading

When I reflect on the years when my children were little, my favorite part of the day was bedtime when we snuggled up and read our favorite stories. I always let my children pick out the story and particularly when they were little, they would pick the same story over and over. I have saved these books with hopes that they will one day read them to their children, or I will get to read them to my grandchildren.

Have you ever wondered why young children seek comfort by reading the same story? Young children instinctively seek out familiarity rather than novelty. Repeated exposure to the same thing helps to cement the new information in their growing brains and encode it permanently. Rereading is essential for children to get ready to learn to read. Repeated reading and repetition lead to mastery, predictability, and a sense of confidence. Repeating picture book reading boosts comprehension and help children understand the story at a much deeper level.

Developing a love of reading begins early. As the weather gets colder, enjoy those cozy times together reading with your precious little ones. These are cherished moments that you and your children will remember always!

Importance of reading | Young Readers Foundation

The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time

There are several components as to why reading is important for life and school success, Read More Here…

• Reading improves vocabulary Even as adults, when we read, we come across many new words we never really heard of. And we learn from this

• Children sometimes stumble over their words, do not know how to pronounce them or what they mean. By reading, young people encounter new words more frequently and sometimes repetitively and therefore can see them better in their context.

• Better comprehension occurs when children are encouraged to read at an early age. They develop smart thinking abilities and are more receptive to creativity and ideas

• The more you read, the more imaginative you become. Whenever you read a fiction book, it takes you to another world. In the new world, your imagination works at its best as you try to see things in your own mind.

• The primary benefit of reading books is its ability to develop critical thinking skills. For example, reading a mystery novel sharpens your mind. What elements are there in a story to make this or that conclusion. Or if a book is non-fiction, you will sometimes ask yourself if the author is right. Critical thinking skills are crucial when it comes to making important day-to-day decisions.

• Every time you read a book, you need to remember the setting of the book, the characters, their backgrounds, their history, their personalities, the sub-plots and so much more. As your brain learns to remember all this, your memory becomes better. What’s more, with every new memory you create, you create new pathways, and this strengthens the existing ones.

• Children who indulge in reading books and learning new things do better at school. They are more creative, open to new ideas, and develop empathy for others. For instance, kids who read about heroes idolize them, kids who love reading anatomy books dream of becoming a doctor, etc. They learn to empathize with characters and learn valuable life lessons such as helping others and being kind.

Leafy Playground

Thank you, Mr. Andy for making our leaf pile every morning!

It’s been several years since I have experienced Autumn, or resemblance of the changing of seasons. This October, I am reminded of how much I love Autumn and how much I have missed this remarkable time of year. I enjoy apple cider, pumpkins, mums and of course the bright orange, yellow and red colors of the changing leaves.

Our precious CCEP children have reminded me of what I love most about this magical time of year; the happiness and peace our children feel when jumping in leaves!

Parents and caregivers are always searching for outings and activities to keep children engaged. Well, Autumn gives us one that is free and provides sensory rich moments of laughter and pure joy. Watching our students play freely in the leaves after school reminds us that even through change and uncertainty, the natural world continuously offers love, security and happiness.

Poem

(Author Unknown)

In the crisp, cool air we play, Jumping in leaves where children sway.

Colors of orange, red, and gold, Nature’s blanket, bright and bold.

With every leap, they swirl and fly, Like dancing butterflies in the sky.

We laugh and twirl, with joy we glide, A symphony of colors, side by side.

Rustle and crunch beneath our feet, A crunchy melody, oh, so sweet!

As sunlight beams through trees above, We celebrate together, joy and love.

Early Intervention

Early Intervention is a term used to describe services to support young children with developmental delays or disabilities and their families. Services include speech therapy, physical therapy, sensory integration therapy and other types of services based on the needs of the child and family. Early identification of developmental delays has a significant impact on a child’s ability to learn new skills and increase their success in school and life.

Acting early can help a child communicate, play, and learn from the world sooner rather than later. Screening to identify developmental delays is an important step to preventing unnecessary frustration, common in children with communication difficulties. Developmental delays involving speech, fine and gross motor skills and sensory integration challenges affect nearly one in 12 children.

Teachers and school administrators are often the first voice telling a parent that their child may benefit by a screening or evaluation. As a parent of a child with learning disabilities, a sensory disorder and ADHD, I was devastated the first time a teacher expressed her worries for my child. In fact, it took several times to hear the same concerns before we were able to accept that our child needed some interventions.

I am pleased to share that all children attending a licensed child-care program in the state of Delaware are required to have an annual Ages and Stages Screening. Results are most accurate when a parent or primary caregiver completes the screening. We will be sharing more information with you in the very near future with directions and instructions for completing an Ages and Stages screening for your child.

In the meantime, read on to access additional resources about the screening tool, its user-friendly format, and again, why these screenings are so important to the developmental needs of children.

What is Sensory Integration?

Internal and external responses to sensory stimuli vary greatly among individuals, but intervention is necessary when there is a mismatch between a person’s neurophysiological sensory processing and integration abilities and his or her environment. The environment includes both the physical presence of sensory stimuli and tasks that require sensory processing and integration. Sensory processing factors can affect sleep, motor development, play, behavior, and resiliency.

Here We Grow! Delaware's Developmental Screening Initiative - Ages and Stages

How Parents of Toddlers Can Support Social-Emotional Development (agesandstages.com)

Download CDC’s Milestone Tracker App

Use CDC’s easy-to-use app with illustrated checklists to track your child’s development from 2-months to 5-years. The app can help you communicate with your child’s doctor or early intervention contact about your child’s milestones and any concerns. The app also provides tips for encouraging your child’s development.

Why Screen? 

·         To detect delays early

·         To improve child outcomes

·         To encourage parent involvement and education

·          Because screening is recommended by major educational and medical organizations, including – American Academy of Pediatrics – Head Start – Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Program (EPSDT), Medicaid’s child health program

What Is ASQ-3?

·         The third edition of widely used developmental screening tool

·         A series of illustrated parent- or caregivercompleted questionnaire

·         Used to accurately identify children who may be at risk for developmental delays

·         Designed to encourage parent involvement and education

·         Low-cost, reliable, and rigorously tested

·         Online questionnaire completion and online data management systems

Why Choose ASQ-3?

·         Proven accurate by new research—highly reliable and valid

·         “Anytime” screening—expanded administration windows so the intervals are seamless from 1 through 66 months

·          Fast and easy scoring

·          Educating families and parent friendly

·          Strengths based—it’s easy to share results and talk about a child’s development

Letter To Your Younger Self

Mike Brown is a well-known writer, thinker, and cultural critic. He is dedicated to all matters affecting Early Childhood Education (ECE). Mr. Brown writes pieces for Exchange Magazine, one of my favorite ECE publications. At a recent conference, Clearing Pathways to Leadership, Joy and Equity in ECE, Mr. Brown asked participants to write a letter to their younger self. This practice serves as a thoughtful and welcoming invitation to be present with our children and with ourselves.

I find that we all cherish our fondest memories from childhood and seek times to share our stories. These experiences have made us who we are today. If you were to write a letter to your younger self, what would you say? After reading some beautiful examples, including Mr. Brown’s letter to his younger self, I felt inspired to write my own and to share it with CCEP.

“Once upon a time, there was a little girl with red curly hair and blue eyes. She loved to swim in the ocean and pool, and especially cherished the time playing with her dad at the beach. This little girl also loved playing and taking care of dolls. They were treated as real babies, receiving so much love and care.  She was full of hope and curiosity and dreamt of the days when she would become a mother.

Through the years, as this child’s story unfolded, life brought times of joy, excitement, friendships, disappointments, celebrations and uncertainty. She was brave and optimistic and understood that helping others gave her energy and purpose. She made a lot of mistakes, struggled with math and reading due to a learning disability. She had to work hard to understand and learn things that seemed to be much easier for her peers.

This little girl learned to work hard and to play hard, and to enjoy both equally as much. She remembers how much she was loved and nurtured by her parents, friends and family. When she reflects on her childhood, she remembers the joyful moments, the laughter, the freedom to explore and that her interests were accepted and nurtured. ‘’

We are all a part of a child’s unique story. Every interaction, every kind word, every time we show up for a child, it matters and makes a lasting impact. You were once a child, and your story matters.

Embrace Big Feelings!

Our children have big emotions and show it through tantrums, yelling, hitting and pushing. While upsetting for the adults in their lives, these emotional outbursts are normal and necessary for the development of healthy social/emotional skills. Young children are just beginning to learn self-control and emotional regulation. Preschool is the first time many children experience an environment with expectations, rules and social engagement. They need exposure and time in these situations to learn how to socialize, negotiate and solve real problems. Aggressive acts are often a way of exerting independence, expressing frustration, and testing social skills. Safety is always our first priority but we can also embrace teachable moments, while recognizing that healthy child development involves strong emotions.

On Friday, October 11, 2024, CCEP teachers will spend the day at a Conscious Discipline workshop. The Conscious Discipline program empowers teachers and caregivers to be conscious of brain-body states in ourselves and our children. We will learn the practical skills to manage our own thoughts, feelings and actions. When we regulate our own emotions, we can then teach our children to do the same.

By doing this, we help children who are physically aggressive (survival state) or verbally aggressive (emotional state) become more integrated so they can learn and use problem-solving skills (executive state). The brain state model is founded on the core principles of safety, connection and problem solving.

My son Fisher, now 19 years old, had BIG emotions when he was little. I found myself feeling depleted and hopeless when I couldn’t fix his problems or know how to help him to calm down. What I didn’t understand and eventually learned (the hard way), these were Fisher’s feelings, not mine. I had to let him learn to solve his own problems while giving him a lot of love and support. Once I was able to navigate my own emotions, I learned that Fisher didn’t need me to have big emotions too, he just needed me to love him and be present with him during these difficult times. Our connection with children is everything! Later, we could then talk about what happened and brainstorm together safe ways of coping with our feelings.

 Click here to read more about Conscious Discipline and to access valuable resources. Parents - Conscious Discipline

A Joyful Rainy Day!

We have a rainy weekend ahead of us, and I wanted to highlight why children adore playing in the rain and how it promotes healthy development. Take a moment to think about your own childhood and a special memory you have playing in the rain. Did you enjoy it? Why or why not? We can often better understand our children’s interests and perspectives when we reflect on our own meaningful experiences when we were young. Pull out those dusty raincoats and galoshes and embrace the rainy day ahead!

Children have a natural curiosity for the rain, and for exploring the world around them. Moving, dancing, and jumping around in the rain provide opportunities to ignite imagination and spark creativity. Gross motor skills are developing with big arm and leg movements working to improve balance, coordination and strength. Children are eager to know what causes the rain and why it rains, introducing the opportunity for a science activity.

Young children delight in spending time with their parents and playing in the rain together will make lasting memories. Savor these moments with your children, all the other things you “have” to do this weekend can wait. Enjoy the link below for additional ways to delight in a rainy day with your child(ren).

Sing in the rain.  Songs with a rain theme are perfect for singing in the rain. Try Rain, Rain Go Away, I Can Sing a Rainbow or I’m Singing in the Rain!

Slip and slide. Get a tarp out and off you go. Slide from side to side. Don’t forget to add mud and grass too!

Jump, stomp and sit in muddy puddles. What child wouldn’t like to do this?

Take your bath toys outside. Play with bath toys out in the rain and in mud puddles. Who says they’re just for playing in the bath?!

Look at a flowing creek. Go for a walk down to a swollen creek. It’s interesting to look at when you’ve seen it at its usual size.

Make boats. Make nature boats and then float them in a creek or gutter.

Play games. Play games like relay races, stuck in the mud and red rover.

Ingredients in bowls. Take some bowls filled with different ingredients like flour, sugar, oats and salt out into the rain and see what happens to the material when they get droplets of water.

Play in a Puddle on a Rainy Day | NAEYC

14 Fun OUTDOOR Rainy Day Play Activities for Kids (Toddlers Too!!) – The Crazy Outdoor Mama

PARTNERSHIPS

A special thanks to all who attended our Back-to-School event last night. Let’s give another shout-out to our Fabulous Parents Association who provided beautiful flowers, refreshments, and delicious food. Thank you, Tamson Livanov, Sarah Lauzen, Vienna Perillo, and Charlotte Anderson.

The relationship between teachers and parents is essential for children's success at CCEP and throughout their education. When healthy partnerships are developed, together, we can advocate for the needs of our children. Partnerships are built over time through authentic communication sharing honestly the strengths, joys, and challenges of our children both at home and at school. When parents are concerned about their child’s development or teachers observe a concern, we aren’t serving our children well if we don’t work together to address the matter.

ENJOY THIS ARTICLE from NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools) titled, The Parent-School Partnership: Optimizing Relationships and Building Understanding. The author, Olaf Jorgenson emphasizes how administrators must commit to building a partnership-focused school community and a program that both expects and supports parent-teacher teamwork.

“Just as school leaders can help teachers become more attuned to parents’ circumstances, viewpoints, and needs, they can help parents value teacher expertise and perspectives. In this way, teachers grow more comfortable collaborating with parents, and parents become more open to observations (along with concerns and suggestions) teachers share. When parents are primed to be receptive to teachers, they’re less inclined to see teacher feedback as criticism and more likely to accept teachers as partners in supporting their children’s well-being.”

Please reach out to us if you have any concerns or questions regarding your child’s school experiences or development. We promise to do the same.

With faith and gratitude,

Sheila

PS: Please share your ideas for relevant topics of interest for Abio's Avenue at sabio@christchurchde.org

Imagination

I love spending time in our learning spaces and listening to the children play when their imaginations are hard at work. Building a magnificent block tower, creating a grocery store shopping experience or reenacting familial roles by “playing house”, these experiences are crucial to healthy development. Children today have many opportunities to participate in sports and extracurricular activities which are an important part of their development. Equally important is unstructured time to play through imaginative experiences. What happens when children are immersed in imaginative play?

Social Development Children have a natural way of relating and connecting when they play. They learn to take turns, share, and work together. As children join in imaginary play, they begin to understand relationships better. They have opportunities to experiment with social boundaries. They improve their social skills and become more connected, confident, and self-reliant. As a result, they build better relationships with their peers.

Emotional Development

Imaginative play fosters emotional competence and empathy. During make-believe play, children practice caring for others and showing empathy. For example, when they participate in doctor pretend play, they learn how to be kind, gentle, and to help others. As children begin to understand their feelings and emotions, they learn how to interact appropriately.

Language Development Growing research confirms the importance of imaginative play in early childhood language development. Play is all about communication. Sit back and listen to your child while they play. They love to describe and narrate what’s happening. This conversation enhances their vocabulary and language skills. By providing a supportive, high-quality play environment, you can boost your child’s language skills.

Encourages Independence

Imaginative play allows your child to make their own rules, explore new ideas, and create stories. As a result, they begin connecting with the world and incorporating what they have learned into their dramatic play. This encourages freedom to take risks. Subsequently, those risks are essential to gaining their independence and becoming critical thinkers.

Increases Creativity Creativity can be a stress reducer and is instrumental to your child’s well-being. Engaging in fantasy play allows children to stimulate their imagination which will increase their creativity. With a good imagination, your child can pretend to be anything or anyone they want!

Develops Problem-solving Skills

Excellent problem-solving skills require creativity. Children need time and space to figure things out for themselves. They learn to develop these skills through imaginative play. For instance, they negotiate who gets to play what role. They might re-enact real-life situations and role-play activities which develop their problem-solving skills.

Children become more curious when caregivers and parents join their imaginative play, but make sure you give them space to solve their problems.

Thank you for reading this week’s Abio Avenue, and take some time to enjoy imaginative.

Exchange EveryDay

Welcome to Mrs. Abio’s Avenue, a  new addition to our weekly newsletter. I am excited to share my own thoughts and reflections regarding topics relevant to early childhood development and practice. Enjoy!

Exchange Every Day is a valued resource of mine. A piece was recently published by Miriam Beloglovsky, highlighting why children are naturally drawn to nature's beauty. We deeply value nature at CCEP and I wanted to highlight why our unique outdoor playgrounds are essential for optimal childhood development.  

“Whether it be the brilliant colors of a sunset, the intricate patterns of a snowflake, or how leaves change colors in the Fall.” The designs and experiences provided by the environments we offer our children contribute greatly to their healthy development.

When we play and explore outside in nature, children are surrounded by PATTERNS. Patterns represent the interconnectedness of all things and the delicate equilibrium that sustains life. Children thrive with routine and structure; RHYTHM organizes daily events into predictable and coherent patterns which increase neuroplasticity. We strive to create equitable and inclusive spaces that embrace DIVERSE relationships, rhythms and system patterns. Nature’s MYSTERIES spark a sense of wonder, curiosity and an eagerness to learn. UNITY brings us together with nature, and each other, and our shared responsibility to preserve balance and harmony.

Our students get to connect with nature every day! By doing so, they are creating a beautiful and sustainable world for generations to come.