Last updated 1 day 4 hours ago
Early childhood education has come a long way since the early “Fun with Dick and Jane” books. Some pre-kindergarten programs have employed a brain-based approach to learning, which takes recent research into consideration. A brain-based approach uses specific activities to stimulate areas of the brain for optimal cognitive development. A combination of these activities, environmental stimuli, physical activities, and arts and crafts will help your child reach his or her full potential and set the stage for lifelong success.
An example of these activities might include integrating sign language into a lesson plan on basic math skills. A pre-kindergarten program that uses a brain-based approach also encourages children to learn by exploring the world around them. For example, the program might utilize themed classrooms with nature centers to create an environment that stimulates a child’s curiosity.
A Child’s World prides itself on offering a wealth of enrichment activities for our brain-based approach. Enroll your child in our pre-kindergarten or child care program today by calling (888) 861-7857.
Last updated 8 days ago
The first few years of a child’s life are critical for all areas of development necessary to lifelong achievement. Young children who enroll in high-quality early education programs can more readily develop the neurological pathways needed for problem-solving skills. Once you enroll your child in a pre-kindergarten program, he or she will also learn valuable social and behavioral skills.
Learn more about early childhood development and the importance of pre-kindergarten programs by watching this video. The educator in this video discusses the importance of parental engagement in pre-kindergarten programs and how children prepare for school in these programs.
Enroll your child in a child care or pre-kindergarten program today. Call A Child’s World at (888) 861-7857 or visit our website to learn more about our Doylestown location.
Last updated 15 days ago
In an effort to boost students’ grades, many schools have focused primarily on mathematics, science, and reading, leaving arts education behind. But in fact, arts education is critical for child development and academic success—especially when children begin artistic endeavors early in life. If you observe young children at a child care program or pre-kindergarten class, you’ll likely notice that they learn through play. Effective child care programs focus on arts and crafts because these activities help stimulate many key areas of childhood development.
Development of Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills refer to the control of the small muscles in the hand. Fine motor skills are essential for everyday activities, including getting dressed and learning to write. Child care programs often promote motor skill development by encouraging children to do simple things for themselves, including arts and crafts activities. Activities such as holding a crayon and coloring inside the lines of a picture in a coloring book allow children to improve their motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Promotion of Self-Expression
Your child will begin to memorize a wide array of factual information throughout his or her academic career, from pre-kindergarten through high school and beyond. Arts education allows your child to take advantage of an open approach to learning. By painting a picture or shaping clay, your child can express his or her personality and feelings. Your child will also recognize that his or her art project is unique, which builds a sense of self and promotes self-confidence.
Stimulation of Cognitive Development
New models in cognitive development and brain-based research reveal the importance of arts education for school. Researchers are discovering that arts education lends itself to improved academics. This may partially be because children who engage in arts develop their problem-solving skills and concentration abilities. Encourage your child’s accomplishments for his or her academic career and lifelong success by enrolling him or her in a child care program that emphasizes arts education.
The highly qualified teachers at A Child’s World in Doylestown recognize the importance of arts enrichment activities. Call us today at (888) 861-7857 and ask us about our child care and pre-kindergarten programs.
Last updated 22 days ago
Young children learn social skills from interactions with others in their child care or pre-kindergarten program. Gradually, your child will develop pro-social behavior, which refers to any action or response for the purpose of another person’s benefit. Empathy, sympathy, and altruism are all part of pro-social behavior. By nurturing ideal behavior in your child, you can help him or her engage in positive interactions.
Pro-Social Behavior Development Theories
There are two main theories of pro-social behavior development in children. The first is neurological in nature. The regions of the brain that become stimulated when a person is rewarded are also stimulated when that person performs an altruistic act. These areas of the brain, called dopaminergic centers, encourage the formation of habits. If your child shares a toy with another child at a daycare center, he or she will be motivated to do it again because it feels good to share. The second main theory is social cognition, which refers to your child’s ability to sense the needs and wants of other people. Perceiving another person’s emotions is the first step in engaging in altruistic behavior toward that person.
Parental Modeling of Ideal Behaviors
Children learn pro-social behaviors from their environments, including their daycare centers and homes. Parental modeling of pro-social behaviors is critical for habit formation. When your child stubs a toe, for example, you comfort him or her with a hug and positive words. Encourage your child to do similar actions for other people by explaining the feelings of others. For example, point out that Sarah is crying because she wants a turn on the slide and suggest to your child that he or she offers Sarah a turn.
Creation of Positive Verbal Environments
Another component of pro-social behavior development is your child’s own sense of self. Nurture your child’s self-perception by creating positive verbal environments. Interactions with a child should promote self-value for that child. Encouraging positive feelings in your child will help him or her feel the same about others.
The educators of A Child’s World strive to nurture each child’s empathy and social behavior skills. Call us today at (888) 861-7857 to learn more about our daycare centers and pre-kindergarten programs. We are conveniently located in Doylestown, PA.
Last updated 27 days ago
By Ron Seidman, A Child's World Vice President and General Manager
Yes, when the tree falls in the woods, it makes a sound, even if there is no one there to hear it. Before man ever put a percussive foot to the earth, herds of animals were making thunderous percussive sound as they ran across the plain. Percussion or the crashing of one object against another is the oldest and most primitive of sounds and of music. Because it is primitive it is one of the first areas of the brain to be developed. Babies love to bang things. They love a rattle toy which is just a maraca, a primitive and basic instrument. Even if you don’t realize it, this is introducing your child to music, rhythm, and communications. While it was very difficult on the vocal chords to make a call prior to the invention of the telephone, ancient tribes used hollowed out logs or stretched an animal skin over a hollow log or pottery to create drums. These drums were among the first methods of long distance calling.
Everything makes a sound. I am a percussionist and have spent my life banging on things. One doesn’t have to be an expert to understand this concept and to teach it to early learners to be meaningful and fun. How many different sounds can you make by clapping different parts of your hand palm? The density, in various parts of the hand palm, will create a different sound. If you clap your hand with 2 fingers it will make a different sound than if you clap with 4 fingers. Try it yourself by clapping 4 quick times with two fingers and then 4 quick times with four fingers. Repeat that for thirty to sixty seconds and I’ll bet you find it fun. Have one group of children clap a number of times with two fingers and then stop and have another group answer back with four fingers clapping and you have created a drum circle. Do it with made up beats or to a straight 4 cadence. Drum circles are when humans of any age gather to play percussive musical games and are a great activity for children and adults.
I have participated in many drum circles. People bring their own drums of various kinds. The Djembe, of African origin, is a very popular drum. There are some that make their own Djembe. They are very well made, beautiful drums. You can make your own percussion instrument as well. The Blue Man Group uses many common items but the ones I like the most are the PVC pipes and tubes. They are used for common plumbing and can be purchased at a hardware store. They slide smaller ones into bigger ones and can change the pitch by sliding them in and out while banging them with mallet’s and drum sticks. This is basically how a trombone works. Stomp is an incredible group of percussionists. They use everything you can think of from brooms and even the kitchen sink to create musical percussion. As with Blue Man Groups sliding tubes, the Stomp group uses a kitchen sink filled with water that empties as they bang on it to change the pitch. These are just two examples of how percussion and melody are created and the role science, math, and spatial concepts have in the creation of music. Blue Man Group and Stomp are worth looking into. I’m sure you will find them on youtube.
Everything makes a sound. I can still hear my mother saying, “Stop banging on that”. It used to be that groups would hang on the corners in the inner city and sing acapella. Today you can find them as groups banging on trash cans. The old steel trash cans made great sound but the plastic ones work great also. Different cans of different sizes make for a diverse set of drums and they are very inexpensive. Every child in the class can have their own drum. As with the clapping of the hand they can play the percussion games of call and answer or mimic. Divide them into two groups. Select one child from each group as leader. Leader A will create a beat that his group will repeat. Leader B will answer with a beat of his/her own that the group will repeat. It’s fun to go back and forth changing leaders. Everyone gets a chance and everyone can bang a drum. Search the internet with your children for fun simple percussion instrument making projects and for more information and ideas about Drum Circles. Have fun. Bang on something.
A Child’s World in Doylestown offers an enriching preschool curriculum, along with a child care center. Please call us today at (267) 337-6456 or visit our website to learn more about our program.
