March 2016 Curriculum

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 Star-Brite Learning Program
 

Organizing Time

Young children organize time on the basis of important events which are repeated.
Some events like a birthday or a holiday occur only once a year. Grocery shopping occurs more often, while eating takes place three or four times daily.
 The regularity of these events helps children acquire an internal clock about when things will happen.

Preschoolers can participate in some planning for future events. Such planning will teach two related time concepts:
1. The past, present, and future are separated by time.
2. There is a need sometimes to delay gratification of one’s expectations and desires.

Some children have difficulty organizing events in time.
Activities to promote good time organization at the preschool level can be incorporated into daily events such as dressing, using songs and rhymes, or helping with a daily chore.
Routine activities of daily living, such as dressing or bathing, involve the sequencing of events in time.

Children who dress themselves may occasionally put on shoes before socks. Or they omit underpants because they have not followed the correct sequential order.
Discovery of an omission or error is a learning experience.
Equally valuable is the planning, in advance, of what clothes to put on and in what order.
For example, you tell your child to select what he would like to wear tomorrow. Then, he places these items in a row on the bed: what comes first, what comes next, what follows this, and so on.

Songs that have a theme that is repeated have always been popular with young children, and have stories that have a line that reoccurs. (“Little pig, little pig, let me in!”)
“The Farmer in the Dell” is an example. The story unfolds in a sequence, while there is a constant, the farmer, who makes decisions about whom to “take.”

Rhyming and rhythms have the same role—to teach about events in time.
The Dr. Seuss books, for example, often don't make a lot of sense to a young child. But he likes the sounds and the beats which occur in patterns through time.

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Let's Do Math!

Math is a very important part of life.
We use math to set an alarm clock, buy groceries, keep score or time at a game, wallpaper a room, or wrap a present.
We all need math in the world of computers and electronic communication.
It is important to encourage children to think of themselves as mathematicians who can reason and solve problems.

Here are some things you can do to encourage your children:
• Show your children that you like numbers. Play number games and think of math problems as puzzles to be solved.
• From the time your child is very young, count everything. When you empty a grocery bag, count the number of apples. Count the number of stairs to your home.
• Put things into groups. When you do laundry, separate items of clothing: all the socks in one pile, shirts in another, and pants in another.
Divide the socks by colors and count the number of each. Draw pictures and graphs of clothes in the laundry: 4 red socks, 10 blue socks, 12 white socks.
• Tell your children that anyone can learn math. Point out numbers in your child’s life: in terms of weight (pounds and ounces), measurements involving cooking, temperature and time.
• Help your children do math in their heads with lots of small numbers.
Ask questions: “If I have four cups and I need seven altogether, how many more do I need?

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Slowing Down the Restless Child

Children’s behavior can sometimes get out of control, and whatever tactics you use to calm them down just don’t work.

Here are a couple of suggestions for those times that may provide both you and your child with time and space to quiet down and regain control.
• Read to her. Is there a favorite book she loves to hear? Take the opportunity to sit close
• Tell her stories about herself when she was younger, and stories about yourself when you
were her age.
• Keep a collection of colored chalk or magic markers that are used only on special occasions — such as “quiet time.”
• Remind your child that you love her. Tell her at least two good reasons why.

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Getting Along With Others

Children are more successful in their relationships when they feel comfortable than when they are self-conscious.
You can help by being supportive and encouraging rather than critical or discouraging.

Here are some do’s and don’ts:
DO stand up for him, especially with adults. Everyone needs someone they can depend on, no matter what.
DON’T suggest he has trouble getting along with others. (“Nobody really likes you.”)
DO give him positive feedback for getting along well with others. (“I really like it when I see you helping Jack put on his shoes.”)
DON’T force him into uncomfortable situations.
DO allow him to work out his own relationships with a minimum of interference.
DON’T compare him with other children.
DO respect his wishes about how and with whom he wants to spend time.

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Benefits of Daycare

A good daycare program can offer some significant advantages:

• Continuous care: Most child care centers offer care from the early months of infancy through toddlerhood, and sometimes even beyond.
• Education: A well-organized program is geared to your child's development and growth.
• Socialization: Your baby will get lots of face time with other little ones.
• Cost: If you’re planning to go back to work and need someone to watch after your child while you’re away, daycare tends to be less expensive than hiring a nanny.
  
• Reliability: Most centers stay open for about 12 hours to support a variety of parent schedules.
• Specific to group daycare: Staff is trained and licensed. And because there’s more than one caregiver, there’s always a sub.
• Specific to home daycare: There are fewer children than you’d find at a group daycare center — which may mean more personal attention and less exposure to illness.

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Downloadable Curriculum

Starting January 2016, the Star-Brite Learning Program will be offered as a downloadable file! For only $27.00, you can download and print out as many copies as you need! The program can be purchased on our website at www.star-brite.com. You will receive an email with the link to download the entire month's program straight to your computer!