CHALK TALK: introducing preschoolers to technology

These days, it’s easy to think of children as natural digital citizens. Take a look around and you will likely see kids of all ages masterfully using a smartphone or tablet on their own. However, children, especially those enrolled in preschool through early elementary school, need parental guidance to make sure they are using technology safely and that is not keeping them away from other beneficial activities.

Parents can help their little ones embrace digital technology as an effective learning tool without getting too caught up in non-educational gaming and passive viewing. Here, Dr. Rebecca Osborne, Technology-Enhanced Curriculum Specialist for Fairmont Private Schools, explains how to properly introduce tablets, smartphones, and other devices to young children.

What can parents do to foster technology skills in their preschooler, particularly in the areas of smartphones, tablets, and laptops?

It is important for students to be multi-literate.  Introduce your young children not only to tablets and smartphones, but also to laptops.  Teach them keyboard skills, not just “texting” or typing on the tablet using the small touchscreen.  Learninggamesforkids.com offers tools for developing typing skills.  Parents should also foster an understanding of when technology is useful, and when it is a distraction.  Writing with pen and pencil should not be replaced by technology.  There should be a balance between digital and “analog” activities.  There are also many toys that mimic the effects of touchscreen devices without being connected to the internet. 

How can parents ensure their young children use technology appropriately?

Preschoolers should always be given a minimal amount of screen time – no more than two hours per day.  Monitoring the child’s screen time activities, as well as using parental controls and restrictions help ensure proper use of technology.  I recommend the following educational apps – “AlphaTots,” “Doodle Critter,” “Elmo Loves ABCs,” “Elmo Loves 124s,” and “Peg + Cat,” which are interactive, educational, and fun. Passive screen time, like watching videos, should be kept to a minimum, but PBS Kids is a good place to start for educational videos.

What can parents do to foster an early respect for good digital citizenship?

Set an example of good digital citizenship for your children by joining them in using technology at home in both educational and recreational settings.  Parents should discuss the content that their child is accessing and talk about safe and unsafe usage of electronic devices.  Again, parents should closely monitor their child’s technology-related activities.

Make sure your preschooler balances screen time with toys, unstructured play, books, and friends. Don’t forget the wonders of Play-Doh, coloring, puzzles, and other toys, which still play an important role in a child’s well-rounded development. Outdoor physical activities are equally important for a child.

Playing outside is vital for growing in confidence, fostering social skills, gaining appreciation for nature, understanding rules and authority, and mastering physical and fine motor skills. A healthy blend of technology with play and traditional learning goes a long way in building a strong foundation for achieving academic and personal success in elementary school and later grades.

See HOW TO: managing a child’s screen time, A to Z: teaching children to be good digital citizens, and NEW AND NOTEWORTHY P-8 educational apps recommendations for more ideas and suggestions to help ensure safe and rewarding screen time engagement for your child.

Contributed by Doug Fleischli, Fairmont Private Schools 

Image by Examiner.com

FRIDAY FOLDER: july 17

Highlights of the Week:

 

Campers and counselors play games during free time!

Preschoolers visit with Captain Karl and his sea creatures!

 

Campers enjoy a pirate show at Pirate's Dinner Adventure!

 

As week six comes to a close, it's time to look back at the fun and high adventure of Fairmont Summer Programs! This week campers made their own doughnuts and dressed up in their best pirate regalia! Campers also took a special trip to Pirate's Dinner Adventure in Buena Park for a scrumptious lunch and an adventure on the high seas!

 

Get ready for week seven as campers will take a trip to Raging Waters theme park of San Dimas and dress up for Crazy Hair and Sunglasses Day!

 

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools  

CHALK TALK: preparing your child for kindergarten, part 6 - enthusiasm for learning

The final piece of our kindergarten preparation puzzle is fostering your preschooler’s enthusiasm for learning. Providing unconditional support and encouragement helps a child develop a love of learning. Playing an active role in your child’s education reinforces the value that academic knowledge is worth pursuing. Show them that learning is a great adventure!

Your child looks to you for clues about the world. Because you are your child’s first and most influential teacher, you can encourage your child’s advancement in the classroom by positively reinforcing the information and skills your student is learning in school. Whether reading a book before bed or trying a new recipe together, taking the time to develop skills and build your child’s knowledge will help encourage a curiosity and hunger for learning.

Boost your child’s confidence by letting him or her know that it’s okay to ask questions. Helping your preschooler to feel confident in the classroom tremendously aides the learning process because the child already feels accomplished and able. Determine what kind of learner your child is - auditory, visual, or kinesthetic - and use that knowledge to aid your child’s academic progression while doing activities and projects at home. Visit Different Learning Styles in Education and past Fairmont blog post HOW TO: discover your child's learning style for more learning style information and activities!

Taking an active role in your child’s education and encouraging him or her from the sidelines will help foster academic growth and fuel a desire to learn and accomplish more!

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

Image by MarchIntoKindergarten.Com

CHALKTALK practicing academic skills during the summer

During brief intervals of summer fun and rest, it is wise to devote some time for your child to practice their academic skills. The benefit will be apparent when they return in the fall refreshed and rested without losing a beat when it comes to reading, math, and writing. Here are some helpful tips to keep your children sharp in the educational essentials. Please note, adding some fun to these activities helps motivate initiative!

Reading:
Children should be encouraged to set time during the week for reading their favorite books. For young children, not yet able to read on their own, parents are encouraged to read aloud to their children every night before bedtime.  

Math:
For retaining and refining math skills, children should be offered opportunities to practice their grade-appropriate math facts. Effective tools to help exercise these valuable skills include flash cards, computer-based games, apps, and practicing math facts out loud.

Writing:
Summer is a great time for children to practice their writing skills. They can dabble in creative writing styles such as poetry and short stories. They can also keep a summer journal to record their adventures during vacation. Children also make excellent scribes or reporters for documenting activities while traveling and visiting relatives. 

Practicing these academic skills will help children pass the time productively while traveling.

Contributed by Doug Fleischli, Fairmont Private Schools
Image by PBS 

FRIDAY FOLDER: july 10

During week five of the never-ending adventures of Fairmont Summer Programs, campers had a blast under water, examined shark teeth, and had fun with our wonderful camp counselors!

Contributed by Doug Fleischli, Fairmont Private Schools

CHALK TALK: preparing your child for kindergarten, part 5 - playing well with others

As your child becomes more social with other children, it’s important to help him or her learn to engage positively with peers. Providing the child with the right tools to handle different social situations will help reinforce values related to playing well with others. Here are some tips for this important life lesson:

• Play-dates - Whether it’s a parents-of-preschoolers group or signing your child up for a sports or dance class, there are plenty of opportunities in your community to help children socialize. The more opportunities for children to play together, the faster they will develop the necessary social skills needed in the classroom.
• Golden Rule - Teaching children to treat others as they want to be treated is an important step towards explaining the abstract concept of respect. Remember, your child doesn’t have to like everyone, but he or she does need to show respect to everyone.
• Team Activities - Involving your child in team activities will help foster his or her ability to work collectively with others. Including your child in household chores and projects, establishing a weekly game night, or enrolling him or her in a sports activity, allows your child to engage with others to accomplish a specific task, which helps them learn the value of connecting with others.
• “I Need a Break” - Let your child know that it’s okay to say “I need a break” and to walk away from frustrating or hurtful situations. What to Do When Your Child Won’t Play Well with Others states that “[w]hen kids are frustrated and feeling like they want to lash out at others around them, this simple sentence can be a way for them to back out of the situation and signal to the adults around them that they need a little time alone.”
• Kind Words - Encourage proper manners and the use of “Please,” “Thank you,” “Excuse me,” and “Sorry” when your child is interacting with others. These simple practices in etiquette will take your child far as he or she begins to make friends.

How to Help Your Child Make Friends notes that leading by example and inviting your friends over for activities is a good way to demonstrate social skills and the importance of friendship to your children. Visit Fairmont’s Early Childhood Education Pinterest board to find more great resources for preparing your preschooler for kindergarten!

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

Image by Aprendoyeduco.Com 

FAIRMONT FIVE introducing young children to the wonders of nature

Summer break offers excellent opportunities to be outdoors, whether it’s visiting the beach, mountains, deserts, or even your backyard. Breathing fresh air, getting exercise, satisfying curiosity, and feeling a warm breeze on your face are a few of the many joys of exploring the wonders of nature.

Under the caring guidance of parents, young children can gain an amazing perspective of the world around them, from engaging in a backyard safari to spending a week at a national park. We live on a beautiful planet, and it’s worth exploring!

Here are five simple steps for parents to expand their children’s appreciation for nature:

Ecosystem outside your back door— A patch of weeds, flower garden, a green belt, and community park yield an abundance of tiny discoveries for young explorers. Children can record their observations by drawing pictures. Here’s an opportunity to teach the importance of examining and appreciating plants and bugs only with their eyes and not with their hands.

Digging in the dirt – For a small child, a small hole in the back yard is a portal to an amazing journey where imagination and science intertwine. Pick out a spot where your child can use a kid-appropriate shovel and bucket to find worms, bugs, rocks, plant roots, and more. To enhance the experience, plant some plastic dinosaurs to recreate a paleontological dig!

Exploring with your ears – Encourage your child to sit quietly on a bench. After a few minutes, your little one will easily pick up bird songs and the sound of wind blowing through the trees. The child can pretend to be a creature silently hiding.  This will engage their imagination while experiencing the simplistic beauty of the natural world.  This activity definitely fosters the value of patience and reinforces the discipline of learning to sit quietly and listen attentively.

Nature scavenger hunt – This is a fun way for children to pay attention to their surroundings, as well as seasons of the year. While in the yard or on a short hike, children can pick-up leaves, seashells, and small rocks as a reminder of the places they explored. Each item can be linked to a story in pictures about the outdoor experience. (Please note public park rules in regards to collecting items.)

Let’s talk about it – Discuss the experience of being outdoors with your child. Parents can follow-up with questions and observations to determine the child’s favorite part of being outdoors and what they would like to do on their next adventure in nature.

Contributed by Doug Fleischli, Fairmont Private Schools
Image by Extension