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How to prepare your child for preschool?

You wouldn’t move to a new neighborhood without checking it out first. You wouldn’t start a new job without going to orientation. You wouldn’t buy a new car without test driving it. Any monumental occasion in our lives usually has some sort of preparation period preceding it. It’s the same with your child and preschool. The first step on your child’s educational journey, preschool is the beginning of an amazing adventure of learning and discovery. To help make the transition as easy as possible, take some steps ahead of time to prepare your child. Help Your Child Do His Research Many children experience anxiety about starting preschool and it’s mainly because they aren’t quite sure what it is. Talk about what she’ll be learning at school, why it’s important and how much fun she’s going to have. Talk about how she’ll be playing games, making crafts, singing songs and meeting lots of new friends. Be sure to tell her that you will be there (or name the person who will be) to pick her up ...
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How to start the preschool process?

Preschool (or prekindergarten) is a broad term used to describe curriculum-based early childhood education. Research shows that quality preschool education produces gains in a child’s learning and development, particularly for economically disadvantaged children. But in the U.S., the amount and type of preschool children attend varies widely — some kids attend one year of partial-day preschool before entering kindergarten; others are in full-day, school-like settings beginning at age 2; some children don’t attend preschool at all. On top of the choice of whether or not to attend preschool, at what age and for how long, parents also have different educational philosophies to consider — like Montessori, play-based programs, and Waldorf. For parents, the process of determining what is best for your toddler when it comes to early childhood education can be daunting. To get you started, Laura Gradman, a licensed professional counselor, education consultant, and owner of the Chicago Prescho...
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The Best Motor Preschool Toys

Preschool.  It’s one of our very favorite ages here at The Inspired Treehouse!  Kids at this age are active, imaginative, and ready to play and learn!  And, when provided with some fun toys and props, preschoolers can create all kinds of fun play experiences!  Here are some of our favorite development-boosting preschool toys. 1 || Yo Baby Kick Flipper  – Like a skateboard without wheels, Kick Flipper is an excellent way to learn the balance, footwork, and coordination basics that are essential for skateboarding, snowboarding, and surfing.  Kids can give it a try on carpet, grass, or sand. 2 || Skuut Bike  – Kids kick off the ground as if running, pushing or scooting themselves and the bike forward.  Perfect for learning balance, steering, coordination and independence to progress toward a 2 wheel pedal bike. 3 || Scooter  – If you’re on the market for a well-made, durable, and versatile toy for kids, look no further than this little square s...
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Best educational toys for preschoolers

When choosing the best toys for your classroom or for your child at home, remember that simple is best. Children will learn better in an environment that is not cluttered with toys, but instead in a space that is clean, simple, and with room for their imaginations. Here are our top 25 picks for educational toys for preschoolers. When creating this list we focused on every area of learning and the best toys for every preschool classroom, daycare or homeschool! 1. Wooden Blocks Wooden blocks are wonderful for preschool building centers. This is the ultimate for open-ended play. Children are free to use their imaginations and creativity. Wooden blocks can also be used in a number of ways to practice shapes, colors, counting and more. 2. LEGO or DUPLO blocks For preschoolers, DUPLO are the perfect size. LEGO are wonderful as a math tool to learn about shapes, patterns, counting, and measurement. 3. Dress-Up Dress-up items do not have to be fancy. Make it as simple as costume jewelry, hats...
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Classroom Management Tips for Preschool

We connected with a handful of preschool pros to learn their proven classroom management techniques. Keep reading to learn a few tricks of the trade. 1. Organize your room strategically A preschool classroom can be quite chaotic, so the way you organize is not only important, it can help ensure that effective learning is happening wherever children are stationed. There are certain tips and tricks that you can only learn from experience, according to Barbara Harvey, ECE professional and parenting educator. toddler speech delay exercises http://www.preschoolalley.com/toddler-speech-delay-exercises-tried-and-tested-tips-for-late-talkers She’s learned to separate noisy areas of the classroom from the quiet ones. For example, the blocks and other activities should be on the opposite side of the room from the reading center. These types of insights will only get stronger with experience, so make a point to try new things and see what works. 2. Create an attention-grabber With a roo...
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Top secrets of preschool teachers

You wrestle for ten minutes with your 3-year-old to get his jacket on, yet his preschool teacher has ten kids (including yours) dressed for the playground in less than three. What's her secret? Partly, of course, the advantage of not being a parent—kids really are more inclined to behave for outsiders. Check the blog HERE But it's not only that. Teachers develop all sorts of tricks to help young kids learn, keep the classroom more efficient, and make their job more enjoyable. This is hardly surprising. Preschool teachers have year after year of experience with this challenging age group. Fortunately, they're more than willing to share the keys to their success with eager (and sometimes frustrated) parents: Secret #1: Preschoolers don't have to dawdle. Why does your child seem to thwart your attempts to get you both out the door each morning but promptly turns on her heels when her teacher announces it's time to head back in from the playground? The explanation is s...
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Birthday Gift Ideas for Preschoolers

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At age 4, preschoolers have colors and shapes down pat, and their numbers and letters are coming along. A 4-year-old is able to draw and they might even be able to write her name. Attention spans are growing, making it easier to stick with activities for a longer period of time, and personalities are (with more consistent likes and dislikes) slowly coming into focus. Natural talents are starting to emerge, and you're getting a sense of what will challenge your child. As you think about birthday gifts, seek out toys that will excite and engage and develop skills she needs before heading off to kindergarten. As the owner of Magic Beans, a children's toy store in the Boston area, I have some recommendations for the types of toys that will enhance your child's skill set. • Visit Magic Beans Toy Store Online • Get Our "Best-Every Birthdays" Newsletter • Get Inspiration for Your Next Birthday Party Feeling and Communicating When starting preschool, kids become busy re...
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