Your child 5 year old child will experience enormous physical and emotional growth this year. We focus on the physical because we can measure it and see it but we cannot measure the emotional growth of a 5 year old as easily.  You’ll have to make observations about the emotional growth as it matures during this school year.  The American School ...

When my daughter was 24 years old she said to me ‘I have one complaint about how you and Dad raised me’.  Oh, boy, I thought, what is coming next? She said ‘you taught us how to say thank you’ and that is the problem.  Still not quite understanding her, she went on to explain that when you are raised to say thank you at all times, you always ...

Young children crave and need routines in their lives.  It makes them feel safe when they know what to expect not only at school but at home as well.  One of the routines that often fall by the wayside in homes is discipline.  Discipline being teaching your child about right and wrong and what you will and won’t accept from their behavior.  By ...

Wouldn’t raising a child be so easy if all children did everything that was asked of them at all times?  Talk about living in a fantasy world! Since children are children, and we know that perfect behavior does not happen all of the time, there are ways to help teach your child about appropriate behavior no matter where you are.  The most ...

What is the last thing that most parents say to their children before they head out to school?  “Be good at school!”  Famous last words.  Parents know exactly what they expect from their child by reminding them to ‘be good.’  The problem is that most 5 and 6 year olds have absolutely no idea what mom and dad mean when they say ‘be good at ...

Blog  51 Time Out Table in Kindergarten You might wonder about the number one question that parents ask Kindergarten and First Grade teachers at the start of the school year.  It is not about Academics, Assessments, Daily Schedules, Curriculum, Seating Arrangements, etc.  Oh,no. The number one question is about discipline.  How do we handle ...

I would just like to say a few sentences to all parents who have forced their child to go to the next grade level when he/she wasn’t at all ready or well prepared. I mostly am talking about Kindergarten retention and moving on to first grade when you shouldn’t, but what I have to say goes for any early elementary grade level. When an elementary ...

How Was Your Day When your child comes home from school please take some time and have a conversation with him/her about how the day went.  When you ask “How was your day?” don’t accept a one word answer like fine or OK. Really?  Your child has been out of your sight for 7 or more hours and you are willing to accept a one word answer telling you ...

Here is a wonderful site from PBS that will help you to track the skills your child should possess for his/her age. Take a look at how your child should be functioning in the following areas according to his age: Approach to Learning Creative Arts Language Literacy Math Physical Health Social and Emotional ...

Does your child have a dress up corner?  It’s time to give them one.  Playing ‘dress up’ gives children an opportunity to dream, stretch imagination and stimulate creativity.  Children work hard at this type of play because they have to make it up themselves and they learn a great deal while having fun.  There are many stores and online sites that ...