Your Tablet: More than a T.V. Screen

October 6th, 2014

Since most households now have access to a smart phone or a tablet, it’s time to start looking at free and inexpensive resources which are available to us. It’s very easy to give a child a tablet or phone and let them watch, but it’s so much more beneficial to let them play and discover.

Anytime I walk into a classroom with my iPad, I know the children will ALL want a turn for whatever activity I have planned. These young learners are already, “technologically literate.” They know more about my iPad then I do. It is truly amazing to watch these children dive into technology as if it were a second language.

Below you’ll find links to a website which gives recommendations for “the best music apps for children,” and “the best Spanish apps for children.” Most of them are either free or reasonably priced. They contain the Mr. Hunter Seal of Approval!

Music apps: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/best-music-apps-for-kids

Spanish apps: http://bestappsforkids.com/category/apps-for-education/language-apps/learning-spanish/

With the latest update from Apple computers, iOs 8, all iPhones and iPads have been uploaded with a great program called “Garage Band”. It allows us to record songs, play instruments, layer tracks, and add prerecorded music to existing singing. This new app allows children to become pop stars and really explore the technological side to music recording. It’s fun for all ages! Below you will find a link which gives some simple instructions on how to introduce garage band to your children.

http://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/how_help_your_kids_make_music_garageband_ipad

As an educator, I myself, use a lot of these resources while teaching the children at LifeSpan School and Daycare. I find that children become “electronically literate,” much faster than most adults. It’s up to us to encourage them!

Below you will find a great article from “The Alliance For Childhood” about the importance of Technological Literacy in Children.

http://drupal6.allianceforchildhood.org/technology_literacy

As always, if you have any questions and you see me walking about, feel free to stop and ask!

Easy to Grow Fruits and Vegetables

May 7th, 2014

By Jocelyn Psitos

Now is a great time to start thinking about gardening with your child. It’s fun. It’s therapeutic. It’s a great learning experience. And, it will be one of those family memories that you and your child will always hold dear.

Raising your own fruit and vegetables is a rewarding and economical choice. If you’re a    beginning gardening, start with low-maintenance varieties that grow well in your local climate.

Undemanding, easy-to-grow vegetables include peas, snap beans, onions, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes and a variety of leafy greens such as lettuce and spinach. Fruits include strawberries, raspberries, grapes, currants and gooseberries.

While sunlight requirements vary among gardener crops, most fruits and vegetables require full sun for most of the day. Plant your garden away from large trees that might shade the plants, and take advantage of the southwest sun as much as possible.

Refer to your seed packets when planning your planting schedule. Some plants, such as peas, are cool weather crops, while others, such as tomatoes, require warmer soil

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/facts_7513419_easy-grow-fruits-vegetables.html#ixzz312xwqwz1

The Benefits of Yoga for Kids

April 7th, 2014

V__20E2Gymnastics, swimming, dance, martial arts, basketball, soccer… There are already many choices available to parents for physical, movement-based extracurricular classes for their children. What makes yoga different? And what are the benefits for yoga for children?

Our children live in a hurry-up world of busy parents, school pressures, incessant lessons, video games, malls, and competitive sports. We usually don’t think of these influences as stressful for our kids, but often they are. The bustling pace of our children’s lives can have a profound effect on their innate joy—and usually not for the better. By practicing yoga poses, children can learn how to exercise, develop confidence, and concentrate better. As yoga becomes more popular in schools through physical education classes and after-school programs, yoga’s rising popularity can be attributed to its basic stretching advantages and improved body awareness, with the added component of a mind-body connection. Yoga is beneficial to children in many ways. Because children encounter emotional, social, and physical challenges or conflicts, a dedicated and intentional yoga practice that includes breathing techniques, behavioral guidelines, and physical postures can be incredibly valuable for them.  Yoga is something children can practice anywhere and that the breathing, the concentration, the poses, and the way children learn to act or react to situations, will lead to constant self-discovery and inquisitiveness, yoga builds self-esteem and self-respect. A child’s yoga practice is a rare opportunity to experience play and focus without worrying about being wrong, yoga is an option for children who shy away from physical activity or group activities for fear of failure or being picked last, and it helps athletic children excel in other physical activities and sports, yoga introduces cornerstone values such as non-harming, truthfulness, moderation, cleanliness, gratitude, and self-discipline.. Read the rest of this entry »

Grab your hat and read with the Cat in the Hat on Monday, March 3, 2014

March 5th, 2014

Title: Grab your hat and read with the Cat in the Hat on Monday, March 3, 2014,
On March 3rd, in honor of Dr. Seuss’s 110th Birthday, we celebrate the 17th annual Read Across America Day. The Seussical celebration kicks off a week of reading across the nation. LifeSpan School and Day Care is no different. This entire week, we celebrate not only Dr. Seuss, but enhancing literacy in young minds. Although this week is very special and near and dear to our hearts, we cannot forget to encourage literacy EVERY DAY!
Literacy and reading is an important stepping stone in the development of a young mind. Here at LifeSpan, we encourage literacy in many different and creative ways. Whether it be a simple read aloud, or a Dr. Seuss Sing a-long; we use these tools to broaden the horizon in the young minds we care for.. Read the rest of this entry »

Grandparents raising their grandchildren

January 14th, 2014

Here at LifeSpan we have noticed an increase in the numbers of extended family members, namely grandparents, who are raising their grandchildren.  Many grandparents are stepping in to raise their grandchildren because their parents are not able to do so. In fact, the U.S. Census of 2000 found that over 2.4 million grandparents have responsibility for their grandchildren, in Pennsylvania, about 79,000 grandparents are raising their grandchildren. Some 60 percent of grandparents served as caregivers to their grandchildren over a ten-year period, and of that group, a whopping 70 percent offered care for two years or more, according to a new study from the University of Chicago based on a National Institute on Aging survey of more than 13,000 people age 50 and older. Many are serving as part- time babysitters or caregivers to help reduce the financial cost of child care while others have taken on more primary caregiver roles.  We hope to assist you in managing it as best you can. It can present some unique challenges and we have gathered some resources here to guide you through this time. Read the rest of this entry »

22 Fire Safety Tips for Christmas

December 4th, 2013

Nobody wishes for a house fire for Christmas, but it is easy to let the spirit of the season distract us from fire safety practices. Now is the time to brush up on the small things that can keep our families safe during the holidays.

If you have children, or expect children to visit for the holidays, get down at toddler level and you may be surprised at the hidden hazards in your home. A little time and attention at the outset can save a world of regret later.

22 Fire Safety Tips for Christmas

Your Christmas Tree

1. If you desire a real Christmas tree, choose a fresh one and don’t let it dry out — check the water level every day.

2. Do not hang on to your tree after it becomes dry and needles begin to fall out, this is considered kindle…. Read the rest of this entry »

Why Is It Important to Read to Your Child?

October 30th, 2013

 

Goodnight Moon, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Where the Wild Things Are, The Cat in the Hat, and Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus are very popular books that children seem to love! They are lots of fun to read and have bright, creative pictures. Reading even 15 minutes each day to your child will benefit him or her in so many ways. Reading helps a child to begin to speak by hearing words being read to them. This will also help a child to expand his or her vocabulary as they are getting older and to read and speak fluently. Showing a child that books are fun and that it is important to read may help a child to value reading and also feel the importance of reading. Reading helps with a child’s imagination. Sometimes the story may run through someone’s mind like a movie. This may also happen to a child. Additionally, a child at a young age who observes someone reading to them will see and experience how to properly hold a book and turn the pages in a book. These are only a few examples of how reading at least 15 minutes a day to your child will help benefit them!

Please visit: www.readaloud.org

Check out this great new resource provided to Pennsylvania families.

September 10th, 2013

Guiding your child’s learning and growth from the start – the Early Learning GPS

  • ·         What do you do if your baby won’t stop crying?
  • ·         Is TV good for toddlers?
  • ·         I like my child’s preschool teacher, but is that enough to make sure he’s ready for kindergarten? Early Learning GPS

With young children, questions like these can come up every day. You want what’s best for your child, and you want to prepare them for kindergarten, but may not know what you need to know or even where to start.

Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children’s Early Learning GPS can help. GPS stands for Guiding Parents Smoothly – helping families set the right course for their children’s success in kindergarten and beyond. It’s great for anyone who has a young child in their life- grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends and neighbors. You can get started at www.papromiseforchildren.com.

So how does it work? You answer up to 10 questions about your baby, toddler or preschooler. After you answer a question, you receive helpful tips and links to reliable resources. You can also complete a short worksheet with ways you want to use these tips in your daily life. The questions address the most important things you should know and can do to help your young child learn and grow. Read the rest of this entry »

Ways to Be Organized for the New School Year?

August 26th, 2013

What are Some Ways to Be Organized for the New School Year?

School has either started or will be starting within the next week or two.  The beginning of a new school year is full of excitement and is the perfect chance to create a routine and be organized. It may be helpful to have different colored folders and dividers for each school subject, so that way information regarding a particular subject can all be found in one place. Keeping supplies organized is important as well. Organizing pencils, erasers, crayons, etc. will help with being prepared for assignments and completing class work and homework. Another way to stay organized is to arrange a specific area or desk at home. This organized area can help provide a positive atmosphere to complete homework. Setting up a schedule may be helpful. If you feel as though you are rushing in the morning, then organizing your school bag, getting lunch ready, and setting out your outfit the night before may be very helpful and make the morning less stressful!

Fun End of Summer Ideas

July 29th, 2013

It is the end of July, which means that there is about one more month until school starts.  There are many fun end of summer activities and games to do with your child.  It is a good time to have a backyard campout.  Set up tents outback and make s’mores!  Another idea is to go for a bike ride together and have a picnic at the park. Bake cookies and turn them into ice cream sandwiches, take a trip to the beach and collect seashells, and playing at the playground are all fun end of summer activities to do with your child before he or she goes back to school.