Is your child ready for school?

School readiness is a term we often hear this time of year as millions of children prepare to enter kindergarten. But readiness for school starts much earlier, not a few months before the school bell rings! The question is, “what makes a child ready and eager to learn, and what can you as a parent of an infant or an older child do to foster a happy, spontaneous learner? There is no magic formula, but be aware that learning involves more than A, B, C’s, and 1, 2, 3’s. Important areas to focus on are social, emotional, and physical learning. Readiness for school begins with good health, and good health begins before birth with good prenatal care!

Parents play a significant role in the lives of children as they begin to grow and develop. Experts agree that parents are the child’s first teacher, and they can stimulate and encourage them to be lifelong learners. Start by giving your child plenty of opportunities for physical activities to develop both large and small muscle skills. Build fine motor coordination with blocks, puzzles, and other manipulatives. Encourage cutting with scissors, drawing, and coloring. Remember, staying in the lines is not important at first. What we often refer to as scribbling is a developmental milestone in pre-writing skills. Never underestimate buttoning, unbuttoning, zipping, and tying for helping those little fingers to become more agile.

For large motor skills, normal types of play activities like running, climbing, swinging, and pedaling promote coordination and muscle development. Mastering general types of independent skills is also very important. At an early age, encourage life skills such as feeding, toileting, dressing, and undressing. Separating from parents by building ties outside of the family unit is a great accomplishment for children. The next step is becoming a part of a group, and this demands social skills such as sharing, respecting others, communicating feelings, and asking for help when it is needed.

Children often have to work at being good listeners, remembering, and following directions. Read to your child and have them retell the story. Give directions in 2 or 3 parts, and see if your child can complete the task. Ask questions that stimulate thinking, such as, “How is a bicycle like a car?” or “How can I keep these ice cubes from melting?” Affirm your child’s importance by answering questions and appreciating efforts in everything from art and music, to gymnastics and soccer. Let your child take risks and make mistakes. Remember, your child is learning!

Fun time! Since we have a long weekend, here is a recipe to make maple popcorn.
1 cup sugar
½ cup butter
¼ cup light corn syrup
¼ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon maple extract
3 quarts popped popcorn
In a saucepan, combine sugar, butter, corn syrup, and baking soda. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir constantly for about 2 minutes until the mixture is golden. Remove from heat. Stir in maple extract. Pour over popcorn, and toss to coat. Cool slightly, and break apart. Enjoy!
For more info: See my recent article on Expressive Art: http://www.examiner.com/x-20301-East-LA-Child-Care-Examiner~y2009m9d2-Expressive-art-and-your-child