What’s the Difference Between Baby 1.0 vs. Toddler 2.0?

Dear Tech Support,

Last year I upgraded from Baby 1.0 to Toddler 2.0. and noticed a distinct increase in the system’s overall performance, particularly in Tantrums 4.0 and it regularly defaults to a “No” application I never downloaded.

In addition, Toddler 2.0 uninstalled some really great programs like Regular NAPS 2.0 while installing Whining XP and Biting 4.0.

Easy-Going 8.0 no longer runs and adding cookies simply causes the system to crash just before adding SugarOverload 2.0. I’ve tried adding Pleading 3.0 and Nagging 4.0 but it works to no avail.

Someone recommended the Spanking 1.0 application but this seems counterproductive to what I am trying to do here.

What should I do?

Sincerely,

Desperate Mom

DEAR DESPERATE MOM,

Thank you for your letter. First, please keep in mind that Baby 1.0 is a Learning Package; Toddler is a full operating system.

Please enter the command: idothisbecauseiloveyou.html and download, Compassion5, Positive Discipline 3 and Love&Humor4.2. 

If the application is working as designed, Toddler 2.0 should begin running Happiness 3.0, Contentment 5 and Sweetness 3.1.

Please reconsider the Spanking 1.0 application, our research shows that overuse of this application can cause Toddler 2.0 to default to MEGAtantrums 4.3, Anger 5 with the Confusion 6.

Just so you know, all those default programs are very bad. These act as a virus and will eventually seize control of every system in Toddler 2.0.

I forgot to mention, do not attempt to reinstall Baby 1.0 back to Toddler 2.0. That system is no longer supported and will completely crash Toddler 2.0.

In summary, Toddler 2.0 is an excellent program, but it does have limited memory and cannot learn new applications as quickly as you may like. Please consider buying additional software like Parent Support 7. 

Thank you & Good Luck,

Tech Support

Getting Schooled

I think sometimes it is easy to underestimate the cleverness of preschoolers. On my brake I happen to overhear a substitute teacher managing a group of preschoolers.
"Okay, kids!" He began, "I would like to hear about how smart you are."
"Yeaaaaaaa-h!" They cheered.
"I am so glad." He laughed.

The room went silent with the exception of a few giggles.
"So children, why do you think birds fly south for the winter?"
"I know, I know!" Chimed through the room.

"Hillary, tell us what you think the answer is."
"It's a-cause birdies don't like to walk!"

The teacher hesitated, then said, "That's true! Let's clap for Hillary!"

Kids and Rainy Days

Make no mistake.
Never simply ask your children what they would like to do on a rainy day.
We can almost guarantee that what they feel like doing,
you won't feel like managing.

Unless........
You really aren't in it for the money.

The Preschooler's Snow People Song

Here is an all time winter favorite the children always have always loved whether it's via flannel story or simply acting it out. The snow people song has been a great motivation for kids to draw and tell stories about their own experiences. We frequently add concepts and facts about ice and water as well as allowing the children to freely improvise their own ideas to make the story their own. The staff and I often joke that this is the only politically correct song we know of for "people of the snowy persuasion". We hope you and your class of preschoolers enjoy this as much as we are.

Five little people all made of snow, 

five little snow people all in a row.

Out came the sun to shine all day

and one little snow person melted away....

Four little people all made of snow, 

four little snow people all in a row.

Out came the sun to shine all day

And one little snow person melted away...

Three little people all made of snow, 

three little snow people all in a row

Out came the sun to shine all day

And one little snow person melted away...

Two little people all made of snow, 

two little snow people all in a row.

Out came the sun to shine all day, 

and one little snow person melted away....

One little person all made of snow, 

one little snow person all alone.

Out came the sun to shine all day...

And one little snow person melted away....

Okay kids! Who wants to build them again?

This is the Way Preschoolers Say Thank You

I get so many thank you notes and drawings from the wonderful preschoolers I work with. It's just another one of the perks of being a teacher and a friend. I found it interesting that our preschoolers have themes to their thank you pictures sometimes.

The Five Little Pumpkins (sitting on a gate)

"This is 'aposed to be da five little punkins on the gate. I didn't drawed the gate. The punkins are wondering where it went, too. That is why they look surprised. I drawed this for you a'cuz I like you."
~ Jared
The Rolling Pumpkin

"He was rolling and fell into the graveyard thing. He said, "Hey! I'm gettin' outta this joint!" and rolled away. I don't think pumpkins like to be scared. I don't like to be scared, either. I don't blame him, ya know."
~Marrissa
Halloween Thank You Picture (Untitled)

"The cat came to sniff da pumpkins. They smell good. I drawed a lot of pumpkins because I am good at it. The other stuff is Halloween decoration for your house. Oh, and I drawed a lot of pumpkins  because I am good at it."
~Kayla

Explain it to me like I'm Three

Kindergartners David and Britney were arguing about how the telephone actually works. There is an actual phone the children have been dissecting and David took it upon himself to teach some of the children about it.
"Okay. So when you talk in the reciee-ber (receiver) part there are electrics that move with your voice, get it Brit?" David said pointing to the receiver on the phone.
"The what? Moved where? My Dad moved once...we had to get a big truck." Brit laughed.
"No. No. Have you lost your mind?" Davis said putting his hands on his hips.
 "I don't get it." She retorted.
"How can you not get it. The Electrics MOVE..."
"Hm. Still don't get it. Let's start over. Okay, explain it to me like I'm three..."

Endless Questions

"The larger the island of knowledge, 
the longer the shoreline of wonder."

~Ralph W. Sockman

Endless questions each day. From the time I walk though the classroom door to the time I walk out.

"Why isn't a banana called yellow if orange is an orange?"
"Who's your mudder (mother) and do you call her on da phone?"
"Why do you smell wiffy like a marshmallow?"
"If a cow eat-ted a Hersey Bar do we get-ted chocolate milk?"

I answer every question.
Then when I went got off work I called my mom on the to see how she was doing.....
Kids have a great way of provoking us to wonder.

One of us

I loved playing on the floor as a kid. Some of my favorite places were behind the couch and under the dining room table. Every now and then when I am vacuuming behind the couch I have this cozy feeling. I like that.
It's not often but if I get a proper opportunity I will play with kids on the floor. Sometimes I look up and see parents watching me, smiling. For some reason the kids have assigned me a plastic lion and I am told to "do the cool voice with it".
One busy afternoon  and I was subbing in the Pre-K Room with the team teacher, Ms. Lisa.  As I prepared for lunch I saw the kids approaching Ms. Lisa as she began to shake her head in confusion saying, "What is that game? How do you play it?"
"You know...come on!" Was all I heard the kids respond.
Ms. Lisa and the gaggle of kids finally approached me with toys in tow.
"Hey Ms. Barbra, do you know how to play the game the kids are talking about?" She said scratching her head.
"Hmmmmm." I smiled, "What's it called?"
"One of us!" The gaggle chimed.
"One of us?"
"You know, you played it before!" One said with an accusing a tone; arms akimbo.
"Hmmm. Show me." I challenged.
Immediately, the gaggle pulled me down to the floor and handed me a plastic lion.
"Oh yeah!" Ms. Lisa said. "Down there we are one of them!"

Hilarous Preschool Tales

We were looking at pictures of various flags from various countries. I wanted to see if the preschool children would recognize the U.S. flag. As the children marveled at the beautiful colors and asked questions we finally came the the American flag.
"Hey! I know That flag!" One preschooler shouted from over the group.
"You do?" I asked, "Tell us how you know it?"
"That's my country!"
I had to admit I was quite impressed with a child being so young. I pressed her further for answers.
"And what's the name of your country?" I smiled.
"Tis of thee!" She blurted.

Going Fast

I was thinking....
Being in early childhood education is a big responsibility. Children tend to learn what they live. In a world of fast food, instant mashed potatoes and canned curriculum...
For goodness, sake we have lemonade made from artificial lemons and furniture polish made from real lemons. Well, I said all that to say it is not only important for us grown folks to take time and smell the roses but our kids, too.
Going fast and getting everything instantly isn't always such a good thing.
My mom always said it's good for the soul when you sit and wait for something that's coming slow...

more than one way

"You don't understand anything until
you learn it more than one way."

~Marvin Minsky

So...technically I did say we were doing body painting art. I just didn't mean on each other.
This is a great project, by the way. Be sure to be specific as to what you would like for the children paint.
Ahem.
Next time we will start with hand prints.

learning from my mistakes

"Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn and you will."

 ~Vernon Howard

I have the power to set kids up for failure or success. I am always thinking ahead and figuring "what if" scenarios. I suppose in a way it is setting me up for success as well.
Sometimes we learn better from mistakes. But if I can find out the mistakes others have made and simply not do them I would prefer to learn that way. Some days...yes, some days...things will happen.
Finding humor in it while learning helps me remember, too.

I Like Your Hairs!

Awwwwwe.
Thanks.

back when I was a little kid

"Ms. Barbra! Ms. Barbra! Hey!"
"Goodness gravy is everything alright? What's the fuss?"
"Oh, yeah...okay, I'd talking to you wit my inside voice now, okay?"
"I appreciate that, Andrea. Now what would you like to tell me?"
"I can tie-d my show now, lookie here."
"That's wonderful, Andrea. You know, you showed me and everyone else that you could do it yesterday, remember?"
"Yeah, uh-huh. But that was back-ed then. When I was a little kid."

itty bitty cows

We were all making a recipe that involved canned milk. Many of the children had never seen milk in a can before. As we were investigating, poking and prodding at all the ingredients before we began I overheard a discussion between the preschooler.

"I never-ed saw that a-before! Milk in a little itty-bitty can! He-He!" Paulie was holding up the can and shaking it.
"It's called condensed milk." I explained.
"OOoooh. Is it made from condensed cows, Ms Barbra?" One child inquired.
"Uh....no. No condensed cows." I said trying not to laugh.
"Cool." Said one child grabbing the can to inspect it further.
"So...Ms. Bar-ba? Nina asked.
"Yes?"
"How do they get the cows to sit down on these itty-bitty cans?"

Why Kids Don't Like"Natural Food"

"Vegetables are the food of the earth;

 fruit seems more the food of the heavens." ~Sepal Felicivant

Lunchtime at preschool is also pick up time for many of the half day preschoolers. We usually have older siblings come in and finish up their lunch with the preschoolers while the families and I have a chat. Well, we try to have a chat, anyway, we wind up listening to the children's conversations as well. An older brother was giving the little ones advice on why everyone should finish their veggies.

"So little kids, you guys are going to eat your fruit and veggies, right?" He said pointing at their green beans.
"Yeeee-ahhh." Some said in unison.
"But what about you, little guy?" The brother asked.
"Ew." Said one little one looking at his untouched peas.
"Ew? Ew, what? Those are good for you, but just don't eat natural food." He said shaking one finger in the air.
"Nature-food is bad?" Questioned one three-year-old.
"It is!" Said the sibling, "My teacher told me about a guy who died of natural causes. That's bad, kids."

Understanding Preschoolers and Sharing

"The greatest oak was once a

little nut who held its ground."

I love to have The Toddlers Creed poem up on the preschool room door. A sense of humor and go a long way when a parent is concerned about a child not sharing right away in preschool. The words, developmentally approprate and milestone in development just don't have the same effect when a parent simply wants their child to be everyone's friend and pal.  I actually do like the fact that the preschoolers begin to assert themselves. After all, it is a critical time in their development while they experiment with language. The key for me is to be available to them through the process.
I always tell families, "It's all just fine. Besides, we are all highly trained professionals here."

The Toddlers Creed

If I want it,

it's mine.

If I give it to you and change my mind later,

it's mine

If I can take it away from you,

it's mine.

If I had it a little while ago,

it's mine.

If it's mine,

it will never belong to anybody else,

no matter what.

If we are building something together,

all the pieces are mine.

If it looks just like mine,

it is mine.

Poetry for Children in Early Childhood Education

Trees

The Oak is called the king of trees,

The Aspen quivers in the breeze,

The Poplar grows up straight and tall,

The Peach tree spreads along the wall,

The Sycamore gives pleasant shade,

The Willow droops in watery glade,

The Fir tree useful in timber gives,

The Beech amid the forest lives.

~Sarah Coleridge

Poetry in early childhood settings has always worked for me to inspire the children in new ways of learning. They really like silly poems but some poetry can be quite education. If we can't make up a melody for it we will chant it out. For this circle time poem, the children love to stand in a tight circle and act out it out. I let them act out the movements to make it their own. At the end of the poem we all decided to squeeze together and say the last line.
That is, if the children can stop giggling...
We learn poems fairly quickly when we act them out....
What are your favorites?

Know it all.

 "Can we actually "know" the universe?  I mean, it's hard

enough finding your way around in Chinatown."

We had a Dad-parent come in and do an activity with the preschoolers. He said he had had some left over materials from a Solar System activity he and the older sibling had worked on and was positive the kids would love it.
I agreed but also let him know the kids are much younger. The dad is a High School teacher. "Piece of cake." He said.
We saw maps, a short video, and he began to teach the kids the names of the planets using word association. I found it interesting but I noticed the preschoolers squirming and tickling each other after about ten minutes.
I was about to rescue him when one of the kids raised his hand.
"Ah, a question!" The dad said looking rather pleased. "What's the question?"
"Um, do we have to know all this?"
"Oh....no, its just something really cool to know about."
"Oh good." Said the preschooler shaking his head; he looked relieved.
"Well why do you say it like that?" The dad asked.
"Well,this is cool ,'Jamie's Dad', but I have a hard enough time re-a-membering to clean my room."

The Pasta Authoritarian

"I think kids like spaghetti because it they need lots of adult attention when they eat it."

I often wonder exactly how kids come up with some of their notions. I was sharing some pasta the preschoolers cooked with an older sibling of one of my kids. He took it upon himself to give the kids some insight about pasta. He loves to be an authority on anything we are doing in the preschool because he has an adoring throng. Here's how it went:
"Hey, kids! You guys made this pasta?
Everone one answered in unicine with mouthfulls of spaghetti."Yeeee-ah."
"Cool. Did you know pasta comes from Italy?"
"What's Ital-ly?" One preschooler asked.
"It's where they make pasta." He explained. "There are to kinds of pasta, you know."
"Two? What two?"
"Pasta and anti-pasta"
"What's anti-pasta?" another child asked.
"One is like spaghetti and one comes with a salad."
"Oooooo-hhhh." Said the preschoolers.
"But don't eat pasta and anti-pasta together, you know why?
"Why?" Said the group wide eyed.
"You won't be hungry if you eat them together."