Preschool Curriculum Activities that Promote Socialization

"Feelings are much like waves, we can't stop them from coming but we can choose which one to surf."
~Jonatan Mårtensson

Helping young children to be socially aware has always been a passion of ours. I was said by Professor James Heckman (Noble Prize winning Economist) that as far as our future generations are concerned; social skills are just and important, if not more, than I.Q.
Starting another blog that dealt primarily with preschool curriculum revolving around personal awareness and social skills for young children was in order. We also found that these activities are great for all ages!
We hope you check it out and would love to hear your feedback.

All Together We're Better :Great preschool curriculm & teaching techniques that are adaptable for all ages. We are getting kids ready for the skills they need for success in life!

Changing a Child's Life

Children are one third of our population and all of our future. 
~Select Panel for the Promotion of Child Health, 1981

Every so often we get to see what the majority of children go though in their own lives. Working in various environments and socioeconomic settings has really opened our eyes to the importance of paying attention to our families as well as young children. Getting the right support and skills needed for a family as well as a child is a forefront for success skills for later in life.

The Ounce of Prevention

"Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see."

~Neil Postman, The Disappearance of Childhood (introduction), 1982

 Senator Obama spoke in at the Ounce of Prevention Fund's Spring Luncheon. He acknowledged programs such as these among others for for their innovation and proving at risk children can achieve success. Years later we are seeing that people are truly listening and what we knew to be possible now is coming with a plan.

Early Learning Research on Executive Function

 "If our American way of life fails the child, it fails us all." 

~Pearl S. Buck

 Nobel Prize winner Dr. James Heckman spoke at Washington State University about recent early learning research. He is passionate about proving the importance of non-cognitive skills such as soft skills. Trying to track and measure executive functions as well as cognitive functions have been quite a task. Why? Improvements in these in these social-emotional skills show kids do better academically.
In Early Childhood Education, this is something we are all passionate about!

Building Skills in Early Childhood Education

" It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." 

~Frederick Douglass

Fostering a positive environment in the child's home proves to be a great foundation for success.
Nobel laureate, James Heckman, discusses how skills build upon skills, which makes it easier to acquire skills for success in future years.  Improving the workforce of next century starts with us building these soft skills up in our children. Starting at the earliest ages birth to age five has been the main course of study.

The New Poor

“I’m just trying to get my life situated to where I can look beyond the day to day, I hope it all falls together the way it all fell apart.”

The is a very touching artical in this months the NY times examining the parents struggle with job and childcare situations while trying to recover from the widespread strains of the Great Recession. We hear many stories and situations that are very similar...

Early Learning and the Brain

 The University of Washington Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences is an interdisciplinary center conducting innovative research on lifelong learning and the brain.

They test mimicking behaviors in children as forms of learning and actually measure signature brain waves in babies. They are finding that kids learn faster in the first few years life than they time. This decade is proving to be the year of brain research.

High Quality Learning Environments

" A three year old child is a being who gets almost as

much fun out of a fifty-six dollar set of swings as it 

does out of finding a small green worm."  

~Bill Vaughan

The importance of High Quality Learing environments has been precipitated by Economist Professor James Heckman. He has done tons of research on why kids who have a great start have a better chance at avoiding the major pitfalls we see so prevalent today. Families prove to be a major source of contributing to the development of young children. This we knew, but it's nice to hear people talking about it....

Soft Skills in Early Childhood Education

 Soft Skills such as perseverance, attention, motivation, and self-confidence contribute greatly to "success in society at large. Professor James Heckman has confirmed skills such as these are not only predictive in academic success scores but for successful adults as well. Needful life skills such as these have a foundation in quality early childhood programs and healthy families.
"Fixing people" before potholes and other American concerns. We're listening....

Human Service and Education News

 There are some severe cuts to childcare programs California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed this month. Take a look at what is happening with Human Services and Education right now.

Childhood Obesity; Less is More

 Fighting childhood obesity is all our problem. Kids now spend less time playing, running and doing physical activities than ever before. Even in preschool settings many children spend most of their time in an inactive state.
Let's keep our kids active and eating properly.

Help for Kids With Autism

I learned to work so closely with families through wonderful kids that happen to have this condition. Sometimes communication is not so easy, words and feelings become dammed up and shaken up like a carbonated drink.
I believe we have all experienced this in our lives but unless we can tap into that empathy and compassion it will be difficult to truly relate to how an child with autism feels.
I appreciate the strength and courage of the families and teachers that have worked together to support one another. Let's hope that financial help for families through Health Care laws can start a change for many families.

Kids Learn to Go Green With Recycling!

 It is really exciting when kids begin to understand to benefits to going green and recycling. Not only does it save money, but keeps our planet in a much healthier condition. I was excited to read about what one school is doing by allowing the kids to "Go Green" and fully take part!

Investing in People

 Quality early childhood programs not only help develop the next generation but know that the family is a vital part of a child's education. It's nice to know there we are working toward a better brighter future for our families by investing in them. People that understand there are no 'small things', just small things done with great love that will make a difference. Small really is big after all.....