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Back to School 2011 Cont'd

Written by Southwest Orlando Bulletin Staff

Preparing Children for School

submitted by Leighann Samuda through
Bright Horizons eFamily News
Bright Horizons
407-654-9693
www.brighthorizons.com/wintergarden

There is no reason for parents to be anxious about school readiness. Children who come from homes where adults read; parents spend time engaged with their children; literacy is valued; and children have social interactions with other children in a child care, play group or preschool setting are usually well-prepared for kindergarten.

However, there are some common myths parents should be aware of:

Myth No. 1 — Learning the alphabet is crucial to school readiness.

The truth: While important, learning the alphabet is a memorization skill. It is more important that children recognize letters and identify their sounds.

Myth No. 2 — Children need to count to 50 before going to grade school.

The truth: Again, while it is important that children understand the order of numbers, it is far more important to understand the idea of 1-to-1 correspondence (each number counted corresponds to an object, person, etc.) and to understand quantity.

Myth No. 3 — The more teacher directed the learning, the better.

The truth: Children internalize concepts more fully when they are actively engaged in exploration and learning, versus being told by someone else. Teachers should be there to guide learning.

Myth No. 4 — The more a program looks like the school parents remember, the more children will learn.

The truth: Young children learn best in an environment that allows them to make choices and select their own materials for at least part of the day, as well as empowers them to try new things.

Getting a Well-Balanced Education

by Amanda K. Christensen, assistant director
Kiddie U
407-345-5550
www.kiddieu.org		 It almost is time to return to school and routine and structure. Gone are the late nights and inconsistent non-routines. Believe it or not, children crave and thrive best when able to anticipate their next activity. This does not just begin in kindergarten; this holds true with infants and toddlers, as well, so now may be the right time to give children a well-balanced education.

A well-balanced education is not just exposing children to culture, reading, writing, arithmetic, music and the arts. It is all of this and more. In addition to the aforementioned, care providers should be embracing structure, and social and emotional development.

When it comes to researching child care options, it is easy to be enticed by the academic pursuits of a program. What is being observed in early education is that academic exposure should be weighted equally with social and emotional achievement.

Having enriched conversations between children and early childhood teachers who love and facilitate a child’s growth in a group setting reaps bountiful rewards. Enrolling children in a program that is academically driven and nurtures social and emotional confidence and development will have lifelong learning benefits.

Why Choose a Lutheran School?

by Melissa Bergholt, president
Trinity Lutheran School
407-488-1919
www.trinitydowntown.org		 There are many reasons why parents may choose to send their children to a Christian school as opposed to a public or charter school. One of the foremost reasons is the high value they place on the quality Christ-centered instruction that is integrated throughout the core subjects.

Lutheran schools are one option when considering a Christian education, and Lutheran schools are driven by a commitment to the Gospel. They meet or exceed state and national academic standards. The schools help to instill a minimum of 30 developmental skills in children. They have educators who model visionary, servant and spiritual leadership.

Lutheran Schools have a rich history. The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod has been involved in offering a quality Christian education for more than 200 years. This school system consists of more than 2,300 early childhood programs and more than 945 elementary schools, which provide educations to more than 236,000 students, ranging from infants to eighth-graders.

Back-to-School Anxiety

by Amy Smith, M.S., N.C.C., L.M.H.C.
Life Skills Resource Group
866-884-5774
www.mylsrg.com		 What if I do not like my teacher? Will I be liked? These are just a few examples of thoughts children may have when returning to school.

Anxiety is a normal part of life and can actually help a person avoid dangerous situations and high-risk activities. This type of anxiety is generally short-lived and usually harmless. However, those who suffer from an anxiety disorder can experience excessive fear, nervousness and shyness, and may avoid certain situations and places.

Anxiety sufferers are affected on three levels — mentally, physically and behaviorally. Children often do not have the words to explain that they are feeling worried or anxious, so they say “My tummy hurts,” or “I feel sick.” Naturally, parents respond to these physical complaints by taking a child to the family physician. Although the family physician is the place to start, if a child experiences these symptoms often and the doctor cannot explain why, it may be helpful to talk with a trained counselor.

It is important for children and parents to recognize the effects of excessive worrying and to learn the skills needed to cope with anxiety. The good news is that anxiety in children and adults is treatable.

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