While we tend to attribute impatience to children, everyone struggles with patience to a certain degree. Our fast-paced, instant-gratification culture usually allows us to avoid waiting for things we want.
Children are already prone to impatience. It’s no surprise that children these days, surrounded by instant gratification, usually lack patience.
However, everyone would agree that patience is a necessary life skill. It takes time (no pun intended) to develop patience in children, but this character quality is vital to living a fulfilled adult life.
Why Are Children Impatient?
No one has to teach a child to be impatient; it’s human nature! Even before a child can talk, they want their toy or snack, and they want it now!However, there can be contributing factors to a child’s impatience.
Technology
Cell phones, tablets, televisions, and game consoles are just a sampling of technological devices children have access to these days. Each one contains highly addictive programs that require minimal effort to enjoy but make it harder for children to persevere during real-life challenges.
Instant Gratification
Instant gratification comes in many forms: food from the drive-thru instead of a homemade meal, reading a book instead of watching a movie, or paying for same-day delivery instead of waiting a week for shipping.
Modeled Impatience
Children learn how to respond to life’s circumstances from the adult role models in their life. If their parent models impatience, it’s likely the child will, as well.
Why Is Patience Important?
Patience is vital to live a happy and fulfilled life. Patience improves your self-esteem, relationships, and life achievements, such as education, career opportunities, and financial stability.
While many of our desires can be granted quickly, there are still things in life that take time, and there’s no way to speed up the process. Someone unable to wait will be incapacitated, jumping from one best thing to the next–as long as it doesn’t take too long.
Patience and perseverance go hand-in-hand. A child who doesn’t learn to persevere through hard times will not meet their potential and face continual discouragement.
Ways to Help Your Child Develop Patience
It’s primarily the parent’s job to model and teach a child to be patient. This is because parents should be the biggest role models and authority figures in their child’s life. While other authority figures like teachers and grandparents are influential, if the parent isn’t consistent, the child likely won’t learn patience.
Luckily, there are plenty of practical and fun ways to model and teach patience.
Modeling Patience
Children learn more by observation than by education. You can tell your child to be patient with their homework, but if you get frustrated at the Internet speed, your child will likely follow your example of impatience.
Choosing to have a positive spin can help your child be more patient. For instance, if you’re waiting in a long grocery line, playing a game like counting all the candy that’s a certain color. Delaying gratification is a wonderful exercise for adults, too!
Patience Games
Games are an excellent way to improve patience skills without children realizing it. Here are some favorite patience games:
Hide and Seek: This classic game teaches children to wait to be found
Mother, May I?: Also called “Captain, May I?”, this game teaches respectful questioning and patience skills
Freeze: Play a favorite dance song and pause at random intervals and for various lengths of time. The child should remain “frozen” until the music begins again.
Popcorn Game: Sitting in a circle, pass around a bowl of popcorn in which each child takes only one piece of popcorn to eat at a time. This game teaches turn-taking and patience.
Delay Gratification
There are countless ways you can help your child learn patience by delaying gratification. Delayed gratification doesn’t mean you withhold anything–you just delay it.
For instance, you can bake cookies instead of opening a package of cookies. In both cases, your child still gets a cookie, but baking them stretches their patience (and is a bonding experience!).
Other ways you can delay gratification include:
Work towards a goal: Whether it’s saving up for a new toy or cleaning up their room before going to the park, children experience greater joy and satisfaction in their reward when they’ve worked for it.
Save toys and treats for special occasions: Children who routinely get a trinket or treat develop an unhealthy expectation that they should get rewards all the time. While you can still surprise your child with a treat, saving rewards for special occasions helps children develop patience and realistic expectations.
Creating (and sticking with!) boundaries: Whether it’s a treat, toy, or breakfast cereal, children will often push your boundaries. But sticking with your boundaries helps children develop patience because they learn to not give in to every whim.
Praise the Progress
Patience is a developed skill; children have no idea what patience is until you point it out.
Praising your child for exhibiting patience should be easy and delightful–they did it! Rejoice and celebrate together! You may be surprised at how much your child wants to please you, and if patience pleases you, they are more likely to do it. So make it a big deal and enjoy the rewards of your hard work!
Patience is a necessary life skill for children to have happy and fulfilling adult lives. It takes a lot of effort and consistency, but the rewards are worth it!
At Children’s Academy Childcare, our teachers are skilled at helping children learn patience. Our schedule helps children learn patience through taking turns, learning fine and gross motor skills, and cooperative play.
Children’s Academy Childcare and Preschool is proud to offer an outstanding curriculum that is educational, fun, and prepares your child for kindergarten per state educational standards.
The Week of the Young Child is a special time dedicated to honoring the importance of early childhood education and celebrating the remarkable journey of young children. For daycare facilities, this annual celebration holds immense significance, serving as a reminder of the crucial role they play in shaping the lives of young learners.
What is the Week of the Young Child?
The Week of the Young Child, established by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), is an annual event held during the first week of April. It aims to recognize the needs of young children and to celebrate the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.
Importance of the Week of the Young Child in Childcare:
Advocating for Early Childhood Education: By participating in events, sharing resources, and engaging with policymakers, childcare providers can raise awareness about the critical role of early learning in preparing children for success in school and life.
Celebrating the Achievements of Young Learners: Childcare centers use the Week of the Young Child to celebrate the achievements and milestones of the children in their care. These celebrations boost children’s confidence and self-esteem while fostering a sense of pride in their accomplishments.
Engaging Families and Communities: Daycare providers invite parents, grandparents, and community members to participate in special events, workshops, and activities that promote family engagement and support children’s learning and development. These connections strengthen the bond between childcare centers and the families they serve, creating a supportive network for young children.
Promoting Professional Development: Childcare providers attend workshops, seminars, and conferences focused on early childhood education to best support the children’s growth and development. This week offers many specialized opportunities for this to occur.
Embracing Diversity and Inclusion: The Week of the Young Child celebrates the rich diversity of children and families by incorporate activities and discussions that honor different cultures, languages, and traditions. By creating inclusive environments where all children feel valued and supported, childcare centers lay the foundation for future success.
By participating in this annual event, childcare providers reaffirm their commitment to providing high-quality early childhood education and nurturing the potential of young learners. Reminding everyone that childcare centers play a vital role in shaping the future of our youngest citizens and building a brighter tomorrow.
If you haven’t noticed by now, your child grows and matures at a rapid speed! While this is most noticeable in the infant and toddler years, children of all ages are making many neurological connections that will aid them the rest of their lives.
Children learn primarily through play. Playtime is their “school” or “job” to develop the skills they need later for their actual schooling and occupations. When you see playtime as education, then you’ll want to provide your child with toys that grow their brains, bodies, and language skills.
Should All Toys Be Educational?
Not necessarily, but most of them should be.
Toys shape your child’s understanding and interpretation of their world. If every toy has lights, noises, music, or some technology component, they won’t be satisfied with anything that isn’t interactive in later years.
To give another word picture, toys are the “food” that nourishes your child’s brain, body, and language development. Children who grow up playing with open-ended toys (that is, toys that can be used in more than one way, like blocks) are more likely to be curious, have excellent problem-solving skills, and be more content, than children who play with highly-stimulating or tech-based toys.
If toys are like food, then open-ended toys are like the nutritious parts of a meal and tech toys are like dessert. They can be permissible, even more than once a day, but shouldn’t be your primary nutrition source.
How Your Child Develops
You must remember that your child develops in three primary areas: cognitive (which includes emotions), physical, and speech/language skills.
Cognitive development includes areas like problem-solving, decision-making, abstract thinking, and emotional regulation.
Physical development would be both gross and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills are big movements, like walking, running, jumping, climbing, etc. Fine motor skills involve picking up or manipulating small objects purposefully.
Speech and language skills include growing a vocabulary, developing sentence structure, and comprehending what others are saying.
A developmental toy will encourage growth in one or more of these areas.
Developmental Toys for Babies
The best developmental toys for babies are those with high-contrast colors. This is because their vision is still developing, so toys with bright or high-contrasting colors (like black and white) and bold patterns will grab and keep their attention. Playmats with mobiles are great for newborns, while blocks, stacking rings, and rattles are good choices for older babies.
Toys with various textures are another excellent option, as babies want to touch everything–and put it in their mouth! Many wonderful sensory books provide different textures and crinkly or squeaky sounds. However, ensure that toys and books don’t have any small pieces that a baby can choke on.
Once your child begins to be mobile, push and pull toys will help develop their gross motor skills. For speech and language development, simple books are the way to go. Baby books don’t even need a story; books that show pictures of everyday objects help them learn new words. Pointing to the objects and giving your own commentary is sufficient.
Developmental Toys for Toddlers
Children at this age crave toys that develop their cognition. Puzzles with large pieces, blocks, and matching games combine cognitive development with gross and fine motor development.
Toddlers also begin to love creating their artwork. Simple art supplies are an excellent way to develop sequencing skills (first dip the paintbrush into the paint, then paint the picture), fine motor development, and creativity. Age-appropriate supplies include crayons, paint sticks, paint brushes, or markers. Just ensure that any art supplies are non-toxic, as children often try to taste them.
To develop your toddler’s speech skills, puppets, dolls and action figures, and kitchen sets let your child utilize their growing vocabulary. Age-appropriate books introduce new words, help build sentence structure, and reinforce their understanding of words they already know.
Developmental Toys for Young Children
Pre-K children have more developed cognitive, motor, and language skills and are able to do highly coordinated activities. They can do many of the same activities as toddlers but on a higher level. For instance, puzzles with interlocking pieces, magnetic tile pieces for building structures, and Duplo or LEGO blocks.
Children at this age benefit from tripod scooters, balance bikes or tricycles, or bicycles with training wheels to improve their gross motor skills. For fine motor, you can choose more challenging art projects, such as paint-by-numbers, scissor activities, stickers, or tracing.
Keep reading age-appropriate books to develop your child’s language skills. They may also benefit from an interactive toy that teaches letters, letter sounds, numbers, a second language, and more.
Choosing the right toys for your child is just as important as choosing the right foods. While everything is alright in moderation, you still want your child to eat their fruits, veggies, grains, and proteins. Don’t give your child just tech-based toys–instead, choose a variety of toys that develop their cognition, motor skills, and language skills.
Children’s Academy Childcare and Preschool is proud to offer an outstanding curriculum that is educational, fun, and prepares your child for kindergarten per state educational standards.
In honor of International Woman’s Day, let’s take a moment to explore the remarkable contributions of Ella Baker to early childhood education and discover why her legacy remains relevant and vital today.
Ella Baker was a force to be reckoned with—a grassroots organizer, civil rights leader, and fierce advocate for social justice. Amidst her many accomplishments, Baker’s dedication to community-based education stands as a testament to her unwavering commitment to empowering marginalized voices.
Through the formation of the Child Development Group of Mississippi (CDGM), Baker championed the idea that education should be accessible, inclusive, and rooted in the cultural and social context of the community.
Baker understood that true empowerment begins with education. By establishing community-run childcare centers and preschool programs, she sought to create spaces where children could thrive academically, socially, and culturally. This idea is the foundation for daycare centers like Children’s Academy Childcare & Preschool today.
Baker believed in the importance of centering education around the needs and experiences of the child and their family. Her approach showed the value of culturally relevant curriculum, holistic development, and parent involvement. By empowering families to take an active role in their children’s education, Baker laid the groundwork for a more equitable and inclusive educational system.
Today, access to quality childcare remains a pressing issue, Ella Baker’s vision and commitment to community-based education reminds us of the power of grassroots organizing and collective action in addressing systemic inequalities. At Children’s Academy Childcare & Preschool, we strive to serve our families and honor Baker’s legacy by embracing her vision of education. We can work towards building a brighter future for all children.
As we honor the legacy of St. Patrick, let’s embark on a journey to discover the roots of this beloved holiday and explore engaging activities perfect for 3-5-year-olds in daycare, and early childhood education settings.
The History of St. Patrick’s Day:
St. Patrick’s Day traces its origins back to the 17th century when it was first celebrated as a feast day in honor of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Over time, St. Patrick’s Day evolved into a celebration of Irish culture, heritage, and identity, both in Ireland and around the world. Today, St. Patrick’s Day is marked by parades, festivals, traditional music, dancing, and, of course, the iconic display of shamrocks and leprechauns.
Fun Activities for 3-5 Year Olds:
Shamrock Crafts: Get creative with shamrock crafts by cutting out shamrock shapes from green construction paper or foam. Provide children with crayons, markers, glitter, and stickers to decorate their shamrocks. You can also incorporate other materials like buttons or tissue paper for added texture and dimension.
Rainbow Art: Explore the vibrant colors of the rainbow with a rainbow art activity. Provide children with rainbow-colored paints, markers, or crayons, and encourage them to create their own rainbow masterpieces. You can also use colored paper or tissue paper to collage a rainbow or create a rainbow using handprints.
Irish Dance Party: Turn up the music and host an Irish dance party where children can move and groove to traditional Irish tunes. Teach them simple dance steps like the jig or the reel, or simply let them freestyle and express themselves through movement. It’s a fun way to get active and celebrate Irish culture through dance.
Pot of Gold Hunt: Embark on a thrilling treasure hunt for a pot of gold! Hide gold-wrapped chocolate coins or yellow paper cutouts in various locations around the daycare or classroom, and let children search for them. You can add clues or riddles to make the hunt even more exciting.
From shamrock crafts to Irish dance parties, these activities provide opportunities for learning, laughter, and memorable experiences that celebrate the magic of St. Patrick’s Day for any Preschooler.
Parents and teachers intuitively know that children benefit from being read to, but how important actually is story time?
Science has proven that reading to children benefits them immediately and in the future! Children who are read to have:
Better language skills – Quality literature improves language understanding, grammar, and sentence structure
Increased vocabulary – Quality literature exposes children to a wide vocabulary and better understanding of words
Improved literacy – Research shows a strong connection between reading aloud to children and advanced literacy skills.
Emotional bonding with parents – positive connections are made between a parent and the child during read-aloud
Here are a few suggestions for finding time slots for reading to your child. Be sure to read to the end to learn the best time of day to read to your child!
Early Morning Reading
Every child is different. Some are bouncing off the walls as soon as they wake up, while others are sleepy and want to cuddle. If your child is an early-morning cuddler, then this is an excellent time to read with your child!
What a sweet rhythm to have with your child first thing in the morning. Cozy up with a blanket, some books, and something to drink or eat. This will quickly become one of your favorite parts of the day and cherished memories.
Even if your child is like an unleashed tiger in the early morning, you can still have early morning reading. It can even be an excellent way to teach your child self-regulation. Children want to engage with you, and while you might not be ready to wrestle at 6 A.M., they may be willing to snuggle up with a good book.
Mid-Morning Reading
By mid-morning, babies are ready for their first nap of the day and young children have burned through their energy from breakfast. For babies, taking just a few minutes to read to them before naptime is a signal to them that it’s time to sleep. You can even read to them while they drink their bottle!
Young children may have burned through their breakfast energy and are poking around for something to do or something to eat. Children need to engage with their parents frequently and often turn to their parents to help them regulate their emotions. This might take the form of mischief or whining, so it can be easy to turn to technology or snacks to get over the mid-morning hump.
However, remember that children want to engage with you, not technology. Taking a few minutes to read will give them the emotional regulation their bodies are craving, and you may be surprised that they aren’t as needy for technology or snacks as you previously thought. Often after reading, children are regulated and ready to choose their next activity with cheerfulness and independence.
Before Nap Time
Babies, toddlers, and young children should have regular naps. Often, children of these ages will take a nap in the early afternoon. This is another perfect time to sneak in some reading!
As your child starts to slow down, choose quieter activities, or zone out, initiate some reading time. Take the child to a cozy spot such as their bed or a rocking chair, and read one to three books. This further relaxes your child, gives them a visual timeline of when it’s time to nap (“This is our last book!”), and helps them fall asleep faster.
After Nap Time
Some kids struggle to wake up from a nap. They can be grouchy, sleepy, or whiney. But cuddling and reading a book while eating a snack is sure to chase away the nap-time blues!
Similar to early morning reading, cuddling with your child and reading a book helps ease them into wakefulness again. A healthy snack or drink also helps gently raise blood sugar and mood so they are cheerful after reading together.
Before Bed
Science is now showing that reading before bed is the best time to read with your child. In one study, reading at bedtime significantly improved total nighttime sleep duration. If there’s one thing parents want, it’s for their kids to sleep deeper and longer!
With sleepiness to keep them relaxed and fighting sleepiness to keep them alert and engaged, reading at bedtime gives you the best bang for your buck. Reading with your child before bed helps establish a stable routine, promotes bonding, and gets them into a sleepy state of mind to fall asleep–and stay asleep!
Children’s Academy Childcare and Preschool is proud to offer an outstanding curriculum that is educational, fun, and prepares your child for kindergarten per state educational standards.
