Grace and Courtesy Preschool

This is so true...

Did you know that a 3-year old (top left image) and a 6-year old (top right image) have significantly different skeletal structure in their hands?! Notice the bones in the wrist of the 3-year old -- many of them are still mostly cartilage! Look at all the spaces in between the bones where muscles and tendons will change through the years. Even the difference between a 6-year old and a 14-year old (lower right) is huge!

Preschoolers have SO much development to do before they can write the way school-aged children or adults can!

Please do NOT stress if your preschooler does not want to write or draw. Some love it and some don't.

While they are growing, strengthen those little bones and muscles! Here are some great pre-writing, muscle-strengthening activities:

* painting, drawing, coloring
* playdough
* tearing and cutting
* gluing
* poking holes in things (try toothpicks and paper!)
* digging in dirt
* building with LEGOS, marble runs, or other blocks
* beading (try beads, cut straws, or even bobbins!)
* puzzles
* squeezing (try stress balls, squeezing water in a sponge, or using a pipette)
* picking up and throwing balls (use different sizes!)
* playing with toys (watch what their little fingers do when they pick up and move little cars, marbles, action figures, etc!)

These all strengthen and help develop little hands, muscles, and bones. When they are physically ready to write, it will be so much easier than if they were pushed when they didn't want to and weren't ready!

Found this great video explaining how to set your kid up for success at preschool, right off the bat every morning. 😎💛

DAYCARE DROP OFF TIPS | ADVICE FROM A FORMER DAYCARE TEACHER | Mom Talk Monday I'm reaching into my teacher brain and giving you guys my best tips for dropping off your toddler at daycare: tips that will help you, your child, AND your c...

What hours of operation would be most valuable to our Columbia area community?

So...
If Red dye #40 kills a plant, what do you think it’s doing to our cells?

Below is a picture of a simple experiment of how different food coloring changes the color of the celery plant.

Well, take notice of the red dye #40...it KILLED the celery plant in just a day! Red dye #40 is in a lot of candy and processed foods, Gatorade, etc. 🤔 and it’s not like the other two are without effect, trust me. Just removing foods with artificial colorings/dyes could substantially change your child behavior, mood, hyperactivity, etc.

You would be amazed at how a child's behaviour can change just from cleaning up their diet. I can help.

“It is not conceivable that our culture will forget that it needs children. But it is halfway toward forgetting that children need childhood. Those who insist on remembering shall perform a noble service.” - Neil Postman

In reclaiming childhood, may we also reclaim the values we place on their education: Nature. Stories. Curiosity. Wonder. Play. This is the Wild + Free Way.

And let us not forget the glue that holds it all together: Connection.

📷: winter woods by dear mama ✨

Does my child have to take a nap?

What do we serve for lunch?

What/when do we play outside?