Mercy Kids Academy

Moms be advised if you have elementary students!

Hey Moms! Here's a great resource to tap into if you're in the Mercy Drive or surrounding area!

Bookworms Are Born At The Library—Discover FREE Events For All Ages You may provide another adult the ability to access information on the juvenile card in your absence. This adult will not be held financially responsible for the account.

We all love those days when everything seems to be going right. We get to follow our schedule with no interruptions or surprises - but life doesn't always unfold that way.

Some days are met with unexpected twists and turns and it's all too easy to get frustrated. Other days begin with everything turned upside down and we're left to pick up the pieces and CREATE order.

Though it can be difficult, "rolling with the punches" means accepting things as they are and CHOOSING to readjust and "make it work". I am learning as a teacher that some of the best moments in the classroom are unplanned but happen as a result of the unexpected changes that take place.

I'm reminded of one of my favorite scriptures, Romans 8:28 - God can cause ALL things to work together for our GOOD.

New Year Who's This? These are our little geniuses! They love puzzles, exploring new things and Making Friends and "Doing Their Best" Everyday it is a joy to watch them ENJOY the learning process!

The Bible reminds us that "The joy of the Lord is our strength." If that's true, then we know there is a NECESSARY component to ENJOYING life. Even though it's important to teach our little ones about life and how to navigate its complexities, it's important to LET THEM BE KIDS and enjoy the things that kids do.

Laughing and being super silly, making up words, having a place to run wild and making time for them to play freely actually HELPS them grow by using their imagination, developing their vocabulary and learning what they like which ultimately helps strengthen their identity in the things that matter!

Have you made room for your little ones to simply ENJOY themselves?

How do we help our little ones communicate their thoughts and feelings in healthy ways? It's easy to overlook, but children need the space to process and express their thoughts and feelings just like we do. If we are still learning to communicate our emotions as adults, that should tell us how important it is to walk alongside our little ones as they navigate the complexities of their own inner life! So how do we do this? Sometimes the best solution is the SIMPLEST one!

1. MODEL IT. Children watch everything and tend to imitate what they see. If we are intentional to be an example of effective communication, our little ones will carry on that example in their own unique ways! We won't always be the best example, but we can be mindful and do the work of being OUR best selves so that they can see what healthy communication looks like!

2. TEACH IT. It's important for children to see what healthy communication and self expression looks like, but it's also important to express it and teach them. Walking them through different situations by asking them questions or acting it out are fun ways to allow them the SPACE to share their own ideas while providing us the opportunity to GUIDE those ideas in a positive direction.

We can't assume our little ones will just know and "grow into it" on their own. Truthfully, they do not always understand their feelings. Instead, we can meet them where they are and help them grow into healthy people!

Here are some resources and books for home!

The Boy with Big, Big Feelings https://a.co/d/bEmFdpk

Sometimes I Have Big Feelings: A Child's Guide to Understanding and Expressing Emotions https://a.co/d/7hHclLZ

Helping Kids Express Their Emotions https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/helping-kids-express-their-emotions

Ms. Monica's "Feelings Song" https://youtu.be/lNQZR1ipynM?si=l0KSsKdaHMqhbtlX

Happy Monday Friends!

Let's focus on the good. Let's laugh and ENJOY the little moments of life that we often overlook. Let's make the best of every situation by learning new things and reminding ourselves of important things. It's a good day to have a GOOD day!

At the core of why we do is compassion and care for the community! 🙏🏾💚

Sometimes, the temptation is to quell childrens' self expression to avoid the potential of being rebellious or unruly. But what would happen if we created an environment of FREEDOM and CREATIVITY instead?

That doesn't mean we don't have order and structure, but it does mean that we allow children to express their thoughts, feelings, likes and dislikes in honest and FUN ways.

What we'll find is that children are very conscious and aware of the world around them. Their level of understanding is deeper than we often realize, but they need space to process and help to understand things in age appropriate ways.

Providing that space helps them grow in their ability to think and communicate what they think and feel. It also helps them develop their personality in healthy ways without feeling the need to constantly hold back or edit themselves for fear of punishment!

Autonomy is the ability to self-govern or manage. How do children reach that point where they are able to do things on their own, communicate their needs and be CONFIDENT in it? It takes time, patience and INTENTION.

Empowering our little ones means that we teach and MODEL healthy communication practices, decision making skills, and daily lifestyle habits every day that allow them to feel confident in their own ability to manage themselves and their environment. Even the smallest moments of empowerment can make a huge impact in helping your little one grow into a confident and capable child!