Premier Children's Center

Much of the purpose of art in the preschool setting is to allow the child to explore. However, preschoolers also gain experience in creating simple representations and making shapes and linear patterns.

Did you know that young children placed in charge of simple, routine chores at home can have more confidence in their abilities? Now, you can get a little help while your child develops important skills.

Be careful doling out too many rewards for tasks that you want your child to do on her own. For example, if you are trying to teach your daughter how to dress herself, allow her to feel the success of doing it on her own by providing clothes on hangers or in dressers that are in reach and a full-length mirror to view her end results. Stickers and other rewards interrupt the intrinsic rewards.

Preschool-aged children are natural little scientists. As they learn about the world around them, they develop theories and conceptual frameworks, and explore through play in order to test out their ideas.

The ability to solve problems begins at home and can extend through their entire lives. For this reason, it's okay to let your child try to figure out the solution to a simple problem before you swoop in to help.

Do you give your preschooler chores to do at home? Believe it or not, teachers can usually pick out which children do. A child who is entrusted to water plants, fold washcloths, feed the pets, or set the table are more confident and have a sense of competency.

Some children have difficulty transitioning from one task to another, such as coming inside after playing in the yard. Before making the switch, give your child a five or 10-minute notice to help them become aware that a transition is coming. You may even set a timer or alarm on your cell phone.

Although it's often faster to tie your child's shoe or do something else for them, it's important to let them master it on their own. By showing patience, it will also help teach them patience.

In Waldorf preschools, teachers create a comfortable, homelike environment that gives the children plenty of opportunities to imitate what they see and to engage in creative play. Activities may include painting, singing, baking bread, or playing make-believe.

Take cues from your child's preschool classroom in how to prepare your home environment. Note that the classroom is set up with furniture and necessities within reach for your child. Also, there are plenty of activities available so that your child can learn how to explore and practice skills without much direction.

One way math is introduced in the preschool settings is by the use of mathematics manipulatives. These are concrete objects (like beads and blocks) that are easily handled and that children can work with in ways that help them understand math concepts.

Bank Street preschools usually provide toys and materials that will spark a child's imagination and encourage his or her artistic tendencies. This may include blocks, puzzles, clay, watercolors, or other art materials.

There is so much more to be learned in preschool that counting and ABCs. Children learn to accept other adults in their life, to accept and respect authority, to take care of themselves (for instance, putting on all their winter clothes by themselves), and to get along with other children.

Did you know routine is the main reason young children are able to focus and start learning once they start school? You can duplicate the results in their off hours by settling them into a routine at home.

Studies have shown that at the preschool level, children are capable of engaging in mathematics reasoning and problem solving. By participating in engaging, hands-on activities, preschoolers are really able to broaden their understanding of basic math concepts.

Need help with lunch ideas? One good rule of thumb is to use the five food groups as a guide. Try to include one of each: a fruit, vegetable, whole grain, protein and dairy item. Get each one in there in a child-size serving, and you'll have a complete and nutritious lunch.

Art is a critical part of any preschool curriculum, as it can aid in childhood development on many levels. Not only does it allow kids to practice fine muscle control and strengthen eye-hand coordination, but they develop perceptual abilities as well.

Is there a magic trick to help deal with a defiant three-year-old? You bet! Try offering two structured choices. Just remember that option A should always be more attractive than option B.

Child development experts have established that early childhood is a critical time for children's cognitive development. They believe that more can be learned in the realms of reading, math, and science than was previously understood.

Did you know that by the time children arrive at kindergarten most will know an average of 3,000 to 5,000 words? Oral language development is a critical component of the preschool experience and the primary means by which preschoolers gain knowledge about the world.

Most preschool experts agree that children are typically able to do more than many of us think. That doesn't mean you should push your child to become the next Tiger Woods. Rather, you should provide your child with expectations, tools, and space to allow them to learn how to be independent.

Montessori schools focus on the importance and connection of all living things. In addition to reading, language, and mathematical skills, children also learn about other cultures, the arts, and nature.

While there is a healthy dose of recreational activities built into educational programs for very young children, the songs they sing and the games they play at preschool are still helping them learn.

Did you know that your preschooler thinks and sees the world quite differently than you as an adult do? In terms of cognitive development, preschoolers do not yet completely understand cause and effect, and believe everyone sees the world as they see it.

Most Montessori preschools accept children between the ages of 3 and 6, as long as they're able to go to the bathroom on their own. Some schools may offer limited programs for infants and young toddlers as well.

A high-quality preschool setting has to do with so much more than the curriculum, or what specifically is being taught. Children are enriched just as much by the quality of student-teacher interaction, which has a lasting effect on the development of children's cognitive and social skills.

Religiously affiliated private preschools can vary widely in their classroom activities and philosophies. Some may incorporate religious teaching into the daily routine, while others may avoid any religious messages altogether.

Provide reasonable consequences for unwanted behaviors. For example, if your child draws on the walls, have her help wash it off. Gently remind her that crayons and markers are for paper and provide the tools necessary for her to remove the marker or crayon marks from the wall.

Maria Montessori, a dedicated educator and scientist who created the Montessori Method, believed that the best way to teach children how to take turns was to provide only one available activity. If one child is using the easel, for example, other children must wait until the child is finished painting before they can take a turn.