Change, Change, Change but Not Everything!

My family has experienced a lot of change over the past 6 months. My kids switched from in-person to distance learning. My husband started working from home and not traveling. We missed out on baseball and lacrosse season. My oldest graduated from high school in a virtual ceremony. Time spent with friends and family changed. My oldest daughter moved away for her first year of college. My two kiddos at home are experiencing school in a new way again. Whew! I am exhausted and slightly overwhelmed by all of this just typing it! I know my family isn't the only family weathering a lot change and upheaval from all that is going on in the world. One thing that has gotten me through this whole global pandemic is thinking about things that have remained constant for our family. 

 

Since this is the first blog of the new school year and the school year looks different than it ever has before, I thought it might be good to focus on things that have stayed constant for kids, family and our program. 

 

First, parents - you are your child's first and most important teacher. This is one of the tenets that Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) is built upon but it can also feel overwhelming for parents to hear this. Rest assured we aren't suggesting that you need to find the newest reading curriculum or run out and grab alphabet flashcards. What we know is that you know your child best. You know what they love, what they dislike, what they enjoy, what makes them crabby, what soothes them! The list goes on and on. All of this knowledge makes you best suited to teach your child all sort of things. Whether it's talking about colors, counting or sorting while playing with their favorite toys, or helping your child learn to start managing their emotions, you know what your child needs. 

Second, kids learn best through play! You don't need anything fancy to teach your child. They just need to play. And playing with you, their first and most important teacher, is powerful in so many ways. According to Psychology Today, parent-child play, both physical and pretend, "is linked with the child's competency, gross motor skills, peer group leadership, and cognitive development...Interactive play can also help a child learn how to regulate their emotions better." 

 

And finally, children's development is both universal and individual. All kids no matter where they are in the world follow the same basic pattern of development. For example, they typically lift their head up, then roll over, then sit up, then crawl and then walk. However, any parent who has had more than one child can tell you that these things might not happen at the exact same time. My daughters were both walking shortly after their first birthdays. My son didn't start walking until he was almost a 1 1/2 years old but once he started, he took off running! It is important to remember not to compare our kids to other kids because we know that each child has their own individual path of development. Your child’s early learning teacher or your health care provider can be a great resource for discussing concerns you may have about your child’s development. Another resource, Help Me Grow, provides many resources about the development of young children for parents.  These resources include information on developmental milestones, YouTube videos, caregiver strategies to support development, screening and evaluation, and how to talk about developmental concerns. 

With all the changes families have had to face, it is important to all of us at South Washington County Schools to be one of the constants for families. We know that the look of our programming, whether ECFE classes or preschool, may be different but we are striving to still provide the same quality learning for both parents and children. Here are just a few ways that we will be connecting with families this year. 

• Home Consultations-Parents can request a virtual consultation with aLicensed Parent Educator to discuss a variety of different topics related to parenting and/or their child. Some common topics covered are bedtime routines, mealtime, dealing with strong emotions, soothing your baby, and so much more! These consultations are available for families with children age birth to grade 3. Request yours today at https://forms.gle/6s3GRnuqTxhQ2Z2u7.
• Preschool Text to Connect-This is a simple way to learn more about your child's social emotional development. Parents of kids in threes or fours preschool who sign up for this program receive two text messages per week, a fact about social emotional development and an easy to implement tip to support that development. Sign up is easy. Threes preschool families can text @48k6e7 to 81010 to automatically join. Fours preschools families can text @97ka9ba to 81010 to automatically join. 
• ECFE Classes-We are offering both in person and distance learning classes for the fall for families with children birth to age 5. For more information on classes please see our brochure. There is still space available in some classes.
• Special Events – All expectant parents and parents of babies, ages birth to 8 months are invited to an ECFE Virtual Community Baby Shower on Tuesday, September 22, 2020, 6:00-7:00 pm.  This event is FREE, but RSVP is required by visiting https://sowashco.ce.eleyo.com.  Use course number CP007-02 to register.
• Facebook-Like us on Facebook. Our South Washington County Early Learning page is a valuable resource for families. It is a great place to find program updates but that is not all. We post fun early childhood activities, like Circle Time Videos, that you can use at home. It is also a great place to find valuable and reliable parenting resources. 

 

Throughout this period of change, remember to focus on those things that remain constant in your life. South Washington County Schools Early Learning Program is here for you and ready to connect with support and resources during this unprecedented time.