Helping Children Make Friends
For many children, daycare is the first opportunity to play with other children their own age and practice essential social skills. Children who develop these skills early on have a better chance of forging strong connections with peers in school, which is a key part of their overall happiness and success. Teachers and parents can help children develop these skills at a young age, and daycare is the perfect place to start.
Facilitate Interaction
Daycare teachers help to facilitate interactions by making a communal space with toys that everyone can use and activities that everyone takes part in. This requires that children learn to share and play together in a fair, reciprocal manner, which are essential parts of making friends. Parents can also facilitate these interactions during playdates where toys are all shared in the living room, backyard, or another open space.
Resolving Conflict
Inevitably, a child will feel at some point that they are not treated fairly or that they are being excluded. But these conflicts are good! In daycare, children can learn to talk through problems in a safe environment, with teachers close by, and they can get support if they are not being heard.
Listen
If your child is having a tough time, listening is often the best tool. Be sympathetic to your child’s obstacles, but encourage them to come up with solutions on their own. Ask them how they interact with other children and, if the strategy isn’t working, ask them what they can do differently to change the situation. If they are struggling with the situation, give suggestions that will point them in the right direction, while still enabling their independent problem-solving skills.
Overcoming Shyness
Children that are nervous about saying hello or asking to be included may need more support. If you notice that your child is often alone or complains that they aren’t making friends, show them how. Use a role-playing scenario to help your child practice saying hello and asking to be included. At this age, a simple ‘hello’ goes a long way.
Calming Down
On the opposite side, some children are louder, more energetic, and their personalities may dominate other children. In this case, the child may need extra coaching and encouragement to ensure they allow their friends to be heard. Encouraging sharing, reminding children to listen, and demonstrating behaviors that put others first will promote empathy and help the child to consider others without changing their natural exuberance.
Heaven’s Elect ensures that every child is included and watches each child carefully to make sure that any bullying or exclusion is stopped right away. Making friends is one of the most enjoyable parts of childhood and we are proud to see children develop these friendships every day.
5 Tips to Teach Children to Share
The concept of sharing and the virtues of generosity are not innate gifts. In fact, sharing goes against humans’ survival instincts and instead relies on social cues. Therefore, sharing is a learned behavior, and children learn to share—or not to share—early on. Sharing is also an essential social skill, allowing children to fit in with their peers. Everyone in a child’s life, from parents to siblings to daycare teachers, can teach children this valuable skill and it is never too early to start.
1) When to Share?
Not everything can or should be shared, and a child does not innately know when or what is ok to share. Tell them. Stress the importance of sharing in different situations and show how sharing can make others around the child happy. The best time to start is at home, when children are playing with siblings or neighbors, or even something as simple as sharing a snack with you.
2) Reward Sharing Behavior
Sharing should not be a chore, it should be fun. Show how delighted you are when your child shares, and tell them what a good job they’ve done, how kind they are, and that they are well-liked by their peers. If possible, give your child a special reward that is just theirs, such a toy or extra snack, to show them that sharing is good.
3) Make Sure There is Enough
If snacks, toys, crayons, stickers or whatever children are sharing are scarce, it’s difficult for a child to share. Scarcity brings up that innate survival instinct, even if the item is not essential, and this presents a frustrating dilemma for any child. Make sure there is always enough for every child and sharing will be easier.
4) Lead by Example
Children mimic their parents, older siblings, grandparents, daycare teachers and other role models. They won’t overlook moments where you share with them or others. They will also notice any possessive behaviors you show. Whenever there is an opportunity to share, take advantage of it and emphasize again the importance of generosity.
5) What Does Your Child Struggle With?
Every child is different and some children may pick up sharing very easily, while others might be more possessive. Others might be too passive and have things taken from them easily, and they may need to know how to set boundaries. Give your child rewards and teachable moments based on their unique needs.
When your child learns sharing behaviors early on, they will make friends more easily and they will not be stressed when it’s time to work or play in groups. Heaven’s Elect helps children to learn to share in a safe environment and rewards positive behaviors so these skills are easy and fun to learn at an early age.
Taking the Scare out of Daycare—For Parents
Daycare can be scary. And we’re not talking about separation anxiety that children sometimes face—oftentimes, children adjust to daycare much easier than their parents! After you’ve cared for your child at every step and been there for every smile and tear, the prospect of leaving them for even a moment is scary. However, daycare can be an overwhelming positive experience for your child, and many of the concerns that parents have about daycare are not problems at quality facilities. Many parents share the same concerns about daycare facilities, and we are happy to report that, at Heaven’s Elect, there’s no need to fear!
It Just Isn’t Clean!
With children sharing toys, sharing classrooms, and sharing teachers, they are bound to also share germs. While more children does mean more germs, it also means much more cleaning. Daycare teachers want to prevent the spread of illness as much as you do and that is why we clean and sanitize every surface, every toy, every pen, pencil, marker and every hand as often as possible. This means germs are eradicated between every playtime, naptime, snacktime, after kids go home and before school starts again in the morning. Quality daycare facilities are exceptionally clean and teachers take great care to keep them that way.
What if My Child is Bullied?
If your child is especially quiet, shy, small, or passive, you may fear they will be bullied. Whenever children play together, there will inevitably be disputes, but daycare teachers monitor kids constantly to ensure that these disputes are resolved in a positive way. Children that may be prone to being bullied—and those that may become bullies—are watched especially carefully, so teachers can intervene immediately. When children learn to confidently resolve disputes during their formative years, they are less likely to be bullied, become bullies and passively allow bullying later in life.
If Something Happens, I Won’t Be There.
It’s a parent’s job to think about and plan for the worst-case scenario. But when it comes to your child’s safety, there is no better place for them than daycare. With constant adult supervision and systematic safety procedures for every eventuality, there is nothing that could happen that daycare teachers won’t see, nor anything that will catch us off-guard. Daycare teachers are trained to address illnesses, injuries and accidents quickly and without panic. With multiple phone numbers and ways to reach you close at hand, you will be notified immediately.
Sending your child to daycare does not have to be scary. Take a look at our post on Getting the Most Out of Daycare to see other ways you can get to know your child’s daycare facility. If you have questions, we are happy to put your mind at ease. Contact us and we can give you more information about Heaven’s Elect, and answer any questions you may have.
5 Tips to Get the Most Out of your Daycare
Your child will spend hours a day at their daycare center and this experience can enrich their lives and help them grow. By taking a few simple steps, you can give your child a supportive platform to start an enriching daycare experience. This will not only help them prepare for school but it will also help them build independence, forge long-lasting friendships, strengthen their confidence, and give them invaluable social skills.
Choose Carefully
Just as you take great care in selecting your child’s school, it is equally important to research daycare options. Look for daycare that emphasizes values that you agree with, age-appropriate education, socializing and playtime, and personal care. This not only ensures that your child is in a positive, constructive environment, but also ensures they will receive the attention they need and deserve.
Get to Know the Teachers
Your child’s daycare teacher is a very important person in their life. The daycare teacher is not only responsible for your child’s health and wellness, but also for nurturing their minds and soul. Spend a few minutes before or after school or during extracurricular functions to talk with your child’s daycare teacher. This will help them to get to know your child better and recognize any help or extra attention they may require.
Get to Know Other Parents
Children in daycare tend to come from similar neighborhoods and will probably attend the same schools later. This means the other children your son or daughter interacts with may become their dear friends. The best way to get to know the other children is to get to know other parents. Talk to other parents and arrange playdates between children to get more familiar with your child’s new friends.
Don’t Rush
Pick-up and drop-off times are a great opportunity to socialize with teachers and other parents. Arriving early to pick up and drop off will not only give you plenty of time to see your child off, but will also allow you to talk with teachers and other parents. If your child is struggling, having great success, making new friends, or showing new skills or talents, this is a great time to find out.
Something to Rely On
If your child is suffering from separation anxiety, give them something familiar to make the separation less jarring. A blanket, toy or stuffed animal might do the trick, and packing their favorite snacks will turn daycare into a treat instead of a challenge.
Call or visit Heaven’s Elect to learn more about our daycare center and find out if this is the right choice for your son or daughter. Whatever daycare center you choose, make sure your child has a positive experience and don’t forget to ask them what they think too!
5 Essential Skills Children Learn at Daycare
Bringing your child to daycare is difficult no matter what age they are. Children that are new to daycare or who are particularly attached to parents may have a hard time adjusting, though these children may also benefit the most from daycare. While leaving children is hard, a quality daycare center offers benefits to parents and children beyond the opportunity for both parents to work. Dual incomes and careers provide a big advantage, however children will also develop essential social skills, friendships, knowledge, and independence that will continue to serve them as they grow.
Social skills
Daycare offers children of all ages an opportunity to interact with peers who are not their siblings or family, often for the very first time. Without parents to guide them through the interaction—though with adult supervision to ensure the children get along—kids learn how to play, share, and learn together on their own, much like how they will be expected to do in school.
Friendships
The other kids that your child meets in daycare are from the same area and often from the same neighborhood. Likely, they will attend the same schools. The friendships that your child forges in daycare will not only be his or her first friends, but may also be best friends they will keep for a lifetime.
Separation Anxiety
Some children are not faced with leaving their parents until kindergarten, resulting in a tearful and sudden separation at the school doors. By being slowly introduced to a new environment away from home, new adults, and their peers, children learn sooner that being away from home isn’t scary.
Confidence
At home, parents are there to guide their children at literally every step. While daycare teachers monitor children closely, children learn to listen to instructions and solve problems for themselves; even something as simple as asking a teacher or another child for help or finding their way around the room strengthens a child’s problem-solving skills and boosts their confidence in their own abilities.
Daycare provides a safe, secure middle ground between home and school where a child can learn, adjust and test their abilities with the help of a caring adult nearby. Heaven’s Elect daycare stays by your child’s side as they learn, forge new friendships, gain independence and gain confidence. We are knowledgeable and caring guardians helping your child along the way and ensuring they start on the right path.
Heaven’s Elect Christian Learning Center is a Midland Michigan daycare center. Founded in 2000, it is a Non-denominational Christian childcare center fully licensed by the state of Michigan. It offers a full day program for children from birth to 12-years of age. Daycare services include preschool, daycare, transportation, fresh hot lunch and snacks, sign language, bible time and fun learning activities. Certified in CPR and First Aid, our caring staff and state-certified lead teachers are dedicated to providing a faith-based environment with the Abeka book curriculum, the latest conscious discipline and creative curriculum. Contact us at 989-837-1914 or HeavensElect.com.