Moral values are guidelines that help judge right from wrong and enable better and fair decision-making. Since everyone grows up in varying environments, the moral values vary from individual to individual. Kids ‘R’ Kids, an educational preschool, shares the significance of moral values and how caregivers can build these important traits in preschoolers at an early stage.
At Kids ‘R’ Kids, Valrico, the philosophy of “Hug First, Then Teach” defines every aspect of learning. Its methodology of the whole-child approach constantly strives to strengthen and encourage every child’s emotional, intellectual, social, and physical well-being through the expertise of its childcare providers and a unique partnership with parents.
Kids ‘R’ Kids International is accredited by AdvancED®, the world’s largest education community, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS/CASI). SACS/CASI is an accreditation division of AdvancED®. This accreditation ensures that the high accreditation standards are met and exceeded.
The post Kids ‘R’ Kids Discusses Moral Development in Preschoolers appeared first on Valrico.
Every successful relationship, personal or professional is built on the foundations of cooperation, collaboration, and teamwork. Sharing time, money, or resources makes the world a kinder and happier place. This is a quality that must be built in the young generation at the earliest. Kids ‘R’ Kids, an educational preschool in Valrico, shares some tips on imbibing this wonderful quality of sharing in children.
.png)
The ability to share is directly related to empathy. Children are developmentally able to share only when they are cognitively able to understand another person’s point of view. Young children are naturally very egocentric. They have difficulty seeing anything outside their point of view. Studies show that during the ages of approximately 2 – 7 years old, children are slowly learning to understand that others have different thoughts, perspectives, and ideas than their own. Sharing will be vehemently resisted by this age group as they are only just beginning to understand other people’s points of view.
Like any developmental milestone, there is an age when children can be expected to share. And just like any other skill, sharing takes practice, time, and positive reinforcement.
Sharing transcends objects. It is not just about sharing a favorite toy but also about sharing time and resources. A child who waits his turn to play is sharing his time and patiently waiting for the other child to finish his turn. A child who is investing time and energy to console a friend is sharing.
By modeling, this behavior at every opportunity adults can encourage children to share.
The developmental milestone of sharing may not have been achieved yet but the language of sharing can be taught and reiterated at an early age. Toddlers can be explained how a younger child needs more attention at one point and that they must wait their turn to receive the desired attention. Helping children assign words to their feelings while waiting for their turns can help. Praising the children for their ability to share can also give them the confidence to repeat the action.
Games that require children to cooperate and wait for their turns are a great setting to learn to share in. For instance, taking turns while playing a board game or putting together a puzzle allows children to practice sharing with others.
Children don’t need to share everything, every time. A favorite toy could become a bone of contention and is, therefore, best kept away during playdates, for instance. It’s important to set up children for success by not forcing them to share something special with them. Giving them the liberty to choose to share their favorite toys may help them be more willing to share later.
A heads-up on a possible situation where they may have to share allows children to process the information and be prepared. A simple explanation of the situation can go a long way. For instance, informing the kids that a family is coming over with two kids for dinner, and they all can play with their toys together. Also giving them an option of keeping away their favorite toys sets up the children for success during the social interaction and gives them the freedom of choice.
Positive reinforcement lies at the foundation of all learning. Therefore, children must be praised when they gracefully share their toys with their peers. On the other hand, escalating the situation and trying to force a child to share does not have a positive effect in the long run. Suggesting an activity that requires all children to work together such as play-doh or coloring may diffuse the pressure of sharing and give them the comfort of choice and liberty. They may feel comfortable eventually sharing and must be showered with praise for their efforts.
.png)
The philosophy of “Hug First, Then Teach”, defines every aspect of what Kids ‘R’ Kids, Valrico stands for. Unlike many daycare centers or childcare providers, its methodology is a whole-child approach. It constantly strives to strengthen and encourage every child’s emotional, intellectual, social, and physical well-being through the expertise of its childcare providers and a unique partnership with parents.
Kids ‘R’ Kids International is accredited by AdvancED®, the world’s largest education community, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS/CASI). SACS/CASI is an accreditation division of AdvancED®. This accreditation ensures that the high accreditation standards are met and exceeded.
Early childhood is the time for setting a strong and balanced foundation for future success. Every parent and teacher aims to raise and educate their children to become well-rounded, confident, self-motivated, and independent adults. Kids ‘R’ Kids, an educational preschool in Circa Fishhawk, shares some important tips for parents to set up their children for success at school and in life.
.png)
Play is the most underrated yet most impactful form of learning for young children. Children must engage in free play every day beside the structured play at school and home. Extracurricular activities are great for kids but their creativity and problem-solving skills are best developed during unstructured play.
Reading to children opens up a whole new world to them. Reading not only enhances their language skills, imagination, and critical thinking skills, and also encourages parents-children bonding. Reading helps develop children’s emotional maturity and helps them assign words to emotions they feel. This is an activity that allows a dialogue and discussion between children and parents that encourages thinking and communication.
Independence is a life skill that must be taught to children early. Allowing a child to make mistakes and learn from them to make better decisions is a skill that will make a massive difference in their lives as adults. Parents can begin teaching this skill by allowing children to resolve their conflicts with friends among themselves, encouraging them to do some homework independently, packing their bags every day, and taking responsibility for some age-appropriate chores.
The American Psychological Association states that grit is what separates the very best from those who are simply good enough. Angela Duckworth, a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania, found in her research that a combination of grit and self-control, reliance, and ambition were the most reliable predictors of a positive outcome, rather than intelligence. The kids who won the spelling bee, for instance, weren’t necessarily smarter than their peers; they just worked much harder at studying the words.
Parents can offer challenges to children to work through and overcome. Adversity and even failure are critical to a child’s development.
All children have different strengths, weaknesses, interests, and passions. It is children’s emotional need to be accepted as individuals and be allowed to pursue their natural inclinations.
Giving children the opportunity and the encouragement to experience all extra-curricular activities at school such as drama, music, dance, and public speaking besides academics is crucial for their development. Children must be allowed to indulge in activities they feel naturally drawn to. These interests may convert into valuable career choices later on.
Distress, disappointment, frustration, relief, anticipation, anger, fear… these are emotions that are a part of everyone’s life. Protecting children from these experiences can weaken their ability to handle adversity later in life. Children must experience disappointment and acquire the skills to cope with this emotion. Not having these skills when parents are not around to help can prove to be a huge source of stress. So disappointment is good.
Children must cross certain developmental milestones before they are ready to acquire certain skills. Forcing certain skills such as reading, writing, and math skills before children are developmentally ready can lead to learning gaps later on. Pushing children to learn something they are not ready for not only disrupts their foundational skills but also takes away invaluable time they would have spent in free play and in exploring their curiosity.
Adults are accountable for their actions. And this ability to accept accountability must be taught at an early age. For instance, if children leave their toys all over the floor, they are expected to collect them. If they hit another child, there are consequences. This is a life skill required in professional as well as personal equations.
.png)
The philosophy of “Hug First, Then Teach”, defines every aspect of what Kids ‘R’ Kids, Circa Fishhawk stands for. Unlike many daycare centers or childcare providers, its methodology is a whole-child approach. It constantly strives to strengthen and encourage every child’s emotional, intellectual, social, and physical well-being through the expertise of its childcare providers and a unique partnership with parents.
Kids ‘R’ Kids International is accredited by AdvancED®, the world’s largest education community, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS/CASI). SACS/CASI is an accreditation division of AdvancED®. This accreditation ensures that the high accreditation standards are met and exceeded.
Call today at (813) 654-7000 to learn more about the Kids ‘R’ Kids before and after school programs (Kindergarten to Grade 5) or to schedule a visit.
Every successful relationship, personal or professional is built on the foundations of cooperation, collaboration, and teamwork. Sharing time, money, or resources makes the world a kinder and happier place. This is a quality that must be built in the young generation at the earliest. Kids ‘R’ Kids, an educational preschool in Valrico, shares some tips on imbibing this wonderful quality of sharing in children.
The ability to share is directly related to empathy. Children are developmentally able to share only when they are cognitively able to understand another person’s point of view. Young children are naturally very egocentric. They have difficulty seeing anything outside their own point of view. Studies show that during the ages of approximately 2 – 7 years old, children are slowly learning to understand that others have different thoughts, perspectives, and ideas than their own. Sharing will be vehemently resisted by this age group as they are only just beginning to understand other people’s points of view.
Like any developmental milestone, there is an age when children can be expected to share. And just like any other skill, sharing takes practice, time, and positive reinforcement.
Sharing transcends objects. It is not just about sharing a favorite toy but also about sharing time and resources. A child who waits his turn to play is sharing his time and patiently waiting for the other child to finish his turn. A child who is investing time and energy to console a friend is sharing.
By modeling, this behavior at every opportunity adults can encourage children to share.
The developmental milestone of sharing may not have been achieved yet but the language of sharing can be taught and reiterated at an early age. Toddlers can be explained how a younger child needs more attention at one point and that they must wait their turn to receive the desired attention. Helping children to assign words to their feelings while waiting for their turns can really help. Praising the children for their ability to share can also give them the confidence to repeat the action.
Games that require children to cooperate and wait for their turns are a great setting to learn sharing in. For instance, taking turns while playing a board game or putting together a puzzle allows children to practice sharing with others.
Children don’t need to share everything, every time. A favorite toy could become a bone of contention and is, therefore, best kept away during playdates, for instance. It’s important to set up children for success by not forcing them to share something that is special to them. Giving them the liberty to choose to share their favorite toys may help them be more willing to share later.
A heads-up on a possible situation where they may have to share allows children to process the information and be prepared. A simple explanation of the situation can go a long way. For instance, informing the kids that a family is coming over with two kids for dinner, and they all can play with their toys together. Also giving them an option of keeping away their favorite toys sets up the children for success during the social interaction and gives them the freedom of choice.
Positive reinforcement lies at the foundation of all learning. Therefore, children must be praised when they gracefully share their toys with their peers. On the other hand, escalating the situation and trying to force a child to share does not have a positive effect in the long run. Suggesting an activity that requires all children to work together such as play-doh or coloring may diffuse the pressure of sharing and give them the comfort of choice and liberty. They may feel comfortable eventually to share and must be showered with praise for their efforts.
The philosophy of “Hug First, Then Teach”, defines every aspect of what Kids ‘R’ Kids, Valrico stands for. Unlike many daycare centers or childcare providers, its methodology is a whole-child approach. It constantly strives to strengthen and encourage every child’s emotional, intellectual, social, and physical well-being through the expertise of its childcare providers and a unique partnership with parents.
Kids ‘R’ Kids International is accredited by AdvancED®, the world’s largest education community, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS/CASI). SACS/CASI is an accreditation division of AdvancED®. This accreditation ensures that the high accreditation standards are met and exceeded.
The post Kids ‘R’ Kids Shares How to Teach Children to Share appeared first on Valrico.
Early childhood is a very crucial time for the cognitive development of a child. Parents need to understand how a child’s brain develops and support this development. Kids ‘R’ Kids, an educational preschool, shares important facts about early cognitive development and tips to encourage this development in preschoolers.
Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development suggests that intelligence changes as children grow. A child’s cognitive development is not just about acquiring knowledge; the child has to develop or construct a mental world model.
Cognitive development occurs through the interaction of innate capacities and environmental events, and children pass through four stages. Each child goes through the stages in the same order, and child development is determined by biological maturation and interaction with the environment. The four stages are the sensorimotor stage (birth to 2 years), preoperational stage (2-7 years), concrete operational stage (7-12 years), and the formal active stage (12 years and above). Here’s more about the preoperational stage that is relevant for preschoolers.
Children in this stage are learning to use language and think about the world symbolically. These skills help children develop the foundations to use operations in the next step consistently. A child’s thinking is dominated by how the world looks, not how the world is. It is not yet capable of the logical (problem-solving) type of thought. Children at this stage also demonstrate animism. This is the tendency for the child to think that non-living objects (such as toys) have life and feel like a person’s.
Play is a vital component of cognitive development in early childhood. It also allows parents to engage with their children. Parents can build an affectionate and loving relationship with their children to become the foundation for their development and learning.
Preschoolers learn best through child-led or even adult-guided play. Children require lots of unstructured play with others that teach them to share, cooperate, resolve conflict, negotiate, and make friends. Here are a few ways parents can help preschoolers build their cognitive skills.
Reading daily to children is a great way to help their cognitive development. It helps develop the following skills:
Vocabulary
Language patterns
Thinking skills
Writing skills
Problem-solving abilities
Attention span
Memory
Listening skills
Talking with children about their day at school, their experience with an activity, about their friends, during a bath or a walk allows children to use the language they are hearing. Parents are the primary source of vocabulary for children in the early years. Since children learn by imitation, parents must use grammatically correct language that stimulates a child’s mind.
Nursery rhymes are not only entertaining for children; they also teach language patterns and vocabulary and help build auditory perceptual skills. Classic nursery rhymes, songs, and poems are rich in language constructs that can help set up children for reading success later on.
Critical thinking skills are crucial for a successful adult. Thinking “outside the box” and creative problem-solving can be built by playing various thinking games. Games such as the guessing game, the prediction game, pretend-play game, and memory games are all meant to develop different thinking skills in children.
Creativity involves two processes - thinking and producing. Creative thinking helps the brains develop neural connections and learn new concepts. It fosters mental growth in children by providing opportunities to experiment with new ideas, new ways of thinking, and problem-solving. Activities such as drawing, painting, molding, creating something with waste materials, or pretend-play are forms of creative expression. Parents can provide opportunities, materials, and stimulation for children to develop creative skills.
Puzzles require a lot of concentration and effort, and perseverance to complete. Children who solve puzzles develop deep thinking and intellectual capabilities. Parents can present children with challenging yet doable puzzles appropriate for their age.
Movement helps build neural pathways in the brain. It helps in the development of gross and motor skills among children. Exercise wakes up, resets, and re-energizes the brain. Therefore, it can be used to reset a child’s concentration during any activity.
Symbolic play is when children use objects to represent other objects during make-believe play. A highly creative form of play, extended play enables children to develop advanced intellectual skills.
During this kind of play, children invent new ways to act out their world to make sense of it. Parents can offer access to toys and materials to encourage this play.
A stimulating environment for a child does not require fancy toys or equipment. Basics such as wooden blocks, Lego, playdough, books, construction materials, and natural materials can be offered to children on alternative days or after every few days. Children are encouraged to invent novel ways to play and create by providing different manipulatives.
The philosophy of “Hug First, Then Teach” defines every aspect of what Kids ‘R’ Kids, Valrico stands for. Unlike many daycare centers or childcare providers, its methodology is a whole-child approach. It constantly strives to strengthen and encourage every child’s emotional, intellectual, social, and physical well-being through the expertise of its childcare providers and a unique partnership with parents.
Early childhood is a very crucial time for the cognitive development of a child. It is important for parents to understand the way a child’s brain develops during this time and how they can support this development. Kids ‘R’ Kids, an educational preschool, shares important facts about early cognitive development and tips to encourage this development in preschoolers.
Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development suggests that intelligence changes as children grow. A child’s cognitive development is not just about acquiring knowledge, the child has to develop or construct a mental model of the world.
Cognitive development occurs through the interaction of innate capacities and environmental events, and children pass through four stages. Each child goes through the stages in the same order, and child development is determined by biological maturation and interaction with the environment. The four stages are the sensorimotor stage (birth to 2 years), preoperational stage (2-7 years), concrete operational stage (7-12 years), and the formal operational stage (12 years and above). Here’s more about the preoperational stage that is relevant for preschoolers.
Children in this stage are learning to use language and how to think about the world symbolically. These skills help children develop the foundations they will need to consistently use operations in the next stage. A child’s thinking is dominated by how the world looks, not how the world is. It is not yet capable of the logical (problem-solving) type of thought. Children at this stage also demonstrate animism. This is the tendency for the child to think that non-living objects (such as toys) have life and feelings like a person’s.
Play is a vital component of cognitive development in early childhood. It also allows parents to engage with their children. Parents can build an affectionate and loving relationship with their children that will become the foundation for their development and learning.
Preschoolers learn best through child-led or even adult-guided play. Children require lots of unstructured play with others that teach them to share, cooperate, resolve conflict, negotiate, and make friends. Here are a few ways parents can help preschoolers build their cognitive skills.
Reading daily to children is a great way to help their cognitive development. It helps develop the following skills:
Having a talk with children about their day at school, their experience with an activity, about their friends, during a bath or a walk allows children to use the language they are hearing. Parents are the primary source of language for children in the early years. Since children learn by imitation, parents must use grammatically correct language that stimulates a child’s mind.
Nursery rhymes are not only entertaining for children, they also teach language patterns and vocabulary and help build auditory perceptual skills. Classic nursery rhymes, songs, and poems are rich in language constructs that can help set up children for reading success later on.
Critical thinking skills are crucial for a successful adult. Thinking “outside the box” and creative problem-solving can be built by playing various thinking games. Games such as the guessing game, the prediction game, pretend-play game, and memory games are all meant to develop various thinking skills in children.
Creativity involves two processes – thinking and producing. Creative thinking helps the brains develop neural connections and learn new concepts. It fosters mental growth in children by providing opportunities to experiment with new ideas, new ways of thinking, and problem-solving. Activities such as drawing, painting, molding, creating something with waste materials, or pretend-play are forms of creative expression. Parents can provide opportunities, materials, and stimulation for children to develop creative skills.
Puzzles require a lot of concentration and effort, as well as perseverance to complete. Children who solve puzzles develop deep thinking and intellectual capabilities. Parents can present children with challenging yet doable puzzles that are appropriate for their age.
Movement helps build neural pathways in the brain. It helps in the development of gross and motor skills among children. Movement wakes up, resets, and re-energizes the brain. Therefore, it can be used during any activity to reset a child’s concentration.
Symbolic play is when children use objects to represent other objects during make-believe play. A highly creative form of play, symbolic play enables children to develop advanced intellectual skills.
During this kind of play, children are inventing new ways to act out their world to make sense of it. Parents can offer access to toys and materials to encourage this play.
A stimulating environment for a child does not require fancy toys or equipment. Basics such as wooden blocks, Lego, playdough, books, construction materials, and natural materials can be offered to children on alternative days or after every few days. By offering different manipulatives, children are encouraged to invent novel ways to play and create.
The philosophy of “Hug First, Then Teach”, defines every aspect of what Kids ‘R’ Kids, Valrico stands for. Unlike many daycare centers or childcare providers, its methodology is a whole-child approach. It constantly strives to strengthen and encourage every child’s emotional, intellectual, social, and physical well-being through the expertise of its childcare providers and a unique partnership with parents.
The post Kids ‘R’ Kids Discusses the Cognitive Development of Preschoolers appeared first on Valrico.
Preschoolers are often found playing in groups the age-old popular games that every adult today remembers playing. These classic preschool games are not just about fun and burning off that excess energy children carry, but also disguise some important learnings that are essential for them to master. Kids ‘R’ Kids, an educational preschool, shares how the classic games that children play at home and preschool secretly model real-world situations that children derive their learning from.
Life is a series of decisions and this classic game teaches children to think strategically and understand the impact of decisions. Participants sit in a circle, and one child walks around the circumference tapping each head in turn and saying “duck.” Eventually, the player picks one child to be the “goose” and runs around the circle to try to take that child’s place before the “goose” catches up with the player. If the player reaches the end without getting tagged, the “goose” returns to their seat and the original player continues around the circle.
This game encourages children to decide how they will choose the “goose”. They will likely tap the child who isn’t paying much attention and offers better chances of reaching their seats without getting tagged. This game teaches children to plan and gives them immediate feedback on the quality of their decisions.
Conflict resolution is an important part of social skills that children must acquire. This game helps children learn how arguments are resolved peacefully, how to deal with the disappointment of losing, and build their patience. Chairs are placed in a circle, one less than the number of children in the game, and then music is played as kids walk around the circle. Every time the music stops, everyone must be seated. Children who don’t get a chair are out. Then another chair is removed and the game restarts until there is a winner.
As the game progresses, children learn to deal with the frustration of being out of the game. They practice patience and wait graciously for the game to get over and applaud the winner. During the game, there will be arguments between the players that they must resolve peacefully and kindly. An adult needs to monitor and intervene to help settle the conflicts and keep the morale high for kids who are out of the game.
This game teaches children to focus and pay close attention to instructions. They also get a taste of leadership during this game as they instruct their peers to do silly actions by saying “Simon says tap your head” or “Simon Says jump like frogs.” The other children follow the leader as long as the instruction is preceded by “Simon says”. Children who are distracted end up doing silly actions by themselves. This gives them the impetus to listen closely to the entire set of instructions before getting started.
Self-awareness is a crucial skill for children to develop as part of the learning process. This game here pairs up children facing one another with knees bent up in front of them and holding hands. They are instructed to rock back and forth in time to the song “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.” This requires them to work as a team and coordinate their movements with each other as well as the music.
Hide and Seek educates children on problem-solving. Players try to assess the places that will keep them hidden for the longest possible duration. This assessment helps build spatial awareness as children consider visibility from various vantage points. They may also analyze and reject the spots that are most frequently used and discovered during the play.
Hopscotch is a classic sidewalk game that helps develop critical thinking skills. As children toss a rock underhand at the hopscotch pattern, they learn to navigate the hopscotch course without landing on the square with the rock. As the game gets harder, they may need to hop on one foot and plan the best route to win the game.
A game of patience, Red Light, Green Light requires one child to stand facing away at the other side of the field. The goal of the other children is to be the first to touch that person, without being caught in motion. When the person is facing away, children can rush forward during the green light. When the leader turns around to face them, that’s a red light when kids must stop moving. If the leader catches anyone in motion, that person will have to go back to the starting line. Children will need to choose a reasonable pace that allows them to stop when the leader turns around. Controlling their impulse to run forward and waiting for the right moment to rush forward helps them learn about patience and good judgment.
Children have a very low attention span and poor focus. This game can help them develop these important skills. During this game, children lie down and pretend to be asleep. Then one person walks among the sleeping group and tries to convince the group into reacting and opening their eyes. The last kid to stick to the enactment of “sleeping” is the winner.
The philosophy of “Hug First, Then Teach”, defines every aspect of what Kids ‘R’ Kids, Valrico stands for. Unlike many daycare centers or childcare providers, its methodology is a whole-child approach. It constantly strives to strengthen and encourage every child’s emotional, intellectual, social, and physical well-being through the expertise of its childcare providers and a unique partnership with parents.
Kids ‘R’ Kids International is accredited by AdvancED®, the world’s largest education community, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS/CASI). SACS/CASI is an accreditation division of AdvancED®. This accreditation ensures that the high accreditation standards are met and exceeded.
The post Kids ‘R’ Kids at Valrico: Life Skills that Classic Preschool Games Teach Children appeared first on Valrico.
Research says that creativity is not an inborn talent but a skill that can be built. Creativity is crucial for young children as it helps them express and cope with their feelings. Moreover, it fosters mental growth in them by providing opportunities to experiment with new ideas, new ways of thinking, and problem-solving. Kids ‘R’ Kids shares a few ways caregivers can help boost this skill in young children.
Creativity is the process of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality. It is characterized by the ability to perceive the world in new ways, to find hidden patterns, to make connections between seemingly unrelated events, and to generate innovative solutions. Creativity involves two processes – thinking and producing.
Creativity is the key to success in every sphere of life. It plays a crucial role in improving the brain’s cognitive abilities. Moreover, according to research, creative thinking helps the brains develop neural connections and learn new concepts. People with a musical background, for example, tend to have stronger links between the two hemispheres in their brain. Having said that, creativity is not limited to artistic and musical expression only. It is also essential for science, mathematical, linguistic, bodily-kinesthetic, spatial, naturalist, and even social and emotional intelligence. Creativity allows enables an individual to be more flexible and emerge as a better problem solver.
Here are some ways to help boost creativity in children:
Children are naturally inquisitive. By encouraging them to question what they see and hear lays a strong foundation of understanding and critical thinking. Urging kids to wonder and ask questions such as why, how, what if are ways to encourage their curiosity and develop problem-solving skills. Why is the sky blue? How does a bird fly? What if fishes could fly?
Every child is unique. According to the multiple-intelligence theory, every child has a dominant type of intelligence that is used to understand the world and express. The not-so-dominant intelligence in every child can be developed with time. Children must be allowed to express all forms of intelligence and their natural inclination must be encouraged.
From a math problem to a conflict with classmates, a caregiver must introduce children to the concept of multiple solutions to a problem. Giving them an understanding of different perspectives and encouraging empathy helps children develop strong problem-solving skills. It takes a lot of creativity and perspective to find solutions that work for everyone, every time. This is a skill that is extremely useful in personal and professional relationships.
Creativity is the cornerstone of innovation. Even though children are born curious they need the right environment with a sense of safety and novelty to sustain their curiosity. In the absence of the freedom to ask questions, explore new thoughts, and a rich and novel atmosphere, curiosity can die an early death. Children’s curiosity can be fostered for instance by exposing them to the rich art, culture, and literature of a country and enlightening them of their hidden meanings and implications. Discussions about the environment and the factors that are endangering it. These meaningful conversations expand a child’s knowledge base allowing them to remain curious and continue their learning.
Creative thinking is encouraged in the absence of rules and structure. Free play and the absence of gadgets enable the development of this skill. Not only does free play allow out-of-the-box thinking it also helps in the development of various other skills such as coordination, self-expression, and so on. Handing children a bunch of crayons, encouraging make-believe-play or just some unadulterated time with playdough or sand can do wonders for a child’s creative intelligence.
A creative hobby like reading encourages thought activity which in turn promotes creativity. Reading helps children understand the world at large, builds their vocabulary to express themselves, develops their logical thinking, and imparts new information. Visiting the library, reading to them at bedtime, discussing their favorite books and their characters, and enacting some of the books they love is a great way to build their knowledge base and sustain their curiosity.
Children must be encouraged to take creative risks so they can step out of their comfort zones and learn something new, even at the risk of failure. This risk-taking teaches them about their capabilities, encourages them to learn more complicated ideas and skills, and teaches them to be OK with failure. The idea is to teach them to focus more on the creative process than the outcome.
The philosophy of “Hug First, Then Teach”, defines every aspect of what Kids ‘R’ Kids, Valrico stands for. Unlike many daycare centers or childcare providers, its methodology is a whole-child approach. It constantly strives to strengthen and encourage every child’s emotional, intellectual, social, and physical well-being through the expertise of its childcare providers and a unique partnership with parents.
Kids ‘R’ Kids International is accredited by AdvancED®, the world’s largest education community, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS/CASI). SACS/CASI is an accreditation division of AdvancED®. This accreditation ensures that the high accreditation standards are met and exceeded.
The post Kids ‘R’ Kids talks about the importance of creativity and ways to foster it in kids appeared first on Valrico.
