The Right Time to Start Potty Training

Like other developmental skills, potty-training readiness varies by child. The Mao Clinic reports that many children show signs of being ready between 18 and 24 months. However, others might not be ready until they’re 3 years old. It is really much more about a child’s abilities, rather than their age, when it comes to the decision of when to start potty training.

As a parent, don’t allow yourself to compare your child to what other children have done. Don’t feel rushed to start potty training. If you start training before your child is ready, it might take longer.

Look for the Signs

If you can answer “yes” to most of the following questions posed by the Mao Clinic, then your child is probably ready to start potty training:

• Can your child walk to the toilet and manage to sit on the toilet?
• When wearing pants with an elastic waist, can your child pull down the pants and pull them up again?
• Can your child stay dry for up to two hours?
• Can your child understand and follow multi-step directions?
• Can your child tell you when he or she needs to go?
• Does your child show interest in using the toilet or wearing “big-kid” underwear?

We Will Be Your Partners

At The Academy, we are excited to partner with parents during the process of potty training. All our daycares in Franklin TN, Brentwood, Nashville, Hendersonville, Murfreesboro, and Spring Hill support potty training. Our teachers will make potty training a positive and rewarding experience.

Potty training must begin at home. But when you begin, please tell us what routines you are using so we can repeat them in the class. Consistency is key to successful toilet training.

For more detailed information about how to dress your child and the necessary supplies you must provide, refer to the Parents Handbook.

A Little More About the Academy Preschools and Daycare

The Academy is one of the premier educational preschools in Nashville offering the best preschool and daycare services. We have preschools in Franklin, Brentwood, Murfreesboro, Hendersonville, and Spring Hill.

Seeing Christmas through the Eyes of a Child

To all the parents of our precious children here at The Academy, we wish you a Merry Christmas. It is such a privilege, particularly at this time of year, to work with your little ones. To see the Christmas spirit come alive in them is so inspiring to all of us. Thank you for giving us this very special gift.

Christmas Traditions

Our children are getting into the Christmas spirit with so many of the old and new Christmas traditions. Red and green construction paper is in high demand, especially for making Christmas tree chains for garland. And our children are busy writing letters to Santa, making ornaments, decorating the tree, and singing Christmas songs.

Santa, the Grinch, and Elf on a Shelf are making their rounds at the Academy locations. The excitement and joy these visits generate is electric. To dial the excitement down a notch or two, we have Pajama Day. On this day we snuggle in to watch the Polar Express, which is simply mesmerizing. And then there’s Christmas Sweater Day – ugly or cute – it doesn’t matter.

Our staff really brings Christmas to life by decorating their rooms, particularly their doors. The Grinch and Polar Express are popular themes this year.

Christmas Giving

We are also teaching the children about, not just receiving, but giving. And we are involving the whole family in giving by sponsoring canned food drives and toy drives. It is truly amazing what our families have done to help others.

Merry Christmas to All and Happy New Year!

How the Academy is Preparing Our Brentwood TN Pre-K Students for Kindergarten

Before your children enter kindergarten, make sure they attend the best pre-k Brentwood TN has to offer. The Academy, with two locations in Brentwood, is one of the best pre-kindergartens you can choose. Our pre-k program promotes language, math, science, social, emotional and physical development through hands-on exploration.

Research shows that actively involving children in all aspects of their environment results in the best learning. This early education premise is the cornerstone of our nationally recognized, award-winning curriculum.

Kindergarten Bootcamp Is Also Available for Pre-K Students

Our Kindergarten Boot Camp is a dedicated summer program that teaches skills for navigating kindergarten with confidence. Remembering a lunch number, carrying a lunch tray, or getting on and off a school bus are examples of the skills we teach. Many of our regular pre-K Brentwood TN students also attend our summer Boot Camp.

What You Can Do at Home to Prepare Your Child for Kindergarten

Try these activities at home to help your child get ready for kindergarten:

• Establish a set bedtime and bedtime routines. Try to start bedtime routines in time to “hit” the bedtime mark.
• Practice the new morning routine. Walk to the bus stop with your child or drive to the new school.
• Decrease or phase out naps. Help your child get used to a full day.
• Make a plan for before- and after-school (if applicable). Discuss where your child will go and how he or she will get from school to child care.
• Create a homework space. Give you child a homework-type activity to practice with in the new space.

The Academy Has Two Pre-K Brentwood TN Locations

Our two Academy Preschools Brentwood TN families rate as exceptional have state-of-the art learning environments for your children. Our spacious classrooms optimize a child’s learning experience and foster creativity. Schedule a tour and come see for yourself.

The Benefits of Constructive Play

Constructive play is an idea that child development expert Jean Piaget formulated. Very simply, it is play that involves a child using material to create or build something. The material can be anything. This includes blocks, sand, water, LEGOs, play dough, boxes, PVC pipes, pipe cleaners, you name it.

The key is that the child is intentionally and creatively making something using different methods and materials. When the child is satisfying his or her curiosity by making something by hand, learning takes place.

What Can Children Learn from Constructive Play?

This type of play provides nothing short of fabulous developmental opportunities. For example, children can explore:

• Math Concepts: counting, shapes, sizes, and symmetry.
• Scientific Concepts:  gravity, balance, cause and effect
• Creativity: Designing and making their construction using materials that they choose.
• Physical Skills: Using fine and gross motor skills to manipulate materials.
• Problem Solving Skills: trial and error, testing ideas
• Social Skills: cooperation and collaboration, perseverance, patience, flexibility

The list could go on and on.

Building Week at the Academy

At The Academy we devoted an entire week to Piaget’s theory of constructive play. We called it “Building Week.” Our children explored building with wooden blocks, foam blocks, hollow blocks, recycled boxes, and even pool noodles! Turns out that building the highest stack appeals equally to the Pre-K child as to the two-year-old.

We love seeing our little friends have so much fun. Knowing that they are also developing better cognitive and social skills makes it even better.

The Academy Day Child Care Centers Serve Middle Tennessee

The Academy has 11 locations to serve our Middle Tennessee community. We have two conveniently and strategically located preschools Brentwood TN parents can choose from. Additionally, we have

• five locations in Franklin
• one location in Hendersonville
• one in Murfreesboro
• one location in Nashville
• one in Spring Hill

Additionally, two new locations are coming soon!

Science Fun at Franklin TN Day Cares

Science begins with curiosity and wonder. Since preschoolers are curious by nature (and ask tons of questions), learning science skills is a perfect activity for them. The seven basic preschool science skills that we teach in our Franklin TN day cares are

• Observing – using the five senses
• Comparing – recognizing similarities and differences
• Classifying – grouping by size, color, shape, etc.
• Measuring – using measuring cups, rulers, scales, etc.
• Communicating – talking, listening, and connecting ideas
• Inferring – thinking about why something happens
• Predicting – using observations to forecast an outcome

Mad Scientist Week at Franklin TN Day Cares

In July during our Mad Scientist Week, our children got to use many of the seven basic science skills. And as a special treat, a “Mad Scientist” visited several of our locations to perform experiments with the children. They loved predicting what would happen and seeing what actually did happen. And, of course, they had lots of questions and observations.

The Academy Day Care Centers Serve Middle Tennessee

The Academy has locations in the greater Nashville and greater Murfreesboro areas in Middle Tennessee. And we have 5 preschools Franklin TN parents can choose from, conveniently and strategically located.

Science Fun at Home

If you’d liked to have some science fun at home, try this “recipe” for a lava lamp.

Materials:

• 16 oz. plastic bottle
• Vegetable oil
• Alka-Seltzer tablets
• Food coloring
• Water

Instructions:

1. Add 4 oz. of water.
2. Add several drops of food coloring.
3. Fill the rest of the bottle almost to the top with oil.
4. Drop about 1/4 of an Alka-Seltzer table into the bottle.
5. Continue to drop in more pieces of the tablet as needed.
6. (Optional) Turn off the lights in the room and shine a flashlight under the bottle while it’s bubbling.

Observations:

• Oil and water have different weights.
• Oil is lighter, so it floats above the water.
• Food coloring mixes with the water but not the oil – due to polarity (attraction).
• The Alka-Seltzer tablet sinks to the bottom. It is heavier than the oil or the water.
• The Alka-Seltzer releases carbon dioxide gas bubbles.
• The chemical reaction takes place in the water but not the oil.
• The bubbles rise to the top. They are lighter than the water or oil.
• Drops of water that cling to the bubbles and rise to the top, fall back to the bottom when the bubbles burst.

Summer Childcare Program Kicks off at The Academy

We know that working parents need a summer childcare program they can count on, and we are here for you. The Academy provides more than just a summer childcare program. At The Academy, we want our summer curriculum to feel less academic and more like summer vacation. But that doesn’t mean the children are not learning and developing every day!

The Summer Kick Off at The Academy always begins the first week in June and continues until school starts. This year we are calling our summer “Imagine.” All of our little ones are excited to start their summer vacation at The Academy wearing their new blue shirts with our summer logo (as shown in the photo).

Children Love the Summer Childcare Program at The Academy

Our summer childcare curriculum is really learning cleverly disguised as fun. For example, our children just love the weekly “Water Day.” It is usually the highlight of the week. Water, sunshine, and fun are the key ingredients, but so much learning takes place too. While the children are playing in and with water, they are

• Developing their gross motor skills (jumping, running, balancing)
• Developing their fine motor skills (pouring water, squeezing sponges, squirting water)
• Practicing social skills (sharing, cooperating, being kind)
• Developing emotional skills (like not being afraid to slide down the huge water slide)
• Learning mathematical and scientific concepts (measuring water, observing objects that sink or float)
• Using their imaginations (pretending to fish, pretending to be mermaids)

The Perfect Summer Solution

The Academy is your perfect summer solution. We have openings waiting available. No matter where you live in the greater Nashville area, you’ll find one of our preschools close by.  The Academy has locations in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Hendersonville, and Spring Hill. We even have locations in Murfreesboro.  All of our preschool locations are into their summer programs, having fun in the sun.

At-Home Preschool Activities for COVID-19 Isolation

Many parents are having trouble coming up with enough at-home preschool activities for their little ones to do every day. Below are two suggestions to help you out.

Playing Rock School

Rock School appeals to both pre-school-age and school-age children. To play this game, you need a set of stairs and a small rock.

Tip: Finding the “perfect” rock is an activity in itself.

One person is the “teacher” and all others are “students.” The students begin by sitting on the first step – the first grade. The teacher hides the rock in one hand. Then holds out both fists to the first student. If the child guesses the hand with the rock, he or she gets promoted to the next grade and gets to move up to the next step. This is repeated over and over, taking turns with each child.

The winner is the first one to get to the highest grade. The winner can also become the teacher for the next game.

Making Faces

This activity helps children recognize and understand emotions on other children’s faces. It’s a good opportunity to teach appropriate responses.

Ask your child to make a “sad face.” Then spend some talking about what makes people sad and how to react to someone who is sad. Repeat the process for a happy face, a funny face, a tired face, a worried face, a scared face, etc.

Tip: You can lengthen the time for this activity by taking photos for a Facebook post.

More At-Home Preschool Activities

And you can find more activities, courtesy of one of our Cool Springs’ blogs, by clicking here. Additionally, we recommend GoNoodle.

We Are Open

We are here for you during these difficult times. Academy has the best preschools Nashville TN has to offer. Give us a call today.

Teaching Kids to Wash Hands

Teaching kids to wash hands is really a hands-on activity! The best way to learn about washing hands is to wash your hands. Our children are doing that a lot! To make sure they are washing long enough, we sing a favorite song that last for two minutes.

Learning about Germs

Our children’s health and safety are always of paramount importance at the Academy. Now, even more than ever, we want to be sure our little ones are doing everything they can to be safe. Although COVID-19 is a serious and potentially scary topic, we are teaching children about germs in many ways that are fun.

All That Glitters. . .

When it comes to germs, glitter is a perfect way to illustrate how we carry and transmit germs. Kids love glitter to begin with, but when they can put it all over their hands, it’s even more fun. Shaking their hands or rubbing their hands on a surface shows how germs get on other things. Then washing the glitter off the hands really drives home the importance of hand washing.

Staying Healthy by Being Outdoors

In addition to all the other health benefits of being outside, it actually helps strengthen the immune system. Just 10–30 minutes of midday sunlight, several times per week, is all we need to support the immune system.

Being outside just lifts the spirits too. Take a look at the smile on this face at one of our Brentwood locations. Is it any wonder our parents and kids think that Academy is one of the best preschools Brentwood TN has to offer?

More Tips for Teaching Kids to Wash Hands

Try these at home:

• Lead by example
• Practice five steps – wet, lather, scrub, rinse and dry
• Give frequent reminders – before eating and after using the bathroom
• Practice with hand-sanitizer

Franklin Child Care Centers Getting Ready for Spring

Things are “heating up” in Franklin child care centers at The Academy locations. As a Gold Sneaker facility, The Academy preschools have at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day. Activities feature classic calisthenics (such as jumping jacks), as well as yoga, hula hooping, and obstacle courses.

But Spring is approaching. And that means warmer weather and more outdoor activities. That’s why our Franklin child care centers are working a little harder on fitness this quarter.

The children are enjoying how much fun it is and how good it feels to really get the heart pumping. But with every physical activity there are also opportunities for cognitive learning. For example, our PreK 3 students learned how to check their own pulse.

Getting Fit for Spring

All our Academy preschools use the same curriculum. But each location may use different activities to achieve the same curriculum goals. So let’s see how some of our preschool locations are getting the children fit for Spring…

At Academy of Heritage Commons, Fannie Frog is a frequent exercise partner. And the children are teaching Olaf to follow along in Jazzercise class. The teachers said that the children work Olaf so hard that he’s afraid he might melt!

At Academy of Gateway, they are all about movement to music. The children are working on gross motor movements and adding some new movements every day.

At Academy of McKays Mill, the children brought their bikes and scooters to school for “Bike Day.” And, for safety sake, they also brought their helmets!

Why You Should Choose Academy Child Care Centers in Franklin

We are known as one of the best preschools Franklin TN has to offer. The Academy offers parents a choice in educating children from ages 6 weeks to 5 years like no other preschools. We give parents the peace of mind and full-service quality their children truly deserve.

Find out more about the educational programs we offer:

Enrichment Programs

Pre-K Program

Kindergarten Boot Camp