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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 – […]
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.
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: […]
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 […]
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 […]
Celebrating Christmas at The Academy
Christmas time is a time for our children to celebrate and to think about how children around the world celebrate. Some Christmas customs in other countries are somewhat different, such as putting shoes on the windowsill for Santa in Iceland. But many of the Christmas activities are very much like ours. They include Santa, the […]
Fall is for Family
The teachers, staff, children, and families that make up The Academy truly are a family. We do lots of things together as a family, but we want to encourage you to spend some quality time with just your family too. That’s why in October and November our emphasis is “Fall is for Family.” Spending Time […]
Talking about Fire Safety
Finally, we are beginning to get a hint of cooler weather here in middle Tennessee. Hopefully, we will see some real fall temperatures soon so we can roast some marshmallows over a roaring fire. And speaking of fire, we are talking about fire safety this month – from candles to burning building! Getting Out of […]
Back to School
September is back-to-school month! It’s the perfect time to talk about the curriculum that we use here at The Academy. You are probably very familiar with our logo – the big-eyed, big-toed, green frog. He’s a loveable character, but he’s more than that. He also represents the curriculum that we use called Frog Street! The […]
To Play or To Learn?
That is the question. But the answer is, “You can do both.” Learning through play is an essential part of our child care curriculum at the Academy. How We Structure Meaningful Play Most children have a favorite book – maybe one they like for you to read to them every night. And children love to play […]
Kindergarten Boot Camp
At The Academy, our Kindergarten Boot Camp (KBC) is in full swing, and we are so excited to be getting our little “cadets” ready for their first day of school in the Fall. The kids get their own KBC T-shirts that they wear on Tuesdays and Thursdays. And they get their own backpacks, filled with […]
Learning by Playing with Loose Parts
At your child’s birthday party, every other gift from a friend is a 174-piece Lego building kit! A nightmare, right? All those little pieces scattered all over the play room or all through the house! But wait! Those Lego building kits just might be based on a very sound educational theory that we use at […]
Teaching Gratitude at Academy Preschools in Nashville
In May, we celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week at The Academy. We showered our teachers with love and appreciation. This was a perfect way to teach our children more about gratitude. Showing gratitude is an expression of thankfulness and appreciation for what you already have. The commercial atmosphere that we live in does not particularly engender […]
Celebrating Earth Day
April 22 is Earth Day, which was created in 1970 by Senator Gaylord Nelson after witnessing the ravages of the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. On the first Earth Day, an estimated 20 million people attended festivities in the U.S. to demonstrate support for protecting the environment. Now, under the global coordination of […]
Green Your Scene in 2019
At The Academy, the emphasis in March and April is “Green Your Scene.” So in March, we’ll be focusing on keeping the planet green, recycling, and reusing. We want to teach our children to be mindful of things like littering and to learn how recycling helps the environment. Recycling at Home At home, you can […]
Happy Teeth
In January and February, our emphasis was “Fitness Fanatic.” In January, we concentrated on movement and exercise. In February, the emphasis was on dental health and happy teeth. February was a perfect time for that topic because it was also National Children’s Dental Health Month. Dentists Are Not Scary Through stories in books and our […]
Setting Health Goals
Traditionally, the new year is a time for setting goals. During January and February, the Academy preschools in Nashville, TN are setting some goals that focus on being healthy. Over the course of these two months, we will be discussing and doing various activities that emphasize: being fit through movement and exercise healthy eating achieving […]
Free Christmas Events
Our family at The Academy wishes you and your family good cheer, good health, and good will toward men! We also hope that you and your family will take advantage of some of the free Christmas activities that are available in Nashville and the surrounding areas. For example, at The Factory in Franklin, you can wander […]
Six Benefits of Family-style Dining
Family-style dining can look like many different things. From the perfect Thanksgiving meal commencing with thanks to a rowdy picnic at the soccer field between games. The only necessary ingredients in family-style dining are a family food Lessons to Learn Family-style dining is a tradition at The Academy. We know that there are many things […]
The Importance of Music at The Academy
At The Academy we know that musical experiences in childhood can actually accelerate brain development, particularly in the areas of language acquisition and reading skills. That’s why we find so many ways to incorporate music in our preschool curriculum. You’ll find music is an important part of our program at all our preschool locations, serving […]
We Can Learn a Lot from Puppets
Children (and grown-ups alike) are fascinated by puppets. For proof, look no farther than the long-lasting popularity of the Muppets…
Kindergarten Readiness Skills
Starting kindergarten doesn’t need to be a scary time for a child or parent. The Academy offers Kindergarten Boot Camp every summer to teach kindergarten readiness skills. Learn more about our pre-K programs here. But, as a parent, you can help your child enter kindergarten with confidence by working on readiness skills at home. Here […]
Try Playing with “Loose Parts”
In restaurants, while riding in the car, or spending time at home, kids are watching TV or videos, playing video games, or using mobile devices. You may have the feeling in the back of your mind, that this can’t be all good. So, what do the experts recommend? The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends no […]
The Power of Play
No matter how old we get, we never seem to outgrow the joy of playing. Whether it’s a pick-up game of volleyball at the beach or playing a game of Monopoly—people just love to play games. At The Academy, we know the power of play, and we use it every day with our young students. […]
“Watch Me Mommy!”
Millions of preschool-age children say this phrase daily all over the world as they proudly demonstrate their newest feat – standing on one foot for 5 seconds or jumping forward two feet or throwing a ball. These are the small joys of childhood that come from developing the use of the large muscles in the […]
Best Daycares in Franklin TN Contest
If the Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) had a contest for “Best Daycares in Franklin TN,” we are sure that The Academy would be one of the top contenders! We would certainly wow the BOMA judges with our five, convenient day care locations in Franklin, including: Academy of Forrest Crossing Academy of Cool Springs Academy of […]
What Happens Every Year at This Time?
Can you guess? Let me give you a hint. Green!
Bringing the Outdoors In
“Bringing the outdoors in” is a phrase you hear on HGTV decorating shows. But in this case, we are talking about “indoor” exercising of those muscles that children use “outdoors.” Typically, gross motor skills, such as running, jumping, climbing, and maybe even hanging up-side-down aren’t always recommended inside! Indoor Exercising at the Academy At the […]
Questions You Should Ask a Daycare Before Enrolling
At the Academy, we get lots of questions from parents who are looking for the best daycare Nashville has to offer for their children. In our blog this month, we want to share these questions with you, and encourage you to be asking these questions of any facility where you might enroll your child. You […]
Making Christmas Memories with Books
Christmas is the perfect time for spending time with your children. And what better way to spend time together than to curl up with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate. Children’s books are certainly plentiful. But that’s the problem. There are so many choices! We are happy to come to the rescue. […]
Our Holiday Focus at The Academy
November was the start of two very busy months of the year for everyone. It’s no different for all The Academy centers…
When Should Your Child First Visit the Dentist?
Parents of new children often wonder, “When should my child first see a pediatric dentist?” The Academy has partnered with local pediatric dentist Snodgrass King to offer some advice that will help answer this question. What is the earliest you encourage parents to bring their baby in for a dental checkup? Your child’s first pediatric […]
What Makes The Academy the Best Child Care in Spring Hill?
A Google search for child care Spring Hill can yield literally thousands of results, but the question that a Google search cannot answer is, “Which child care is the best?” That’s the important question, isn’t it? – not which one is the closest, or which one is the least expensive, or which one is the newest/oldest. […]
Academy Wins Best Child Care in Nashville 2016
If you are searching for the best child care Nashville has to offer, look no further than The Academy. We are excited to announce that The Academy has once again won the 2016 Best of Parenting award given out by Nashville Parent magazine. This will mark the 9th year in a row that The Academy […]
Top Reasons to Choose The Academy for Child Care in Brentwood
When making decisions about preschools in Brentwood, TN residents have an array of facilities to choose from. The Academy has two convenient locations in Brentwood: The Academy of Maryland Farms and The Academy of Powell Place (in Maryland Farms). Child Care in Brentwood That Feels Like a Second Home “We reflect the community to the degree that […]
Why Parents Choose The Academy for Child Care in Hendersonville, TN
Just because kids are little, doesn’t mean they don’t have “big ideas.” At The Academy, we prove that every day! Our preschool curriculum encourages kids to think big and look for the answers to their own questions. The Academy of Indian Lake Village is widely considered the best child care Hendersonville TN has to offer. […]
5 Reasons to Choose The Academy for Child Care in Franklin, TN
There are many reasons that The Academy is considered the best child care Franklin TN has to offer. When you choose the Academy for child care, you and your child will benefit in many ways. Below are five reasons parents choose the Academy preschools in Franklin for child care. 1) Absolute Peace of Mind You […]
Child Allergies: Answers to FAQs by Dr. Ryan Duncan
Is your child struggling with allergies? Here are some of the common symptoms and treatments for children…
Answers to Questions About Your Child’s Dental Health
In this post Dr. Crystal Rucker of Snodgrass King provides helpful answers to FAQs about dental health for preschool children.
The Gold Sneaker Initiative and Your Child’s Health
The Gold Sneaker Initiative is a voluntary, State of Tennessee program that child care facilities have an opportunity to obtain and use as a resource. The initiative outlines policies that childhood centers can put in place to promote health and wellness in early childhood. These policies promotes physical activity, nutritious eating, non-smoking facilities, and little-to-no […]
Academy Director Sara McFall Presents at NAEYC Conference
Sara McFall, Director of The Academy of Cool Springs, was recently honored to be a featured speaker at the 2015 NAEYC conference in Orlando. NAEYC national conferences bring together early childhood educators (teachers, program administrators, students, researchers and teacher educators) to explore the latest research and learn from one another. This year’s event had roughly […]
5 Reasons Parents Choose The Academy
At The Academy, we believe in providing every child in our program with the highest quality preschool education in an environment that is fun and safe, allowing parents to have peace of mind, knowing their child is receiving the best possible care. In addition to fun activities and a safe environment, we offer additional services […]
Looking for the Best Preschools in Spring Hill TN?
If you are searching for the best preschools in Spring Hill, TN check out all The Academy of Heritage Commons has to offer…
4th Annual Superhero Day
The Academy is so excited to be finalizing the plans for the 4th annual Superhero Day to be held on Saturday, July 25th at The Academy of Indian Lake Village. The event promotes all the things that we teach and believe in. It promotes literacy, encourages “superhero” qualities in children, brings community together, and, in […]
The Academy Preschools in Franklin TN
If you are looking for the best preschools in Franklin TN you have to check out all that The Academy has to offer. The Academy has four preschool locations in Franklin, TN. Each location is strategically placed in the busiest parts of Franklin for the convenience of our parents. Our four current preschools in Franklin […]
Featured Preschool: The Academy of Heritage Commons
The Academy of Heritage Commons is an educational preschool providing child care and day care in Spring Hill and Thompson’s Station, TN. If you are searching for summer programs or school age programs in Spring Hill or Thompson’s Station then check out all that The Academy of Heritage Commons has to offer. Pre-K Programs and […]