Kindergarten Readiness Skills

The summer before kindergarten is an exciting time for preschoolers! Many of them have been attending preschool classes and are eagerly awaiting their first day of kindergarten. In this post, we share some activities that will develop kindergarten readiness skills. These activities will help students channel their excitement while keeping their skills sharp.

Engaging Activities for Kindergarten Readiness Skills

Preschoolers may feel anxious about entering kindergarten. Over the summer you can do some fun activities that will ease their fears about kindergarten. These will also help them see that they are indeed ready for school.

Using School Tools. Make sure your child knows how to hold a pencil, cut with scissors, and use paste. The kindergarten teachers will be so pleased!
Recognizing Letters. Have them trace letters, play a game where they hunt for the named letter, or decorate letter outlines. Although these are fun, they will reinforce their knowledge of letters.
Identifying Colors and Shapes. Coloring books are a fun way to show they know colors and shapes. They will enjoy using a variety of colors to fill in different shapes and objects.
Identifying Numbers. Call out numbers and ask the child to find the number on a worksheet. He then can color the number and count out beans or other objects that match that number.
Writing His Name. Let your child practice writing his name. He will need to put his name on many papers in kindergarten.

Kindergarten Boot Camp at The Academy

At The Academy, we know how important it is for a child to be ready for kindergarten. The transition from preschool to kindergarten can be a big leap. That is why we instituted “Boot Camp” at The Academy. It’s our summer kindergarten preparation program. This program can ensure that your child possesses the readiness skills that will make the kindergarten year successful. Learn more about boot camp.

The Best Nashville Daycares Know Naps Are a Must

The Academy, one of the best Nashville daycares, schedules daily nap periods that are age-appropriate. For babies, we let them dictate when they sleep. For older children we schedule regular nap times. And for our oldest children, who usually do not require naps any more, we schedule rest periods. The need for and the benefits of naps are numerous.

Why Are Naps Needed?

Almost every parent knows that skipping a little one’s nap usually results in irritability and possible meltdowns.

Babies and toddlers (ages 0 – 24 months) can’t tolerate being awake as long as older children due to the development their bodies are going through. Some experts believe that the rapid brain development happening during the early years tires little ones out!

What Are the Benefits of Naps?

Studies involving napping demonstrate that naps:

enhance learning.
facilitate better emotional regulation.
support better nighttime sleep.

Learning: Several studies show that little ones who nap outperform their non-napping peers in cognitive tasks, such as learning language and memorizing.

Controlling Emotions: One study involving 2-year-olds found that toddlers who miss just one nap were less able to regulate their emotions. They became more anxious, withdrawn, and irritated by even small stressors. Additionally they were less happy about exciting things.

Sleeping Better at Night: Other studies show that naps can help a child sleep better at night. This is because when children are overtired, the stress hormone cortisol can flood their bodies, making them overactive. Note: Napping too much or taking naps too late in the day can be detrimental to a good night’s sleep.

Doesn’t Your Child Deserve to Attend One of the Best Nashville Daycares?

When you pick up your child from The Academy, your child will be rested, in control, and happy to see you. If you want more information about any of our many locations, please contact us.

Skills for Preschoolers Taught at The Academy

The Academy is known for having some of the top preschools in Franklin, TN, but preschool is not only a place to prepare children for elementary school. It is also a place where children might experience emotions and conflicts as they interact with other children. At The Academy, we teach skills for preschoolers that will help them learn to deal with their own emotions and conflicts as well as those of their classmates.

Skills for Developing Good Relationships

Preschoolers tend to be selfish and don’t understand how to build relationships with others. Our staff at The Academy want them to learn to feel compassion for others. We help children learn compassion in these two ways:

Read stories.
We choose stories that deal with feelings. As we read, we ask questions about how the characters feel in different situations. Then we ask the children how they can help others deal with situations similar to those in the stories.
Affirm their feelings.
We want to let the children know it is okay to feel sad, angry, happy, or excited. We also want them to realize that their classmates are dealing with these same feelings.

Skills to Solve Conflict

Even a young child must learn to solve problems. We use these questions to help children develop problem-solving skills:

What is the problem?
What are possible solutions?
Would your solution be safe and fair?

Skills to Deal with Emotions

Preschoolers have not yet developed the skills to deal with their emotions. We use these steps to help them develop these skills:

We model the skill for the child.
The staff gives positive feedback when the child deals with his emotions in an appropriate way.
Teachers use puppets to model the emotional skills we want to encourage.

The Academy Teaches Important Skills for Preschoolers Every Day

It is never too early for children to learn to develop social, emotional, and conflict-solving skills. At The Academy we know how to help your child develop in all these areas. It is our priority every day. We invite you to come for a tour and see for yourself or click to learn more about The Academy.

The Academy Helps in Combating Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity is a significant problem that puts children at risk for poor health. The Academy helps in combating childhood obesity by being a Gold Sneaker certified child-care provider. This certification is given by the state of Tennessee to child care providers that implement physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco-free campus policies. Although Gold Sneaker certification is voluntary, all directors and educators must take the Gold Sneaker initiative training course for a facility to be certified.

Additionally, The Academy has the highest rating given by the Tennessee Star-Quality Child Care Program. This means we meet the highest possible standards in child care.

Parents Can Help in Combating Childhood Obesity

Parents can help prevent obesity by providing a healthy diet and maintaining a household that values an active lifestyle. These are ways to help your child watch his weight:

Eliminate unhealthy snacks, such as French Fries. Provide only healthful snacks such as fresh fruits.
Be a positive role model in your eating habits. Never offer second helpings. Avoid leftovers.
Eliminate sugar-sweetened drinks. Encourage lots of water.
Limit screen time. Plan a fun activity outdoors.
Never use food as a reward for good behavior.

Long-term Consequences of Childhood Obesity

Obesity in children has more than tripled in the past 30 years. Not only does childhood obesity affect a child’s health, but it can also lead to poor self-esteem and teasing by others. There are also long-term consequences of childhood obesity.

A greater chance of being obese as an adult
A risk of medical problems such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease
Social isolation and depression

The Academy Partners with Parents

We at The Academy work with parents to provide an environment that will help address childhood obesity. By addressing the issue when children are young, we may prevent a lifetime of obesity and disease.

For the best child care in Hendersonville and the other cities surrounding Nashville, come to The Academy.

The Best Daycares in Nashville Promote Good Health

As one of the best daycares in Nashville, The Academy focuses on three areas to promote good health. These are food, activity, and sleep. These three factors, if not managed properly, can contribute to excess weight gain in children.

3 Areas of Concern for the Best Daycares in Nashville

Excess weight, to the point of obesity, can lead to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. So, it’s important for a daycare (that frequently has child for 10 – 11 hours a day) to provide healthy choices in these three areas.
Food
At The Academy centers, we serve a nutritious continental style breakfast each morning from opening to 9 a.m. We schedule meals and snack times are according to a group’s age and developmental level.
Sleep
Rest times are scheduled in the middle of the day after lunch for children who are one year old and up. Rest times will vary according to the group’s age and developmental level. We do not “require” children to sleep, but they must rest quietly. This allows other children who are sleeping not to be disturbed. Infants sleep at will throughout the day and form their own sleep patterns.
Activity
During a day with a normal routine and when weather permits, children will play on the playground once in the morning and once again in the afternoon. We have separate playgrounds for different ages. This allows us to provide age-appropriate equipment. Our play areas contain a minimum 50 square feet of usable play space for each child in the play area.
Note: If weather conditions do not permit outdoor play, the classrooms support gross motor activities.

The Academy of McCrory Lane Will Join the Best Daycares in Nashville Soon

The Academy of McCrory Lane is the newest Academy daycare location under construction. It supports all the same values and routines that promote health as the other twelve Academy locations throughout middle Tennessee. Learn more about our award-wining daycares.

The Best Daycares in Williamson County Teach Children Cooperation

Cooperation is a necessity in our adult lives. Whether it’s at home with our partners, at work with colleagues, or on a sports team, cooperation enriches our lives. This is why it is so important to teach children cooperation at an early age. It will enhance their lives today and prepare them for their future. At The Academy, one of the best daycares in Williamson County, teaching children to cooperate is a high priority.

Teach Children Cooperation

Cooperation is the character trait that can help us reach goals as a group that we couldn’t reach by ourselves. The following are ways to encourage cooperation in your children at home:

Modeling Cooperative Behavior. Encourage children to work together in cleanup so they will understand how much faster it can go when they work as a team. At home demonstrate how working together as a family can help with dinner time.
Playing Games. Simple activities such as working together on a puzzle or playing games as a team will help them learn to work together.
Pointing Out Examples of Working Together. As children read books or watch a movie, encourage them to discuss how the characters worked together to complete a task.
Planning a Family Activity. Choose an activity where each member has a task to complete. The family can clean the house or yard, plan a special meal, or play a board game together. All these will unite the family as they work and play together.
Praising a Child for Helping Others. Praise children when they help others without expecting something in return. Such things as playing with a young sibling or helping a grandparent with a task will instill in the child a sense of cooperation.

The Academy Is One of the Best Daycares in Williamson County

Our staff at The Academy emphasizes cooperation every day and our curriculum supports it with classroom activities. Our award-winning Frog Street Press curriculum makes The Academy the leader in educational preschools in Nashville.

Why the Best Williamson County Preschools Include Make-Believe Play in Their Curriculum

Are you looking for the best Williamson County preschools? Then look for schools with an award-winning curriculum that includes make-believe. Make-believe play is a child’s way of learning and a form of self-expression. That’s why we at The Academy include make-believe play in our curriculum.

Benefits of Make-Believe Play in a Curriculum

Children love to pretend to be someone else. It can be Superman, a princess, or a firefighter. The benefits are many.

Thinking differently. Make-believe encourages creativity and imagination. As a child assumes the identity of someone else, he experiences how others do things and how they behave. This allows him to see things differently when he encounters a similar situation in real life.
Using energy. Parents and teachers know how much energy preschoolers have. When engaging in creative play, they use up the energy they have in a beneficial learning experience.
Learning social skills. When children play make-believe with others, they will need to negotiate roles and solve issues. They must exercise self-control as they co-operate with their classmates in their role-playing. As they put themselves in different situations, they learn compassion for others. All these things will serve them later in life as they develop the social skills to live and work as an adult.
Overcoming fears. Make believe can lessen fears a child may have. If she fears going to a dentist, she can role-play being the dentist and then the patient. This will put her more at ease when she actually has a dental appointment.

The Academy Has the Best Williamson County Preschools Any Parent Could Want

The Academy’s preschool curriculum encompasses many elements. We feel that make-believe play is a very vital part of the learning experience. Learn more about our award-winning preschools in Franklin TN and preschools in Brentwood TN at the links provided.

Getting Ready For Kindergarten

Kindergarten can be a big adjustment for kids, as well as parents. If you haven’t been getting ready for kindergarten, there are still some things that you can do to help your child adjust.

Tips for Making Kindergarten Easier

Before school started, sleeping times could be adjusted according to the activities of the family. However, once kindergarten begins, some routines might need to be adjusted:

Eliminate nap time. Most children by the age of five have quit their naps. But if your child still wants one, help your child adjust to a day without naps.
Have a set time for bed. Your child will need to get into the routine of going to bed earlier and at the same time. This will make it easier for him to be ready in the morning to get dressed, eat, and leave for school.

Expectations for Kindergarten

Parents need to talk to their children about what kindergarten will be like. Here are a few things to discuss with your child:

Length of the school day. Most kindergartens are full day. At first, your child may be tired by the length of the day and the many structured activities. When your child gets home, have a healthy snack ready allow him time for some favorite activities.
Clothes and school items. Your child may need to dress a little bit differently for kindergarten. If that’s a problem, encourage your child to pick out school outfits. Definitely let your child choose items for school such as back packs, crayons, etc. Your child will be excited to go to school to show the other kids the new purchases.
Daily kindergarten routines. Talk to your child about the importance of following instructions, listening carefully to the teacher, and getting along with the other children. Make this an ongoing discussion as the year goes on.

The Academy Is Your Child’s Partner in Getting Ready for Kindergarten

While Parents prepare their children for kindergarten at home, we are doing the same thing here at The Academy. Our pre-K programs in Nashville focus on preparing the students on a daily basis. Our Kindergarten Boot Camp program is a concentrated summer program that brings all the training together. If you have a child that is pre-K age, now is a good time to start preparing for next year.

How Animals Benefit Early Childhood Development

At The Academy, a learning center for early childhood development, we encourage hands-on learning. Learning and caring for animals can be a valuable hands-on lesson for children. By caring for animals, children can develop many cognitive and emotional skills. We are one of the leading preschools in middle Tennessee with five preschools in Franklin, TN at the time of this blog post.

Growing Up With a Pet

Owning a pet is often the thing children remember most from their childhood. But in addition to memories, pets help children with their emotional well-being both as children and adults. For example:

If a child loses a pet, he will understand death better and be able to cope if a friend or relative dies.
Confiding in their pets when they are feeling blue helps children to express their emotions and process them.
By taking care of the needs of pets, such as walking and feeding them, children learn to think about someone besides themselves. They also learn responsibility.
Playing with a pet can relieve the stress and anxiety a child may feel from home situations or school.

Learning about Animals during Early Childhood Development

If you are unable to have a pet in your home, children can learn to respect animals in other ways:

Go to a local zoo. Let the children watch zookeepers caring for animals, In many zoos there are petting areas with bunnies and goats.
Look in your own backyard. Children can watch for birds, deer, and squirrels in their natural habitat.
Plan a bug hunt. They can keep a record of the many different bugs they see in their own backyards.
Play with a friend or neighbor’s pet. This helps them understand how to handle them gently and teaches kindness.

The Academy Provides Opportunities to Learn about Animals

At The Academy our children have many opportunities to learn about animals—in stories, songs, and hands-on projects involving animals. Our goal is to give children the highest quality preschool education in a fun and safe environment. Our award-winning curriculum guarantees it. Contact us for more information.

The Best Daycares in Spring Hill Teach Socialization Skills

When searching for the best daycares in Spring Hill, many parents are eager to find one with a good teaching curriculum. At The Academy we have an award-winning preschool curriculum, and that’s important. But we know that before young children can learn academics, they have to learn social and emotional skills.

Teaching A Sense of Community

Preschool children are learning, maybe for the first time, how to be part of a classroom community. A preschool curriculum that focuses on socialization skills helps children understand what it means to be part of a community. Activities such as lining up to go in or out to the play yard, sitting in a circle for reading time, and listening to others helps develop the sense of community.

Focusing on Socialization

Our goal is to help children become a well-rounded student, friend, family member, and community member. That’s why so many of our activities focus on socialization. These include activities such as sharing crayons, playing with an object as a group, and eating together. These activities help develop important skills such as teamwork, patience, and understanding.

Developing social skills help your child to:

manage his own feelings
understand others’ feelings
recognize the needs of others
interact with others respectfully

Providing Age-Appropriate Activities

To this point, we have been discussing social skills in general terms. However, at The Academy we know what kind of activities are appropriate for the age of the child. For example, a two-year old is usually too young to play “with” another child. At this age, a child begins to participate in “parallel play.” So, we encourage a 2-year-old to play side by side with another child, rather than interactively playing with the child.

The Academy Provides the Best Daycares in Spring Hill and Other Local Communities

With 11 locations and new locations opening soon, you can find The Academy in preschools in Spring Hill, Franklin, Brentwood, Murfreesboro, Nashville, and Hendersonville. Use our online form to request more information for a location near you.