Survey Highlights The Importance of Teaching Children Good Social Skills
(ARA) – Your 4-year-old may already know how to tie their own shoelaces and spell out their first and last names. But as preschool looms around the corner, are you worried how well they’ll fit in with the rest of the classroom?
According to a nationwide survey conducted of 1,000 parents by Mom Central Inc. on behalf of Hasbro Inc., the majority of parents feel the same way with 90 percent considering social skills to be vital to their children’s happiness and confidence.
Nearly eight out of 10 parents also think social skills are more important than academic skills when it comes to their child’s overall happiness. As a matter of fact, parents gave social skills a higher ranking than academic skills on the survey in nearly every area of child development.
“More than ever, our children must get along with others to function effectively,” says Stacy DeBroff, chief executive officer of Mom Central, found at www.momcentral.com. “In this age of team sports and structured play, it has never been more critical for our children to master socialization skills. From children’s play groups to collaboration in the classroom, kids today engage in significantly more structured group activities, raising the profile and the necessity for good social skills.”
According to the survey, one in five parents feel overwhelmed with teaching social skills and more than one-third say that teaching social skills leads to frustration. In response, Stacy DeBroff has developed some tips parents can use to help their child learn social skills in a positive and reinforcing way:
* Lead by example.
Children are excellent observers. If they see Mom and Dad using polite language, sharing and being respectful, they will follow their parents’ guidance.
* Play with them in an educational way.
Children love to play games with their parents because it provides them with direct attention. Noodleboro by Hasbro is a new line of board games, which includes storybooks and audio CDs that nurture preschoolers’ social skills through laughter and play.
* Take a problem-solving approach.
If a situation becomes stressful, encourage your child to talk about the issues they might have with saying “please,” and “thank you” or sharing their toys with their friends. By allowing children to talk, they often discover for themselves what’s causing the problem while also coming up with unique ways in which they will be able to handle themselves.
“It’s more than just manners… it’s sharing, it’s listening, and it’s engaging with others. The Noodleboro games offer an innovative way to use a classic board game to reward and challenge kids as they learn valuable social skills,” says DeBroff.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
(ARA) – As the weather warms and families come out to play, moms and dads often wonder how they can keep their toddler busy outdoors while spending quality time together. There’s no need to stock up on hundreds of dollars worth of toys or fancy games. Just a few strategic playthings powered by children and their imaginations are all parents need to get outdoors with their toddler.“Unstructured play and simple games are really great ways to engage young children” says Robert Pasin, father of three and Chief Wagon Officer at Radio Flyer — makers of wagons and ride-on toys for children. “Parents seeking quality ways for them to be active should know you don’t have to break the bank to have fun with your kids.”
The play experts at Radio Flyer offer their top tips for parents to get outdoors with their toddler.
Blow Bubbles
Bubbles are a simple and timeless outdoor activity for children. Encourage kids to count the bubbles they pop as a fun way to work on counting skills. For a change of pace that will delight the little ones, let them blow the bubbles while mom and dad chase and pop them.
Cruise the Block
A favorite activity of the Pasin family is to take a nature “drive” around the neighborhood. The Sport Coupe from Radio Flyer lets kids have a stylish, retro car of their own. Toddlers can use their feet to move the car, or use the stow-away footrest and telescoping handle to let mom or dad push. Point out foliage and wildlife along the way and encourage toddlers to honk the horn and wave to the neighbors.
Flutterby
Organize a butterfly chase in the yard or at a nearby park. Take the opportunity to explain how butterflies were once caterpillars, show kids how to watch the delicate critters quietly, and try to get them to land on their outstretched fingers. Make sure to take the time to enjoy the flowers, trees and sunshine.
Three Wheels and Four Legs
“Many families, mine included, have an older child as well as a toddler,” says Pasin. “Younger siblings don’t like to be left behind, so it’s important for families to find ‘me too’ activities.”
A traditional older sibling activity is taking the family dog for a walk. Help toddlers keep up with their very own set of wheels, like My First Scooter from Radio Flyer. The three-wheeled scooter looks just like a big kids’ ride but has an extra wide base with two wheels in front for stability. Fido will be happy he doesn’t have to slow down for the kids and the little ones will be delighted to speed ahead.
Sprinkler Sprint
Set up the sprinkler in the yard, put on the swimsuits and run, run, run! Kids (and adults) of all ages love to cool off by running through sprinklers.
Go for a Ride
The perennially popular activity of riding bikes often excludes toddlers too little to ride along. The Grow and Go Bike by Radio Flyer has sturdy non-removable training wheels and looks just as cool as a big kid’s bike. This bike grows with the child, eliminating the need to purchase an expensive new bike every year to keep up with growing bodies.
When it comes to getting outdoors with toddlers, the only limit is your imagination. Now get out there and play!
You can find Radio Flyer ride-on toys at your local toy retailer or Amazon.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Fuquay, NC - The staff at Gingerbread LittleVersity, a childcare and preschool facility, is pleased to announce that they have earned a Five Star rating at their Downtown and North End locations from the North Carolina Division of Child Development. The Five Star licensing system accurately reflects the quality of the childcare facility and there is a significant relationship between the star rating level of a facility and the quality of the program. Gingerbread LittleVersity’s Five Star rating will assure parents and policy makers a higher quality of childcare.
“We are proud and excited to have earned the Five Star rating,” said Kelli Ketner owner of Gingerbread LittleVersity. “We hold our facilities and staff to very high standards and this designation affirms that.”
The criterion to earn a Five Star rating in a childcare facility includes but is not limited to:
- score a six on the environmental ratings
- program structure
- activities for children
- space for children
- interactions with children
- listening and talking
- lower teacher/child ratios
For more information about Gingerbread LittleVersity, call 919.552.GRAD (4723).
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