From the Principal’s Office
Each year at Halloween, the teachers and children of Chesterbrook Academy enjoy dressing up and sharing their colorful costumes. Bring your child to school on the morning of Thursday, October 31st in costume and the teachers will change them back into their street clothes before lunch so that their costumes will be ready for the big night. Most classes will be posting a sign-up sheet for parents to donate goodies for Halloween parties. Just remember that anything brought into the school for consumption by the children must come from a state-approved deli/bakery or must be in a sealed package from the grocery store. All candy or treats must be individually wrapped and must be age-appropriate. Due to sanitation ordinances, we cannot serve home-made treats to the children. Remember, Chesterbrook Academy is a Peanut-Free zone!
Lynette Stoker, Principal
Shari Hale, Asst. Principal
Nikki Crowell, 2nd Assistant
Calendar of Events
October
October 6-12, 2019 Fire Prevention Week
October 14, 2019 Columbus Day
October 18, 2019 Breast Cancer Awareness Day
October 24, 2019 United Nations Day
October 21, 2019 Catawba Co. Schools Closed Teacher Workday
October 31, 2019 Halloween — Dress in Costumes
Reminders!
All payments are due on Friday preceding each week. A $25.00 late payment fee is assessed after 12 noon Monday, no exceptions!
To avoid a late fee, make your payment online through the Parent Portal, pay over the phone with credit/debit card, or consider signing up for Electronic Funds Transfer as a back-up. With EFT, if for some reason you forget to make a payment before 12 noon Monday (i.e. your child was out sick, you went out-of-town, etc..) your payment would be made electronically late Monday evening and you would not be charged a late fee.
For Parents and Teachers
Risk of Injury and Stages of Development
Children are at risk for injuries because developmental factors limit their physical, mental, and emotional abilities. They grow quickly and want to test and master their environment. Their curiosity, fearlessness, and lack of safety knowledge put them at risk of attempting actions for which they may lack the skills and physical capabilities. The types of injuries children may incur is related to their development. For example, an infant’s neck is too weak to support the weight of his head, so he will be at risk of serious injury and even death if shaken. Infants and toddlers explore their surroundings by putting objects in their mouths, and therefore are at risk of choking. Toddlers like to walk fast, climb, and reach for objects, and therefore are at risk of falling or poisoning. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of injury in all age groups.
As child care providers, we want to assure that children are challenged by their environment and can explore safely. Knowing the children in our care and being careful to remove hazards and set up the environment with their abilities in mind can prevent injuries.
In the Complete Parenting Exchange Library, Exchange has compiled over 180 articles written by Karen Stephens to parents about common challenges of raising preschool children. In the free Exchange article “Biting Among Toddlers and Twos: Responses to Try,” Stephens offers this advice: “Identifying conditions and situations that contribute to biting can help parents and care professionals respond wisely, but it can be tricky. The reasons children bite vary immensely. And in truth, an exact cause is sometimes never pinned down with certainty. We do know that by nature, toddlers and twos strive to get what they want, when they want it. And so they sometimes act out or use aggression, such as biting. Very young children rely on non-verbal communication, rather than verbal language, to express wishes and feelings. And so it’s critical to observe children’s behavior and the conditions that lead to a biting incident. Observation can help us fathom children’s motivations or primary goal. “Some children may be prone to biting when hungry, tired, overwhelmed, frustrated, or enduring teething pain. Others may bite to get an adult’s undivided attention or to get a toy from a playmate. Biting is also a way for children to exert a sense of power and control. Children sometimes bite out of exploratory curiosity or interest in textures and sensations. They are equally fascinated by cause and effect. And of course, imitation always comes into play with children’s behavior, too.“ Also observe to see if your child bites out of frustration or out of self defense. Reflect on stresses your child may be enduring that may contribute to temper flares. For instance, long-term separation during a parent’s work travel can lower kids’ frustration tolerance. In some cases, it’s the group care environment that contributes to biting. Too few toys, overcrowded conditions, excessive noise, or frequent change in teaching staff whittle away at children’s emotional reserves.
From the Education Department
October, 2019
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Topics: Mathematical Thinking
Hands-on experiences help children understand foundational math concepts, such as number and shape recognition, patterning, sorting, and addition and subtraction. The activities below provide your child with valuable early exposure which will help him gain confidence for additional math skills presented in kindergarten and beyond. Toddlers (ages 1-2) Take a[.....]
Read More »
Winning Bedtime Battles
We’ve all been there. You’ve had a long day, and as bedtime is approaching, your attempts at an easy transition to sleep for your child are met with sharp resistance, outbursts, and tears. Rest assured, you are not alone. Bedtime battles are a common occurrence for parents of preschoolers.
For children, bedtime is a time of separation from the parent and having to transition away from their beloved toys and books. For some children, nighttime elicits feelings of fear of the dark or of being alone. The best way to counteract your child’s resistance to bedtime is to be proactive. It’s very helpful to discuss with children how important sleep is for their health and growth. At school, we focus on the importance of sleep in the Wellness component of Links to Learning. Explaining at home that sleep is one of the most important ingredients to growing big and strong will help motivate your child.
Here are some additional tips to make bedtime easier:
Establish a bedtime routine. Decide on a firm bedtime schedule (i.e. water/snack time, bath time, story time, bedtime) and discuss it with all caregivers. Follow the same sequence of events at the same time every night. Consistency is the key to success.
Limit pre-bedtime activity and excitement. Keep noise low, and limit computer and television time for at least an hour before bedtime. This approach allows your child to wind down more easily. Story time is one of the best ways to share a special quiet moment with your child and build warm associations with the pleasure of books and reading.
Provide reassurance. If your child is hesitant to fall asleep alone, try giving him a favorite stuffed animal or blanket. If that does not suffice, promise your child that you will return every few minutes to check on him. Return to your child’s room at the promised time, but gradually extend your absences. He will grow tired of waiting for your return and independently fall asleep.
Don’t give in to power struggles. If your child refuses to stay in bed, lie him down, tell him goodnight, and leave the room. If you keep returning to the room, you are actually reinforcing your child to get up more often. Leaving the room shows you are not going to participate in the struggle.
Remain calm. Don’t show your child your frustration. Follow the routine and then leave the room. If tears ensue, wait a few minutes before returning to calm your child and lay him back down.
By teaching your child the importance of a bedtime routine and getting enough sleep, you will help establish a lifetime of healthy habits that will help him succeed in later years.
–Lauren Starnes, PhD- former Director of Early Childhood Education
The Important Questions
I recently read an article written by a pediatrician in which she enumerated the myriad questions that parents ask. She said that parents of babies and young children ask the most, not surprisingly, as they are plunged into the experience of caring for their children without a huge backlog of information.
Probably Siri gets some of these same questions: Is my child eating enough? When will my child sleep through the night? What is this rash? Should my baby’s poop be _____?
Parents ask questions about articles of clothing, potty training, biting, strollers, toothpaste, water, sunscreen, bug spray, naps – the entire gamut of the details of daily life.
The doctor commented that she really understood why all these questions about the minutiae might help parents feel more likely to be able to handle the overwhelming task of being responsible for a human being.
However, she went on to comment that she does not get questions about the things that can actually make a difference in helping children grow up to be healthy, happy and successful as independent, productive, compassionate people. Let me outline here for you the big questions she wishes parents would wonder about.
- How can I nurture my child, and be sure he/she feels loved? Since this is the key to future happiness and success, this is really a prime question, and involves more than saying, “I love you.”
- How can I teach my child to be polite, respectful and kind? Although parents do ask about teaching kids to be quiet and do what they are told, there is much more involved in giving the kids the interpersonal skills they need to function in the social world of relationships, in school and the workplace, and become a contributing member of the community.
- How can I help my child be interested in learning about the world around him/her? Encouraging the natural curiosity of children is not so difficult, and can be part of daily life, conversations and activities. As children come to understand that the world is a big and fascinating place, they want to find their place in it.
- How can I play with my child, and be sure she/he is getting enough playtime and downtime? Commenting that she has never been asked this question, the doctor goes on to say that most kids are not getting the creative free play experiences that lead to mental and physical health and so much else.
- Probably related to this, her next desirable questions is, how can I be sure my child is getting a healthy diet and exercising enough? These are the only sure things for current and future health.
- Lastly, how can I best support and encourage my child? “This is about being specific with praise, about figuring out a child’s strengths and weaknesses, about knowing when to push and when to let things go, about advocating and finding advocates.”
Focusing on the smaller questions may satisfy some parental anxieties, but asking the bigger questions is what builds health, resiliency and happiness.
*Claire McCarthy, 6 Questions Parents Should Really be Asking Pediatricians.
Copyright © 2017 Growing Child Inc, All rights reserved. To learn more about Growing Child, and obtain a sample of our products please visit: www.GrowingChild.com
Chesterbrook Academy October Monthly Newsletter
From the Principal’s Office
Each year at Halloween, the teachers and children of Chesterbrook Academy enjoy dressing up and sharing their colorful costumes. Bring your child to school on the morning of Thursday, October 31st in costume and the teachers will change them back into their street clothes before lunch so that their costumes will be ready for the big night. Most classes will be posting a sign-up sheet for parents to donate goodies for Halloween parties. Just remember that anything brought into the school for consumption by the children must come from a state-approved deli/bakery or must be in a sealed package from the grocery store. All candy or treats must be individually wrapped and must be age-appropriate. Due to sanitation ordinances, we cannot serve home-made treats to the children. Remember, Chesterbrook Academy is a Peanut-Free zone!
Lynette Stoker, Principal
Shari Hale, Asst. Principal
Nikki Crowell, 2nd Assistant
Calendar of Events
October
October 6-12, 2019 Fire Prevention Week
October 14, 2019 Columbus Day
October 18, 2019 Breast Cancer Awareness Day
October 24, 2019 United Nations Day
October 21, 2019 Catawba Co. Schools Closed Teacher Workday
October 31, 2019 Halloween — Dress in Costumes
Reminders!
All payments are due on Friday preceding each week. A $25.00 late payment fee is assessed after 12 noon Monday, no exceptions!
To avoid a late fee, make your payment online through the Parent Portal, pay over the phone with credit/debit card, or consider signing up for Electronic Funds Transfer as a back-up. With EFT, if for some reason you forget to make a payment before 12 noon Monday (i.e. your child was out sick, you went out-of-town, etc..) your payment would be made electronically late Monday evening and you would not be charged a late fee.
For Parents and Teachers
Risk of Injury and Stages of Development
Children are at risk for injuries because developmental factors limit their physical, mental, and emotional abilities. They grow quickly and want to test and master their environment. Their curiosity, fearlessness, and lack of safety knowledge put them at risk of attempting actions for which they may lack the skills and physical capabilities. The types of injuries children may incur is related to their development. For example, an infant’s neck is too weak to support the weight of his head, so he will be at risk of serious injury and even death if shaken. Infants and toddlers explore their surroundings by putting objects in their mouths, and therefore are at risk of choking. Toddlers like to walk fast, climb, and reach for objects, and therefore are at risk of falling or poisoning. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of injury in all age groups.
As child care providers, we want to assure that children are challenged by their environment and can explore safely. Knowing the children in our care and being careful to remove hazards and set up the environment with their abilities in mind can prevent injuries.
In the Complete Parenting Exchange Library, Exchange has compiled over 180 articles written by Karen Stephens to parents about common challenges of raising preschool children. In the free Exchange article “Biting Among Toddlers and Twos: Responses to Try,” Stephens offers this advice: “Identifying conditions and situations that contribute to biting can help parents and care professionals respond wisely, but it can be tricky. The reasons children bite vary immensely. And in truth, an exact cause is sometimes never pinned down with certainty. We do know that by nature, toddlers and twos strive to get what they want, when they want it. And so they sometimes act out or use aggression, such as biting. Very young children rely on non-verbal communication, rather than verbal language, to express wishes and feelings. And so it’s critical to observe children’s behavior and the conditions that lead to a biting incident. Observation can help us fathom children’s motivations or primary goal. “Some children may be prone to biting when hungry, tired, overwhelmed, frustrated, or enduring teething pain. Others may bite to get an adult’s undivided attention or to get a toy from a playmate. Biting is also a way for children to exert a sense of power and control. Children sometimes bite out of exploratory curiosity or interest in textures and sensations. They are equally fascinated by cause and effect. And of course, imitation always comes into play with children’s behavior, too.“ Also observe to see if your child bites out of frustration or out of self defense. Reflect on stresses your child may be enduring that may contribute to temper flares. For instance, long-term separation during a parent’s work travel can lower kids’ frustration tolerance. In some cases, it’s the group care environment that contributes to biting. Too few toys, overcrowded conditions, excessive noise, or frequent change in teaching staff whittle away at children’s emotional reserves.
From the Education Department
Early Math Exposure Adds Up to Later Success
Read More »
Winning Bedtime Battles
We’ve all been there. You’ve had a long day, and as bedtime is approaching, your attempts at an easy transition to sleep for your child are met with sharp resistance, outbursts, and tears. Rest assured, you are not alone. Bedtime battles are a common occurrence for parents of preschoolers.
For children, bedtime is a time of separation from the parent and having to transition away from their beloved toys and books. For some children, nighttime elicits feelings of fear of the dark or of being alone. The best way to counteract your child’s resistance to bedtime is to be proactive. It’s very helpful to discuss with children how important sleep is for their health and growth. At school, we focus on the importance of sleep in the Wellness component of Links to Learning. Explaining at home that sleep is one of the most important ingredients to growing big and strong will help motivate your child.
Here are some additional tips to make bedtime easier:
Establish a bedtime routine. Decide on a firm bedtime schedule (i.e. water/snack time, bath time, story time, bedtime) and discuss it with all caregivers. Follow the same sequence of events at the same time every night. Consistency is the key to success.
Limit pre-bedtime activity and excitement. Keep noise low, and limit computer and television time for at least an hour before bedtime. This approach allows your child to wind down more easily. Story time is one of the best ways to share a special quiet moment with your child and build warm associations with the pleasure of books and reading.
Provide reassurance. If your child is hesitant to fall asleep alone, try giving him a favorite stuffed animal or blanket. If that does not suffice, promise your child that you will return every few minutes to check on him. Return to your child’s room at the promised time, but gradually extend your absences. He will grow tired of waiting for your return and independently fall asleep.
Don’t give in to power struggles. If your child refuses to stay in bed, lie him down, tell him goodnight, and leave the room. If you keep returning to the room, you are actually reinforcing your child to get up more often. Leaving the room shows you are not going to participate in the struggle.
Remain calm. Don’t show your child your frustration. Follow the routine and then leave the room. If tears ensue, wait a few minutes before returning to calm your child and lay him back down.
By teaching your child the importance of a bedtime routine and getting enough sleep, you will help establish a lifetime of healthy habits that will help him succeed in later years.
–Lauren Starnes, PhD- former Director of Early Childhood Education
The Important Questions
I recently read an article written by a pediatrician in which she enumerated the myriad questions that parents ask. She said that parents of babies and young children ask the most, not surprisingly, as they are plunged into the experience of caring for their children without a huge backlog of information.
Probably Siri gets some of these same questions: Is my child eating enough? When will my child sleep through the night? What is this rash? Should my baby’s poop be _____?
Parents ask questions about articles of clothing, potty training, biting, strollers, toothpaste, water, sunscreen, bug spray, naps – the entire gamut of the details of daily life.
The doctor commented that she really understood why all these questions about the minutiae might help parents feel more likely to be able to handle the overwhelming task of being responsible for a human being.
However, she went on to comment that she does not get questions about the things that can actually make a difference in helping children grow up to be healthy, happy and successful as independent, productive, compassionate people. Let me outline here for you the big questions she wishes parents would wonder about.
Focusing on the smaller questions may satisfy some parental anxieties, but asking the bigger questions is what builds health, resiliency and happiness.
*Claire McCarthy, 6 Questions Parents Should Really be Asking Pediatricians.
Copyright © 2017 Growing Child Inc, All rights reserved. To learn more about Growing Child, and obtain a sample of our products please visit: www.GrowingChild.com