Why is Math Important As Early As Daycare

Math is an important subject, and learning valuable math concepts begins as early as daycare. Children of that age may not be ready to perform advanced equations, but they can grasp math concepts and basic operations that they will be able to build on for years to come. We put together this short list of ways that math is an important part of daycare education to give you a different perspective on how much math matters at an early age.

Sorting and Sets

Sorting objects and grouping similar objects into groups begins with colored blocks in the daycare environment. This introduces children to the idea of things that are alike and things that are different and shows them how objects can be the same and different at the same time.
Counting

Simple counting can begin in infancy with a parent or daycare teacher counting off fingers, toes, and other items. In the Montessori environment, the tools are already in place to allow children to develop advanced math skills at an early age, but sorting and counting are among the first and simplest math concepts.

Recognizing Numbers

Learning to recognize the symbols for numbers, math operands, and other math tools begins in daycare, and Montessori children will be ready for more conventional math exercises early in their preschool period. Even authentic Montessori workstations like the Pink Tower or Binomial Cubes are intended to provide basic material at first but to later be manipulated in different, more advanced ways to accomplish other math goals.

Building Developmental Foundations

Montessori education is play-based and hands-on. That means that children are spending their school days involved in physical activities that teach them math, language, science, and other skills. Math is only one of many subjects that children will learn about, but math permeates so much of our lives that it can be found in most of the other activities as well.

Children who begin learning math in daycare are better situated for increasing their math skills in preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school. They will have already learned the basics of math and will have been introduced to ideas like currency, measuring, and simple addition and subtraction.

Continue Reading

4 Summer Tips For Montessori Children Who Get Bored Easily

Multiple studies related to boredom and preschool children indicate that boredom itself may be beneficial for early childhood development. The key is to show young kids that boredom is an opportunity to learn and discover, to invent and transform things instead of sitting silently idle. Here are 4 simple tips for promoting developmental activity as a direct approach to childhood boredom.

1. Nurture Creativity

The simple response to a preschool child saying that "There is nothing to do" is a confident response of "It is time to find something new to do instead." Think of silly games, dress up in cultural-themed costumes, or hunt bugs in the park. The world is full of exciting activities that small kids have never tried at all, but they need to be engaged in finding ideas that appeal to them rather than being "assigned" things to do.

2. Provide Opportunity

If your child can't think of anything to do, she should stop and consider things she has wanted to do but never got around to, activities she really enjoys but hasn't engaged in for a while, or maybe tackling a puzzle or project that she has been having difficulty with. "Nothing to do" is an opportunity to do anything at all.

3. Explore New Things

Children can be thought of as empty vessels waiting to be filled with knowledge and experience. Their memory only extends a few years back, at best, and they cannot have had many extensive and meaningful experiences during that time. There is plenty to learn and see, taste, touch, hear, and do. Try stocking a small bookshelf with an assortment of books for kids, including books with fun activities that children can explore and do by themselves.

4. Art, Music, and Motion

A shelf or chest with an assortment of child-sized instruments and implements can be a motivator for small children. Music players encourage children to dance and move about, and it is commonly accepted that music is sometimes calming, lending itself to greater focus and critical thinking. Just drawing a picture of what a musical piece means to them gives children an avenue of expression that can be easily communicated or even discussed.

The takeaway is that bored children are expressing a need to focus on possibilities and preferences. There is more to do than they may realize and simple encouragement or gentle nudges may be all your child really needs.

Continue Reading

Does Our Family Need Therapy?

Family therapy represents a type of therapy that helps members of a family improve relationships by resolving conflicts. A licensed therapist with the professional credentials recognized by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) typically oversees family therapy sessions.

Therapy sessions involving family members are short-term interventions that involve every family member or just family members that need to resolve a conflict. Making the decision to participate in family therapy requires a considerable amount of reflection. Some of the benefits of family therapy include learning new ways to communicate effectively and figuring out how to solve difficult problems.

When Should a Family Undergo Therapy?

Knowing when to seek help is often discovered by easy to detect signs of family dysfunction. Family members that experience intense emotions such as fear, anger, and sadness benefit from interacting with other family members during informal therapeutic sessions. Significant breakdowns in communication represent another reason to resolve conflicts by attending family therapy sessions. Disruption of communications often forces one or more family members to withdraw from the rest of the family.

Sometimes, it is not easy to notice that a family member needs emotional support to interact with one or more family members. Some family members have difficulty completing family routines such as attending a Sunday dinner or holiday event. They feel physically and emotionally drained just spending time with family members in familiar settings. Interacting with family members during informal therapy sessions can help someone close to you describe the feelings of hopelessness felt during family member interactions.

The most obvious signs of the need for family therapy include threats and/or displays of violence between two family members, as well as easy-to-notice changes in the behavior of a family member during social gatherings. Obvious signs of family discontent can demand the implementation of therapy tactics based on acting with a sense of urgency.

How Does Trauma Play a Role in Family Therapy?

Many families that experience a traumatic event benefit from the emotional support provided during therapy sessions. Instead of resolving conflict, a family bonds together to get through a mutually difficult time in the lives of family members. Whether it is the death of a loved one or the legal separation of two spouses, certain life events require family members to lean on each other for emotional support. Trauma can lead to a family getting together to work out emotional issues, as well as lead to children receiving the support they need to understand complex family issues.

The decision to participate in family therapy sessions can dramatically improve the interactions you have with other family members. If you believe a better approach will help you cope with emotional obstacles, another type of therapy service might be the best option for your unique case.

Continue Reading

Uncommon Items You Should Be Washing

Businesses that provide residential laundry services make it their mission to restore clothes to mint condition. They even offer advice to customers about how to make whites as white as the snow and colors exude their original dazzling displays. At Laundry Care Express, we take washing and drying your clothes a step further.

Let’s look at the uncommon items you should be washing by machine, instead of washing by hand.

Bed Pillows

You toss bed pillow covers into the laundry cycle every time you wash and dry your clothes. What about the pillows themselves? Do you have to discard pillows that have tough-to-get-out stains or can you include your nightly headrests with the rest of the laundry?

The answer is bed pillows are one of the easiest uncommon items you should be washing instead of dry cleaning. Simply remove the pillowcases, use baking soda to get out the most difficult stains, and run the pillows through the delicate wash and dry cycles to achieve optimal cleaning results.

Small Rugs

Small rugs absorb a lot of foot traffic, some of which leaves behind unsightly mud and debris. Following the unique cleaning instructions for each small rug, you can machine wash the rugs at home instead of taking them to a laundromat located nearby. Make sure to shake each rug to remove small pebbles and clumps of dirt before using a vacuum to remove the rest of the debris.

Spot treat any stains before washing in cold water and air drying.

Oven Mitts and Potholders

Oven mitts and potholders look like they need special washing and drying services to get the source of food particles clean. However, you can put an oven mitt and a couple of potholders in the weekly clothes cycle if you follow a few tips. First, remove easy to notice food clumps and then spot treat difficult to eliminate stains. Make sure the stitching is intact before putting the cooking accessories through a machine wash cycle. Set the cold wash cycle to prevent shrinking and air dry oven mitts and potholders to prevent damage.

Reusable Grocery Bags

You shop for groceries by bringing along eco-friendly reusable grocery bags. Because of exposure to spills and other types of degradation, you wonder how to get the reusable grocery bags clean, without requiring the help of a residential laundry service. You do not have to hand wash reusable grocery bags, as putting them through a cold water wash cycle should get the job done right.

Use a disinfectant spray and then turn each bag inside out. Follow the washing instructions located on the inside label before setting the correct wash cycle. You can either hand dry reusable grocery bags or run them through a delicate dry cycle.

Laundry day does not have to be just about clothes. You can clean uncommon items by running them through the appropriate wash and dry cycles.

Continue Reading