Do children need to get a bunch of toys to be better equipped to learn and grow?
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5 super easy ways to instill gratitude in children
Adults are overall happier and less stressed when they are grateful (Emmons, Wood, Froh & Geraghty, 2010) and the same can now be said about the relationship of gratitude in children. Children who show indications of grateful behaviors have strong connections to life satisfaction (Park & Peterson, 2006) and higher emotional intelligence (Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence). Gratitude also aids in building relationships as it brings about traits such as helpfulness, optimism, and trustworthiness (DeWall, et.al, 2012).
The magical effects of simply telling a story
“Boo-boo. Hike!” is what one toddler expressed to me with great fervor when he came into the classroom one morning as he recalled his weekend happenings. Though he did not tell me this story with the sophistication and wordiness of a Charles Dickens novel, the same passion existed.
As early as 24-30 months, children are already learning the art of storytelling through their constantly increasing ability to sequence events, pinpoint actions in time, and identify different characters.
In this post, we will share a bit about the roots of oral storytelling and its relationship in language and social development.
How can you make better choices about media exposure for your children?
Technology lives in every corner of our lives; our offices, our homes and our schools. There are a variety of technologies everywhere and even our children are living in and will continue to grow in a world where tech will grow with them. But is media and technology beneficial for children?
Executive Functioning
At Ethos, we emphasize in our practice and work, nurturing and supporting the social and emotional development of our children to make for a better future. One of the earliest skills that contribute to a socially and emotionally resilient child is developing their executive function skills. Research has shown that having strong executive functioning leads to better outcomes as your child grows.
Celebrating Maria Montessori
On August 31st, the world celebrated the 150th birthday of Dr. Maria Montessori, a visionary who paved the way for change and progress in the schooling of children in order to create a better world.
How do we prepare our children for a future we don’t know?: Developing Resilience
As parents, teachers, and community members, we hold a responsibility towards nurturing socially, emotionally, and physically resilient children so they are able to deal with any obstacles that come their way throughout life. We all strive to make the lives of our children filled with joy, discovery, and happiness.
The Power of Positive Communication with children: Discussing Encouragement and Praise
As caregivers, both parents and school members alike are invested in the nurturing of a child’s self confidence and growth. When we interact with our children, we want them to feel loved, self assured, and develop intrinsic motivation towards their works and efforts.
Thinking about Toilet Learning
In times of stress or breaks in routines, your child may have more accidents than usual. While this is very normal, it always helps our seasoned veterans (and new recruits) to have a little support on getting back on the toilet-learning train. In this post, we will share some ideas and information about the toilet learning process.
“Transitions, Transitions, Transitions, Oh My!”: Separation Anxiety Part 2
Coming back to school after being home for a couple of months brings about many different feelings for children. They may be excited, but at the same time feel anxious about leaving their parents. In a previous post, we discussed a bit about the normalities of separation anxiety in children and its presence in this time period as we adjust to life back in school with new routines. In this post, we will share more ideas for dealing with the separation anxiety your child is most likely dealing with.