Call to Action
Foster Self-Regulation Skills with Games
by Rae Pica
September 24, 2008
Individuals with good self-regulation skills possess discipline, self-control, and impulse control, and are able to manage their emotions and behavior. Obviously, then, these are skills beneficial to functioning with others and among society! However, they don’t suddenly appear in individuals when they become adults; rather, they must be taught and instilled from childhood. Unfortunately, the research shows that self-regulation skills are diminishing among young children, with ...
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Rae Pica is a children’s physical activity specialist and the author of A Running Start: How Play, Physical Activity, and Free Time Create a Successful Child (Da Capo Press, 2006) and Great Games for Young Children (Gryphon House, 2006). She has shared her expertise with such clients as the Sesame Street Research Department, the Centers for Disease Control, Gymboree Play & Music, and the President’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports. She is also co-creator and host of "Body, Mind and Child," a radio program in which she interviews experts in the fields of early childhood education, child development, the neurosciences, and more. Listen at www.bodymindandchild.com.
Column Archive
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Leap into Literacy
by Rae Pica
September 17, 2008, 12:00 amMany experts consider oral language to be the foundation of emergent literacy. That means that speaking aloud, singing, and chanting provide opportunities for children to experience and enjoy the sound of language and its rhythms, volumes, tempos, and textures in a variety of ways. With practice, children learn to enunciate clearly. As they are exposed to the rhythm of language and to physical expressions of that rhythm they are able to internalize the rhythm of words when they're reading. Read More
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More Simple Science
by Rae Pica
September 10, 2008, 12:00 amThis week's science lessons involve Newton's third law of motion (for every action force there is an equal and opposite reaction force) and that most mysterious of scientific concepts: gravity. Fortunately, young children don't have to understand either of these concepts in order to experience them! Read More
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Simple Science
by Rae Pica
September 3, 2008, 12:00 amUnless the wind is blowing, we don't tend to think much about air. But with a couple of simple activities, you can introduce your child to the scientific concept of air resistance (the fact that air has weight and moving air pushes things) and buoyancy. Read More
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Loving Language
by Rae Pica
August 27, 2008, 12:00 amWith the start of another school year upon us, emergent literacy will once again be the primary focus for your preschooler. Below are three fun activities that offer experience with enunciation, rhythm, and rhyme, and foster a love of language! Read More
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Outdoor Games
by Rae Pica
August 20, 2008, 12:00 amIf you've been reading this column you know I'm a big proponent of getting kids outside. There are just too many reasons not to! Following are games you can facilitate when your child has others to play with - in the backyard or on a play date in the park. Read More
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Help Your Child Understand One-to-One Correspondence
by Rae Pica
August 13, 2008, 12:00 amCounting begins to go from rote memorization to an understanding of one-to-one correspondence when children have something fun to count. Here are three games you can play that will help your child begin to understand this concept. Read More
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The Wonders of the Sky
by Rae Pica
August 6, 2008, 12:00 amWant your child to appreciate the wonders of nature? Start with the sky! Here are three physical activities that will familiarize your child with various elements related to the sky: clouds, rainbows, and the rising and setting of the sun. Read More
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Help Your Child Listen Actively
by Rae Pica
July 30, 2008, 12:00 amFor communication to be effective, the individual on the receiving end must have the ability to listen well, which is a learned skill. The following activities all promote listening well, or “active” listening. Read More
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The Shrinking Room
by Rae Pica
July 23, 2008, 12:00 amWhen children share space without an understanding that they each carry their own personal space with them, chaos can result. Playing a game called The Shrinking Room can help children get a sense of their own personal space and learn to respect that of others. Read More
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Musical Hugs
by Rae Pica
July 16, 2008, 12:00 amIn addition to being a “feel-good” game that generates feelings of belonging and positive physical contact, Musical Hugs helps develop listening skills, particularly with the differentiation between sound and silence. It also provides moderate-intensity physical activity and offers practice with starting and stopping, which promotes self-regulation skills. Read More
