Call to Action
Is Your Preschooler Playing Enough at School?
by Rae Pica
March 4, 2009
There are so many choices in preschools today, it's no wonder that parents are overwhelmed when making decisions about where to send their children.
In brief, the preschool you choose should be one that respects children’s intellectual, social/emotional, and physical needs. This describes a traditional, play-based preschool, as opposed to the academic-oriented education being touted – and sought after – in today’s superkid climate. So, when you visit ...
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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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The Alphabet in Action
October 10, 2007, 12:00 am
The experts agree that the best way to ensure that your child becomes a skilled and enthusiastic reader is to read to him often. But there are plenty of other ways you can help as well, and none of them involve drilling on letter or word recognition! Read More
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Not the Same Old Simon Says
October 3, 2007, 12:00 am
A game should be fun. And because young children learn a lot from their experiences, a game should teach children something worthwhile. For example, in the traditional game of Simon Says, the children who most need to practice identifying body parts and their listening skills are usually the first to be eliminated! Read More
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Help Your Child Relax!
September 26, 2007, 12:00 am
Did you know that relaxation is a learned skill? Sadly, it's one that many of us multi-taskers never acquired! And, judging by how over-scheduled and stressed today's children are, upcoming generations of adults won't be any better at it. Here are some tips to tranquility. Read More
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Introduce Your Child to Geometry
September 19, 2007, 12:00 am
Do you suffer from math phobia? So many of us do! But that's because we're thinking of math in the "adult" way. Learn how you can make your child's introduction to geometry -- an important facet of mathematics -- memorable and fun! Read More
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Bring Adjectives & Adverbs to Life!
September 12, 2007, 12:00 am
It's just like riding a bike. That expression is used to imply that, whatever it is you're planning to do, you don't have to worry because the ability to do it will come back to you. Just like riding a bike, you'll never forget how to do it. Read More
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Getting Comfortable with Left to Right
September 5, 2007, 12:00 am
Not long ago I was listening in on a conversation among teachers attending a workshop on brain research. Much to my surprise, a common complaint was that children were having difficulty visually tracking from left to right. And, of course, in a society where reading and writing occur from left to right, that can be a bit of a problem! Read More
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Listen Up!
August 15, 2007, 12:00 am
Do you know people who just don’t hear you when you speak to them? Others who seem totally unaware of the sounds around them, whether it’s birdsong or songs emanating from the radio? I’m a big fan of listening carefully (not that I couldn’t use some improvement in that area myself!). But whether we’re talking about music, the sounds of nature, or words being spoken, I think it’s important to be a good listener. And as I mentioned in an earlier column, listening is one of the four components (along with speaking, reading, and writing) of the language arts ... Read More
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Aerobics for Kids
August 8, 2007, 12:00 am
Naturally, when we consider aerobic exercise for kids, we can’t think of it in the same way that we do for adults. Children aren’t made for long, uninterrupted periods of strenuous activity. So expecting them to jog, walk briskly, or follow an exercise video for 20 to 30 minutes, particularly before the age of 6, is not only unrealistic but could be damaging. At the very least it can ensure an intense dislike of physical activity. Rather, when we consider developmentally appropriate aerobic activities for children (to promote cardiovascular health), we should be thinking along ... Read More
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Cultivate Cooperation
August 1, 2007, 12:00 am
The conventional wisdom is that pitting children against one another is necessary preparation for surviving in the world of college and beyond. But that approach doesn't prepare children for the future world of negotiation, cooperation and collaboration with spouses, coworkers, neighbors, and others. Read More
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Reading, Writing, and Crossing the Midline
July 25, 2007, 12:00 am
Head to the bathroom mirror and give that reflection of yours a good ol' fashioned down-home wave. Piece of cake, right? Well not for most preschoolers. Read More
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