Classes for Kids and Parents

Parents of babies, toddlers and preschool age children are constantly on the lookout for Nurseries in Dubai that cater to the following,

• A place where your child can explore toys, learn art, hear stories, sing songs, and make friends
• A place where your child can enjoy fun activities and can learn new skills and you get new ideas
• Opportunities to meet other children and families and build a sense of community
• Advice about parenting and child development
• Support from professionals and other parents for the challenges of life with a young child
• You can find all these great opportunities under one roof

Research shows children learn best through hands-on exploration in places where they feel safe and free to explore. Ideally the classroom should have several stations around the room, with developmentally appropriate activities to help kids build the skills they need. Children are encouraged to move around and explore at their own pace. In parent-child programs, for babies and toddlers, parents play along with their children. In some Nursery Schools in Dubai, working parents are assigned in areas such as,

Art activities: play dough to roll, brushes to paint, crayons to color and markers for learning to write

Sensory activities: tubs of water or rice or beans to scoop, pour, stir, and run fingers through

Large motor: mats for tumbling, tunnels to crawl through, climbers and slides, balls to throw

Small motor: blocks to stack, puzzles to assemble, shape sorters to solve, beads to thread

Imaginary play: dress up zone for trying on new roles, dolls to care for, kitchen for “cooking”

Snack time: a place to practice social skills and table manners and to discover new foods and textures

The Dubai Nursery includes circle time, singing time or a music class, where the teacher leads the class in singing nursery rhymes, dancing, playing musical instruments, and reading stories. This gives the child the ability to practice sitting and listening to a teacher, and participating in a group activity, all essential skills for school readiness. Academic skill building, such as reading and writing are integrated into all types of activities. 

Most children’s programs in schools, such as the Childcare Nursery in Dubai focus on one domain of learning, dance class, art class, story time, music class, or tumbling. These programs do it all. And they do it in a place where they feel safe and comfortable. Some of the same toys and activities reappear from week to week to provide reassurance and routine, and some new toys and activities rotate to encourage children to explore and try new things.

When parents are involved in the classes, they attend school for two hours a week, every other week, to attend a parent education session. In infant classes the child will be with the parent and for parents with toddlers, children are encouraged to play in one room with the children’s teachers and other parents while their parent attends parent education.

This system tends to work well, but there are not many schools that practice and feature parent education. The benefit each parent derives from following this program varies from school to school, for instance, while some schools may offer, college credit for attending, others may receive student ID cards, depending on the school, who may give access to discounts and services such as fitness center or scholarships.

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How to Break a Toddlers TV Habit

Most parents of children in the Preschool in Dubai, express their dislike for allowing children to watch television and encourage them to play outdoors in the gardens, or the backyard,  building dirt and twig forts or tree houses and running free, hosting tea parties for dolls and playing school and spending hours recording stories on a cassette recorder. These bring back fond memories for parents too, a time when electronics and video games did not exist.

Children, for lack of knowing any better, will always choose to watch television, play a video game or go to their computer,  unless  parent's teach them to think outside the box. Television also has its many advantages as well, there is no denying that fact. But it's all about striking a balance between the two. 

Here are some tips presented by parent's at the Children’s Nursery in Dubai, about how to distract children from television and other techno gadgets that seem to be invading the home.

• Get the family involved - Make sure to set a rule in the family to stop using gadgets as an everyday pastime. Make sure to unplug everything during the designated time.
• Make it interesting - Set the stage for an invitation to play, by having enticing materials to spark play all ready for when a child comes home from school. For example, a teddy bear and dolls waiting for a tea party  or some art materials.
• Change the child's routine - Make sure to have a surprise in store for the child, in the morning when they wake up or when they return from the Nursery Schools in Dubai.
• Draw the line and set limits - Give the child a certain time when they can watch TV, but they cannot watch before school as the child's brain needs to be quiet and focused before heading out for a day of learning. Make sure to set the rules every day, so that after some time the child will know the routine.
• Give the child a choice - Request the child to make a list of things they think are much more interesting than watching television or playing games. Honor their choices and respect them enough to help them happen.
• Go easy on the child - The more parents push the child away from the digital entertainment the more they may want it. Allow the child an hour of television in the middle of the day, each day and this will work well.
• Take time to play with the child - Children will learn more about play from their parents than from a toy or a television show. There are many easy and creative ways of having fun with children.
• Challenge a child - Friendly competition is good for a child, as it encourages stimulation and creativity.
• Talk to the child - Tell them about the amazing things there are to do in life and how time is short and should not be wasted in front of a television. Tell them watching television will take away the fun from them enjoying other things like board games, walks in the park, playing with pets and doing creative crafts and art projects.

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Encouraging Child Directed Play

In recent times it can be seen that there is an aggressive marketing campaign on early learning products and a large focus on standardized testing, that have honed in on this very valuable time of development in a child’s life explains an educator at the school of Early Years Education in Dubai.

However, this appreciation for child-directed play has never been stronger, and there could be no better news for children or for their parents. There are many benefits of child-directed play  and for parents to quietly observe their children playing is a fulfilling and magical experience.

Learning to be a responsive play observing parent  takes time, practice, restraint and patience, but once the parent understand this, they learn and appreciate delightful moments of joy, humor and surprise than they ever thought possible. Most parent's need these parenting 'bonus points' to balance the more difficult moments and break up the monotony. This can make a parent feel fulfilled and also encourage their children to exercise, enjoy their independent play skills.

Some of the essentials for nurturing child-directed play explained by the Children’s Nursery in Dubai is safe, enclosed spaces and open ended objects, equipment and toys that encourage creativity, discovery and extensive exploration.

Here are is a list of play objects that are just as inspiring and challenging, durable, mouthable, don’t poke eyes, can be safely used without a parent's constant supervision.

The best toys

• All children love balls and hands down it's the best type of toy for a child of every age. Balls of all sizes, weights and textures are easy to grasp, roll and toss, even for the tiniest of hands.  Balls encourage movement and play for children of ages and are perfect for solo or group play. 

• Another great play object includes, stainless steel cupsand bowls. They’re cool and smooth, and makes loud and interesting sounds, can be stacked, reflect light and is a durable toy. Screw on containers with lids are also a great toy for children and is widely used in most Nursery Schools in Dubai. 

• Climbers are rockers too are great for toddler who love to explore. However, despite most toys being child safe, parents should take safety precautions as well with all equipment. For instance with play equipment that requires climbing, there should be a should always be a mat, rug or other soft surface underneath, so that even if the child falls, the impact is less. Also, if the child is too tired to play with the equipment remove the child from the equipment. Helping children with motor activities hinders their safety, because it gives them a false impression that they are able to jump, roll or step off of equipment independently. For instance, if you're going down the stairs, make sure not to hold their hands to help them down the steps. Young children are impressionable and develop habits with astonishing speed. 

• To stretch your child's creativity and imagination practice the less is more concept. Scraps of fabric can be all children need to create costumes and fantasy play. 

• Attentive observers. Often child-directed play flourishes when parents are there to observe and remain watching as much as possible.

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Tips To Calming Tantrums and Meltdowns

The teacher's at the Dubai Nursery Schools explain that life with toddlers are filled with laughter and giggles in one instance and has tears and tantrums in the next. And for adults seeing the world from their point of view may give a better understanding of why, they have a meltdown and make you think of ways to prevent tantrums.

Why do toddlers have meltdowns and tantrums?

Life and its many events and experiences can be difficult for toddlers to take it all in, and certain events that happen can make them feel sad, angry, and scare them so much that they have an emotional meltdown where they are completely overwhelmed by their feelings.

Here are some of the reasons toddlers have meltdowns at home and at Nurseries in Dubai

• They want to have something that is not allowed or something they cannot have or is not allowed to have and is angry that they can't have it.
• They want something that’s not possible, and can’t understand when you explain that they can't have it.
• Lack of control and choices, about what the child wants to do and where they go.
• They want to be able to do something, but they can't do it.
• They can't say what they want in words.
• Being away from the family setting, at home can be difficult and hard. 

On a day where the child is rested and is calm, they may be able to handle any of these things. But when a child is tired, hungry, sick, cold, hot, or over stimulated, even the slightest thing can make them feel upset and irritated, which can result in a tantrum or meltdown. Sometimes,  parent's may not notice these early cues.

Even if you were the perfect parent or the most understanding teacher, and have done almost everything right, there are still times that the child would still throw tantrums and have a meltdown. Here are some tips provided by the Nursery Schools in Dubai about ways that a tantrum or a meltdown can be avoided or reduced,

• Meet the child's needs. For instance, make sure they are fed, rested and comfortable.
• Know how much stimulation the child can handle. Children often have a limit they can handle until they feel overloaded. For instance, there are children who are sensitive to noise, bright lights and places where there are too many people. So when you plan a child's activities at home, think about how much they can manage.
• Minimize on things that upset the child. Most Nurseries in Dubai identify these and make sure some of the activities are not included in the curriculum, and make sure the child has an enjoyable day and not one that they feel overloaded.
• If you included difficult tasks make sure to coach the child on how things are done so that the child will not feel overwhelmed with the task. This is also better adapted at home as well.
• Talk to the child and tell them the behavior you expect from them. Tell them what to expect if they don't behave well. And if they do behave well reward them.
• Give the child a choice, when it's possible.

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How To Identify A Gifted Child

Whether you're a trained academic, a counselor, school principal or a teacher at the Kindergarten in Dubai, your job involves identifying potentially gifted students, especially from a young age. It is the responsibility of educators to identify, screen  and test students for the gifted program.

So what should educators look for when trying to identify gifted children?, Well each school and country may have a different criteria and guidelines, that should be followed. Here are some helpful characteristic that would help an educator identify a gifted child. 

• Extensive vocabulary or extremely verbal - Most gifted children like to talk a lot. They love to share their knowledge with other children or adults. They are highly verbal, and may possess an advanced vocabulary for their age. When talking to children who are gifted, educators should pay attention to not only how much they talk, but also to the vocabulary the child is using, in daily conversations.
• Curiosity - You may be able to identify the child who always raises their hand up every time you ask questions. Gifted children have a natural curiosity and will ask a lot of questions. They will show a lot of curiosity about everything. They will want to know what the teacher is doing something and how things will work. Look for these children who ask a lot of questions explains educators at Kids Nurseries in Dubai.
• Demonstrate advanced ability in certain areas - Giftedness can sometimes be found when a child demonstrates an advanced ability in certain areas such as reading, math, writing, science or art. If there is a child who consistently finishes lessons before the rest of the class and shows, this could be a gifted child.
• Get's easily bored and needs stimulation - If a child is completing lessons in his or her Early Years Education Dubai class, then perhaps the child is not feeling academically challenged and may become restless and bored. Children who are gifted, and complete work faster than others may ask questions, look for other activities, talk to classmates.
• Defiant and disruptive- Gifted children are not total saints or angels, they too can be disruptive in a class, especially those of a very young age says an educator at the Nurseries in Dubai. In fact, these children can be much more disruptive and rebellious depending on the level of challenge or interest they have in the classroom environment. Look for children who stand out from the rest, they could be that gifted student.
• Perfectionists - Gifted children are perfectionists. These are the children who are always pushing themselves to get A grades, excel in singing, band, karate, and sports and become team or house leaders.
• Independence - Most gifted children do their work alone in the classroom and they tend to enjoy independent projects. They feel limited when they work in a group and work much faster and better on their own.
• Hang around together - Gifted children often hang around with each other. They relate to other children who share in their intellectual level.

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Dealing With Inappropriate Behavior in Preschoolers in Dubai

There are instances when a parent is called by the child's Preschool in Dubai about their inappropriate behavior. This could be when a child is being disruptive for the day and talking out of turn, or it could be a series of bullying incidents involving peers. When this occurs, a parent might wonder how to deal with this sort of behavior and how to address this matter with the school . It's a challenge and resorting to punishment too quickly can be damaging, so here are some important information to keep in mind when addressing the situation. 

• The child may be showing that they cannot follow direction, and to a parent this looks like stubbornness.
• Never shout at the child, instead talk to the child and find out what is going on, the reason behind their behavior.
• Children may just want to act out or miss behave to get the attention of the parent, therefore, ask the child what is wrong instead of asking them why they act that way.
• If the child is vying for attention all the time, it's best to let them sit it through, so parents should simply ignore their unnecessary whining until it stops.
• Parents and educators at the Nursery in Umm Suqeim should model good behavior for a child. For instance, a child taking apart a toy or any other item is not a way to annoy you or the teacher, but they are acting on impulse to satisfy their natural curiosity. Usually this is common in children until they reach kindergarten age.
• Time outs and other type of punishment should be done when a child is behaving in a manner that is not safe for himself or others around him. Children who are punished or given time outs may not always understand what they did wrong, they know they are being punished but they don't know how they should behave.
• Don't stigmatize the child or label the child. Treating a child like they are bad can inevitably lead to a similar predicament, whether a parent likes it or not. Therefore, don't label the child, but instead, start by validating the child’s feelings and modelling good behavior before discipline. No matter how the child behaves, always be consistent with the approach you adopt as a parent.
• If a time out is absolutely necessary choose a place that is not frightening for the child, after giving them several warnings. Parents should be calm at this point and not lose their cool. 

Educators in the Nursery Schools in Dubai warn parents that their child's behavior cannot be changed or fixed instantly or overnight. It takes time and patience to change a child's behavior and this can be gradual. Until the child starts behaving well in the  Dubai Nursery reward the child in minor ways when they behave appropriately. 

Sometime, children may have so many issues, therefore experts advise that parents should deal with one issue at a time, with physical behavior addressed first.

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Teaching Your Preschooler in Dubai Chores at Home

Teaching  a child attending Preschool in Dubai to  help out with chores around the home can take some stress off your shoulders and give you more time to spend together as a family as well as teach your child the importance of being independent as well. Also, making a child do chores around the home will teach them important life skills, such as teamwork and cooperation. 

When parent's allocate chores  it is important to set clear and consistent expectations. For example, don't expect the child to complete the job the way you would or do you expect them to do their best. It's important to be consistent and have realistic expectations. 

Educators at Kids Nurseries in Dubai expect parents to allow their child's input into  which chores he or she would like to perform. Give them options and allow them to choose what they would like to do. However, the child may also be assigned some tasks that he or she doesn’t like, make sure to rotate these chores among other children, if parents have more than one child. 

Assign tasks that are age appropriate. Even in Dubai Nursery Schools, children are assigned tasks that are age appropriate and rarely are not given tasks that are inappropriate or difficult to perform. For instance, 3-4 year olds can clean up the play area and put away their toys and 5 -6 years olds can clean their rooms by emptying the dustbins, washing plastic dishes and making the bed. A 7-8 year old can fold and put away their laundry, sweep the floor and set the table for a meal. Children who are older than 9years can usually wash the dishes or wash the windows. The most important trait is to make sure the child grasps the idea of pitching in and working as a team. Children should be responsible for chores that directly benefit them, such as cleaning their own rooms. 

Since your child is still learning it will take time to get the job done properly, therefore, give your child the opportunity to take their time and learn. 

Choose a good time for the child to attend to the chores. Don't make the child do chores as soon as they come home from  school, give them time to rest and relax. Some experts at the Nurseries in Dubai suggest setting aside a time when the whole family does chores together. 

Use a chart, like teachers at the Dubai Nursery Schools use in their classroom for each activity. This will help to organize, promote language skills and develop math skills. Make sure all children know that they are expected to help out at home. 

Make chores a fun task by incorporating play, music, and singing. The chances are if a child enjoys their chores, they will do them well and take on more responsibility. Make sure to praise the child for a job well done as the child needs to be motivated through praise. With younger children use a reward system.

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