Wednesday, February 11, 2015

How Your Child Can Benefit From Preschool in Dubai

Parents in Dubai are feeling the pressure to enrol their three and four year old children in pre-school or kindergarten.  Most three year olds throughout the world are attending pre-schools giving parents a much needed break at home while their rambunctious youngster is at play school.
For many children, preschool is their first experience in a structured environment with teachers and children of all ages and backgrounds. Preschool gives children the opportunity to learn, to share, follow instructions, and begin the foundation for learning that will occur in their early education.
Research shows that preschools  can help with preparing children in grade school and the many challenges that lie ahead. While some nurseries in the UAE  are considered better than others,  parents are paying a considerable amount of money for their child to attend the Dubai Nursery. Other parents feel that preschool is just a hyped day-care, and are not interested in enrolling their children at all in a preschool  and are unaware of the many benefits of a preschool education.
Here is a look at some of the many benefits of sending your child to preschool.  
 Children who attend kindergarten in Dubai are reported to have a positive experience and better prepare for the many years of school ahead. Once they are exposed to the school environment from a young age, they look forward to it.
Preschool is the building blocks of a child's education. Young children may not respond well to flash cards or drills but will learn well through play and games that teach them numbers, letters, new languages, colors, art, design and how to write their name. These fun games and interactive play can improve a child's memory giving them a jump start on learning.
Socialization and communication, are also taught at a preschool as opposed to a day care in Dubai. Most  daycares have not structured learning times and a proper curriculum or give much emphasis on  teaching  socialization and communication skills such as not to talk during story time, how to sit in a circle patiently, or leave a room without running. These are good habits that a child is expected to know when they reach kindergarten and preschool.
A highly structured environment will benefit the youngsters learn to make friends, share and play in harmony with other children of the same age. This doesn't mean there are lots of rules or that adults constantly direct children's activities. Also, the space in a classroom is organized to encourage social interaction, and minimize overcrowding.
A child's sense of competence and self-worth grows,  as they learn to take care of themselves and help other children in a preschool environment. For instance, a child is expected to wash his or her hands before snack time, keep personal belongings in their desk and put away toys before moving to another activity.
Therefore, even though preschools can be expensive and have a long waiting list, which may deter some parent from enrolling their child in a preschool, keep in mind that preschool is the first stepping stone in your child's journey of learning. So it's up to you as a well meaning parent to consider the benefits of preschool.

Monday, February 9, 2015

Water Safety Tips For Preschool Children

Children in Nursery Schools in Dubai love to play water and enjoy all water based learning activities. They love to splash, giggle, wiggle and learn the many benefits of water. There are a lot of benefits about children's aquatic joys. And sometimes, even a simple bucket of water or a faucet can keep them amused for hours. But, as children become more involved and adventuresome, they become less fearsome of large bodies of water, like pools and the sea, which can be a concern and a worrisome factor for parents due to the dangers of drowning.

Here are some helpful and useful water safety tips, that parents should adopt with their little water loving toddlers, both at home or at the Early Years Nursery in Dubai
  • Life vests are a must around pools, lakes and large water sources and there should be no flexibility with this necessity. Make sure to get a life vest that fits the child well, never substitute a life vest with inflatable options. 
  • Take CPR and first aid lesson for children. What you learn here will never go to waste and is not only limited to, water based emergencies, but other emergencies that you may encounter with a child, so it's best to be prepared and ready if something unthinkable happens. 
  • Make sure to supervise the child in the water. Parent's should stay within arm’s length of children near water. 
  • Always have your mobile phone nearby. 
  • Be sure that all home pools are completely enclosed by a fence. This is important for the pools at the Summer Camp Nursery in Dubai as well, when there are children of all ages using the pool. The camp instructor and a lifeguard should be at the pool at all times for large pools, but if it's an inflatable pool, children should be only in the pool under supervision and in the right gear. 
  • Remove all toys and other enticing play objects from around the pool. Nursery schools may use this to make pool time fun for children, but it's not safe . Make sure to establish the rule that “toy” playing happens outside the pool. 
  • Consider swimming lessons. While this is not a guarantee that you can save a child from drowning, it can provide parents with a foundation for water safety rules and proper swim etiquette. 
  • Always drain tubs, kiddie pools, water buckets, or anything else after use. 
  • At the beach be mindful and vigilant of strong undertows and rip currents that can easily sweep children as well as adults underwater. 
  • Keep in mind that small pools of water, including landscaping and are a source of danger. 
  • Know exactly, that the signs of drowning are, because they look nothing like the thrashing and screaming you see on TV or in the movies. In reality, the warning signs are quiet and often missed.
Some of the most important water safety rules that parents should teach every child is,
  • Don’t go close to water without an adult.
  • Never dunk or push another child into the water.
  • Don’t run on the pool deck or boat dock.
  • Always jump in feet first.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Preparing For Preschool

There are children who make a transition for the toddler program into preschool in the summer. And this timing becomes very unique in that the child enters the preschool program as the summer camp curriculum starts. Summer Camp Nursery in Dubai  is filled with lots of fun days, of casual activities and themes. It gives younger children time to explore and do activities with the older preschoolers and receive an excellent social experience in a  mixed-aged setting. But this setting also provided a tougher transition for some children who are still struggling with a new environment,  self-control skills and experiences.
Here are some useful tips to prepare your child to face Kids Nurseries in Dubai,  so that they are ready for school.
  • Talk about the Daily Schedule. Most preschooler kids take it well then they know what to expect. Sharing the daily schedule with your child can go a long way in helping your child like and adjust to the whole preschool thing. Usually the teacher in charge of the class your child belongs to will share this with you prior to the first day of preschool. Also, watch programs or read stories about going to school, so that the child will get used to the idea.

  • Build a relationship with the teacher. Whether your child is transitioning from a toddler classroom, from a home daycare, from grandparent care, or simply starting preschool at one of the Dubai Nursery Schools, for the first time, the best advice for preparing for preschool is to build a good relationship with the teacher. Find out how the communication between the parent and the teacher are carried out. Some teachers take the time to talk during drop off and pick up time, while others will communicate via email or a formal meeting with each parent on a regular basis. Teachers are partners in a child's Early Years Education in Dubai and can be a great resource for helping your child during the first days of preschool and throughout the year.

  • Establish a routine. Establish a bedtime routine and a morning routine well in advance of starting preschool and stick to it. Transitional periods can cause chaos on even the best, followed schedules, however, so also plan to be flexible and buffer in extra time when needed.

  • Plan your exit strategy - Morning drop offs can be challenging for a parent, especially if your preschooler is clinging to you. It's best to establish a goodbye plan and remind your child each day until the routine is established. Establishing a routine can take time and there will be days the child will become extra clingy, with patience and a good goodbye routine, the child will relent eventually.

  • Make the first day extra special. The first day of preschool is a big deal and should be treated as such. A new backpack, new school supplies, a nice trendy outfit, a special first day breakfast and first day of preschool photo all go a long way in helping children know that something new and special is happening


Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Choosing a School After Preschool

Choosing where your child will go to school after attending a  Preschool in Dubai can be a very important decision, as well as a stressful one, as there is a plethora of schools available in Dubai, that offer the best in education. 
Each family has different priorities when choosing a school for their child. For instance, you may want a strong sports curriculum for your budding sportsmen. Perhaps a top arts program or language immersion is what you're after. Or, maybe the most important feature to you is simply a school with an enthusiastic faculty, strong leadership and produces highly successful individuals. 
The following considerations will help guide you closer to choosing the best school for your child. 
  • Look for your interests and your child's needs, such as,
  • What are your child's educational needs, are they purely academic, or do you prefer a curriculum that is structured, child initiated, or a combination of both.
  • What do you want the school to achieve for your child, whether it is the various clubs and societies or extra-curricular activities.
  • Are the ideology and values of the schools compatible with yours, just like it was at the Nursery Schools in Dubai.
  • What size school are you looking for, as some children do well in a small school while others may excel in a large school with more options and more children to interact with. 
  • Determine the logistics, such as,
    • Is the school affordable. Parents should invest accordingly.
    • Would the school transport be used
    • Does the school offer extended day programs or flexible entry similar to schools with a Day Care in Dubai
  • Select a particular school type, such as
  • District Public Schools that offer curriculum choices outside of the traditional neighborhood school curriculum, like arts, language immersion, Montessori, open, fundamental or others.
  • Public Charter Schools that are run by a variety of organizations, like nonprofits or for-profit, founded by parents, religious groups, entrepreneurs, or corporations that are customized to a particular population, educational approaches, or content.
  • Private Schools range from long established schools to brand new schools.  Their approaches range from very progressive to very conservative, and perhaps a place for higher status families.
  • Montessori Schools are private Nurseries in UAE that provide an individualized Montessori curriculum that emphasizes on hands-on learning. 
  • Develop a school search strategy, such as,
    • Start early and organize your research
    • Make a list of the schools that meet your profile
    • Research the schools in your area and request for brochures
    • Visit your top choices of five schools
    • Check the application process 
  • Visit and assess schools and look for the following,
  • Ask questions, observe the environment, and talk to the educators
  • How is a student's progress monitored
  • Does the school individualize curriculum
  • Does the school support students who have academic, social, or emotional difficulties
  • How is technology used to support teaching and learning at this school
  • What extracurricular opportunities are available for students
  • What is the school's approach to student discipline and safety
  • What professional development opportunities and experience do teachers have
  • How does the school encourage parent involvement
  • Is there an active Parent Teacher Association?
  • What is the school's history, organizational structure, financial stability and reputation

Thursday, January 22, 2015

What You Should Know About an Aggressive Child

Children act aggressively for a variety of reasons, to express  many feelings associated with discomfort, explains an educator at the Nursery Schools in Dubai. It's important for parent's to understand their child's behavior and act in a way that helps the child instead of creating a distance between the child.
Behavioral patters are particular to each child and situation. Some parents have trouble dealing with situations as well, they jump in as soon as they spot a problem and this only escalates the situation with the child, as responding aggressively will teach the child that being aggressive is how to solve problems. In contrast, some parents are more passive, but the child may become aggressive due to his parent backing down and not dealing with issues directly.
The way you handle an aggressive child may change from age to age and stage to stage. Here are some useful tips to help you deal with your child.
Nursery age kids and aggression
  • Be Consistent-For small children the key is to be consistent. You should not ignore behaviors one day and respond by punishing the child the next. No matter what the situation is or where you are, you should be consistent. If your child is hitting a child at the Nurseries in Dubai, and the teacher informs you, then respond with something like, “Hitting is not good. You need to spend some time by yourself and calm down.”  Parents make sure that you respond the same way every time.
  • Take the child from the situation -Sometimes parents may need to remove the child from the situation to help the child gain control over their emotions. For instance, if you're at a department store and your child is having a tantrum, because you’re not buying the toy the child wanted, you can say “You’re making too much noise. We’re not going to buy  that toy and if you don’t stop, we’ll have to leave.” If your child doesn’t stop, follow through and take him out of the store.
  • Give the child a pep talk before a particular situation - If you know there are situations that are difficult for your child, like the first day at the Dubai Nursery Schools, give the child a pep talk ahead of time. If your child always has trouble in a group or with new situations, then it's good to have a small talk before the child start's school and tell them what to expect, how much fun it can be and that you will be there to pick them up when school is over. Giving the child a reassurance, will help them deal with their emotions well.
  • Give time outs:Giving a child a timeout in a quiet place with some time alone, when the child has done something wrong, will help them understand that they did something wrong. Do very little talking and be very clear with your directions.
  • Talk to other caregivers:It’s important to remember that misbehaviors, like fighting and physical aggression, occur in the Childcare Nursery in Dubai as well. This is how children learn to get along with each other, but when the child becomes aggressive they should be dealt with immediately. Make sure to coordinate the action taken by the caregiver so that both are consistent and check in with the caregiver regularly to make sure that the behavior is improving.

Monday, January 19, 2015

Happiness Tools To Give a Child

When a child is born, parents effect their happiness almost completely by being attuned and responsive to their needs and surrounding them with a lot of love and enrichment. Over time, though this enthusiasm dwindles and diminishes, as children find happiness through relationships with peers and teachers through Early Years Education in Dubai. They also develop and build upon their own interests and hobbies, activities and achievements. By the time children become a teenager, a parent's power to turn on the happy button can be limited or nonexistent. This can be a disappointing and agonizing period for a parent. 
Eventhough, parents can be powerless with inflicting happiness on older children, a parent's influence can play a big part, because for happiness to be genuine and resilient, it must be reflective of happiness within, and that “within” is shaped by the quality of life that a child experiences with the parent in the initial years. 
Here are some tools you can give your child to create that happiness within themselves, 
Let them comfortable in their own skin - Most youngsters are comfortable being themselves, and they retain a healthy sense  and acceptance of self both physically and emotionally. As parents, we should be careful about the messages we send. Children receive messages primarily through a parent's  action. A parent's words matter, too, because from infancy, they are listening to everything in their environment, not just the words that are directed towards them and learning about their place in the world. Communicating, touching, and holding babies and toddlers in a respectful manner teaches them that they are worthy. Be respectful about boundaries by giving children the consistent assurance they are in a safe nest with gentle, stable, caring people as practiced at the Early Years Nursery in Dubai. Accepting a children’s complete range of emotions, especially the difficult ones, is one of the most thoughtful  ways of telling them that you love them. 
Letting a child play on their own and develop motor skills is one way of telling children, that parent's trust them and also take a great interest in their self-chosen activities and the person they are turning out to be.  Comfort in one’s skin doesn’t prevent  children against pain and suffering. That’s life. 
 Character - It is observed that generosity makes a person happier. Kindness not only counts, it brightens the spirit. Children develop their character primarily through what they see in their parent's. They also need behavioral boundaries, but even then the actions and language that parent's model will always trump what they are attempting to teach. For example, teacher's at the Nursery Schools in Dubai teach children to 'share', say 'sorry', 'thank you', or 'be gentle'  and show children what is to be generous, compassionate, grateful and gentle. 
 Social intelligence - The sense of sharing with others and experience a sense of belonging are essential to happiness. How children navigate their peer society and form rewarding relationships is largely being dependent on their relationship with their parent's and teacher's, their most powerful role models. When parent's are honest, direct, respectful, and loving with them from the beginning, these characteristics will become theirs. Babies and toddlers also benefit greatly from regular opportunities to interact with their peers in a safe environment. Children learn social skills naturally through play , exploration and by experimenting.

Friday, January 16, 2015

A checklist of Children's Behavior

Parents and teachers should always be sensitive towards a child, and make every concerted effort to develop a quality connection with their children,  explains the Dubai Nursery. Sometimes a child's behavior can take a turn for the worst or sometimes they develop good habits, here is a parent-response checklist to help  parent's with their responses and approaches to their children, 
  • Preventive measures - A little prevention can save parents a ton of aggravation. Children love to explore and test their environments, and they also express uncomfortable feelings through limit-pushing behavior. So, if we don’t want children throwing things or playing roughly with a pet or a younger sibling, we should not be walking around saying 'no' to them all the time and being annoyed, it's best to minimize or remove certain objects and options. 
  • Confidence - Confidence is important and crucial and tends to be absent when a parent's direction and response is not working. Confidence is firm,  decisive, and often upbeat, not angry or stern. Children sense an adults feeling, and can easily detect whether the decision the parent takes is serious or not, If parents are not confident with their decisions and feelings, the child will not feel comfortable making them cry, whine and protects and keep pushing the limits. Teacher's at the Nurseries in Dubai demonstrate this confidence, often giving them the ability to calm a difficult child. Often, parents and teachers should be calm and deal with the situation in that manner as the child is watching your every move. Don't panic or change your movements or be hurried, simply demonstrate confidence, and that you are in control. 
  • Early action - Children understand a parent's word and actions, but need more from parents when their impulsive, emotionally fueled behavior gets the better of them. This might mean calmly taking the child aside when their behavior is out of control, or being totally fine with helping a preschooler attending Childcare Nursery in Dubai get dressed in the morning, even though they are perfectly capable of doing so themselves. 
  • Acceptance - Both acceptance and acknowledgement are important, but the one to focus on is acceptance. Parents should try to let go of their feelings and emotions and let things be in certain instances, instead of always saying or urging the child to do the right thing or calm the child down, this is what accept means. Parents should accept disagreements with the understanding that with children and teenagers, especially, disagreements can be a daily, healthy, developmentally appropriate occurrence. This is also a way for the child to allow, acknowledges, even embraces the concept. When parent's are hastily making everything better, they are unwittingly sending an invalidating, squelching message that says we are not comfortable with your feeling and that they should stop as soon as possible. 
Changing and becoming a more effective parent can take some time and is a long process, but you need to stick with it and understand that you can be an effective parent and be open to different ideas and different ways of doing things.