There is a particular magic in watching a toddler discover something for the first time. The way they crouch down to inspect a puddle, or drag a paintbrush across paper with total concentration. These are not small moments. They are the building blocks of a curious, confident learner.
At Park West Cooperative Nursery School in Lincoln Park, our Tots Program is designed around exactly these moments. It is a parent-accompanied class for children ages 18 months to 2 ½ years old.
Reading stories is an important component of our school day here at Park West, as it often is in homes. But what exactly do children get out of story time at school? Read-alouds present many opportunities for learning, but a primary goal is for children to develop their comprehension skills. Building comprehension skills in preschool is essential for fostering a love for reading and developing critical thinking abilities. This remains a goal throughout a child’s trajectory at Park West, but we support that in different ways, depending on age and developmental levels.
Parenting a preschooler is never easy, and during the holidays parents also have to navigate changing schedules, extended family dynamics, and heightened expectations. There are so many activities and ways to celebrate throughout the winter that every day could be jam-packed with events and gatherings and extra treats. Remember that you don’t have to do it all. Give yourself permission to prioritize your own peace of mind and say no to some invitations or cut back on events this year.
Offering children some concrete ways to handle sharing materials allows them to relax and follow their ideas. Children learn that there is a way to have a turn, and that they don’t need to grab or hoard toys. Although young children can be impulsive and find it hard to use their words in the heat of the moment, children can learn to talk to each other when supported by the adults around them. Helping children communicate about taking turns is one of the first steps towards learning to share.
Toddlers and preschoolers learn language at an astonishing rate! In a relatively short time, they learn to name objects, convey their needs and desires, describe their feelings and explain their thinking. They learn to connect with others through the use of language, and in time they become able to attend to another’s point of view and carry on reciprocal conversations. Teachers actively encourage children to converse, express themselves and verbalize their intentions.
There is a particular magic in watching a toddler discover something for the first time. The way they crouch down to inspect a puddle, or drag a paintbrush across paper with total concentration. These are not small moments. They are the building blocks of a curious, confident learner.
At Park West Cooperative Nursery School in Lincoln Park, our Tots Program is designed around exactly these moments. It is a parent-accompanied class for children ages 18 months to 2 ½ years old.
Reading stories is an important component of our school day here at Park West, as it often is in homes. But what exactly do children get out of story time at school? Read-alouds present many opportunities for learning, but a primary goal is for children to develop their comprehension skills. Building comprehension skills in preschool is essential for fostering a love for reading and developing critical thinking abilities. This remains a goal throughout a child’s trajectory at Park West, but we support that in different ways, depending on age and developmental levels.
Parenting a preschooler is never easy, and during the holidays parents also have to navigate changing schedules, extended family dynamics, and heightened expectations. There are so many activities and ways to celebrate throughout the winter that every day could be jam-packed with events and gatherings and extra treats. Remember that you don’t have to do it all. Give yourself permission to prioritize your own peace of mind and say no to some invitations or cut back on events this year.
Offering children some concrete ways to handle sharing materials allows them to relax and follow their ideas. Children learn that there is a way to have a turn, and that they don’t need to grab or hoard toys. Although young children can be impulsive and find it hard to use their words in the heat of the moment, children can learn to talk to each other when supported by the adults around them. Helping children communicate about taking turns is one of the first steps towards learning to share.
Toddlers and preschoolers learn language at an astonishing rate! In a relatively short time, they learn to name objects, convey their needs and desires, describe their feelings and explain their thinking. They learn to connect with others through the use of language, and in time they become able to attend to another’s point of view and carry on reciprocal conversations. Teachers actively encourage children to converse, express themselves and verbalize their intentions.
This time of year is always so exciting for us at Park West, as we welcome both new and familiar faces into the building. As a parent, starting school can also be nerve-wracking. There are always so many unknowns. How well will my child do at school? Will the teachers understand their needs or get to know all of their special qualities? Will they be successful with their peers?
What a year it’s been! A year of discoveries, triumphs and, at times, disappointments. For all of us, this time of year is marked by a mixture of emotions. We are so proud of how much children have grown and excited for their next steps, but also wistful and a bit sad to say goodbye. Many children won’t really understand this change until it happens. We have tools that we use to help children conceptualize the length of the summer.
When you think of your child’s growth and development, do you think about all the “firsts?” Celebrating first steps and first days of school and first wobbly bike rides is natural. As we look forward to the next new thing, it can be easy to overlook some of the sweetest parenting milestones - the “lasts.”
Here at school, we don’t insist that kids use pleasantries like please and thank you. Teachers definitely model the use of these polite words, and certainly don’t discourage kids from using them, but we think that focusing on them too much can complicate the already-challenging work of self-expression and reciprocal communication.
