Hillside Early Childhood Center

The Hillside Blog

Art Gallery & Winter Market

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Join us for an evening of art. Each child at Hillside will have their work displayed, and there will also be items to take home.

Supporting The Preschool to Kindergarten Transition

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Making the transition from preschool to kindergarten can be such a bittersweet time. As caregivers, it is important that we do our best to prepare our child and prepare ourselves for the changes to come.

Continue to prioritize play.

We know that children learn through play, and play is a healthy and constructive way to process new experiences and figure things out. Play speaks to the whole child. Having unstructured play, especially outdoors, contributes in a positive way to all areas of the child’s development. The fine and gross motor skills obtained through play will lay the foundation for writing and dressing themselves. The language skills that they will develop through communicating with friends and engaging in story telling play will lay the foundation for both expressive and receptive communication.

Play is also an incredible opportunity for children’s social emotional growth. Learning how to play with others increases a child’s confidence and self-esteem. Knowing how to interact, imagine, and problem-solve with others in a safe, positive way is a skill that is necessary in an elementary school environment.

Foster independence.

In Kindergarten, children are encouraged to and asked to be more independent. From the little changes (like they walk alone into the building at drop off) to some of the bigger changes (cue testing), there are things you can do at home to support your child in being as ready as possible.

-Practice bathroom independence (ex: wiping themselves; proper hand washing).

-Meal Time independence (ex: practice opening all their own containers and packages; carrying their lunch box to and from).

-Practice taking care of their own needs (ex: zipping/unzipping jackets; tying shoes; keeping track of all of their personal items; sharpening own pencils).

Develop and stick to a routine.

Routines provide a sense of security and consistency. When other aspects of their lives are changing, having something reliable is crucial to making the transition as seamless as possible.

In the weeks before your child begins school, start practicing the new routine. If bedtime is going to be moved up an hour earlier, practice that. If they will need to pack up their backpack at the beginning of the day, make sure they have the opportunities to try it out. There may be mistakes or hiccups along the way, and that’s okay! Better to find the kinks before the first day and have the opportunity to pivot or problem solve.

When it comes to dinner time, screen time, family time, and even possible homework time, having the schedule in place beforehand will help everyone get into a groove before the big day.

Visit the new school.

Visiting your child’s new school will help you, and them, feel more prepared and informed before their first day. Visiting the new school allows your child to become familiar with the layout of the campus, as well as give them a visual of what their new classroom will look like.

It will also be a good opportunity to meet the staff and share any important information you might have about your child. At this time it may be helpful to ask about daily routines (how to pick up and drop off) and what security looks like.

Read!

Children will often learn to read in their first two years of elementary school. Having, and continuing, a love for reading and literature is something that will allow them to become more independent and enhance their critical thinking and problem solving skills.

In Kindergarten, there are both independent reading times and whole-group reading times, and children are introduced to sight-words. Books are used as a way to not only teach new information, but also encourage the child to think deeper and more critically about things. Understanding that books contain stories and information is a great first step to this. It is recommended that children are read to at least 10 minutes every day.

Some of our favorite books about getting ready for Kindergarten are:

  • How to Be Kind in Kindergarten: A Book for Your Backpack by D.J. Steinberg
  • The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing
  • Planet Kindergarten by Sue Ganz-Schmitt

Embrace change and new beginnings.

Change in life is inevitable, and it is important to have a positive relationship with change that will help your preschooler be more adaptable and resilient in new situations.

Change often brings new friendships, new opportunities, and new things to explore. Talking about and highlighting the positive things to come will bring excitement and help ease anxieties.

Learning how to embrace change can help children be adaptable and help them solve future problems. Having a positive association with learning can be a beneficial thing for their life-long relationship with school.

We know that they cannot stay at Hillside forever (even though we wish they could) and believe it is our job to do all that we can to support you and your child make this exciting transition.

How to Celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month With Your Child

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month and it is a topic that is often overlooked in early childhood education. At Hillside, we believe that talking about mental health, prioritizing it, and learning how to recognize and address feelings, will support children in becoming active and engaged learners.

Why is talking about mental health important?

First of all, what is mental health? In this post, we are using the following definition from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.“

We believe that every child deserves to be seen and heard for who they are as an individual. It is truly never too early to model being open and transparent about feelings, and support children in finding coping mechanisms as they encounter new and difficult struggles. Children who are in environment where they are able to recognize and understand their feelings have a better time at persisting and coping when things are difficult. All children are sad, angry, confused, or agitated at times and it is our job as caregivers to support them through these big emotions.

How can we put this information into practice?

Being mindful and prioritizing mental health is not something that comes innately, and like any other skill, it is something that needs to be practiced over time. Social-emotional education and play starts at infancy.

Activities to do with your infant and toddler:

-Focus on articulating feelings and give them the words to describe what they are feeling. (Example: “I hear you crying. You are hungry and feeling frustrated that your bottle is not ready yet. It can be hard to wait.”) Give them the language and as they learn to communicate, support them in saying what they are feeling.

-Set time aside during the day for low-stress, less stimulating activities. Give time to let your child be present and calm in the moment.

-As they learn new skills, be a safe place for successes and failures. Model, try together, and allow your child to practice.

Activities to do with your preschooler:

-Establish a self-care routine. The goal of this is to support children in learning how to be mindful about what makes them feel happy, centered, and relaxed. Whether it’s a special soap at bath time or a fancy hair brush, encourage children to take time for themselves.

-Encourage healthy self-expression, such as journaling or drawing.

-Support them in finding their coping skills. Do they need space when frustrated? Do they need a hug?

-Continue to nourish their body. As children get older, support them in making healthy decisions (eating a balanced diet; sleeping well at night) to set them up for the most success during the day.

What does this look like in a play-based classroom?

–We focus on creating a feeling of belonging. Some of the ways we do this are: having photos of the families displayed in the classroom; having photos of the children and their art displayed at their level; greeting every child at morning meeting and sending well wishes to those who are not present; having room jobs in our preschool classrooms.

–We role-model in our play and in our language. We support children in identifying and articulating their feelings, and we do the same with ours. We practice talking about these things as we play with the children in one-on-one and small group settings.

–We have cozy peace corners in every classroom. In these designated quiet areas, we have multiple tools for children to use to center themselves, such as emotion photos and sensory fidget toys.

–We talk about our feelings.. all the time! We set aside time for check ins at morning meeting, during one-on-one interactions, and through play.

–We have self-care days and weeks where caring for ourselves, our friends, our teachers, and our school are the entire focus.

–We engage with the senses. We provide a variety of opportunities during the day for children to connect more deeply with materials.

Getting Support

If you are concerned about your child’s mental health, please visit the following resources and reach out to your child’s pediatrician.

National Institute of Mental Health: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/children-and-mental-health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/basics.html#:~:text=Without%20early%20diagnosis%20and%20treatment,that%20can%20continue%20into%20adulthood.

30 Safe First Finger Foods for Infants

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Encouraging Independence During Meal Time

From the start of a infant’s journey with food, it is important to empower them with the tools they need to listen to their body’s cues. Part of this is encouraging a child to take charge of feeding themselves.

When a child begins to display signs of readiness, such as being able to sit up and hold their neck up as well as bringing items to their mouth, it is an ideal time to introduce finger foods.

Studies show that introduction to a variety of textures, spices, and flavors early on reduces pickiness later in a child’s food journey.

30 Ideas to Get You Started

  • Avocado – cubed or sliced
  • Blueberries – soft and halved
  • Beans – cooked until very soft or refried
  • Broccoli – steamed
  • Cheerios
  • Cheese – crumbled goat cheese or thick shredded cheese
  • Chicken – ground or in strips the size of your pinky finger.
  • Cous cous
  • Eggs – scrambled
  • Green beans – steamed
  • Grilled Cheese – cut into strips
  • Ground beef – cooked without salt
  • Hummus and Crackers
  • Pasta
  • Peaches – ripe, peeled, and cubed
  • Pear – ripe, peeled, and cubed
  • Peas
  • Pita bread – with a spread
  • Potatoes – peeled and cut into strips the size of your pinky.
  • Quesadillas
  • Quinoa
  • Rice
  • Sweet Potatoes – peeled and cut into strips the size of your pinky
  • Toast – with a spread
  • Tofu – cubed
  • Tomatoes – peeled and cubed
  • Zucchini – steamed and cut into strips the size of your pinky
  • Watermelon – seedless and cubed
  • Waffles or Pancakes – with a spread
  • Yogurt with cheerios or fruit

Our Favorite Books that Promote and Discuss Inclusivity

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Books About Family and Community

  • A World of Families by Trish Holland
  • All Kinds of People by Shelly Rotner and Sheila M Kelly
  • Counting on Community by Innosanto Nagra
  • Families Belong by Dan Saks
  • Love Makes a Family by Sophie Beer
  • Mommy, Mama, and Me by Leslea Newman
  • One Family by George Shannon
  • Sweet, Sweet Baby! by Javaka Steptoe
  • The Great Big Book of Families by Mary Hoffman
  • This Is a School by John Schu
  • We Are Grateful by Traci Sorell
  • We’re Better Together by Ekaterina Trukhan

Books about Race

  • Antiracist Baby by Ibram X Kendi
  • Baby Young, Gifted, and Black by Jaima Wilson
  • Black Is a Rainbow Color by Angela Joy
  • Brown: The Many Shades of Love by Nancy Johnson James
  • Happy in Our Skin by Fran Manushkin
  • Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race by Megan Madison
  • The ABCs of Black History by Rio Cortez
  • The Color of Us by Karen Katz
  • The Proudest Color by Sheila Modir and Jeffrey Kashou
  • The Skin You Live In by Michael Tyler

Books About Gender and Identity

  • ABC What Can She Be? by Sugar Snap Studio
  • I Look like a Girl by Sheila Hamanaka
  • Islandborn by Junot Diaz
  • Julian Ia a Mermaid by Jessica Love
  • Mixed Me! by Taye Diggs
  • Rainbow: A First Book of Prie by Michael Genhart PhD
  • Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack
  • Shaking Things Up by Susan Hood
  • She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton

Books About Celebrations

  • A Winter Walk in the City by Cathy Goldberg Fishman
  • Celebrations Around the World: The Fabulous Celebrations you Won’t Want to miss by Katy Halford
  • Dia de los Muertos by Hannah Eliot
  • Festival of Colors by Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal
  • Fiesta! : Bilingual Spanish/English book by Ginger Foglesong Guy
  • Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas by Natasha Yim
  • Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht
  • Playing with Lanterns by Wang Yage
  • Shabbat Shalom! by Douglas Florian

Books about Acceptance and Inclusion

  •  All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold
  • All Bodies Are Good Bodies by Charlotte Barkla and Erica Salcedo
  • Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees
  • It’s Okay to be Different by Todd Parr
  • Our Diversity Makes Us Stronger by Elizabeth Cole
  • We Move Together by Anne McGuire and Kelly Fritsch
  • You Matter by Christian Robinson