I don’t need to tell you the importance of the early years, but I truly believe we have something special and unique here at The Lawrence Park School Kindergarten Program.
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Robert Fulghum wrote a book, All I Really Need to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten, in which he describes how the world would be a better place if we all followed the same basic rules we learned as children…things like sharing, being kind, cleaning up and living a balanced life of work, play and learning.  When our Kindergarten children here grow up, we have no idea what jobs and careers await them.  What we do know is that teamwork, collaboration and communication will be every bit as important then as now, if not more so.
Corporations would be envious of the teamwork displayed in our Kindergarten Program. No one is excluded, everyone is kind beyond measure (the teachers insist on it) and everyone works together.  This afternoon, I watched a group of 4 SK’s working on a mural in the hall…sharing markers and ideas and giving each other positive feedback…..wow.

Communication will always be important – whether it is speaking, reading, writing or using the language of mathematics and number sentences. It is our belief that a strong foundation in communication skills requires direct instruction, practice and individual feedback and guidance.  This is what led us to the design of our program with the low student/teacher ratios that we have here.
Our children are eager to get to work first thing in the morning when they are fresh so we go with that, using more of a tutoring style of guiding each child at his or her pace.  We are able to work at that delicate balance of success and challenge that is so motivating for young learners and gives them the confidence to tackle more difficult material.

Hot lunch together provides a wonderful social opportunity with conversation, good manners and healthy food choices. The children start by selecting a rainbow of veges before serving their main course. 
Daily gym after lunch gets them playing games outside or in the community hall and then they are ready to settle into the afternoon art and science based activities in different stations with different “jobs”.
The teachers design the curriculum, and the feedback from our grads, going to both public and private school, is that they slide easily into grade one with confidence and ahead of the game.
Most important to us is that the children grow to be secure in who they are and that they learn that they matter, their thoughts and opinions matter and their relationships matter. Kindness and respect rule!
This is why we have the teachers we do.  They don’t miss a thing and take every opportunity to model, teach and reinforce specific ways of showing kindness and respect – to one another as well as to the teachers.  Ginnie, Kim, Danielle, as well as Julia and Elisa, are so great and they know they have my permission to throw the curriculum out the window if a teachable moment presents itself where we can reinforce these core values.

If you haven’t witnessed this program, come and visit!

Welcome parents!

September is over, school is underway and everyone - children and parents - are settling into our fall routines.  At this time of year, children often bring home new behaviours to try on and test out, whether they learn them from school, daycare, siblings or whether it is simply a chance for them to assert some independence. We often see this as early as 2, 3, and 4 years of age but this happens throughout the childhood and teenage years. This blog will share basic tips for home behaviour management.  As you know, there is no manual for this and we can only rely on those who have been in the parenting trenches to give us tried and true strategies!

1)     Focus on the positive. Catch your child when they are doing something nice or kind – notice it, and be specific with your comments. Spend more time connecting than on correcting. Be sure your child knows you love them even though you don’t always like their behaviour. Separate the deed from the doer.

2)    State the rules.  All children need and want boundaries and limits. Try to state your rules in positive terms.  Tell them what you want them to do rather than what you don’t want them to do.  For example, say “Use your walking feet” instead of “No running!”  Keep rules short and to the point, for example “Hands to yourself” or “dishes to the dishwasher”.  Have a few, reasonable rules and be consistent in using and enforcing them. Comment when your children are following them.

3)    Make your world predictable.  Set your child up for success and keep the same basic routines every day.  Homework, TV, play, baths and meals can all be on a similar daily schedule so that your child gets used to a certain rhythm.  Prepare your child for transitions….it can be hard to stop a fun play activity to go somewhere so give a 5 minute heads up.
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4)    Encourage positive behaviour and ignore negative behaviour (to the extent that you can safely!) If a child receives lots of attention for positive behaviour, that behaviour will continue. The same is true for negative behavior.  If there is no audience, the show will stop…..eventually. Be firm and consistent. A gambler needs just one win to encourage more gambling.  Psychologists call this “intermittent reinforcement” and it is hugely powerful.  A toddler just needs you to give in to his or her whining once in order for it to continue.  The message?  Whining works sometimes and you never know…this might be the time! Better to notice and give attention to the positive behaviours. 

That’s it for now……Enjoy the hugs and laughter that come with these ages!