Yesterday the students and staff at my Primrose Schools honored those fighting for our country's freedom as we celebrated Veteran's Day.

Our students heard from our veteran parents, we shared photos of loved ones in our lives who served as far back as WWI (and some who are still active today!), and schools had small toy soldiers at the front to go home with each child at the end of the day, to remind them of those who fight to defend our liberties.

Thank you to those who are currently serving or have served - we value and appreciate the service of all our country's veterans!

The Skills Needed for Future Career Success and How to Nurture Them in Early Childhood

By: Dr. Pratiksha Rigley
Franchise Owner, Primrose Schools of Frisco West, Klyde Warren Park, Park Cities, Plano at Preston Meadow, & Prestonwood

When parents think about the earliest skills they should be nurturing in their children, language, reading and motor skills likely come to mind. However, a recent survey revealed that another set of skills may be just as important to develop early in life to give children the foundation they need for future success.  According to a national survey of human resources (HR) managers responsible for hiring, problem solving, critical thinking, teamwork, self-control, adaptability and working memory – collectively referred to as executive function skills – are essential to succeeding in today’s workplace. In fact, survey respondents agreed that these skills are more important than good grades, technical skills and other factors when it comes to hiring. 

Yet, the majority of those surveyed said that entry-level employees are rarely proficient in executive function skills, and agreed that they are difficult to teach. One in four respondents also indicated employees are becoming less proficient in executive function skills over time – a concerning trend given that research suggests these skills will only become more valued as society evolves. 

These statistics may sound worrisome, but encouragingly, executive function skills actually have their foundational roots in early childhood. The Harvard Center on the Developing Child reports that children’s early life experiences influence their capacity for executive function skills, and laying the foundation for such skills is one of the most important tasks of the early childhood years. 

All of the adults in a child’s life – parents, grandparents, teachers and others – therefore have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help set him or her on a pathway for success. And nurturing the executive function skills needed to succeed later in life doesn’t have to be difficult – try the following fun activities for children at home:

• Develop problem solving through play. Children work through their understanding of the world as they play. For example, when children play with blocks, they learn that putting heavier blocks on top make block towers tumble more quickly, but putting heavier blocks on the bottom make the tower stronger. 
• Promote critical thinking by asking thought-provoking questions.  Whether you’re playing with blocks or at the grocery story, ask your child simple, open-ended questions like “Why do you think…” and “What if…” to inspire deeper thinking. Be sure to give your child plenty of time to answer the question, refraining from giving the answer yourself.
• Encourage teamwork by leading by example. Children learn how to respond to others mostly by watching their parents and caregivers. Make it a point to model behaviors like listening and being respectful at home.
• Cultivate self-control by giving instructions. Instructions don’t immediately sound like much fun, but singing songs like the hokey pokey and playing games like Simon Says actually encourage self-control by requiring children to move in a specific way at a particular time.
• Nurture adaptability through dramatic play. Children can practice adaptability – the ability to take in and adapt to new information – by using everyday objects in new ways, like turning a paper towel roll into a telescope.
• Foster working memory by reading aloud. Consistently reading aloud with children reinforces sounds and letters, helping them learn and store information in a way that feels more like play. Take things a step further by making up a story together. As the complexity of the story grows, your child will get more practice remembering the information.

By intentionally nurturing these skills during first five years of life, parents and caregivers can help set children up for success that will last a lifetime.

For more information about our schools, please visit us online!

Primrose School of Frisco West

Primrose School at Klyde Warren Park

Primrose School of Park Cities

Primrose School of Plano at Preston Meadow

Primrose School of Prestonwood

For more helpful parenting tips and information, visit our blog at www.PrimroseSchools.com/blog and sign up for the Pointers for Parents newsletter.

No Kid Hungry
Supporting our Communities at Primrose Schools of Frisco West, Klyde Warren Park, Park Cities, Plano at Preston Meadow, and Prestonwood

No child should go hungry in America, but in the wake of the pandemic, one in four children could face hunger this year. Over the past few months, COVID-19 has set back a decade of progress in the battle to end childhood hunger, forcing many families to abruptly face hunger. And with numerous school districts making the difficult decision to go completely virtual, the millions of children who rely on school for their meals are at greater risk. By the end of April 2020, more than one in five households in the United States, and two in five households with mothers with children 12 and under, were food insecure.

Food insecurity is defined as limited or uncertain access to food. Food insecurity is a household-level economic and social condition of limited access to adequate food. It is distinct from hunger, an individual-level physiological condition that may result from food insecurity. Research shows that children from homes lacking consistent access to food are more likely to repeat a grade and experience developmental impairments in areas such as motor skills, language & behavior. Without proper nutrients, children are unable to focus, learn and develop to their full potential.

Especially in today’s world, it is important take purposeful steps to help children grow up to be compassionate and generous human beings. Children who learn the value of giving back at a young age are better able to develop a sense of empathy and citizenship. In addition, research shows that young children who have high prosocial skills – or behaviors meant to benefit another – are also among the most cognitively ready for school.

Encouraging children to contribute to the well-being of the family at a young age – by taking care of the family’s pets, helping parents care for younger siblings and performing household chores – teaches them the importance of giving back, and, more importantly, the sense of fulfillment derived from helping others.

Parents can use the following tips to help nurture selflessness and generosity in children at home:

1. Model kindness to your child and others. Let your child see you offering to help a neighbor or co-worker and express to him or her the happiness you feel when helping others.
2. Remind your child how helping benefits others. Include your child in simple activities by asking for help. For instance, you might say, “Who wants to be my special helper today and help carry laundry to the washer? We won’t have clean clothes without you!” Or, “The dog looks hungry. I bet he’d really appreciate it if you gave him his food and water.”
3. Acknowledge helpful behavior. Show your appreciation and explain why it was helpful to you. For example, rather than just saying “Thank you,” instead say, “Thank you for helping me carry the dishes to the kitchen without being asked. That saved me a lot of time.”
4. Encourage giving. If another child doesn’t have a toy to play with, suggest that your child offer up a toy so they can both have something fun to play with. 
5. Avoid rewarding generosity. Avoid material rewards for helping and giving behaviors. Treats for good deeds may work in the short term, but over time children may become less generous when the rewards stop.  

As part of our mission to forge a path that leads to a brighter future for all children, the Primrose Schools Children’s Foundation has partnered with No Kid Hungry, donating $250,000 toward programs helping to provide children with the healthy food they need to thrive. Food is the most important school supply – whether students are learning at home or in school.

Compassion and generosity are important traits for every person to have. Helping young children learn the joy and fulfillment of lending a helping hand to others will empower them to make a difference in the world, both as children and adults. Over the next few months, Primrose Schools is committed to raising awareness around the important topic of food insecurity in our nation. All children deserve the proper tools to thrive, and that starts with nutritional food. Learn more and join us as we work to help end childhood hunger.

For more helpful parenting tips and information, visit our blog at www.PrimroseSchools.com/blog and sign up for the Pointers for Parents newsletter.

Dr. Pratiksha Rigley, Franchise Owner

(some content taken from this article by Jo Kirchner, Chief Executive Officer, Primrose Schools, and this article from Save the Children)

Online with Og *Free Online Preschool Curriculum* Week 17 - Squishy, Fizzy Fun!

This week children explore fizzy, squishy, messy science experiences.  Children also continue to practice ways to be responsible.
It's never too early to help your child develop positive character traits. 
The highlighted activities throughout this week's unit and additional resources infuse character development lessons that help foster compassion, creativity, gratitude and honesty in children.

?? Let's Go to the Beach! ?? Online with Og - Week 16