Happy September Chesterbrook Families,
Well, the time has come and the new school year has begun! August came and left us very quickly. There have been many transitions over the past two week and all of our students are all settled in their new classrooms. Summer was a blast but we are so excited to get this year started. This fall is going to be full of new and exciting adventures. The learning is at full swing.
This month we will start out with a long weekend. We are CLOSED on Monday September 7th for Labor Day. Please let me know if you have any questions. This is a great time to spend with family and friends. Please enjoy your long weekend!
All of our enrichment programs will be returning for the fall! We have an exciting event each day of the week. On Mondays we have Jump Bunch, Tuesdays we have Music for Little Ones, Wednesdays we have Daisy Dance, on Thursdays we have Tumble Bus and on Fridays we have Soccer Shots. For more information about any of these programs please see table at the entrance of the school or ask me.
We are also kicking off a new Fundraiser this month, Food for the Soul. All of our students will be coming home with an order form for you. This fundraiser is full of tasty treats! Please let me know if you have any questions about this fundraiser. All checks should be made payable to Chesterbrook Academy.
I want to take a moment and thank all of our families that participated in our Brax Spirit Cup fundraiser. It was a big hit and I how you and your family enjoys your new cups.
Thank you all for being the AMAZING parents you are everyday! I am so excited that you are a part of the Chesterbrook Denver Family! Let Fall begin!
Sincerely,
Jac-Lynn Johnson
Principal
Developing Balance Skills in Young Children
From Tummy Time to Bike Riding
Balance is a fundamental skill necessary for maintaining controlled positions, such as sitting in a chair, or engaging in physical activities like running or riding a bike. Having balance makes motor skill development easier, reduces the risk of injury, and helps children focus on academic tasks.
Our Nobel Learning Education team stays up to date with the latest research to ensure that our Links to Learning curriculum exceeds childhood learning standards. The Links to Learning curriculum was enhanced last fall to include a greater focus on balance, a building block for skills such as hand-eye coordination, muscular strength and body awareness.
Here are some ways we help improve balance in the classroom, as well as ideas for you and your child to do at home.
INFANTS:
In the classroom: Tummy time promotes neck, back and abdominal strength needed for infants to eventually push up, roll over, sit up and crawl. Teachers keep infants engaged by using activity mats or plush blocks.
At home: Place your baby on his stomach and shine a flashlight near him. Once you have captured his attention, shine the light in a rhythmic pattern. For older infants, encourage your baby to move or crawl toward the light.
TODDLERS (ages 1-2):
In the classroom: During the toddler years, children make major strides in balance and coordination. Teachers play music and encourage students to move their bodies in different ways while maintaining their balance.
At home: Push and pull toys require children to use core balance and arm strength, which can be difficult for new walkers. Place a small wagon or toy shopping cart and a pile of blocks on the floor. Show your child how to fill the cart with blocks. He will enjoy pulling or pushing the blocks around the room.
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: Sitting cross-legged, or as we say with the children “criss-cross applesauce,” is an important developmental skill for two year olds. Teachers encourage children to sit criss-crossed anytime they are playing on the floor. Sitting in this position strengthens a child’s core muscles and helps improve body control. We discourage “W-sitting,” with knees together and feet on either side of the hips, because it puts strain on knees and hips and fails to engage core abdominal muscles.
At home: Provide your child with a sit-and-spin toy. Ask him to sit on the toy with his legs crisscrossed. As he turns the wheel to spin, he will gain a better understanding of cause and effect.
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Around age three, children learn to maintain control of their upper body while moving their lower body. Our Intermediate students practice pedaling a tricycle, bouncing on hopper balls, and walking on a balance beam.
At home: Have your child practice running and stopping with control by playing the traffic light game. Shout out the color green, yellow or red. Have him move quickly when hearing “green,” move slowly when hearing “yellow,” and completely stop when hearing “red.”
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):
In the classroom: Teachers encourage children to practice balance and coordination by jumping on their non-dominant foot, walking on a line or beam, or jumping rope. Children also practice balance by crouching down to tie their shoes.
At home: Ask your child to tell you about the games and activities played at school. Include these activities at home and during family events such as birthday parties and vacations. Scooters and pogo jumpers are great toys for children at this age.
Good balance helps children maintain appropriate and controlled body movement during important tasks. By building balance skills in the preschool years, your child will be better prepared as he enters elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education
September News
Happy September Chesterbrook Families,
Well, the time has come and the new school year has begun! August came and left us very quickly. There have been many transitions over the past two week and all of our students are all settled in their new classrooms. Summer was a blast but we are so excited to get this year started. This fall is going to be full of new and exciting adventures. The learning is at full swing.
This month we will start out with a long weekend. We are CLOSED on Monday September 7th for Labor Day. Please let me know if you have any questions. This is a great time to spend with family and friends. Please enjoy your long weekend!
All of our enrichment programs will be returning for the fall! We have an exciting event each day of the week. On Mondays we have Jump Bunch, Tuesdays we have Music for Little Ones, Wednesdays we have Daisy Dance, on Thursdays we have Tumble Bus and on Fridays we have Soccer Shots. For more information about any of these programs please see table at the entrance of the school or ask me.
We are also kicking off a new Fundraiser this month, Food for the Soul. All of our students will be coming home with an order form for you. This fundraiser is full of tasty treats! Please let me know if you have any questions about this fundraiser. All checks should be made payable to Chesterbrook Academy.
I want to take a moment and thank all of our families that participated in our Brax Spirit Cup fundraiser. It was a big hit and I how you and your family enjoys your new cups.
Thank you all for being the AMAZING parents you are everyday! I am so excited that you are a part of the Chesterbrook Denver Family! Let Fall begin!
Sincerely,
Jac-Lynn Johnson
Principal
Developing Balance Skills in Young Children
From Tummy Time to Bike Riding
Balance is a fundamental skill necessary for maintaining controlled positions, such as sitting in a chair, or engaging in physical activities like running or riding a bike. Having balance makes motor skill development easier, reduces the risk of injury, and helps children focus on academic tasks.
Our Nobel Learning Education team stays up to date with the latest research to ensure that our Links to Learning curriculum exceeds childhood learning standards. The Links to Learning curriculum was enhanced last fall to include a greater focus on balance, a building block for skills such as hand-eye coordination, muscular strength and body awareness.
Here are some ways we help improve balance in the classroom, as well as ideas for you and your child to do at home.
INFANTS:
In the classroom: Tummy time promotes neck, back and abdominal strength needed for infants to eventually push up, roll over, sit up and crawl. Teachers keep infants engaged by using activity mats or plush blocks.
At home: Place your baby on his stomach and shine a flashlight near him. Once you have captured his attention, shine the light in a rhythmic pattern. For older infants, encourage your baby to move or crawl toward the light.
TODDLERS (ages 1-2):
In the classroom: During the toddler years, children make major strides in balance and coordination. Teachers play music and encourage students to move their bodies in different ways while maintaining their balance.
At home: Push and pull toys require children to use core balance and arm strength, which can be difficult for new walkers. Place a small wagon or toy shopping cart and a pile of blocks on the floor. Show your child how to fill the cart with blocks. He will enjoy pulling or pushing the blocks around the room.
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: Sitting cross-legged, or as we say with the children “criss-cross applesauce,” is an important developmental skill for two year olds. Teachers encourage children to sit criss-crossed anytime they are playing on the floor. Sitting in this position strengthens a child’s core muscles and helps improve body control. We discourage “W-sitting,” with knees together and feet on either side of the hips, because it puts strain on knees and hips and fails to engage core abdominal muscles.
At home: Provide your child with a sit-and-spin toy. Ask him to sit on the toy with his legs crisscrossed. As he turns the wheel to spin, he will gain a better understanding of cause and effect.
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Around age three, children learn to maintain control of their upper body while moving their lower body. Our Intermediate students practice pedaling a tricycle, bouncing on hopper balls, and walking on a balance beam.
At home: Have your child practice running and stopping with control by playing the traffic light game. Shout out the color green, yellow or red. Have him move quickly when hearing “green,” move slowly when hearing “yellow,” and completely stop when hearing “red.”
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):
In the classroom: Teachers encourage children to practice balance and coordination by jumping on their non-dominant foot, walking on a line or beam, or jumping rope. Children also practice balance by crouching down to tie their shoes.
At home: Ask your child to tell you about the games and activities played at school. Include these activities at home and during family events such as birthday parties and vacations. Scooters and pogo jumpers are great toys for children at this age.
Good balance helps children maintain appropriate and controlled body movement during important tasks. By building balance skills in the preschool years, your child will be better prepared as he enters elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education