At home...making the most of the hours safely

Good morning (or afternoon) everyone,

I thought I would share this sweet photo of a dad and his son sharing a bit of food. It was his son's first taste of a s'more and he wasn't quite sure if he liked it!  As it turned out, he did.

Especially in times of stress food can be a comfort for our families.  Sharing the preparation of a meal and then sitting down together to eat helps us to feel connected and safe.  Over the next few days I will be posting some ideas for easy snacks and meals you can prepare with simple ingredients.  Encourage your whole family to get involved (after washing their hands for 20 seconds, of course.)

However, this morning I share with you a very important video from a physician who has taken the time to help us make sure the food we bring into our homes is not also bringing in sickness.  Although it seems like a lot to trouble, the benefits will far outweigh the effort.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjDuwc9KBps&t=8s


Have a safe and pleasant day.  Enjoy the lessons and suggestions our dedicated and hardworking teachers and administration have put together to help our children prosper and feel connected while we are apart.  They will be in touch with each of you.

Resources and Ideas for Parents During School Closing

We know you are all trying your best to manage this situation, trying to balance work, home and everyone’s health and well being.  Please use these ideas to help maintain you and your children’s lives as much as possible.  Check back frequently as we will be adding information and ideas.  

First of all it is important to provide a variety of activities for the entire family.  Doing this will reduce stress and worry and will feel more normal for everyone.  

We suggest having a somewhat regular schedule which incorporates all the essential elements of a child’s day: 

1.     Regular, healthy meals with as many family members present as possible

2.     Enough sleep, preceded by a pleasant nighttime routine, such as story time, quiet conversation and ideally no screen time, especially in the bedroom.

3.     A regular time for school work which will be available from AMCS to all parents

4.     Reading together for pleasure

5.     Time outdoors in a safe place:  the home yard or patio, a walk in a public park remembering to stay 10 feet away from others and not use playground equipment, a small home garden and other outside chores such as washing the car, etc.

6.     Family board games can be relaxing, educational and fun.  Have a regular time set aside at least several times a week.

7.     Taking advantage of some of the special resources listed below.  Virtual trips to the zoo, listening to stories read by librarians, authors and others, learning new songs in many languages, and many more.  Please explore these resources and share with others by the internet.

8.     Take care not to expose your children (especially those under 12) to news stories and TV news.  These are difficult to absorb and understand even for adults and can result in fear and anxiety. 

9.     Your children will miss their friends.  If possible, Facetime chats with friends and relatives.  This can be comforting and fun.

10.    And of course, remember that adults that have been out in public need to wash and sanitize their hands and any materials brought in from outside as soon as arriving at home, including cell phones, mail and work materials. 

Resources for children and parents:

1.      Free stories for ages up to 18 at Audible: www.stories.audible.com

2.     Scholastic Magazine Learn at Home:  resources for families and teachers: www.classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html

3.     The Smithsonian Learning Lab:  a deep source for science related activity and information:  www.learninglab.si.edu

4.     Great Books Foundation:  www.cosmicbookshelf.com

5.     Visit the Houston Zoo on Facebook, live at 11 a.m. daily

6.     Stories read by KPRC staff:  click2houston.com

7.     Thousands of songs and play ideas in many languages, all free  www.mamalisa.com  
8  Free books to read together or for children to read to you:
https://portal.flyleafpublishing.com/

YOUR CHILD'S BRAIN AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA: the latest research and some good ideas.

Updated research information on how screen time changes the brains of our children and other information on the topic of technology.

The following link will take you to the article on the latest research:

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/04/health/screen-time-lower-brain-development-preschoolers-wellness/index.html?fbclid=IwAR2gbIXXN4sY2sewjFgAgqjIU3x3g6_vulpJvhInQbkKgorJMsO8hG6CDyw

FAMILY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INFLUENCE IN A CHILD'S LIFE, BUT TELEVISION, VIDEOS AND GAMES ARE NOT FAR BEHIND. THESE MEDIA CAN INFORM, ENTERTAIN, AND TEACH US. HOWEVER, SOME OF WHAT THEY TEACH MAY NOT BE THE THINGS YOU WANT YOUR CHILD TO LEARN. TV PROGRAMS, VIDEO GAMES AND COMMERCIALS OFTEN SHOW VIOLENCE, ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE, AND SEXUAL CONTENT THAT MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN OR TEENS. 

HOW SCREEN TIME AFFECTS YOUR CHILD: THERE ARE MANY WAYS THAT MEDIA AFFECT YOUR CHILD'S LIFE. WHEN YOUR CHILD SITS DOWN TO AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:

• Playing

• Reading

• Activities with family, friends, or neighbors

• Learning a hobby, sport, instrument, or an art

• Helping with household tasks; gardening, dusting, folding clothes, etc. 

Time

Children in the United States watch over 6 hours of TV every day. Watching movies and playing video games only adds to time spent in front of a screen. It may be tempting to use television, movies, and video games to keep your child busy, but your child needs to spend as much time growing and learning as possible. Playing, reading, and spending time with friends and family are much healthier than sitting in front of a screen.  Spending time in nature is a critical part of the development of the mind and body.  Children do not learn how to interact and solve problems while watching a screen. They need real experience to learn these skills.

Nutrition

Children who spend too much time in front of a screen  are more likely to be overweight and weak. They do not spend as much time running, jumping, and getting the exercise they need. They also see many commercials for unhealthy foods, such as candy, snacks, sugary cereals, and drinks during children's programs. Commercials almost never give information about the foods children should eat to keep healthy.

Violence

If your child watches 3 to 4 hours of non-educational TV per day, he will have seen about 8,000 murders on TV by the time he finishes grade school. Children who see violence on television may not understand that real violence hurts and kills people. Even if the "good guys" use violence, children may learn that it is okay to use force to handle aggression and settle disagreements. It is best not to let your child watch violent programs and cartoons. Video games often  depict violence and criminal activity. 

Sex

Television and video games  expose children to adult behaviors but it usually does not show the risks and results of early sexual activity. On TV, sexual activity is shown as fun, exciting, and without any risks. Your child may copy what she sees on TV in order to feel more grown up.  Woman are often depicted as sexual objects which gives both boys and girls negative ideas about gender.  

Alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs

Young people today are surrounded by messages that say drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes or cigars are normal activities. These messages don't say that alcohol and tobacco harm people and may lead to death. Beer and wine are some of the most advertised products on television. TV programs and commercials often show people who drink and smoke as healthy, energetic, sexy, and successful. It is up to you to teach your child the truth about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. 

Commercials

The average child sees more than 20,000 commercials each year. Commercials are quick, fast-paced, and entertaining. After seeing the same commercials over and over, your child can easily remember a song, slogan, or catchy phrase. Ads may try to convince your child that having a certain toy or eating a certain food will make him happy or popular. Older children can begin to understand how ads use pictures, music, and sound to entertain. Kids need to know that ads try to convince people to buy things they may not need.

Brain development

Please read the linked article above for the latest research.  The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends no screen time at all  for children age 2 or younger. For older children, the Academy recommends no more than 1 to 2 hours per day of educational, nonviolent programs and/or screen time of any sort.  There is a growing body of evidence that suggest negative changes in the way the brain functions and develops in children who watch TV or other screens at an early age, or too much after age 2.  Screen activities are increasingly linked to ADHD and other learning disabilities. Children of all ages are constantly learning new things. The first 2 years of  life are especially important  for the growth and development of your child's brain. During this time, children need good, positive interaction with other children and adults. Without this interaction children lack social skills and may become antisocial. The ability to concentrate, to draw conclusions and remember are also deeply affected. Older children need face to face interactions to develop confidence and social skills.  

What We Can Do

As a parent, there are many ways you can help your child develop positive viewing habits. The following tips may help:

1. Set limits

Limit your child's use of TV, movies, and video and computer games to no more than 1 or 2 hours per day. Do not let your child watch TV while doing homework. Do not have a TV, computer or video games in the child's room. 

2. Plan your child's viewing

Instead of flipping through channels, use a program guide and the TV ratings to help you and your child choose shows. Turn the TV on to watch the program you chose and turn it off when the program is over. Monitor what your child watches at the homes of friends and family. 

3. Watch TV with your child

Whenever possible, watch TV with your child and talk about what you see. If your child is very young, she may not be able to tell the difference between a show, a commercial, a cartoon, or real life. Explain that characters on TV are make-believe and not real. Some "reality-based" programs may appear to be "real," but most of these shows focus on stories that will attract as many viewers as possible. Often these are stories about tragedy and violence. Much of their content is not appropriate for children. Young children may worry that what they see could happen to them or their family. News broadcasts also contain violent or inappropriate material. If your schedule prevents you from watching TV with your child, talk to her later about what she watched. Better yet, record the programs so that you can watch them with your child at a later time.  

4. Find the right message

Even a poor program can turn out to be a learning experience if you help your child find the right message. Some television programs may portray people as stereotypes. Talk with your child about the real-life roles of women, the elderly, and people of other races that may not be shown on television. Discuss ways that people are different and ways that we are the same. Help your child learn tolerance for others. Remember, if you don't agree with certain subject matter, you can either turn off the TV or explain why you object.

5. Help your child resist commercials

Don't expect your child to be able to resist ads for toys, candy, snacks, cereal, drinks, or new TV programs without your help. When your child asks for products advertised on TV, explain that the purpose of commercials is to make people want things they may not need. Limit the number of commercials your child sees by watching public television stations (PBS). You can also record programs and leave out the commercials or buy or rent children's videos.

6.  Give other options

Watching TV can become a habit for your child. Help your child find other things to do with his time, such as the following:

7. Set a good example

You are the most important role model in your child's life. Limiting your own screen time  and choosing programs carefully will help your child do the same.

8. Express your views

When you like or don't like something you see on television, make yourself heard. Write to the TV station, network, or the program's sponsor. Stations, networks, and sponsors pay attention to letters from the public. If you think a commercial is misleading, write down the product name, channel, and time you saw the commercial and describe your concerns. Call your local Better Business Bureau.

9.  Install blocks on your TV to eliminate any possibility of your child watching inappropriate programming.

 By knowing how television affects your children and by setting limits, you can help make your child's screen experience snot only enjoyable, but healthy too.
10.  Decide if and when you want your child to have a cell phone.  A good beginning option is a limited function phone such as Jitterbug.  

Montessori and Paperwork....

What – No Briefcase? Montessori and Paperwork

Please enjoy this insightful article that will be of interest to all AMCS parents.  

 Montessori parents are often bewildered by the lack of paperwork coming home with their child. There’s hardly any! So what does my child do all day? What can he be possibly learning?

For most of us our school experience was a blizzard of paper work – spaces to fill in, lines to write, dots to connect. Pages upon pages of busy work that hopefully conveyed to parents that we were learning. Much of it was redundant, boring and the waste of a good tree! But that was the measure for parents that learning was happening.

You’ve now entered a new universe when you chose a Montessori program. You didn’t choose Montessori because it resembled your learning experience but because it represented the learning experience you wished you’d been privileged to have. When you visit the environment your eyes feast on amazing materials – colors, shapes, complexities. Is this material really for my three year old or four year old – isosceles triangles, quatrefoils, reniform leaf shapes? Does he really touch it and feel it and use it? But when there is no paper trail coming home, you wonder!

Socrates said, “There is nothing in the mind that is not first in the hands.” And it is the touching of these concrete materials that begins the building of the mental processes in your child. Traditional education begins with intellectual development hoping to make the abstract concrete. Montessori education begins with the development and refining of the senses, allowing your child to build this concrete knowledge one step at a time until he is ready and poised to make the great intellectual leap into the abstract. In Montessori education, it is the child’s own developmental timetable that causes this explosion of solid (and unprecedented) learning to occur. It is not an artificial timetable based on age or calendar but a continual cultivation and development of the child’s growing intellectual power that is being fed day by day in a manner that allows your child to appropriate and practice the tools and skills that will form his intellectual abilities for a lifetime.

All this time the child is building within himself this intellectual capability. Montessori education is very much like the construction of a jetty. Rock after rock is submerged in the water, seemingly lost beneath the surface but then the day comes when the latest rocks begin to become visible and break the water’s plane. Your child is building a very concrete foundation for all further intellectual development one achievement at a time.

These processes and achievements, in many ways, are very private for your child. Your child often doesn’t speak of them – or want to speak of them until after (sometimes long after) they have become operative and well established in your child. It is not that they want to exclude you from their developmental journey but they guard it – not jealously – but protectively, as if speaking about it would jeopardize its development.

This is why your best ally in understanding your child’s development and progress is the teacher and not random pieces of paper that wend their way home. The teacher is a good guide to share with you your child’s progress because much of what the teacher does in the classroom is to observe and document this progress. Montessori education is never just a question of teaching or presenting materials but of presenting and teaching at the appropriate time and in the appropriate way. Each child has a different learning style – one size doesn’t fit all. And it is this different learning style of your child that is celebrated and used to your child’s advantage in the learning process.

It is not so much what is put into your child that creates this tremendous Montessori learning explosion but what comes out of your child – out from their personality, their talents, gifts, and temperament. Montessori is about aligning learning with the way your child learns. There may not be another time in his life where the whole world is bent to give him every advantage and opportunity to learn as quickly and as effortlessly as possible.

Every day your child is absorbing the whole world around him trying to make sense of it, trying to master the parts he can. And it is in his Montessori classroom that this world is made tangible and accessible. He can’t always tell you when he is going to make the discoveries that will propel him on to new and even more exciting discoveries. (“Did you know that three times two is the same as two times three? The windows are rectangles and so are the tables.”) Instead of being given the answers – which he would be expected to put down on paper – which could go home; he is given the questions and allowed to discover the answers for himself. This joy of discovery is hard to put on paper.

There are two ways better than paper to know what your child is learning. Ask his teacher. She has the great joy of daily watching the discoveries light up your child’s eyes, of watching your child work the challenges of learning and the joy that comes to your child from mastery. She is watching the emergence of your child’s personality, watching his character form and his intellect develop. When you are talking with the teacher listen to the excitement of her voice as she relates your child’s progress and read in her eyes the joy she shares in your child’s discoveries and accomplishments. Much better than paperwork.

Second, ask your child. But don’t ask him what he learned today – he may not be able to tell you (and it still may be private but he’ll share with you when he is ready.) Ask him what he sees out of the window. He may just read the street signs to you (which isn’t bad for a three year old.) Ask him about his friends. Ask him about colors or dinosaurs or cars – and then listen. He will tell you all kinds of things. He will use all kinds of words – vocabulary and concepts you didn’t even know he knew. And if you keep listening you’ll learn not only what he learned but you will set a pattern for conversation and discussion that will take you well beyond the teenage years – much more satisfying and important than paperwork.

How to Have Happier Holidays!

Holidays can be a time of family togetherness, a break in the routine of daily life and a celebration of special moments and events.  Sometimes the stress of meeting expectations, the added work of preparation and the arrival of relatives and friends can lessen our appreciation for these events. 

Children, especially those who struggle with change, will benefit from advance information about what will happen during the holiday.  Reading books about the history of the event, telling stories from your childhood, and involving everyone in the preparation will reduce some of the apprehension and worry.  

Focusing on the real message of the holiday instead of special meals and gifts will give everyone a joyful outlook.  Play music and sing while doing the tasks around the house.  Take pictures of the cleaning, cooking and shopping and make a collage of them to show all the family how joyful this time can be. 

In my home there is a permanent picture wall with photos of family members, friends and special times.  A frame above says:  We Are Thankful.  It started as a Thanksgiving reminder for our lives and now is a part of everyday.  Create your own traditions!

In our beautifully diverse culture here in Houston we are fortunate to have a wide array of holidays and events which provide a rich source of knowledge for our children.  It can be difficult with all of the media and retail focus on Christmas.  If your family does not celebrate this holiday perhaps focusing on the winter aspects of this time would work.  There are ice skating rinks, snow events where children can build a snowman, and lots of festive lights.  The library has many books about winter.  One I especially love is "The Mitten" by Jan Brett.  It is the story of animals who take refuge from a snow storm in a lost mitten.  Her web site has a print out of masks of all the animals and a question game to play. 

http://www.janbrett.com/mitten_masks_main.htm

She has written many charming books for young children. 

A friend makes treats with her children and delivers them to neighbors and friends who celebrate Christmas.  They try to make the treats with spices and recipes from their culture and include the recipe and the history of the food in the gift.  

If we explore ways to lessen the commercial aspects of the holidays, focus on our family history and culture and remember that sharing and giving cross all cultures and borders, we will help our children to truly celebrate these special times.

I wish you a joyful winter holiday!   Maybe making s'mores over a campfire!

The Art of Giving Gifts

Throughout the year we have many opportunities for gift giving:  birthdays, holidays, as a thank you  and just because we care about someone

As we try to decide which gifts to give our children there are several things to consider:

• What does the child want?
• What is age and developmentally appropriate?
• Can we afford it?

So let's address each of these questions.  

What does the child want?  Often television ads, movies and store displays convince children that getting that toy, game or costume will be fun and "everyone will have one".

But is this true?  Most of these items are of short lived interest and with little play or educational value.  They are only promoted to make money for the companies. Often these items are discarded after a short time, or they break or they are just not very interesting.  

What is age and developmentally appropriate?  Sometimes children ask for things that will contribute nothing to their growth or to enjoyment or to knowledge.  It is important to examine the real interests of the child and try to match that information to meaningful gifts. 

Can we afford it?  Wonderful gifts can be inexpensive, even without monetary cost.  We should not spend large amounts of money on items that will be discarded, broken or even harmful.  Instead let's think about the long term value of a gift.  A  bicycle, skates, a big set of building blocks or trains all are expensive but provide years of fun. 

Some ideas!

Gifts to grow the mind and body:

Books

Art materials: crayons, paint, paper, glue, a box of collage materials (buttons, lace, string, etc.) An easel.   

Garden tools and seeds

Blocks, Legos and other building materials

A sand box and sand toys

Science experiments

Child size cooking implements, an apron and even a chef's hat

Bikes 

Scooters

Skates

Child size cleaning tools (yes, children like to clean!)

Music:  a cd player, cd's 

Music instruments:  kazoo, rhythm instruments, harmonica, a drum, a recorder 

Sports equipment:  basketball goal and ball, baseball glove, bat and ball, ring toss, plastic horse shoes

Board games (especially cooperative ones)

Models of animals:  these are great fun in conjunction with sand, blocks and clay  activities

These are all items that will be of great interest to all children, especially if the parents and other siblings are included in the activity.  

Here are some resources for you to explore:

www.smallhands.com

 A great place for many of these items.

www.mamalisa.com

a web site for children's music and games

https://cooperativegames.com/

Many family friendly cooperative games...fun for all, even the adults. 

A box with dress up clothes and hats:  a firefighter's hat, a cowboy (or girl) hat, a chef's hat, and any interesting clothes and jewelry.  Create a play!  Invite the family to see it! 

Hobby Lobby and Michaels and local dollar stores can be a great resource for art supplies, animal models, etc. 

Have fun and help your child build a lifetime of creative play. 

Please post your own ideas in the comments section of the blog!

It's Fall..A beautiful time to be outdoors!

At last we are approaching cooler weather, seeing changes in our trees and landscapes and a great opportunity to enjoy some of the activities with our children. 

Here are just a few suggestions for spending some great family time together. 




Jesse Jones Park located just north of the Bush Airport has numerous events planned for the fall.  Go to the web site at:
http://www.hcp4.net/community/parks/jones
to get information on dates and events.  All activities are free, the park has picnic areas, a great playground and miles of trails for hiking.
Check out the Pioneer Day...it is a fun filled day in November with a model pioneer village and interactive demonstrations of cooking, gardening, blacksmith skills, churning butter, pumping water, washing cloths on a washboard,  The volunteers are dressed in period costumes and pioneer games are available to play.
Native American Heritage day gives an opportunity to take part in living history.  Hear stories, see traditional dancing and demonstrations in the Okokisa-Ishtak Village in the park.

If you haven't visited our local jewel, Hermann Park lately, fall is a great time for a new adventure.  Of course the zoo is always fun, but there is so much more.  Hiking trails, the paddle boats on the lake, gardens and of course, the train are all waiting.  Take a few minutes and plan an outing.  https://www.hermannpark.org/

Galveston Island State Park  http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/galveston-island
Just a short trip down I45 and a day of beach, sun, sand and picnicking waits your family.  For a small fee the day is yours.  Grills and covered picnic tables are just steps from the beach and on the bay side of the park miles of trails and lots of beautiful birds will entertain you for hours. 

On the east end of Galveston Island there are miles of beaches, great fishing and the Galveston/Bolivar ferry.  This free ferry ride goes to Bolivar Peninsula.  You can park your car and walk onto the ferry for a round trip ride, or take your car aboard and explore the peninsula.  Dolphins play alongside the ferries and gulls swoop down to catch bits of bread from the passengers.  Great fun!   http://www.galveston.com/galvestonferry/

Brazos Bend State Park http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/brazos-bend
Screened in shelters and campsites are available if you would like to spend a few days with nature at its best.  The George Observatory located in the park gives a stunning view of the night sky.  More information is on the above web site.  Hiking, fishing and alligator watching provide thrills and picnic areas and grills are ready when you are hungry. 

Happy Fall!