A big shout out to all the Moms on Mother's Day. We hope you enjoyed a special day! Lots in the newsletter this week, so let's get to it!
Warmer Weather Checklist
Last week we did break out the sprinkler, and in preparation for the warmer weather, please be sure your child has the following:
Kylie Returns to MVS
You may remember Kylie, who helped out primarily in our downstairs classrooms last year. Kylie is heading into her senior year at Colby-Sawyer College, and we are happy to welcome her back again this summer.
Potluck Reminder
Once again, a reminder for our upcoming Parent Potluck: May 22nd from 6-7 pm. Bring a dish to share.
Building Resilience in Children
In both March and April, we discussed the importance of the development of executive function skills, and here in May, we are at it again. This time however, we'll explore this concept through a slightly different lens, that of building resilience in children. For a refresher on the previous points, click here for the March newsletter, and here for April.
So, resilience. It's fair to assume that we want our children have the ability to bounce back from life's challenges. Oftentimes we hear phrases like, "You're a tough cookie," or tell children to remember the mantra of: "I think I can, I think I can." But, building resilience is more about teaching a certain set of skills, and less about instilling what we could call, "virtues of toughness."
In fact, a recent study by the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child points to one of the most vital factors in building resilience: At least one strong and stable relationship with an adult. At the stage of life from birth to three, this really takes the shape of what can be called responsive care. In brief, responsive care points to consistent and appropriate responses to a child. Or, what is called a "serve and return" relationship.
Through compassionate, and developmentally appropriate interactions with children, we help them develop the architecture of their brains. In having a conversation with an eight month old and responding to him when he points to a ball, "Yes, you pointed to the red ball," the foundation is being laid for a whole massive skill set that will develop behaviors like resiliency. Additionally, "When these (serve and return) interactions occur regularly, they provide the scaffolding that helps build 'key capacities — such as the ability to plan, monitor, and regulate behavior, and adapt to changing circumstances — that enable children to respond to adversity and to thrive,' the report continues" (Walsh).
Through these relationships, executive function skills can begin to develop. And these are the skills, you'll remember, that help children to thrive in learning, relationships, and most facets of their lives. Ellen Galinsky, who we've mentioned here in the newsletter before, breaks this concept down into the "7 Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs."
1. Focus and Self-Control
2. Perspective Taking
3. Communicating
4. Making Connections
5. Critical Thinking
6. Taking on Challenges
7. Self-Directed, Engaged Learning
Classroom Happenings
Infant I: The class has been having more and more conversation with the babies about what they are doing, pointing to, and looking at. This all supports the kind of skill building mentioned in the article above. This week, the children enjoyed lots of fresh air and time outdoors, which resulted in some happy, tuckered out little ones. The older infants also enjoyed more interaction with their classmates next door in Infant II.
Infant II: Are you hearing a lot of "Mine! Mine!" lately? It's a developmentally appropriate stage that children go through. According to psychologist Erik Erikson, children move through a period where they work to develop their autonomy through assertions of their independence. When not given the space to do so, Erikson believes that children develop a sense of shame and self-doubt. Hearing the familiar phrase of "Mine!" does not mean your child is selfish, or rude, but instead means they are trying to assert their autonomy. Learn more about Erikson here.
Toddler I: Mother's Day projects kept the children busy this week as they rolled up their sleeves and got a little crafty. Planting sunflower seeds spurred conversations about the steps a seed undergoes, and how it eventually turns into a flower. This week the children were also seen working hard to blow bubbles themselves, instead of having their teachers do it!
Toddler II: The kids in Toddler II also crafted some gifts for Mom, and Holli and Beth saw the kids taking the lead in a lot of ways, making the hand prints by themselves, and being very interested in planting their seeds independently. This week the class took a big walk and explored some terrain near the school. The kids really enjoyed getting a taste of some new scenery. The class also collected outdoor materials to make habitats in the sensory table for their classroom animals and dinos.
Pre-K: The forest, the elementary school playground, the library, taking a glimpse at Camel's Hump, where haven't these kids been this week? Great weather has made for more and more off campus exploration for the children of Pre-K. In their brief moments in the classroom, the children talked about all of the wonderful things they do with their Moms in celebration of Mother's Day.
As Seen At MVS
Thanks for Reading
Especially all you awesome Moms out there! -Sam
Warmer Weather Checklist
Last week we did break out the sprinkler, and in preparation for the warmer weather, please be sure your child has the following:
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle that lives at school
- Swim suit (consider packing 2)
- Sun hat (if desired)
Kylie Returns to MVS
You may remember Kylie, who helped out primarily in our downstairs classrooms last year. Kylie is heading into her senior year at Colby-Sawyer College, and we are happy to welcome her back again this summer.
Potluck Reminder
Once again, a reminder for our upcoming Parent Potluck: May 22nd from 6-7 pm. Bring a dish to share.
Building Resilience in Children
In both March and April, we discussed the importance of the development of executive function skills, and here in May, we are at it again. This time however, we'll explore this concept through a slightly different lens, that of building resilience in children. For a refresher on the previous points, click here for the March newsletter, and here for April.
So, resilience. It's fair to assume that we want our children have the ability to bounce back from life's challenges. Oftentimes we hear phrases like, "You're a tough cookie," or tell children to remember the mantra of: "I think I can, I think I can." But, building resilience is more about teaching a certain set of skills, and less about instilling what we could call, "virtues of toughness."
In fact, a recent study by the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child points to one of the most vital factors in building resilience: At least one strong and stable relationship with an adult. At the stage of life from birth to three, this really takes the shape of what can be called responsive care. In brief, responsive care points to consistent and appropriate responses to a child. Or, what is called a "serve and return" relationship.
Through compassionate, and developmentally appropriate interactions with children, we help them develop the architecture of their brains. In having a conversation with an eight month old and responding to him when he points to a ball, "Yes, you pointed to the red ball," the foundation is being laid for a whole massive skill set that will develop behaviors like resiliency. Additionally, "When these (serve and return) interactions occur regularly, they provide the scaffolding that helps build 'key capacities — such as the ability to plan, monitor, and regulate behavior, and adapt to changing circumstances — that enable children to respond to adversity and to thrive,' the report continues" (Walsh).
Through these relationships, executive function skills can begin to develop. And these are the skills, you'll remember, that help children to thrive in learning, relationships, and most facets of their lives. Ellen Galinsky, who we've mentioned here in the newsletter before, breaks this concept down into the "7 Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs."
1. Focus and Self-Control
2. Perspective Taking
3. Communicating
4. Making Connections
5. Critical Thinking
6. Taking on Challenges
7. Self-Directed, Engaged Learning
Resilience is not a given thing. To make it through hardship, to thrive despite adversity requires the careful intentions and appropriate practices of adults in a child's life. To find out more about just what adults can do as key players in the lives of children, give this short, three-part video series a look:
Infant I: The class has been having more and more conversation with the babies about what they are doing, pointing to, and looking at. This all supports the kind of skill building mentioned in the article above. This week, the children enjoyed lots of fresh air and time outdoors, which resulted in some happy, tuckered out little ones. The older infants also enjoyed more interaction with their classmates next door in Infant II.
Infant II: Are you hearing a lot of "Mine! Mine!" lately? It's a developmentally appropriate stage that children go through. According to psychologist Erik Erikson, children move through a period where they work to develop their autonomy through assertions of their independence. When not given the space to do so, Erikson believes that children develop a sense of shame and self-doubt. Hearing the familiar phrase of "Mine!" does not mean your child is selfish, or rude, but instead means they are trying to assert their autonomy. Learn more about Erikson here.
Toddler I: Mother's Day projects kept the children busy this week as they rolled up their sleeves and got a little crafty. Planting sunflower seeds spurred conversations about the steps a seed undergoes, and how it eventually turns into a flower. This week the children were also seen working hard to blow bubbles themselves, instead of having their teachers do it!
Toddler II: The kids in Toddler II also crafted some gifts for Mom, and Holli and Beth saw the kids taking the lead in a lot of ways, making the hand prints by themselves, and being very interested in planting their seeds independently. This week the class took a big walk and explored some terrain near the school. The kids really enjoyed getting a taste of some new scenery. The class also collected outdoor materials to make habitats in the sensory table for their classroom animals and dinos.
Pre-K: The forest, the elementary school playground, the library, taking a glimpse at Camel's Hump, where haven't these kids been this week? Great weather has made for more and more off campus exploration for the children of Pre-K. In their brief moments in the classroom, the children talked about all of the wonderful things they do with their Moms in celebration of Mother's Day.
As Seen At MVS
Thanks for Reading
Especially all you awesome Moms out there! -Sam