The Bridge from School to Home

One thing that I wanted to touch base with you on is that it's so important that the values we hold at school are echoed and supported at home.  Here at Lifetime, we concentrate on helping your children develop their personalities, social skills, self-care, practical life skills, and confidence; I know that you are all about that too, or else your children wouldn't be here.  This doesn't mean that as parents you should be replicating exactly the kind of environment that Lifetime provides-- not at all!  What I'm honing in on is simply the issue of independence.  How do we take that value of independence in the classroom and support it at home?  Let's brainstorm together.  For instance...

• At our school your children walk to the classroom in the morning, are guided to place their lunch boxes neatly on the shelf, hang up their jackets, wash their hands, and shake my hand in greeting.  This is a routine with a lot of steps, and yet your children actively follow this routine in preparing for their day every day.  How can they actively prepare for their day at home?  Maybe they can help you pack their lunch the night before so they can get excited about lunch for the next day and feel invested because they had a hand in making/packing it.  Maybe you can lay out two different outfits for them to pick between the night before so they still have the luxury of choosing what they want to wear in the morning without it becoming a battle of them wanting to wear all the things as you're trying to get them out the door. 
• At our school your children are learning to sit properly in their chairs during our snack and lunchtime. I know it's a big battle to keep these little Crickets down without having them get up and disturb their seated friends in the class, but with more reminders every day, they are learning and are capable to control their bodies and follow their listening skills.  Also, the children are very capable to clean up after snack time- carefully and cautiously holding their cups and bowls and placing them in the dishwasher.  With this in mind, you can do the same at home, allowing your child to set their place-mat, plate, and utensils.  Give your child the opportunity to try, by encouraging them to help "Would you like to help set your dinner plate and utensils?"  All this will work in place if you prep and give yourself and your child a few extra minutes to plan.  Avoid asking them last minute or right before dinner when your child might be super hungry, tired, and can be in tears; not wanting to cooperate.
• At our school your children are learning to take off and put on their shoes. How can you support their mastering this skill at home?  Maybe this means budgeting a few extra minutes in the morning for them to hunker down and accomplish the task unhindered by well-meaning, helping hands so they still have the chance to work on it themselves and you're not trying to rush out the door with socks and shoes in hand.  Maybe it means stepping back for just a minute.  Just to see.
   

The opportunities to engage with your children and support their independence at home are endless!  And as a parent, I know it's not easy, but I am trying to actively let go a little bit more every day so my daughter has the chance to try bigger things, make decisions, struggle, learn, and grow in her independence even at home.

-Toddler Teacher