This month, we have been focusing also on their ability to do things independently; dressing, putting shoes on, using the toilet, serving their water, and snacks.

It seemed as though we talked about many similar things in our last conferences and so I thought it might be nice to send you all a brief highlight of the main things I discussed with most of you.  I have also attached two images below.  One is age appropriate chores and hopefully this will help you get started, and the second is a reminder of what is truly important to the lives of our children.  Hope you will enjoy it.  It's not just for Mommies!

Breakdown of topics:

1st year: (2.5- 4 years)

  I would like to talk about freedom and discipline and how it affects you and your child(ren).  Internal discipline is what we are interested in and what will be achieved by the child. It takes a certain number of years for this internal discipline to occur.  It is a result of concentration, which in turn, comes from the child's interest in work.  This work is manifested through repetition and freedom of choice.  Freedom of choice comes through the fundamentals of knowledge that have been provided for the child by you (at home) and the teacher (at school). I wi

Although we had a good week in the Butterfly classroom, we've had some illnesses in the classroom.  In the classroom, the materials are sanitized every day and we practice good hygiene such as washing our hands before touching the materials, after going to the bathroom, and before eating snacks or lunch. We always remind children to cover their mouth when sneezing or coughing and wash their hands after. * It is extremely important that you continue with the same practices at home and that you keep your ill child at home until he is well.

In a random "poll" I did with the children last week, there were many who had watched TV on a weeknight and who watch TV, use an electronic device, and or have a TV in their room that was also the same children who had trouble finding work and being settled that day.  I realize this is not a study, but merely an observation of mine, but it's rather interesting. I then asked who played outside and it truly was those children that had dedicated and focused work that morning. 

So, with that, I want to leave you with some wonderful websites and some reading to do at your leisure. 

As school begins to wind down for the school year, expectations in the class begin to change.  In some cases, the older children are being held to a higher standard because they have had the time and experience in the classroom to become role models.  In other cases, the "little ones" get away with a bit more because it's almost time for summer vacation.  One ongoing theme that reappears every year, both in my home and in the classroom, is "it's not fair!"

       I’d like to empower you to start teaching our children about community and a good way to start is water conservation. This is an incredibly important topic especially here in the Southern California region and it's really pretty easy to get your child thinking about it.

Water conservation includes keeping water safe from pollution as well as minimizing water use. Teaching preschoolers about water conservation guides them to become environmental stewards rather than taking clean water for granted. Here are a couple of tips to get the conversation started.

We are so fortunate to live in Southern California where the weather predominantly stays beautiful all year round, allowing us to enjoy outdoor activities with our little ones.  Nevertheless, with our generation of today, technology has also become a bigger part of our society.  Computers, TVs, video games, and such are so popular nowadays that why bother letting the children play outside with sticks and explore nature.  Why let them touch the soil and get dir

Some parents have noticed a change in their toddler’s eating habits, but although it's frustrating for parents, finicky eating is normal behavior for toddlers. Be patient and offer a variety of healthy foods for your picky toddler to choose from. Encourage your toddler to try new foods, but never force a child to eat. Include your child in grocery shopping and food preparation, as finicky eaters will be more likely to try food that they helped prepare. Remember that when it comes to picky toddlers, presentation is everything.