<![CDATA[Grace Garden Preschool - From the director]]>

<![CDATA[Grace Garden Preschool - From the director]]>Tue, 22 May 2012 02:28:43 -0800Weebly<![CDATA["Pomp and Circumstance"]]>Thu, 17 May 2012 09:00:18 -0800http://ggaustin.org/1/post/2012/05/pomp-and-circumstance.htmlPlease join us as we celebrate the precious graduation of our Pre-K students, the Creative Caterpillars, this Saturday, May 19th. We will begin the ceremony at 10:00am in the sanctuary of Saint John's United Methodist Church. This is always such a bittersweet moment for me, as I rejoice in the growth of our students. It is difficult to think about not being able to witness each child's growth next year as they will venture off to Kindergarten.
]]><![CDATA[Roots and wings]]>Thu, 10 May 2012 11:40:00 -0800http://ggaustin.org/1/post/2012/05/roots-and-wings.htmlWhat's not to love about being a mother? Changing diapers and wiping noses, picking up toys and searching for lost lovies, cooking dinner with a whiny toddler wrapped around your leg, and praying that the bite marks on your neighbor's child don't match up with your child's dental records...Motherhood is a cakewalk, right?

The driving force behind Mother's Day was Anna Jarvis, who organized observances in Grafton, West Virginia, and Philadelphia on May 10, 1908. As the annual celebration became popular around the country, Jarvis asked members of Congress to set aside a day to honor mothers. She finally succeeded in 1914, when Congress designated the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.

In spite of the inevitable challenges associated with the often all-consuming job of being a mother, we wouldn't trade it for the world. It is without a doubt one of the most profound privileges life offers to women. Being a mother offers us the life-changing opportunity to love in a way we have never loved before, and to connect with a place so deep within ourselves that we may not otherwise have found it.

What a joy to watch your little one discover the world around him, one blade of grass at a time. How proud we are when they recite the alphabet for the first time. Every day seems to bring a new adventure, a thrilling moment of discovery. And while we certainly treasure those whose job it is to provide our children with an education, you will always be your child's best teacher.

As they grow we cherish sweet hugs and kisses, snuggly times curled up reading books, and squirmy naps with more time spent giggling together than actually sleeping. We wipe away tears when they get hurt, and our heart aches when someone unknowingly crushes their spirit. The hardest part of mothering, I think, is the part where we bear the responsibility of teaching our children how to become compassionate, respectful, kind, loving, sympathetic men and women. We're charged with building a firm foundation and providing a safe refuge, a place where our children will always feel secure and loved.

American journalist Hodding Carter said, "Two great things you can give your children; one is roots, the other is wings." That journey and that love, that's what we love about being mothers. So, here’s to Anna Jarvis and all of you Mommas out there…you are doing an incredible building that firm foundation and providing that safe refuge.

Enjoy the cakewalk,
Kym

]]><![CDATA[Hierarchy of needs]]>Thu, 03 May 2012 09:12:52 -0800http://ggaustin.org/1/post/2012/05/hierarchy-of-needs.htmlMore than any particular outcome most parents just want their child to be happy and to have the opportunity to be successful in the world. Besides providing the raw genetic material, which at least in part shapes what is possible for each biological child, what is a parent's role in increasing the child's chances of attaining what the psychologist Abraham Maslow termed "self-actualization"?

In his hierarchy of needs Maslow gave us the image of a pyramid, with the basic survival needs for food, clothing and shelter at the bottom, moving all the way up to self actualization at the top. According to Maslow, self-actualization requires an individual assessment of one's talents and abilities followed by action toward the fulfillment of that potential.

Jacque Grillo suggests that beginning in early childhood reading regularly to your child sets the foundation for both self-realization and self-actualization. Children who are read to are more likely to develop a love of reading; and in reading to your child, you have the opportunity to begin exposing her to the limitless terrain of learning and discovery available through books and literature.

Schools do have their role in educating your child; however no school can do its job effectively unless the foundation has been already established and supported at home. As you expose your child to a range of books, you'll witness her begin to develop particular interests and curiosities, all of which is the beginning of realizing her individual set of talents and interests.

As you read to your child, it's not so important whether your three-year-old fantasizes about being a firefighter or a ballerina (or maybe a firefighting ballerina?), but it is important that she dream and vision herself into the future. Such dreaming has the potential to set the stage for what every parent hopes for their child: that he will one day go out into the world prepared to realistically assess his potential, and be highly motivated to realize that potential.

So next time you sit with your child and read the same favorite book for what seems like the hundredth time, remember that it's much more than entertainment, and even more than motivating your child to someday learn to read on her own. You are doing no less than laying the groundwork for your child to one day move up Maslow's pyramid of needs and increase her chances of becoming a fully actualized adult.

Happy actualizing,
Kym

]]><![CDATA[Earth Day]]>Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:53:31 -0800http://ggaustin.org/1/post/2012/04/earth-day.htmlI always love the unit we have been studying this week. Earth Day prompts us to really focus on the lessons of taking care of Mother Earth. Here at Grace Garden we follow these principles of reducing and recycling on a daily basis, but are really able to zero in with our garden time, Chapel lesson and music lesson all centered on caring for our planet!

We are lucky to live here in Austin, which is such a forward thinking city and so very green! On the way to school this morning I was telling my children that in some cities there are no recycling programs and all recyclables get thrown into the landfills! They were aghast! They have never known a life without recycling.

Listed below are a few ideas on how to keep your family align with being green:
1. No more bottled water in regular plastic jugs. Drink from glasses, filter your own water, or use refillable jugs. Do something other than give in to those tempting little 12-oz. plastics from the corner store that pile up landfills faster than toys during a play date.

2. Deputize your kid as the “Light Switch Police Officer”. Have your child turn the lights off when leaving a room. Kiddos can also moonlight as “Toaster/Coffeemaker Unplug Monitors” if they can see (but never touch) the outlet. They love to point out our failings, so let them, at least a little.

3. Miss the meat for a day a week. Toast and eggs for breakfast, grilled cheese and veggies for lunch, and a special treat at night -- breakfast for dinner…pancakes and fruit!

4. Use fewer paper towels. To cover things in the microwave, use an inverted plate instead. Stock up on rags you can use to clean your counters. Put together a stack of small napkins that the kids can use with their meals. You have just saved a bunch of trees!

5. Stock the trunk with canvas bags. Try to answer "Paper or plastic, ma'am?" with "My own, thanks!” Stash a bunch in your trunk or near the pile of shoes/raincoats/mail near the front door. Our kids will someday think going to grocery store without your own bags is as weird as talking on a phone that's tethered by a long, tangled curly cord to the kitchen wall.

Stay green,
Kym ]]><![CDATA[The Garden Party]]>Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:49:05 -0800http://ggaustin.org/1/post/2012/04/the-garden-party.htmlWhat an exciting event the teachers of Grace Garden Child Development Center are planning for your enjoyment! On Saturday, May 12th, from 5-7pm, we request your presence in the garden for delightful food, drinks and music from Austin's very own Joe McDermott! Come have fun and help make our garden grow by contributing to our "giving tree." The teachers have hand picked playground toys and equipment for the entire school to enjoy. All proceeds go directly towards improving our back yard play area. The picnic concert is free to all Grace Garden and Saint John's families. Bring your family, your picnic and blankets and join us, won't you? ]]><![CDATA[Spreading our own calm]]>Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:12:15 -0800http://ggaustin.org/1/post/2012/04/spreading-our-own-calm.htmlChildren will push your buttons. I know I've lost it plenty of times with my two - like when my son drops his shoes in the middle of the floor or my daughter throws a fit I like to call my 'intro into the tweens.' But getting worked up serves none of us well. My kids become cranky or tearful. I, in turn, feel like a guilty ogre and promise everyone that I will have more patience next time. These short-fuse moments happen most often during times of stress and when I feel my authority is being defied. Sound familiar?

My son has a teacher that possesses the amazing power to quietly and with little effort, bring the classroom under control. It is like she wields magical powers. I asked her once to unveil her secret to me. Her basic guiding principle from the ages: Calm begets calm. By keeping cool while chaos breaks out around us, we set the example we hope to promote in our environment. This in turn allows us to think and act more rationally.

"Experts say that focusing on yourself, not your kids, in the heat of the moment can help you parent with a cooler head," mentioned by Lynne Tickner, M.A. This same theory is being taught by family therapists across the country. "Parenting begins with you, " says Kirk Martin, founder of Celebrate Calm, an educational organization that provides science-based training for parents. "Instead of relying on our kids to behave in a certain way so that we can be calm, we need to control our own emotions and behavior so that we can walk into a room and spread our own calm."

Hal Runkle, founder and president of The ScreamFree Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families connect and find peace, offers a similar thought. "Parenting is about parents. If it was about kids, it would be called kidding." The calm begets calm approach takes some forethought and practice. Listed below are four guiding core beliefs of Runkle's ScreamFree theory.

1. Our children need parents who can keep their cool, especially when they themselves cannot. Try counting to 10, taking deep breaths, or using a mantra such as "I can deal with this with grace and dignity."

2. If we focus our lives solely on our children, they'll grow up thinking that the whole world revolves around them, too. Change your world of child-centered activities by focusing on yourself. Don't give up your hobbies or interests. Give your child more space and  teach delayed gratification.

3. Calm parenting is not just about lowering your voice; it's about raising your integrity. Say what you mean. Say it once and be honest, clear, and concise. Don't threaten a punishment unless you've thought it through and mean it. Act on your beliefs.

4. Get connected. Set aside your emotions, especially when enforcing house rules. Your kids need stability and to be able to count on you. Also spend quantity time with your children, especially as they enter into tween-hood. It may take a while of time together before they feel comfortable opening about something personal.

So get back out there, take a deep breath and come up with your own mantra. We are all in this together!

Go forth in peace,
Kym ]]><![CDATA[I Want It Now]]>Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:32:24 -0800http://ggaustin.org/1/post/2012/03/i-want-it-now.htmlIt was a special day, my friends told me. The 38-inch flat-screen TV they were giving the their son was the perfect addition to his brand-new room, in their brand-new house, with all his other brand-new things. If he started watching too much TV, they explained, they would simply put it somewhere else until he was more responsible. I know these people – they are wonderful – but this was bordering on crazy. The special day was their son’s birthday. He was turning 3.

Society sends some powerful messages to us as parents. One of the strongest is, “The more you give your child, the better parent you are.” Because many parents give more – way more – than they should, their children are led to believe they’re entitled to receive. The media tells our children that “this is what everyone is getting, so you need to get yours, too!” But the problem is that they did nothing to earn these material things, even though they expect them just the same. As a result, children get a false sense of entitlement by being rewarded for doing absolutely nothing. It’s a cycle that not only depletes you financially, but can morally and emotionally deplete your child.

True story. A Colorado Springs Easter egg hunt has been canceled because “aggressive parents” brought the hunt to an abrupt halt last year. Organizers said that last year “many parents had jumped a rope set up to allow only children into Bancroft Park” to ensure their children had the very best eggs in their baskets. As parent Lenny Watkins, who participated in the hunt two years ago, told the newspaper, “You better believe I’m going to help my kid get one of those eggs. I promised my kid an Easter egg hunt and I’d want to give him an even edge.”

The problem with going to any length to give children an “even edge” is that they won’t learn the value of earning something for themselves. Their false sense of entitlement will leave them thinking they’ll never have to work hard for they want. They will inevitably believe they deserve things they haven't earned.

It’s okay if your child doesn’t have a TV in his room or the video game that all the other kids have. It’s even okay to let him hunt his own eggs this Easter. If you start teaching your child now about what it means to work hard, he’ll have a much clearer sense of how to achieve goals in life. And believe me. The last thing you want is to have that same child living in your house when he’s 27. Just imagine how hard it will be to take the TV away from him then.

Happy Hunting

]]><![CDATA[Zzzzzz]]>Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:22:00 -0800http://ggaustin.org/1/post/2012/03/zzzzzz.htmlOne of the first big “differences” you’ll notice when your child goes to kindergarten is
the time that school begins. Your child, used to the relaxed 9 a.m. arrival at Grace Garden, will now be waking up at least a full hour and a half earlier than usual to get to school by 7:35 a.m.

When school starts, you’ll be faced with a new schedule. But rather than cut an hour and a half out of your child’s sleep time, make sure your new schedule includes an earlier bedtime. A 5-year-old child needs between 10 and 12 hours of sleep each night to be at his or her personal best.

In his book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, Marc Weissbluth, MD, provides these insightful comments on the functions of sleep:

"Sleep is the power source that keeps your mind alert and calm. Every night and at every nap, sleep recharges the brain's battery. Sleeping well increases brainpower just as weight lifting builds stronger muscles, because sleeping well increases your attention span and allows you to be physically relaxed and mentally alert at the same time.”

If you’re like most parents, the pre-kindergarten schedule and routine are pretty sweet. You put your child to bed later in the evening, let him wake up pretty much when he wants, drop him by preschool around 9, and then nap once school is over. Your new routine will look different, and it will need to be more strict so that your child is rested for his new seven-hour school day.

As Dr. Weissbluth says, the right amount of sleep allows us to be our most alert during the day. When we’re “on,” we’re most interactive with our environment and are able to learn a great deal more than we’re tired. Children who are well rested tend to be more calm and attentive, pleasant and alert. They are able to absorb lots of information and process concepts more easily. Socially, children get along much better with their peers – and are able to resolve conflict more easily – when they’ve had enough sleep.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of a good night’s rest is the emotional and physical peace that comes with deep sleep. Maybe it’s been a while – especially for all of you with newborns - but you know how good you feel when you’ve gotten your eight hours.

With enough sleep, you’ll have a self-assured, less demanding, more sociable child more than ready to start the day. And bonus, you just might find you’ll be getting more sleep yourself.

Nightie night,
Kym

]]><![CDATA[Together time]]>Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:59:28 -0800http://ggaustin.org/1/post/2012/03/together-time.htmlEvery year, at least one slightly concerned parent stops by my office and asks the question.

“Spring Break is how long?”

This annual pause in the school year can cause some hand-wringing. Believe me, I get it. You, your kids, an uninterrupted stint of complete “together time.” Rather than worry about how to entertain your little ones for 10 days – that’s right, it’s a week and a half until they return to school J - plan a fun staycation. Here in Austin, there’s plenty to keep us busy with South by Southwest, farmers markets, multiple amusements and Mother Nature.

Here are some ways to make the week fun.

1.  South by Southwest. Believe it or not, there are kid-friendly events throughout the week for pre-pubescent music enthusiasts and their parents. My favorite choice is the MOMS ROCK! Showcase. Head to the Happy Salon and Spa on West Sixth on Sunday for a free, family-friendly day of music featuring mom musicians. The lineup includes The Bluebonnets (featuring Kathy Valentine, formerly of the Go-Go's), Shelley King, Elizabeth McQueen, Amy Atchley, Karen Chisholm, and teen indie (and mom-managed) band, Charlie Belle. For a list of other family events, click here.

2.  Austin Zoo and Capital of Texas Zoo. Because of South by Southwest, you might do well this Spring Break to plan most of your activities far from Sixth. The Austin Zoo, with more than 300 animals across more than 100 different species, is a private, non-profit zoo rescuing animals and serving the Austin community. The Capital of Texas Zoo in Cedar Park features a nocturnal animal house with over 30 fruit bats, a European Boar exhibit, and over 100 Quaker Parrots. Click here for info about the Austin Zoo. Click here for info about the Capital of Texas Zoo,

3.  Austin Farmers Market. The market at the Triangle on Lamar happens every Wednesday afternoon. The selection of organic fruits and veggies is great, and the sellers are anxious to give you free samples. There are also several food vendors to keep you well fed. The kids will love the open park area, too. For mom and dad, there are lots of restaurants to choose from should you want to treat yourself to a sit-down dinner. http://sfcfarmersmarket.org/

4. Austin Nature and Science Center. If the weather is nice – at least not rainy – this is a fun field trip. The “dino pit” alone is a wonderful place to wile away an extended block of time. Be sure to bring snacks, water and sunscreen because your kids will probably want to dig for fossils a good, long while. They’ll also enjoy the naturalist workshop, where they can get up-close looks at all kinds of creepy, crawly stuff. For info, click here.

5.  Sundae and Movie Day.  You don’t have to leave the house to have a blast. Plan a day of sundae-making and movie-watching. Stock up on multiple flavors of ice cream and all the trimmings -- whipped cream, fudge sauce and cherries. Grab some cones or hit the dollar store for fun containers for your dessert creations. Then settle in for a movie or two – kids’ choice. Because ice cream and lots of electronic time aren’t part of the norm, you’ll all feel like you’re doing something really special and totally decadent. It’s spring break, after all, so cut loose!

For a long list of fun family activities in Austin, click here. I hope your week is filled with laughter, love and loads of quality time with your little ones. We’ll look forward to seeing you all on the 20th! You’ll see. The time will fly by.

Happy Spring,
Kym

]]><![CDATA[How yesterday's stories help children today]]>Fri, 02 Mar 2012 08:48:10 -0800http://ggaustin.org/1/post/2012/03/how-yesterdays-stories-help-children-today.htmlThis week, if you walked the halls the school, you realized very quickly that we were in full “Texas mode” this week. From stick horses to cowboy hats to beloved Texas songs sung around a crackling “campfire,” Texas history and Texas Independence Day were recognized in every class. It’s always been fun seeing the kids – and teachers, too! – donning cowboy hats, boots, and bandannas during this special week at GG.

At Grace Garden, it’s long been part of our curriculum to learn more about the rich history and traditions of the Lone Star State. As Texans, our children are given a sense of identity when they learn about the state in which they live. Child development experts say that history improves children’s decision-making and judgment, and provides models of what to do – and often not do. They learn about how the world changes and society develops. Learning history is also invaluable in giving them a framework in which to understand their own lives and the lives of others. When our children have a strong sense of who they are, they will be better guided in their choices, while understanding the world in a meaningful context.

This week, our oldest class, the Caterpillars, read about Texas legends. One book, The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tomie dePaola, gave the children insight on what life was like for a Cherokee girl in the 1800s. What an invaluable glimpse at history the children received – and what a great lesson they learned about what it means to be unselfish. With perspectives like this, they are given even more tools that will help them live happy, productive lives.

Have a blessed weekend,
Kym

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