How to Deal with Aggressive Behavior in Your Child

Raising a child comes with several challenging phases: when they begin teething and cry all the time, the terrible threes, and the transition once they start going to the best preschool in Royal Palm Beach, FL, every day. Among all of these challenging moments, your kid suddenly displaying aggressive or violent behavior can be one of the toughest ones. 

Beyond tantrums and the occasional fight on the playground, children’s aggressive behavior is a complex issue that can occur in various ways and significantly impact a child’s development. We created this guide to help you identify what a child with anger issues looks like and what you can do to help them. 

Best Preshool in Royal Palm Beach FL Explains Aggressive Attitude in Kids

What’s Aggressive Behavior in Children? 

Aggressive behavior is fundamentally defined as acts targeted at causing bodily, verbal, or emotional harm to others. Parents may be taken aback when their child exhibits sudden, intense anger, but children frequently behave this way. 

Research indicates that up to 25% of young children behave aggressively at some point during their development. As young children learn to manage their emotions and social interactions, some degree of aggression is normal or even expected. However, persistent aggressive behavior can have detrimental effects on a child’s future. 

It may affect their capacity to make friends, achieve academic success, and even result in more serious behavioral problems later. Early intervention is therefore essential because the sooner we address these behaviors, the more likely we will be able to help our children develop into well-adjusted, non-hulk-smashing adults.  

Why Kids Get Aggressive

Children often exhibit aggressive behavior for several reasons.  

  • Biological Factors: Some children may have an innate tendency toward aggression. Neurotransmitter imbalances, an important aspect of our brain chemistry, can influence aggression. 
  • Environmental Factors: Stressful life events, family dynamics, and exposure to violence (even in the media) can all lead to aggressive behavior. Children’s environment influences how they respond to the world around them. 
  • Psychological Factors: Children who have trauma or have trouble controlling their emotions may be more likely to act out violently. It is how they deal with strong emotions that they cannot yet manage. Children who struggle with self-control and emotional regulation are more likely to exhibit impulsive behavior and aggression together. 
  • Developmental Disorders and Learning Disabilities: As children struggle to express their needs and negotiate social situations, disorders such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, or language delays can all lead to aggressive behavior. 

What Childhood Aggression Looks Like 

Understanding why childhood aggression is bad is easy—the hard part lies in identifying its signs in your child. A child’s anger management problems are not always as evident as a full-blown outburst in the middle of the grocery store. Children can exhibit a variety of aggressive behaviors, including: 

Physical Aggression 

When most people hear the term “aggressive behavior,” they most likely think of physical aggression. This is your go-to repertoire of biting, kicking, hitting, and pulling hair. 

Verbal Aggression 

Verbal abuse can be equally, if not more, damaging than physical aggression. This includes calling names, yelling, and threatening people. These actions can cause emotional wounds that are far more permanent than physical ones. 

Relational Aggression 

Relational aggression includes actions such as manipulating friendships, spreading rumors, and social exclusion.  

Seeing your child manipulate and hurt other people can be too much to handle, making this one of the most difficult forms of aggression to deal with. 

Reactive Aggression 

Finally, it is critical to recognize the difference between proactive and reactive aggression. 

  • Reactive aggression is impulsive and unpremeditated; irritations or perceived threats frequently bring it on. 
  • Proactive aggression is more methodical and focused on achieving specific objectives. 

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How to Deal with Aggressive Behavior in Children 

Identifying your child’s aggressive behavior triggers and patterns is critical to developing effective management strategies. We advise you to keep a behavior log to document your child’s aggressive behavior, including when and where it occurs, what transpired before and after, and any other pertinent information. 

Also, record how they acted. Does your child become agitated before losing their temper? Do they begin to breathe heavily or clench their fists? These physical indicators may be precursors to impending aggression, enabling you to spot trends that may offer insightful information.  

Attempting to comprehend the purpose of the behavior is also a crucial element. Is your kid misbehaving to gain attention or to avoid doing something they don’t want to do? You can begin addressing the underlying cause of the behavior instead of merely responding to its symptoms once you comprehend the “why” behind it.  

Once you understand these factors, you can start taking action to deal with this behavior. 

Assessing and Changing Your Child’s Environment 

Finally, remember to examine your child’s routine and surroundings. Are there specific times of day when people are more likely to act aggressively? Are there particular people or circumstances that seem to set off aggressive reactions? You can begin taking proactive measures to stop aggressive behavior before it begins by recognizing these patterns.  

Positive Reinforcement 

First, we have systems of rewards and positive reinforcement. Consistency and specificity are crucial. Saying “good job” is not enough; you should specify exactly what they did well.  

“I like how you asked for a turn with words rather than reaching for the toy,” or “That was very patient and kind of you!” are good examples of positive reinforcements. 

Teaching Emotional Regulation 

Another important tactic is to teach coping mechanisms and emotional control. This is about giving your child the skills to manage strong emotions healthily. Some examples are counting to ten, deep breathing techniques, or using a “calm down corner” to retreat when emotions become too much to handle.   

These methods for controlling emotions are frequently emphasized in behavioral strategies for aggression as a crucial element of controlling aggressive conduct. Fostering extracurricular activities, too, can be a way to help them drive their strong emotions in another way. 

Implement Discipline 

It is also critical to apply discipline strategies consistently. This does not imply punishment; rather, it is about establishing unambiguous expectations and consequences and always carrying them out. It is similar to officiating a game; the rules must be unambiguous and always apply to everyone.  

Setting clear boundaries provides a structured and safe environment for your child to express their emotions. The goal is to establish a stable and predictable home environment to help your child learn to control their behavior.  

Best Preshool in Royal Palm Beach FL Teaching Children Respect

Help Your Child Manage Their Emotions with the Best Preschool in Royal Palm Beach, FL 

Aggressive behavior in children is more common than you may think. However, intervening early is key to addressing these actions, understanding them, and devising effective strategies to help them manage their emotions. 

It’s important to remember that this will be a long process that requires time, patience, and consistency. However, the professionals at Neighborhood Kids are here to accompany you on this journey. Contact us today to learn more about child education and to find a preschool that will stand next to you and your family every step of the way! 

Traveling with Kids? A Preschool’s Tips for a Successful Outing

Safe Travel with the Best Infant Care in Delray Beach

As a parent seeking the best infant care in Delray Beach, you want your child to have the best experiences, often involving traveling. Trips to new places are unique opportunities for children to get to know new cultures, open their minds, learn about the world, and, more importantly, have fun. However, traveling with children can be chaotic unless you are well-prepared.

Trips can be stressful for kids, from being in new and unknown places to adapting to different cultural standards. To help you ensure a fun experience and guarantee your child learns a lot, we created this guide on how to travel with kids!

Best Infant Care in Delray Beach Travel Tips

The Importance of Traveling for a Child’s Growth

We live in an era of tremendous global openness. Nowadays, traveling is more accessible, making it possible for children of all ages to learn about the world around them, understand cultural differences, and explore new, unseen ways of life.

Children now have access to opportunities that were previously only a pipe dream. However, there’s a common misconception that waiting until a child is old enough to fully enjoy a trip is best. Traveling can have several benefits for toddlers and young children.

What Can Traveling Do for Children?

  • Foster responsibility by making them pack their clothes
  • Cultivate curiosity by showing them new places
  • Build flexibility by allowing them to adapt to sudden changes
  • Help develop empathy and increase their interest in the surrounding world
  • That being said, traveling with kids can also be challenging, especially if it’s your first time.

Whether you’re flying to the other side of the world or simply taking a road trip to the next town, the change in locations and new emotions of vacations can stress your child out, making them grumpy and moody throughout your trip. To prevent that and ensure they have a positive experience, here are some recommendations:

Prepare Your Kids Mentally for the Journey

The importance of preparing your child for a trip beforehand is often overlooked, but it can make all the difference.

Make sure to discuss the travel plans with your child ahead of time. Tell them about the interesting sights they will see or the unique cuisine they will savor. To make the prospect of sleeping somewhere new an adventure, show them photos of the hotel before the trip.

This will make it easier for the less enjoyable parts of the journey, such as long car or plane rides in uncomfortable seats. By piquing their curiosity, you can adjust their expectations and reduce anxiety about the upcoming journey.

If possible, include them in the planning process. Show them different destinations and let them pick. Older children may also enjoy taking charge of navigation, leading the way with paper maps or apps.

Pack Smart and Light

When it comes to packing for children, efficiency can save you a lot of trouble later.

Packing cubes can organize clothes by day or activity, which is very helpful when grabbing pajamas for a late-night hotel check-in. Pack entire outfits, including socks and underwear, in separate bags for easy access for younger children.

If you have multiple children traveling with you, use different pillowcases for each child or color-code the bags. These pillowcases can also double as laundry bags on the return trip.

Best Infant Care in Delray Beach Packing Tips

Book Kid-Friendly Accommodations

Selecting suitable lodging is crucial if you’re traveling with kids. After all, you don’t want to be stuck in a hotel filled with young adults partying until 4 a.m. every night!

Seek out lodgings that offer amenities like:

  • Child-friendly meals
  • Babysitting services
  • Family-friendly kits with toys, strollers, and highchairs
  • Proximity to parks or playgrounds for active children

Try to Maintain Familiar Routines

Children thrive on routine, and travel can disrupt their sense of normalcy. Make an effort to stick to mealtime and bedtime routines. If you travel across time zones, gradually modify your schedule to reduce jet lag and irritability.

Additionally, aim to schedule outdoor activities in the morning. Natural light can help reset your child’s internal clock.

Create a Kid-Friendly Itinerary

Don’t overbook your days. While adults may appreciate historical sites and cultural attractions, children can quickly become tired and bored. Instead, tailor your plans to their interests. Incorporate frequent breaks at playgrounds, quirky roadside attractions, and ice cream or frozen yogurt shops.

Use local travel apps to find unique stops that cater to children’s curiosity and engagement.

Prepare for Delays

Delays and changes are inevitable during long trips. To manage potential stress for you and your child, prepare beforehand for any changes.

Have a surprise bag on hand with their favorite toys to pull out when they are bored. This can have items such as small LEGO sets, reusable sticker books, or fidget toys. For lengthy international flights, download a few episodes of their favorite shows on your tablet. Make sure to bring a range of snacks, like crackers, fruit slices, and granola bars. Hungry children can easily become grumpy! Bring a reusable water bottle for each family member.

Remember to check customs laws and food restrictions when traveling abroad.

Staying Safe and Healthy

When traveling with kids, safety and health should come first. Look for hotels with services like 24-hour security, child-proof amenities for rooms, and doctors on call. Lifeguards at swimming pools are also a must.

Additionally, well-kept, secure play areas can provide you with peace of mind while your kids have fun.

Travel Tips from the Best Infant Care in Delray Beach

Learn About Children’s Care from the Best Infant Care in Delray Beach

Taking children on a trip can be both an adventure and a challenge. Whether you’re taking a road trip or flying, planning will make the journey much smoother. Obstacles are to be expected, but with preparation and creativity, you can turn them into opportunities for connection and fun.

Here at Neighborhood Kids, we always aim to ensure positive experiences for your kid. Contact us today if you’d like to learn more about education and best practices for infants!

Making the Most of their Infancy: Understanding How Toddlers Learn

Ensure the Best Toddler Education in Royal Palm Beach FL

While mandatory schooling begins around age 6 in the United States, there’s no age for learning. From the moment they’re born, babies start looking at the new world that surrounds them with curious eyes, and if you’re a parent dedicated to their education, there are several things you can do to foster their knowledge—like finding them a preschool with the best toddler education in Royal Palm Beach, FL. 

However, to start fostering your baby’s growth and take action to help them discover the world around them, understanding how toddlers learn is key. After all, a 5-year-old brain is different than a 2-year-old, and so on. This guide explores how toddlers learn to help you understand your baby and their little heads better. 

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Their First Steps into a New World

As babies begin to move from crawling to walking, they enter what’s known as the toddler stage. This important milestone marks the beginning of a new period of their lives, filled with new funny experiences, interesting discoveries, and painful bumps. 

Being able to toddle around the home on their own opens the door for babies to start learning more and more about their environment each day. Toddlers are very curious, and they will be very keen to explore their surroundings to learn key skills and information—much to their parents’ dismay, sometimes. During these times, remembering to leave the outside door closed is key. 

Each child’s growth and development will occur at its own pace, but in some cases, the desire to try and learn new things can manifest as anger. After all, this age is often referred to as ‘the “terrible two’” for a reason. 

As children reach the age of two, they’ll attempt to become more independent, which may translate into more frequent mood swings and impatience when things don’t go as they expect. It’s important for parents to understand a toddler’s need to try and do things on their own and support them. 

So, How Do Toddlers Learn?

Toddlers learn constantly and in many ways.  

They gain a better understanding of their surroundings by watching and observing what is going on around them, both at home and when out and about. They also learn to understand and speak language by listening to conversations between family members. 

Moreover, by asking lots of questions about things they don’t understand or want to learn more about, they satiate their curiosity while building a bond of trust with their caregivers (that’s you!). 

Learning Through Play

All children love playing, and it is very enjoyable. It has the bonus of helping children learn, too. According to UNICEF, play is an important part of your child’s learning and growth, as it allows them to explore their environment, practice developing skills, and bond with others. 

Key skills such as problem-solving, physical skills, reading, number skills, and social skills can be learned through activities as simple as playing house, mimicking adults, or making up new worlds with other children. 

Playtime will change as your baby gets older, depending on their developing skills. However, it is beneficial to promote play from an early age; different forms of play are ideal. Some games to encourage toddlers to learn are: 

Provide the Best Toddler Education in Royal Palm Beach FL

Household Helper

Ask your toddler to assist with age-appropriate housework, such as serving lunch or organizing clothes. Try making it into a game and letting them know how helpful they are! 

  • How your child benefits: By demonstrating to your child that they are an important family member, you may help them develop independence and self-worth. 

Budding Artist

Create simple art projects with your toddler, such as drawings, finger paintings, or arranging items found outside, such as shells or pebbles. When they are finished, place them where your child can see them. 

  • How your child benefits: Allowing your child’s imagination to run wild through art encourages creativity and independence. 

Tower Tumbler

Build a tower with blocks or other safely stackable objects, then let your toddler knock it down. 

  • How your child benefits: Your child will enjoy watching their creation fall down, and they will also be working on their fine motor skills by using both hands together. 

Talk, Talk, and Talk!

Experts recommend that you narrate your day to your child. Talk about what you are doing while you are doing it; this is an excellent way to expose your toddler to various new words throughout the day. 

  • How your child benefits: Between 18 months and two years, most children learn one new word per week and can say 50 to 100 words by the age of two. The more you communicate with your toddler, the more words they will learn. 

A Game of Opposites

Show your toddler a series of basic pictures, one at a time. Let’s say the first one depicts the sun. When you show it to your child, ask them to say ‘night’ rather than ‘day.’ 

  • How your child benefits: This particular type of play emphasizes self-regulation and impulse control. The goal is to teach your toddler to stop, think for a moment, and override the response that comes first. 

Share the Bible

If you’re Christian, you’ll probably want to share your beliefs with your toddler. While there’s no set age to introduce a child to religion, sharing the Bible can be a great way to show them the world and improve their language skills.  

  • How your child benefits: Bible readings—using age-appropriate Bibles, of course—can give your child an opportunity to learn about God, practice reading, improve their language skills, and even share a special moment with you! 

Best Toddler Education in Royal Palm Beach FL

Give Your Baby the Best Toddler Education in Royal Palm Beach, FL

Once a toddler learns to walk, there is no turning back. They will want to continue moving and honing this newfound ability. As they gain control of their bodies and learn about their own skills, your child will be running, jumping, and climbing in no time. 

This development is natural, but we can always do things to foster it and ensure it takes place in a safe environment. By fostering a love for learning, curiosity, and resilience from a young age, you’ll give your children valuable tools and prepare them for what’s to come. 

Once your child is old enough, Neighborhood Kids is here to help you ensure your child receives the best education. If you want to learn more about our curriculum or are interested in our extracurricular activities, reach out! 

What Is Model Behavior and Why Does it Matter?

Model Behaviour at a Preschool Education in Royal Palm Beach FL

Monkey see, monkey do. It is no one’s surprise that children learn by watching and imitating others, a practice known as observational learning or model behavior. Finding the best preschool education in Royal Palm Beach, FL, is fundamental to ensure your child is only subjected to the best examples.  

Television, the grocery store, school, and home can all become behavioral models, and here, we’ll explain why they’re important and what you can do to ensure only the best ones affect your child’s growth.  

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What Is Model Behavior and How Does It Work?

Modeling is the process of learning new knowledge, abilities, or behaviors by observation instead of firsthand experience or trial-and-error. The terms “modeling,” “imitation,” “social learning,” “observational learning,” and “vicarious learning ” share similar meanings. Each of these ideas highlights a distinct aspect of this kind of education. 

Children are watching and learning wherever they go and with whomever they are with. You have noticed that your kids came back from school imitating a superhero they had never heard of before. Or, after a family reunion, he may’ve picked up a new, not-so-child-friendly vocabulary. All of these are examples of observational learning. 

What Influences Observational Learning?

It is not always the case that a child will engage in a particular behavior after witnessing it; for example, your child may not start destroying things just because they see someone break a toy. They are simply learning new information about the behavioral choices of others and what consequences these behaviors could have. 

Children’s imitation of modeled behaviors is partially determined by the type of reinforcement those behaviors receive. When people receive positive reinforcement for a behavior, they are more likely to copy it. For instance, a child may pick up new words but not necessarily use them if he hears another child swearing. 

However, an observing child may be more likely to imitate the behavior if the child receives some kind of reward for using profanity, such as approval or encouragement from an adult. Remember that laughter can also be an unintentional source of positive reinforcement. 

The same is true if someone observes a form of negative reinforcement, like being reprimanded for using profanity. After that, a child might be less likely to copy the behavior. 

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The Dangers of Observational Learning

Children can observe aggressive behaviors and learn them through modeling. While direct experiences and live models can occasionally cause this, watching television and other media that depict aggressive behavior is more likely to cause it.  

Children may copy these aggressive behaviors and carry out aggressive acts if reinforced. In this environment, the dangers of unsupervised screen time for children are even more prominent. 

Without supervision, children may encounter violent, explicit, or otherwise inappropriate content that they are not ready to process or understand—even on platforms designed for kids. 

Numerous times, violent videos have been found on these platforms that sort out all the filters and reach your children’s screens. While the platform always tries to eliminate them, these videos continue to emerge. Children observing aggression, disrespect, or risky behaviors may internalize these actions as acceptable. 

To mitigate these risks, parents and caregivers must set limits, co-view content, and engage in discussions about what children are watching. This can help guide their understanding and encourage critical thinking about media consumption. 

How to Build Up Positive Reinforcements?

Model behaviors can teach your child some unwanted practices. However, in the same way, children can learn prosocial behaviors through observation.  

Children can learn to cooperate, share, take turns, and act philanthropically by witnessing others exhibit these traits. To encourage that, here are some pointers from Michigan State University Extension: 

  • Pay attention to your child’s environment. Make every effort to provide your kids with positive role models and environments that reward good behavior. If people, places, or activities set an example of bad or concerning behavior, try to find more positive situations for your child. 
  • Take note of the bright side. Encourage positive behaviors in your child and other people, give them praise, and have a conversation about them. By encouraging positive behaviors, you’re teaching them to repeat them! 
  • Reduce or eliminate exposure to harmful influences. Violent television programs, films, games, or activities may teach your child violent or aggressive behaviors. Your child may even learn bad modeling behaviors from interactions with adults and other kids. Limit or stop these experiences, and try to give your child more positive role models.  
  • Have a conversation about it. When circumstances are unavoidable, take advantage of the chance to learn. You can discuss with your child what constructive and acceptable behavior looks like and why bad behavior is unacceptable. 
  • Take your own advice. The first and most significant teacher a child has is you. Whether you plan to teach them or not, they constantly observe and learn from you. Be kind and loving to them, set an example of compassion and helpfulness, and teach them constructive ways to engage with others and the environment. 

If you are unsure whether a certain attitude is positive, try to picture your child acting in the same way that they are watching and consider whether you would be pleased with that behavior.  

If the answer is “no,” you might be teaching your child a lesson you do not want them to know. 

Kids Learning at a Preschool Education in Royal Palm Beach FL

Provide Your Children with the Best Preschool Education in Royal Palm Beach, FL

From friends and teaching to what they see on TV, children learn by example. Oftentimes, this idea is conveyed as a restriction to tell parents how important it is to limit certain types of content and attitudes their child may enjoy. However, model behavior is also an opportunity for you to start reinforcing positive habits. 

Discuss attitudes with your child; reprimand negative attitudes led by the example! You’re the first and most important example for your child. By doing what you say, you put them on the right track of a healthier and happier lifestyle. 

The preschool you choose also plays a big role in the models they take. Here at Neighborhood Kids, we aim to provide a safe and happy learning environment where your child can develop their abilities. If you’re interested in learning more about our curriculum, contact us! 

The Importance of Facial Expressions in Your Child’s Education

Christian Preschool in Delray Beach Explains How Kids Learn Facial Expressions

Taking your child to a Christian preschool in Delray Beach is more than an opportunity. Preschools are places where kids interact with other children their age, have fun with unique games, and watch their faces.

Face-to-face contact may seem conspicuous, but expressions are crucial for your child’s growth and future relationships. Seeing other people’s faces teaches kids the importance of eye contact, how to recognize voices, read facial expressions, and even speak by watching their mouths move.

Kid Smiling at a Christian Preschool in Delray Beach

The Importance of Eye Contact

While different babies develop at different rates, your child will usually begin making eye contact around six weeks of age. Face-to-face time is crucial from that point on and throughout their early years.

Your face is a constant source of learning for kids, who frequently mimic your facial expressions and mouth movements. By observing how your mouth moves in relation to the sounds they can hear, such as words and sentences, your child can learn.

Young children can distinguish between, for example, a joyful smile and an angry frown. While this does not imply that they know that a scowl denotes anger and a smile denotes happiness, it does imply that babies start learning about facial expressions.

Additionally, there is evidence that toddlers react sympathetically to distressed people. As long as the facial expressions are fairly intense, 3-year-olds can accurately match happy and angry facial expressions to their corresponding emotional states about 80% of the time.

Many children can accurately distinguish between “happy” and “angry” faces by the time they are 5 or 6 years old. However, this research has also shown that it can take years to recognize faces that are stereotypically sad accurately and that children as young as 10 years old struggle with it.

Furthermore, although children typically become competent in all three emotions (happiness, anger, and sadness) by the age of eleven, this may only be the case for extremely dramatic or intense facial expressions. Children are significantly less accurate when people express their emotions in more subdued ways.

Why Does Understanding Facial Expressions Make a Difference?

Some studies suggest that children who are better at reading faces might be more well-liked at school and might do better academically. Furthermore, those more adept at recognizing signs of fear are more giving and compassionate.

On the other hand, children who struggle to recognize facial emotions are more likely to experience learning challenges and peer issues. Poor face-reading abilities for their age put preschoolers at risk for externalizing behavioral issues and an increased likelihood of overt aggression.

This is common in shy children.

According to research, shy kids may find adjusting more difficult if they have trouble identifying emotions. According to one study, shy preschoolers who struggled with face-reading had higher anxiety and feelings of rejection from their peers.

Smiling Children at a Christian Preschool in Delray Beach

The Challenge of Learning How to Read Facial Expressions

There are many reasons why some kids struggle with reading expressions.

Children who are overly impulsive or distracted often struggle to pay attention to the appropriate cues. Some children find it difficult to communicate in person, particularly when it involves making eye contact. Neurologically speaking, their brains might react differently to incoming information about emotional cues.

Furthermore, children may have biases that affect their capacity to recognize emotions. They might fail to identify a genuine emotion that is being displayed, or they might think an emotion that is not there is present. For example, anxious children might be more likely to perceive neutral or ambiguous faces as hostile or frightening.

Learning to read facial expressions is intrinsically challenging. In addition to being ambiguous, facial expressions can vary greatly, making even adults struggle to interpret emotion sometimes.

There is a lot of overlap and ambiguity in addition to identifying patterns and paying attention to cues. We frequently need more information and background knowledge than just a person’s facial expressions to accurately identify emotions.

But as the saying goes, practice makes perfect. While there’s no perfect when it comes to expression reading, practicing with your child can help them feel calm when they encounter other people’s unique expressions!

Face-to-Face Games to Play with Under-Fives

If you want to foster your child’s future social skills, several face-learning games can be incorporated into playtime as a form of practice. Some games to try with kids under five years old include:

  • What’s in the bag?: Stuff a pillowcase with commonplace objects. Then, pull out each item in front of your face, acting surprised or intrigued with each one. Your child will be astonished when you pull out something and name it for them!
  • Copycat: You can make them feel heard by simply mimicking their sounds or movements without copying their words!
  • Name game: When out and about, stop, put yourself in their shoes, and spend some time naming the objects you see.
  • Explore: Let them examine the facial features, which you can identify with single words like “nose” or “eyebrows,” and then find out how different emotions affect your face. Make a face, then ask them to imitate it.

The key is to get close because newborns can only focus on objects that are 20 to 30 centimeters away.

Christian Preschool in Delray Beach Explains How Children Imitate Expressions

Broaden Your Child’s Education at our Christian Preschool in Delray Beach

Facial expressions are an important part of human communication. The ability to interpret these social signals requires many years of life. However, even as your child is just two months old, they will start to learn.

From being able to understand others better and be more emphatic to feeling more confident expressing their own needs, learning from expressions can have several benefits for your child’s behavior. Here at Kids Neighborhood, we value the importance of social interactions to foster your child’s growth. Contact us if you’d like to learn more about our classes and how we care for your child!

When Do Kids Learn How to Read, and What Can You Do to Help Them?

Importance of Reading in the Best Preschool Curriculum in Boyton Beach FL

Even as babies, kids build reading skills that set the foundation for learning to read. Hearing and responding to the sound of a human voice and learning from the best preschool curriculum in Boynton Beach, FL, can help them acquire the ability to comprehend and communicate through reading and writing, unlocking opportunities for their future.

Every kid develops their reading skills at their own pace. However, there are certain milestones you can expect depending on their age. We developed this informative article to help you understand this crucial time and learn how to foster it.

Best Preschool Curriculum in Boyton Beach FL Recommends Reading with Your Child

When Do Kids Start Learning How to Read?

Even as babies, kids start building the reading skills that will set the foundation for learning in the future. While each kid develops at their own pace, there are some milestones you can look out for, like:

Babies

Kids only respond to the pictures and feel of books during their first year of age. Even so, introducing books at this time of growth can help them get used to these mysterious objects that carry unique stories.

There are soft-covered books specially designed for babies with no pointy edges, unique textures to touch and experience, cooing or making sounds—and plastic-based paper that holds against baby drool.

They will still need help turning pages and pressing buttons that trigger unique sounds.

Toddlers

At ages 1 to 2, kids can now look at pictures and name familiar items, like dogs, cups, foods, and clothing. They will even answer questions about what they see in books and recognize the covers of their favorites. If they’re passionate about a particular book, you might notice them turning pages and making up stories. This indicates that your baby is eager to decipher that mysterious code.

Preschoolers

Once they’ve reached 2 to 4 years old, kids can hold and handle a book correctly. They’re already going to preschool, so they’re regularly getting an influx of information and being encouraged to learn how to understand and recite letters.

They are aware that pages are read from top to bottom and words are read from left to right. They can begin correlating letter sounds to letters, repeating stories, and knowing around half of the alphabet. In print, they could even recognize their name.

Kindergartners

Kindergarteners can now associate each letter with the sound it stands for. They can begin to link words they hear to words they see on the page and recognize the beginning, middle, and ending sounds in spoken words like “dog” and “sit.”

They can respond to questions about a tale and recount it chronologically if you ask them who, what, where, when, why, and how. They will now begin reading or requesting books for pleasure.

When Do Kids Learn to Read with the Best Preschool Curriculum in Boyton Beach FL

Younger Grade-Schoolers

Between ages 6 and 7, kids will start learning spelling rules. The number of words they can recognize keeps increasing, along with their reading speed and fluency. Moreover, they’ll begin to use context clues to learn to understand unfamiliar words.

If a sentence doesn’t make sense, they’ll go back and re-read it, which is known as self-monitoring. They’ll slowly learn how to connect what they read to their personal experiences and feelings and other books they’ve read.

Older Grade-Schoolers

Now, at ages 8–10, children transition from learning to read to reading to learn. They can correctly read words with several syllables and begin understanding things like root words, prefixes, and suffixes.

They will gradually begin reading for new, different reasons, including pleasure, education, and even determining directions. They will try out new genres and learn to explain a story’s location, characters, problem/solution, and storyline.

Additionally, kids will learn how to draw conclusions—also referred to as “reading between the lines”—and compare and contrast data from other sources. Your child will eventually be able to comprehend metaphors, similes, and other descriptive techniques.

Middle-Schoolers and High-Schoolers

As children begin reading increasingly difficult literature during these crucial years, their vocabulary will continue to grow.

They can now evaluate how characters grow, engage with one another, and progress the plot. They can identify the concepts being addressed and comprehend how the main narrative and its subplots evolve throughout the text.

As their studies become more challenging, they will learn how to employ textual evidence to assist text analysis. They will comprehend irony, humor, sarcasm, and understatement and analyze, synthesize, and assess ideas from the text.

How to Teach Your Kid to Read the Bible

If you’re Christian, one reason literature is especially important for you is that it opens the door to reading and understanding the Bible for your kids. While there may be various years to come before they can read the sacred text on their own, various resources can help introduce them to it, even at an early age.

  • Read with Them: The Bible is a big and rich book. You can schedule regular 15-minute Bible readings during which you explore the passages together. Afterward, ask them which one was their favorite and what they liked about it, and give them a space to share their feelings.
  • Start with The Book of Proverbs: A common worry about parents is about the less “child-friendly” parts of the Bible. From wars to crimes, the sacred scriptures cover topics that may feel a little bit harsh for a young child. If that’s your case, you can start with proverbs. These more accessible parts can get them close to the word of God while providing timeless wisdom for your child.
  • Apply the Knowledge: Encourage your kids to think about ways to apply what they’ve learned after reading. Whether it’s helping others by donating toys or taking extra chores at home, give them space to figure out how they can apply the teachings of the Bible in their own daily actions.

Girl Learning the Best Preschool Curriculum in Boyton Beach FL

Foster Your Kid’s Education with the Best Preschool Curriculum in Boynton Beach, FL

Literacy, the ability to comprehend and communicate through reading and writing, is one of the most important things your kid will learn throughout their life. This journey begins as babies and will continue throughout their lives as they learn new words and explore more ways to use the written word.

By then, they’ll be beyond your influence—but you can do all you can to introduce them to books while they’re kids. Here at Neighborhood Kids, we understand how crucial this is. That’s why we’re always encouraging our students to read and learn. If you’d like to learn more about our curriculum, reach out!

What Are the ABEKA and WEE Learn Curriculum?

Christian Preschool in Boynton Beach FL with WEE Learn Curriculum

In the past few years, more and more pre-K programs have emerged across the country. By taking your kid to a Christian preschool in Boynton Beach, FL, you can introduce them to social relationships, let them develop their creativity through unique experiences, and start preparing them for their academic future. 

While there’s a growing consensus that pre-K is fundamental, there are still doubts about the best curriculum. No one can say exactly what content children should be taught to adequately prepare them for the following grades. Still, parents are forced to choose one or another option when deciding where to take their children’s education. 

We came up with this guide to help you understand Neighborhood’s preschool curriculum better. 

Curriculum Taught at Christian Preschool in Boynton Beach FL

Why Is it Important to Judge a Preschool by Its Curriculum?

Preschool is one of the most important things for your kid. 

According to the 1993 High/Scope Perry Preschool Study, a high-quality preschool program can significantly improve participants’ educational and subsequent economic success and cut their lifetime arrest rate in half. 

While impressive, these statistics show that quality preschool education can be a key determining factor in your kid’s future and their relationship with academic institutions throughout their life. 

Although everyone in the country agrees that preschool is important, opinions differ on the objectives and subject matter of these programs. 

What Must a High-Quality Curriculum Possess? 

Experts concur that a pre-K curriculum must cover all aspects of the child’s early learning and development, including language and literacy, cognitive, social and emotional, physical and motor, and learning approaches. 

Early childhood education is more than preparing kids for their academic future; it’s about helping them make decisions, solve problems, and get along with others. After all, preschool is a crucial time for kids to learn personal and social skills that will accompany them for a long time. 

Adopting a curriculum that encourages child-initiated learning activities and helps children develop their interpersonal skills and sense of social responsibility can help them become more socially and personally competent.  Of course, this has to be supplemented with curriculum models that have been shown to work in studies. This combination has the best potential for supporting successful child development.  

With that in mind, here at Neighborhood Kids, we’ve incorporated the WEE Learn and ABEKA curricula together. 

What’s the WEE Learn Curriculum?

WEE stands for Weekday Early Education, a division of Child Development Education Alliance (CDEA) dedicated to educating and protecting children.   

The WEE Learn Curriculum was developed to provide a weekday curriculum for Christian settings designed for young children ages birth through pre-K. WEE Learn seeks to support children and families based on evidence-based practices. 

What Does the WEE Learn Curriculum Cover?

Every human is unique; in kids, their uniqueness often shines through without barriers. Some kids like colorful markers, others love sports, and others prefer staying close to their teachers, waiting for chances to chat all day. 

Preschool curriculums must also consider individual differences and different learning styles to protect these unique traits. WEE Learn emphasizes this and focuses on teaching through play and interactions to maximize each child’s learning potential.  

Because of that, the curriculum has been cross-referenced with multiple State Performance Standards. Another pillar of WEE Learn is providing evidence-based knowledge. 

The early years are an important period of development for children, and they learn best through active, engaged, meaningful, and enriching experiences that help them construct their own knowledge. Because of that, the WEE Learn curriculum emphasizes helping children interact with their environments and others.  

Prekindergarten through third grade is when children learn to read and write, gain a foundational understanding of the subject matter, and form critical learning dispositions. During this critical period, high-quality early care and education lay the groundwork for later success in the classroom and at work.  

WEE Learn provides young children with the stimulation and nurturing they require to support appropriate physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language development—whether from parents, relatives, or teachers.  

Why We're the Best Christian Preschool in Boynton Beach FL

What’s the ABEKA Curriculum?

ABEKA stands for “A Beka,” a Book publishing company that produces educational material. They develop material in several formats, from regular paper textbooks to complementary workbooks, guides, and multi-media formats through DVDs and online platforms.  

In fact, this open digital access makes the ABEKA curriculum a frequent choice for parents who homeschool their children. The ABEKA curriculum can be easily adapted, and it comes with several helpful guides that educate teachers on how to better tackle and convey certain topics. 

What Does the ABEKA Curriculum Cover?

This educational material was developed based on researching traditional educational applications and the developers’ experience. It starts at the preschool level and goes all the way through the twelfth grade, each level featuring daily activities for an entire school year. 

Workbook methods are used to teach the following subjects: 

  • Language arts 
  • Math 
  • Science (including laboratory) 
  • Phonics 
  • Reading 
  • Writing 
  • Foreign languages 

ABEKA’s textbooks are vibrant, colorful, and creative. They use engaging activities to immediately capture kids’ attention and make learning hard concepts feel like playtime. As you progress to higher grades, the curriculum shifts to encourage kids to think critically and develop their independent study. 

Overall, Abeka’s resources are comprehensive and require minimal preparation time for parents or teachers, making it a viable option for those seeking a traditional, faith-based educational approach. 

Christian Preschool in Boynton Beach FL with ABEKA Curriculum

Learn More About our Christian Preschool in Boynton Beach, FL

As a parent, the smaller details of your children’s education may seem beyond your control.  

After all, professionals like program directors and teachers all contribute their knowledge and efforts to developing a successful curriculum that helps your child grow while aligning with their community’s values, strengths, and needs. 

While you may not be able to replace that knowledge, you can put your efforts into finding the right institution for them to foster. If you want to learn more about our curriculum at Neighborhood Kids, reach out! We’re always eager to talk about our teaching methods, as we’re passionate about education.