While cold, snowy winter weather may seem like the end of outdoor learning and exploration, that is not the case. Winter weather can help children appreciate nature in new and different ways and the change of scenery offers a new perspective on the world around them. While this type of weather may require a little more effort, it is well worth it!

Bundle Up and Get Outside: Why Kids Should Play Outdoors in the Winter

https://www.fix.com/blog/keep-kids-playing-outdoors-in-winter/

It is up to adults to focus on the importance of children’s play, regardless of the season. After all, play should not be restricted to warm weather.

Why Our Kids Are Going to Play Outside This Winter, and Yours Should Too, According to Science

https://www.businessinsider.com/why-kids-should-play-outside-winter-science-2018-11

You can’t just push your kids out the door when it’s freezing cold or snowing. But with a bit of extra effort, the outdoors in winter can be as enjoyable and beneficial for kids as the warmer seasons.

Why It’s Important for Children to Play Outside in Winter

https://www.ontarioparks.com/parksblog/children-play-outside-winter/

It may be tempting to hide inside until the weather warms up, but outdoor play is essential for your children’s well-being all year long.

At Premier Academy we find ways to keep your child engaged in learning, all year around. We offer affordable childcare in the Omaha/Elkhorn area, visit us at premieracademyinc.com. 

Temperatures are dropping faster than many of us would like and weather experts are forecasting a colder-than-normal winter. This would appear to bad news for parents who like to get outside with their children and explore nature and all that it has to offer.

outdoor learning for kids

While a particularly harsh Nebraska winter may seem like the end to playing in the great outdoors, this doesn’t have to be the case. In fact, there are several fun and educational ways to engage children outside, even when the weather is frightful!

Helping children to appreciate nature can go a long way toward widening their world and, most importantly, engaging their senses. And while going out in the snow with kids may not seem like it is worth the effort, the truth is that wintery weather provides a plethora of learning opportunities. Everything from animal hibernation to icicles to the shapes of snowflakes allows you to open up their world by simply opening up the front door.

If you are drawing a blank when trying to come up with ideas to entertain and educate children outdoors in the winter, here are just of few of the endless options to implement outdoor learning for kids:

  1. Identify animals by tracking their footprints in the snow. Even if you live in the city, dog, cat and squirrel prints will be visible.
  2. Go on a winter scavenger hunt.
  3. Study the night sky. There are specific constellations that can only be seen in the winter.
  4. Study how and why icicles form. How do they change over time?
  5. Draw on the snow with fallen branches.
  6. Hang edible ornaments on a tree for the animals to come and eat. Ornaments can include dehydrated fruit, popcorn and peanut butter covered pine cones.
  7. Design an obstacle course.
  8. Build a snow fort. Measure how big you want it to be. Build bricks out of snow and flatten the walls. You can even draw up a design plan before you begin. The older the child, the more sophisticated the structure can be.

Bundling up For Outdoor Learning in Winter

A lot of parents will tell you that the biggest barrier to playing outdoors in the winter is that it takes too long to get kids dressed or that kids want to come in right away because they are too cold. The key is to make sure that children are dressed appropriately for their environment. Doing so will keep them warm and comfortable and better able to enjoy what they are doing.

The key to keeping kids warm is proper layering. A base layer wicks moisture away from the skin. Avoid cotton because it sticks to the skin and absorbs swat. Use synthetic fibers instead. Make sure the layers aren’t too tight so as not to inhibit circulation. The next layer should insulate. Fleece, wool and down are good choices. The top layer protects again wind, rain and snow. Nylon pants and jackets are the best options. A good hat also is critical as are weatherproof, insulated mittens or gloves. Finally, socks made out of wool or other synthetics work better than cotton. Boots should be insulated, weatherproof and have rubberized soles.

Winter weather doesn’t have to mean an end to outdoor learning for kids. It just requires doing things a little differently!

At Premier Academy we find ways to keep your child engaged in learning, all year around. We offer affordable childcare in the Omaha/Elkhorn area, visit us at premieracademyinc.com. 

If you are a parent of more than one child, chances are you spend a lot of time dealing with sibling rivalry. While you may feel like your children fight more than others, the truth is that sibling rivalry and bickering is extremely common. In fact, even siblings who are extremely close argue from time to time.

While you will probably never be able to completely eliminate sibling rivalry, an article from verywellfamily.com, 8 Ways to Manage Sibling Fighting and Rivalry, lists some ways to navigate sibling conflict.

  1. Teach kids how to hand conflict in a positive manner
  2. Cast sibling harmony as important for the whole family
  3. Step in
  4. Listen to each side
  5. Make respect a non-negotiable rule
  6. Encourage kids to get specific and state the problem
  7. Ask the child to suggest some solutions
  8. Model good problem-solving behavior

With a little bit of insight and a lot of patience, you can achieve a peaceful home – most of the time – remembering that some sibling rivalry is unavoidable.

Premier Academy offers affordable childcare in the Omaha/Elkhorn area, visit us at premieracademyinc.com. 

Some sibling rivalry is inevitable but that doesn’t make it any less worrisome – or annoying – to parents. While you would like nothing better than for your children to get along, sometimes it seems like that will never happen.

How to Stop Sibling Rivalry

https://www.parents.com/parenting/dynamics/sibling-rivalry/how-to-stop-sibling-rivalry/

Almost all siblings have disagreements, but frequent, intense fights can cause damage.

Thankfully there are some ways to reach a sibling cease-fire.

Sibling Rivalry vs. Sibling Bullying

https://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/grade-school/sibling-rivalry-vs-sibling-bullying/

When does sibling rivalry cross the line from a common experience to something problematic?

Sibling Rivalry, a History

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/11/sibling-rivalry-a-history/382964/

Sibling rivalry is nothing new. In fact, it’s been worrying parents for hundreds of years.

To learn more about our affordable childcare in the Omaha/Elkhorn area, visit us at premieracademyinc.com. 

Sibling rivalry is a normal part of childhood. The fact that it is a common doesn’t make it any less annoying for parents, however.

Knowing what causes sibling rivalry and how to handle it may improve the situation but chances are you are never going to eliminate it entirely. So what does cause sibling rivalry? Aside from the fact that you are dealing with children who don’t always think rationally, there are some key factors that can lead to what seems like constant fighting among siblings.

  1. Attention: Children naturally want the attention of their parents. When they see their brother or sister getting any attention from their parents they automatically view it as a threat. Things can become especially dicey after a new baby comes into the picture because newborns demand constant attention. In an effort to get more attention, many kids will act out.
  2. Personality Differences: Everyone is unique. If your family is composed of extroverts and introverts or athletes and artists, these differences are bound to lead to conflict.
  3. Possessions: If you are a parent, you know that getting kids to share can be next to impossible. However, sharing is something all children are going to have to do at some point.
  4. Questions of Fairness: We all know that life isn’t always fair but that doesn’t prevent kids from crying foul when they feel as if they are getting the short end of the stick. This is especially true if they feel that a brother or sister is always getting their own way!

While as a parent, your first inclination is to jump in when things get heated between siblings, that is not always a good idea. While the arguing may be more than you think you can take, the fact is, letting kids work it out between themselves is almost always the best course of action. If you intervene when children are arguing it may be seen as if you are taking sides. It also will prevent children from learning how to manage conflict. Finally, whether you believe it or not, kids are usually better at settling things when you don’t step in.

There are times, however, when things get so heated you must intervene. This is always true if you feel someone is in danger of being hurt. In such cases, the first thing you need to do is separate the siblings who are fighting so that they have the opportunity to calm down. Next, try to get all parties to communicate without yelling. If the siblings cannot come up with a solution to their problem you may have to do it for them.

If you are ever concerned that sibling rivalry has escalated out of control and you feel powerless to stop it, it’s time to talk to your pediatrician or a mental health provider. While it is true that siblings fight, it should never get to the point where you are concerned for one of your children’s physical or emotional health.

To learn more about our affordable childcare in the Omaha/Elkhorn area, visit us at premieracademyinc.com. 

Research shows that the interaction between a teacher and a child significantly impacts that child’s social and emotional development. However, it can be difficult to know exactly how to build such a relationship.

An article on teachthought.com, 4 Timeless Elements of Strong Student-Teacher Relationships, gets to the heart of what it takes to create long-lasting and powerful connections between students and teachers.

Here’s what it found:

  1. Consistent communication is vital
  2. An emotionally-safe learning space if critical
  3. There must be respect, trust and feedback
  4. Disparity is a barrier to learning

Almost everyone has a favorite teacher. What causes us to still cherish this relationship is how the relationship was developed, nurtured, and given space to evolve. At Premier Academy we work hard every day to build strong student-teacher relationships with the children we care for. To learn more about our affordable childcare in the Omaha/Elkhorn area, visit us at premieracademyinc.com. 

While teacher-child relationships have always been considered important. New research shows the quality and nature of the relationships teachers have with their students has a larger effect on a student’s academic results than socio-economic status, professional development or even curriculum. It is not that these things don’t matter, but rather that the relationships teachers develop with students matter more.

Why Teacher-Student Relationships Matter

Students spend more than 1,000 hours with their teacher in a typical school year. That’s enough time to build a relationship that could ignite a student’s lifetime love of learning—and it’s enough time for the dynamic to go totally off the rails.

Improving Students’ Relationships with Teachers to Provide Essential Supports for Learning

Solely improving students’ relationships with their teachers will not produce gains in achievement. However, those students who have close, positive and supportive relationships with their teachers will attain higher levels of achievement than those students with more conflict in their relationships.

4 Timeless Elements of Strong Student-Teacher Relationships

Almost everyone has a favorite teacher, and those we liked less. What causes us to still cherish these relationships and harbor powerful sentiments of respect and affection (and sometimes a shuddering dislike) for those individuals who were responsible for mentoring us?

Premier Academy offers affordable childcare in the Omaha/Elkhorn area. To learn more, visit us at premieracademyinc.com.

Research shows that the interaction between a teacher and a child significantly impacts that child’s social and emotional development. So it comes as no surprise that when a teacher shows a child warmth and respect, that child will be much more likely to develop positive relationships with teachers and peers going forward.

In early childhood settings, when teachers and children interact with one another, children are learning how to model positive relationships. The best teachers will use a variety of strategies to foster positive relationships with the children in their care. What follows are some of the most important of these strategies:

  1. Get to know each child as an individual. Taking the time to talk to a child and learn about their likes and dislikes makes that child feel that they are valued. Does the child have a pet? Do they have brothers or sisters?
  2. Let children know that they are safe with you. When children feel that you understand how they are feeling, it helps to build trust. It also makes them feel safe. If a child is upset, get down on their level and make eye contact. Let them know that you understand what they are saying and redirect the child’s attention toward more positive things. For example, ask them what they would like to do that day or tell them about activities that you have planned.
  3. Be positive. A positive attitude is contagious. When teachers are calm, caring and supportive, that rubs off on the children in their care.
  4. Set expectations. When children know what to expect they are able to perform and behave better. Set high standards and communicate those standards in a way that children can understand. Most importantly, when a child meets expectations, make sure to acknowledge it and let them know how proud you are of them.
  5. Play with them! Joining in when children are playing is a great way to foster the teacher-child relationship. Let a child tell you what they are building and ask them lots of questions.

Every interaction a teacher has with child affects how that child will feel about themselves and will have a significant impact on how they learn and grow. Some interactions are more important than others, as well. Positive, intentional and reciprocal interactions contribute to the best outcomes. Research shows that children are happier, more confident and more excited to learn when the adults in their lives engage in nurturing interactions.

When it comes right down to it, a successful teacher-child relationship involves meeting every children where they are, understanding them and developing connections with them. Such a relationship benefits both the child and the teacher.

Premier Academy offers affordable childcare in the Omaha/Elkhorn area. To learn more, visit us at premieracademyinc.com.

No one is suggesting that you throw out all of your child’s toys but incorporating loose parts play into their routine can open them up to a whole new world of wonder. Throw in the great outdoors and the possibilities are endless.

An article on Backwoodsmomma.com talks about the many advantages of loose parts play and how many loose parts can be found when you are in the backyard, at the beach or on a camping trip. These include rocks, dirt, mud, sand, pine cones, leaves, flowers, shells and much, much more.

The article, Using Loose Parts for Free Play, also gives some practical advice for how to marry the great outdoors and loose parts play.

  • Be environmentally friendly
  • Choose loose parts that are safe and easily manipulated by your child
  • Encourage your child to collect parts from nature (where appropriate)
  • Avoid directing your child on how to use loose parts
  • Hold off on cleaning up loose parts right away
  • Set up loose parts outside to encourage plenty of outdoor free play

Premier Academy offers affordable childcare in the Omaha/Elkhorn area. To learn more, visit us at premieracademyinc.com.

Loose parts play was a term coined in the 1970s by architect Simon Nicholson. Nicholson believed that open-ended materials in a child’s environment could be linked to creativity and critical thinking later on in life. Today, childhood experts believe this form of play is a critical concept in educating children. Even more important, it’s something children love to do.

What Are the Children Learning?

Experts tell us that children learn from this method of play. But what exactly is it that they are learning?

LPP In & Out of the Classroom

Teachers who implement loose parts play love how it transforms a classroom. That’s why so many teachers are taking the concept outdoors, as well.

All the Benefits None of the Mess

Thought about experimenting with loose parts play at home but don’t want to deal with the mess? Relax, it doesn’t have to mean a bunch of small pieces all over your house!

Premier Academy offers affordable childcare in the Omaha/Elkhorn area. To learn more, visit us at premieracademyinc.com.