Here are some more information for Pre School:

Childhood obesity continues to rise, making the future health of our citizens a serious problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2009 only Washington DC and Colorado had an obesity rate below 20 percent.

Since 1980, the prevalence of childhood obesity has tripled among school-age children and adolescents, and it has remained around the 32 percent level. There are many reasons children and adults alike are getting heavier, one of which is not getting enough exercise.

The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) recommends that preschoolers get at least 60 minutes of structured physical activity each day and at least 60 minutes of unstructured physical activity.

The one good thing is that you don't need a lot of fancy equipment to get some fun exercise in with your preschool children. Hopefully they are getting some exercise in at their preschool, but you can supplement their activities with some of the following exercise tips:

Appropriate Exercise Age

When are kids old enough to get exercise? Once they are able to start crawling around. Infants need activity on a daily basis and toddlers should be encouraged to get about 30 minutes of activity every day with adult-supervision. This may include simple things like dance or running around the yard.

Families Should Exercise Together

According to the NASPE, since family members, parents, and/or caregivers are role models, their shared participation in exercise with preschoolers can influence a child's interesting to participate in physical activity. Parents who appreciate the importance of movement and exercise are better able to facilitate physical activity for their children and are then able to spot any potentially problematic developmental delays.

Types of Preschool Exercises

The NASPE recommends exercises that help the child develop a variety of different movement skills. Consider games that capture your child's imagination while helping them develop locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative skills. One of the easiest ways to exercise with our preschool child is to use a safe inflatable ball to kick back and fourth or throw to each other.

Music is a fantastic motivator for kids and adults alike. Pop in some music your child will enjoy moving to and they will have fun and burn calories in the process.

The Key is to Change Things Up

Since most children have short attention spans, their exercise routine should go from one activity to another in a relatively short period of time, not unlike circuit training for adults. After playing some kickball for 10 to 15 minutes, when they seem to lose interest, offer up some music to jump around to. Maybe take a break to hydrate, then move on to another activity.

Kidspace Child Enrichment Center provides a warm and stimulating learning environment for every child they take under their wings. The Vancouver WA Preschool and child care center encourages the development of academic, physical and socialization skills, independence and a positive self-image.

What to Look for in a Pre-school

Education is the cornerstone of success and it begins in early childhood with the first portal of learning – The Pre-School. If statistics are any index, then ninety percent of the human brain is developed by the age of three years and near complete development has occurred by the age of five years – which makes preschool the most impressionable of all the learning institutes that the growing child would attend in the years to come!

THE CONVENTIONAL MODE

In the not-so-recent past, it was simple and effective to put a child in preschool – all it entailed was consulting the directory and calling the school closest to home and the child was admitted!

The perceived needs of the parents were limited to:

A safe, secure and warm classroom environment for the budding child

The focus expected being primarily academics

Logistically, the school needed to be close to the home and convenient to attend

The changing times have witnessed exponential increases in both the number of preschools and the expectations of the parents per se.

THE ENHANCED LEARNING CURVE

Present day parents are more discerning and aware considering that preschools play such an important role in development – the expectations are high and the perceived needs of the parents are more spatial than ever before. The new age expectations from a preschool are more than a safe and mere academic institution. The expectations from the modern day preschool need to encompass some or more of the following:

An institution which could inculcate spatial personality development

Preschools with a reputation and a prestigious name

Aligned to the perceived needs of the parents – be it religious or values driven

Availability in synchronicity with the work schedules of the parent(s)

The Curriculum – well-structured or play-based method depending on the preferences of parents

Feedback – present day decisions are strongly driven by feedback – even more so for preschools considering it is important to assimilate and analyze the real time experiences of parents and children

THE OPTIONS

The present day Preschools could well be demarcated:

The traditional half –day school program being in alignment with those not wanting to overburden the child very early in life

A school with a full-day program - as in a state-sponsored program which would predictably be the option of choice if both parents or single parents work all day

The religious school environs could well be need of offering a non-secular environment

Discerning parents then would address this critical decision conscientiously, considering that it entails enormous planning and judicious decision-making which invariably begins with identification of preschools, followed by an in–depth researching of facilities and track record of the institutions – moderated by the feedback of others and finally conclude based on the personal real time visit perceptions before making the decision.

About the Author

Jacqueline Courtiol, M.A. Ed. is a teacher, mother and business owner. Jacqueline has authored numerous articles on topics of childcare, natural health, parenting and pregnancy. She is also the co-developer of Colic Calm, a natural homeopathic treatment for Babies with Gas and Colic Help. More information can be found at http://www.coliccalm.com. or contact us if you have questions.

What is the best age to start a child in pre-school?

We are thinking of putting our daughter into pre-school, but I still feel that she is too young. Once school starts it doesnt end for 12-13 years not including college!! Why not give them as many years at home as possible? She will be 4 years old in April. Just want to know what you all think. Thanks!

I put my 2 daughters in pre-school both at the age of 4. My oldest had no problems with it. My youngest cried and cried and it broke my heart.. but it got easier after the first week. I am glad that I chose to put her in pre-school because I didnt want her to feel that way for Kindergarten. I too wanted them to stay home as long as possible because once they start.. its 12 years of school, but my husband really wanted them to go. She still had a hard time the first couple of days of Kindergarten in which she started last year.. but I think pre-school helped with the transition.
I also think I wanted to hold on a little longer because she was my last too Whatever choice you make will be fine. Good Luck

Double celebrations for pre-school
STAFF and tots from St Mary’s Pre-School in Barrington had cause for a double celebration this week.

Thanks for visiting!