Early Childhood Development - How to Prepare Your Child for a Successful Education

Education represents one of the essential components of a child's life. Not only does education play an important role in cognitive development and eventual vocational success, but it also impacts a child's social development, self-esteem, and self-efficacy.

We think of education of K-12, trade school or college and possibly graduate school. But, education and how a child learns begins much earlier than Kindergarten.

It's never too soon to start preparing your child for learning:

Pregnancy- From the moment a woman becomes aware of her pregnancy (and some would argue if you're planning a pregnancy) she should operate with the realization that everything she does affects the health of her unborn child. The need for prenatal care means more than avoiding alcohol or not smoking. A pregnant woman's diet links to her baby's cognitive and mental health. As one might expect, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, healthy fats from fish and nuts, and legumes sets a foundation for a healthy baby.Infancy- Though a newborn may look like a helpless individual, they are taking in a lot. Start from day one reading, talking, singing, and playing music for your baby.Early Childhood- To prepare a child for kindergarten readiness, an early childhood program has become more of a necessity than a luxury. Many working parents seek early childhood education rather than a traditional daycare or babysitter.

What to look for in a pre-school program:

Parents who stay home may have the option to home school their child. But, in more and more American homes, both parents work, some at very time consuming and stressful careers. Government programs such as Head Start are limited in scope and only available to low-income families. Again, the desire to make sure their child has the best preparation for their future education has many parents looking for high-quality early education. So, what should you look for in an early childhood program?

The assurance that it has stable and qualified teachersEffective leadershipCurriculum designed for specific agesEncouraging family involvement

Additionally, the Kentucky government has set the following standards for early childhood education:

Social and emotional developmentEarly childhood educationAddressing the needs of the individual Addressing the family and cultural needsConcern for short and long term educational and developmental goals

Why choose Tots' Landing?

At Tots' Landing, we take into account the State requirements, but also the needs and expectations of the parents. Some of the features of Tots Landing include:

Tots' Landing Started in 1990 by University of Kentucky graduates Missy and Rob Kruger. The fact that all three of their children graduated from the school demonstrates their confidence in the program.A defined curriculum exists for the different ages.

o   For example, at age two in the Tugboat classroom, children learn to count, learn their numbers and shapes, and talk about the weather and animals. During group time, they play with trucks and blocks and take time to dance, exercise and work on art projects.

o   At age three in the Sailboat classroom, children learn their letters and numbers, shapes and colors, and partake in group activities. Art and creativity also plays a big part at this level.

o   At age four in the Dolphin classroom, the emphasis on reading by learning phonics and sight words becomes an integral part of the curriculum. The children also spend time writing letters and numbers with particular attention to learning to write their names. Creativity and originality are encouraged during art sessions, and a focus on fine motor skills also plays a big part in the Dolphin program.

Parents are informed of their child's progress and invited to participate.Preparing children for kindergarten readiness represents the ultimate goal of Tots Landing. Each age level of the classroom represents another step toward kindergarten.

Contact us today to learn more about our programs.