Website Archive - January

Spotlight on Developing Independence

This month, our spotlight is on developing independence and websites which offer activities for children to explore.

Children

PBS Kids offers so many places to visit. Kids can explore their feelings and play fun edu-games with Barney and Friends. Choose from 11 activities. Another PBS character, Jay Jay the Jet Plane, shows children responsibility, respect, overcoming fear, determination, caring, following directions, and more of life’s lessons through short cartoons.

 

The Land of Cyke: In this creative land children can learn about coping with emotions and fears through the activities and songs. At Anger Stop, Depression Valley, Dependency Depot, and Worryville, they will be challenged to show positive expressions to help new friends battle negative feelings. Pelican will introduce animated stories about getting along together and getting over fears while the Castle, Music Hall, Health Hut, and Brain Teasers offer silly puns, virtual snowball fights, a look at the heart and brain, and much more.

Parents

PBS Parents has brought in a team of child development experts to design content for their site and it offers great stuff for teachers, kids, and parents. You can keep an age-by-age snapshot with the Child Development Tracker, do an activity search (by skill or PBS program) to locate activities to nurture your child’s development, use Bookfinder to find books that match your child’s interest and developmental stage, and access articles on learning, struggles, and other parenting and development resources. Growing up isn’t always easy and the changes children go through can be frightening and difficult but Mr. Rogers is always comforting and reassuring. What is better than singing along with Mr. Rogers’s songs including “I’m Proud of You” and “You are Special” and “You’re Growing”? Take your children on a visit to his neighborhood and check out the many activities including his song list.

Developmental milestone: Separation and independence by Sara Heny at Parent Center gives parents an overview of what to expect as their preschoolers develop. How will your child handle separation at home, at school and other places? What about changes in displays of affection? Can he dress himself at school but not at home? Is she sometimes rude? Find out what to watch out for and what not to worry about as you read this article.

Preschool Express offers tips for helping young children learn responsibility and it also offers lots of activities for parents to help children develop new skills. You’ll find ideas for learning games which use inexpensive, on hand supplies. Check out Skill Station for activities which help teach patience, problem solving, listening, and following directions. Under Thinking Skills, try Problem Solving with Blocks and Creative Problem Solving then go to Coordination Skills for Balancing Skills and Listening Skills for Listening Games and the Game Station for Directions Game. There are many other activities to explore as well.

Teachers

How Children Develop During the Preschool Years by Amy Halliburton, MU Graduate Student, and Sara Gable, State Specialist, Human Development and Family Studies. This article discusses how children develop between 30 and 60 months and how adults can help promote their healthy development.

Looking for activities to help children relate to each other in positive ways? Preschool Education has included a number of songs that help children recognize the uniqueness and feelings of themselves and their classmates under Me, Myself and I at its website.

 

 

[Posted on January 12, 2006]