Congradulations for being the parent of a four or five year old.  This is a wonderful age where new milestones are sweet reminders of how much your baby has grown up. They are growing rapidly in their cognitive abilities, social skills, language, and motor coordination. At this stage, children are preparing for school and becoming more independent and socially aware.

1. Advanced Language and Communication Skills: By age four, children’s language skills flourish. They can typically speak in full sentences, describe events, tell stories, and express ideas clearly. They also start to understand and use complex grammar and more nuanced language.

• • •  Storytelling: Encourage your child to tell stories or describe events from their day. This practice helps them organize thoughts and build vocabulary. Have meaningful conversations about their interests, likes, and dislikes. Ask open-ended questions that encourage them to share more.
    • Read Together: Reading picture books and chapter books together builds language skills, listening comprehension, and introduces new vocabulary.

2. Developing Fine Motor Skills (Writing and Cutting): Children gain improved hand-eye coordination and muscle control. Many can begin to write letters, draw more detailed pictures, and cut with scissors. Fine motor skills are essential for school readiness.

• • • Writing and Drawing: Offer crayons, pencils, and markers for drawing and writing letters or shapes. Encourage them to practice their name and experiment with shapes and letters.
    • Cutting Practice: Use child-safe scissors to let them practice cutting lines, shapes, or pictures. This helps refine hand coordination and control.
    • Playdough and Beads: Manipulating playdough or stringing beads improves hand strength and fine motor precision.

3. Learning Social Skills and Cooperation: Four- and five-year-olds are learning social rules, such as sharing, empathy, and cooperation. They start to form friendships, engage in group play, and understand the importance of taking turns and following rules.

• • • Preschool and Group Activities: Allow your child to engage with other children their age in group settings, like playdates, where they can practice sharing, cooperation, and empathy.
    • Role-Playing Games: Playing pretend games such as “school” or “store” allows children to practice social roles and understand others’ perspectives.
    • Board Games: Simple board games that require taking turns and following rules are great for teaching patience and cooperation.

4. Cognitive Skills: Problem-Solving and Memory: Cognitive development at this age includes improved memory, understanding of cause and effect, and problem-solving skills. Children become curious about how things work, ask many “why” questions, and start to grasp basic concepts like time, counting, and sorting.

•  Puzzles and Building Blocks: Puzzles and building toys like blocks or LEGO improve spatial awareness and problem-solving skills.
• Counting and Sorting Games: Engage in activities that involve counting objects, sorting by color or shape, and recognizing patterns to strengthen early math skills.
• Encourage Curiosity: Answer their questions with explanations or help them find answers together through books, videos, or exploring nature.

 

Supporting your child’s milestones at four and five years old helps prepare them for the next steps in social, cognitive, and physical development. As each child develops at their own pace, providing a supportive environment is key. Embrace the learning journey with your child, encouraging them as they grow in confidence, independence, and curiosity about the world around them!

The toddler years (ages 1-3) are marked by rapid development in motor skills, language, emotional expression, and social interactions. Each milestone reflects a new aspect of growth that helps children gain independence and understand the world around them. Below are six key developmental milestones, along with tips to support your child’s progress.

Walking and Running

• Age Range: 12-18 months for walking; 18-24 months for running
• Description: Walking is a major milestone in physical development, leading to increased independence and curiosity-driven exploration. Running soon follows, helping toddlers refine coordination and balance.
• Activities to Help:
  • • Support and Exploration: Encourage walking by letting them explore safe spaces, such as playgrounds or soft areas, where they can build confidence and balance.
    • Games: Play simple chase or follow-the-leader games to encourage running and agility.
    • Obstacle Course: Set up a soft obstacle course using cushions or small hurdles, giving them chances to practice balance.

Building Vocabulary and Using Simple Sentences

• Age Range: 12-24 months
•  Description: By the end of their second year, many toddlers can say up to 50 words and start forming two- to three-word sentences. This milestone signals the growth of expressive language, helping toddlers communicate needs and emotions.
• Activities to Help:
  • Talk and Describe: Narrate daily activities, label objects, and ask simple questions to expose toddlers to new words.
  • Reading Together: Read books with clear images and simple language. Ask questions about the pictures to encourage language use.
  • Encourage Choices: Offer options and let them choose (e.g., “Do you want the blue cup or the red cup?”), helping them practice expressing preferences.

Imaginative Play and Pretend Games

• Age Range: 18-24 months
• Description: Pretend play begins as toddlers use their imagination to mimic real-life scenarios. This play nurtures creativity, cognitive skills, and social understanding.
• Activities to Help:
  • Provide Props: Offer toys like dolls, toy kitchens, or costumes to inspire make-believe play.
  • Join in the Fun: Participate in their play, following their lead, whether you’re “cooking” a pretend meal together or “driving” an imaginary car.
  • Everyday Scenarios: Turn daily routines into pretend games, like playing “store” while putting away groceries.

Climbing and Fine Motor Skills

• Age Range: 18-30 months
• Description: By this stage, toddlers often enjoy climbing, stacking, and handling smaller objects. Developing both gross and fine motor skills, these activities enhance their coordination and spatial awareness.
• Activities to Help:
  • • Stacking Blocks: Encourage building and stacking blocks, which requires hand-eye coordination and control.
    • Climbing: Offer safe climbing opportunities, such as a toddler-friendly play structure, to improve strength and balance.
    • Drawing and Puzzles: Provide crayons and simple puzzles to promote fine motor skills.

Learning to Share and Take Turns

• Age Range: 24-36 months
• Description: Social skills, such as sharing and taking turns, begin to develop as toddlers grow in their understanding of empathy and cooperation. This milestone is a fundamental step toward developing friendships.
• Activities to Help:
  • • Practice Sharing: Use everyday situations to teach sharing, such as dividing snacks and taking turns with toys.
    • Playdates: Arrange playdates with other toddlers to practice sharing in a supervised setting.
    • Role-Playing Games: Role-play scenarios to show sharing, taking turns, and showing empathy toward others.

Using Simple Tools and Self-Care Skills

• Age Range: 18-36 months
• Description: Around this age, toddlers begin to use simple tools like spoons, brushes, or sippy cups independently. Self-care skills help toddlers build autonomy and confidence.
• Activities to Help:
  • • Encourage Self-Feeding: Provide safe utensils and encourage self-feeding during mealtime, which helps with hand coordination and independence.
    • Brushing Teeth: Introduce simple hygiene habits, such as brushing teeth with guidance.
    • Dressing Practice: Let them practice putting on clothes like easy slip-on shoes or jackets to encourage self-sufficiency.

Final Thoughts

It’s normal for toddlers to achieve milestones at slightly different times, but consistent encouragement and opportunities for exploration are essential. Providing your child with a safe and stimulating environment can support these key developmental stages. Celebrate each milestone as it comes, and enjoy every step of your toddler’s journey as they grow in independence, curiosity, and joy!

The holiday season is filled with excitement, but for young children, it’s important to keep things simple. Children thrive in predictable environments, and holiday activities that cater to their needs and energy levels can help create a memorable experiences for everyone.

Focus on Familiar Faces and Traditions

Your child’s idea of an enjoyable holiday is spending time with those they love. People like close family members, neighbors, and even daycare teachers they adore will help children feel secure and comfortable.

Keep Activities Simple and Fun

The holiday season brings many exciting activities, but for young children, less can be just as magical as more elaborate events. Simple activities like:

• • • • • • decorating cookies
          • reading holiday stories
          • singing favorite songs
          • making holiday crafts
          • visits to see holiday lights
          • having a cozy movie night at home

Prioritize Rest and Routine

Sticking to your child’s daily routine keeps them feeling secure. Plan holiday activities around their normal routines, ensuring they get plenty of sleep and regular meals to avoid overstimulation.

Let Your Child Take the Lead on Socializing

Encourage, but don’t force, your child to socialize. Young children may experience shyness or anxiety when meeting new people or distant relatives. The AAP recommends giving young children space to warm up to social situations and emphasizing familiar relationships, such as with siblings to help them feel comfortable.

Emphasize the Joy of Giving and Sharing

The season is an ideal time to teach young children about the joy of giving. This lesson doesn’t have to involve expensive gifts—instead, let them help bake cookies for a neighbor or make a simple craft to share with someone special. Activities like these show children the spirit of the season and encourage them to experience happiness in giving to others.

• If your child goes to daycare, involve their teacher in this aspect by letting your child help prepare a small homemade gift, like a holiday card or a crafted ornament.

Create Low-Key, At-Home Traditions

According to child development experts, having these traditions not only creates happy holiday memories but also gives young children a sense of stability and belonging.  Try making pancakes together on a holiday morning, lighting candles, or setting up a holiday-themed scavenger hunt.

Remember, Less Is More with Gifts

For children under 5, fewer gifts often mean less stress. Choose a few thoughtful, age-appropriate gifts that spark creativity and play. Gifts like building blocks, books, and art supplies offer endless opportunities for exploration.

A Season to Remember

The holiday season is a wonderful time to create memories with your child. By focusing on age-appropriate activities, keeping routines stable, and emphasizing familiar faces, you’re creating a holiday experience that’s meaningful and enjoyable for everyone. You are setting a foundation of happy holiday traditions for years to come.

As the weather cools down and the leaves start to fall, it might be tempting to stay cozy indoors. But here at Big Hearts, Little Hands daycare, we know that outdoor play is just as important in the fall and winter months as it is in the summer! Fresh air and active play, even in cooler weather, offer tons of benefits for young children’s physical and mental development.

Why Outdoor Play Matters All Year Round

• Boosts Physical Health: Playing outside helps kids stay active. Running, jumping, and exploring all help build strong muscles, improve coordination, and support heart health. The fresh air is boosting their immune system, helping them stay healthy during cold and flu season!
• Supports Mental Health: Outdoor play is a natural mood booster. Just being outside can reduce stress and improve a child’s mood. Sunshine helps the body produce vitamin D, which supports the immune system and brain development.
• Encourages Creativity and Imagination: Nature is a great backdrop for pretend play, and it helps children engage with the world around them in new and exciting ways. Whether it’s making leaf piles in the fall or building snowmen in the winter, outdoor play encourages creativity
• Promotes Social Skills: Outdoor play involves group activities where children can practice teamwork, cooperation, and communication. Whether it’s a game of tag in the fall or making snow forts in the winter, playing together helps children build important social skills that are foundational in daycare and preschool settings.
• Improves Sleep: Playing outside helps burn off energy and can make bedtime easier. Fresh air and physical activity tire children out in a healthy way, promoting better sleep habits.

Tips for Safe and Fun Outdoor Play in Cooler Weather

• Dress in Layers: The key is to start with a warm base layer, add a cozy sweater, and finish with a waterproof jacket. Don’t forget hats, mittens, and waterproof boots to keep their extremities warm and dry.
• Check the Weather: Keep an eye on the daily forecast. If it’s extremely cold or windy, outdoor play might need to be limited. However, on crisp, sunny days, your child can still have plenty of outdoor fun with the right clothing.
• Bring Extra Gear: It’s always a good idea to pack extra socks, gloves, or hats in case anything gets wet during playtime. Daycares will let kids warm up and switch out damp clothes so they can continue enjoying the outdoors comfortably.
• Watch for Signs of Cold: Make sure your child is warm enough by checking for signs like shivering, red or pale skin, or complaints about being cold. If they’re showing signs of discomfort, it’s time for a warm-up break indoors.
• Encourage Active Play: Encourage active play. Movement will help them stay warm and burn off that extra energy! Whether they’re jumping in leaf piles or making snow angels, being active is fun and healthy.
• Make it Fun: Turn fall and winter outdoor play into an adventure! Go on a nature scavenger hunt, make leaf art, or build snow castles.

Outdoor play in the fall and winter offers endless benefits for your child’s physical and mental well-being. By dressing them warmly and encouraging creative, active play, you can help them enjoy the beauty of the changing seasons while boosting their development. So, bundle up, embrace the crisp air, and let your child experience all the fun that fall and winter have to offer!

If you have any questions or need more tips on how to dress your child for outdoor play at daycare, feel free to reach out! We’re here to help your little one enjoy every season to the fullest.

As Thanksgiving approaches, we’re excited to celebrate the season of gratitude and togetherness with our little ones here! Children learn through stories, art and play with adults they love and trust. This can be at preschool or home.

Thanksgiving Books to Read

Reading stories about Thanksgiving helps young children understand the holiday’s themes in a fun, engaging way.

“Bear Says Thanks” by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman

• Summary: This heartwarming story follows Bear as he gathers food and friends for a Thanksgiving feast, only to find that he has nothing to offer—until his friends teach him that his friendship is the most valuable gift.
• Learning Focus: Sharing, gratitude, and friendship.
• Activity: After reading, discuss what it means to say “thank you” and ways we can show kindness to friends.

“Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks” by Margaret Sutherland

• Summary: This simple, sweet book is perfect for young children, exploring the concept of gratitude through examples they can relate to, like family, friends, and pets.
• Learning Focus: Gratitude and family.

• Activity: As a family, create a “Thankful Tree” where each child adds a leaf with something they’re grateful for.

“Turkey Trouble” by Wendi Silvano

•  Summary: In this humorous story, Turkey goes through a series of funny disguises to avoid becoming Thanksgiving dinner. Children love the silly story and characters.
•  Learning Focus: Creativity and problem-solving.
•  Activity: As a family, enjoy making your our own “turkey disguises” craft, encouraging creativity and hands-on fun.

 Thanksgiving Hands-On Activities

In addition to storytime, Parents can plan Thanksgiving-themed activities to keep little hands busy and minds engaged while they are busy making the turkey!

1. Turkey Handprint Craft: Children will create turkeys using handprints and craft materials. This fun art project builds fine motor skills and provides a special keepsake for families.
2. Sensory Bin Fun: A Thanksgiving-themed sensory bin could include items like corn kernels, small gourds, pinecones, and textured leaves. Sensory play supports early learning and helps develop motor skills, language, and sensory exploration.
3. Thanksgiving Counting Game: We’ll practice counting with “turkey feathers” and other themed items, helping children build early math skills in a playful setting.

We look forward to celebrating Thanksgiving with your child and sharing in the joy of gratitude and giving.

 

In an age where technology is woven into nearly every aspect of life, developing digital literacy skills from an early age is essential for preparing children to navigate and succeed in future academic and social environments. Digital literacy involves more than just knowing how to use a tablet or computer—it includes critical thinking, responsible use, and understanding how to safely and effectively interact with digital content. For parents, caregivers, and educators in childcare and preschool settings, fostering digital literacy in young children is key to equipping them with the skills they will need for the digital future.

What is Digital Literacy?

Digital literacy refers to the ability to use digital tools effectively, critically, and safely. For young children, this means learning not just how to navigate apps or play educational games but also how to think critically about what they see online, interact responsibly with digital content, and develop good habits around technology use.

Digital literacy includes:

• Basic technical skills: Knowing how to use tec devices.
• Information literacy: Understanding how to find, evaluate, and use information.
• Online safety: Knowing how to stay safe, including understanding privacy and not sharing personal information.
• Digital communication: Understanding how to interact responsibly and respectfully.

Why Digital Literacy is Important in Early Childhood

As technology continues to advance, digital literacy is becoming an essential part of early childhood education, whether in home, daycare or preschool environments. Here’s why it’s so important:

• Future Academic Success: Many aspects of modern education, even at the preschool level, now incorporate digital tools. From educational apps that teach literacy and math to online research tools used in later schooling, a solid foundation in digital literacy prepares children for success in their academic journeys.
• Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: As children learn to navigate digital spaces, they develop the ability to assess the validity of information, make informed decisions, and think critically about the media they consume.
• Safe and Responsible Technology Use: Understanding privacy, avoiding inappropriate content, and knowing how to interact respectfully with others online are crucial skills for today’s digital natives.
• Social and Emotional Development: Teaching digital literacy from an early age ensures that children develop not only technical skills but also emotional intelligence when communicating in digital spaces. Knowing how to interact responsibly and empathetically in online environments is critical.

What Parents Can Do to Foster Digital Literacy

Parents play a pivotal role in helping young children develop digital literacy skills. By actively engaging with technology alongside their children and promoting balanced screen time, parents can create a supportive environment for digital learning. Here are some practical steps parents can take:

• Model Healthy Digital Habits: Children learn by observing their parents. By modeling healthy digital habits, such as limiting screen time, using technology responsibly, and balancing online and offline activities, parents set a positive example.
• Choose High-Quality Educational Content: Not all digital content is beneficial for young children. Parents should carefully curate the apps, games, and videos their children interact with to ensure they are age-appropriate and educational.
• Engage in Co-Use of Technology: Co-using technology—where parents and children engage with digital devices together—creates opportunities for interaction, discussion, and learning. Co-viewing educational videos or playing educational games together allows parents to guide their children through digital experiences, explain new concepts, and reinforce learning.
• Teach Critical Thinking Skills: As children grow, it’s important to help them develop the ability to critically evaluate the information they encounter online. This involves teaching them to ask questions like, “Is this information true?,” “Where does this come from?,” and “What is the source of this information?” Even at a young age, encouraging curiosity and questioning helps children build the critical thinking skills necessary for navigating the digital world.
• Prioritize Online Safety: In teaching online safety, parents should start by setting clear rules about what sites children are allowed to visit, which apps they can use, and who they can communicate with online. Teaching children about the importance of not sharing personal information and understanding the risks of talking to strangers online ensures they can interact safely in digital spaces as they grow.
• Limit Passive Screen Time: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than one hour of screen time per day for children aged 2 to 5, focusing on high-quality content. Encouraging interactive use of technology ensures children are actively engaging with digital media rather than passively consuming it.
• Promote a Balance of Digital and Real-World Play: Parents should encourage a healthy balance between digital activities and hands-on play. Outdoor play, imaginative play, and face-to-face interactions help children develop social, emotional, and physical skills that complement their digital literacy.

 

In today’s digital world, helping young children develop digital literacy skills is crucial for their future success in both academic and social environments. By modeling healthy digital habits, parents can provide their children with the tools they need to navigate the digital landscape effectively. In combination with hands-on learning experiences in childcare and preschool settings, these strategies can ensure that young children grow into digitally literate, responsible, and tech-savvy individuals.