The following is a guest post from our newest trainer, Pediatric Speech and Language Pathologist, Carol Lettko.

Here are a few go-to creative ideas to help keep your little ones engaged while reinforcing their language skills during play!
Remember to keep your child’s age in mind and modify the activity as needed. I hope you have fun with these ideas!

Bubbles
You can provide SO much language about the simple and fun act of blowing bubbles! You can talk about: blowing the bubbles; the bubbles are going up up up, and now they are coming down! (did you see how you just taught the concept of opposites by modeling “up” versus “down”?!), you can count the bubbles or sing a little made up song (“One little, two little, three little bubbles, four little bubbles go pop pop pop”!). Here you worked on counting as well as using repetition in the word “pop”.

For toddlers, rhythm and repetition are important to help them understand and start repeating words. You can turn it into a “receptive language” type of activity by having the child follow a direction with the bubbles (“Can you blow the bubble on mama’s shoe?…. versus blowing the bubble on your knee?) Here you worked on clothing identification versus a body part. Can you think of other places to have your child blow the bubble? You can work on turn taking…. Now it’s your sister’s turn to blow the bubbles. Turn-taking is a great skill to start working on to enhance the child’s social/pragmatic skills. Can your child say “my turn” to request the bubbles or “I want more bubbles” depending on what age he or she is? Be creative and the important thing is to have fun!

Forts
Does your child need some quiet time to relax? Throw a blanket over a table to create a quiet space to read books or play with their toys. Kids love to build forts! Let them bring a cozy pillow or blanket in their “fort” to create a safe quiet space to relax or listen to quiet music. Some of our children need what is called “sensory breaks” when life gets too over-stimulating. And do you need a break too?! Climb into this quiet space with your child and snuggle up and read a book together.

Scavenger Hunt
Movement and being outdoors is a great way to get those wiggles out! One of my favorite go-to activities is to go on a “scavenger hunt”! Let the child put their hidden treasures into a bag (leaves, stones, feathers, shells, bark, grass, etc) As you and your child find different treasures, talk out loud about what your child just found “Ooh you found a big round stone! My stone is tiny and rough”. (You just provided really rich language in which you used “descriptive words” such as big, round, tiny and rough). Keep on narrating what you and your child are doing! Remember, your child will stay more engaged if you follow “their” lead and talk about what they are interested in! Take your treasures back home and glue them onto a piece of paper, or let your child “paint” the stones or shells. They even love painting with water if you don’t have paint.

I hope these suggestions were helpful and that you can incorporate some of them into your routine this week! Happy playing and talking!

by Karen D’Souza who covers early education at EdSource

Going back to school is always a bit of a sticky transition, but this year there’s more to worry about, from teacher shortages to mask rules, than the usual concerns. On top of all that, there are many more children who will be going to transitional kindergarten, or TK, this year because of the expanded age guidelines. These children are younger than the usual TK cohort of almost 5-year-old children who just missed the cutoff for kindergarten.

Paula Merrigan, for one, is up for the challenge. A veteran early childhood educator with 15 years teaching kindergarten and TK in the Castro Valley Unified School District, she’s long been a champion of making transitional kindergarten, a steppingstone between preschool and kindergarten, available to more children.

The universal transitional kindergarten program is being gradually phased in until it includes all the state’s 4-year-olds by the 2025-26 school year. In the 2022–23 school year, children who will turn 5 between Sept. and Feb. 2 are eligible for TK. In the 2023–24 school year, children who will turn 5 between Sept. 2 and April 2 are eligible for TK.

Merrigan recently took a few minutes out from her back-to-school preparations to share some of her tips for parents on how to help their children get ready for TK this year.

What should parents know as they try to support kids who are younger than usual starting TK?

If they haven’t been going to day care or preschool, they will probably have a hard time separating from you. It’s normal, and it may last a few days, but it gets better and easier. Just say your goodbyes and let the teacher or staff handle it. The longer you linger, the harder it is on both of you.

What should parents keep in mind?

Create routines you can stick with. Bedtime should be at a reasonable time for young kids (lights out by 8:30, not starting getting ready for bed at 8:30). Well-rested children perform better at school. Have them set out their wardrobe for the next day so you don’t have arguments over what they are going to wear. Let them have some autonomy. It gives them a sense of power over something small. Teachers don’t care if they come to school in polka-dots and stripes with zig-zags. It actually makes us smile.

Is there stuff parents should practice with their kids?

Give them safety scissors (blunt tip kid scissors) and have them practice cutting magazines, drawn lines, newspapers, etc. You’d be surprised how many students we see who don’t have any idea how to hold scissors, let alone use them.

Practice using a glue stick so they know how to use it in class. Let them create collages with all that cut-up paper and pictures from their scissors practicing. Practice the proper grip with a pencil; small pencils are perfect for their little hands (golf pencil size). Playing with Legos and Play-Doh, or picking up small things like pony beads, beans or small pasta, etc. is great for practicing fine motor skills and building up hand strength.

Should they work on things like early reading or early math?

Write their name with a highlighter and have them practice tracing their name. Talk about the letters in their name so they know what letters they are writing.

They don’t need to be reading yet, but parents and guardians need to be reading to them every single day. It’s great bonding time and shows them you value reading as well.

Math is easier: counting things around the house, talking about what’s bigger or smaller, longer or taller, heavier or lighter, etc. Count with them as they pick things up that they are playing with.

I’m a huge fan of Sesame Street. They are always practicing pre-academic skills on the show in a fun, young kid-friendly manner. That’s a great show to watch with your child, or at least in proximity, so you can talk about what’s happening.

How important is it to talk about sharing or lining up at school?

I always tell my students sharing does not mean, “Give it to me now because I want it!” Sharing means, “May I have that when you’re done using it?” That’s an important thing to explain to your children.

Lining up. Explain you won’t always be the first one in line and that’s OK. I always tell my students we are all going to the same place to do the same thing, so it doesn’t matter where you are in line. Teach them about personal space and to tell others if they are getting in your space, but don’t push someone who is in your space.

What is the hardest part for most kids about starting TK?

It’s the separation from their parents and guardians. Some kids take a few weeks to adjust to their new routine. It’s normal. Eventually, they will rush from their parents to run into class without even looking back to say goodbye. That’s a hard one for parents.

I know I will have crying students and crying parents, kiddos who can’t write their names, don’t know how to hold a pencil, have never held scissors, don’t understand sharing, etc. And it’s OK, that’s why I’m there.

Source: https://edsource.org/2022/what-parents-should-know-about-getting-kids-ready-for-transitional-kindergarten/676655

Why is Mother’s Day So Special?

Our mothers and mother-figures have shined the past couple of years. In addition to their daily responsibilities, mothers were tasked with defining what a ‘new normal’ looks like for their families. While it has not been easy, they have all stepped up and excelled in their own ways, keeping their children and grandchildren safe and healthy at all costs. We are sure they also sprinkled in some fun and laughs along the way.

To the mother or mother-figure in your life who works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to make sure you feel secure and loved. To the one who always says “I love you” and “I support you” when you need it most.

How will you show your love and appreciation this year?

Every day at BANANAS, a mom’s love is honored and acknowledged. And today, we want to help YOU say thank you!

How to send a card:

1. Donate $20 for each card – all funds raised will directly support families and child care providers across Northern Alameda county
2. The image above is the card. We can either mail it to you or directly to your honoree.
3. Email BANANAS team member Adrienne at adrienne@bananasbunch.org with your name, your honorees’ name, and their address.
4. That’s it! We will send her a card from you!

Happy Mother’s Day from the Bunch. We hope this small gesture helps you and the mother in your life feel love and joy during this special holiday.

Written by Sharon Shi

We need more men to break the stereotype of the female-dominated child care industry in today’s gender equity world. From the Hechinger Report, males total only 3% of early childhood educators (1). In our society and history, we have these very specific stereotypes of gender roles, and it’s important for children to see other possibilities and other paths they can take. Men are welcomed and encouraged to step up and step into the early child care provider’s positions as much-needed role models. Male early childhood teachers can make a more positive difference in our next generations’ growth and in our community. 

Here are some benefits to having men in early child care settings:

1. 1. Gender integrated care environments have a big impact on young children as they begin to form their conceptions of gender roles and identity. The presence of male caregivers provides a particular benefit for boys’ development. They have a bonus space to seek out positive role models, especially for those from father-absent homes. Also, a male presence in caregiver settings may encourage fathers to participate more in their child’s educational experience, which in turn expands positive influence into communities.
   2. For the youngest learners, they are more likely to get exposed to different varieties of play and communication styles, which helps them to develop healthy ideas around gender, social interactions, and balanced environments.
   3. The pay disparity that exists for all professional women is especially profound in education. In the late 1800s and early 20th century, being a teacher was one of the few “professional” occupations for women – an opportunity to use their intelligence to do something greater; “have a wider world of ideas, politics and public usefulness.(3)” Pay was meager and the conventional thinking of that time was that a woman’s income was only supplementing her husband’s income or for a single working woman living with her parents or in a shared housing arrangement until she married, and thus did not require a livable income. To this day, preschool and K-12 educators are overwhelmingly women and the compensation for this workforce remains structurally underfunded and undervalued. While it is an unfortunate reality, increasing male participation in early education will lift all boats and increase compensation for all early care and education professionals.

Despite the benefits listed above and the support from across the industry, male early child care providers are still facing societal barriers and cultural resistance. Some parents are skeptical or concerned about having men in classroom settings. In some child care centers, male teachers are advised not to hug children, change diapers, or monitor toilet training. This perception of anticipated misconduct is at the forefront of men avoiding careers in this industry. Welcoming men into this sphere means changing the perception that we hold of care and the face of caregiving.

A study (2) from NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) shows how several education professors have recommended concrete ways to increase male participation in the field. The recommendations include: 1) increase all early childhood educators’ compensation to that comparable to elementary school teachers 2) in child care programs, establish support groups for male early childhood educators and provide mentoring and professional development opportunities 3) outreach and offer young men more opportunities to work with young children through internships and volunteer programs, and also create marketing materials which include male caregivers in the early childhood education fields in the advertisement. 

To increase gender balance by encouraging more male educators, we must be intentional and proactive in how we recruit and retain men in the field—especially men of color. We need to take concrete actions to ensure this transition and to solidify children’s rights to meaningful and comprehensive education, in balanced environments. This course will truly benefit children, families, and our communities and have a lasting impact on the most critical period in a child’s life.

In the spirit of appreciation, BANANAS is grateful for PROVIDERS and the inclusion that you show daily. We know creating healthy environments for educating our youngest children is what you do best! We thank you for helping us to create a climate of inclusion, and for getting the word out that male educator’s matter.

References: 

1. NOAM SHPANCER PH.D.    Insight Therapy    No Man’s Land: Where Are the Male Daycare Caregivers? 
2. KIRSTEN COLE JEAN-YVES PLAISIR MINDI REICH-SHAPIRO ANTONIO FREITAS Building Gender Balanced Workforce  https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/sept2019/building-gender-balanced-workforce-supporting-male-teachers
3. PBS Online: Only A Teacher: Teaching Timeline https://www.pbs.org/onlyateacher/timeline.html

Think back to when you were nine years old.  You are sitting in your 4th-grade class and your teacher announces it is time for a timed multiplication test. What is your reaction? Do you get a rush of excitement over the thrill of a timed brain rush, or do your palms feel sweaty and you have an anxious stomach at just the thought? What if you get the answers wrong? What if you can’t finish your test? What if you get stuck on the first line and your friend next to you sees that you don’t know the answer? 

If you are feeling anxious even imagining the situation, you are not alone. Research shows that math anxiety negatively affects about 50% of adults, more women than men. This anxiety takes up energy and space in your brain that inhibits problem-solving and critical thinking. Children who experience math anxiety have a more difficult time learning new math skills, and it creates a snowball effect landing students further behind in their math and science classes. 

As Early Childhood Educators, you might be wondering what this has to do with us. The reality is, many of us may still carry math anxiety years later and we might not be aware of it. For instance, I have moderate dyslexia and before I was diagnosed, I would often copy math problems from the book to my paper incorrectly. I would then do the problem correctly on my paper, but the answer was incorrect from my book because I wrote down 45 + 33 instead of 54 + 33. My teacher marked the answers incorrect, I received poor math grades, and I always thought I was just inherently bad at math. It wasn’t until years later that I learned I was dyslexic, got the tools I needed, and had to unlearn what had been embedded into my identity. I wasn’t bad at math. I could learn new math skills and I could do hard things. I often wonder what might have happened if that teacher took the time to help me problem solve instead of contributing to the issue. 

Many early educators unknowingly hold on to false beliefs about their abilities and pass them along to the children they educate. I had to learn to overcome my false identity so I could be a better educator and role model for the next generation. 

Let’s flip the narrative:

• What is your math story? 
• What do you believe is true and what is negative self-talk?

In case you need to hear it, you aren’t bad at math. You do math every day. Anyone who has ever successfully doubled a recipe, added a tip to a bill at a restaurant, managed a budget, estimated time or weight, or arranged furniture in a room is a mathematician! 

Let’s teach the next generation that math education is a process, not just about getting the most amount of answers on a timed test. Whether you are a family child care provider, a child care staff, or a center director, each of you has the influence to empower young children with the knowledge that it is ok to get the wrong answer, make a mistake, or work through a problem. It is okay to be a little nervous about something and try it anyway. Children need to see adults around them struggle, problem-solve, and work through it! That is when true learning happens. Building math confidence in young children now will provide the foundation to help them succeed as they enter elementary school and beyond. 

In an effort to break the cycle of stigma around math abilities, BANANAS recently completed a two-year partnership with the Early Math Initiative Project to provide early math coaching and training to child care providers. One of our coaches, Joan Suflita, worked directly with child care providers to rewrite their math stories and make teaching early math fun! 

To all the child care providers educating the next generation of leaders, scientists, inventors, mathematicians, doctors, researchers, and educators, thank you. We are continually inspired by your work. 

Please check out these Early Math Resources for simple tools to incorporate problem-solving, early math projects at your site. 

Sesame Street Early Math 

Development and Research for Early Math Education

Early Math Counts

by Sarah Silva