Voluntary Prekindergarten-Title I Early Learning Initiative

Parent Handbook 2019-2020 School Year VPK Program

Table of Contents Page

2019-2020 School Calendar 1

Voluntary Prekindergarten – Attendance – Calendar/Hours 2

Clothing – Code of Student Conduct and Discipline - Transportation 3

Curriculum Information – Medications – Nutrition – Parent Involvement 4

Personal Property – FL Kindergarten Screener – School Attendance Zone 5

Sign-In/Sign-Out - Withdrawals 5

Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten Assessments 6

School Board Policy 215 – Voluntary Prekindergarten Program Policy 7-10

Sample Forms • Voluntary Prekindergarten Parent Agreement• Absence Form• Authorization to Administer Prescription/Non-Prescription

Medication

11-13

First Teacher: A Parent’s Guide to Growing and Learning / 4-Year-Olds 14-27

Approved 03/27/18 REF: 1920PlainCal

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF VOLUSIA COUNTY Community Information Services

Post Office Box 2118, DeLand, Florida 32721-2118

2019-20 School Calendar

August 6 (Tuesday) .................................................. Preplanning Begins – Teachers Report

August 12 (Monday) ................................................. First Day of School for Students

September 2 (Monday) ............................................. Labor Day Holiday

September 16 (Monday) ........................................... Professional Development Day/Student Holiday

October 14 (Monday) ................................................ Teacher Duty Day/Student Holiday

November 11 (Monday) ............................................ Veterans Day Holiday

November 25 (Monday) ............................................ Thanksgiving Holiday Begins

December 2 (Monday) .............................................. Classes Resume

December 19 (Thursday) .......................................... Teacher Duty Day/Student Holiday

December 20 (Friday) ............................................... Winter Holiday Begins

January 6 (Monday) .................................................. Classes Resume

January 20 (Monday) ................................................ Martin Luther King’s Birthday Holiday

February 17 (Monday) .............................................. Presidents’ Day Holiday

March 13 (Friday) ..................................................... Teacher Duty Day/Student Holiday

March 16 (Monday) ................................................... Spring Holiday Begins

March 23 (Monday) ................................................... Classes Resume

May 25 (Monday) ...................................................... Memorial Day Holiday

May 29 (Friday)......................................................... Last Day of School for Students

June 2 (Tuesday) ...................................................... Last Day of School for Teachers

Make-up days for inclement weather include November 25 and November 26.

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Voluntary Prekindergarten - Title I Early Learning Initiative

Welcome to the Volusia County School District Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Program! The Voluntary Prekindergarten Program is designed to help transition children to kindergarten. Program activities focus on literacy development, mathematics and school readiness.

Each child is unique and special. It is the goal of prekindergarten to provide individual attention to each and every child in this program. With this goal in mind, the Title I Department is offering additional instructional hours beyond the 3 hours per day for VPK. The goal of the Early Learning Initiative is to provide a full day schedule of engaged learning for 4-year-olds prior to kindergarten.

Please remember that you are your child’s first teacher. Your input and guidance are vital to working with your child. Communicate openly and often with your child’s teacher and share information that may assist staff with providing the best program for your child.

Volusia County School Board Policy 215 describes the program, program admission and attendance requirements. Although enrollment in the program is voluntary, families are expected to abide by the policy for the period in which a child is enrolled. A copy of the policy is on page 7-10.

Attendance

Lifelong habits are set at a very early age. Teaching your child that regular attendance and promptness are important is best done by ensuring that your child is at school regularly and on time. Future success in school may be affected if your child is absent, or is tardy on a regular basis.

Medical and dental appointments should be made after VPK school hours or on non-school days.

Please ensure that your child attends the VPK program daily. The child may be withdrawn from the program if significant absences occur. If there are significant absences they will be taken to the VPK Attendance Review Committee. Absences are only to be excused for illness or other legitimate excuse.

Each time your child is absent, be sure to submit a fully completed excuse. For your convenience, a sample Absence Form is included in the back of this handbook.

The parent or guardian listed on the COE will be asked to sign a Verification of Student Attendance at the end of each month. This is required by the Early Learning Coalition of Flagler and Volusia Counties and a requirement for your child to remain enrolled in the program.

Calendar/Hours

The program operates according to the approved school district calendar. Please check with your child’s school for the VPK program hours. Students are expected to be in attendance daily and remain throughout the VPK program day. This is an educational program designed to prepare your child for kindergarten, not a drop-off child care service.

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Clothing

Children should be dressed comfortably in clothes that follow the district dress code. Closed-in shoes such as sneakers with socks are best for protecting little feet. Sandals, flip-flops, or open shoes are not permitted. Please refer to your child’s school’s website for school uniform policy information.

Please be sure to include a change of clothes for occasional accidents that may occur.

Code of Student Conduct and Discipline

The Code of Student Conduct and Discipline defines student rights and responsibilities as well as violations of conduct, which could lead to disciplinary responses up to, and including, expulsion. Discipline problems not listed in the code shall be within the jurisdiction of each school. Each school is authorized to attach local school rules to the Code of Student Conduct and Discipline as long as such rules and regulations do not conflict with this Code.

The purpose of this code is to make available to school personnel, students, and parents/guardians rules governing student conduct and discipline adopted by the School Board of Volusia County in order to ensure that:

1. Students will understand what behavior is expected of them as well as the range of consequences for misbehavior; and2. Students will be assured of fair and consistent treatment and will understand the procedures for discipline and appeal.3. School will identify students in need of additional behavioral support and provide positive intervention(s) matched to their

needs.4. School will inform parent/guardian if more intensive, positive behavioral interventions are required.

Parent/Guardian Responsibilities

The cooperation of parents/guardians/family members, school personnel, and students is essential if good discipline in the school is to be achieved. Parents/guardians and family members may contribute to good discipline by:

• maintaining a positive attitude toward education;• showing an interest in their children's progress through regular communication with their children and the school;• assuring that their children are neat, clean and appropriately dressed;• ensuring their children's timely daily attendance;• reporting and explaining promptly to the school officials any absence;• teaching their children respect for authority of school personnel;• informing the school immediately of any condition or circumstance, which may affect their children's ability to learn, to attend

school regularly, or to participate in school activities;• cooperating with school personnel in solving disciplinary problems; and• not allowing their children to disrupt the education of others.

Application of the Code:

This code applies to EVERY student who is under the jurisdiction of the School Board of Volusia County. It will be in effect on school property and at other places where teachers and school administrators have jurisdiction over students.

Transportation

Transportation is not provided for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Program. It is the parents’ responsibility to ensure safe transportation for each child every day.

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Curriculum Information

The VPK program uses the Big Day for Pre-K curriculum program, Smart Start and the Committee for Children’s Second Step Social and Emotional Curriculum kit. The curriculum is enriched with a variety of additional emerging literacy and number skill experiences.

The VPK Program is a developmentally appropriate program based on the Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards for 4 Years Old to Kindergarten. These standards are in the back of this handbook and can also be found at http://flbt5.floridaearlylearning.com/standards.html#d=I,II,III,IV,V,VI,VII,VIII&a=four_year_olds. These standards provide guidance on ways classroom instruction and the classroom environment can promote learning. The program’s instructional focus addresses the following areas:

♦ Physical Development♦ Approaches to Learning♦ Social and Emotional Development♦ Language and Literacy♦ Mathematical Thinking♦ Scientific Inquiry♦ Social Studies♦ Creative Expression Through the Arts

Medications

At the request of a student's parent or guardian and doctor, prescription medication may be administered by a trained principal or trained designee. A district form "Authorization to Administer Prescription Medication to Students by School Personnel" must be completed by the student's parent or guardian, and physician, prior to the administration of medication. A copy of the form is included in this handbook.

Nutrition

The VPK/Title I program is available to children zoned for the elementary site. The full day program allows for breakfast and lunch within the daily schedule. Meal times are valuable teaching opportunities. Meals may be purchased or brought from home. Applications for free/reduced price lunches may be obtained at the school office. Meal times provide a pleasant time for your child to learn healthy nutritional habits, appropriate table manners, coordination of small muscles and skills leading to independent self-help. Meal times also provide natural situations for development of language, vocabulary and social skills.

A school district nutritionist plans daily menus to ensure the best nutritional value of all meals served. Please report all food allergies or special nutritional needs to the teacher so that they are addressed.

If you prefer to pack your child’s meal, please prepare foods in child-sized portions, cut-up/sliced/peeled and in non- breakable containers that are easy to open and safe for eating. If your child’s lunch contains perishable foods, please include an ice pack. Packed lunches should contain healthy selections and minimize unhealthy treats.

Parent Involvement

You are invited and encouraged to be involved with your child during the VPK program. Your participation is welcomed through suggestions and visits at any time. Parent conferences are to be arranged by appointment to allow teachers to focus on children during the school day. Volunteers must register through the District Volunteer online process (http://myvolusiaschools.org/volunteer-partnership/Pages/default.aspx). Your involvement and support is important to the quality of this program.

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Personal Property

Please leave all toys at home as they may get lost or broken. There may be a time when the teacher asks children to bring items from home. Please be sure that these items are clearly marked with the child’s name.

Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener

State law requires each parent who enrolls his or her child in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program to submit the child for the statewide kindergarten screening, regardless of whether the child is admitted to kindergarten in a public school or nonpublic school. Each school district is required to designate sites to administer the statewide kindergarten screening for children admitted to kindergarten in a nonpublic school. Please watch for an announcement regarding these screenings and ensure that your child is screened.

School Attendance Zone Title I School Zoned Students

Students may enroll in the VPK-Title I program if they live in the zoned area for the Title I school.

Sign-In/Sign-Out

To assure that your child is supervised carefully while in the school’s care and for compliance with regulations determined by Volusia County Schools, The Early Learning Coalition and the Office of Early Learning, the following system is employed:

♦ Each school designates a sign-in and sign-out area. Please check with your child’s school for the location. Late arrivals and early withdrawals must report to the office.

♦ Each child must be checked into and out of the classroom daily by parent/guardian or other authorized person.♦ Only persons 18 years or older, who are authorized on the emergency card by the parent/guardian, are permitted to sign-

out a child. For your child’s safety, identification is required for anyone to sign-out a child.

Children are not released from areas other than the designated sign-in and sign-out area.

Late pick-up is not acceptable.

Your child’s safety is of the utmost importance. If you will be late to pick up your child, please contact the school prior to the end of the school day.

Sign-in/Sign-out time is determined by the clock at the school. The following steps are taken if any child remains at a school 5 minutes after closing.

♦ The teacher attempts to contact person(s) permitted to pick up the child as identified on the emergency card, the child is taken to the front office and office personnel attempt to contact person(s) permitted to pick up the child.

♦ If no authorized person is reached, the school personnel will contact the local police authority to pick up the child.

Your support of these procedures is necessary to protect each child. Failure to follow these very important procedures could result in a child’s termination from the program.

Withdrawals

In order to withdraw from the prekindergarten program, the parent/guardian must notify: 1. Student’s teacher, and2. Elementary school office.

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FLORIDA VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN (VPK) ASSESSMENTS

Volusia County Schools uses the Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Assessment to monitor the progress of students as they develop important readiness skills. We will assess the children at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year to plan instructional activities that meet the needs of each child.

VPK ASSESSMENT

Print Knowledge Measure The Print Knowledge measure assesses a child’s ability to recognize the difference between letters and words, his/her knowledge of letter names (both upper and lower case) and the sounds they make.

Phonological Awareness Measure The Phonological Awareness measure assesses a child’s awareness and manipulation of the different sounds in a word. The Phonological Awareness measure also assesses the child’s ability to blend (put together) a word if it is broken up into smaller sounds or syllables, blend a compound word, and recognize the remaining word when part of the stimulus word is taken away (e.g., If the teacher says to the child: “Say, football without ball.” Football is the stimulus word).

Mathematics Measure The Mathematics measure assesses a child’s early numeracy skills across three different areas: counting skills, numerical relations skills, and arithmetic reasoning skills.

Oral Language/Vocabulary Measure The Oral Language/Vocabulary measure assesses a child’s ability to express him/herself in words, understand language that is heard, and his/her knowledge of age appropriate words and their meanings.

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STUDENTS/PUPILS POLICIES NUMBER 215

VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM POLICY

I. Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program

Any Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program offered by the school district shall be adevelopmentally appropriate program designed to prepare a student for early literacy, enhance age- appropriate progress of attaining the Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program Standards, and prepare students to be ready for kindergarten, based on the statewide kindergarten screening administered under Florida Statute 1002.69.

The summer program must comprise at least 300 instructional hours and may not start any sooner than May 1 of the school year. The program shall not be delivered to a child any sooner than the summer immediately before the school year for which the child is eligible for admission to kindergarten in a public school under Florida Statute 1003.21(1)(a)2.

The district may provide a school year program. If the program is provided the school year program must comprise at least 540 instructional hours.

The district shall determine which public schools shall provide the program and shall ensure that each public school providing the program shall register to provide the program with the Early Learning Coalition serving Volusia County. This registration will be in a format prescribed by the Office for Early Learning.

II. Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program Eligibility

The Early Learning Coalition serving Volusia County determines eligibility for admission to theVoluntary Prekindergarten Education Program. Families of children wishing to enroll must provide theschool district with an original, valid State of Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten Education ProgramChild Eligibility and Enrollment Certificate issued by the Early Learning Coalition serving VolusiaCounty. The certificate of eligibility must be valid for the session in which the child is being registered.

A child who is eligible for kindergarten is not eligible for Voluntary Prekindergarten.

III. Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program Enrollment

The school district may only enroll a child in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Program after the EarlyLearning Coalition serving Volusia County determines that a child is eligible for the program. The schooldistrict may limit the number of students admitted by any public school for enrollment in the VoluntaryPrekindergarten Program: however, the school district must provide for the admission of every eligiblechild within the district whose parent enrolls the child in a summer Voluntary Prekindergarten Programdelivered by a public school under section 1002.61, Florida Statutes.The district may determine additional criteria for admission to the school year Voluntary PrekindergartenProgram which comply with the antidiscrimination requirements of 42

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STUDENTS/PUPILS POLICIES NUMBER 215

U.S.C. s. 200d. The school district may not discriminate against a parent or child in violation of these antidiscrimination requirements.

To be enrolled a child must have attained the age of four (4) years on or before September 1 of the school year. A child must be either a resident of Volusia County, Florida or be the child or grandchild of a Volusia County School District employee. The child must not have been dismissed from any Voluntary Prekindergarten Program previously due to a lack of compliance with the attendance policy of a program provider. Admission to the program is dependent upon written agreement of the student’s parents or guardians to adhere to the school district’s Voluntary Prekindergarten Attendance requirements.

IV. Voluntary Prekindergarten Attendance Requirements

The Voluntary Prekindergarten Program law requires each public school, upon enrollment of a child inthe Voluntary Prekindergarten Program, to provide each child’s parent with a copy of the school district’sattendance policy as applicable. Each parent enrolling his or her child in the Voluntary PrekindergartenProgram must agree to comply with the school district’s attendance policy, as applicable. This agreementshall be in written format as provided by the school district upon enrollment and signed by the parent orguardian.

The superintendent shall develop and distribute procedures that meet the school district’s obligationregarding attendance under this policy, state statutes and state rules and regulations, including theenforcement of school attendance requirements. The procedures must provide that schools track excusedand unexcused absences and contact the home in the case of an unexcused absence from school, orabsence for which the reason is unknown, to prevent the development of patterns of non-attendance.

The superintendent shall also establish necessary disciplinary procedures for the program designed tomake parents aware of the expectations for participation in the program. Among the expectations forparticipation in the program is the expectation that each child enrolled will be present for at least 80% ofthe program. These procedures will also be provided to parents.

A Excused Absence

1. Illness or other legitimate causes will be excused for up to 10% of the program whendocumented in writing by the parent to the building principal or designee. For absencesequaling or exceeding 10% of the program time, the school shall also have the discretionto require that absences be accompanied by a doctor’s verification of illness. The schoolhas further discretion to accept written documentation from someone, unrelated to thechild or the child’s parents, who has personal knowledge of the reason for the child’sabsence (e.g. compliance with a court order). The legitimacy of a cause for being absentshall be determined by the building principal or designee. Any or all written excuses willbe submitted to the Early Learning Coalition serving Volusia County as needed forverification of attendance.

STUDENTS/PUPILS POLICIES NUMBER 215

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2. Medical and dental appointments should be made after school hours or on non-schooldays. When this is not possible, students may be excused to fill these appointments. Anexcuse from the doctor or dentist is required.

B Unexcused Absence

1. The fact that the student’s parent or guardian knew of the absence does not, in and ofitself, require that an absence is excused by school personnel.

2. Absence without written notification of school officials by the parent/guardian isconsidered an unexcused absence.

3. If a student is absent from the Voluntary Prekindergarten Program for more than 20% ofthe program or five (5) consecutive instructional days, the student is considered withdrawnfrom the program unless the parent submits written documentation describing the reasonsfor the absence. The documentation may describe any reason or reasons for the absenceand is not limited to the extraordinary circumstances listed in IV.A.1. and 2. above. Thesereasons do not require the district to re-enroll a student who has automatically beenwithdrawn from the Voluntary Prekindergarten Program.

C Documentation and Certification of Student Attendance in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Program

1. The parent or guardian of each student enrolled in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Programmust verify, on a monthly basis, the student’s daily attendance on the prior month’scertified student attendance form. The parent must submit the verification with an originalsignature to the school district in a format prescribed by the Florida Office for EarlyLearning.

2. The parent or guardian of each student enrolled in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Programmust also certify, again on a monthly basis, that it is their choice that the school districtcontinues to be the Voluntary Prekindergarten Program chosen to deliver the program totheir child and that the Early Learning Coalition serving Volusia County should directprogram funds to Volusia County Schools for their child.

STUDENTS/PUPILS POLICIES NUMBER 215

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Legal Authority:

Sections 1001.41(2), 1001.49(3), Florida Statutes

Laws Implemented: Sections 1002.53, 1002.61, 1002.71, 1002.72, 1002.79, Florida Statutes Office of Early Learning Policy Number EL-PI-0030-05

History: (Adopted -- June 28, 2006)

(Emergency Rule -- May 23, 2006 - August 21, 2006) (Revised -- April 14, 2009; January 11, 2011; May 22, 2012) (Effective Date -- May 22, 2012)

Volusia County Schools Voluntary Prekindergarten Parent Agreement

Please read and initial each item.

As a Parent/Guardian I will:

_____ ensure that my child attends the VPK program daily. I understand that my child may be withdrawn from the program if significant absences occur. After significant absences occur, the VPK Attendance Review Committee will meet to determine the student’s status and to determine if withdrawal from the VPK program is warranted.

_____ submit a written excuse each time my child is absent. Completion of an absence form is required after each absence.

_____ see that my child arrives promptly and is picked up on time.

_____ sign my child in and out of the program at the location designated by the school.

_____ sign and promptly return the Verification of Student Attendance form at the end of each month.

_____ ensure that my child takes the statewide kindergarten screening, regardless of whether the child is admitted to kindergarten in a public school or nonpublic school.

As a Parent/Guardian I understand:

_____ enrollment in the program is voluntary and that for the duration of the child’s enrollment, the family will adhere to School District Policy 215. A written copy of the Policy has been received.

_____ transportation is not provided by the district for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Program.

_____ my child is expected to behave in accordance with the school district’s Code of Student Conduct and Discipline.

_____ VPK students may be reassigned to another class or school if program attendance declines.

_____ extended absences from the program will result in the loss of my child’s VPK enrollment.

_____ my child will attend kindergarten in the school for which the family’s residence zones them, unless granted a waiver for kindergarten entry.

_____ the VPK program is not considered a part of the Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). If my child has an active Individual Educational Plan (IEP) and receives Exceptional Student Educational Services, these services will not be provided through the VPK program. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 Plans still apply.

I have read, understood, and initialed each item listed above.

______________________ _____________ Child’s Name Date

_____________ Date

2007-074-VCS

____________________________ Parent/Guardian Signature

____________________________ Registrar’s Signature

Revised: 2/2019Owner: Prekindergarten Print Locally

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ABSENCE FORM

Date

Please excuse my child’s absence on / / (date). / / (date).

My child was absent because:

compliance with a court order (e.g. visitation, subpoena, etc.) Must attach documentation.

hospitalization of the child. Must attach documentation.

illness or injury of the child requiring bed rest.

medical appointment (doctor, dentist, etc.) Must attach documentation.

My child’s name is

My name is

Signature

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*** PLEASE COMPLETE ALL AREAS ***

Student's Name

at____

Doctor's Stamp

Address City

Address

2004-347-VCS SCHOOL SHOULD RETAIN THIS FORM IN THE HEALTH CLINIC Distributed by: Health Services Revised 04/2014

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF VOLUSIA COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES AUTHORIZATION TO ADMINISTER PRESCRIPTION/ NON-PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION

(TO STUDENTS BY SCHOOL PERSONNEL) NOTE: SCHOOL BOARD POLICY REQUIRES THAT:

1. Prescription medication can only be administered at school when failure to take such medication could jeopardize astudent'shealth.

2. Medication must be brought to school by the parent/guardian or their adult designee. It must be in the original containerlabeled by the pharmacy to include the following, and must exactly match the doctor's orders:

A. NAME OF STUDENTB. NAME OF DOCTOR (Licensed and authorized by Florida law to order prescription medication)C. NAME OFMEDICINED. INSTRUCTION AS TO DOSAGE (amount and time, such as 12:00 PM, noon, or lunchtime)E. INDICATION OF SPECIAL STORAGE, IF NEEDED (refrigeration, etc.)

Nursing Supervisors Signature Da

PARENT/GUARDIAN PERMISSION

First Teacher: A Parent’s Guide to Growing and Learning

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lvin

g sk

ills.

You

will

noti

ce y

our

child

con

tinui

ng t

o ad

d ne

w w

ords

into

her

da

ily c

onve

rsati

ons.

You

may

also

noti

ce t

hat

she

will

sha

re h

er

expe

rienc

es w

ith y

ou w

ithou

t yo

u ha

ving

to

ask

her.

You

can

enco

urag

e he

r to

find

new

way

s to

des

crib

e he

r fe

elin

gs a

nd

thou

ghts

abo

ut h

er e

very

day

expe

rienc

es. W

hen

you

ask

her a

bout

he

r fr

iend

s or

wha

t sh

e di

d at

sch

ool,

ask

for

mor

e de

tails

or

ask

wha

t mad

e he

r hap

py o

r sad

abo

ut h

er d

ay.

This

book

let o

ffers

acti

vitie

s an

d st

rate

gies

for

you

to u

se d

aily

to

help

you

r ch

ild g

row

and

dev

elop

. The

se e

asy-

to-fo

llow

acti

vitie

s w

ill h

elp

you

build

a s

tron

g re

latio

nshi

p an

d a

foun

datio

n fo

r yo

ur c

hild

’s le

arni

ng a

nd fu

ture

suc

cess

. All

fam

ilies

are

diff

eren

t. Re

mem

ber

to in

clud

e st

orie

s, a

ctivi

ties

and

lang

uage

s fr

om y

our

own

fam

ily.

You

are

your

chi

ld’s

firs

t tea

cher

.

15

Phys

ical

Dev

elop

men

tIt

star

ts w

ith y

ou

Phys

ical

dev

elop

men

t re

fers

to

your

chi

ld’s

gene

ral

heal

th a

nd

deve

lopm

ent

of p

hysic

al s

kills

invo

lvin

g la

rge

and

smal

l mus

cles

. Yo

ur 4

-yea

r-old

now

has

bett

er d

evel

oped

fine

mot

or a

nd g

ross

m

otor

ski

lls.

He w

ill b

ecom

e m

ore

skill

ful

in h

is ba

lanc

e w

hile

w

alki

ng, r

unni

ng o

r cl

imbi

ng.

You

will

also

noti

ce th

at h

e is

mor

e su

cces

sful

whe

n w

orki

ng o

n pu

zzle

s, la

cing

sm

all b

eads

or

shoe

s,

tyin

g sh

oes,

dre

ssin

g hi

mse

lf an

d pu

tting

to

geth

er

smal

l pa

rts o

n to

ys.

Beca

use

he

is gr

owin

g so

qu

ickl

y,

he

need

s he

alth

y fo

ods

and

lots

of

sleep

. As

k hi

m to

hel

p yo

u pl

an m

eals

or

snac

ks a

nd le

t hi

m h

elp

you

with

co

okin

g or

pr

epar

ing

food

. He

ca

n do

sim

ple

task

s lik

e w

ashi

ng f

ruits

and

ve

geta

bles

, m

akin

g hi

s ow

n sa

ndw

ich

or

help

ing

you

mea

sure

the

ingr

edie

nts f

or a

re

cipe

.

Routi

nes

are

impo

rtan

t to

pr

esch

oole

rs,

so m

ake

good

hy

gien

e a

routi

ne.

Was

hing

hi

s ha

nds

befo

re e

ating

or

help

ing

prep

are

food

and

afte

r us

ing

the

bath

room

is a

goo

d w

ay to

star

t. Te

ach

him

to s

ing

the

“Hap

py

Birt

hday

” son

g an

d sc

rub

his h

ands

for a

s lon

g as

he

sings

the

song

. Br

ushi

ng h

is te

eth

after

eati

ng a

nd b

efor

e be

d ca

n be

enc

oura

ged

by g

ivin

g hi

m a

tim

er o

r le

tting

him

cho

ose

a sp

ecia

l too

thbr

ush

or to

othp

aste

. Mak

e hi

s be

dtim

e ro

utine

a r

itual

of t

akin

g a

bath

, br

ushi

ng te

eth

and

read

ing

a st

ory

toge

ther

eve

ry n

ight

. Soo

n th

is ro

utine

will

be

so fa

mili

ar h

e w

ill te

ll yo

u if

anyt

hing

is le

ft ou

t.

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT A

s you

r chi

ld g

row

s Yo

ur 4

-yea

r-old

’s gr

owth

and

dev

elop

men

t w

ill g

o th

roug

h m

any

chan

ges.

You

r chi

ld w

ill

• Pi

ck u

p hi

s ow

n cl

othe

s and

get

dre

ssed

and

und

ress

ed w

ithou

tas

sista

nce.

• La

ce, z

ip o

r butt

on sh

oes o

r clo

thin

g.•

Begi

n to

lear

n to

tie

shoe

s.•

Show

left

or ri

ght h

and

dom

inan

ce.

Play

ing

and

lear

ning

Su

ppor

t you

r chi

ld’s

phys

ical

dev

elop

men

t by

tryi

ng th

ese

activ

ities

. •

Play

cat

ch w

ith h

im u

sing

vario

us si

ze b

alls.

• Pr

ovid

e tr

icyc

les,

scoo

ters

or o

ther

bal

anci

ng to

ys fo

r him

torid

e.•

Play

“Si

mon

Say

s” (i

.e.,

touc

h yo

ur to

es to

you

r nos

e, b

alan

ceon

you

r left

foot

, bou

nce

a ba

ll fo

r a d

eter

min

ed le

ngth

of

time)

.•

Roll

play

dou

gh sn

akes

and

pla

ce o

n de

sign

card

s with

shap

esan

d lin

es (d

esig

n ca

rds:

zig-

zag

lines

, cur

ved

line,

stra

ight

line

,sh

apes

).•

Prov

ide

sciss

ors a

nd p

aper

to sn

ip lo

ng a

nd sh

ort c

uts t

oen

hanc

e fin

e m

otor

skill

s.•

Prov

ide

pape

r alo

ng w

ith c

rayo

ns, m

arke

rs, p

enci

ls an

d/or

pens

to e

xper

imen

t with

writi

ng a

nd d

raw

ing.

Taki

ng c

are

of y

our c

hild

Ac

tive

child

ren

need

lot

s of

res

t an

d no

urish

men

t. Yo

ur 4

-yea

r-ol

d sh

ould

get

bet

wee

n 10

-13

hour

s of

sle

ep a

day

, bet

wee

n na

ps

and

even

ing

sleep

. En

cour

age

him

to d

ress

him

self

and

brus

h hi

s ha

ir an

d te

eth

ever

y m

orni

ng. P

raise

all

effor

ts –

eve

n w

hen

not

succ

essf

ul (i

.e.,

butto

ns a

ren’

t lin

ed u

p co

rrec

tly).

Be s

ure

to ta

ke

your

chi

ld f

or h

is an

nual

doc

tor

visit

s as

pla

nned

by

your

hea

lth

care

pro

vide

r.

16

App

roac

hes

to L

earn

ing

It st

arts

with

you

Ap

proa

ches

to

lear

ning

is

a se

t of

beh

avio

rs o

r ch

arac

teris

tics

rela

ted

to h

ow yo

ung

child

ren

inte

ract

with

thei

r env

ironm

ent,

such

as

cur

iosit

y, p

ersis

tenc

e an

d cr

eativ

ity. S

ome

of t

hese

beh

avio

rs

occu

r nat

ural

ly, b

ut y

ou c

an e

ncou

rage

the

deve

lopm

ent o

f oth

ers

by p

rovi

ding

a su

ppor

tive

envi

ronm

ent.

Durin

g th

is ye

ar o

f dev

elop

men

t you

will

wan

t to

prov

ide

your

child

w

ith o

ppor

tuni

ties

to le

arn

by e

xplo

ring

her e

nviro

nmen

t. Sh

e is

read

y fo

r new

exp

erie

nces

. Sh

e is

also

cur

ious

, cre

ative

and

read

y to

tac

kle

new

ski

lls.

Your

chi

ld u

ses

her

imag

inati

on to

“pr

eten

d pl

ay”

in a

mor

e co

mpl

ex m

anne

r, fo

r ext

ende

d le

ngth

s of ti

me.

She

ha

s a lo

nger

atte

ntion

span

and

is v

ery

curio

us. A

t thi

s age

, chi

ldre

n oft

en b

egin

to p

lan

and

lear

n ba

sed

on p

ast e

xper

ienc

es.

Help

you

r chi

ld d

evel

op c

urio

sity

and

eage

rnes

s by

• Al

low

ing

your

child

to m

ake

simpl

e ch

oice

s suc

h as

whi

ch sn

ack

to p

ack

in h

er lu

nch

or w

hich

shirt

to w

ear t

o sc

hool

.•

Givi

ng h

er si

mpl

e jo

bs, s

uch

asga

ther

ing

laun

dry,

colle

cting

tras

h, so

rting

toys

into

bin

s.•

Prai

sing

her

for

a “j

ob w

ell

done

.”•

Actin

g ou

t un

expe

cted

situa

tions

su

ch

as

getti

nglo

st

in

the

groc

ery

stor

eor

fin

ding

so

met

hing

th

atdo

esn’

t be

long

to

her.

This

will

hel

p he

r be

com

e aw

are

of h

er s

urro

undi

ngs

and

bere

spon

sible

and

res

pectf

ul o

fot

hers

.

As y

our c

hild

gro

ws

Your

4-y

ear-o

ld w

ill sh

ow y

ou sh

e is

lear

ning

by

• Sh

owin

g int

eres

t in

lear

ning

new

skill

s, su

ch a

s lett

er re

cogn

ition

and

lette

r sou

nds,

num

bers

and

shap

es.

• St

retc

hing

bey

ond

her c

omfo

rt z

one

whe

n it

com

es to

tack

ling

new

exp

erie

nces

or

chal

leng

es (e

.g. a

ttem

pting

a n

ew p

uzzle

,bu

ildin

g a

talle

r to

wer

or

play

ing

a ne

w g

ame

with

out

aski

ngfo

r hel

p).

• Pr

oble

m s

olvi

ng a

nd a

skin

g fo

r he

lp f

rom

adu

lts o

r fr

iend

s if

nece

ssar

y.

Play

ing

and

lear

ning

He

lp su

ppor

t you

r chi

ld’s

deve

lopm

ent b

y •

Usin

g ca

rdbo

ard

boxe

s to

cre

ate

an o

bsta

cle

cour

se fo

r he

r to

try.

• Ho

sting

a p

rete

nd p

icni

c or

cam

pout

in th

e ba

ckya

rd.

• St

aplin

g la

rge

piec

es o

f cra

ft pa

per o

n a

priv

acy

fenc

e or

rolli

ngou

t cra

ft pa

per o

n a

sidew

alk

for p

ainti

ng.

• De

cora

ting

ridin

g to

ys o

r pu

sh t

oys

for

a pa

rade

and

pla

ying

“mar

chin

g” m

usic

.•

Prov

idin

g a

larg

e bi

n fil

led

with

sand

, pas

ta o

r bea

ns w

here

your

child

can

pou

r, m

easu

re, a

nd fi

ll ot

her

cont

aine

rs p

rovi

ded

inth

e bi

n.•

Givi

ng h

er “d

ress

up”

clo

thes

to u

se in

dra

mati

c pl

ay.

Taki

ng c

are

of y

our c

hild

Pr

ovid

e pa

int,

mar

kers

and

cra

yons

for

her

to

draw

pic

ture

s of

he

rsel

f and

oth

er fa

mily

mem

bers

. W

rite

the

nam

es o

f the

peo

ple

on th

e pa

per n

ext t

o th

eir p

ictu

res.

Let y

our c

hild

dic

tate

a se

nten

ce

or t

wo

abou

t th

e pi

ctur

e th

at y

ou w

rite

on t

he p

age.

Boo

st y

our

child

’s le

arni

ng w

ith fa

st a

nd fu

n tip

s fro

m v

room

.org

.

APPROACHES TO LEARNING

17

Soci

al &

Em

otio

nal

Dev

elop

men

t It

star

ts w

ith y

ou

Soci

al a

nd e

moti

onal

dev

elop

men

t re

fers

to

your

chi

ld’s

feel

ings

, be

havi

ors

and

rela

tions

hips

. You

trul

y ar

e yo

ur c

hild

’s fir

st te

ache

r. Yo

ur in

tera

ction

s with

frie

nds a

nd fa

mily

can

impa

ct h

ow y

our c

hild

w

ill m

anag

e hi

s ow

n em

otion

s. H

e is

wat

chin

g an

d le

arni

ng fr

om

you

and

the

adul

ts a

roun

d hi

m. H

ow th

ese

adul

ts re

spon

d to

bot

h po

sitive

and

neg

ative

situ

ation

s bec

omes

a m

odel

for h

is re

spon

ses

to si

tuati

ons t

hat m

ake

him

ang

ry, f

rust

rate

d, sa

d, e

xcite

d or

hap

py.

Yo

ur

child

ca

n ha

ndle

tim

e aw

ay

from

fa

mili

ar

adul

ts

for

a lo

nger

le

ngth

of

tim

e. H

e is

usin

g w

ords

to

expr

ess

frus

trati

on

or

stre

ss.

With

you

r he

lp

he

will

be

ab

le to

und

erst

and

and

deal

with

his

feel

ings

an

d th

e fe

elin

gs o

f ot

hers

. Tal

k ab

out

prob

lem

situ

ation

s th

at m

ay o

ccur

w

ith f

riend

s. H

e is

able

to

mak

e tr

ansiti

ons

betw

een

hom

e an

d sc

hool

and

acti

vitie

s w

ith li

ttle

anx

iety

. Pra

ise h

is eff

orts

at “

bein

g br

ave”

whe

n he

is fe

elin

g an

xiou

s.

You

are

a ro

le m

odel

for

your

chi

ld’s

soci

al d

evel

opm

ent.

He w

ill

wat

ch y

our i

nter

actio

ns w

ith o

ther

s as

you

go

abou

t you

r day

. Are

yo

u pl

easa

nt a

nd k

ind

to o

ther

s? A

re y

ou a

ble

to m

aint

ain

a ca

lm

man

ner e

ven

whe

n yo

u ar

e an

gry?

As y

our c

hild

gro

ws

Your

4 y

ear-o

ld w

ill sh

ow h

is de

velo

pmen

t in

form

ing

rela

tions

hips

by

•

Will

ingl

y sh

arin

g w

ith o

ther

s.•

Mak

ing

sugg

estio

ns to

hel

p so

lve

a pr

oble

m.

• Re

spon

ding

with

car

e an

d co

mpa

ssio

n to

frie

nds

who

may

be

hurt

or u

pset

.•

Show

ing

a w

illin

gnes

s to

build

and

nur

ture

frie

ndsh

ips.

Play

ing

and

lear

ning

Su

ppor

t you

r chi

ld’s

deve

lopm

ent b

y tr

ying

thes

e ac

tiviti

es.

• Pl

ay fu

n bo

ard

gam

es w

ith fr

iend

s or f

amily

and

talk

abo

ut h

owto

han

dle

taki

ng tu

rns,

win

ning

and

losin

g. F

ocus

on

the

“fun

”in

the

gam

e an

d no

t the

“w

inni

ng”

of th

e ga

me.

• Pr

ovid

e yo

ur c

hild

with

opp

ortu

nitie

s to

soc

ializ

e w

ith o

ther

child

ren

of th

e sa

me

age.

Enc

oura

ge h

im to

shar

e an

d pl

an w

ithfr

iend

s on

a pr

ojec

t, su

ch a

s bui

ldin

g a

tow

er w

ith b

lock

s.•

Read

boo

ks a

bout

mak

ing

frie

nds

or g

etting

alo

ng w

ith fr

iend

san

d di

scus

s th

e le

sson

s in

clud

ed in

the

sto

ries

(i.e.

, sh

arin

g,be

ing

a go

od fr

iend

, hel

ping

oth

ers,

etc

.).

Taki

ng c

are

of y

our c

hild

Yo

ur c

hild

’s so

cial

and

em

otion

al s

kills

and

the

rel

ation

ship

s he

fo

rms

with

oth

ers

play

a k

ey ro

le in

his

over

all d

evel

opm

ent.

Take

tim

e to

ask

how

he

feel

s ab

out

scho

ol, h

is fr

iend

s an

d hi

s fa

mily

. Yo

ur c

hild

sho

uld

be a

ble

to e

xpre

ss h

is em

otion

s in

wor

ds to

you

an

d ot

her f

amily

mem

bers

, his

teac

hers

and

his

frie

nds.

If y

ou h

ave

conc

erns

abo

ut h

is so

cial

and

em

otion

al d

evel

opm

ent,

talk

with

his

pres

choo

l tea

cher

or p

edia

tric

ian.

SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

18

Lang

uage

& L

itera

cy

It st

arts

with

you

La

ngua

ge a

nd li

tera

cy r

efer

s to

you

r ch

ild’s

abili

ty t

o un

ders

tand

w

ords

and

lear

n to

list

en, t

alk

and

read

. You

r 4-y

ear-o

ld is

abl

e to

ha

ve c

onve

rsati

ons

with

you

, ot

her

adul

ts a

nd h

er f

riend

s. S

he

is us

ing

long

er s

ente

nces

and

rar

ely

misp

rono

unce

s w

ords

. Sh

e ca

n fo

llow

mul

ti-st

ep d

irecti

ons

and

unde

rsta

nd d

irecti

ons

give

n by

oth

ers.

Tal

k to

her

as

you

go a

bout

dai

ly r

outin

es a

nd a

sk h

er

ques

tions

abo

ut h

er fr

iend

s, te

ache

rs a

nd a

ctivi

ties s

he e

njoy

s.

Resp

ond

to h

er q

uesti

ons a

nd e

xpan

d he

r sen

tenc

es w

hen

she

talk

s to

you.

If sh

e te

lls yo

u sh

e lik

ed th

e bo

ok h

er te

ache

r rea

d to

day,

ask

her t

o te

ll yo

u ab

out t

he st

ory

or a

sk w

hat s

he li

ked

abou

t the

boo

k.

Go fo

r a w

alk

with

her

and

talk

abo

ut w

hat y

ou se

e. “L

ook

ther

e’s a

bi

rd. W

hat k

ind

of b

ird d

o yo

u th

ink

it is?

” If s

he sa

ys it

is a

red

bird

, ex

pand

on

her w

ords

, “Ye

s it i

s red

and

it is

calle

d a

card

inal

bec

ause

ca

rdin

al is

ano

ther

wor

d fo

r a sh

ade

of re

d.”

Mak

e bo

oks,

po

etry

an

d so

ngs a

par

t of y

our

inte

racti

ons

with

yo

ur

child

. It

is im

port

ant

to

talk

, rea

d an

d sin

g w

ith

your

ch

ild

daily

. Sh

e w

ill e

njoy

the

tim

e yo

u sp

end

toge

ther

and

will

le

arn

new

wor

ds a

t th

e sa

me

time.

Writ

e no

tes

to y

our

child

and

leav

e th

em a

roun

d th

e ho

use.

You

ca

n pu

t the

m in

her

lunc

h bo

x or

leav

e th

em o

n th

e ta

ble

for h

er to

fin

d w

hen

she

eats

bre

akfa

st o

r din

ner.

Read

the

note

s to

her

and

en

cour

age

her t

o w

rite

note

s to

you.

She

will

enj

oy y

our n

otes

and

w

ill le

arn

that

she

can

com

mun

icat

e w

ith o

ther

s thr

ough

writi

ng.

As y

our c

hild

gro

ws

You

will

see

man

y ne

w ch

ange

s in

your

child

’s la

ngua

ge a

nd li

tera

cy

skill

s.

• Yo

u w

ill n

otice

that

you

r chi

ld is

ask

ing

mor

e sp

ecifi

c qu

estio

ns.

• Sh

e w

ill b

egin

to

play

with

the

sou

nds

of la

ngua

ge,

iden

tify

rhym

es a

nd re

cogn

ize th

e be

ginn

ing

soun

ds in

som

e w

ords

.•

She

is ab

le to

list

en to

oth

ers

in a

gro

up d

iscus

sion

for a

sho

rtpe

riod

of ti

me.

• Sh

e un

ders

tand

s an

d us

es in

form

ation

pre

sent

ed in

boo

ks a

ndon

sign

s.

Play

ing

and

lear

ning

He

lp y

our c

hild

dev

elop

ski

lls in

the

area

s of

lang

uage

and

lite

racy

by

•

Aski

ng h

er t

o sp

eak

at t

he a

ppro

pria

te le

vel u

sing

an “

insid

evo

ice”

or “

outs

ide

voic

e.”

• Pr

ovid

ing m

ater

ials

for h

er to

use

in cr

eativ

e pl

ay th

at e

ncou

rage

her

to u

se n

ew w

ords

and

writ

e no

tes

or s

torie

s (e

.g. p

enci

l,cr

ayon

s, p

aper

, toy

pho

nes,

voi

ce re

cord

ers a

nd st

ory

prop

s).

• U

sing

finge

rpla

ys, n

urse

ry rh

ymes

, son

gs a

nd p

oetr

y to

hel

p he

rle

arn

new

wor

ds.

• U

sing

faci

al e

xpre

ssio

ns, g

estu

res

and

desc

riptiv

e w

ords

whe

nsp

eaki

ng a

nd re

adin

g w

ith h

er.

• Re

adin

g sig

ns a

nd b

illbo

ards

as y

ou tr

avel

, poi

nting

out

num

bers

and

lette

rs.

Taki

ng c

are

of y

our c

hild

Ha

ve d

aily

con

vers

ation

s w

ith y

our

child

. Li

sten

car

eful

ly a

nd

resp

ond

to h

er th

ough

ts a

nd q

uesti

ons.

Ask

ope

n-en

ded

ques

tions

. Do

n’t f

orge

t to

read

to h

er d

aily.

Rea

ding

alo

ud to

you

r chi

ld h

elps

pr

epar

e he

r fo

r fu

ture

rea

ding

and

lear

ning

suc

cess

. If

you

have

co

ncer

ns a

bout

you

r ch

ild’s

lang

uage

dev

elop

men

t, co

ntac

t yo

ur

loca

l ear

ly le

arni

ng co

aliti

on o

r tal

k to

your

child

’s pr

esch

ool t

each

er

or p

edia

tric

ian.

LANGUAGE & LITERACY

19

Mat

hem

atic

al T

hink

ing

It st

arts

with

you

M

athe

mati

cal t

hink

ing

refe

rs to

you

r ch

ild’s

abili

ty to

thi

nk a

bout

re

latio

nshi

ps

betw

een

obje

cts,

nu

mbe

rs,

shap

es

and

othe

r co

ncep

ts. P

rovi

ding

you

r 4-

year

-old

with

opp

ortu

nitie

s to

exp

and

his

mat

h sk

ills

can

be f

un a

nd e

asy

at h

ome.

Ba

king

coo

kies

, w

ashi

ng d

ishes

, em

ptyi

ng th

e di

shw

ashe

r an

d so

rting

laun

dry

are

way

s to

int

rodu

ce n

ew m

ath

conc

epts

. U

se m

ath

term

s du

ring

thes

e ac

tiviti

es to

exp

and

your

chi

ld’s

mat

h vo

cabu

lary

and

ski

lls.

Whi

le s

ortin

g la

undr

y, pu

t lik

e co

lors

tog

ethe

r or

fol

d a

tow

el in

ha

lf an

d qu

arte

rs. W

hen

empt

ying

the

dish

was

her,

coun

t and

sor

t sil

verw

are

into

like

pile

s. W

hile

was

hing

dish

es ta

lk a

bout

con

cept

s su

ch a

s em

pty

and

full

or m

ore

and

less

.

Help

hi

m

find

patte

rns

arou

nd

the

hous

e or

on

clot

hes.

Hav

e hi

m

coun

t na

pkin

s as

he

help

s yo

u se

t th

e ta

ble.

He

ca

n m

easu

re

ingr

edie

nts

whe

n yo

u ha

ve h

im co

ok

with

you

.

Give

him

toy

s th

at e

ncou

rage

him

to

thin

k ab

out

mea

sure

men

t an

d sp

atial

rela

tions

hips

(e.g

. blo

cks,

puz

zles,

mea

surin

g cu

ps).

Use

ca

rdbo

ard

boxe

s and

hel

p hi

m b

uild

a c

ity o

r a to

wer

.

Ask

your

chi

ld t

o lo

ok f

or n

umbe

rs a

roun

d th

e ho

use

(e.g

. clo

ck

face

s, d

igita

l clo

cks,

size

s in

sho

es o

r on

clot

hes,

add

ress

es, l

abel

s on

food

con

tain

ers,

sca

les,

cal

enda

rs, t

herm

omet

ers)

. Use

pla

ying

ca

rds t

o ha

ve h

im m

atch

and

com

pare

num

bers

.

As y

our c

hild

gro

ws

Your

chi

ld m

ay d

emon

stra

te h

is th

inki

ng a

nd re

ason

ing

skill

s by

• M

akin

g de

cisio

ns b

ased

on

size

or q

uanti

ty w

hen

give

n ch

oice

s.•

Usin

g w

ords

rep

rese

nting

ord

er o

r po

sition

s (i.

e., o

ver,

unde

r,ne

xt to

, abo

ve, b

elow

, etc

.)•

Disc

over

ing

hidd

en o

bjec

ts in

pho

tos o

r dra

win

gs.

• Co

mpl

eting

incr

easin

gly

mor

e ch

alle

ngin

g pu

zzle

s.•

Build

ing

thre

e-di

men

siona

l obj

ects

usin

g a

varie

ty o

f ite

ms a

ndsiz

es.

• U

sing

term

s su

ch a

s ce

rtai

n, m

aybe

, un

sure

, po

ssib

le,

and

impo

ssib

le.

Play

ing

and

lear

ning

He

re a

re so

me

exci

ting

thin

gs y

ou c

an d

o w

ith y

our c

hild

. •

Play

mat

chin

g ga

mes

.•

Play

gam

es w

here

he

is lo

okin

g fo

r wha

t’s m

issin

g.•

Prov

ide

lots

of

ever

yday

cou

nting

and

sor

ting

obje

cts.

(i.e

.,bu

ttons

, blo

cks,

coi

ns, s

mal

l pla

stic

anim

als,

any

item

tha

t is

safe

and

you

hav

e m

ultip

les o

f).•

Crea

te a

gam

e w

ith s

mal

l pap

er p

late

s w

ith th

e nu

mbe

rs 1

-10

writt

en o

n th

em. Y

our

child

can

cou

nt s

mal

l ite

ms

on t

o th

epr

oper

pla

te. (

i.e.,

thre

e bl

ocks

on

the

num

ber 3

pla

te)

• M

ake c

ooki

es in

the s

hape

of nu

mbe

rs, p

utting

the c

orre

spon

ding

num

ber o

f cho

cola

te c

hips

on

the

cook

ies f

or d

ecor

ation

.

Taki

ng c

are

of y

our c

hild

Pr

ovid

e a

varie

ty o

f han

ds-o

n ex

perie

nces

tha

t ar

e re

late

d to

the

w

ay y

ou u

se m

ath

in y

our

daily

life

(tel

ling

time,

coo

king

, buy

ing

gas f

or y

our c

ar).

Let h

im u

se ti

mer

s, ca

lend

ars,

rule

rs a

nd sc

ales

to

mea

sure

thin

gs a

t hom

e. K

eep

a ch

art w

ith h

is he

ight

and

wei

ght

mea

sure

d m

onth

ly a

nd d

iscus

s his

grow

th.

MATHEMATICAL THINKING

20

Scie

ntifi

c In

quiry

It st

arts

with

you

Sc

ienti

fic i

nqui

ry r

efer

s to

you

r ch

ild’s

abili

ty t

o ex

plor

e th

e en

viro

nmen

t usin

g th

e fiv

e se

nses

, con

necti

ng w

hat i

s obs

erve

d to

sc

ienc

e co

ncep

ts a

nd a

skin

g qu

estio

ns. Y

our 4

-yea

r-old

is b

egin

ning

to

hav

e a

deep

er u

nder

stan

ding

of

the

wor

ld a

roun

d he

r. Sh

e is

beco

min

g m

ore

awar

e of

the

nee

ds w

ithin

the

env

ironm

ent

such

as

pro

vidi

ng c

are

to p

lant

s and

ani

mal

s. Y

our c

hild

may

dev

elop

an

inte

rest

in b

ugs,

inse

cts o

r din

osau

rs.

She

may

wan

t to

expe

rimen

t w

ith o

bjec

ts to

det

erm

ine

whi

ch o

nes

will

sin

k or

floa

t. S

he w

ants

to

kno

w h

ow o

bjec

ts ch

ange

form

whe

n fr

ozen

ver

sus a

liqu

id.

This

is a

fun

and

exci

ting

time

for y

our l

ittle

scie

ntist

.

Your

child

may

be

inte

rest

ed in

mea

surin

g an

d re

cord

ing

the

leng

th

or h

eigh

t of o

bjec

ts u

sing c

onne

cting

cube

s, co

nnec

ting l

inks

, blo

cks,

be

ads,

yar

n or

strin

g. S

he m

ay e

njoy

pla

nting

seed

s, w

atch

ing

them

gr

ow a

nd m

easu

ring

thei

r hei

ght.

You

can

enco

urag

e yo

ur c

hild

’s sc

ienti

fic

expl

orati

ons b

y hav

ing

simpl

e to

ols

and

toys

th

at s

he c

an u

se t

o le

arn

mor

e ab

out

the

wor

ld.

Som

e of

th

e to

ols

that

ign

ite

scie

ntific

cu

riosit

y in

pr

esch

oole

rs

are

bubb

les

and

bubb

le

wan

ds, e

ye d

ropp

ers,

m

agni

fyin

g gl

asse

s,

smal

l m

irror

s,

diffe

rent

ty

pes

of

balls

and

mag

nets

.

As y

our c

hild

gro

ws

Your

chi

ld m

ay s

how

inte

rest

in s

olvi

ng p

robl

ems

and

obse

rvin

g na

ture

as s

he

• De

scrib

es a

nd s

hare

s ob

serv

ation

s m

ade

abou

t liv

ing

thin

gs(i.

e., w

orm

s liv

e in

the

dirt

).•

Show

s int

eres

t in

gard

enin

g.•

Parti

cipa

tes i

n sim

ple

expe

rimen

ts to

disc

over

info

rmati

on.

• U

ses

tool

s to

ex

plor

e th

e en

viro

nmen

t (i.

e.,

bino

cula

rs,

mag

nify

ing

glas

ses,

mag

nets

, etc

).

Play

ing

and

lear

ning

U

se th

ese

activ

ities

to e

ncou

rage

you

r chi

ld’s

scie

ntific

thin

king

. •

Give

you

r chi

ld a

30-

day

page

from

a c

alen

dar s

o sh

e ca

n dr

awth

e ph

ases

of t

he m

oon

each

eve

ning

thr

ough

out

the

mon

th.

At t

he e

nd o

f th

e m

onth

, tal

k ab

out

how

the

moo

n ch

ange

dan

d w

hy.

• Ha

ve h

er h

elp

plan

t a g

arde

n an

d di

scus

s th

e se

eds

and

othe

rpa

rts o

f a p

lant

.•

Help

you

r ch

ild r

ecor

d he

r ob

serv

ation

s or

the

res

ults

of

expe

rimen

ts u

sing

draw

ings

or p

hoto

grap

hs.

Taki

ng c

are

of y

our c

hild

Yo

ur ch

ild’s

body

is co

nsta

ntly

chan

ging

and

gro

win

g. T

ake

this

time

to c

hart

her

hei

ght,

wei

ght

and

even

the

kin

ds o

f foo

ds s

he e

ats.

Ju

st li

ke h

er g

arde

n pl

ants

nee

d su

nlig

ht a

nd w

ater

, her

bod

y ne

eds

heal

thy

food

s an

d w

ater

too

. As

k he

r to

hel

p yo

u pl

an h

ealth

y m

eals

and

snac

ks.

SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY

21

Soci

al S

tudi

esSo

cial

Stu

dies

It

star

ts w

ith y

ouIt

star

ts w

ith y

ou

Soci

al st

udie

s ref

ers t

o yo

ur ch

ild’s

abili

ty to

lear

n ab

out t

he p

eopl

e ar

ound

you

and

in y

our

com

mun

ity. 4

-yea

r-old

chi

ldre

n ar

e ab

le

to a

pply

man

y so

cial

stu

dies

ski

lls b

oth

at h

ome

and

in t

heir

pre-

scho

ol s

etting

s. Y

our

child

is n

ow a

ble

to id

entif

y di

ffere

nces

and

sim

ilariti

es b

etw

een

him

self

and

his

peer

s as

wel

l as

iden

tifyi

ng

chan

ges

in r

outin

es a

nd s

eque

nces

of e

vent

s.

You

may

rou

tinel

y w

alk

the

dog

ever

y day

afte

r you

arr

ive

hom

e an

d w

hen

this

does

n’t

occu

r you

r 4-y

ear-o

ld w

ill b

egin

to n

otice

and

ask

que

stion

s ab

out

the

chan

ge in

routi

nes.

Yo

ur c

hild

is a

lso b

ecom

ing

mor

e aw

are

of h

olid

ays

and

impo

rtan

t fa

mily

eve

nts

such

as

birt

hday

s. P

rovi

de p

rops

suc

h as

clo

thin

g an

d to

ys w

hich

allo

w c

hild

ren

to c

reat

e an

d re

enac

t fa

mily

rol

es,

rela

tions

hips

, ro

utine

s an

d rit

uals

(i.e.

, pr

eten

ding

to

be t

he

baby

sitter

, wai

tres

s or

che

f). U

se a

larg

e ca

lend

ar t

o no

te s

peci

al

and

routi

ne e

vent

s in

volv

ing

your

fam

ily s

uch

as b

irthd

ays

and

holid

ays.

Your

chi

ld is

beg

inni

ng t

o be

com

e m

ore

awar

e of

rul

es a

nd la

ws.

Ta

lk to

him

abo

ut ru

les u

sed

in g

ames

or s

port

s. D

iscus

s the

role

of

law

enf

orce

men

t offi

cers

as

peop

le w

ho e

nfor

ce th

e ru

les

as th

ey

pert

ain

to d

rivin

g. A

sk h

im a

bout

cultu

ral d

iffer

ence

s he

may

noti

ce

in p

eopl

e in

you

r nei

ghbo

rhoo

d or

in h

is sc

hool

.

As y

our c

hild

gro

ws

You

may

see

his g

row

th w

hen

he

• Re

cogn

izes

the

diffe

renc

es b

etw

een

a w

ant

and

a ne

ed (

i.e.,

need

ing

a co

at o

n a

cold

day

ver

sus

wan

ting

to w

ear

shor

tsw

hen

it is

cold

out

side,

or e

ating

hea

lthy

snac

ks v

ersu

s wan

ting

ice-

crea

m fo

r din

ner)

.•

Begi

ns t

o se

e th

e im

port

ance

and

use

of

tech

nolo

gy in

you

rho

me

and

unde

rsta

nds t

he ru

les f

or it

s use

.•

Begi

ns to

show

an

awar

enes

s of h

is ro

le in

you

r fam

ily, h

is cl

ass

at sc

hool

and

the

com

mun

ity.

• Re

cogn

izes p

atrio

tic sy

mbo

ls (i.

e., t

he A

mer

ican

flag

).

Play

ing

and

lear

ning

He

lp y

our c

hild

’s de

velo

pmen

t of s

ocia

l con

cept

s by

• Ta

lkin

g ab

out

your

sur

roun

ding

s as

you

are

tra

velin

g th

roug

hto

wn.

Use

wor

ds su

ch a

s far

/clo

se, o

ver/

unde

r and

up/

dow

n.•

Usin

g a

glob

e or

map

to s

how

you

r ch

ild w

here

you

live

. Yo

uliv

e in

a h

ouse

/apa

rtm

ent,

in yo

ur to

wn,

in Fl

orid

a, in

the

Uni

ted

Stat

es o

f Am

eric

a.•

Talk

ing

abou

t re

spec

ting

law

enf

orce

men

t offi

cers

, do

ctor

s,te

ache

rs a

nd fi

refig

hter

s. Ta

lk a

bout

the

way

s the

se p

eopl

e he

lpus

.•

Prov

idin

g yo

ur c

hild

with

opp

ortu

nitie

s to

talk

abo

ut th

e ru

les

you

have

in p

lace

at h

ome.

Taki

ng c

are

of y

our c

hild

Fo

ur-y

ear-o

lds

are

curio

us a

nd e

njoy

lear

ning

. Th

is is

a gr

eat ti

me

to in

still

valu

es a

nd r

espe

ct o

f oth

ers

as y

ou r

ead

book

s an

d ta

lk

abou

t situ

ation

s or

con

flict

s th

at m

ay o

ccur

in y

our

hom

e. M

odel

co

oper

ation

and

neg

otiati

on a

s yo

u in

volv

e yo

ur c

hild

in

fam

ily

disc

ussio

ns a

nd d

ecisi

ons.

SOCIALSOCIAL STUDIESSTUDIES

22

Cre

ativ

e Ex

pres

sion

Th

roug

h th

e A

rts

It st

arts

with

you

Crea

tive

expr

essio

n re

fers

to y

our c

hild

’s ab

ility

to e

ngag

e in

dan

ce,

song

, mus

ic, d

ram

atic

play

and

art

to

expr

ess

idea

s an

d fe

elin

gs.

Mos

t 4-y

ear-o

lds l

ove

play

ing

mus

ical

inst

rum

ents

as w

ell a

s sin

ging

al

ong

with

oth

ers.

The

y ar

e ab

le to

hea

r diff

eren

t par

ts th

at m

ake

up m

usic

suc

h as

pitc

h, t

empo

and

vol

ume.

The

y lo

ve m

akin

g up

sil

ly s

ongs

or

danc

ing

to fu

n m

usic

. Use

mus

ic to

sho

w y

our

child

ho

w to

exp

ress

her

feel

ings

. Pla

y ha

ppy

mus

ic a

nd d

ance

with

her

. Pl

ay s

low

mus

ic a

nd a

sk h

er to

mov

e in

a w

ay th

at s

how

s ho

w th

e m

usic

mak

es h

er fe

el.

Expr

essin

g he

r cr

eativ

ity t

hrou

gh m

usic

, pa

intin

g, d

anci

ng a

nd

dram

atic

play

hel

p he

r di

scov

er w

ays

to s

how

how

she

feel

s. Y

ou

can

enco

urag

e yo

ur c

hild

’s cr

eativ

ity b

y ha

ving

art

sup

plie

s lik

e cr

ayon

s, m

arke

rs, p

aint

, pap

er, p

lay

doug

h, p

enci

ls, p

aint

brus

hes,

sc

issor

s an

d gl

ue fo

r her

to u

se.

Prep

are

a sp

ace

in y

our

hom

e w

here

“m

essy

” ac

tiviti

es

are

allo

wed

. Tea

ch h

er h

ow t

o us

e th

e ar

t su

pplie

s sa

fely

and

how

to

put

them

aw

ay so

they

can

be

used

aga

in.

Have

pro

ps fo

r cr

eativ

e pl

ay t

hat

your

chi

ld c

an u

se t

o be

com

e a

prin

cess

, a fi

refig

hter

, a te

ache

r, a

chef

or a

dan

cer.

Join

her

in h

er

crea

tive

play

. You

can

be

a cu

stom

er in

her

rest

aura

nt, a

stud

ent i

n he

r cla

ss o

r the

frie

nd o

f the

prin

cess

or p

rince

. Cre

ative

pla

y al

low

s yo

ur c

hild

to ta

ke o

n th

e pe

rspe

ctive

of s

omeo

ne e

lse a

nd im

agin

e he

rsel

f in

diffe

rent

role

s.

Have

stuff

ed a

nim

als o

r pup

pets

you

r chi

ld c

an u

se in

her

pla

y. S

he

can

danc

e w

ith th

em o

r pre

tend

that

they

are

stud

ents

in h

er cl

ass.

Sh

e ca

n us

e th

e pu

ppet

s to

reen

act s

torie

s or s

ongs

she

likes

.

As y

our c

hild

gro

ws

Enco

urag

e yo

ur c

hild

’s cr

eativ

e ex

pres

sion

by su

gges

ting

she

• U

se m

usic

to

expr

ess

thou

ghts

and

feel

ings

abo

ut s

omet

hing

goin

g on

with

a fr

iend

or l

oved

one

. •

Mak

e he

r dr

awin

gs m

ore

deta

iled

and

pers

onal

. Sh

e m

ay u

sear

t to

shar

e he

r hur

ts, w

orrie

s, su

cces

ses o

r disa

ppoi

ntm

ents

.•

Use

a v

arie

ty o

f mat

eria

ls in

her

cre

ative

pla

y to

act

out

stor

ies

and

expe

rienc

es.

Play

ing

and

lear

ning

He

lp y

our

child

’s cr

eativ

e de

velo

pmen

t by

try

ing

som

e of

the

fo

llow

ing

activ

ities

. •

Prov

ide

your

chi

ld w

ith m

ater

ials

in o

rder

to

expr

ess

hers

elf

thro

ugh

her

pret

end

play

with

rea

l and

imag

inar

y fr

iend

s or

stuff

ed a

nim

als.

• Ro

le-p

lay

with

you

r ch

ild.

Pret

end

you

are

the

cust

omer

at

are

stau

rant

and

she

is th

e se

rver

.•

Put

on s

ome

fun

mus

ic a

nd d

ance

aro

und

the

room

. In

clud

eop

port

uniti

es f

or y

our

child

to

copy

you

r m

oves

or

you

copy

hers

.•

Enco

urag

e yo

ur c

hild

to

talk

abo

ut o

r sh

are

her

crea

tive

expr

essio

ns w

ith o

ther

s.

Taki

ng c

are

of y

our c

hild

Cr

eativ

e ex

pres

sion

is a

won

derf

ul w

ay f

or y

our

child

to

expr

ess

her

feel

ings

. Di

scus

s di

ffere

nt w

ays

she

can

show

tha

t sh

e is

sad

or s

care

d. L

et h

er k

now

it is

oka

y to

feel

sad

or

disa

ppoi

nted

, but

sh

e w

ill fe

el b

etter

whe

n sh

e te

lls y

ou h

ow sh

e fe

els a

nd e

xpre

sses

th

ese

feel

ings

in h

er a

rt, m

usic

, dan

ce a

nd c

reati

ve p

lay.

CREACREATIVETIVE EXPRESSIONEXPRESSION THROUGH THE ARTS

23

The

Impo

rtan

ce o

f Fam

ily

Lear

ning

sta

rts

at h

ome

with

you

as

your

chi

ld’s

first

tea

cher

. In

fant

s, to

ddle

rs a

nd p

resc

hool

ers l

earn

by

obse

rvin

g an

d lis

teni

ng

to fa

mily

mem

bers

as t

hey

go a

bout

thei

r dai

ly ro

utine

s.

Fam

ilies

are

resp

onsib

le fo

r sha

ping

a ch

ild’s

deve

lopm

ent o

f val

ues,

le

arni

ng sk

ills a

nd so

cial

skill

s. Yo

ur ch

ild is

wat

chin

g ev

eryt

hing

you

do

and

list

enin

g to

eve

ryth

ing

you

say.

Lear

ning

occ

urs n

atur

ally

fo

r ch

ildre

n th

roug

h th

eir

play

. Ch

ildre

n ar

e ha

ppie

st

whe

n th

ey

play

, an

d pl

ayin

g is

one

of

the

best

to

ols

for

lear

ning

new

ski

lls.

Join

in

you

r ch

ild’s

play

by

getti

ng d

own

on h

is le

vel

and

play

ing w

ith h

im. G

et

dow

n on

the

floo

r an

d pr

eten

d to

be

his f

avor

ite

anim

al t

o en

cour

age

his

imag

inati

on.

Use

ob

ject

s ar

ound

yo

ur h

ouse

for

pre

tend

pl

ay s

uch

as a

n em

pty

pape

r to

wel

tub

e th

at h

e ca

n us

e as

a

horn

or

a te

lesc

ope.

A p

lasti

c sp

oon

and

a po

t fo

r co

okin

g ca

n be

com

e a

drum

. Pla

y he

lps

impr

ove

his

imag

inati

on, h

is ph

ysic

al

deve

lopm

ent,

his

soci

al s

kills

and

mor

e. P

layi

ng o

utsid

e is

very

im

port

ant.

Runn

ing,

jum

ping

and

clim

bing

hel

p bu

ild y

our

child

’s m

uscl

es a

nd c

oord

inati

on. Y

our

child

will

enj

oy t

he ti

me

you

two

spen

d to

geth

er, a

nd so

will

you

!

Hous

ewor

k is

a ne

ver-e

ndin

g cy

cle.

Let y

our l

ittle

one

hel

p w

ith th

e w

ork.

You

ng c

hild

ren

love

to h

elp

and

can

be s

ucce

ssfu

l at s

impl

e ch

ores

. Letti

ng y

our

child

hel

p w

ith h

ouse

wor

k is

a gr

eat

way

to

help

him

lear

n ne

w s

kills

. Jus

t re

mem

ber

that

it’s

the

effor

t th

at

coun

ts! B

elow

are

som

e ea

sy c

hore

s fo

r yo

u to

intr

oduc

e to

you

r yo

ung

child

. •

Help

set t

he ta

ble.

• He

lp fo

ld a

nd p

ut a

way

laun

dry.

• M

ake

his b

ed w

ith a

litt

le h

elp.

• Pi

ck u

p to

ys a

nd p

ut th

em a

way

.•

Feed

and

fill

the

wat

er b

owl f

or p

ets.

• He

lp w

ith y

ard

wor

k.

All o

f the

se a

ctivi

ties

enco

urag

e yo

ur c

hild

to le

arn

new

ski

lls a

nd

to b

e a

cont

ributi

ng m

embe

r of

you

r fa

mily

. Fee

ling

secu

re in

his

role

as

a fa

mily

mem

ber h

elps

him

to d

evel

op s

elf-c

onfid

ence

and

a

sens

e of

resp

onsib

ility

.

Rem

embe

r, yo

u ar

e yo

ur c

hild

’s

first

teac

her.

THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY

24

All c

hild

ren

deve

lop

diffe

rent

ly a

nd a

t diff

eren

t tim

es. I

f you

hav

e qu

estio

ns o

r con

cern

s abo

ut y

our c

hild

’s de

velo

pmen

t or b

ehav

ior,

it is

impo

rtan

t to

take

acti

on e

arly.

Deve

lopm

enta

l scr

eeni

ngs

can

help

iden

tify

area

s of

you

r ch

ild’s

deve

lopm

ent

that

mig

ht n

eed

som

e ex

tra

help

. Tal

k to

a d

octo

r, yo

ur ch

ild’s

teac

her o

r you

r loc

al e

arly

lear

ning

coal

ition

abo

ut y

our

conc

erns

and

requ

est t

o ha

ve y

our c

hild

scr

eene

d. If

the

scre

enin

g in

dica

tes a

ny a

reas

that

nee

d ex

tra

help

, you

r chi

ld m

ay q

ualif

y fo

r ea

rly in

terv

entio

n se

rvic

es. Y

our c

hild

’s do

ctor

or y

our e

arly

lear

ning

co

aliti

on c

an h

elp

conn

ect y

ou to

thos

e se

rvic

es.

You

are

your

chi

ld’s

gre

ates

t ad

voca

te!

Web

site

s Th

at P

rom

ote

Chi

ld D

evel

opm

ent

Flor

ida

Early

Lea

rnin

g an

d De

velo

pmen

tal S

tand

ards

for

Birt

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Ki

nder

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en: h

ttp:

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Cent

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Em

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s for

Lea

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Nati

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Ass

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oung

Chi

ldre

n:

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PBS

Pare

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25

Free

App

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Lear

n m

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at cd

c.gov

/Mile

ston

eTra

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You

hav

e w

hat

it

take

s to

be

a b

rain

bu

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ow

nlo

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roo

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pp

to a

dd

lear

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mea

ltim

e, b

atht

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bed

tim

e, a

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an

ytim

e w

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Vro

om

tip

s.

See

for y

ou

rsel

f ho

w

Vro

om

tip

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e fa

st a

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fun

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vro

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.org

Tam

bié

n d

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en

esp

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Fam

ily R

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rces

OFF

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OF

EARL

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pro

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UTU

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A na

tiona

l hea

lth p

rom

otion

and

pre

venti

on in

itiati

ve, l

ed b

y th

e Am

eric

an A

cade

my

of P

edia

tric

s and

supp

orte

d by

the

Mat

erna

l and

Ch

ild H

ealth

Bur

eau,

Hea

lth R

esou

rces

and

Ser

vice

s Ad

min

istra

tion

that

pro

vide

s gu

idan

ce fo

r al

l pre

venti

ve c

are

scre

enin

gs a

nd w

ell-

child

visi

ts.

https

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rightf

utur

es.a

ap.o

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ault.

aspx

CHIL

D CA

RE R

ESO

URC

E &

REF

ERRA

L N

ETW

ORK

(CCR

&R)

Help

s fa

mili

es fi

nd lo

cal c

hild

car

e pr

ogra

ms

that

fits

the

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27

Florida Department of Education Office of Early Learning

Child Care Resource and Referral Network Toll-free Family Line: 1-866-357-3239

http://www.floridaearlylearning.com