How to Teach Toddlers Responsibility

It’s common knowledge that responsible kids are healthier, happier kids. It’s never too early to teach toddlers how to live responsibly—but how should you reinforce positive behaviors for toddlers so that they can take responsibility for their choices and their impact on the world?

Read on to discover the four most helpful tips that allow you to do just that.

Build their self-esteem

Studies show that children with high self-esteem tend to value responsibility much more than children who are lacking in self-confidence. They’re better at seeing goals through to get what they want; acknowledging and learning from mistakes; trying new things and taking risks; asking for help whenever necessary and many other key life skills.

Building self-esteem in children takes time, but it can be done. Regularly provide positive reinforcement both verbally and physically. Offer verbal praise, hugs and high fives. Whenever possible, reward good behavior with a special activity or treat to send a positive message that your child is doing the right thing, instilling within them a greater sense of self-worth.

Teach them to clean up after themselves

It’s crucial to raise your child with the expectation that they are responsible for cleaning up their own messes. Be firm, but be cheerful and kind at the same time (remember the old adage that you shouldn’t worry about spilled milk). There are two great strategies for promoting positive behaviors for toddlers: 1) picking up together, i.e., making sure everything has a home, including toys, clothes, shoes, etc.; 2) making picking up a game by putting on some music or by turning cleaning into a competition. Be consistent, and cleaning up will become second nature to your kids.

Provide structure and routine

Routines are crucial for the development and well-being of kids. From bathing routines to setting standard bedtimes and getting ready in the morning, you can offer your child repeated opportunities to manage themselves. It helps your little ones understand what they can expect as well as what is expected of them, giving them a sense of comfort, safety and some measures of independence at the same time.

Repair rather than punish

A toddler needs to be responsible not only in terms of chores and other daily tasks but also in terms of their interactions with others. When conflicts arise between your toddler and a sibling, parent or friend, don’t force them to apologize—they won’t mean it, and it won’t help the matter. Teach your toddler that their treatment of others has consequences and that they’re responsible for repairing relationships when conflicts occur. That way, they’ll choose to make amends, which makes everyone feel good, without you having to rely on punishment that usually leads to resentment.

Teaching toddlers how to live responsibly is a skill that needs to be reinforced and nurtured from an early age. It always helps to surround your child with positive role models who foster responsible behaviors, like the folks at Kids Kingdom Early Learning Center. By working together as a team, you can help your little ones learn the life skills they need to grow into healthy, happy and productive adults.

Four Tips for Building Resilience in Children

Many parents have kids who suffer from children’s anxiety. Developing resilience is crucial during a child’s formative years, providing them with the coping skills they need to respond to stress and anxiety in a healthy way. Luckily, kids of all ages can build resilience over time. By changing the inner wiring of the brain through experience, children have the capability to shape their individual, intrinsic characteristics in a way that strengthens their resilience and reduces their anxiety.

Here are some of the ways kids can conquer stress and build resilience skills that they can use throughout their entire life.

Remember that kids can’t do it alone

Kids can’t learn how to build resilience alone. It takes at least one supportive relationship for kids to develop the coping skills they need to face fear and anxiety and truly thrive in life. The presence of a responsive, caring adult is crucial for dealing with difficult situations. In many cases, a caring relationship can even reverse some of the psychological effects that are activated by stress and fear.

If you can be there for your child, no matter what tough situations they’re going through, you ensure that their brain, body and even immune system are safe from the harmful effects of anxiety.

Provide open lines of communication

Kids need to know that they have someone they can trust to have their back during stressful situations. Many children have been taught to tough it out, but true strength means knowing when to ask for help. Maintain open communication, and let your child know that they’re always encouraged to ask for help, whether it’s from you, a teacher, a coach or even a neighbor.

Explore the benefits of exercise

Exercise is key for reducing children’s anxiety. It boosts neurochemical activity in their developing brains, helping them naturally calm their mind during stressful moments. Any type of exercise offers plenty of benefits for kids, but if you can make it fun, it’s even better. Every time you take your kid out for an afternoon of baseball, Frisbee, basketball or soccer, or when you simply take your dog for a walk, you’ll likely notice a boost in mood—not just for them but also for you.

Promote positivity and optimism

Modeling a positive mindset is another great way to set kids on a path toward resiliency. One thing resilient people have in common is optimism, and the brain can be rewired to be more optimistic through experiences in life. If you have a child who has a glass-half-empty way of thinking, try to show them another perspective without invalidating how they feel. Introduce them to a new way of thinking, and let them take it from there.

Building resilience is one of the best ways for kids to cope with stress and children’s anxiety. Get in touch with the staff at Kids Kingdom Early Learning Center to learn more about helping your child gain the important life skills and concepts that are necessary for healthy development and growth.

Why Is Early Learning So Important?

From the moment children are born, they start learning all about the world around them. They’re also developing skills that they will use for years to come in all facets of their lives. The importance of early childhood education in fostering these skills and helping children learn new ones is evident in everything from literacy to math skills to emotional stability.
Read on to find out about early learning benefits and discover how the right early learning center can help your child grow and develop.

The importance of early childhood education

The outcomes for children who receive a quality education from an early age are numerous. When parents and educators have a strong relationship, children will gain numerous social and academic benefits. This has both broad and specific applications. For example, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning outcomes have a positive correlation with early learning.
In these early years, a child will build a foundation for their future development, creating a strong base for how they learn throughout their school career. This includes supporting cognitive and social development. Study after study has demonstrated that early childhood education is a vital part of a child’s success in the future.

What to look for in an early learning program

If you believe in the importance of early childhood education, then you’ll want to find a quality program to enroll your child in. From an early age, children can learn so much from being in a classroom setting with both a teacher and their peers.

Here’s what you want to look for in a childcare center that will deliver educational results:

These are just some of the early learning benefits. Kids Kingdom Early Learning Center is a premier, Biblically-based early childhood learning center. We’re proud to teach the youngest minds skills that last a lifetime. Our supportive and dedicated staff are members of your community, fully invested in helping each student succeed in a loving, safe environment. Let us become part of your family and teach your child the life skills they need to grow and thrive.

Common Potty Training Problems and How to Solve Them

Reality check: Potty training toddlers isn’t easy. It seems like there’s always some so-called expert out there who says it’s easy and that you should be able to go from diapers to 100-percent potty trained in 24 hours. Here in the real world, we know that the vast majority of parents face setbacks during potty training.

If you’re wondering how to start potty training and how to deal with common problems, this guide is for you.

Your child doesn’t want to go to the potty

It’s possible that, if your child is resisting using the toilet, they’re not ready yet. The signs that children are ready include interest in using the potty, hiding from you when they take a bowel movement and telling you that they need their diaper changed. Potty training at the right time varies from child to child, so stay attuned to what you think is best for your particular situation.

Get them ready

Preparing your child for potty training can make it a more positive experience for them—and a less painful one for you. There are plenty of children’s books out there that will get them engaged with using the toilet. You can also sing potty training songs. A potty training doll is another popular tool—children love pretending that their dolls are going potty.

Get rid of all the diapers

Once you’ve committed to potty training your child, you want to stick to it. This means that it’s time to ditch the diapers in most instances. You may want to keep using one overnight for a while, but during the day, stick with underwear—even though it may be rough at first because…

There will be accidents

Accept this now: Your child will have accidents. They’re bound to happen during potty training. The best thing you can do is to treat them lightly and keep your cool. If you punish or scold your child, it will only backfire and make potty training longer. Children who are learning to use the potty are having accidents because they don’t understand the process yet. Give it time, and if a few weeks go by and they’re still really struggling, they may not be ready.

Nighttime training

Your child may do fine during the day but wet the bed at night. Remember that this is a normal part of the process and will likely take longer. Start by having your child go to the bathroom immediately before bed. You may also need to wake them up in the middle of the night to use the toilet.

Potty training toddlers is a challenge, but eventually your little one will get the hang of it. If you’re looking for a day care, then turn to Kids Kingdom Early Learning Center. We are the premier, Biblically-based early childhood learning center in the region. We’re proud to teach the youngest minds skills that last a lifetime. Contact us now to learn more about how we can help your child learn and grow!

How to Know If Your Child Is Ready for Preschool

As the parent of a young child, you may be wondering what to look for when it comes to preschool readiness. Deciding exactly when to begin preschool can be a long and difficult process. You need to take many factors into consideration before taking the step of having your little one take that big step to preschool. If you’re asking, “What are signs that my kid is ready for preschool?” then read on.

Your child thrives in routine

Once your child is at the point that they understand and follow routines, they may be ready for preschool. Childcare centers almost always have a schedule that keeps the kids on track. This often includes having a snack at the same time each day, a specific time for play, story time, quiet time and a lesson.

As a parent, you can help your child’s preschool readiness by instituting morning and bedtime routines. This will not only help get them ready for preschool but will also help them get moving in the morning—which can sometimes be a challenge.

Your child is okay with being separated

One key aspect of knowing whether your child is ready for preschool is determining whether they can spend time away from you. Some level of separation anxiety is to be expected with all children going to school for the first time.

You can prepare your child by leaving them with a trusted family member or friend for a couple of hours to test their separation anxiety. Then, when it’s time to go to preschool, you may want to leave your child with a transitional object like a toy from home.

Your child enjoys interacting with other children

Once your child is showing an interest in other kids, they may be ready for preschool. This means that they may be craving more social interaction with their peers. At preschool, they’ll learn valuable social skills like how to share, take turns and speak politely.

Your child has enough stamina for the school day

If your child is napping more than once a day, they may not be ready for preschool. But once they’ve dropped that morning nap, this shows that they’ll have enough staying power to last the day without a meltdown. Preschools are often required to offer a nap time or quiet time where your child will be able to rest.

Preschool can be such a rewarding experience for children. They build those crucial social and emotional skills that will serve them the rest of their lives. And through play, art and exploration, their minds develop at an incredibly rapid rate.

We hope this guide to preschool readiness has addressed some of your questions. Since 2017, Kids Kingdom Early Learning Center has been a leading childcare and learning center. Our dedicated team specializes in providing a variety of services including daily nondenominational Christian education, as well as before-care and aftercare services.

We are a family-owned and -operated business offering Christian education and quality services. Contact us for more information and to learn more about how we can help your child.