Author: info@kidz-village.ac.th

Starting the new school year can arouse many feelings, whether your child is starting school for the very first time, changing to a different school or returning to school after a long summer break. You can expect your child to be excited, anxious, hesitant and eager … the full range of emotions all mixed together!! Here are some tips to get the new school year of to a smooth start: Quality early years settings will have teachers who are well aware of the mix of emotions and reactions that come with the start of a new school year, so they will be there to support your child through their settling in process. Have a great first day of school, followed by many more throughout the year!

With summer holidays fast approaching you may be thinking about how you will keep your child engaged and stimulated while school is out. A perfect Saturday or Sunday plan is a day at the park. Bangkok has a number of great parks that are suitable for families with young children. Here are Trip Advisors top 10 –THE 10 BEST Bangkok Parks (Updated 2024) – Tripadvisor Here are some tips to plan a great morning or afternoon at the park. When heading out to the park, it is good to have a rough game plan, but it’s also important to be flexible and  to “go with the flow”.   Give your child the opportunity to lead you… follow them on their wanderings of interest and you just might see something from a new perspective. Have fun… It’s a walk in the park!

By Teacher Ravisara Children possess an inherent curiosity, their minds serving as fertile ground for embracing new experiences and ideas. The initial stages of a child’s life mark a period of remarkable growth and maturation. It is within these crucial years that children thrive in learning, not solely through instruction, but by immersing themselves in various experiences. Through experiential learning, children engage with their surroundings, fostering a sense of belonging and comprehension of their role in the broader world. Field trips provide a tactile method of education that stimulates children’s senses and ignites their inquisitiveness. They offer genuine, firsthand encounters that cultivate a child’s comprehension of their surroundings. These outings may range from a visit to the neighbourhood library, where children can explore the pleasure of reading. Having field trips that relate to the academic side of teaching can always be more fun. Students have the basic knowledge and understanding on the topic. Once they go outside school to the location they will only enrich their understanding and see for themselves how things work and how what they have learned is similar to the world outside of school.   To sum up, short field trips for preschoolers are priceless for fostering experiential learning and cultivating a sense of belonging. They afford children the chance to interact with their surroundings meaningfully, promoting personal growth and advancement. Although obstacles may arise, collaborative endeavours among educators, local authorities, and businesses can surmount them, opening avenues for a more enriching educational journey for our youngest students.

By Teacher Shannon When sent to school students are often separated by age group. Depending on their age and birthday they will be placed in a group with students in the same age group as them. Prior to this the student may have been surrounded by adults, siblings of various ages, or even cousins. This is most likely the first time the child will be around many students of the same age. Although each year group will have goals to work on and hopefully achieve throughout the school year each student will be at different places in their development.  At school students have various opportunities to interact with students from different age groups. During outdoor times, class collaborations, free play, project exhibitions, class assemblies, and school wide events students at Kidz Village have many opportunities to interact with their fellow peers. This can be extremely beneficial to both the older and younger students.  For younger children it can help build their confidence to be around students who are older than them. They can build friendships while enhancing their language and behavioural skills. Younger kids can observe and notice how various skills are completed without having the skills to complete them yet. They may even build the confidence to try something new that may challenge them a bit, but they would not know if they can do it until they try.  Older children have the opportunity to be role models for younger students. They can gain skills such as empathy for younger children, they can practise teaching and demonstrating different skills to their peers, as well as build a sense of responsibility. Older students can become leaders in their community which helps them build on their own independence.  For all students involved in mixed age groups there are only positives to gain. A child old or young may not always see someone in their own class that they can relate to or see themselves in. When we open up the school to provide more opportunities for students to mingle with students from different age groups it provides more chances for that child to find a role model, someone who they can relate to, and hopefully more friends.  Overall having a school community that works together and sees every member of the community as someone who can benefit the team is a school that will be successful. 

Art Exploration with Toddler Children Toddler children are developing their sensory awareness . Offering art each day to your toddler provides an opportunity to explore and try various materials and refine fine motor motor  skills necessary for later writing.   Art gives children practice in learning to focus while they create art.   Art for toddlers is a means to express themselves freely and feel confident and independent as they make their own creations. Art will develop your toddlers creativity and give them a sense of  enjoyment. What is art? And how is it different from a craft? Art does not have a clear wrong or right in the process of creating the piece of art. It is not making a product. Creating an art piece is about the process of doing the work.  Whereas creating a craft is an activity with multiple steps to follow and directions that will create a type of product at the end. When and how to offer art activity to the children. children?  Art activities can be offered anytime throughout the day.  Many times art is used as a tool in Preschool education for children to express their thoughts and ideas at the end of a lesson.  Art also incorporates science concepts when children explore with mixing colors, textures and using various art supplies. When children create an art piece, parents may show interest by asking  their child questions about what they made? Or what their child likes about their artwork. . This will help you to know the idea or story of your child behind the art work and it also gives your child an opportunity to speak and explain their ideas in words.  However, to do art, parents or adults will need to find a space for children to create or express themselves with materials that are child appropriate. Art can be expressed in many forms and media such as painting with poster paint, water colors, food colors, crayons, colors from natural materials such as with flowers, soil, leaves, or vegetables.  It can be done using various materials or tools such as with color pencils, paint brushes, sponges, sticks, twigs, feathers, scrubs, spoon, or fork.   Painting can be on various surfaces such as paper, cardboard box, egg carton, plastic trays, ice, floor and wall surfaces, wood, plastic, ceramic tiles, mirror, cement, brick, tree, bench, fabric, paper towel, or even on natural materials such as painting on the tree trunk, or different types of leaves. Creating art in various ways will expand your toddlers creativity  to express themselves and encourage unlimited ideas.  Benefits of Art Offering art to your toddler will help your child to express their self  with enjoyment, feel calm and relaxed and encourage their free flow of ideas and imagination.   Have fun trying out some of the suggested activities with your toddler. by Teacher Nancy Sivilai

What are educational toys?  Educational toys are items and gadgets of play, principally designed for children, which are expected to stimulate learning. These toys are often intended to meet an educational purpose such as helping a child develop a particular skill or teaching a child about a particular subject.  Deciding on an educational toy:  When you’re in the process of purchasing an educational toy, don’t just buy it because you think it looks great, or it looks like it will allow your child to think differently. There are a few questions you should take in consideration while choosing an educational toy that will benefit your child in the long run.  What makes a good educational toy? The best toys teach basic concepts while promoting free play and social interaction. These toys should also challenge coordination and fine motor skills. leaving room for any new skills introduction. Educational toys actually play a big part in the child’s development, depending on the developmental skills you’re looking to enhance in your child.  Additional features to look for include: Potential Drawbacks from using an educational toy: Children are always so curious to explore and learn new things. They are constantly interested in the world around them. Parents and teachers can take their time to invest in buying educational toys that will support their child/student. Educational toys have countless benefits and the main one is to boost their development. 

Toddler children are fast learners and grow up fast. This is an important stage of development when you can help your toddler develop his/her independent skills daily and see results blossom constantly.  That means that as a parent or a care giver, we should let the children do things with less help from an adult.   This is a period of time where you are giving your toddler the opportunity to develop and know how to do things on their own.  For toddler parents, your start will be with simple tasks in your child’s daily routine, such as letting your child put on and take off their shoe by themselves. Helping your toddler Learn to put their belongings in their proper place where they belong. Have a place for everything. Everything your toddler owns should have it own spot and easy to store away.  Letting your toddler spoon-feed them self.  You are his/her first teachers always sit down when eating.  Take your child to wash and dry hands, observe and only comment if help is needed, such as put soap on and rub hands together.   Guide and help in putting on and taking off clothes with little guidance, teach how to fold clothes and pick up toys after play.   Development happens when your toddler is given choices.  When planning clothes for next day.  Ask your child which shirt he would like to wear to school from a choice of two options.  Children are often told what to do too often.  They need to feel in control of things that they are experiencing daily.  Choices lead to developing independence and building self-esteem or confidence which leads to becoming a confident child.   It is important to give your child time and be patient when helping your child while he/she is developing any self help skill. In many cases an adult might feel that it is faster to help a child with a task then having to wait for the child finish with the task.  It is true that you can do a better job with faster results.  However, by giving your toddler an opportunity to work on developing a self-help skill , your toddler will experience growth and development and learn to think how to do things which will boost his/her self-esteem.   If your child does need help, be there to help and still make him/her feel they accomplished as much as they could.  Always speak positive words to your child when your child is performing a self help skill task and encourage your child and phrase him/her for doing things with little or no help from an adult.  Enjoy watching your child progress in his independent development!

Identifying and Treating Developmental Delays  The term developmental delay may sound scary, but it is important to understand that every child grows, develops and learns differently and often a delay in one area does not predict long term or permanent outcomes. What is a developmental delay?  A developmental delay refers to a child who has not gained the developmental skills expected within a specified age range. Delays may occur in the areas of motor function, speech and language, cognitive, play, and social skills. Global developmental delay means a young child has significant delays in two or more of these areas of development. How to know if your child has a developmental delay? If you are concerned that your child is not reaching milestones when typically expected you should first consult with your child’s general practitioner or paediatrician. At this appointment the doctor will most likely ask you a series of questions regarding milestones your child has or has not met, and what your child has and has not yet been able to do. The doctor may then refer you to a specialist. Doctors your child might be referred to include: Act Early If a child does have a developmental delay early intervention can make a big difference. There are a range of therapies available to support the area of delay, including speech and language therapy, physical and occupational therapy, and behaviour therapy. Research has shown that early intervention can positively alter the course of development with long term outcomes.(https://evidence2impact.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/s_wifis14c03.pdf), (Karoly, Lynn A., M. Rebecca Kilburn, and Jill S. Cannon, Proven Benefits of Early Childhood Interventions. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2005. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9145.html.),  To conclude, remember that not all children develop at the same rate. Avoid making comparisons between your child and other children. If you are concerned about your child’s development, first port of call is to visit your GP or paediatrician, and if a referral is made start with the recommended intervention as soon as possible.

By Teacher Ravisara Imagine what our world would be like if we didn’t have water? Or access to any healthy foods? There is a different world in each subject taught in the early years. A world where words are like puzzle pieces waiting to be put together. Each puzzle has a letter, each letter has a unique sound and action. Putting the puzzle together would mean blending them and creating words which will be the foundation of every future communication. This subject is Phonics. This world is the phonetic world, which is a very important part of the early years education.  Without phonics, children may struggle to develop these critical literacy skills. They may struggle to decode words, leading to frustration and lack of interest in the subject, which will further impact their communication skills. They will not be able to understand the relationship between letters and sounds. By introducing and practising phonics with your little ones you are helping them develop strong literacy skills which will help throughout their lives. There is no specific way to teach phonics. This can be through phonetic awareness activities in school, or worksheets, flashcards, having instructional strategies such as direct instruction, small group instruction and one on one instruction.  Research by International Literacy Association shows that phonics, when taught correctly, is one of the most effective ways of teaching children to read. It simplifies the English Language down into 44 sounds. Children, therefore decode words breaking it down into the sounds instead of ending up memorising over 1000’ individual words.  How can family members help their children with phonics? Phonics can be tricky, however, helping your child decode their sounds will only result in them being more confident when they are to communicate with other individuals in English. 

By Teacher Ravisara Kindergarten represents an important developmental milestone for your child as they transition from being a very young child into being a school-aged one. It is their first big step in their formal education. The knowledge and skills your child learns in kindergarten will serve them well for their future. The crucial part of this process is to find the right program to prepare them for academic, emotional, physical & social success in the future.  Different Curriculums & Teaching Approaches:  Montessori Curriculum: Developed by Dr, Maria Montessory in the early 20th century, this approach focuses on promoting independence, self-discipline, and hands-on learning. The Montessori classrooms are usually equipped with specially designed materials that encourage children to explore and learn at their own pace. The curriculum emphasises practical life skills, sensorial activities, mathematics, language, and cultural subjects. Montessori preschools often have mixed-age classrooms, allowing older children to mentor younger ones.  Reggio Emilia Curriculum: This approach originated in Italy and is known for their child-centred philosophy. This curriculum views children as active participants in their learning process, valuing their thoughts, ideas, and creativity. The classrooms are filled with natural materials, mirrors, and open-ended activities to stimulate curiosity and exploration. It gives importance to art, group projects, and collaboration amongst students. It encourages teachers to display children’s work to create a rich environment for learning and self-expression.  Play-Based Approach: This curriculum recognizes that young children learn best through play and exploration, and encourages creativity, social interaction, and problem-solving skills. Play-based pedagogy is proven to support academic skills in young learners. The environment is usually carefully designed to stimulate children’s curiosity and imagination, setting up the classroom with signs to encourage drama, construction, sensory, art & writing.  Waldorf Curriculum: Developed by Rudolf Steiner, takes a holistic approach to the education system. This curriculum focuses on nurturing a child’s intellectual, physical, emotional, and spiritual development. Waldorf classrooms are more home-like, with an emphasis on imaginative play and storytelling.  British Curriculum: The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), from the British National Curriculum is designed to provide a structured and holistic approach to early childhood education for children aged 0 to 5. The EYFS places a strong emphasis on creating a safe and stimulating environment where young children can develop holistically.  Project Approach Approach: Unlike traditional teaching methods, this curriculum places children at the centre of their own learning journey. It encourages them to explore, inquire, and investigate, all while actively engaging in real-world projects.   Choosing the right curriculum and teaching approach for your child is a significant decision that requires a lot of research and consideration. The curriculum sets the educational vision for kindergarten and will also allow you to differentiate your learning styles and what works best for you. The best curriculum for your child will depend on your educational philosophy and vision, and the kind of learning style you would like your child to adapt to. Ultimately, the success of any curriculum lies in its implementation and the effectiveness of the training received by the teachers. After all, it is their dedication, effort & expertise that will bring the curriculum and teaching to life and make a meaningful impact on your students’ education.