Instead of adding to the to-do list, consider taking away from it with three simple things every child needs for kindergarten.
More big body physical play
- Aerobic movement and the brain
- Eye-hand Coordination Isn’t Just for Sports
- Spinning your way to a focal point and data management
- Force, what is it to learning?
- Social Emotional Learning, Is It Physical?
Sleep
- How important is sleep?
- What does sleep have to do with a young child’s success?
- Insufficient Sleep in Children, the Ramifications
Language, reading out loud, conversation
Parenting in this post covid world is hard. But tackling challenges now will make the later years (teen years!) easier.
Skills developed in unstructured, self-directed play
Restraint Resiliency Collaborating Self-reliance Fairness Leadership How to be the follower Body-language Verbal cues Non-verbal cues Sharing Negotiating Problem solving Assertiveness Boundary setting Self-control Goal setting Winning How to lose Risk taking Conflict resolution Empathy Compassion Imaginative play Independence Behavior control Reasoning skills Focus Creativity
Bonus
Independent play time: more quiet grown-up time
More sleep for them: more quiet grown-up time
More conversations with them: something to treasure when they are challenging teens
