Preschool | My Boys and Their Toys

Can a Friendship Survive if Your Kids Don’t Get Along?

It seems like every day we wake up to hear of yet another bullying story in the news. I’m not sure if we’re hearing about more cases because the schools and media have taken a stance or if there’s just more cases, period. Just this morning there was another news story about a teen who was picked for Homecoming court, only to learn that it was a prank by many of her peers to embarrass her. While this particular story had a positive outcome because the teens community got wind of the story and many local businesses began offering to pay for her dress, homecoming dinner, etc, encouraging the teen to still attend her Homecoming dance, not all bullying stories end this way.

As parents, I feel that these news stories are reminders (or lessons) that give us an opportunity to teach our children about bullying and what is acceptable behavior. Since my son is four and started preschool this year I’ve briefly touched on the topic of bullying so he can be aware of what it is and what to do if a situation were to arise. I have instilled in him that if you are kind to others they will be kind to you.
[Read more...]

Share/Bookmark

Benefits of Educational Apps for Preschoolers

In this technologically advanced society it’s no surprise that children as young as three and four are getting in on the trend. Studies have shown that children who have computers at home performed much higher in reading and math than children who do not have access to computers.

My 4-year-old son is a perfect example of this statistic. Since the age of three he has been fascinated by the computer and tablet we own. Considering he sees Mommy and Daddy using them quite often, it makes a lot of sense he would show interest.

Super J has been reading since age three. Yes, reading. He knows how to spell, write age appropriate words, and many other advanced learning skills. We have seen the benefits firsthand of a child using technology and we’re impressed.

There’s an overwhelming amount of educational games and age appropriate learning apps that exist for preschoolers. Many of them help children trace letters, fine-tune motor skills, teach them how to spell, read, and encourage imagination.

Some of our favorites are:

Pre-K Letters and Numbers

Sight Words

Preschool

Play 1, 2, 3

I highly encourage any parent to take the time to show their child how to use a computer or tablet. If you don’t own one, there are many county libraries that offer computer access. Even one day a week can make a difference.

We of course limit the amount of time our son spends on the tablet/home computer. It’s typically an hour a day based on good behavior. It’s a great reward system tool and it benefits his learning in the end.

Disclosure: All opinions are my own and may differ from yours. No compensation was received for this post.