According to experts, introducing children to foreign languages should begin as early as possible. For a child in a daycare center, the advantages and benefits of learning multiple languages at an early age are extremely valuable and continue long into adulthood.

In our interview with Myelita Melton, CEO of SpeakEasy Communications, Inc., and author of the SpeakEasy Spanish™, discusses the importance of teaching foreign languages to young children.

OwnADaycare: What is an appropriate age to begin learning foreign languages?

Melton:  Experts agree that introducing children to second and third languages as early as possible is best. The earlier a child is exposed to another language the greater the likelihood that the child will become truly proficient in the language. Some suggest that waiting until age 10 or later is too late to develop true fluency.

OwnADaycare: What are the benefits of learning foreign languages at an early age (infants, toddlers, preschoolers)?

Melton: The benefits of learning foreign languages at an early age are numerous:

1. Children develop a life-long love of communicating with others
2. Standardized test scores are often higher than for those of children who do not learn second languages
3. Children develop a greater appreciation for diversity
4. A child’s ability in English is enhanced from learning about the structure of other languages
5. Children have the capacity to learn many languages without getting them confused. The body automatically compartmentalizes each language correctly.
6. Children will achieve a more native grasp of both grammar and pronunciation in the second language
7. Since we live in a global community that’s filled with diversity, the need for a child to have second language capability is greater today than ever before.
8. Bilingual skills are in great demand in the job market

OwnADaycare: What are some of the myths about exposing young children to foreign languages?

Melton: Common myths about exposing children to languages are:

1. A child’s short attention span prohibits second language learning
2. A child must be able to read and write in English before beginning second language study
3. A child must be totally immersed in the language in order to begin learning a second language

OwnADaycare: Are there benefits to being bilingual when you are learning to read?

Melton: By being exposed to foreign languages a child can more easily see vocabulary and grammatical structures that the English and the other language have in common. Seeing commonalities in vocabulary helps a child learn new words more easily.

OwnADaycare: Can you describe how a full immersion daycare or preschool program works?

Melton: During language immersion programs children spend all or a large portion of their day learning in a foreign language. The foreign language is used to teach in all other subject areas. It is not a separate subject area.

OwnADaycare: What are the advantages of a full immersion daycare or preschool program? Any disadvantages?

Melton: Children in total immersion programs work toward total fluency in the foreign language. They are more likely to “think” and function naturally in the language. Normally, they are able to achieve an extremely high level of overall competency, and they hold speakers of that language in high regard. In addition, their skills in English flourish.

OwnADaycare: What are some tips for daycare providers and preschool teachers who wish to begin incorporating foreign language learning into their curriculum?

Melton:

1. Determine the long and short-term goals for your language immersion program
2. Purchase age and subject appropriate materials
3. Hire qualified instructors
4. Get the support of parents
5. Offer frequent staff development opportunities and planning time

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When these children grow, their need to learn still needs to be jumpstarted. Just remember, in running a daycare, always bring in the element of fun to make them do the activities. You must also instil or integrate how they could build up their imaginative ways. You can do this allowing them to pick out a costume and let them wear it during their stay in the daycare. Then encourage these children to act out the costume they are wearing. An example of this would be a costume of an angel. This becomes role playing in its pure form. The child wearing the angel costume will now act like an angel the way he or she knows. As the child will learn from this that an angel is a bearer of God’s message, the effect is that the child might even be curious and may want to find out what is the word of God. This is the kind of game in which the child will learn a lot from.

But even the way children play has developed in some ways. In kindergarten and preparatory schools, story reading with pictures were the best ways to teach a child. This style of teaching also develops interaction between them and other children and with other people too. An example of this is to let them imagine that they are in a kiddie movie. Narrate to them what the movie is all about. Then later, make them act out the characters in the movie in their own style. A lot of basic things like speaking can be learned from this type of learning.

Important skills for the children
There are a lot of the important manners in which a child should learn that you can teach in a daycare. There are also activities that will help children learn with the use of games. These are drawing, craft projects, dancing, playing with blocks.

When you use drawing, it is best that you use a variety of mediums like paint and pencil because this will allow the children to learn about shapes, letters and numbers. Craft projects allow the children to discover their talents and play with colour, shapes, texture and dimension. With dance, the children can explore the physical aspect of their bodies and teaches the children to keep fit. Playing with plastic or wooden or plastic blocks allow the children to be more creative using their imagination to build blocks using balance, structure, dimension.

Aside from these, there are other skills that these children can learn from these. An example of this is that you can teach the children how to focus eyeing their attention on a particular letter. It is not advisable to make elaborations but you can put some dramatics in it.

One thing that you must look for is for the kids to have fun for a long time. The thing is those children from age nine onward actually are in need to learn to reason to people and think for themselves. Another thing that children within this age group need to develop are their social skills. Activities in which these children can achieve this is by forming teams in doing projects for science or building blocks and putting together puzzles. You can also ask them to do computer projects and computer games. When these children do these computer games, this will help them develop hand and eye coordination.

You as a parent is will play a major role in how fast the child will learn. When these children learn how to imagine, create structure, play and pretend are all instrumental in the learning development of the child. The most basic skills children develop aside from their math skills and the ABC’s are the skills that they will need to learn and use for them to successfully interact with other children and for them to explore, reason out and to plan out. These are the basic things that they will need to carry on with their lives.

The imaginative jungle
You can ask the children to make a safari jungle in the daycare. This will provide so much fun for the children and the parents. Listed below are some tips on how to make a jungle in the daycare. These ideas are also good as long as the children want to. The ideas are play jingle themes, put animal stuff toys on the shelf, read jingle stories, define to the children the word jungle.

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The best way that you can maximize your office spaces I by the use of cubicles. Each cubicles is set for a certain activity which sill allow distinction and segregation for the staff members. It will make the day care look more organized instead of just placing each activity area at the four corners of the room. Each activity will be provided with their own space and environment which prevents children from hearing and seeing the other areas which can easily distract them. Always arrange these cubicles in a way that they maximize floor space of the day care.

Areas that you might consider will be reading, sleeping, eating, art areas which require a separate environment for each. This is why you should pay more attention to these. It is highly recommended to use a different set of designs or wall paints for each cubicle for easier distinction of such places. This will allow the child to value each cubicle and recognize the fact that they can learn a lot from each cubicle space.

This is truly one of the ways in which you can ensure the maximum development of children in your day care. Just with knowing what to do with the space, you will be able to be sure that the children are learning what they have to learn. Parents will be very much satisfied with the learning progression of the children in your day care. Never underestimate the benefits of having a huge day care space. Even if this can cost you a lot, this can be very beneficial for your business.

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Effective preschool teachers and child care providers:

Are aware when they need to give more specific instructions to their students or when they are already capable enough to learn on their own

Promote participation of their students in classroom activities and discussions

Have open ears and hearts for the ideas and opinions of their students

Help their students expand their vocabulary by widening their knowledge

Are aware when to let their children explore and discover things by themselves, and when to supervise them more closely

Provide their students with activities that are challenging and purposeful

Promote teamwork among their students and help them in reconcile their differences

Teach their students to give importance to each others’ personal things, and even the time and effort they give to the class

Encourage free speech among the children in their class, and between the children and the adults around them

Can keep peace and harmony in the classroom, and teach children how to follow rules without impeding the learning process

Run the class in a manner that strengthens the teacher-student relationship and ensures that the time spent in the classroom is maximized

Developing Listening and Speaking Skills

In the past, children are not allowed to speak their minds or share their feelings. Now, most parents and teachers know that this is one belief that should be disregarded. Studies show that the development of a child’s reading and writing proficiency is greatly influenced by their ability to express their selves as well as their listening skills. Thus, it is vital for young children to be able to:

1.Maintain their focus and listen closely, whether it may be for their enjoyment or for absorbing information
2.Utilize spoken language for different functions
3.Perform simple instructions and provide them as well
4.Make simple queries and create their own response
5.Speak with proper volume and pace
6.Take part in discussions while maintaining courtesy and respect for the teacher and other students, and being able to stick to the topic
7.Express themselves verbally and non-verbally

On the other hand, preschool teachers should be able to:

Detect opportunities to ask open-ended questions and encourage their students to expound on their answers

Impart new vocabularies to their students which can be of relevance and use to them

Effectively answer questions and allow their students to initiate conversations

Help their students develop their speech and ability to interact

Below are pointers and suggestions for enhancing the listening and communication skills of young children:

Speak to your children as much as you can within the day

During story time, encourage children to give their views about the story itself or the characters in it, get them to guess the outcome of the story, or relate it to their everyday life

Engage children in games and activities that will enhance their listening skills and speech

Take advantage of everyday routines that can teach children to follow directions or give simple instructions on their own

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Books are the considered as the best tool that parents have when they are teaching their children. Parents read to their children when they want them to learn about the alphabet and numbers. Children are usually visual when they start to learn new things. They associate things with certain images like an apple for the letter A and so on. Usually children are not contented with just learning how to read letters. When they are ready to read, the book is still the best learning material that your child can use. You will notice that they will voluntarily pick up a book and flip through the pages. If they do this on a regular basis, they will learn how to read in no time. When your child starts learning how to read, then it is time to teach them vocabulary and comprehension. There is no point when your child learns how to read words if they do not understand it.

Reading is an important skill that children must acquire when they are still young. But there is something equally as important as learning how to recognize letters and words. This is your child’s ability to count. Numbers can be fun and children should develop an early interest when it comes to numbers. You child will find it useful if they know how to count they will use this in school and even in daily life. Parents usually focus on teaching their children how to read and write, but it is really important that your child knows how to count numbers as early as possible. There are children who actually find it hard to count and often mix up the sequence of numbers. The best way to teach your child how to count is through finger counting. This is the best way to let your child be familiar with counting from 1- 10. When your child has mastered this, you can now move on to larger numbers.
You can vary your methods in teaching your child how to count. You can start with asking your child to count their body parts, this will be easy since counting is usually taught with fingers. When eating, you can ask your child to count oranges, grapes and even apples before they eat it. Another effective way of teaching your child to count is when he is climbing up the stairs. You can both go up and count each step, this will be helpful since stairs are one of the things which your child come in contact with everyday so they will be able to familiarize with counting every time they go up and go down the stairs.

Besides from books, your child can learn through the computer. This is a fun and interactive way of teaching your child how to read and count. This combines fun with learning which can actually be an advantage for your child. Some children do not want to learn because they often relate learning with boredom. But with a computer, they can play and learn at the same time.

Just visit your computer shop and they sell programs which have been made for this purpose. They will be able to learn about letters, reading, numbers, colors and even shapes.

Field trips have been proven to be one of the efficient teaching method that you can use on your child. Teach them how to read road signs like “stop” or “keep off the grass”. These will be very helpful for them, not only will they learn how to read but will also know what these signs are for. You can also take them to the park or the zoo. You can read the names and count flowers and animals. Children often learn through exposure. They do not really learn the technical stuff but what they learn are the applications of counting and reading. They will learn more words that are not written in books, because usually, these books only teach simple and easy words that your child can easily remember. Even when it comes to counting, if your child can only count up to 20, you can now extend this knowledge and teach him how to count up to 30 and so on.

As parents, you would want your child to learn ahead of others. You want your child to be advanced in terms of their learning capabilities. It is up to you which teaching method you would want to use on your child as long as you remember that children need to have fun while they are learning. It is important that you will be able to build a good image of learning to your child. This will be beneficial for him up until he grows up. The reason why most kids do not want to study is because they associate studying with being boring. This is why you should be able to find interesting and fun ways for your child to learn so that he will get the habit of discovering fun ways to learn new things.

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