Fourth Of July Fun With Your Little Ones

Independence day is not just a popular day for adults, kids love to join in on all the patriotic fun too! But, there are hours of celebrating before the fireworks light up the night sky. Here are a few kid-friendly activities for your little ones to enjoy while they wait!

Bottle Rocket Tag
This is a fun, patriotic twist to regular tag. The concept remains the same, one child is “it,” and has to chase and attempt to tag other players. Once someone is tagged, he has to do five bottle rockets (squat down and launch into an explosive jump).

Patriotic Baseball
Grab a wiffleball bat and fill red, white, and blue balloons with water (these will replace the wiffle balls). Since the balloons will pop as soon as you pitch it to the player at bat, there’s no need for the kids to run around the bases. But, you can have one base that they have to run to and make it back to home plate before being tagged.

Relay Race
Try to assemble two outfits that resemble George Washington (fake wig, collared shirt, and a hat is really all you need). Determine the length of the race and put items of the outfit on both ends. Each child has to run back and forth, putting one item of clothing on until they’re completely in character. Whoever looks like President Washington first, wins!

Arts and Crafts
When all else fails, setting up a table filled with patriotic DIY crafts will always go over big! Kids can create stars and stripes tic-tac-toe, finger-painted t-shirts, or even popsicle stick flags.

Did you try any of these holiday games? We’d love to hear from you! Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter, or visit our website to learn more about Miss Sue’s Nursery School!

How Not To Worry When Your Child's At Day Camp

Are you battling with the ‘what-if’s’ of sending your child off to day camp this summer? Wrestling the worries of not having control can be emotionally draining on parents. And studies show that children may observe and mimic parents’ worries. However, summer camp shouldn’t be a scary thing for you or your little one! In fact, it’s one of the best ways to keep them occupied this summer!

How Not To Worry When Your Child’s At Day Camp:

Stop dwelling on the ‘possibilities.’ We’re not saying to ignore all potential difficulties (this could potentially help prep you and your child for camp). However, dwelling on a situation that hasn’t even occurred only makes you feel more helpless, and your child will sense your anxiety and start worrying as well.

Worrying distorts reality. The more you fret over every little thing, the more they come alive in your head. Instead of anticipating the least probable scenario, talk with the directors of your camp -- they can help ease your worries by answering any questions you may have.

Stay busy to keep your anxiety at bay. While your child is at day camp, jam pack your schedule with to-do’s. Plan a romantic day-date with your spouse, schedule special bonding time with other children, or take some for yourself. Stay busy -- you deserve a change of pace, too.

Keep goals in mind. Yes, camp is a fun way to keep your kids busy this summer, but it’s also educational as well. Set some goals aside for your little one to achieve this summer, whether that be physical, social, or mental.

Don’t let your anxiety stop you from sending your kids off to day camp! When you choose Miss Sue’s Summer Program, you can rest assured knowing that your child is having fun in the sun, while also building the knowledge, skills, and confidence to have a successful future. To learn more about the program, give us a call at 516-366-5623.

Your Kids Will Love This Summer Reading List

It may be called summer break, but that doesn’t mean that kids should get a break from learning. Children who continue to read will build on their visualization, thinking, and language abilities. Why not make sharing books part of your summer fun?

The Book of Mistakes

This book is a great way to show your children that any mistake can turn into a source of inspiration! After all, at the end of the day, we’re all a work in progress.

Order it here.

Charlotte and the Rock

Like many young kids, Charlotte wants a pet. But, instead, her parents gift her with a rock. This doesn’t bring Charlotte down, she treats the rock as she would a real animal. The twist at the end will be sure to delight you and your little one!

Order it here.

The Giant Jumperee

Did your little one enjoy reading Room on the Broom or We’re Going on a Bear Hunt? Then chances are The Giant Jumperee is perfect for them! Find out who the Giant Jumperee is in this jaunty, animal fable written and illustrated by the same picture book creators.

Order it here.

Mighty, Mighty Construction Site

The team behind the beloved Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site has finally given us a sequel — Mighty, Mighty Construction Site. Your children will be reunited with all of their favorite trucks, while they focus on team-building and friendship!

Order it here.

If you find your little one struggling with reading, try to incorporate some of our expert tips and tricks to help make it more fun!

At Miss Sue’s Nursery School, our prime educational goal is the development of the whole child — socially, emotionally, physically and educationally. A multi-sensory, holistic approach to learning is provided through play, art, music and physical activities. To learn more about the school or to schedule an appointment, please give us a call at 516-938-0894.

Why We Love TEAMS At Miss Sue's Summer Camp

Team sports go way beyond the physical benefits. Kids who participate in sports will also do better academically, mentally, and socially. And as a result, these benefits will extend well into their adult life. Here are five more reasons why we love teams at Miss Sue’s Summer Program.

There’s No “I” In Team - Being on a team teaches kids how to cooperate with their peers. Learning how to get along with kids that have different personalities and backgrounds will open up friendships that may not have formed otherwise.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T - It doesn’t take long for kids to learn how to listen and respect the players and coaches of the game. Everyone from the star player to a beginner deserves respect, on and off the field.

Time Management - Practice, homework, family time — kids schedules can fill up, quick. However, participating in a sport at a young age is a great time for your little ones to learn how to deal with time management.

Stress Relief

Sports are a great way to leave your stress out on the field. Also, all the coaches who become mentors and the teammates who become friends help as well.

Winning Isn’t Everything - Life isn’t always fair, and sometimes losing happens. It’s important for your young athletes to deal with the disappointment in order to help them be stronger as they grow older. Besides, loss can teach the true importance of perseverance and never giving up!

At Miss Sue’s we teach children more than just letters, numbers, and colors. We use sports as a fun and educational way to keep your kids busy this summer. Miss Sue’s Summer Program is designed to nurture and build self-esteem in your children while they have fun in the sun. To learn more about the program, give us a call at 516-366-5623.

Day Camp Benefits For Preschoolers

Is your child between the ages of three and five? You should consider sending them to summer day camp! While this may seem too young for your just-potty-trained little one, there’s a list of pros to consider.

A preview of preschool. Although day camp is filled with more activities and adventures, it will still provide your child with a taste of what school will be like.

Preparation for separation. It’s time for your little ones to learn how to make a clean break from mom and dad. And what better way to have a “practice run” than by dropping your child off for a full day with their friends!

Learning new social skills. Camp is a great way to introduce your children to new activities and skills including teamwork, coordination, self-confidence, and following rules. Also, this gives your child a chance to make lifelong pals!

A more structured lifestyle. By providing a structured, yet fun, environment, day camps can help transition your child from a laid-back, flexible lifestyle to a relatively structured environment.

BONUS: sending your child off to day camp can provide you with the time and energy you need to take care of business this summer. You can relax and focus on them when they come home knowing you were able to complete your work during the day.

If you’re looking for a superior nursery school on Long Island, look no further than Miss Sue's Nursery School! To learn more about our curriculum or to schedule a tour to see our program in action, give us a call at 516-938-0894.

Ways To Keep Your Kids Focused On Learning

It’s almost summer and let’s face it, we’re all ready to reap those sweet summer vacation rewards. But school is still in session for another few weeks. There’s still time to make the most out of the school year — just remember these four simple tips!

Stay on task. Just because the days are longer, doesn’t mean bedtime schedules automatically change. You may have to make some exceptions, but just be sure your kids are getting enough rest overall.

Don’t go overboard. Routines are important, but an airtight schedule can also send your little one’s stress levels through the roof. Try to keep a happy medium between study sessions and pastime activities.

Stay engaged. There are only so many book reports, projects, and extracurriculars that parents can keep up with! However, the minute you start slacking off, your kids will follow suit.

Communicate with teachers. This will allow you to see if your child is missing any assignments or if there’s any room for extra credit before the year is up. It also shows how much you support the teachers curriculum and your child’s future.

Staying engaged towards the end of the school year requires focus from both the parent and the child. We hope that the tips above help! At Miss Sue’s Nursery School, our prime educational goal is the development of the whole child — socially, emotionally, physically and educationally. A multi-sensory, holistic approach to learning is provided through play, art, music and physical activities. To learn more about the school or to schedule an appointment, please give us a call at 516-938-0894.