5 Secrets To Finding Your Child's Talent

Could your child be the next big artist? What about a professional soccer player? Perhaps, but not without your help! We’re not born with certain skill sets, they’re learned and developed over time. In order to unlock your child’s hidden talents, use these five strategies:

Watch out for motivational moments. It’s not easy to practice something deeply - it requires passion, motivation, persistence, and emotional fuel. When a child begins to channel their focus on a particular goal, a tsunami of energy is released. Watch out for what areas trigger their motivation.

Slow practice is productive practice. This technique is common for every talent; from tennis, to chello, to math. When you go slow, you can sense and fix more errors. Remind your children, it’s not about how fast they can do it, it’s how slow they can do it, correctly.

Praise effort, not ability. When you recognize kids’ natural ability, they end up taking fewer risks. But, when we praise their efforts, it has the opposite effect. They become more inclined to go outside their comfort zone, make mistakes, and learn from them.

Encourage imitation. While you should always teach your children to be unique, copying a person’s skill is actually extremely beneficial for learning. Vividly imagining yourself perfecting an area of expertise is a great first step to successfully accomplishing it. Have them practice a dance from one of their favorite artists or write down, verbatim, one of their favorite short stories.

Stand back. The practice required to create a talent can only come from the child. So, no matter how well-meaning you may be, don’t force your child to master a certain skill set. Instead, pay attention to what your child finds interest in and help them use their energy wisely to build off that appeal.

It’s important to let your child tap into their skills at home. And while they’re at school, Miss Sue's’ curriculum is set up to foster that talent while providing your children with the best education available. If you’re looking for a superior nursery school on Long Island, choose Miss Sue's! To learn more about our program, give us a call at 516-938-0894 or visit our website.

How To Connect Your Kids With Art

Did you know that children learn visually before they learn textually? Research has shown that children who are exposed to the arts are more able to think creatively, be original, discover, and innovate. It may seem impossible to try to add one more activity to your child's busy schedule, but a little art-time can go a long way. Here’s how you can try to help your little ones become connected to art and create memories with you at the same time.

Designate a space. Whether you are making art at your dining room table, kitchen counter, or on the floor of your home make sure the space is consistent. Having one location dedicated to creating art builds guidelines for kids and helps keep your home and art supplies organized. Include your little one in decorating the space to make it feel more special to them.

Provide them with supplies. Remember, simplicity is key. Make sure your supplies, projects, and expectations are not complicated. Offering very specific supplies creates a structure for you and your children to work with that won’t make either of you feel overwhelmed. As your kids gain more exposure to art, they will begin to create more complex projects on their own.

Set up a time of day. Any habit requires you to invest some time. Many parents feel overrun during the first several art experiences with young children, but providing consistency helps build their stamina and engagement. Block out some time every week that’s dedicated to art-time. No matter how simple, help them learn about the importance art has in their life.

Follow your children's interest. Your children will be more invested in their art projects if you provide them with something to work on that they have an interest in. Consider giving them a craft based on their favorite story, movie, or animal. Incorporating some of their favorite things will help engage your children and create a connection between them and art.

At Miss Sue's, we encourage children to express themselves through art on a daily basis. We understand how important it is to have a creative outlet. Are you looking for a nursery school that will foster your child's creativity? If so, look no further than Miss Sue's! Call 516-938-0894 to learn more about enrollment.

How To Make Reading Fun

For some kids, reading is almost as hard as tying their shoes or matching their outfits - it can get very frustrating and they may want to give up. If you find your little one struggling with reading, try to incorporate these ideas to help make it more fun!

#1 Read the right books
Nothing is more discouraging for a child than trying to read a book that isn’t suited for their reading level. Be sure your child is reading books that are challenging, but not too difficult to the point where they get fed up. Use this five finger test as a guide.

#2 Let your kids choose
If you haven’t noticed already, your kids love being in charge. Let them take the lead when it comes to story time and have them load up on books that are interesting to them, it will help motivate them.

#3 Think outside the box
Is reading a hardcover book getting a little old? Try listening to an audiobook, it still counts as reading - your kids will continue to build their vocabulary skills and background knowledge on literary devices. Also, don’t forget about reading books on devices such as an iPad or Kindle. Kids are mesmerized by technology which can help make reading enticing.

#4 Create a fun reading area
Work with your child to create a reading area they will want to hang around in. Add posters, rugs, pillows, and lots of lighting. This can also become a safe space for your child whenever they need one.

#5 Bend the rules
Make sure your kids know that breaking the rules is never a good idea, but in this case it may help bring excitement to reading. Switch things up by reading to your little one instead - use your best silly voice to set a fun mood. You can also try extending their bedtime and have your kids stay up late during reading nights.

Keep in mind, at the end of the day, the biggest motivator for children is knowing that their loved ones are rooting for their success!

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.

Ways To Help Your Kids Make New Year’s Resolutions

2017 is right around the corner! The new year is a perfect time to celebrate a new beginning and focus on things you’d like to improve that upcoming year. Encouraging your children to make resolutions can be a fun and exciting way to prepare for growth and change and to help show them about the importance of striving to achieve goals. Help your children start fresh and reach their goals in 2017 by making resolutions.

Be Resolution Role Models- As a parent, it’s important to practice what you preach. If you want your child to focus on setting intentions for the next 12 months, show them that you are doing the same by making your own resolutions. Setting goals together is a great way to encourage family bonding and togetherness.

Keep a Positive Approach to Resolutions- There's a celebratory feeling to setting goals on New Year's that doesn't exist at other times of the year. Setting goals should evoke feelings of happiness for you and your child. To help your child set their intentions, start by going over the positive things they  accomplished last year and ask them to expand on it. Keeping things positive will help them be more excited to strive to reach them.

Narrow Down the Resolutions List- It’s important not to end up with too many resolutions that could overwhelm your child and make them feel like they have a lot to tackle this year. Narrow it down to two or three resolutions and help them make small steps towards achieving their goal. If your child wants to improve their writing, instead of tackling every letter at once, have them master each letter at a time by practicing in fun ways every day.

Help your child achieve their goals in 2017 by enrolling them in a superior nursery school. 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 Books Make Great Holiday Gifts

‘Tis the season to go gift shopping! Whether you’re buying for loved ones, co-workers, friends, or your little one at home, finding that perfect gift can be a nerve-wracking task. But it doesn’t have to be! There’s one universal gift that is sure to put a smile on anyone’s face--a book! If you’re buying for the little student in your life, giving the gift of reading and learning is priceless. Here are some other reasons why books make the best holiday gifts:

What books are you going to get your children for the holidays? Let us know on our Facebook page.

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 You Should Vote For Miss Sue’s

By now you have probably heard that Miss Sue’s has been voted “Best of Long Island’s Best Nursery School” for the past seven years in a row, and we are happy to be nominated again this year! We recognize that we are nothing without our devoted staff, students and their families and we appreciate all of your loyalty in helping make Miss Sue’s what it is today!  

Nursery school sets the stage for a child's educational career. That's why it is so important to choose a great nursery school. If you want a safe and nurturing environment, and the best education available, then Miss Sue's Nursery School is perfect for your child.

We treat each student as an individual and encourage personal growth and development through group and independent lessons, learning centers and play.  Our curriculum features Math, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts and Art. Our teachers tailor lessons to accommodate the individual learning needs of each and every child, providing them with the support and attention necessary to thrive. When children are not at work, they are playing with blocks, tools, crafts, puzzles, etc. Playtime allows children to be creative while interacting with others. We know we are doing our job right when children look forward to coming to school.

We need your help! Please cast your vote here and help us take home the title of Best Nursery School for 2017!

We truly appreciate your business and support and allowing us to love what we do!

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.

Thanksgiving Crafts For Preschoolers

Thanksgiving is right around the corner! What better way to teach your children about this holiday, than by making some Thanksgiving crafts? From turkey to pilgrims to cornucopias, these Thanksgiving crafts are a perfect way to have some educational fun with your kids at home:

Mayflower Craft

Teach your kids about the pilgrims and their journey to this “new world” with this cute Mayflower craft! Most of the materials needed will be common household items, so grab your supplies and let your creativity unfold.

What you’ll need:

• Small box
• Brown paint
• Paint brushes
• Scissors
• Clay or play-doh
• Drinking straws
• Paper
• Black marker

For full directions, or to see a finished product, click here.

Pudding Turkey Craft

This is a great craft to help your child tap into their sensory skills, and is perfect for very little kids. But no matter how old your children are, everyone will have a blast, getting their hands dirty with this fun turkey craft.

What you’ll need:

• Chocolate pudding
• Thick cardboard or posterboard
• Construction paper
• Scissors
• Googly eyes (optional)

For full directions, click here.

Paper Plate Pilgrim Crafts

These crafts are great ways to teach your kids about history, where you can even use books to supplement your lesson. Making these pilgrims will be fun and creative ways for your children to gain some educational information at home.

What you’ll need:

• Large paper plate
• Small paper plate
• Beige paint
• Paint brush
• Construction paper
• Glue
• Tape
• Crayons

For the pilgrim template and full directions, click here.

Fingerprint Turkey Place Card

Have your little ones help you set the table with their personalized place cards for the whole family. They will have a blast creating these and knowing they were a part of Thanksgiving preparation. These quick crafts will turn any table into a happy and festive one!

• What you’ll need:
• Red, orange, yellow and brown paint
• Black marker
• White posterboard

For full directions, click here.

We hope you and your family have a very Happy Thanksgiving. At Miss Sue’s we are thankful for the staff, students and family members who make up this wonderful school. Our prime educational goal is the development of the whole child — socially, emotionally, physically and educationally. To learn more about the school or to schedule an appointment, please give us a call at 516-938-0894.