Smart Start Academy

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The 13 Key Benefits of Early Childhood Education

When children are young, they are learning sponges. Every new experience, every word they learn, every behavior they adopt, is an investment in a more fruitful future.

You can never have a greater impression on a person than when they are in their early childhood years.

Most parents have always inherently understood this and the Government is starting to catch up.

President Obama agreed in his 2013 State of the Union address. Study after study after study reaches the same conclusion: early childhood education has a tremendous impact on life outcomes. Yet only 51% of 3-and-4 year olds in the US are enrolled in full-day preprimary programs, with no improvement in the last 15 years.

Early childhood education is about honing and molding the holistic child, which will eventually form the basis of their lifelong journey.

From my professional experience of more than 35 years as a preschool teacher, I have identified 13 essential benefits of early childhood education:

1. Socialization:

Socialization with people other than the child’s family in a safe environment is an essential foundational element to the below areas.

As parents, we intuitively understand that it’s important to introduce our children to other children and support their transition into their own friendship groups.

The earlier we do this, the better, as it helps children overcome shyness and gain self-confidence. If we leave this too long, we actually hinder their social development.

2. Concept of Cooperation:

Learning how to share, cooperate, take turns and persevere within a safe learning environment, guided by professionals who have the children’s best interests at heart.

This is especially important for the first child, who may not be used to sharing with their siblings at home - while it can be a difficult lesson, it’s so crucial to learn it early.

3. Encouraging Holistic Development:

The approach taken to build a strong foundation for a child’s emotional, social, physical and mental development, which will prepare them for a lifetime.

Early childhood educators are trained in identifying areas where support is needed for each child and building programs and activities around these. Their peers are also extremely important in this regard, as preschoolers are usually helpful, cooperative and inclusive.

4. Enthusiasm for Lifelong Learning:

Lessons should be given in a fun and exciting way that will encourage children to be effective learners. We need to inspire a thirst for learning with eagerness and enthusiasm.

Love of education- for reading, learning, discovery, nature- takes root in preschool.

5. Convey the Value of Education Through Experience:

Grasping the value of learning and education by setting an example as role models and by providing actual experiences.

While parents will always be the most important influence on a child’s early life, introducing them to a preschool environment provides them with a new perspective on the importance of education that will remain with them throughout their schooling journey. It also demonstrates that you value their education highly.

6. Respect:

Teaching the value of respect for others. This is not limited to people and belongings, but can also mean respect for their environment, both immediate and global.

There is no better place to learn this virtue than in a hectic preschool environment, where everything is shared and civility and manners are both taught and learned organically.

7. Teamwork:

Demonstrating and instilling the importance of teamwork that can teach respect for the opinions of others, listening, cooperation and equality.

Many preschool activities are centered around teamwork for this very reason; a person who learns how to work in a team at an early age will ultimately be more socially attuned and more employable!

8. Resilience:

It’s important that early childhood educators and parents work together to develop resilience in children as early as possible. By creating a consistent, secure and fair social environment, with clear expectations and predictable consequences, children can develop skills in managing themselves and their emotions.

It’s a teacher’s job to provide a challenging environment where children can learn through first hand experiences. They may experience bumps, bruises or losing a game from time-to-time, but this is the foundation for building coping strategies for greater challenges in life.

9. Concentration:

During preschool years, children explore at every opportunity to discover new experiences, new friends and new environments. Their minds are so lively and imaginative.

As early childhood educators we need to balance this zest with the ability to listen, follow directions, attend to tasks and participate in group activities to develop the critical life skill of concentration.

10. Patience:

Every day as adults, we encounter situations where our patience is tested. Children need opportunities to be involved in an abundance of social experiences, where they can explore and practice the social skill of patience.

By teaching through examples, role modeling and social experiences, children are able to develop their patience and learn to wait for their turn. Examples from the preschool setting include sharing a teacher’s attention, a toy, the playground or waiting in line for a game.

12. Confidence and Self-Esteem:

This is critical. A strong sense of wellbeing provides children with confidence, optimism and self-esteem which will encourage children to explore their talents, skills and interests.

Positive interactions with other children and teachers will promote a positive, healthy and secure view of themselves that will allow them to approach situations and problems confidently throughout their lives.

13. Exposure to Diversity:

Valuing difference and diversity are crucial to a child’s early development. Early childhood education serves to guide children to appreciate and accept differences and become well-rounded contributors to society.

It is important that children understand that everyone is unique and special in their own way with their own culture, beliefs and ethnicity.

Preschool is so much more than playing. While the basic educational benefits of preschool (such as literacy and numeracy) are tangible, the advances children achieve towards becoming well-rounded individuals are truly invaluable.

Please don’t let your child miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/vicki-palmer/the-13-key-benefits-of-ea_b_7943348.html

Learn About This Valuable Resource

Our after-school program offers school-aged children a safe, secure and fun learning environment.

Our S.S.A. teachers offer tutoring and homework assistance, allow for child-initiated activities and encourage children to develop lifelong friendships while participating in our year-round program and summer program.

After school programs are a valuable resource for children and parents. Many children come home every day to an empty house after school gets out, usually because their parent or parents are working. This means that not only are children left alone for long stretches of time, but parents are left to worry if their kids are safe.

According to the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center, the peak time for juvenile crimes and risky behaviors falls during the hours following school, or from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Even at a young age, children get involved in alcohol and drug use. They are also more likely to become a victim of violence during these hours.

Teach Your Kids Budgeting Habits Early On

How many of us look back on our childhood and wish we would’ve been taught more about money?

A lot of people graduate from college without any idea how to manage their money or balance their bank account. Maybe you were one of them.

Now that you’ve learned more about managing your money right, you want to help your kids not make the same mistakes.

1. Use a clear jar to save. The piggy bank is a great idea, but it doesn’t give kids any visual. When you use a clear jar, they see the money growing. Yesterday, they had a dollar bill and five dimes. Today, they have a dollar bill, five dimes and a quarter! Talk through this with them and make a big deal about it!

2. Set an example. Little eyes are watching you. If you’re slapping down plastic every time you go out to dinner or to the grocery store, they will eventually notice. If, at the end of every month, you and your spouse are arguing about money, they’ll notice. Set a healthy example for them, and they’ll be much more likely to follow it when they get older.

3. Show them that stuff costs money. You’ve got to do more than just say, “That pack of toy cars costs $5, son.” Help them grab a few dollars out of the jar, take it with them to the store, and physically hand the money to the cashier. This simple action will do more than just a five-minute lecture.

Tips for Handling the First Days of Preschool

Your preschooler’s been playing school with his stuffed animals for a few weeks now, has had

playdates with a few of his classmates, and can’t stop talking about his new lunch box and backpack (Trains and cars on both? Way cool!). All good preparation for the big day ahead — and good signs that your pint-sized pupil is ready for his preschool debut. But will that excited anticipation translate into a smooth, stress-free transition on day one? Maybe — or maybe not as much as you’d hoped. Either way, these tips can make the first day of preschool (and the days after) a more manageable experience for your little one — and for you.
FIRST DAY OF PRESCHOOL TIP 1: DON’T RUSH THROUGH THE MORNING.

No one likes to race through the school morning routine — especially on the first day. So get everyone up at a reasonable hour. That way, you won’t have to hurry your child as he munches through his morning meal — or risk being late because you had to tame your frazzled tot’s tantrum.

FIRST DAY OF PRESCHOOL TIP 2: ARRIVE FASHIONABLY EARLY.

This way, your little one can slowly settle in before the real action starts. He’ll also get more face time with the teacher, too, which will be tougher to do once all the other kids are there to vie for her attention.

FIRST DAY OF PRESCHOOL TIP 3: BRING A COMFORT OBJECT.

If the preschool allows it, let your child bring along his favorite stuffed animal (or blanket, or whatever object does the trick) so the new setting doesn’t feel so scary. And once your teddy-toting tot feels comfortable with his surroundings, he’ll let go of his lovey — or at least leave it in his cubby when he plays.

FIRST DAY OF PRESCHOOL TIP 4: PUT ON A HAPPY FACE.

Anxiety may be eating you up inside, but don’t let on — nerves are highly contagious. If your tone’s upbeat and you seem confident that your child will have a good time, there’s a better chance that he’ll be upbeat, too.

FIRST DAY OF PRESCHOOL TIP 5: HANG AROUND, BUT DON’T HOVER.

Many preschools let (or even encourage that) parents stay in the classroom for all or part of the first few days, so if you can swing it, stick around. Knowing that you’re within clinging distance will give your kid the courage to explore his new digs. Then, as your child feels more secure, gradually melt into the background. Your goal is to let the teacher take over so you can get on with your day.

The Creative Curriculum

At Smart Start Academy our curriculum of choice is the Creative Curriculum. The Creative Curriculum is an early childhood curriculum that focuses on project-based investigations as a means for children to apply skills. This curriculum addresses four areas of development: social/emotional, physical, cognitive, and language. Our educators are guided while creating thematic units designed to support children’s natural curiosity and stimulate their creativity. Our teachers offer their students the opportunity to work in depth, giving them the time they need to reflect, consolidate and transfer their learning.

The Creative Curriculum for Preschool is based on five fundamental principles. They guide practice and help us understand the reasons for intentionally setting up and operating our preschool programs in particular ways. The principles are as follows:

Positive interactions and relationships with adults provide a critical foundation for successful learning.
Social–emotional competence is a significant factor in school success.
Constructive, purposeful play supports essential learning.
The physical environment affects the type and quality of learning interactions.
Teacher–family partnerships promote development and learning.

To learn more about the Creative Curriculum for Preschool, please be sure to visit www.teachingstrategies.com.

Ensure Your Child is Cared For

Please call ahead for fee information and to ensure that we are able to serve your child. You will also be required to fill out our Backup Care Application upon arrival.

Click here to apply today.

Responsible parents are always sure to schedule babysitters whenever they know that they are going to be away from their kids. They want a trusted adult with their kids who will take care of them, give them attention, and keep them safe. However, there are so many different unexpected things that can come up during the week such as meetings at work, a sick babysitter, or a last minute emergency within the family. Any of these leave parents scrambling to find a trusted individual who can take care of their children.

For these types of instances, Smart Start Academy provides a service we call our Backup Child Care. This program is designed to give parents a backup plan so that they have a great place to drop their kids off without a lot of notice. Not only are parents able to access high quality childcare with a quick phone call, but our Backup Child Care Program helps bring a peace of mind to busy parents in a pinch when their regular child care arrangements are not available for any reason.

The Best Backup Plan

This program is only offered as a temporary solution for families. One of the best reasons parents trust us with their kids is because we are a fully licensed and operating daycare and preschool. Every day we have kids enter our doors to attend one of the many other programs and services we offer. For many, this is a benefit to a fast backup plan because our classrooms are fun, educational, and kid-friendly.

Another benefit is that we have multiple locations. This is ideal for a backup plan because if one location cannot accommodate your child or children, you aren’t out of options. Instead, you can still access our Backup Child Care through a different center.

Get Started!

All of our admissions forms are available on our website! Get started on enrollment today by following this link.

Any questions?

Have any questions about the methods we use with our infants?

Just contact us.

Baby Sign Language

One of the most popular things that we provide to this age group is teaching baby sign language.

Between the ages of 8 months and 2 years of age, children begin communicating with others. Giving your child the means to communicate has been shown to help ease the frustration of the infant as well as the parent. We teach simple signs that have been adapted from American Sign Language that can help your child communicate a few months earlier than other children their age.

Other children who benefit from learning sign language are those who are experiencing a communication delay, have a communication disorder, or show signs of autism. These are not uncommon in children and some families have found that learning sign language can help them to start communicating. It seems that some children just become comfortable pointing for the things that they need, so they find no reason to learn to vocalize their wants and needs.

Of course, these signs are no good to you as a parent if you do not know what they are and can’t use them at home. We work with parents to teach them all the signs that infants learn here along with how to support the learning and communicate with their child when they are at home.

Creative Art Program

Through our creative art program, our students develop an appreciation for dance, art, music, dramatic play, storytelling and visual arts.

Our pre-kindergarten program is designed to enhance each student’s content knowledge. With an emphasis on math skills, cognitive skills, discovery through science, creative art, social awareness and health and wellness, classrooms are designed to promote intellectual, emotional, social and physical development for each child. Our child-initiated, teacher-directed educational activities ensure that each child will gain the knowledge to become successful kindergartners and beyond.

Need Backup Care?

Our Backup Child Care Program helps families ensure their children are cared for when their regular
child care arrangements are not available for any reason. Whether your regular child care provider gets sick or you need to attend an unexpected meeting, Smart Start Academy is there to provide a temporary solution to your child care needs.

Please call ahead for fee information and to ensure that we are able to serve your child. You will also be required to fill out our Backup Care Application upon arrival.

This program is only offered as a temporary solution for families. One of the best reasons parents trust us with their kids is because we are a fully licensed and operating daycare and preschool. Every day we have kids enter our doors to attend one of the many other programs and services we offer. For many, this is a benefit to a fast backup plan because our classrooms are fun, educational, and kid-friendly.

Another benefit is that we have multiple locations. This is ideal for a backup plan because if one location cannot accommodate your child or children, you aren’t out of options. Instead, you can still access our Backup Child Care through a different center.

Our Infant Program

We offer an infant daycare program for children in the range of 6 weeks of age to 18 months. Our teachers are happy to provide a loving and nurturing environment for every child. In order to offer the best care possible, our teachers and providers tailor this daycare for infants to fit the individual needs of the child and their family. This is best done meeting with the child’s parent(s) and discussing individual goals, needs, and even nutritional guidelines. Once a plan is set in place, our infant daycare teachers can provide personalized care to every child in the best way possible.

The Opportunities We Provide

Our teachers provide many additional opportunities for your family to help your child meet the goals you have for them. The care and educational opportunities that are given at this age are much different than what is offered for older children, but they are still just as important for learning and development.

Baby Sign Language

One of the most popular things that we provide to this age group is teaching baby sign language. Between the ages of 8 months and 2 years of age, children begin communicating with others. Giving your child the means to communicate has been shown to help ease the frustration of the infant as well as the parent. We teach simple signs that have been adapted from American Sign Language that can help your child communicate a few months earlier than other children their age.

Other children who benefit from learning sign language are those who are experiencing a communication delay, have a communication disorder, or show signs of autism. These are not uncommon in children and some families have found that learning sign language can help them to start communicating. It seems that some children just become comfortable pointing for the things that they need, so they find no reason to learn to vocalize their wants and needs.

Of course, these signs are no good to you as a parent if you do not know what they are and can’t use them at home. We work with parents to teach them all the signs that infants learn here along with how to support the learning and communicate with their child when they are at home.

Singing Time

Our infant daycare’s in Jersey City and Hoboken include a lot of music and singing. According to emergent research, singing to an infant is important in their brain development and can even help prevent language problems later in life. Infants naturally enjoy listening to singing because of the difference in rhythms and tones it provides. One thing that is also important to note about music is that it helps to teach too. In songs like “Old McDonald Had a Farm” and “The Wheels on the Bus”, kids learn the different sounds animals make and about the world around them. Eventually, even small babies join in on trying to sing songs which helps to further enhance their experience with music.

Playtime and Exploration

Another key component of an infant’s learning happens through exploring the world around them. This is most commonly done during playtime, when they are free to crawl around and look at different objects. We provide plenty of interactive playtime so that your infant can learn to make sense of their world in a safe and controlled way. With so many different opportunities to learn about their environment, your child is able to grow into a curious and confident toddler.

Preschool is important, and we'll tell you why!

Every parent knows the importance of what a good education means for their children. How they thrive in a classroom setting can set the tone for how they thrive in a successful career as an adult.

You encourage and push your children to get good grades, so that they may be able to further their education by attending, and graduating from, an exceptional college.

Even though the end game is to help your kids become successful adults, often parents overlook the importance of the beginning of an education. Starting your child in a preschool program is the first step to years of happy and intelligent learning.

Here are 5 reasons why having your child attend preschool may help them throughout their entire lives:

1- Opportunity for Growth and Preparing Children for Kindergarten
Most likely this will be the first time your child is in a structured setting with groups of other children and teachers. This is where they will learn to share and follow instructions, which will be the foundation for learning in elementary school.
Exposing your child at a young age to letters, numbers, and shapes helps them feel comfortable and more accustomed to learning before entering the more academic class setting of kindergarten.
Although some parents feel that preschools tend to focus too much on the pre-math and pre-literacy skills, which will take away from play time and push a child to grow up too fast, our curriculum focuses on developing the entire child rather than just the areas that other schools deem necessary. Helping students find areas in which they excel naturally is a great way to boost their self-esteem and knowledge of themselves. Having that confidence when they move into the kindergarten classroom will give them a better personal space for learning.

2- Social and Emotional Development
In order for a child to build trusting relationships with adults outside the family they need to spend time away from parents. Our program encourages the nurturing of warm relationships among children, teachers, and parents.
Young children will develop social skills and emotional self-control in “real time.” A great teacher knows that 3 – 4 year olds will learn from their experiences or “teachable moments” and take the time to help them learn and understand, such as how to manage anger or frustration and how to help them understand the impact their aggressive or hurtful behavior may have on another child.

3- Making Friends and Playing Well With Others
Although the preschool environment may seem chaotic it is actually quite structured. Having an organized classroom space encourages social interaction. “Structured” environment doesn’t mean that adults are constantly directing activities, on the contrary, children are encouraged to find each other and play on their own, which teaches them how to have positive interactions with the other children.

4- Children get to Make Choices
Some children know what they want and when they want it. They have no problem entering a group or activity that interest them, but others may not have the skills to enter other children’s play space. We encourage and teach them ways to feel comfortable knowing what they want and suggestions on the best way to join in on the fun.

5- Children Learn to Take Care of Themselves and Others
Learning to take care of themselves and help others gives young children a sense of competence and self-worth. They are encouraged to view themselves as a resource for their peers. A teacher may ask a “veteran” preschooler to help a newcomer learn where certain toys or coloring books are kept.
These are only a handful of the amazing things your child will learn in a preschool environment. Whether you are looking for the best Hoboken preschool or the best Jersey City preschool, our program focuses on each individual child. Preschoolers are not accustomed to sitting still and listening to lectures, which is why we don’t teach that way. Through the world of hands-on teaching, exploration, and movement we maintain flexibility for the children and encourage them to independently explore their specific areas of interest.

Take a look at our events calendar as summer camp prep week, and end of year parent/teacher conferences are just around the corner. Contact us today for more information on admission dates and prices. Start your preschooler today on a path that leads to successful lives through proper education.

Open House

We welcome you to register to join us at Smart Start Academy's Open House events. Meet our teachers and tour! Smart Start Academy values and takes great pride in their educators. Our teachers are carefully selected based on their education, teaching experience and their passion for teaching. All of our lead teachers must meet or exceed the qualifications set forth by the DCF, in addition to completing extensive training and orientation classes at S.S.A.

Smart Start Academy is dedicated to bringing the best environment for learning and creativity to each student. Our full day programs have a curriculum that works to meet every learning style in a way to that nurtures every aspect of a child- the physical, emotional, intellectual and social.

Do you know about our ABC's of preschool?

Parents feel the pull of heartstrings as they watch their children grow and one of the major milestones is the moment they are old enough to attend preschool. This is the first step to guiding them down the path of education until the day they pack their suitcase and head off to college. But, often parents drop their little ones off at preschool without knowing what it is that they will be doing all day. Blind faith can sometimes equal days of television and unhealthy snacks.

At Smart Start Academy, we want you to understand what your child will be doing, learning, and growing from each and every day within our classrooms. From the first wondrous moments of emotional, social, physical, and intellectual development to the day they graduate and walk out our doors a little bit taller, with a happy and bright mind, and with each of their unique talents nurtured and encouraged.

We know that all parents want their child to have a strong start in life, and preschool provides the foundation for a successful future in education. At Smart Start Academy we will help them develop excellent learning habits, problem solving skills, and build positive self-worth and self-esteem. Our caring and incredibly intelligent staff will teach your child the skills they need to successfully navigate the world throughout their lifetime.

Painting To Music – A Calming Activity for the daily Hustle

Turn on the music and encourage your child to paint to the music, if it’s slow and soft, paint how that sounds and if it’s loud and fast, paint that way… there is no wrong way to do this, and no two children attack it exactly the same way. Enjoy the break from the hectic holiday pace and relax with art!

Top 5 Benefits of an After School Program

Do you know when the peak times for crime and other dangerous behaviors takes place for teenagers? Unfortunately, teenagers are most likely to participate in these kinds of behaviors during the after school hours. Most parents wonder where their children are after school, but often don’t actually follow through with them to see what they’re doing. This can have a long-lasting effect on children that isn’t easy to change. This problem is pervasive and worrisome, as more than 14 million children leave school every day without anywhere to go.
This happens mostly because affordable after school programs are hard to come by. The National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center conducted a study in which nine out of ten Americans thought that all children should have after school programs available to them. Two-thirds of the parents surveyed said they had difficulty finding any local programs.
With all the studies on after school programs, you might be wondering what benefits are associated with them. These programs offer a variety of benefits to both the children and their parents. Let’s take a look at what the top five benefits of after school programs are.

Safety and Health – As stated before, most youth violence and crime-related activities happen in the afternoon after school. After school programs, by nature of being something to keep kids busy after school, lessen the number of youth-related crimes significantly. However, this benefit goes deeper than just keeping youth away from potentially criminal activities.

Kids who participate in after school programs significantly improve their social and behavioral skills, leading them to a positive track toward success. Participating in these programs encourages school attendance and can even have positive health outcomes with the youth, lessening obesity and drug use.

Improved Engagement in Learning – After school programs not only increase school attendance, they also improve the level of engagement children show while they are in class. Greater engagement during class leads to children performing better and eventually getting into higher-quality high schools. Once there, the children often participate in college-preparatory classes, further preparing them to apply and be accepted to a university.

Improved Performance and Test Scores – If children are better engaged in learning on a day-to-day basis, it makes sense that their test scores and overall performance would improve exponentially. Since after school programs encourage kids to start participating more in school, they naturally perform better when it comes to test and grades. After school programs often involve the work of mentors and tutors to help kids with subjects that are giving them trouble.

Comfort for Working Families – Families where both parents are working find that having their children enrolled in after school programs brings a level of comfort that isn’t achievable through any other means. Working parents who worry about children after school often miss more work than others, and having children enrolled in after school programs can alleviate that fear. Less worry leads to working parents having more energy in the evening to spend time with their families.

Less Negativity for High Risk Children – Children in low-income families often have the most problems when it comes to health and safety. While after school programs can benefit every child involved, the benefit is greatest for high-risk children that come from low-income families or unstable backgrounds. These children cling to the after school programs and benefit greatly from them, leading to exponential improvement in health, grades, and home life.

Push for More Programs
The benefits for after school programs are many, but their availability is severely lacking. As a parent, you may be concerned by the lack of programs in your neighborhood. If you want to get involved, take time to find out about organizations in your area that support after school programs and want to bring more to the community. More people supporting the funding of these programs can only lead to more being created.

Smart Start Academy - 180 Newark Ave