Learning to read is a major milestone in your child’s life. Building early literacy and language skills early in life make learning to read easier and more enjoyable for your child later on. At Early Childhood Academy, we work on these skills daily to prepare your child for a lifetime of reading.

Vocabulary is a major predictor of reading success in children. The more words your child knows, the greater their ability to comprehend text. Building early literacy and a large vocabulary starts young. A study of 18-month-olds found that children who are surrounded by adults who speak with them have a vocabulary that is 185 words larger than their peers who have not been exposed to verbal interactions.

From birth to age 5, children acquire new words at a faster rate than at any time of their lives. Kindergarteners have mastered three-fifths of all the vocabulary they will ever acquire. This means your child’s time with us is a precious opportunity to build a large vocabulary that prepares them for reading success throughout their lives.

Every activity at the Academy is an opportunity to build your child’s vocabulary. On any given day, we may discuss the sizes, colors, and shapes of objects your child is playing with, or of objects in the room. We may point out the position of objects using location words (on, off, in, out, behind, on top of, over, under, etc.). This gives your child the language to describe the world around them.

Did you know how to handle a book is an early literacy skill? At the Academy, we include book etiquette as part of our early literacy and language curriculum. We teach children how to hold a book right-side-up and start reading at the front of the book. We show them how to turn pages one at a time and treat books with care. We also help your child understand that books live in a special place, and that we need to put them back when we are finished reading. 

Critical thinking is your child’s ability to evaluate a situation. This may be a real-world situation or something they encounter as they read or learn. Critical thinking questions encourage higher-order thinking that builds your child’s ability to think abstractly, make connections between two concepts, and solve problems. Higher-order thinking is what helps your child be a creative, evaluative, and innovative learner throughout their lives.

Developing higher-order thinking skills starts in early literacy. Here are some of the questions we ask our young readers during and after story times:

• What do you see in the pictures?
  
• Why do you think that character is acting that way?
• What will happen next?
• What was your favorite part?
• Which character would you want to be?
• How would you change the ending?
  

Finally, our teachers understand that developing your child’s early literacy and language skills is a joint effort. We encourage you to spend at least 20 minutes every day reading with your children. Reading at home is an enjoyable way to connect with your child, expand their knowledge of the world, and help them process strong emotions. 

Here’s how you can build early literacy and language skills at home with your kiddos:

• Choose stories or topics that interest your child.
• Find books with words that will expand their spoken language.
  
• Include informational books, such as books on animals, nature, trucks, space, etc.
• Ask your child to identify the letters they know and teach them the sounds those letters make.
• Use your finger to track the words as you read.
• Ask your child the critical thinking questions we use at the Academy.

At Early Childhood Academy, our teachers are committed to building your child’s early literacy and language skills throughout their time with us, from infancy to preschool. To learn more about our literacy curriculum or to schedule a tour of one of our location, get in touch with us today!

We are committed to providing high quality early childhood education to the community. We believe that all children deserve the opportunity to reach their full potential, and we are dedicated to providing them with the tools and support they need to succeed.

If you are looking for a high-quality early childhood education program for your child, we encourage you to contact us today. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have and schedule a tour of our academy.

Keeping your young kiddos healthy and helping them avoid getting sick can be challenging, especially over the winter, when we spend more time indoors. Here are some proactive tips you can model and use with your children as we head into the busy holiday season and colder months.

Hand washing is a regular part of your child’s day at Early Childhood Academy. We reinforce good hand washing habits at the academy by having children wash their hands before eating, after using the bathroom, and after playing outside.

At home, you can use songs or a timer to make handwashing time fun and make sure they wash their hands for at least 20 seconds. The choruses to “Let It Go,” “Baby Shark,” and “Happy Birthday” all last about 20 seconds.  

A balanced diet full of colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins gives your child the vitamins and minerals their body needs to build a strong immune system and fight off bugs. If getting your kids to eat fruits and veggies is difficult, try including them in the preparation of their food, experiment with the size of the food you offer (ex: offer a whole green bean instead of cut up pieces), or offer fruits and veggies in a smoothie.

Good sleep contributes to a strong immune system. The CDC recommends infants get 12 to 16 hours of sleep every 24 hours (including naps), while toddlers should get 11 to 14 hours. Preschool-aged children should get 10 to 13 hours of sleep every 24 hours.

Getting enough sleep helps your child get sick less often, reduces stress, and improves their mood. A consistent bedtime routine can help your child fall asleep and stay asleep, ensuring they get the recommended hours of rest.

Your pediatrician will recommend an appropriate vaccination schedule for your child, including flu shots and COVID shots. Staying up to date on vaccinations not only protects your child against severe illness, it also helps protect those around them.

If your child or a family member is sick, consider keeping them home and avoiding contact with others. This helps prevent the spread of illness. At Early Childhood Academy, we ask families to notify the program within 24 hours, exclusive of weekends and holidays, when a child is diagnosed by a child’s source of medical or dental care as having a contagious disease.

At ECA, we teach your kiddos to cough and sneeze into their elbows. This helps prevent the spread of germs and keeps germs off of your kids’ hands when they do cough or sneeze. We also encourage kids to wash their hands after coughing and sneezing.

Winter is cold and dry, which means you and your children need to drink more water to stay hydrated. Proper hydration flushes out toxins and supports immune health. Just be sure to avoid sugary drinks, which do the opposite!

Moving regularly can boost immune system health, too. Minnesotans know all too well that there’s no such thing as bad weather, just poor preparation. At the academy, we will continue to go outside daily until the temperatures drop below -0 Fahrenheit. Be sure to send your child to school with a coat, hat, snow pants, boots, and gloves. When it is bitter cold or snowing outside, you can increase indoor activity at home with an obstacle course, dance party, or visiting an indoor playground.

Antibiotics are important drugs that can be literal lifesavers that protect against bacterial infections. However, they do nothing for viral infections. If you suspect your child requires antibiotics, speak with your pediatrician and follow their instructions carefully.

Regularly sanitize and wipe down doorknobs, countertops, play structures, and other toys to stop the spread of germs, especially if your household is recovering from illness. At the academy, we follow a strict cleaning protocol that includes a 3-step Step Surface Cleaning Process.

Your child’s health is our priority, especially during the winter months when cold and flu are prevalent. To learn more about how we keep your kiddos healthy at school or to schedule a tour of one of our locations, please get in touch with us.

Fall is school conference time! At Early Childhood Academy, we hold school conferences with our families to share their children’s progress, identify areas of need, and create a plan to address them. Your school conference provides us with the opportunity to share what we’re seeing at the academy and work with you to establish priorities for your child’s care and development, as well as address any concerns or questions you may have.

At Early Childhood Academy, we use the HELP assessment plan to identify areas of strength and areas of need for your child. This evidence-based assessment provides us with a data-driven framework to assess your child’s progress on developmental skills. It is designed specifically for children from birth to six years old and covers seven major areas of skill development, from cognitive, language, and social-emotional skills to fine and gross motor skills. It also helps us assess your child’s self-help and regulatory/sensory organization skills.

During the school conference, we will also review how your child interacts with peers and responds to guidance, which is crucial for their social development.
The school conference is a great opportunity to celebrate your child’s growth and to set new goals together.
An important part of the HELP assessment is the family conference, where you have the opportunity to discuss your priorities, questions, and concerns with us to round out the overall picture we have of your child’s developmental progress. Here’s what you can expect at your next conference at ECA.
We will highlight specific achievements during the school conference and discuss the skills your child is developing.
At the school conference, we encourage you to express any concerns or insights about your child’s development at home.

During your conference at Early Childhood Academy, we’ll celebrate all of your child’s milestone achievements, both big and small. We may have noticed that your infant has mastered the pincer grasp or that your preschooler is able to dress themselves when it’s time to go outside to play.

We will cover all seven areas of skill development during your conference. You will have the opportunity to share what you have noticed at home and share any concerns or questions you have about your child’s progress. We will also share what skill developments you can expect over the next 6 to 12 months.

We believe that the school conference is essential for building a partnership that supports your child’s educational journey.

Our team will ensure you have all the information needed to make the most of your upcoming school conference. We value your involvement and look forward to your insights.
Once we celebrate your child’s successes, we will take a close look at their areas of need. We may have noticed that your child is still struggling with toilet learning or having a hard time sharing during free play.
At your school conference, we will thoroughly review any and all areas of need our HELP assessment has identified for your child. We will work with you to create a plan for supporting your child in mastering these skills, including outside resources if our professional team feels that is appropriate.

Your conference is also a time for us to learn more about your child from you. We will encourage you to share any successes and challenges you are having at home and any strategies you are using to help your child achieve their developmental milestones. Our goal is that you see us as a trusted partner on your parenting journey, one that works with you to help your child grow.

If you are a current family, the team at your academy will reach out to you with information about how to schedule your next conference. If you’re new to ECA and would like to learn more about our evidence-based approach to childcare or schedule a tour of one of our locations, please get in touch with us.

We love our ECA families, which is why we’re committed to providing high-quality early childhood education to every child in our care. The entire ECA team looks forward to serving your family now and into the future. For more information on our centers, Contact Us Today or Call Us at Red Wing 651-388-8905. Please Stay Connected With Us Through Our Social Media Channels for the Latest Updates, Tips, and Special Offers on Facebook and Instagram.

Last month, we celebrated our Red Wing location’s first birthday! We are so grateful for the trust our Red Wing families have put in us last year. We look forward to supporting you and your kiddos for years to come!  

On May 17, we threw a party to celebrate our first year of operations. We invited our amazing families to join us for an evening of fun. We had a bounce house, temporary tattoos, a prize wheel, yard games, and lots of cupcakes, lemonade, and other treats. You can check out all the fun we had on our Facebook page. Thank you to everyone who joined us on the 17th!

Our first year of operations in Red Wing was full of fun, family, and growth. Our team of 35 employees, including 5 who have earned or are working on their child development associate credential, served 247 children last year. Here’s what we got up to.

We kicked off the fun at ECA–Red Wing by participating in our first-ever Red Wing River City Days. We had a blast meeting the community and getting the word out about our academy. This year, we’re thrilled to support the event as a lifeboat sponsor.

The fun continued at our center when the firetrucks stopped by in October. Santa made a visit to the academy in December, and in February, our preschoolers started a pen pals program with our academies in Belle Plaine and New Prague. We held our first Easter event in March and got our school pictures taken in April. May was a month of celebrations, including pre-K graduation, teacher appreciation week, and our first birthday party.
This summer, we’re hosting our first Camp Academy for our School agers, with summer fun events that include special guests from a landscaping company, a garbage truck, and the Teddy Bear Band. Want to participate in the fun? Schedule your tour today!

Family is at the heart of what we do at Early Childhood Academy. That’s why we try to involve you and your family at our event throughout the year. In the last year, we hosted grandparents for a special grandparents’ day in September and treated moms to muffins for Mother’s Day. Dads got donuts for Father’s Day in June. We look forward to having you visit your child at the academy this year!

We are so grateful for the families who made our first year successful. With your support, we were able to achieve many milestones that will help us serve you for years to come. We are very proud to have started the process of becoming Parent Aware certified in January and look forward to sharing the results of that process with you soon.

In addition to this major endeavor, we also installed new mulch on the playgrounds, trimmed the trees, and updated our HVAC system to keep your kiddos safe and comfortable at the academy. We spruced up our entryway to make it more welcoming for families, including a TV with pictures and announcements to keep you informed of everything that’s going on at ECA. We also created a lactation/mother’s room for staff and families to use while at the academy.

The entire team at Early Childhood Academy–Red Wing thanks you for your support and confidence in us. It is a privilege to care for your children. We look forward to another year of fun, family, and growth with you! For more information about ECA or to schedule your tour, please get in touch with us.

The summer transition is coming. Is your family ready? Transitioning to a summer schedule can be challenging for families. With some planning and consistency, you can help your kids adjust as smoothly as possible. Whether you’ve got school-aged kids who are impatiently awaiting the end of the school year or your family is switching to a more relaxed summer childcare schedule, Early Childhood Academy is here to help.

Children of all ages thrive on routine. Big, sudden changes to your family’s daily routine is what makes the summer transition difficult for little kids and big kids alike. Take a moment to write down your family’s current routine, including wake times, meal times, and when your children play, rest, and go to bed. Which activities are non-negotiable, and which ones offer some flexibility? We suggest using your current wake times, nap/rest times, bedtimes, and meals/snacks as your anchors for the day and add flexibility around these anchors.

Keeping your child’s sleep routine consistent can help make the transition to summer easier. But sometimes, your summer schedule requires changes to bedtime and wake time. Your school-aged kiddos could be looking forward to later bedtimes and lazy summer mornings. Or, you may need to get them up early for camp or a full day of fun at Early Childhood Academy. If you want or need to adjust your child’s sleep schedule, start one to two weeks before the transition occurs. Shift bedtime or wake-up time by 15 to 30 minutes every few days until you’re on your desired schedule.

Whether you decide to change your child’s sleep times or not, keep your bedtime rituals in place. Continue to offer a snack, read books, take a bath, or anything else that’s part of your family’s bedtime routine.  

Physical activity can help kids adjust to the summer transition. Movement helps kids (and parents!) reduce stress and anxiety. It also improves sleep. Get your kids outside and moving as much as possible during the day. You could take them to a playground, arrange a play date, run around in your yard, enroll them in sports, visit a park or nature center, or take a walk or bike ride around your neighborhood.

If you’re stressing about the summer transition, chances are high that your kids are, too. Children look to us for how to mentally and emotionally process change. If they sense we are stressed, they will think that is how they should react. So, fake it until you make it, don’t let them see you sweat, and model healthy habits by sticking with your routine, keeping to your own sleep schedule, and moving your body.

No matter how much planning and preparation you do, the summer transition can still be stressful for some kids. Be patient with them and yourself during this time. Offer reassurance and support to anxious kids. Be kind to yourself when things don’t go as planned. Once the transition is done, summer fun awaits!
Making the transition to your summer routine can be stressful. The Early Childhood Academy team is here to help our families make the change to a summer schedule go more smoothly. Not part of the Academy’s family yet? Schedule your tour today.

We love our Belle Plaine, New Prague, and Red Wing Early Childhood Academy families! We appreciate every family who trusts us to provide safe, loving, and educational care for their children. The best way we can repay your trust is to provide an excellent, compassionate, consistent, and fun early learning experience for your little ones. Here’s how we show our love at Early Childhood Academy.

Whether your child is 6 weeks old or 6 years old, Early Childhood Academy implements a developmentally and age-appropriate curriculum backed by extensive research and early education best practices. Our early childhood curricula focus on building relationships, developing physical skills, and other skills that align with developmental milestones. Our curricula facilitate the development of the whole child with hands-on, creative activities that allow your child to learn and explore.

What does this look like in action? In our infant classroom, we focus on forming secure attachments, clapping and laughing, using sign language, enjoying stories, and joyful playing. Our toddlers practice self-help skills, sing and dance, learn with all five senses, master potty training, and explore the world around them.

In our preschool and pre-Kindergarten classrooms, our award-winning curriculum focuses on building the skills your child will need in Kindergarten, including writing their name, following directions, dressing independently, and learning their letters, shapes, and numbers.  

At Early Childhood Academy Families, we work in partnership with our families to ensure every child is supported. Our leadership team and faculty recognize that we are influential role models in your child’s life. That’s why we strive to welcome, love, educate, and have fun with them daily. We believe that childcare builds a child for a lifetime, so we work hard to ensure the environment at each of our Academies is positive, consistent, and welcoming to each child.

Our highly experienced, fully qualified team members are trained to deliver an elite education. Our teachers and classroom assistants observe, mentor, and guide your child to master skills and reach their potential. Teachers use an app to help them manage their classrooms and keep you informed with photos, videos, and other updates throughout the day.

Our leadership team is highly experienced in early childhood and school-age education. Our president Stephanie Mahal has more than 17 years of experience working with young children and families, including 12 years in public schools leading student support services such as screening, evaluations, transition planning, therapeutic interventions, and school readiness.

“As a parent, I know firsthand how important it is for parents to be a part of a supportive community,” Stephanie explains. “It is my distinct honor to have the opportunity to serve you and your child.” 

We love our ECA families, which is why we’re committed to providing high-quality early childhood education to every child in our care. The entire ECA team looks forward to serving your family now and into the future. For more information on our centers, Contact Us Today or Call Us at Red Wing 651-388-8905. Please Stay Connected With Us Through Our Social Media Channels for the Latest Updates, Tips, and Special Offers on Facebook and Instagram.

The holidays are in full swing,, and if you’re like us, you’re spending your time running your family around from holiday activity to holiday activity. Anticipation and excitement are running high. Here are a few holiday ideas for kids to keep excitement and anxiety at bay for you and your little ones.

Holiday story time is a great way to slow down, find connection, and celebrate the season. Just 15 or 20 minutes of quiet time reading your favorite holiday stories can help you and your kids relax, connect, and still feel like you’re embracing the spirit of the season.

Many children love to help out around the house, especially young kids. Invite them to help you with your Fun Holiday Ideas for Kids preparations. Depending on their age, they can help set the table, participate in meal prep, and help decorate the home. Need your kids out of your hair while you cook or clean? Ask them if they’d like to help entertain your guests with a carol, dance, or play, then send them off to practice.

Holiday crafts not only occupy excited kids, they also make great gifts for family and friends. Kids of all ages will enjoy making ornaments, cards, and holiday decorations.
Not feeling creative? Include your kids in your family’s gift giving. Let them make decisions on what they want to give their loved ones, how they’ll wrap their gifts, and how they’ll present their gifts to recipients. Ask older kids to help you address your holiday cards or affix the stamps and return address labels.

Baking cookies, decorating the tree, writing letters to Santa, gathering with family—all of these are great holiday traditions to share with your kids. Invite your kids to actively participate rather than watching you bake, decorate, or host your loved ones. Allow them to flex their creative muscles by frosting cookies or hanging ornaments. Establishing these rituals with your children early on is what creates the holiday magic many of us remember from our own childhoods.

We hope you and your family have a safe and fun holiday season, and we look forward to serving your families through the holidays and into the new year. Contact Us Today or Call Us at New Prague 952-758-5437. Please Stay Connected With Us Through Our Social Media Channels for the Latest Updates, Tips, and Special Offers on Facebook and Instagram.

We have dozens of reasons to be thankful for this year—YOU and every one of our families who trust us with their little ones at our Belle Plaine, New Prague, and Red Wing Early Childhood Academy locations! Thank you for welcoming us into your community and supporting our centers in their first year of operation.

Here are a few of your stories about your experience at Transition Tips for Little Kids Early Childhood Academy, told in your own words.

“We love ECA! The message and picture updates of our son give us so much peace of mind throughout the day! He has so many fun activities to participate in each week with the wonderful teachers that work there!” Jenna Z.
“Our daughter loves this daycare. She is always very excited to go in the morning. We enjoy that there are minimal days “off” and have not experienced them cancelling an entire day due to weather.” Felicia K.
“Amazing teachers, amazing atmosphere and amazing work done every single day by the teachers/staff. It is truly an amazing place to work and be at every day. Truly love what I do and love being with ECA.” Adrianna P.

“Our child started attending ECA at 8 weeks old. He is now almost 8 months old and thriving! The staff is amazing and so supportive – we are comforted knowing our child is getting the BEST care each day!” Robin P.
“Our son loves ECA!! We’ve been there since he turned one and he’s learning so much from his teachers.. We can’t be more excited for what his future holds!” Ashley Z.
“Early Childhood Academy takes wonderful care of our child! We couldn’t be happier with our decision to have them provide our childcare!” Bryan P.

“Both of my boys love coming here. My oldest started at about 2.5 years of age and immediately fell in love with his teacher and his room. My youngest started at 8 weeks and as he has grown he still shows how much he loved his teachers as a baby. I couldn’t imagine having my sons go anywhere else for care.” Kaitlin A.

“We love it here and our child loves it here! It’s a clean and safe environment full of enriching activities to promote learning. We are very impressed with the activities and time spent in gym/outside letting the children be active. The teachers are friendly, caring, and trustworthy from our year of experience.” Ashley R.
“We love Early Childhood Academy! Our son is always well taken care of and is always super happy when we pick him up! They take the best care of him! They’re also really great at helping him reach his milestones! 10/10 would DEFINITELY recommend!” Sara S.
Thank you for all of your kind words and support. The entire ECA team looks forward to serving your family now and into the future. For more information on our centers, Contact Us Today or Call Us at New Prague 952-758-5437. Please Stay Connected With Us Through Our Social Media Channels for the Latest Updates, Tips, and Special Offers on Facebook and Instagram, Check Our Google Map Location.

We’re a few weeks into the school year—how’s the transition going in your house? If getting your little human to school or child care is still a struggle, here are 5 transition tips that might make the transition easier for them (and you!).

New school, new teachers, new classmates . . . back to school can be intimidating, even if your child went to school or child care last year. The best thing you can do as a parent is validate their feelings, whether they are feeling anxious, fearful, or stressed. Give the feeling a label, talk about why they may be feeling that way, and then offer a solution. If possible, remind them of all the fun they had at school last year. You can even flip through photos on your phone or old artwork if you’d like. Remind them of other big challenges they have overcome to build their confidence.   

Establishing a healthy bedtime routine can help make the morning transition go more smoothly. The 3Bs of Bath, Book, and Bed is a formula that works for many families. Just be sure to avoid screen time before bed, as that can make it difficult for your little one to fall asleep. Generally, infants need 12 to 16 hours of sleep, including naps. Toddlers require 11 to 14 hours, and preschoolers require 10-13 hours including naps.

If your little one is struggling with the fear of the unknown and lack of control heading back to school, establishing a ritual for leaving your home could help. Follow the same order of tasks, from getting dressed and eating breakfast to putting on shoes and coats and walking out the door. Consider reading a book or singing a song before you leave, then finishing the book or singing the song again once your child returns from school.

Speaking of ritual, it can help to put one in place for goodbyes, too. A special hug, kiss, or mantra can make separation easier. Make it brief, fun, and affirming. Once the ritual is complete, walk out the door with confidence. Prolonging a goodbye can make it more difficult for your Transition Tips for Small Children to School.

Kids are pros at picking up on our own anxieties. If you’re feeling anxious or stressed about the back to school transition, then you need to manage your own emotions before you can support your child through theirs. Your kiddo looks to you to know how to feel about a particular situation. So, keep it light, bright, and positive, then work through your own big emotions once your child is in the classroom.     

Struggling with the back to school transition? The Early Childhood Academy pros are here to help! Contact Us Today or Call Us at Red Wing 651-388-8905. Please Stay Connected With Us Through Our Social Media Channels for the Latest Updates, Tips, and Special Offers on Facebook and Instagram, Check Our Google Map Location.

Establish a routine, familiarize yourself with the school layout, connect with peers, seek support from teachers, and maintain a positive mindset.

1. Establish a routine: Set a consistent schedule to help your child adjust to the school environment smoothly.u003cbru003e2. Foster independence: Encourage your child to develop self-help skills such as dressing, using the restroom, and organizing their belongings.u003cbru003e3. Communication is key. Maintain open lines of communication with your child’s teacher to stay updated on their progress and address any concerns.u003cbru003e4. Provide emotional support: Help your child navigate their emotions by discussing their feelings about starting school and offering reassurance and encouragement.

Establishing a consistent routine and schedule for your child is a crucial first step. This offers them a sense of security and helps them understand what to expect throughout the day. You can use visuals, such as charts or calendars, to represent their daily activities – from waking up to bedtime routines. For example, you might color code different activities or use fun stickers to make it more engaging.

Earlier this summer, Early Childhood Academy in Red Wing had some very special visitors. Ambassadors and other members from the Red Wing Chamber of Commerce visited our 12th Street location for an official ribbon cutting! Our educators, staff members, and a few of our families were there to mark the occasion and show the chamber members around our new space.

At Red Wing Chamber Visits Early Childhood Academy in Red Wing, our talented team of early childhood educators and staff members create a safe and inclusive space that nurtures your child’s curiosity and creativity as they learn and grow. Our Red Wing classrooms are bright and cheerful, and our updated building features interactive play areas that engage young minds and encourage your little one to explore, discover, and flourish.

If you’re looking for a safe, nurturing care facility for your infant, toddler, preschooler, or school-aged child, we would love to give you a tour of our Red Wing location. Contact Us Today or Call Us at Red Wing 651-388-8905. Please Stay Connected With Us Through Our Social Media Channels for the Latest Updates, Tips, and Special Offers on Facebook and Instagram, Check Our Google Map Location.