{"id":276,"date":"2023-02-21T14:34:48","date_gmt":"2023-02-21T14:34:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.belchertownps.org\/cold-spring-school\/directors-corner-2\/"},"modified":"2025-10-06T12:26:31","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T16:26:31","slug":"directors-corner","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.belchertownps.org\/cold-spring-school\/directors-corner\/","title":{"rendered":"The Principal’s Nest"},"content":{"rendered":"

Suggested Books for a Smooth Transition to Kindergarten<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

\u2022\u00a0The Kissing Hand\u00a0<\/em>by Audrey Penn<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0Froggy Goes to School<\/em>\u00a0by Jonathan London<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0Look Out Kindergarten, Here I come<\/em> by Nancy Carlson<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0Who Will Go to Kindergarten Today?<\/em>\u00a0by K. Ruhmann<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0The Night Before Kindergarten<\/em>\u00a0by Natasha Wing<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0I Need a Lunchbox<\/em>\u00a0by Jeannette Caines<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0Morris Goes to School<\/em>\u00a0by B. Wiseman<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten<\/em>\u00a0by \u00a0 \u00a0J. Slate<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0Kindergarten Kids<\/em>\u00a0by Ellen Senisi<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0Wemberly Worried<\/em>\u00a0by Kevin Henkes<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

10 Things Every Parent Should Know about Play<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

By Laurel Bongiorno<\/span><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

1.<\/b>\u00a0 Children learn through their play.<\/b><\/h4>\n

Don\u2019t underestimate the value of play.\u00a0 Children learn and develop:<\/span><\/h4>\n
    \n
  • \n

    Cognitive skills \u2013 like math and problem solving in a pretend grocery store<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  • \n

    Physical abilities \u2013 like balancing blocks and running on the playground<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  • \n

    New vocabulary \u2013 like the words they need to play with toy dinosaurs<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  • \n

    Social skills \u2013 like playing together in a pretend car wash<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  • \n

    Literacy skills \u2013 like creating a new menu for a pretend restaurant<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/h4>\n

    2.<\/b>\u00a0 Play is healthy.<\/b><\/h4>\n

    Play helps children grow strong and healthy.\u00a0 It also counteracts obesity issues facing many children today.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    <\/h4>\n

     <\/p>\n

    3.<\/b>\u00a0 Play reduces stress.<\/b><\/h4>\n

    Play helps your child grow emotionally.\u00a0 It is joyful and provides an outlet for anxiety and stress.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    <\/h4>\n

     <\/p>\n

    4.<\/b>\u00a0 Play is more than meets the eye.<\/b><\/h4>\n

    Play is simple and complex.\u00a0 There are many types of play:\u00a0 symbolic, sociodramatic, functional, and games with rules \u2013 to name just a few.\u00a0 Researchers study play\u2019s many aspects:\u00a0 how children learn through play, how outdoor play impacts children\u2019s health, the effects of screen time on play, to the need for recess in the school day.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    <\/h4>\n

     <\/p>\n

    5.<\/b>\u00a0 Make time for play.<\/b><\/h4>\n

    As parents, you are the biggest supporters of your children\u2019s learning.\u00a0 You can make sure they have as much time to play as possible during the day to promote cognitive, language, physical, social, and emotional development.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    <\/h4>\n

     <\/p>\n

    6.<\/b>\u00a0 Play and learning go hand-in-hand.<\/b><\/h4>\n

    They are not separate activities.\u00a0 They are intertwined.\u00a0 Think about them as a science lecture with a lab.\u00a0 Play is the child\u2019s lab.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    <\/h4>\n

     <\/p>\n

    7.<\/b>\u00a0 Play outside.<\/b><\/h4>\n

    Remember your own outdoor experiences of building forts, playing on the beach, sledding in the winter, or playing with other children in the neighborhood.\u00a0 Make sure your children create outdoor memories too.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    <\/h4>\n

     <\/p>\n

    8.<\/b>\u00a0 There\u2019s a lot to learn about play.<\/b><\/h4>\n

    There\u2019s a lot written on children and play.\u00a0 David Elkind\u2019s The Power of Play (De Capo, 2007 reprint) is a great resource.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    <\/h4>\n

     <\/p>\n

    9.<\/b> Trust your own playful instincts.<\/b><\/h4>\n

    Remember as a child how play just came naturally?\u00a0 Give your children time for play and see all that they are capable of when given the opportunity.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    <\/h4>\n

     <\/p>\n

    10.<\/b>\u00a0 Play is a child\u2019s context for learning.<\/b><\/h4>\n

    Children practice and reinforce their learning in multiple areas during play.\u00a0 It gives them a place and a time for learning that cannot be achieved through completing a worksheet. For example, in playing restaurant, children write and draw menus, set prices, take orders, and make out checks. Play provides rich learning opportunities and leads to children\u2019s success and self-esteem.<\/span><\/h4>\n

    <\/h2>\n

    Waiting Games<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Waiting has become a part of our everyday lives.\u00a0 The next time you hear, “How much longer?” try one of these ideas to occupy your children.
    \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

    Here are some fun ideas to share with your child:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

    \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013Play word games.\u00a0 Start with a simple word like up.\u00a0 Take turns thinking of opposites – down.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

    \u00a0\u00a0 \u2013Take the change out of your pocket, and let your youngsters sort it.\u00a0 Tell them the names of the coins, and talk about how they are\u00a0alike and different.
    \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

    \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013Work on counting forward and backward.\u00a0 For an extra challenge, have your children try counting starting from a number other than\u00a0the\u00a0number 1. For instance, you say, “7…”\u00a0they would continue, “8, 9, 10.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

    \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013Try an alphabet search.\u00a0 Look around the room and find the letter A on a sign or poster.\u00a0 Take turns finding the letters in order until you reach Z.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

    <\/h1>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Minute Recipes for Building Peace:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

    \u00a0* Give a compliment.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

    \u00a0* Smile: use eye contact.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

    \u00a0* Use a personal name and a positive statement.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

    \u00a0* Recognize changes and show interest.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

    \u00a0* Ask questions and listen to the answers.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

    \u00a0* Write a positive PRAISE note to someone and post it.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

    \u00a0* Do a favor for someone or recognize a child for doing a favor.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

    \u00a0* Model adult PeaceBuilding.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
    \n<\/span><\/h1>\n

    <\/h1>\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Suggested Books for a Smooth Transition to Kindergarten \u2022\u00a0The Kissing Hand\u00a0by Audrey Penn \u2022\u00a0Froggy Goes to School\u00a0by Jonathan London \u2022\u00a0Look Out Kindergarten, Here I come by Nancy Carlson \u2022\u00a0Who Will Go to Kindergarten Today?\u00a0by K. Ruhmann \u2022\u00a0The Night Before Kindergarten\u00a0by Natasha Wing \u2022\u00a0I Need a Lunchbox\u00a0by Jeannette Caines \u2022\u00a0Morris Goes to School\u00a0by B. Wiseman \u2022\u00a0Miss […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-276","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-22 10:27:36","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.belchertownps.org\/cold-spring-school\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/276","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.belchertownps.org\/cold-spring-school\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.belchertownps.org\/cold-spring-school\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.belchertownps.org\/cold-spring-school\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.belchertownps.org\/cold-spring-school\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=276"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.belchertownps.org\/cold-spring-school\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/276\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":869,"href":"https:\/\/www.belchertownps.org\/cold-spring-school\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/276\/revisions\/869"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.belchertownps.org\/cold-spring-school\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}