Preschool Inclusion Newsletter:

Creating a Peaceful and Enjoyable Vacation with Preschoolers

It is vacation time. We are thinking about, planning or having our vacations. We need to prepare our children also and it starts earlier than many people think. Preschoolers need time to get ready. This enhances the enjoyment of the vacation and teaches them at the same time. By talking about the vacation and having simple pictures to describe what the vacation will be like gives the child an opportunity to compare the concepts such as 'here and there' and 'now and then'.

Talk about Vacation Rules

I suggest you be as consistent as you can be while away from home. Talk to your preschooler about what the simple rules will be. For example, if the rule at home is to pick toys before dinnertime, have the same rule on vacation, even if you have maid service at a hotel. Children need and require simple boundaries to help them feel secure. If you want to make yourself crazy, stand outside a restaurant waiting to be seated. Instead, make reservations. Pick restaurants that have a children's menu with adult choices as well. If possible view the menu ahead of time to eliminate lengthy delay in ordering. Allow children to bring along a quiet activity for them to be entertained while waiting (simple little games, coloring, etc,). Remember, though, that mealtime is family time and a time for all to share about the fun of the day.

What about Bedtime?

Another vacation nightmare can be bedtime. Keep bedtime reasonable. It avoids grumpy children and it allows parents to have adult time. If your preschooler takes a nap, keep to that schedule to ensure a happy evening.

Here's How to Reinforce Learning on Vacation

While on vacation think about planning and doing simple little projects. If you go to the beach, take a walk with your preschooler and pick some shells. Then allow your preschooler to wash and scrub them. Then go the store and buy some simple watercolor paints and pick a time for them to decorate their vacation memory shell. Remember that it is the process not the product. Don't worry if it looks more like a Picasso than a Rembrandt. Have all family members make a memory shell and at dinner talk about how each came up with their plan. If you are really interested in your child's growth and curious about her thinking, these are authentic questions that are open-ended and teach the child the concept of making a plan, the art of conversations and how individuality is respected and honored. This works well at home and can be modified slightly on vacation, maybe using crayons instead of watercolors.

It works!

I did this activity with my sister and her young children while they were visiting me one summer. We made birdhouses or treasure boxes. First we talked about birdhouses or treasure boxes, then we went to the store where we all picked out different materials, then came back to my house to paint and decorate. We all still have our birdhouses or treasure box and when we go visit each other houses we still check them out. That leads to a wonderful conversation of the day, how and why we made our choices and fun we all had doing the project. Try it and let me know if it works for you. By taking some simple steps you can ensure that you can create wonderful summertime memories.

For ways to use the emergent curriculum format, go to www.truecoaching.com/pic Meaningful, stimulating preschool lessons and activities are posted to address and respect all learners in early childhood programs.

This newsletter has been created by Paula B. McSweeney.

Email contact info:paula@truecoaching.com