Amazing Athletes

Here at Goddard, we know that physical activity is important for children.  Physical activity produces overall physical, psychological and social benefits. Inactive children are likely to become inactive adults – and active children are more likely to be active adults. The American Heart Association recommends that children and adolescents participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.

With this in mind, we incorporate the Amazing Athletes program into our classrooms at Goddard. Amazing Athletes is a year-round developmental sports and physical fitness program for children aged 2 ½ to 6. Every Wednesday, there is a 35 minute class which involves two developmental sports lessons along with activities proven to build and mature a child’s motor development, hand-eye coordination, and cardiovascular fitness.

The program is a result of the action-packed curriculum which allows every child to build their skills at their own pace within a non-competitive, learning-based environment that emphasizes patience, teamwork, and self-confidence.

Today, Coach Jamie is back and started off the school year with a free trial. Today, all the kids participated and got a feel for the Amazing Athletes program. The nine sports Amazing Athletes covers are: baseball, golf, hockey, volleyball, tennis, football, lacrosse, soccer and basketball.

The #1 goal of the Amazing Athletes program is to introduce children to sports and physical fitness in a fun and pressure-free environment so they can focus on what is most important; themselves. Growing up isn’t easy, but the benefits children gather from Amazing Athletes can help them through the journey from toddler to teen and even into adulthood.

Amazing Athletes will be here at Goddard every Wednesday of this school year. After today, enrollment forms will be available for parents to fill out. If you want to learn more information about Amazing Athletes, or if you have an questions, please feel free to contact us today. 

10 Tips for Breaking In the Back to School

As the summer rolls to a bittersweet end, the beginning of a new school year is right around the corner. Here at Goddard, we are excited to start a new year of fun and learning!

We know that this time of year can be stressful for parents as well as children. For kids, the end of summer means an abrupt end to staying up late and playing all day. It also signals the beginning of brand new challenges and perhaps a case of the back-to-school jitters. For parents, the chaos of preparing for school and the stress that comes along with it can be overwhelming.

Here is a quick list of 10 tips to start a successful, stress free school year!

1.      If you and your child have fallen out of your bedtime routine this summer, get back into it! - A week before the first day of school is a good time frame to get back into a regular bedtime schedule.

2.      Shop for healthy breakfast and lunches a week in advance - this will save you time and prevent stress in the long run.

3.      Go shopping for school supplies together - shopping from a teacher-supplied list will ensure your child has the right supplies and could save you a ton of money and time.

4.      Save time on those busy school mornings by preparing your child's clothes a week ahead of time - place a pair of socks, underwear, a shirt, and matching bottoms together in the drawer so that your child can easily grab 'em and go.

5.      Support positive study habits early! - create a homework center – a specific area in the house where your child can do homework each evening. Make sure that it's in a quiet place and stocked with plenty of supplies.

6.      Pack light - a backpack should never weigh more than 10-20% percent of the student's body weight. Use both shoulder straps; slinging a backpack over one shoulder can strain muscles.

7.      Prepare your child for social situations in the classroom - a certain level of social anxiety is normal for elementary school aged kids. Teach your child to introduce them self and make friends. Play various social scenarios with them, from sharing classroom supplies to encounters with other kids.

8.      Keep encouraging literacy at home - read frequently with your children and make trips to the local library.

9. If you pack your child's lunch, write them a little note - a reminder that you're thinking about them can make a rough day better.

10.  Parent involvement in education in education is important throughout elementary school! - talk to your child’s teacher regularly about their educational and social development.

The first day of school at Goddard starts September 4th. We will be having a special back to school night for adults only on September 27th at 7:00pm. Come join us for wine and hors d'oeurves and learn about the new school year.

Interested in enrolling your child at Goaddard? We have open enrollment all year long, so there are no deadlines to hit or miss. Give us a call at 732-974-8314 to schedule a tour and to meet with our director Samantha!

Travel Quick Tips

It's the peak of travel season and many of us are on our way to see family or taking a vacation. Here are some quick tips for easy travelling with children.

• Assemble a travel kit in a small, easy-to-grab bag—this can make unexpected situations like emergent dashes to the rest stop or airplane bathroom, and other daunting places, that much easier to deal with. Include items like potty seat covers, a small pack of wipes, small trash bag, mini first aid kit, child-friendly hand sanitizer, mini coloring book and a few crayons and some age-appropriate snacks.


• If traveling by car, leave room in your itinerary for “zoomie” breaks. It can be difficult for a young child (and parents, too!) to sit in a car for hours on end. Take a 15-minute break now and then at a family-friendly rest stop or park to stretch, run off a little energy or make silly noises.

• Try to maintain some likeness to your child’s typical schedule. A child with a general sense of what to expect and when is generally a happier child!

Your Toddler's Development - Hitting, Kicking & Biting

It is important to understand the reasons behind your child’s developmentally appropriate—yet unacceptable—hitting, kicking or biting behaviors. Try to consider your child’s point of view.

Some frustrations may include:

• She cannot fully verbally express her feelings.

• She does not have fully developed self control.

• She is defending herself from an “attack” from another child, whether it is hair pulling, toy grabbing, etc.

• She is experimenting with cause and her effect on the world.

• She’s tired.

• She’s hungry.

• She’s over stimulated.

• Sometimes, she may not even have a reason.

These are just some scenarios that may prompt your toddler to believe that hitting is a justifiable response to her frustration. And, toddlers may not always realize that hitting or other inappropriate behaviors hurt, or she just may not be able to control herself. As a parent, your job is to safely redirect her away from those behaviors. Here are some ways to do just that:

Respond immediately. Acknowledge your toddler’s feelings and provide a lesson in positive behaviors. Using a firm, nonthreatening voice, tell her, “No! I know you want a turn but we do not hit! Hitting hurts! Use your words.” And then redirect her attention. If your child still feels the need to hit, perhaps provide a “Mad Pillow.” Purchase a silly looking pillow that your toddler is allowed to hit when she feels the need to physically express her frustration. This will allow her to experiment with hitting, though it will typically evoke giggles as soon as it surfaces.

Focus your attention on the victim—even if that’s you! This demonstrates compassion, teaches your child that bad behavior does not gain attention and helps her to understand her actions. Be sure to provide plenty of praise and positive reinforcement when she does use her words to express feelings instead of negative behaviors, and be specific with your praise. (“You shared nicely with your sister. That makes me happy!”)

Don’t allow your child to benefit from negative behaviors. If your toddler used negative behaviors to take a toy from another child, don’t allow her to keep it. If she finds that her approach results in her benefit, she’ll do it again.

Don’t force an apology. Doing so removes value from the apology. Instead, model the appropriate behavior. Tell the victim, “I am sorry that you are hurt.” Use words that describe feelings, “I am sorry that your sister took your toy and made you sad.”

Learning positive behaviors and self-control can take time. In the meantime: Be consistent. Stay calm. Look for teachable moments and opportunities to prevent negative behaviors. And most importantly, always keep a sense of humor—your child won’t be two forever!