Dear Parkway Families,
As we welcome the beautiful spring weather, I wanted to take a moment to encourage you and your children to embrace the outdoors. April is a wonderful time to shed the winter layers and rediscover the joys of nature and neighborhood exploration.
With the longer days and warmer temperatures, it's the perfect opportunity for our children to spend less time indoors and more time engaging in active, unstructured play. This can include anything from riding bikes and playing tag in the park to simply exploring the neighborhood and interacting with friends.
As Jonathan Haidt discusses in his book, "The Anxious Generation," the shift away from outdoor play and face-to-face interaction has had a significant impact on children's mental and social development. He highlights the importance of allowing children to experience the world beyond screens and structured activities.
Here are a few examples of activities that can benefit your child:
Neighborhood Exploration: Encourage your child to explore the neighborhood with friends. This allows them to develop a sense of place and independence.
Bike Rides and Outdoor Games: Riding bikes, playing soccer, or simply running around in the park promotes physical activity and coordination.
Nature Walks and Observation: Taking a walk in a local park or nature trail allows children to connect with nature and observe the changing seasons.
Unstructured Play with Neighbors: Allowing children to play freely with their neighbors fosters social skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.
Limit Screen Time: Setting clear boundaries for screen time and encouraging outdoor activities can help children develop healthier habits.
In addition to fostering outdoor play, we also want to emphasize the importance of consistent practice with foundational academic skills. These skills are essential building blocks that enable our teachers to introduce more complex content and application-based learning. Consistent practice at home reinforces what is taught in the classroom and significantly contributes to your child’s academic success.
Here are some ways you can support your child’s learning at home, aligned with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) foundational skills for grades K-4:
Daily Math Fact Practice: Dedicate a few minutes each day to practicing math facts (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division). Flashcards or simple verbal quizzes can be effective. The important piece is you are working with them.
Sight Word Review: Regularly review sight words with your child. These are high-frequency words that are crucial for reading fluency.
Reading Aloud and Discussion: Read aloud to your child daily and engage in discussions about the story. Ask questions about characters, plot, and themes to enhance comprehension.
Spelling Practice: Practice words from their environment that you know they can spell. Great activity for the car.
Writing Prompts: Encourage your child to write short stories, journal entries, or letters. Provide prompts or topics to spark their creativity.
Listening Comprehension: Read short passages aloud and ask your child to summarize or answer questions about what they heard. At the dinner table bring up some current events from the news. You will be amazed at their thoughtful ideas.
By balancing outdoor play with consistent practice of these foundational skills, we are providing our children with a well-rounded and enriching learning experience.
Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting your child’s growth and development.
Have a wonderful month,
Suzanne Barbi
The next meeting of our book study on the "Anxious Generation" will be Friday, April 25th at 10:00 am. The elementary principals and counselors are eager to engage in stimulating conversation with you about the book. This will be a virtual event. Thanks again for being part of this important conversation!
