{"id":471,"date":"2017-08-08T18:36:29","date_gmt":"2017-08-08T18:36:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/?p=471"},"modified":"2017-08-10T02:41:43","modified_gmt":"2017-08-10T02:41:43","slug":"sunshine-summertime-and-social-skills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/08\/sunshine-summertime-and-social-skills\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunshine, Summertime, and Social Skills?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>By: Alex Chiu<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s face it. Summertime is when we all take a little break. Whether it\u2019s a vacation from work, time off from school, or a slight easing up on the usual daily routines, summer often finds us relaxing in one way or another at some point. And that\u2019s a good thing! With our wound up, stressed out lives, we DO need to take a breather and enjoy the \u2018dog days\u2019 of summer while we can.<\/p>\n<p>However, it\u2019s important to remember that even in the summer, we must never allow ourselves, or our children, to take a break from basic human kindness, respect, and compassion. Actually, summer is a great time to focus even more on acts of kindness since it is for many a season that makes us naturally happier! As people are out and about, walking in parks, eating in the outdoor seating of restaurants, etc., we have a chance to connect with others even more. Let\u2019s show our children how to make that connection positive, and how we can use this summer season to spread some joy.<\/p>\n<p>Children in Montessori classrooms learn all about \u201cGrace and Courtesy\u201d\u2014 common, decent, kind interactions with others. They greet their teachers and friends with a kind word, handshake, and eye contact to start the day. They take care in how they move about the classroom so as to not disturb someone\u2019s work on a table or rug. They learn the tried and true \u2018Ps and Qs\u2019 of saying, \u201cExcuse me\u201d, \u201cPlease\u201d, and \u201cThank you\u201d. They also learn conflict resolution and the art of making a genuine apology. It\u2019s a part of the curriculum that\u2019s as important as the academic subjects children learn. So, just as parents worry about \u2018summer slump\u2019 for their children in regards to math or reading, be sure to address your child\u2019s social skills as part of your family\u2019s summer lessons.<\/p>\n<p><em>Here are just a few ideas of how to attend to your family\u2019s own Grace and Courtesy skills this summer:<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Greet people with a smile.<\/strong> As you walk through your neighborhood, greet others with a smile and extend a hello. Teach your children that while we must be safe regarding strangers, there is no harm in sharing a brief, kind greeting in passing when they are with a trusted adult.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Encourage your children to speak with community members.<\/strong> When visiting the library, encourage your child to ask the librarian where to find a certain type of book to practice exchanging conversation with others. If you see a police officer at a crosswalk, model for your child a \u201cthank you for your service to our community\u201d greeting and then have your child emulate that the next time you see a first responder.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bring a sweet treat to your volunteer firefighters or first responders.<\/strong> Have your children decorate cards and bake cookies (or if it\u2019s too hot to bake, stop by the local ice cream shop for a gallon of ice cream) to share with these hard-working community members.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Make a phone call to a far-away family member.<\/strong> Practice before you call! In this digital age, more and more children are learning to text and NOT learning the art of conversation. Keep this fine art alive by making a monthly call to someone special! Teach your children how to ask questions that elicit a response from the person on the other end of the line. And teach them to listen! Both are important skills in being gracious and kind.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Write a letter.<\/strong> Similar to phone calls, many of us have strayed from the tradition of letter writing. Still, most of us smile at the sight of a card or letter that\u2019s not a bill in our mailbox! Share that feeling with someone you know who needs a little pick me up. Encourage your children to share a funny story, personal anecdote, or information about a family outing that the other person might like to learn about in the letter. And remind them to include some questions for their recipient in order to prompt him or her to write back! Then wait for a reply to come in the mail!\u00a0<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Speaking of mail, why not greet your mail carrier with a cold drink on a hot day? Just another opportunity to perform an act of kindness and learn how to interact with a community member.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Maintain the expectation of kindness and respect in your own home.<\/strong> It\u2019s easy for children to get too comfortable with parents, siblings, and other close friends and family members. However, EVERYONE deserves our respect and kindness, so make sure you model this for your children and maintain the expectation that they mind their \u2018Ps and Qs\u2019 with you, too! Even when there\u2019s a disagreement, keep the Montessori spirit of Grace and Courtesy at the forefront of your interactions. It\u2019s okay to disagree or to feel sad or angry, but the way we act when we feel this way is in our control and makes a difference in how others see us and how we find our place in the world.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>While these words and actions are small and brief, they can have a positive impact on how your child interacts with others and grows in his or her capacity to be a kind, compassionate, contributing member of our world. So go on\u2014enjoy the sunshine of the summer with a smile, and keep those social skills sharp!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By: Alex Chiu Let\u2019s face it. Summertime is when we all take a little break. Whether it\u2019s a vacation from work, time off from school, or a slight easing up on the usual daily routines, summer often finds us relaxing in one way or another at some point. And that\u2019s a good thing! With our [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":472,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[28,224,3,87,252,253],"tags":[205,26,17,138,47,4,9,6,254,74],"coauthors":[13],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/water-fight-442257_1920.jpg?fit=1920%2C1619&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7icff-7B","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":713,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2018\/07\/25\/summertime-extensions-for-exploring-the-cultural-area\/","url_meta":{"origin":471,"position":0},"title":"Summertime Extensions for Exploring the Cultural Area","author":"Alex Chiu","date":"July 25, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Montessori classrooms truly give students the world. The Cultural area of the classroom is filled with flags, globes, and maps which allow students to travel to places beyond their classroom walls. Montessori students learn about geography, land and water forms, and climate, not to mention the customs and cultures of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Early Child Education&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Early Child Education","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/category\/early-child-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG_1100-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":895,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2019\/07\/15\/summertime-reading-buzz\/","url_meta":{"origin":471,"position":1},"title":"Summertime Reading Buzz","author":"Alex Chiu","date":"July 15, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"by Alex Chiu Summer is a wonderful time for storytelling and reading together. Long car rides to the beach, lazy Saturday mornings in bed, and twilight evenings on the back deck are ideal moments to listen to books on tape, share memories and stories, or read with your children. But\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Early Child Education&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Early Child Education","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/category\/early-child-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Bee-on-FLower-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":717,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/13\/farmers-markets-and-montessori\/","url_meta":{"origin":471,"position":2},"title":"Farmers Markets and Montessori","author":"Alex Chiu","date":"August 13, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"By Alex Chiu August is perhaps one of the most colorful months of the year, especially if you take some time to visit any number of local farmers markets in the area. Fruits and vegetables in rainbows of hues fill the baskets and tables, inviting a closer look at their\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Early Child Education&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Early Child Education","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/category\/early-child-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Farm-Market-2-e1534205581259-225x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":223,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2016\/07\/11\/mca-book-club-inspires-summer-reading-list\/","url_meta":{"origin":471,"position":3},"title":"MCA Book Club Inspires Summer Reading List","author":"Alex Chiu","date":"July 11, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"By: Alex Chiu In the fall of this past school year, The Montessori Children\u2019s Academy (MCA) was proud to host Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore as a guest speaker for a Speaker Series event.\u00a0 Dr. Kennedy-Moore shared her professional insights on a variety of parenting topics, balanced with her own honest experiences\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Montessori Philosophy&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Montessori Philosophy","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/category\/montessori-philosophy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1330,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2024\/07\/04\/school-is-out-summer-is-here-but-learning-and-fun-dont-need-to-end\/","url_meta":{"origin":471,"position":4},"title":"School is Out, Summer is Here\u2026                                      but Learning (and Fun) Don\u2019t Need to End!","author":"Tori Inkley","date":"July 4, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Camilla Nichols and Zachery Inkley,with additional content by Tori Inkley Along with welcoming Summer, we would like to provide some fun activities and ideas to help keep your children stimulated in a meaningful way. It\u2019s important for them to remain in a state of learning and exploration even when\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Early Child Education&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Early Child Education","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/category\/early-child-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG_1231-scaled.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG_1231-scaled.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG_1231-scaled.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG_1231-scaled.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":211,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2016\/06\/13\/maintaining-a-montessori-mindset-through-the-summer\/","url_meta":{"origin":471,"position":5},"title":"Maintaining a Montessori Mindset  Through the Summer","author":"Alex Chiu","date":"June 13, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"By: Alex Chiu Summer is the time of year when schedules are a bit more relaxed, bedtimes push back a little later, and vacations and staycations abound.\u00a0 Some parents worry about what to do with their children during the summer and about \u2018summer learning loss\u2019 (where students, not immersed in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Montessori in your Home&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Montessori in your Home","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/category\/montessori-in-your-home\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/bryce.jpg?fit=960%2C720&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/bryce.jpg?fit=960%2C720&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/bryce.jpg?fit=960%2C720&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/bryce.jpg?fit=960%2C720&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/471"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=471"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/471\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":474,"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/471\/revisions\/474"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/472"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=471"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=471"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=471"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=471"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}