Mrs. Pizzo's Workshop

A: Preschool for all children is extremely important for one primary reason: Kids who attend public preschool programs are better prepared for kindergarten than kids who don't.  

Socialization, skill development and self-regulation are a few areas where substantial gaps are noticed.

That’s why I reached out to Wendy Boyce, Great Start Collaborative Co-Coordinator of Ingham ISD, to provide information on how to enroll in a program.  Here's what she had to share:

A: Rather than set resolutions, I find it more helpful to reevaluate and establish goals for a new year -- and young learners can be encouraged to do the same. 

Perhaps it’s a matter of semantics but making New Year’s resolutions has never been my jam. The idea of proclaiming strong declarations seemed too rigid for my personal taste. Resolute denotes a heaviness that my life couldn’t carry as a mother, career woman, educator and advocate. I learned very early: working with children is not conducive to rigid structures.

As I reflect on best practices for this new year, one question continues to come to light. How can WKAR help?   

As Director of Education, I want to remind all of WKAR’s commitment to helping partners decrease education and literacy disparities throughout our community.  I understand the power of collaboration and collective effort; and serving the mid-Michigan region is my first priority.  

A: A child’s mental health is just as important as their physical health but is often difficult to monitor. The CDC and several experts have released tips to help families in this area. 

These are especially important during the pandemic because children are managing an increased amount of stress. 

A: A child’s mental health is just as important as their physical health but is often difficult to monitor. The CDC and several experts have released tips to help families in this area. 

These are especially important during the pandemic because children are managing an increased amount of stress. 

A: Communicating with a young learner is not always the easiest task. As children develop and grow, effective communication requires patience and valuing getting down on their level. This can be difficult when those little legs are constantly on the go and your schedule moves just as quickly.

A: Togetherness is the best activity a family can enjoy with memories that last a lifetime. Capital Area District Libraries on Request Services will definitely help eliminate holiday break boredom blues.. The service includes Grab n’ Go Activity Bags, Take n’ Make Kits, Storytime To Go and STEM Labs To Go.

A: Co-viewing a program with your child has many positive impacts in learning. In partnership with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, WKAR’s Ready to Learn programs are a kid magnet, with over 14 million views each year. Therefore, selecting one of WKAR’s beloved PBS KIDS programs is a great way to start preparing your child for the rigors of kindergarten.

A: Daily reading can begin as soon as day one for a newborn. One of my all-time favorite priorities at WKAR is providing a vast selection of diverse books, to children throughout the viewing region at a variety of events. There is nothing quite like a table full of books surrounded by children with big, bright eyes excited to select their very own new book. Parents and caregivers take special care in holding up different titles and offering the most powerful aspect of the experience: the right to choose.

A: As a parent and educator for over twenty years, I must admit I’m still learning how to effectively achieve this and now with COVID19, less stress seems to be impossible. We are still navigating through uncertain times. Daily we learn of new protocols, procedures and recommendations to stay safe and healthy. We have very little control of them, but we can control how much we take on to make life easier this season and beyond. “Less is More” is the motto I like to follow when trying to decrease stress levels. Here are a few more tips.