FOUR AMAZING WAYS
TO BRIGHTEN YOUR
CHILD’S FUTURE
TEXT: L IN D SEY G ROA RK A N D G RETA DU NCAN
32 June 2017 washingtonFAMILY.com



A
s a parent, you are
uniquely suited to set
your child up for success
and happiness in life, but
you may not know how. To be sure,
there is no road map to helping your
child grow into responsible adults
and if one existed, it would likely
offer as many routes to the same
goal as there are children.

and awareness he or she is learning
in preschool or day care. An added
bonus is discovering how much
fun you’re having spending time
with your child.

you speak, your smiles, your groans,
2. ESTABLISH ROUTINES AND
CLEAR EXPECTATIONS.

education; we spark their innate
4. BUILD STRONG
We talked with early care and
education experts and experienced
parents across our community to
identify some of the top ways
they recommend to enhance the
early education of children and
brighten their futures.

Like most children, your child likely
thrives in environments in which
he or she knows what to expect
and what is expected of him or her.

Adhering to a regular and reliable
schedule of daily activities and
routines helps to avoid childhood
power struggles, tantrums and
meltdowns. This isn’t to suggest
that you should never change your
schedule or routine. But, if you
have to change your plans, try
to let your child know ahead of
time, and explain the reasons and
what he or she can expect. From
time-to-time, expect your child
to resist or struggle. This is to be
expected; children don’t like change.

But, when your child rises to the
occasion, celebrate the success.

1. GIVE YOUR CHILD AN ACTIVE
ROLE IN YOUR DAILY ACTIVITIES.

3. SLOW DOWN AND TAKE THE
TIME TO ENJOY YOUR CHILD.

trips or other activities. The more
And when it comes to early
education, parents have many
questions. What preschool or
daycares should I enroll my
child? What camp or playgroup
will nourish his talents? What
activities will support and enhance
her social, emotional, cognitive, and
physical development?
Grocery shopping, errands around
the house and cooking dinner, all
offer wonderful opportunities to
engage your child and expand his
or her learning. When you go to
the grocery store, let your child
help pick out fruits and vegetables.

At home let them help prepare the
meal (i.e. peel the fruits, wash the
vegetables, or pour the spices).

Sure, you may have to get creative
in the kitchen or research recipes
using a new food, but you may
even end up with a new favorite
dish. Tell your child how proud
you are that he or she helped you
make the most delicious meal in
the entire world. By incorporating
your young explorer into your daily
tasks, you can build on the skills
Your child is naturally curious,
energetic, and eager to explore
the world. Let him or her take the
lead and share with you the world
he or she discovers. Start this as
early as you can. Your child, no
doubt, notices more than you think,
including who comes to the swim
classes, who helps in the classroom
at school, and who he or she can
be silly with. Yes, parenting can be
stressful, but it can also be some of
the best times of your life. Take time
to enjoy these moments; they are
fleeting. Set aside as much time as
you can to spend with your child,
especially when it comes to teaching
him or her about the world. Enjoy
the experience and let him or her see
and feel that enjoyment in the words
your sneezes, and your moments of
doubt or anxiety. We are important
role models for our children, when
we get involved in their early
love of learning.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR
CHILD’S SCHOOL, CHILD CARE
PROVIDER, OR PLAY GROUP.

It’s a fact: It takes a village to raise
a successful, happy child. If your
child goes to school or participates
in a playgroup (both of which we
suggest!), there are other adults
and children that can play an
important role in his or her early
life. Engage in activities offered
through these venues and get to
know the educators that care for
your child and the parents of your
child’s friends. Join your child
and his or her friends for lunch,
drop by school to read a story,
and volunteer to support field
time you spend engaging in these
activities, the more opportunities
you will have learning about what
is developmentally appropriate
for your child and how to support
him or her on the way to becoming
a smart, caring and responsible
adolescent and adult.

Lindsey Groark is Assistant Vice
President at Hopkins House and
Greta Duncan is the Principal
at Hopkins House’s James L. &
Juliette McNeil Preschool Academy.

Founded in 1939, Hopkins
House operates three nationally-
accredited, Virginia quality rated,
and fully licensed education
enriched preschool academies for
children, birth to 5 years old.

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