OFS Goes to the California Academy of Sciences

OFS takes a field trip to the California Academy of Sciences! Our teachers wrap up two years of science and nature education with a special trip to experience wonder, awe, and curiosity among the exhibits. Listen to hear about the teachers' encounters with butterflies, fish, and other wildlife, what they learned from this trip, and what messages they want to pass on to their children about nature and science.

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Home Buying with Young Children in Mind

In this episode, we dive into the key considerations young families should keep in mind when looking for a new home. Join Program Director Alexandra Dutton as she talks with realtor and OFS Mill Valley parent Emily Schaffer (Engel and Volkar) about this complicated process. From affordability and floor plans to schools and community connections, we discuss how to buy a home that fits your current needs while planning for the future. Is your "forever home" necessary at this stage, or is it better to take baby steps? We also explore the importance of community in the home buying process—what does a supportive village look like, and how can families build connections to create a fulfilling, active lifestyle in their new neighborhood? Tune in for practical tips on making the right choice for your growing family!

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Empowering Gender Equality

Want to understand how gender biases take root in early childhood? Did you know children as young as 3 years old exhibit bias, and girls may start believing they're less smart than boys by ages 5-6? In this insightful episode, Judy Haus (Walnut Creek Program Director) speaks with Michele Bailey and Alexandra Dutton, uncovering the unconscious ways we share our own gender biases and how media reinforces them. More importantly, they offer actionable strategies to help you move past these biases with your young children, fostering an equitable future where every child thrives.

Articles to help unpack this topic:
6-Year-Old Girls Already Have Gendered Beliefs About Intelligence
www.theatlantic.com/science/archive…ligence/514340/

Watching Gender: How Stereotypes in Movies and on TV Impact Kids' Development
www.commonsensemedia.org/research/wat…-development

Bias Starts as Early as Preschool, but Can Be Unlearned
A new study finds that children show bias at a surprisingly young age. But teachers have ways to address this and create a welcoming classroom.

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Getting to Know Animals

Children are often drawn to animals, and having a relationship with an animal teaches responsibility, love, and compassion. Join Alexandra Dutton as she speaks with OFS Bayview program director Jackie Buhl and Laura Hislop from Jessica's Haven, a small dog rescue center. They share why it is important for everyone, but especially children, to connect with animals, and most importantly, how to do so safely!

Learn more about Jessica's Haven: jessicashaven.com/

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Meaningful Mealtimes for Young Eaters

We often say: children can control only three things, and one of them is eating. (Can you guess the other two?). Join Judy Haus as she talks with author and educator Emilie Dupont about how to make mealtimes less stressful and more enjoyable. When we understand the children's development and how it impacts how they may approach food, we may be able to avoid the power struggle!

Emilie's book is full of great tips: Meaningful Mealtimes: Practical Strategies for All Young Eaters
This is also another article Emilie penned on the same topic:
blog.brookespublishing.com/9-practices…bhstGOfYdOQ

Release date: 11 December 2024

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Children and Sports with Monte Stott

When are young children ready for competitive sports? Are sports good for children? Alexandra Dutton, Lafayette program director, talks with longtime baseball coach Monte Stott about parent involvement in children's sports, appropriate expectations, and why sports matter. You'll be surprised at what makes a child's experience a good one!

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Positive Parenting with Aki Raymer

Relationships with our children are supposed to be easy -- right? Join Dorothy Stewart, Executive Director and Owner of Old Firehouse Schools and Alexandra Dutton, Program Director, talk with Aki Raymer of Parenting Paths. They discuss how building relationships with our children will actually decrease many power struggles and how understanding our own limitations and boundaries can help our children learn about theirs.

Aki will be doing a parent workshop at our Bayview campus in San Rafael on Nov. 7th at 7 p.m. Register for that workshop here.

You can learn more about Parenting Paths here.

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Discussing News Events with Young Children

OFS Lafayette Program Director Alexandra Dutton talks with teacher Rachel Turtledove about something we have to think about much too often: when, if, and how to talk about difficult news events with young children. Whether we are worried about a recent school shooting or a fire that's burning too close to home, we are sending signals to our children about their world. Join them to hear about how to talk about these events in developmentally appropriate ways.

Much of our advice comes from the helpful websites Common Sense Media and National Association of School Psychologists. For more resources, please check them out.

(Apologies for the sound quality -- we are competing with our AC!)

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Social Lives of Preschoolers

When your child is 2, are they supposed to play well with others? What does it really mean when a 4-year-old says to their friend, "You can't come to my birthday party!" Alexandra Dutton talks with Michele Bailey and Maylis Treuil, two veteran OFS teachers, about social skills and friendships from age 1 to 5. They explain the motivations behind children's behavior with peers and why friendships are a delicate balance at these young ages.

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Deepening Relationships with Your Child

Join hosts Alexandra Dutton and Rachel Turtledove for a wonderful discussion with Todd Sarner, MFT, about how to deepen your relationship with your child. Todd shares ways to connect with a child after a separation (like being apart all day with work and school) as well as why some children will seemingly reject you or your overtures of support and love. His strategies focus on Attachment Theory, which is at the heart of Old Firehouse Schools. Together they share some of the day-to-day struggles parents may have about connecting with children, setting boundaries, and understanding their child's shifting needs.

To learn more about Todd's work, visit: transformativeparenting.com/
www.youtube.com/transformativeparenting

Other useful books/websites mentioned:
www.simplicityparenting.com/
neufeldinstitute.org/resources/hold…our-kids-book/

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A Family's Role in Anti-Bias Education

Dorothy and Alex return to a topic from our first podcast: Anti-Bias Education. They talk with Shaquam Edwards, who is part of the early education faculty at the College of Marin. She discusses the role families can play in exploring culture, diversity, and equity. She shares activities families can do together to learn about each other, as well as developmentally appropriate ways to build bridges to learning about other cultures, celebrations, and traditions.

Books mentioned:
Anti-Bias Education by Louise Derman-Sparks
www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/boo…nti-bias-education

You Can't Celebrate That by Nadia Jaboneta
www.redleafpress.org/You-Cant-Celeb…ing-P2497.aspx

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Nature-Based Education - An Introduction to OFS Bayview

Nature has always been a part of the educational experience at OFS, but our newest campus, OFS Bayview, will take that to a new level! Director Alexandra Dutton is joined by Laura Hislop of St. Luke's, where the Bayview campus is located. Together they talk with Dr. Dorothy Stewart and Bayview director Jackie Buhl about their vision to combine attachment and nature into curriculum that is sure to inspire any preschooler.

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The Importance of Music

Music plays an important role in all of our lives, and this is especially true for young children. Alexandra Dutton, Judy Haus, and Liza Pevzner discuss ways that music increases language development, memory skills, and motor skills for children. If you aren't a music lover or someone who is comfortable singing, listen to hear ways you can incorporate more music into your life with your child.

Some of the songs mentioned:
Miss Katie sings:
youtu.be/1R8pmh8I6FU?feature=shared

Snoop Dogg:
youtu.be/1XYoduQMAjU?si=7J0bQFfD5vOGOo7-

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Rule of Thumb for Your Preschooler's Birthday Party

When your child's birthday rolls around, it's a special time to celebrate! Join Judy Haus, Rachel Turtledove, and Alexandra Dutton talk about birthday parties for our youngest children, from the perspective of both educators and parents. Sometimes what you want in a party is not what works best for your child's age, personality, or temperament. Hear about some tried and true strategies to plan a great celebration for your child.

A wonderful resource for families: www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/age-…irthday-party-guide

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My Child Needed Therapy -- Parents' Experiences

This follow-up podcast to the previous episode, "What Do You Mean My Child Needs Therapy?" lends helpful insights into what the process can be to get outside support for a child. Three parents share the different paths they took to support their children -- one who was anxious, one who had language delays, and one who is autistic. They share the challenges they had and what they and their children ultimately learned from receiving services.

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What Do You Mean My Child Needs Therapy?

Hosts Alexandra Dutton and Judy Haus speak with Psychologist Carrie Rodrigues and MFT Katrinca Ford about something families often feel confusion or fear about: Hearing that their child may need an assessment or therapy. But what does that really mean, and what does an assessment for a child entail? How long will my child need therapy? Should I worry about my child being labeled?

Some resources mentioned in the podcast:

Developmental Milestones: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html

Speech Milestones: https://www.asha.org/public/developmental-milestones/communication-milestones/

Contact Katrinca Ford, MFT: www.familyplaytherapy.com

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What Is the Role of Preschool?

How is preschool different than, say, having a nanny? What happens with preschool turns out to be different than what you expected? Host Alexandra Dutton talks with Garrett O'Brien (OFS Mill Valley) and Susie Kohl (White Pony Preschool) about managing your expectations as a parent whose child is starting preschool and how to have a great experience. No surprise here -- it begins with trust!

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Emergent Curriculum in Early Education

OFS Directors Alexandra Dutton and Danielle Roach are joined by Darcy Campbell, Executive Director of Cow Hollow School in San Francisco. Darcy once said, "(Emergent curriculum) is the hardest way to teach, but the best way." Hear about why our schools choose emergent curriculum, how it prepares children for the future, and how it creates children who are "problem-seekers" in addition to children who are creative, resilient, and able to take the perspectives of others.

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Developing Empathy in Children

Until recently, it was assumed that young children can't really be empathetic and understand the perspectives of others. OFS directors Alexandra Dutton and Lizz Nolasco discuss the recent research that demonstrates that children can develop empathy as young as a year old. They share some strategies help adults teach empathy to young children. In order to live in a democratic society and be part of a community that considers the needs of others, we have to help children grow to understand their emotions and how those emotions impact others.

Book referenced: Handbook of Moral Development
Edited By Melanie Killen, Judith G. Smetana

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Literacy Development with Dr. Daniel Meier and Pam Remensperger

Alexandra is joined by Pam Remensperger (OFS TK teacher) and Dr. Daniel Meier, SFSU professor, to talk about literacy development in children. We know that reading to children leads to later reading success, but how? What can educators and parents do to support their child's literacy skills? When should a parent expect their child to learn how to write? All this and more will be discussed in this educational and insightful podcast!

Daniel mentioned the podcast, Sold a Story: features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/ that discuss some of the problems with how America handles reading education.

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