what-to-expect-when-your-child-starts-kindergarten

The “New” First Grade: What to Expect When Your Child Starts Kindergarten

“I just don’t understand this math homework,” my bewildered friend texted me late one night at the beginning of the school year. His oldest had just started kindergarten, and yes, he already had homework. Homework that was perplexing to even his bright, 30-something-year-old parents.  Kindergarten has changed in the last decade, and not everyone is happy about it. Today, pre-kindergarten …

The Importance of Play in Kindergarten

Play is an essential part of the way your child learns. And it’s not just about burning off all their extra energy so that they can focus on the lesson (though that plays a part), it’s about learning through play. For children, play is about solving problems in the world around them and interacting with others. When they play, they …

3 Steps to Healthy Brain Development in Kindergarten

More and more parents are putting an academic focus on their children’s earliest years. Science has shown us that 90% of a child’s brain develops by the age of five. “A newborn baby has all of the brain cells (neurons) they’ll have for the rest of their life, but what really makes the brain work—and enables us to move, think, …

Boundaries: The Magic Skill for Middle Schoolers

The tween years may just be some of the most challenging of all for child and parent alike. Middle school is a uniquely awkward time, featuring highlights such as the start of puberty, new interest in the opposite sex, and outlandish amounts of insecurity. Combined, you end up with a perfect storm of relational drama and unchecked mood swings that …

Encouraging Self-Esteem in Your Middle Schooler

Middle school is a challenging time for parents, but don’t forget, being pre-teen is tough for your child too! The tween years are notorious for being a time of fragile self-confidence. The combination of hormone surges, developing bodies, attraction to the opposite sex, drama with friends, and preparation for impending adulthood can create a whirlwind of emotional instability and insecurity. …

Private School Teachers Can Offer a Personalized Education

According to our own Kellie Tuten, English Teacher here at Virginia Academy, the differences offered in a private school may benefit students strongly: “I believe that some, maybe even ​all​, students are better suited for a private school education.” Says Tuten, who was recently featured in LoudonNow talking about the advantages of a private Christian education. “Private school teachers have …

Top 4 Things Parents Can Do to Help Their Child Prepare for Preschool

Is your child ready for preschool? In the blink of an eye, your child went from diapers to potty-trained. You find yourself wondering if it is time for preschool for your child. How can you really know when it’s time to send your little one off to preschool? This is a question that most parents ask themselves as their children …

The Company You Keep – Your Child’s Middle School Experience

Are you and your child experiencing the sudden collision of hormones, emotions, desire for approval, and academic pressure of middle school? Don’t panic! You are not alone. Middle school is a uniquely awkward time in a young person’s development, emotionally, physically, and socially. Even one of these factors could be a major source of stress for students and their parents …

Class Size Matters – Research Shows

Did you know that your child’s class size can affect nearly every aspect of their education? Research shows that smaller classes can enhance academic performance across the board for some students. Middle school can be rough. Students in middle school are suddenly immersed in the perfect storm of adolescence, social challenges, and sometimes unsettling emotional swings. Add to that a …