PLAY, MOVE, GROW!

 At our preschool, we know that play isn’t just fun—it’s essential! From the tiniest infants to energetic preschoolers, physical activity is a cornerstone of healthy growth and development. Here’s why encouraging movement is so important for children ages 0–5:

1. Strong Bodies Start Young

Physical activity helps build strong muscles and bones, improves balance, and supports healthy growth. Even infants benefit from tummy time, which strengthens their neck, shoulder, and arm muscles. Toddlers and preschoolers refine coordination through climbing, running, and dancing.

2. Brain Boosters

Did you know moving helps little brains grow too? Activities like jumping, crawling, or playing catch support brain development, improve attention, and even help with problem-solving skills. Physical activity stimulates neural connections that pave the way for learning.

3. Social Skills in Motion

Playtime often happens with friends! Group activities teach children important social skills like sharing, taking turns, and communicating. Whether it’s building an obstacle course or playing tag, movement fosters teamwork and cooperation.

4. Healthy Habits for Life

Establishing active routines early helps children develop healthy habits that last a lifetime. Daily movement supports heart health, maintains a healthy weight, and encourages a positive relationship with physical activity.

5. Emotional Well-Being

Movement is a natural mood booster! Running, jumping, or dancing helps little ones release energy, reduce stress, and manage emotions. Active play provides an outlet for self-expression and creativity, helping children feel happy and confident.

Tips for Encouraging Movement at Home:

• Offer plenty of safe space for crawling, rolling, and exploring.

• Turn everyday tasks into movement games, like hopping to tidy up toys.

• Dance to favorite songs or play simple active games like “Simon Says.”

• Encourage outdoor play whenever possible—nature is a natural playground!

At our preschool, we celebrate every wiggle, jump, and giggle because we know that movement is more than fun—it’s a vital part of early childhood development. Let’s keep our little ones moving and thriving!

Free Art MATTERS!

Why Free Art Matters for Ages 0–5: Nurturing Creativity in Early Childhood

In the world of early childhood development, we often talk about milestones—first steps, first words, first friendships. But one of the most powerful (and often underestimated) experiences during these foundational years is free art. This doesn’t mean painting the “perfect” picture or staying inside the lines. Free art is all about open-ended, process-focused creativity—offering young children the freedom to explore, create, and express themselves without rules or pressure.

So, why does free art matter so much in the 0–5 age group? Here’s why:

🎨 1. It Builds Brain Connections

When babies and young children engage in art—scribbling with crayons, finger painting, gluing scraps—they’re wiring their brains in amazing ways. Free art supports the development of fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving abilities. These early interactions with materials lay the groundwork for future learning in math, reading, and science.

🖐️ 2. It Encourages Sensory Exploration

For infants and toddlers, art is often more about touch than visuals. Think of the joy in squishing paint between tiny fingers or the surprise of mixing colors. Free art gives young children the chance to explore textures, temperatures, sounds, and smells—all while activating multiple senses at once. These rich sensory experiences are essential for healthy development.

💡 3. It Sparks Creativity and Imagination

When children are given a blank canvas and a variety of materials without a strict outcome in mind, they begin to create from within. This kind of imaginative thinking is what helps kids become innovators, storytellers, and problem-solvers later in life. Free art lets them ask the important question: “What happens if I try this?”

🗣️ 4. It Supports Emotional Expression

Young children may not always have the words to express how they’re feeling, but art can be their voice. Through drawing, painting, and sculpting, children often process big emotions—joy, frustration, sadness, excitement—in a safe and healthy way. Free art gives children space to express themselves authentically.

👧🏽 5. It Builds Confidence and Independence

In free art, there’s no “right” or “wrong” way to create. This helps children feel successful and confident in their abilities. They begin to trust their ideas, make their own choices, and take pride in their unique creations. This kind of empowerment at an early age is priceless.

🚫 What Free Art Isn’t

Free art isn’t about pre-cut crafts, copycat projects, or adult-directed activities. While those can be fun too, they don’t offer the same developmental benefits. Free art is messy, exploratory, and driven by the child’s interests. It’s about process over product—celebrating the journey, not just the outcome.

 

🎉 Help Us Be Voted Best Childcare… Again! 🏆

 

🎉 Help Us Be Voted Best Childcare… Again! 🏆

We’re beyond excited to share that nominations are now open for Nashville Parent Magazine’s “Best of Parenting” Awards—and we’re aiming to be voted Best Childcare for the 17th year in a row! 💛🎈

At The Academy of Berkshire, we are so proud of the loving, enriching, and safe environment we create each and every day for our amazing children. From nurturing classrooms and creative learning experiences to our passionate teachers and strong family partnerships—everything we do is driven by our dedication to your child’s growth and happiness.

If you believe in what we do and love being a part of our AoB family, we would be so honored to have your vote! 💬✨

🗳️ How to Nominate Us:

Visit Nashville Parent’s Nomination Page

➡️ Select the “Best Childcare” category

➡️ Heart The Academy

➡️ Submit your nomination and share with family and friends!

Every vote helps us shine a little brighter—and helps other families find the same trusted care and joyful learning that you've come to love.

Thank you for your continued support, your trust, and for being part of our AoB community. Let’s make it 17 years strong! 🎉

 

🍼 Why Infant Socialization Matters: Building Bonds from the Beginning!

When we think about babies, we often focus on feedings, naps, and milestone moments like rolling over or saying “mama.” But there’s something else just as important happening from the very beginning—socialization.

Even the youngest babies are learning how to connect with the world around them. While it may seem like infants are too young to benefit from being around others, early social interactions play a powerful role in their overall development. Here’s why

👀 1. Babies Are Born to Connect

From birth, infants are wired to seek connection. They recognize familiar voices, respond to facial expressions, and mimic sounds. These early interactions—like cooing back and forth with a caregiver—are the building blocks of language, trust, and emotional security.

Being around other infants and responsive adults helps babies practice these social cues, such as making eye contact, smiling, and babbling in response to others.

🤝 2. It Builds Emotional Intelligence

Even before they can talk, babies experience a wide range of emotions—joy, frustration, curiosity, and more. Through socialization, infants learn how to manage and express these feelings.

When babies are around others, especially in group care settings, they:

• See how others express emotions

• Learn to share attention

• Begin to understand concepts like empathy

These early experiences help lay the groundwork for emotional regulation and healthy relationships later in life.

🧠 3. Social Play Fuels Brain Development

Social interactions aren't just cute—they're cognitive workouts! Engaging with peers and caregivers activates areas of the brain involved in:

• Problem-solving

• Memory

• Language processing

• Attention and focus

Simple activities like taking turns with a toy or responding to a friend’s laugh stimulate brain development in a big way.

🗣️ 4. It Supports Language Growth

Babies learn language through hearing and interacting with others. When infants are exposed to social environments where they hear different voices, tones, and words, it enhances their ability to:

• Understand language patterns

• Imitate sounds

• Build a foundation for future communication

Social settings give infants a chance to "talk" in their own way and get a response—which is key to language development.

👶 5. It Prepares Them for Future Relationships

Socialization in infancy helps babies develop trust, confidence, and a sense of belonging. These experiences prepare them for preschool, friendships, teamwork, and even how they’ll handle challenges later on.

In a supportive environment, infants learn that they are safe, loved, and part of a community—a lesson that lasts a lifetime.

💡 Final Thoughts

While infants may not be having playdates in the traditional sense, every interaction counts. From peek-a-boo games with a teacher to watching another baby babble across the room, infant socialization is powerful, purposeful, and essential.

At our center, we cherish these early connections. Our classrooms are filled with nurturing adults and opportunities for babies to engage, explore, and grow together—because we know that building social skills starts with the very first smile.

🎉 Help Us Be Voted Best Childcare… Again! 🏆

We’re beyond excited to share that nominations are now open for Nashville Parent Magazine’s “Best of Parenting” Awards—and we’re aiming to be voted Best Childcare for the 17th year in a row! 💛🎈

At The Academy of Berkshire, we are so proud of the loving, enriching, and safe environment we create each and every day for our amazing children. From nurturing classrooms and creative learning experiences to our passionate teachers and strong family partnerships—everything we do is driven by our dedication to your child’s growth and happiness.

If you believe in what we do and love being a part of our AoB family, we would be so honored to have your vote! 💬✨

🗳️ How to Nominate Us:
Visit Nashville Parent’s Nomination Page
➡️ Select the “Best Childcare” category
➡️ Heart The Academy
➡️ Submit your nomination and share with family and friends!

Every vote helps us shine a little brighter—and helps other families find the same trusted care and joyful learning that you've come to love.

Thank you for your continued support, your trust, and for being part of our AoB community. Let’s make it 17 years strong! 🎉

Why Splash Day Matters!

 

AoB SPLASH DAYS ARE HERE!

 Water play offers a wide range of developmental, sensory, and social benefits for children. Here are some of the key benefits of why we do what we do:

1. Physical Development

• Fine motor skills: Pouring, squeezing, stirring, and using tools like cups or sponges strengthen hand and finger muscles.

• Gross motor skills: Activities like splashing, lifting water containers, and running through sprinklers improve coordination and muscle strength.

2. Cognitive Development

• Problem-solving: Children learn cause and effect (e.g., “If I pour this, it overflows”) and explore concepts like volume, flow, and measurement.

• Scientific thinking: Water play introduces early science concepts such as sinking/floating, temperature, and states of matter.

• Math skills: Measuring, comparing volumes, and counting objects during water play help develop early math understanding.

3. Sensory Exploration

• Water play provides rich tactile experiences, especially when combined with other materials like sand, ice, or bubbles.

• It can have a calming and regulating effect for children, especially those with sensory processing needs.

4. Language and Communication

• Water play often encourages storytelling, descriptive language (“It’s slippery!” “The water is cold”), and new vocabulary related to actions and sensations.

• Cooperative play fosters conversation and social negotiation.

5. Social and Emotional Development

• Encourages cooperation and sharing when children play together.

• Provides opportunities for creative expression, imagination, and pretend play.

• Helps children build confidence and independence as they make choices and explore freely.

6. Creativity and Imagination

• Water play often involves open-ended exploration, where there’s no “right” way to play, supporting creative thinking.

• Children invent scenarios, stories, or experiments, boosting imaginative play.

7. Emotional Regulation

• The soothing nature of water can reduce stress and help children self-regulate their emotions.

• It offers a safe space for children to express feelings through play.

Summary:

Water play is not just fun—it’s a holistic developmental activity that supports a child’s growth across physical, cognitive, emotional, and social domains. Whether it’s a backyard sprinkler, a water table, or simply a sink with cups and toys, water play is a valuable part of early childhood development

AoB Construction Update!

Exciting news! Our beautiful new school is nearing completion!

We can't wait to welcome our registered children by Summer 2025!

If you are interested in program information and would like to schedule a tour at one of our nearby sister schools, please call (615)-728-3460 to arrange a visit.