First Baptist Rockwall Preschool Ministry

08/29/2023

Volunteer for children’s ministry in your church. You never know who you’ll be serving.

08/25/2023

❤️

11/03/2022

10/25/2022

We know children who play have: more sophisticated brain development, better social skills, increase critical thinking ability, are better problem solvers, perform better academically, have increased attention span, are more empathic, and are simply more resilient.

How to know if it’s play? Our checklist:

✔️ Freedom: The child does it without a goal in mind
✔️ It engages their creativity or imagination
✔️ The feel safe (psychologically and emotionally)
✔️ They lose track of time
✔️ They have choice in what they’re doing

Want to learn more about play and how to foster it in your home. Join one of our 2 online courses on play: The Power of Play OR Therapeutic Play. Take 50% off with code IG50OFF. https://linktr.ee/instituteofchildpsych

Caro

09/07/2022

09/05/2022

09/03/2022

So true!
via How Wee Learn

08/02/2022

Just a phone call can soothe your child's stress....

Allow me to explain this fascinating study! We know that a mother's speech is soothing to babies. It is called motherese and when a mother speaks this slow calm way to her baby, it has similar stress reducing responses as being held. It is almost like a musical note to a baby's brain.

What I love the most about this study (source is on the slide) is the age group of the kids. Older kids can also benefit from their mother's voice. It has a calming effect on them when they are stressed.

In this particular study, they subjected children ages 7-12 to a social stressor (public speaking in front of a group of unknown people). After the stressor, they were divided into 3 groups (contact with mom, no contact with mom just a phone call and a control group that didn't experience the stressor).

Results suggested that in both the contact and no contact group, oxytocin was released in levels high enough to bring cortisol down (the stress hormone). Fascinating!

What does this mean for parents?
If you can't be with your child in a moment where they are stressed (summer camp, sleepover, school, sports etc), a phone call can help lower their stress levels. This also means you need to remind them to call you when they feel this way. Kids ages 7-12 still need us to regulate their emotions and to help them feel less stressed.

This study is a wonderful reminder of this!

Small note: This study only looked at moms and it was based on the theory of "motherese" a music like signal from a mother's voice. However, if a dad were to help calm their child down, I would assume it would have similar effects.

#̭parentingtips

05/14/2022

We had another great year in MOPs! Thank you Katie Bell and Stephanie King for your Leadership.

05/12/2022

04/17/2022

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss –
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.