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Goddard Schools Across the County Host Anti-Bullying and Friendship-Focused Goddard Community Games

By: The Goddard School |  18 Shares     160 Reads

Preschool franchises invite families to discover how playful learning builds skills to help prevent bullying.

King of Prussia, PA (PRWEB) February 09, 2012 - For the second year, Goddard Schools® throughout the country are taking a proactive approach to bully prevention by offering a week-long celebration beginning that places key focus on its FLEXTM Learning Program, a curriculum focused on play-based learning, as well as friendship. The weeklong learning activities will also focus on teaching children about playing well with others and accepting each other's differences.

“Bullying happens every day—even right here in our own community. According to Stompoutbullying.org, one out of every four children is bullied. Prevention must begin early, in both our teachings and practices. We look forward to our week-long events, so that we can play a part in community effort to combat bullying and to promote acceptance, understanding and friendship,” said Sue Adair, director of education at Goddard Systems, Inc.

According to Adair, the success and enjoyment that preschool children experience through playful learning can help develop the self-confidence they need to prevent them from becoming victims of bullies or developing into bullies themselves.

Playful learning has been at the heart of The Goddard School's core curriculum from the beginning. This approach introduces children to new skills in a playful and engaging way and is supported by a growing body of research from Play for Tomorrow, a consortium behind the respected "playful learning" movement.

At The Goddard School, playful learning activities are teacher-planned and child-directed, and designed to nurture each child’s self confidence.

"We make learning enjoyable and build in lots of opportunity for each child to experience the satisfaction of success,” said Adair. “One of the major benefits of our learning through play approach is the emphasis on building self-esteem and confidence as children try, and succeed at, new challenges. A confident child is much less likely to develop into a bully or to accept bullying from another child."

The Goddard Community Games event will give families across the nation an opportunity to join with their children in a day of discovery and enrichment. Programs such as Sign Language, Yoga and Nutrition and "Rock 'n' Tot" pre-dance and creative movement, selected from The Goddard School enrichment curriculum, will bring the playful learning concept to life for both parents and children.

Many Goddard Schools will host a week-long Goddard Community Games (concluding Saturday, February 11) including:

• Thursday, February 9: Goddard Cares Day
• Friday, February 10: Community Hero Day
• Saturday, February 11: Goddard Community Games Day

"In our preschools, playful learning activities not only equip children with specific skills and knowledge but also teach them about friendship, compassion, cooperation and kindness," continues Adair. "In fact, as a part of this special day of fun and learning, the children will be involved in a Good Deed - an outreach program that will benefit the local community. As we foster a sense of accomplishment and purpose in each child, we build a foundation of self-confidence that we believe is the best defense against bullying."

To learn more about bully prevention in preschool and beyond or The Goddard School, visit http://www.goddardschool.com/games.

About Goddard Systems, Inc. http://www.goddardschool.com

Recently named No. 1 Childcare Franchise in the United States by Entrepreneur magazine, for the eleventh consecutive year (January 2012) and one of the Top 200 Franchise Systems (in worldwide sales), by Franchise Times, for the fifth consecutive year (October 2011); Goddard Systems, Inc. (GSI) is expanding The Goddard School® network throughout the United States. Headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, GSI currently licenses 370+ franchised schools with more than 45,000 students in 35 states. With a successful system in place and dedicated franchisees, GSI is the acknowledged leader in franchised childcare and a premier childcare provider in the United States.

Contact:

Nick Powills
nick@nolimitmediaconsulting.com
(312) 933-5647

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