1. EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY – LETTER TO PARENT ANYA VOGEL
Good morning Mr. Sulu,
I wish to convey my gratitude that you have chosen to our practice The Small Yorktown for your
first grade daughter, Mia, to grow in. Our small practice believes in focusing on growth of
social, emotional, and moral development through play and activities. Choices are important to
all ranges of development, so our children are given chances to choose what activity they want
to do in our classrooms. Following are the practices major goals for creating a positive
development practice for social, emotional, and moral development for our children. Some of
which we use from psychologists proven records, including Erikson and Kolhberg.
Our goals for social development focus on help our children learn communication.
Understanding ones emotions is a large aspect for communication on solving a problem
between two children. Activities rage from individual to large group focuses. At this point in
their development, children are beginning to understand themselves with some assistance. As
such, many questions are asked about themselves and those around them. For example, our
first topic for the month is “learn about you”, where the families are asked to bring in pictures
of them and their child so we can talk about family members. We also invite you and the rest
of your family to come to parent fun days as the come closer though the semester. This will
help your child grow into the classroom at the start of the new semester as well as allow you a
good look at our practice. A helpful tip is that at home you continue to talk with your daughter
about what she had down in her classroom.
Social growth varies from each child more than social development. This is because of each
child’s different family situations. We hope here that we will be able to help your family in any
situation may it be. In our practice, our social development goal shows our children the use of
using words and getting along with others. We are a no bully and no criticizer center. We
continuously remind our children that we must use our words to convey when we are sad or
mad at a friend instead of hitting or pushing them. This encourages our children to believe in
themselves and grow they self-confidence. Self-confidence grows at different rates through
children’s progression through life. A tip for at home is to that at let Mia know how proud you
are of her projects. This will encourage her to do more activities and will help her improve.
The practice believes all of these forms of development are important through a child’s growth
through life, and that moral development is just as important for younger children than it is
that of older ages. While we may not follow directly with Kohlberg’s Heinz dilemma, we do ask
moral questions through our book choices. For example, Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by
WilliamSteig is a classroomfavorite. Please also continue to read book of many cultures and
morals at home so we can help her development. Your daughter needs you to help show her
what is finest. You are her role model that she looks up to show her how best to act out in the

2. EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY – LETTER TO PARENT ANYA VOGEL
world, how best to solve challenging problems, among other things. Please be the hero she
already thinks you are and set a good example.
While at The Small Yorktown we hope that we can help Mia on her marvelous growth. I have
included attached some websites that might provide some assistance for you in helping Mia
along. Some other tips we give new parents are as the following. Please remember that your
child is unique and does not follow the same path as other children. As such, do not expect your
child to become a “mini you” because she is her own person. As a center we ask that our
practice is not the child’s only time for play. Even better, that you continue to play and learn
alongside Mia. Regulations state that children should get half an hour of adult structured
activities, and an hour of free play where the child gets to choose what she wants to do. A side
tip for when playing, is to supervise, but step back and let her learn on her own in a safe
environment. Another tip is that of reading before bedtime become a regular thing during the
night routine. These stories may be the same favorite each night, but sometimes a new story of
a different genre would be nice - biographies of famous people, mysteries, as well as science
fiction and fantasy. Increasing reading time, both alone and with you, while decreasing screen
time will help Mia develop. I have attached references for you to go over in order to get the
best out of these young years with your daughter.
Thank you for choosing The Small Yorktown,
Anya Vogel
ClassroomTeacher Advisor
Supplementary References
McLead, Saul. “Erik Erikson.” Simply Psychology. N.p., 2008, Web. 15 Sept. 2016.
Mann, Mirele. "25 Children's Books to Teach Your Kids Meaningful Values." Goodnet. N.p., 18 July
2016. Web. 16 Sept. 2016.
McLeod, Saul. "Kohlberg." Moral Development. N.p., 16 Sept. 2016. Web. 15 Sept. 2016.
"Your Child's Development: 3 Years." KidsHealth - the Web's Most Visited Site about Children's
Health. The Nemours Foundation, June 2016. Web. 15 Sept. 2016.
Lyness, D'Arcy, PhD. "Healthy Habits for TV, Video Games, and the Internet."KidsHealth. The Nemours
Foundation, Sept. 2014. Web. 15 Sept. 2016.