Attitude of Gratitude

From the Desk of the Director

Gratitude is one of the trickiest concepts to teach toddlers and preschoolers, who can be self-centered by nature, but it is also one of the most important. Yes, thankful children are more polite and pleasant to be around, but there is more to it than that. By learning gratitude, children become sensitive to the feelings of others, developing empathy and other life skills along the way. Grateful kids look outside their one-person universe and understand that their parents and other people do things for them -prepare dinner, dole out hugs, buy toys. Giving children the tools to express their thanks allows them to develop deeper, more wholesome relationships with those around them.

Indeed, instilling grateful feelings now actually benefits young children later in life. A recent study has proven that grateful people report higher levels of happiness and optimism - along with lower levels of depression and stress. The catch? No one is born grateful. Recognizing that someone has gone out of the way for you is not a natural behavior for children – it is learned.

At Preschool of the Arts, our “attitude of gratitude” is part of everyday philosophy. In the last month of the school year, as we completed our 6thsuccessful year of Preschool of the Arts, we had the opportunity to take that to the next level with various events that showcased the sincere appreciation we have for so many incredible members of our community. Many of our end-of-year celebrations and performances highlighted the children’s achievements and thanked those who guided the students to reach their full potential.

On May 2nd, we celebrated Teacher’s Appreciation Day. Our Preschool of the Arts teachers are passionate, dedicated, and committed to making our children the best they can possibly be. Our team of loving professionals are carefully selected for their warmth and passion for early childhood education. Every day they expertly model the values of friendship, kindness and gratitude that make up the ethos of our school. Throughout the year, they toil to not only educate but love our students, guiding them to reach their full potential.

Our annual Teacher’s Appreciation Day is a chance for our entire POTA family to come together and express heartfelt thanks for everything our educators do. This year, as a token of appreciation for all of their hard work, Preschool of the Arts organized a special brunch for all of our incredible educators. While parent volunteers filled in in the classrooms, our beloved POTA teachers got a chance to relax and socialize with their colleagues, while they dined in style. Our teachers came away refreshed and rejuvenated and our parents gained a renewed appreciation for our incredible teachers who make managing a classroom of little learners look so easy! It was an extremely meaningful and wonderful way to say thank you to our incredible teachers and staff.

In the same week, we celebrated our Circle of Hearts and Partners of Chabad members, who are a vital element of our school’s success. These special communities of supporters allow us to continue enhancing and improving the school, enabling us to create the perfect environment for our children to thrive. POTA hosted a fun appreciation evening with a lavish spread of delicious food, and even better company, celebrating the friendship and partnership of these committed benefactors and acknowledging the tremendous impact of their generosity.

The theme of appreciation continued with another event that celebrated our incredible parents, who are a vital element of our school’s success. On May 12, we highlighted one of THE most important ingredients in the recipe for our children’s success in a very special Mother’s Day event, a tea party! The event allowed our young students to express their appreciation for the most important woman in their lives: their moms! At POTA, we know that the mothers give their all to our children every single day, long after pick up time, and deserve all of the recognition in the world. Our special event allowed our children and staff to thank our wonderful moms for all that they do.

Gratitude has and will continue to be the foundation of the success of our school, as well as a core value we impart to our precious children.

Want to find a reason to say thanks? Join our Community!

Our innovative programs and incredible staff are an open Naples secret, and our award-winning preschool is growing exponentially every year. Get a taste of what makes Preschool of the Arts so popular at our unique Summer of the Arts experience! This year, we look forward to welcoming over 150 children to our widely-acclaimed programs that integrate various creative arts and educational themes in a safe, multi-sensory, and Jewish-spirited setting. Our Minors (18 months-5 years) and Majors (6-10 years) enjoy specials ranging from yoga, sports, art and woodworking, to tie-dye, science, cooking, swimming, theater, music and more! Call our office today at 263-2620 to schedule a tour and see why everyone is talking about POTA!