Resources
Children love pretend play! Whether hammering with a little plastic hammer, mashing a mud pie, or talking on a pretend telephone, many caregivers have seen children engage in rich pretend play, or sometimes called imaginative or dramatic play. In early childhood, caregivers may notice that children’s pretend play functions as a demonstration of their knowledge […]
Whether we are counting push ups during an exercise routine, cash to pay for an ice cream, or minutes on the clock–counting is a very useful skill for everyday life. When teaching math or literacy skills to young children, one of the most important things that we can do is help children to understand the […]
There are many things that we measure as part of everyday life. We calculate distance, height, weight, volume, and time as we cook, build, race, travel, grow, and more. Measurement is a mathematical concept that is useful when it is connected to real life, and that is what makes learning meaningful for children. From birth […]
Children love pretend play! Whether hammering with a little plastic hammer, mashing a mud pie, or talking on a pretend telephone, many caregivers have seen children engage in rich pretend play, or sometimes called imaginative or dramatic play. In early childhood, caregivers may notice that children’s pretend play functions as a demonstration of their knowledge […]
Whether we are counting push ups during an exercise routine, cash to pay for an ice cream, or minutes on the clock–counting is a very useful skill for everyday life. When teaching math or literacy skills to young children, one of the most important things that we can do is help children to understand the […]
There are many things that we measure as part of everyday life. We calculate distance, height, weight, volume, and time as we cook, build, race, travel, grow, and more. Measurement is a mathematical concept that is useful when it is connected to real life, and that is what makes learning meaningful for children. From birth […]
Empowering children is a social-emotional topic that is applicable in so many areas of children’s lives. For example, let’s think about the journey children take to learn how to walk: The child experiments with standing as they reach for the edge of a table, they take steps as a caregiver holds their hands and walks […]
Throughout human existence, creative and curious homo sapiens have sought to solve problems. Whether they were figuring out how to roll heavy slabs of stone to build great structures, how to transport water across great distances, how to heal the sick, how to get to the moon, or how to communicate with loved ones on […]
At Rayz Kidz, we love reading with children for so many reasons. It can be a sensory break in a busy world, as you invite children to snuggle close and open a favorite book. Books create a beautiful bonding experience, as children listen to your calm, sing-song voice as you turn pages together, point at […]
Spring is here, and now’s the perfect time to start planning a garden with the kids. Optimally, your garden will be outside, but even those with limited outdoor space can enjoy the benefits by being creative with indoor and patio space. There are so many benefits to gardening with kids; here are our top three. […]
Temper tantrums are one of the most common and most frustrating challenging behaviors to handle. They’re not just restricted to the toddler set, they can happen with kids of all ages. Tantrums happen when a child is overwhelmed by a big emotion they’re not developmentally able to manage or they don’t have the skills to […]
Even when we understand child development in-depth, we often find ourselves falling back into old patterns that are at odds with what we know. Our reactions reflect how we were brought up rather than how we want to be as caregivers. How do we change that? 1. Work Through Your ChildhoodThis isn’t as odd as […]
Spring is here, and now’s the perfect time to start planning a garden with the kids. Optimally, your garden will be outside, but even those with limited outdoor space can enjoy the benefits by being creative with indoor and patio space. There are so many benefits to gardening with kids; here are our top three. […]
Temper tantrums are one of the most common and most frustrating challenging behaviors to handle. They’re not just restricted to the toddler set, they can happen with kids of all ages. Tantrums happen when a child is overwhelmed by a big emotion they’re not developmentally able to manage or they don’t have the skills to […]
Even when we understand child development in-depth, we often find ourselves falling back into old patterns that are at odds with what we know. Our reactions reflect how we were brought up rather than how we want to be as caregivers. How do we change that? 1. Work Through Your ChildhoodThis isn’t as odd as […]
One of the biggest decisions a parent will make is who will care for their children they’re not able to themselves. And for a child care provider, as a business owner, choosing the right families for their program is essential to their job satisfaction and continuous income. Each person’s child care approach is uniquely theirs […]
When kids are fighting with each other, for many of us, our first instinct is to jump in and solve whatever problem they have. We want the squabbling, the fighting, the poking, the whining, the annoyance to stop. However, when we solve the conflict for them, we take away their opportunity to learn how to […]
Intellectually, we know kids aren’t perfect. However, emotionally we often have unrealistic expectations around their behavior. We expect things we wouldn’t expect of ourselves or other adults. Here are three behavior areas we often struggle with. 1. Play Nicely with Others We want kids to share, speak kindly, include others, and display all kinds of […]
Feedback isn’t something most people enjoy getting because it often includes things the feedback provider feels we’re doing wrong and should correct. It’s human nature to avoid looking at our flaws when possible. However, feedback is critical to your success as the owner of a family care program or as an in-home professional. Understanding the […]
Like all communication, child care communication between a parent and caregiver can fall victim to intention vs. impact syndrome. While we love technology at Rayz Kidz and appreciate the power that it holds, we also know that digital communication lacks the cues that come from tone and body language. Imagine, you have great intention; you […]
When you work in your own home, it can seem like there’s no real off time. Sure, you have your care hours but often parents stay late talking or contact you in the evenings and on weekends with questions and concerns. You want to stay connected to them but it can get overwhelming. Here are […]
Feedback isn’t something most people enjoy getting because it often includes things the feedback provider feels we’re doing wrong and should correct. It’s human nature to avoid looking at our flaws when possible. However, feedback is critical to your success as the owner of a family care program or as an in-home professional. Understanding the […]
Like all communication, child care communication between a parent and caregiver can fall victim to intention vs. impact syndrome. While we love technology at Rayz Kidz and appreciate the power that it holds, we also know that digital communication lacks the cues that come from tone and body language. Imagine, you have great intention; you […]
We love a beautiful flower sensory bin! This is a great way for children to learn about parts of flowers, as they add them to their potions. Turn this into a game of pretend play as you make up magical concoctions that can turn you into a unicorn, or give you special powers to be […]
Children love bears, and so do we! Bears exist in habitats all over the world, and they are fascinating creatures. Plus, many children love teddy bears that we snuggle when we go to sleep at night. We love books about teddy bears, whether it is Corduroy by Don Freeman, Good Night, Little Bear by Richard […]
This activity is a wonderful experiment to accompany books and discussions about our many, colorful emotions. There are many helpful images that we can give to children when we are discussing emotions. Many educators like to associate emotions with specific colors, and this activity is a reminder that “our emotions pass”. When we feel angry, […]
Children love bears, and so do we! Bears exist in habitats all over the world, and they are fascinating creatures. Plus, many children love teddy bears that we snuggle when we go to sleep at night. We love books about teddy bears, whether it is Corduroy by Don Freeman, Good Night, Little Bear by Richard […]
This activity is a wonderful experiment to accompany books and discussions about our many, colorful emotions. There are many helpful images that we can give to children when we are discussing emotions. Many educators like to associate emotions with specific colors, and this activity is a reminder that “our emotions pass”. When we feel angry, […]
Learning through play
Children are never "just playing"
How do children learn through play?
