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Independence leads to more confidence and a higher self-esteem, as children learn that they can do things for themselves. Adults can demonstrate that they trust children to follow directions, help around the house, show leadership, and solve their own problems. As children grow and develop interconnected skills, educators may see a full range of responses […]
When children understand directional language, it not only helps them follow directions or explain things themselves, but it helps them navigate the world. Humans use spatial awareness to read maps, build things, and understand the way the world moves. Let’s go on a short trip to think about how we use spatial learning in everyday […]
Children make connections to understand how the world works and our various systems in transportation, food, nature, and more. Adults can facilitate this learning by asking open-ended questions and inviting children to think beyond the immediate toys and materials right in front of them. Making daily connections and discoveries across disciplines is one of the […]
Independence leads to more confidence and a higher self-esteem, as children learn that they can do things for themselves. Adults can demonstrate that they trust children to follow directions, help around the house, show leadership, and solve their own problems. As children grow and develop interconnected skills, educators may see a full range of responses […]
When children understand directional language, it not only helps them follow directions or explain things themselves, but it helps them navigate the world. Humans use spatial awareness to read maps, build things, and understand the way the world moves. Let’s go on a short trip to think about how we use spatial learning in everyday […]
Children make connections to understand how the world works and our various systems in transportation, food, nature, and more. Adults can facilitate this learning by asking open-ended questions and inviting children to think beyond the immediate toys and materials right in front of them. Making daily connections and discoveries across disciplines is one of the […]
Human beings are incredible at using their bodies for a variety of tasks. Just watching different sports is a fantastic way to celebrate the human body: gymnasts as they leap and twirl, surfers as they balance on a surfboard, golfers as they swing with precision, swimmers as they race through water, and members of track […]
One of the great abilities of human beings is the ability to utilize complex cognitive abilities to think through different steps for completing a task. People use this ability every day! Just to eat, we plan out our meals as we search for recipes, write down the ingredients, plan our route to the grocery store, […]
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 […]
You’ve navigated a difficult moment with your child, acknowledged their big emotions, and helped them calm down. So, what’s next? How do you help your child understand and process the lessons from these challenging situations? Here’s a guide to support you and your child in moving forward with empathy and love. Provide Reassurance It’s crucial […]
Parenting is a challenging yet rewarding journey. When faced with a child’s misbehavior, it’s natural to seek immediate solutions, and punishment might seem like the easiest path to take. However, while punishments can stop unwanted behavior in the short term, they come with significant drawbacks. Evidence-based approaches like Conscious Discipline and Positive Guidance show us […]
Rewards and punishments are a part of many behavior management programs taught to child care professionals and teachers. At first glance, they make sense. You offer incentives (rewards) to reenforce good behaviors and you impose disincentives (punishments) to move them away from bad behaviors. The goal is for the child to land on the behaviors […]
You’ve navigated a difficult moment with your child, acknowledged their big emotions, and helped them calm down. So, what’s next? How do you help your child understand and process the lessons from these challenging situations? Here’s a guide to support you and your child in moving forward with empathy and love. Provide Reassurance It’s crucial […]
Parenting is a challenging yet rewarding journey. When faced with a child’s misbehavior, it’s natural to seek immediate solutions, and punishment might seem like the easiest path to take. However, while punishments can stop unwanted behavior in the short term, they come with significant drawbacks. Evidence-based approaches like Conscious Discipline and Positive Guidance show us […]
Rewards and punishments are a part of many behavior management programs taught to child care professionals and teachers. At first glance, they make sense. You offer incentives (rewards) to reenforce good behaviors and you impose disincentives (punishments) to move them away from bad behaviors. The goal is for the child to land on the behaviors […]
In the dynamic world of child care, effective communication is key to fostering a supportive and engaging environment. One powerful technique that child care professionals can use to enhance interaction and connection with children is sportscasting. Coined by early childhood educator Magda Gerber, sportscasting involves narrating children’s actions and behaviors in real-time, offering numerous developmental […]
As child care providers and parents, it’s crucial to recognize that when children exhibit challenging behaviors, they’re not intentionally trying to be difficult. Beneath their actions lies an attempt to fulfill their personal needs. They’re not seeking to disrupt or upset us; rather, they’re expressing their emotions in unproductive ways. So, how can we support […]
Guiding children to recognize, articulate, and manage their emotions is a nuanced skill that forms the bedrock of emotional intelligence. Here are three key areas to prioritize. 1. Give them context for their feelings.When children are small, we can sportscast to connect what is happening in the moment with how they’re feeling. For example, “It […]
March is Women’s History Month, with International Women’s Day on March 8, a day to honor the countless women who have shaped history. Among them are those who fought for the rights of working families and recognized the essential role of child care. Family child care providers have always been at the forefront of these […]
Play is one of the most powerful tools for early childhood learning, and often, the simplest materials can create the most engaging experiences. Balloons are a budget-friendly, versatile resource that can spark creativity, movement, and hands-on exploration. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or caregiver, balloons offer endless opportunities to support children’s development across multiple domains—including […]
The holidays are a joyous time for families to come together, create memories, and celebrate traditions. But let’s face it, keeping little ones entertained while juggling all the festivities can sometimes be challenging. As child care providers, you know how important keeping kids engaged and learning is, especially amidst the holiday excitement. That’s where play-based […]
March is Women’s History Month, with International Women’s Day on March 8, a day to honor the countless women who have shaped history. Among them are those who fought for the rights of working families and recognized the essential role of child care. Family child care providers have always been at the forefront of these […]
Play is one of the most powerful tools for early childhood learning, and often, the simplest materials can create the most engaging experiences. Balloons are a budget-friendly, versatile resource that can spark creativity, movement, and hands-on exploration. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or caregiver, balloons offer endless opportunities to support children’s development across multiple domains—including […]
The holidays are a joyous time for families to come together, create memories, and celebrate traditions. But let’s face it, keeping little ones entertained while juggling all the festivities can sometimes be challenging. As child care providers, you know how important keeping kids engaged and learning is, especially amidst the holiday excitement. That’s where play-based […]
Here, we are focusing on modern games and the ways that we can recreate them in a physical and tangible way for young children. Many video games have characters who have to engage in some sort of physical activity as they go on their missions, and often, they have to collect something such as coins, […]
This activity is a great way to blend both STEM and some lovely self-regulation, as children take deep breaths to move a ping pong ball through a playdough maze! Set up Time: 5 minutes Directions Note: see our Best Basic Playdough recipe to make your own playdough! Materials Learning Through Play Cognitive: Problem Solving – […]
Who doesn’t love a scavenger hunt? This activity gets children moving while also inviting them to use symbolism through drawings and/or early writing (e.g., scribbling) to convey a kind message to someone. What are the types of things that brighten up someone’s day? It could be a compliment, a gift, a little note of love. […]
Here, we are focusing on modern games and the ways that we can recreate them in a physical and tangible way for young children. Many video games have characters who have to engage in some sort of physical activity as they go on their missions, and often, they have to collect something such as coins, […]
This activity is a great way to blend both STEM and some lovely self-regulation, as children take deep breaths to move a ping pong ball through a playdough maze! Set up Time: 5 minutes Directions Note: see our Best Basic Playdough recipe to make your own playdough! Materials Learning Through Play Cognitive: Problem Solving – […]
Who doesn’t love a scavenger hunt? This activity gets children moving while also inviting them to use symbolism through drawings and/or early writing (e.g., scribbling) to convey a kind message to someone. What are the types of things that brighten up someone’s day? It could be a compliment, a gift, a little note of love. […]
Learning through play
Children are never "just playing"
How do children learn through play?
