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Hey Reader! Splish, Splash! It’s the perfect time of year to add in a little water play to your plans for the day/week/month! Whether you’re at home with young children or still in the classroom this summer, let’s explore a couple of fun ways to add water play to your day – and, as always, let’s explore what children are actually learning from these FUN, open-ended activities. **Obviously, NEVER allow young children to participate in water play without supervision. Young children can drown in…

Hey Reader! Today I just want to acknowledge the hard work that you do every day as an early educator. You serve in so many roles each day that there is no degree or training class that could prepare and equip you for what you are responsible for each day! You carry a lot of weight, a lot of responsibility, a lot of burden. On most days, you might find yourself as A teacher – I mean, I hope that you’re teaching these littles something! A coach – you’re coaching them along to better language,…

Hey Reader! In a recent podcast interview with Stacy Benge, we had a great conversation around the focus on school readiness for parents, legislators and even many early childhood teachers. Listen HERE for the full conversation. I want to share briefly about one comment she made at the very beginning of the episode that just keeps rolling around in my mind. “If we change our mindset from asking ‘What do I need to teach children to get ready?’, but instead ask ‘What needs to be developed for…

Hey Reader! Are parents asking you what they can do to ensure their children are “ready” for school after a summer break? Here are just a few ideas that will promote life skills and strong social skills that will ensure success when children come back to school this fall! Wanna share this with the parents in your school? Send them THIS link! (Don’t worry, we won’t add them to any mailing list!) Read WITH young children as often as you can. The time that young children spend in their parent’s…

Hey Reader! Summer is often a time that is a little more easy-going than the school year in our classrooms (or at home)! Let’s take a quick look into how we can support building some independence in our preschoolers during these summer months. Why does cultivating independence even matter? Well…you are nurturing their confidence, problem-solving abilities, and sense of responsibility. Isn’t that what we want our children to develop? Here are some practical strategies to help along the way: 1….

Hey Reader! When was the last time you sat on the floor in your classroom and looked around? This was the advice Dr. Mimi Larson gave as we talked in a recent podcast conversation about the importance of creating an intentional early childhood space for children to flourish. Many of you are in a church building sharing classroom spaces and you may not have as much autonomy as you’d like. Something that really struck me about our conversation is when she talked about the explicit environment…