Everybody Wins! A Fresh Take on Preschool Games

One day on the way home from preschool my daughter declared, “I hate musical chairs!” I was surprised at the force behind her statement, but not so surprised by her feelings.
My daughter is not exactly a speedy child. She moves at her own pace and in her own good time in spite all of my [...]

Throw Out the Crafts! New Ways to Show the Value of Your Toddler Program

Many toddler teachers feel pressure to do craft projects with their children. I’m not talking about “exploring with crayons” or “experimenting with paint”. I’m talking about crafts that are supposed to look like something in particular like a jack-o-lantern or a classic holiday turkey. Projects where the teacher is doing most of the work, often [...]

Communication: A Skill Best Taught By Example

It’s easy to underestimate the language abilities of young children. Because infants and many young toddlers can’t communicate with words, we often assume that they can’t understand and don’t need to understand what is going on around them. The reality is that children understand language well before they can speak it. Communication begins at birth.
Infants [...]

Sharing is a Learned Skill

It’s no secret that young children (and especially toddlers) have a hard time sharing. And yet, when it’s our child who won’t share, we can’t help but worry- “Have I created a monster?” “Will my child be selfish forever?” “How will she ever make friends?” A parent’s anxiety is especially high when children enter group [...]

Adjusting to School: Understanding Emotional Ages and Stages

When children enter a new school or care environment emotions run high. It doesn’t matter whether the child is returning to a familiar school or starting someplace new. They will be meeting new people, changing their daily routine, and discovering new ideas, skills or concepts. The unknown is always a little scary.
Children have a hard [...]