Watching 2 Natural Playgrounds Part II

Earlier this week I spent some time at the newly openned, professionally designed natural playground. Kids have been exploring and enjoying it for about two weeks now. While I was there, a group of toddlers and their teachers were enjoying an unusually mild November day.
Several kids were huddled together in a large tunnel which makes the hill it is carved [...]

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 [...]

Watching 2 Natural Playgrounds Develop

Right now, two of the local preschools I work with are in the process of installing natural playgrounds and they are taking two very different approaches. One school hired a well-known company to plan and build the playground. The other is taking more of a grass roots approach. Teachers are planing the landscape and parents [...]

Child Portfolios 101

Recently I’ve been working with a local preschool as they explore ways to measure student achievement throughout the year. The teachers are particularly interested in child portfolios. Personally, I love this method. It is easy to integrate into the current program, it creates a clear picture of a child’s development over time, and it is [...]

Child Care Centers Have Unexpected Payoff for Families

A recent study out of the University of Chicago shows that child care centers offer more than just child care to families, they offer an opportunity to meet other parents and build “social capital”. This can have a profound effect on the health and well-being of parents and children.
Media-Newswire.com had recent article on the work [...]