Navigating Classroom Noise: Purposeful Play vs. Excessive Clamor

Navigating Classroom Noise: Purposeful Play vs. Excessive Clamor

Hey Reader! In a recent podcast conversation with Dr. Beverly Alford of Curating Play, we talked about NOISE in our classrooms. When children are engaged in lively, active, age-appropriate play…there’s probably going to be some noise involved. Would you agree with that? How do you feel about noise in your classroom? I think we have various levels of noise tolerance based on our own life experience. For example, I raised three very active, rambunctious boys so what I consider “too loud” is…

Potty Talk and Other Strong Words

Potty Talk and Other Strong Words

Hey Reader! Taylor, a three-year-old, just learned a new word! “Fart!” 🫣🙄Every time he says it, all the others start giggling and laughing. Before you know it, all you hear all day is “fart-fart-fart-fart” and lots of giggling and laughing. Preschool children are learning more words every day and when they start potty-training, there is a whole new set of vocabulary that might make its way into the classroom. What do you do? First, let’s talk about why children like to use potty words (or…

Creating a Green Zone: Tools to Bring Students Back to Center

Creating a Green Zone: Tools to Bring Students Back to Center

Hey Reader! We’re talking about optimal learning states in our brains today! McKinley is starting to get out of control – you see her fists are tight, her body is rigid, her breathing is fast and shallow…at any moment, the scream will come out or she’ll bolt out the door! (She’s functioning in the red zone) Caleb is retreating from the group – you see his body physically shrinking, his head is lowered and he’s looking at the ground and unable to make eye contact, he might even be trying to…

Promoting Cooperation Over Conflict: Strategies for Teaching Turn-Taking

Promoting Cooperation Over Conflict: Strategies for Teaching Turn-Taking

Hey Reader! In a national parent survey conducted by zerotothree.org, 43% of parents that were surveyed thought children should be good at sharing by around age 2. In reality, the skills of sharing and taking turns begin developing around ages 3-6 when children begin to assert power over their environments (you can read about Erikson’s Theory HERE). This is the time where they really begin to start making friends and playing cooperatively rather than just next to each other (parallel play)….

Nurturing Resilience in Preschoolers through Risky Play

Nurturing Resilience in Preschoolers through Risky Play

Hey Reader!
The term “risky play” has gained some attention over the last few years in the world of early childhood development. Our natural instinct is to protect our little ones from potential harm, but research suggests that allowing controlled, purposeful risk-taking can be a crucial component of healthy development. “If we want children to be prepared for risk, we need to allow them to come into contact with risk.” says Prof Rolf Schwarz of Karlsruhe University of Education, who advises…

Communication Pickle Ball?

Communication Pickle Ball?

Hey Reader!
Infants and toddlers communicate through their behaviors, and being attuned to these cues is vital. Pay attention to their expressions, respond to their babbling, and engage in interactive play. Sometimes, we refer to this “back-and-forth” conversation as “serve and return” – think of it like tennis, volleyball or ping pong (or maybe even pickleball)! One person starts the conversation (serves) and the other person responds (return).
Here is a great example of this with a father…

Nurturing Tiny Minds: A Guide to Supporting Early Childhood Mental Health

Hey Reader!
From the moment a baby is born, the brain undergoes rapid development, forming one million neural connections every second (ZerotoThree.org)! Positive interactions during this period of development significantly impact a child’s emotional and cognitive growth. As caregivers, creating a nurturing environment is key. Simple things like responsive caregiving, where a caregiver promptly attends to a baby’s needs, build a sense of security and trust. This secure attachment becomes the…

Nurturing Friendships: A Vital Lesson in Early Childhood

Nurturing Friendships: A Vital Lesson in Early Childhood

Hey Reader!
OK, friends, time to clean up and get ready for lunch.” “All my friends need to line up to go to Music.” I used phrases like this in my classroom regularly! Have you used them too? Maybe you’ve also heard an upset child say something like “You’re not my friend anymore!” as they stomp their feet and put on their mean eyebrows!
I wonder if our little “friends” actually know what the word “friend” means? Today I just want to share a couple of ideas for nurturing friendship in early…

We are family!

We are family!

Hey Reader!
Imagine the dynamics of a healthy family. When you walk in after a time away, you’re greeted with love and care. When you leave, you share warm good-byes and see-ya-laters. When you need help, there is some close-by to support you. Sometimes there is conflict but you learn how to work it out through healthy conversations and respecting boundaries from the foundation of strong connection and bonds. There is a pattern of forgiveness.
This sounds a lot like the family that God has…

Winter Wellness Guide: Supporting Immune Systems in Young Children

Winter Wellness Guide: Supporting Immune Systems in Young Children

Hey Reader!
Jesus and germs are everywhere!” This time of year seems especially “germ-heavy” doesn’t it? We’ve compiled a few resources that we hope are beneficial for you AND for the families you serve as we all try to optimize children’s immune systems. We hope you’ll share some of these resources with your families as well!
Food choices are important. If young children are eating lots of processed or sugar-laden foods, their bodies will build up inflammation which leads to more instances…