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Hey Reader! School has just started for some of you and some of you still have a couple of weeks before you start. Will you take a moment to pray over this school year? For the Children – “Lord, prepare their hearts to feel safe, loved, and ready to learn in our care.” For the Families – “Give us wisdom to partner with parents and be a light in their lives.” For Yourself – “Help me to start the year rooted in Your purpose and filled with Your strength.” 🕊️ “Let your roots grow down into…

Hey Reader! Adversity often shows up early. Family stress, trauma, poverty, instability—it all impacts the kids in your care. Many of you are in affluent areas where you might think this isn’t an issue…I urge you to look carefully. While you may not see poverty, you most definitely will see stress, instability and trauma in some of the children in your care. But here’s the good news: You can be a protective factor. (The info below comes from an amazing book – Overcoming: What Scripture &…

Hey Reader! Your Preschool Is a Front Porch to the Church A new school year brings new families—many of them looking for connection, encouragement, and purpose. You have a built-in opportunity: help families take one step closer to Christ. Why it matters: Families might enroll for safety, academics, or convenience, but God can use your preschool to reach their hearts. Let’s be intentional from day one. 1. Make it personal A flyer isn’t enough. A warm invitation from a trusted teacher or…

Hey Reader! At ECCN, we LOVE to play outside no matter the weather! But some days…when the summer heat (and humidity in some areas) is just too much…it’s easy to feel stuck doing the “same ole thing”. Today, we’re including just a couple of activities for each age group to do INSIDE that still bring all the joy, movement, and exploration of summer play. Infants (0–12 months) Sensory discovery with a summer twist Beach Ball Tummy Time: Gently hold a baby steady as you roll a beach ball under…

Hey Reader! Every great storytime includes something for children to HEAR, SEE, and DO. When you intentionally connect these three elements, you create learning experiences that stick long after the book is closed and the circle has disbanded. HEAR: Use Your Voice Like a Tool Children don’t just listen—they feel your words. Use: Different character voices (squeaky, slow, deep) to draw them in Pauses for effect to build anticipation Emphasis on key phrases to make vocabulary pop SEE: Bring the…

Hey Reader! “PRAISE is celebrative worship in which believers magnify and exalt the Lord through expressive acts, enthusiastically proclaiming the unrivaled excellence of His Name, His character, and His actions in a spirit of uninhibited rejoicing!” -Dr. Bruce Leafblad Jean Thomason (aka Miss Pattycake) shared this quote with me recently in a conversation, and it gave me a whole new perspective on some of the typical behavior we see in preschoolers! When I read the words “uninhibited…

Hey Reader! Summer in childcare can be joyful—and exhausting. There’s a little less pressure, and we’re having loads of fun, but the days still require a lot of energy, don’t they? Here are a few quick ways to stay grounded and fill your cup throughout the day! Sip Slowly – Hydrate with intention. Say a prayer each time you take a drink: “Lord, fill me with Your peace today.” Pause and Praise – Take a 2-minute breather to thank God for one small moment of beauty today. Take three deep breaths…

Hey Reader! We know how essential social-emotional development is during the first five years of life, and at ECCN, we talk about practical strategies regularly for supporting healthy social-emotional development. In the first few years, children are learning how to identify their feelings, control their impulses, build relationships, and make good choices. In education, we often call this Social and Emotional Learning. The framework is valuable and accurate, but today, we’re going to take a…

Hey Reader! Summer is a great time to help little hearts experience God in everyday moments. Here are 3 simple ways to have some fun in the sun with the Son this season: Sidewalk Scripture Art – Give kids chalk and let them draw pictures inspired by a Bible verse like “Let your light shine” (Matthew 5:16). What are they learning? Gross motor skill development as they bend over, crawl, and stretch on the sidewalk to reach the edges of their drawings; fine motor skill development and…

Hey Reader! You hear me say this often – as leaders and educators in faith-based early childhood programs, we have a powerful opportunity—not just to care for children, but to minister to families. Today’s parents of young children are facing a unique blend of pressure, uncertainty, and conflicting parenting messages. They need more than great childcare—they need partners in the parenting journey. God has called us to be on their team. Be a Place of Christ-Centered PeaceCreate an environment…