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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…

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)….

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…

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…

Hey Reader!
Tis the season to be….sniffling! Have you ever noticed how quickly you can start feeling those sniffles come on? Early childhood educators are exposed to So.Many.Germs. All the time. We typically hold children close (especially, those who aren’t feeling their best); We’re the ones who wipe noses and try to catch sneezes from afar – who am I kidding? Those sneezes and coughs land all over us every single day! So what are some things YOU can do to keep yourself healthy during this…