Pandemic Impact on Young Children

Pandemic Impact on Young Children: A Survival Guide The impact this pandemic has afflicted onto families and their young children is extraordinary. With minimal social interaction and peer support, children are experiencing heightened loneliness and isolation. But don’t fear! This … READ MORE

How to Create a More Accessible Garden

Gardening creates so many opportunities for inquiring minds, and all children can benefit from working and learning in the garden. While there are many things to consider when planting a garden, one important aspect of your planning should include its … READ MORE

How to Learn and Relax with Chalk Art

Fun & Learning with Chalk Art As I sit down to write this blog, we are in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone, including our children, have been cooped up, house bound and are dealing with major cabin fever. … READ MORE

Outside Time: Friend or Foe?

I have one question to ask: As an early education teacher, do you see outside time as a friend or foe? Wrangling coats, hats, gloves, and other articles of clothing for winter outdoor play takes half of the scheduled time … READ MORE

The Need to Move: Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence

The perfect pirouette of a ballerina, the art of a sculpture, or the gravity defying layup of a basketball player. What do these three people have in common? They all possess bodily-kinesthetic intelligence.   Howard Gardner defines bodily-kinesthetic intelligence as … READ MORE

Reasons to Get Outside…Even When it’s Cold

Noses are running, fingers are numb, and it takes lots of time and patience to get everyone bundled up to go outside and play on the playground equipment. When you finally do get outside, everyone’s ready to come back inside … READ MORE

5 Myths About Sensory Play

First, what is sensory play? Sensory play is play that engages children in activities that stimulate one or more of their senses. This includes sight, sound, touch, smell, taste, and movement. It creates an opportunity for children to learn about … READ MORE

What Your Child’s Teacher Wants You to Know About Outdoor Play: Part 2

In the previous blog post, educators explained some developmental benefits to outdoor play. Playing outdoors becomes critical in the face of increasingly more academic pressure in early years. We tend to see the alphabet, reading, writing, and how to cut … READ MORE

What Your Child’s Teacher Wants You to Know About Outdoor Play: Part 1

With back-to-school schedules, getting outside to play suddenly drops in our priority lists. By the time we’re done with school snacks and homework, we feel like we don’t have time for outdoor play anymore! Two early childhood professionals explain the … READ MORE

Large Motor Skills on the Playground

The playground is one of the best places to practice large motor skills with children. When you are indoors, space is limited and the children may not be able to exercise their large motor skills to their full capability. Large … READ MORE