Early childhood educators and care providers spend much of their time every day helping children develop math and literacy skills. This knowledge and skill development is crucial for school readiness and success. Preschool math skills include: shapes; counting 0-20; comparing; directions/positions; classifying; size; patterning; money concepts; ordering; estimating; and measuring. Early literacy skills include: speaking; [...]
Do we ever have enough ideas? Here are some great ideas to get into the swing of fall! Some of these ideas are so good, they are repeats from previous posts! And they all support a child's development while being fun! Apple-Cinnamon Sachets Materials: • ½ cup cinnamon • ½ cup store bought applesauce (homemade [...]
Janice Morrison (TIES STEM education monograph series, attributes of STEM education, 2006) outlined several functions of a STEM education. She suggested that students should be: • Problem-solvers – able to define questions and problems, design investigations to gather data, collect and organize data, draw conclusions, and then apply understandings to new and novel situations. • [...]
Early childhood educators spend critical time with the children in their care and program. Being intentional and purposeful in the learning activities and experiences should support all areas of development. Although this article was intended for parents of young children, there are good tips for all who interact with young children. Research on early brain [...]
The research is pretty clear and consistent about how brain development impacts children in their early years. The following article excerpt from the University of Maine, Extension office provides information on how the brain develops AND guidelines for the care of young children to promote healthy brain development and school readiness. Children and Brain Development: [...]
I'm so excited to share with you a new resource from Early Learning Success, LLC! Many years ago, (in another lifetime LOL!), I worked in a school-age program with kids that were pretty much out of control. Over the course of the year, and some specialized training, I hit upon some strategies that turned an [...]
What is Play? • Play is a child’s ‘work’. • It is a critical part of learning. • Play is where children learn new concepts, new skills, and to problem-solve. • Play enhances a child’s school readiness through cognitive development. How does Play nurture cognitive development? • During play, children use their imagination to come [...]
It’s time to mix up a little fun! Make sure to include the kids in each step – reading the directions, gathering the supplies, measuring the ingredients and mixing up the various concoctions. As you are doing these activities, think about the learning that is happening that is addressing STEM (science, technology, math and engineering) [...]
Summer can be lazy days …. playing in the sun, splashing in the water, watching clouds go by, picnicking under the shade of a huge tree. Use these great lazy day activities to support your children’s development. Make sure that you are including activities that address the different developmental domains every day. • Shadow dancing [...]
This a reprint from past years. It is always important to be prepared when caring for children! Are you prepared for injuries that might happen at the playground? A Playground First Aid Kit usually has fewer supplies than what is in your home or center First Aid Kit. A fanny pack or small backpack works [...]
