Category Archives: Uncategorized

CREATIVE ARTS – Believe it or not, we’ve come full circle.  Last year in July I wrote a blog about CREATIVITY.  Don’t worry, I won’t sing the same ole song, but with a different tune this year.  (For the joke, go back and read last year’s blog.) This year, I want to focus on theatricalContinue reading “CREATIVE ARTS”

COMMUNICATION – LANGUAGE As with many other areas of early childhood, there has been a mash down of activities for children. In the beginning years of early care, teachers viewed this younger age group as short big kids – These beginning providers did not realize that there was no physical or cognitive development seen inContinue reading “COMMUNICATION – LANGUAGE”

Cognitive development. – Exactly what does “cognitive” mean?  It is the thinking, problem-solving, figuring out, analyzing, probing, and what is sometimes called the higher-order thinking or executive thinking. Why is this so important, you might ask!  We, teachers, are doing this all day long.  We are always asking children dozens of questions!  Ah, but it isContinue reading “Cognitive Development”

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT – GROSS MOTOR Some preschool teachers do a little yoga to a CD every day. Some preschool teachers have the children do a little outside random running. Some preschool teachers have the children play outdoor. Whichever teacher you are, you are being intentional about having children get their physical develop. Here are someContinue reading “PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT – GROSS MOTOR”

SAFETY – I initially decided that I would not do a blog about safety because it is drilled into us as caregivers of young children, and we know about safety, even in our sleep. But wait a minute, I thought.  Sometimes we take safety for granted.  We become lax and let things slip and slide,Continue reading “SAFETY”

HEALTHY – Just as you probably thought the classroom is what you get and what you have, the menu of your classroom is set first by the owner and or director, then the caterer or cook, approved by the state and overseen by the USDA and you have little or no input. But keeping theContinue reading “HEALTHY”

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT – INDOORS – What you see is what you get when you walk into your classroom.  Or so you think. The furniture is what the furniture is supposed to be – for that age group, according to the licensing standards, and what the owner can afford.  The wall colors are the color theyContinue reading “LEARNING ENVIRONMENT – INDOORS”

PARTNERS – This piece has taken me a very long time to write. I wanted to write something meaningful, impactful, important, but I kept getting stuck on what I really needed to say. Coming from a Head Start background and having been a Family Services Support worker in a very conscientious agency, I am veryContinue reading “PARTNERS”

Get On Eye Level TEN STEPS Get on eye level Speak Softly Explain what you want the behaviour to be Anticipate Problems Be Nearby Praise when you see it Be consistant, same treatment for those you like and those you don’t like Ignore a lot of the small stuff Gentle touch as a reminder TheContinue reading “POSITIVE GUIDANCE”

SOCIAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT – Who is your best friend now?  What do you do together?  What are the things that make you friends? Who was your best friend when you were a child?  Are you still friends?  How did you become friends? These are usually easy questions.  So easy that they are sometimes asked asContinue reading “SOCIAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT”