Pretend Play

Pretend play is not only one of the great joys of childhood, it also offers abundant opportunities for children's development. Children develop interpersonal skills, particularly cooperation and conflict resolution, and improve their language in problem-solving…continue reading

Fine Motor Development

To many people, fine motor development is the way children hold and use pencils, crayons, and scissors. But fine motor development is so much more. To understand fine motor development it is important to understand…continue reading

Setting Goals

When a teacher writes lesson plans she has a goal. For some teachers it's to teach a thematic topic - such as Thanksgiving. The children are taught what thanksgiving means , how it got started…continue reading

A Recipe For Learning

To children, the world of cooking is magical. We combine all kinds of ingredients, and simmer ,mix , boil, or bake, and then presto! – Something delicious is created. I told the children yesterday that…continue reading

Growing With Games

Watch children at play and you'll see them creating their own group games as well as playing old standbys – enjoying the time spent together with other children. But the value of such things goes…continue reading

Election Day 2018

Teaching children about our democratic society and voting at three years old is a waste of precious time. They don't even understand if you take a vote to go outside that you can only vote…continue reading

Children and Death

When someone in our preschool family hurts we all hurt. Today Savanna's dad Charlie passed away. I've known Charlie and his family a long time and my heart hurts. Savanna told her mom this morning…continue reading

Children’s Friendships

Children today are beginning earlier in social situations, and they are spending more time with peers then they used to. Recent studies have found that some friendships formed in the early years of childhood are…continue reading

Fingerplays and Action Songs

Rhymes and movements for the hands and fingers, some of which date back almost 2000 years, are still used in early childhood classrooms, as well as the more modern action songs that involve the whole…continue reading

Celebrations and Holidays

Some early childhood programs seem to build their curriculum around holidays, just going from one to the other on the calendar. We don't take that approach, but we do like to celebrate! We are just…continue reading