When we talk with children about their behavior, it is important to remember that different families and cultures may have their own values, priorities, and ways they teach respect. Join Cindy and Alison as they consider differences between how cultures treat eye contact, use tone of voice, and more.
If we use morning large group time to allow children to plan their time during free play, will they build more skills and allow us to better understand their creative thinking? Cindy and Alison discuss the benefits of children planning their time and how we can facilitate that.
Provocations challenge children to explore their interests in a deeper, meaningful, and self-directed way. Join Cindy and Alison to learn the difference between offering provocations and giving instructions and to get some ideas for providing provocations in your setting.
You don't need a kitchen to cook with young children. Cooking activities should be done with early learners all the time! They build many skills, and it has great value; yet, people are hesitant to facilitate the experiences. Join Cindy and Alison to learn how this can be possible with all children, including those with allergies.
Sibling rivalry is common and part of typical development for many children. Join Cindy and Alison to learn one of the main reasons for sibling rivalry (and it isn't always attention!).
There are reasons why early childhood staff members may be attending training with different facilitators or on different days. The same is true for families who watch information about raising children. Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about what to do because separate trainings aren't always equal.
Cindy and Alison discuss the inspiration behind the episodes in the podcast and how that can remind us all of the amazing early childhood education and parenting environment. Join them for a fun look back and a look forward!
There is evidence that children are not reading and not enjoying reading as much as in the past. You may think this is due to technology, not it is not! Join Cindy and Alison as they discuss how to bring back joy for reading starting at the youngest age groups.
It can be challenging to shift our mindsets from relying on our experience with young children to relying on research-based standards and objectives. Cindy and Alison discuss why using research-based standards and objectives matters and how it can change our understandings of each child's development.
Should schools and early childhood programs have requirements for families that can limit their involvement in their children's early education experience? Cindy and Alison discuss our ethics and the restrictions that exist in some early childhood settings.
No one loves initials or acronyms more that people who work in early childhood education. CITE, NAEYC, ABC, LRE, and a whole list of others can confuse teachers and families. Join Cindy and Alison to learn some of the most commonly used abbreviations and acronyms in the world of early education.
For generations, adults thought ignoring behaviors was the way to teach children and change their behavior. That might work in the short term, but what does ignoring do to the lasting psyche? Join Cindy and Alison to discuss what we know today about the impact of ignoring.
"Sensory" is a hot and sometimes misused word when products are marketed to families and early childhood programs. Join Cindy and Alison as they discuss experiences that are truly multi-sensory...and those that really are not.
Dress Up and Spirit Days can be stressful for everyone involved. There has to be a better way to have community-building events! Join Cindy and Alison for a spirited discussion of Spirit and Dress Up Days as they consider the challenges they pose, especially for families, and what else we might consider doing.
Is your early childhood program trying to force families to attend events and meetings in person? Is this responsive to the needs of families? Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about lessons lost and connections with families that may not suit their needs.
When we declare something to be "best practice," are we saying there is no other way to meet quality benchmarks? Join Cindy and Alison to consider that phrase and other ways we may want to talk about what we strive to do.
Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about adults' goals when they deal with challenging behavior. Are they looking for compliance? Can we teach social-emotional lessons if our goal is compliance?
Can you imagine being forced to interact with people you don't like? It happens to children! Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about whether or not we should be forcing buddies.
The most rapid brain development takes place between birth and two years old; yet, infant-toddler staff may not have access to credentials to earn degrees in that age group. Will public schools eventually serve infants and toddlers? Will that cause society to focus more on education about that age group? Should private programs seek credentials for their staff? These questions and more with Cindy and Alison!
Is labeling someone as "the good child" always good for them? Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about the impact of this seemingly good label we often give to young children.
Early childhood classrooms should have visuals of diversity among human beings. Join us for a discussion about a common trend of using cartoon characters as classroom decorations instead of images of people. When characters replace images of people, what do children miss out on learning? Cindy and Alison talk about that question and more during this episode of "How Preschool Teachers Do It."
Join Cindy and Alison as they discuss another great quote from an early childhood education professional like you! This discussion focuses on a ditch many early childhood programs and schools can't seem to climb out of even though they may know they should.
Some of the best quotes come from early childhood education professionals working daily with educators, children, and families. Join Cindy and Alison as they discuss a quote about what we should strive to give to children.
It's almost summer! It is time to think about bringing the same activities we do indoors to the outdoors. Cindy and Alison discuss the possibilities for more choices when children play in your playground and outdoor areas.
If a child doesn't touch something, can they truly know it? Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about touch and if it is, in fact, the most important of the five senses.
Children need external motivation but we want them to also be internally or intrinsically motivated. Cindy and Alison discuss what children need to know to become more self-motivated about their own learning.
Is background music helpful, or does it overstimulate children? Join Cindy and Alison for a lively debate about background music in early childhood classrooms.
Do you know a child with a minor pronunciation challenge and/or who does not qualify for speech therapy? While nothing can replace a good speech therapist, there are strategies you can try in classrooms and at home. Join Cindy and Alison to learn strategies you can try, in addition to seeking appropriate therapy.
Laying a solid foundation for a child's belief that they belong includes more than hanging family photos and having books about different cultures. Join Cindy and Alison for more strategies that you can implement.
Anger + Anger = More Anger, BUT Anger + Love reaps something else entirely. Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about the power of meeting children's anger with love. The more challenging the behavior, the more love the child needs!
