The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the largest non-profit organization representing the early education community in the US, has a position statement for best practices in early education programs. The statement is based on extensive research in child development and the knowledge…
As you interact with your child, remember children are not mini-adults. They are qualitatively different from adults in their ways of learning and thinking. Children : adults = tadpoles: frogs. To teach them, we have to think about the way they learn- not how we think they…
Scaffolding/Providing Support to Your Child According to developmental psychologist Lev Vygotsky, a child should be helped within the zone of proximal development. This means you support a child doing a task that is “challenging for the child, slightly above his or her independent level of…
Your Aunt Maria says that all you have to do is set boundaries. Your uncle says that it doesn’t matter what you do, kids will just turn out the way they are going to. People are often bombarded with a wide range of parenting suggestions…
The developmental psychologist Vygotsky said teaching should occur in the zone of proximal development. This means you support a child doing a task that is “challenging for the child, slightly above his or her independent level of functioning, but not frustrating” 1. In that interim…
The holidays are often the times when you and your child are with relatives you don’t see very often. Of course, you want your child to be on their best behavior. So, then why does she sometimes act her worst? Think about the whole thing from…
MRI studies, longitudinal observational studies and input from tens of thousands of educators of young children have changed the way most view how one should appropriately interact with and guide very young children. Historical discipline has given way to strong guidance. Some historical discipline approaches…
Help! My child’s bedroom is very messy. Step 1: Rotate toys to minimize the number in the play area Look at the number of toys your child has. When they are strewn all over the floor, do you feel overwhelmed? Chances are your child…
BLOCK PLAY OVERVIEW Block play is a central activity in many preschools because it is well known that block play is helpful to children in all areas of development (Wolfgang 2009). Block play has a beneficial impact on problem solving skills, initiative, and construction of…
There are many benefits of play that contribute to a child’s healthy development. Jean Piaget said that a child’s ability to play cognitively changes during early childhood. Stage 1: Practice or Functional Play (birth to two). Children play using senses and motor functions. They kick,…
Is my child OK socially? What should she be doing at this age with her peers? You are in luck. NAEYC, an early education organization and the largest education group in the world, has figured this out for you. The following checklist will help you…
Children need organization and routines to feel safe. Children have little internal sense of order when they start out. So the child’s environment and schedule must provide the needed external structure. This isn’t to say that everything they do is controlled. I subbed at a school…