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Early childhood experts believe that when a child creates a piece of art, he is boosting his ability to analyze and problem-solve. But that’s not all! Creating art has countless benefits for young children including helping them develop mentally, socially, and emotionally. As a preschool teacher, here’s how you can help bring out your student’s creativity: 1. Incorporate Creativity into All Areas of the CurriculumSparking creativity is as easy as allowing children to draw with crayons or using different voices…

The early care and education workforce is large, with more than 2 million center- and home-based teachers and caregivers directly working with children birth through 5 years old. Engaged early childhood professionals comprise large coalition that has the ability to mobilize in order to create positive change for the well-being of infants, toddlers, and their families.Read More: ZERO TO THREE

Children do wonderful and delightful things. They perform acts of bravery, kindness, honesty, and respectfulness. Yet these actions are often rewarded with generic "at-a-boys," "You’re great," "Wow, you did it!" or "You’re terrific." Acts of goodness deserve more than a casual pat on the back and should receive more attention than negative behaviors.Read More: Early Childhood News 

It’s a simple question, but when a teacher, taking the role of a zookeeper, poses it to a group of children, learning happens. The scenario opens the door to creativity and free play. It introduces the concepts of animal needs and animal habitats. It sparks exploration of STEAM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics), setting young children up for a lifetime as learners, problem solvers, and artists. Read More: NAEYC 

Preschool teachers play a critical role in children’s development yet there is little agreement about how to codify teacher knowledge and skill. This brief argues that too much attention has been given to debating the baseline of qualifications required of preschool teachers (e.g., AA vs. BA), failing to take into account the precise nature of the education that teachers have received en route to their degrees, support for ongoing learning, and the effects of the workplace environment on their teaching…

Teachers often avoid cooking with young children because of the danger associated with hot appliances. But you can cook a wide variety of snacks and meals without using heat. We’ve included a few “cool” recipes in this article along with a list of benefits cooking offers to young children. So roll up your sleeves and get cooking!Read More: Early Childhood News 

Quality early childcare and education can make a tremendous impact on a child’s life. As teachers, it’s important to create an environment where children can reach their highest learning potential and grow to be strong thinking individuals. As you help prepare your students for kindergarten and beyond, here are 3 ways you can teach your students to love learning: Be a Supporter When you create a classroom tone that welcomes children’s ideas, you’re creating an environment where children can feel…

Preschool — it’s not just about the sandbox anymore. As elementary school becomes more rigorous, so does preschool. Children are expected to learn certain skills in preschool so that they are prepared for elementary school. Considering the limited time in a preschool setting and the pressure for success later on, where does play fit in?Read More: Great Kids! 

In a technology-driven age, infants’ and toddlers’ exposure to “screen time” is a hot topic. As caregivers in the classroom, we may be pressured by parents who use screen media with their children at home—parents who would like us to help their children acquire technology skills they will need to use later on. But we know that not all screen media are healthy for children and that exposing very young children to screen media can have lasting impacts on their…

Every early childhood teacher has heard similar complaints from young children. Many of us move in quickly to insist that the "greedy, selfish" child share some of the coveted item with the newcomer. Refusing to share is often treated as a crime in the eyes of adults. While our intention is good, we may be teaching children that others' rights are more important than their won and that problems should be resolved by adults rather than between the children themselves.…