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Without pausing to think, see if you can complete the following phrases: “Old ________ had a farm” “She’ll be coming ‘round _______” “You are my _________” Easy? Sure, because songs you sing as a young child are seared indelibly in your memory. This explains why an elderly person may have a hard time recalling your name but can remember complete song lyrics from decades ago. Music can embed memories in our brains that can outlast all others.Read full article: Community…

In honor of World Smile Day on October 7, here are three ways you can promote kindness in your preschool classroom.

Toddlers are always on the move, but there are still plenty of opportunities to model new movements and work with toddlers on developing their physical skills.

Children develop skills as they grow - they roll over, smile, babble, begin to crawl, pull themselves up, learn a word or two, begin to walk, begin to talk. In fact, most children follow a definite pattern as they mature.

Block play is not just for fun - it can also help shape a child's future.

Children's play tells family members and early childhood teachers so much about development.

Nurturing relationships help young children develop their social and emotional wellness which includes their ability to play with others, learn new things and experience emotions. As you bond with your students, they’ll learn social and emotional skills by watching the way you handle situations and use your emotions. Here are three things you can do on a daily basis to support the development of these skills in your preschoolers: Teach Students to Resolve Conflict in a Healthy Way When children…

Early childhood professionals have individual preferences about how they like children to behave (Eddowes, Aldridge, & Culpepper, 1994). Early childhood professionals also play a critical role in helping children accept themselves as unique (Aldridge, 1993). While students preparing to work with young children learn about cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development, they often neglect to study personality development (Aldridge & Cowles, 1990). The study of personality is important because a child’s temperament influences the teacher more than the child’s intelligence…

Tested in classrooms by Instructor readers, these activities include hosting a math-and-science pumpkin party, creating masks from around the world, and keeping a tree journal.Read full story here.  

At times, getting a hold of my students' parents becomes quite challenging. My phone calls go unanswered. Any correspondence I send in the mail gets returned. Notes that are sent home with Junior do not make it into the hands of his mom or dad. This is why I recommend sending postcards. Most major bookstore chains have free postcards available near the exit doors. Here are some advantages for using postcards as a way to communicate with parents.Read full story…