The belonging and connection found in nature is important for all children, but perhaps especially important for children of differing abilities. Ruth Wilson, PhD, author of Naturally Inclusive: Engaging Children of All Abilities Outdoors shares why nature serves as a strong contributor to quality of life for children of differing abilities.
Teachers are usually so focused on making sure the young children in their classrooms are physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy that this leaves little time to check in with their own physical, mental, and emotional state. While teachers are constantly advising children on how to regulate their emotions, they sometimes can forget to take their own advice! Cathryn O’Sullivan, EdM, author of School-to-Home Connections: Simple Strategies for Early Childhood Educators, shares quick self-care tips for teachers that they can do in their classrooms with their kiddos without having to think too deeply about implementation.
Dr. Sandra Duncan, coauthor of Inspiring Spaces for Young Children and author of Through a Child’s Eyes: How Classroom Design Inspires Learning and Wonder, discusses three ritual-related activities that can aid children in their transition back into the classroom. When returning to the classroom from an extended holiday break, many children can experience a feeling of disruption and displacement. Rituals and recurring activities can help children gain a sense of stability and predictability, ultimately making their transitions back to school less stressful. Through Duncan’s recommended exercises, children can regain their sense of structure and belonging within the classroom.
Early Childhood Program Directors have to wear many hats on any given day. Whether they're filling in for one of the toddler classrooms or they're having to do maintenance to repair something that has broken in the center, early childhood directors face a wide array of challenges. If you don’t have a clear handle on these, your day could be full of frustration.
In The Early Childhood Director’s Guide to Solving Everyday Challenges, author Thomasa Bond, EdD, seeks to alleviate these frustrations by sharing positive resolutions to real-world scenarios that have occurred at actual child care centers. Learn more about her new book below and how directors can avoid mistakes, oversights, and incidents by learning through others’ mistakes.
