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You may be preparing already not only for Thanksgiving but also for the Winter holidays your family celebrates. Whether you observe Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or another special day next month, we thought you might be interested in some suggestions for holiday giving. We're sharing some of our own ideas along with recommendations from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). We hope these two lists, one for infants and toddlers and one for preschoolers, spark your creative gift-giving ideas. Comment if you'd like to share some of your own!  Gift Suggestions for Infants and ToddlersTypically, babies will be more interested in the box a gift came in, the shiny ribbons they can grasp and wave, the paper they can tear or a piece of sticky tape! We suggest toys that encourage open-ended play and meet the needs of children at their ages and levels of development. Please share these suggestions with anyone buying or making holiday donations to young children:
Important Note: Always keep in mind the safety of toys, especially for children under age 3. Toys that may pose a choking hazard may not be labeled as such, so do your own testing before giving toys to infants and toddlers: Pull on all the parts of the toy to see that they are securely fastened together. Then check every piece for size. If you don't have a small parts test fixture that "measures 1 inch to 2.25 inches in height, slanted on a diagonal plane, and 1.25 inches in diameter"(NIH.gov), a toilet paper roll may be a good substitute. Keep any toys that fit completely into the tube away from children under 3. Recent research shows that occasionally choking can happen even for larger toys, so use your best judgment and always supervise children's play vigilantly. (NIH.gov)  Gift Suggestions for PreschoolersGive gifts of love and learning for preschoolers!! “Playful learning doesn’t require the latest and greatest toys and technologies. Some of the most valuable learning materials are open-ended items that you probably have at home or can find at little to no cost. Blocks, paint, sand, water, playdough, and natural materials… lend themselves to playful learning and exploration.” “Open-ended items are developmentally appropriate for young children of various ages and can be used for sensory, creative, or dramatic play. They are particularly engaging when children and families use them together.” “A stack of blocks can become the Empire State Building while a flourish of paint across a page can be a thunderstorm.” (Valesek) Here are some suggestions for gifts that encourage open-ended play for young children (approximately 3-5 years old):
For more toy suggestions for young children listed by ages and stages, visit: naeyc.org/resources/topics/play/toys You don't have to spend a bundle to give gifts of love and learning for preschoolers! Providing open-ended activities with household objects and creative materials (such as wrapping paper scraps, boxes, and ribbons) can also keep your child engaged and learning throughout the holidays. If you are planning to do some online shopping, please visit our website store to purchase our own EEPWORM® picture books and comfort toys. They were designed to help children deal with big feelings, so they can help with self-regulation! References & ResourcesNAEYC. (n.d.). Good toys for young children by age and stage naeyc.org/resources/topics/play/toys
Neofotistos A, Cowles N, Sharma R. (2017). Choking hazards: Are current product testing methods for small parts adequate? International Journal of Pediatrics. doi: 10.1155/2017/4705618. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5467345/ Valesek, J. (2022). Harnessing the joy of open-ended materials with your child. NAEYC. https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/tyc/summer2022/message-backpack-open-ended-materials
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As you plan your classroom activities for October, you may want to explore topics other than Halloween. Understandably, your children are focused on (and getting more excited each day about) wearing costumes and trick-or-treating! But you may be able to reign in some of their excitement by providing opportunities to explore other themes. Or at least you can try!  Did you know that there are many awareness campaigns during October? It has been designated as:
And within October are other awareness campaigns, including:
There's a lot going on this month, isn't there?! These seven themes can give us lots of ideas for developmentally-appropriate activities and/or teaching strategies we can use in our early childhood programs during October. You may want to add one or more of these themes to your October plans for your classroom. Here are just a few suggestions to get you started and some resources where you can find more information: ADHD Awareness MonthYou are likely to have encountered children with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in your early childhood program. Over 11% of children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with ADHD, including 2.4% of preschoolers ages 3-5 (CHADD). While these children may be more inattentive, impulsive, and/or hyperactive than other children, you can help them be successful. Just keep in mind: They need what all young children need, they just need a little more help sometimes. To support young children with ADHD in the classroom, provide what you give all the children:
We can be another resource. Contact us if you’d like to book our teacher training, "Supporting Children with ADHD in the Classroom". Bullying Prevention MonthTomorrow, October 2 is "World Day of Bullying Prevention®." The goal of the sponsoring organization, STOMP Out Bullying®, is to encourage everyone to work together to end bullying. At ECS, we support those who strive to prevent bullying at any age! In early childhood, we can help. After all, it's developmentally appropriate for educators to help children learn to be kind and to make friends. When we work to create a caring community of learners in our classrooms, we are preventing bullying.
Check out this resource for more information: https://www.stompoutbullying.org/world-day-bullying-prevention Breast Cancer Awareness Month
A personal note: This month I am celebrating one year of being cancer-free! To those of you who are fighting breast cancer as you read this: Don’t lose heart! Please reach out to me, I’d like to add you to my prayer list. Also let me know if I can support you in any other way. We at ECS are here for you! Fire Prevention WeekEducators: Does your school take a trip to a fire station? Or do you schedule a visit to the school by firefighters? If you do, prepare children for the experience to lessen their fear of a fully-equipped firefighter and a noisy fire truck.
If you do show any videos to children, always preview them for developmental appropriateness, and be prepared to answer questions after viewing. With your help, young children can begin to understand the dangers of fire.
Let everyone in the home hear the sound of the smoke alarm (using the test button) and practice what to do if they hear it! For young children, “Don’t hide, get outside!” is a simple reminder you can tell them. Let us know how we can help you keep children safe. I am a Child Care Health Consultant, and while I specialize in early childhood mental health, I have the training to help with other health and safety issues as well. Red Ribbon Week
Use teachable moments to talk about drugs with young children and keep their level of understanding top of mind. It's best to follow the child's lead, answering their questions calmly and as simply as you can. World Mental Health Day"Good mental health is an integral part of our overall health and wellbeing. Good mental health allows us to cope with challenges, connect with others and thrive throughout our lives. It’s vital and deserves to be recognised and respected." (WHO)
Check out this resource for more information https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day/2023 I can help you support your children as a Child Care Health Consultant. I specialize in early childhood mental health! World Teachers DayThis theme may not be something to explore with your children, but it may be something to share with your families and your co-workers. You may want to brainstorm ways you can work together to contribute to UNESCO's goals of advocacy and appreciation for all teachers.
At ECS we’re on a mission to support all early childhood educators. One small way we do that is by volunteering our time and expertise at ECE events, such as the upcoming Texas AEYC conference in November. We also offer free phone consultations to answer your questions about child development and early childhood education. We applaud all teachers for all that you do! Happy October to all, no matter which awareness campaigns you are able to support. Just getting your young children through the month as the excitement builds toward Halloween is quite an accomplishment! Contact us if we can help in any way. We have trainings on ADHD, infant mental health (social-emotional development), and much, much more! References & ResourcesADHD Awareness October 2023. (n.d.). https://www.adhdawarenessmonth.org/
Breast Cancer Now. (n.d.). Mummy's lump. https://breastcancernow.org/information-support/publication/mummys-lump-bcc164 CHADD. (n.d.). General Prevalence of ADHD. chadd.org/about-adhd/general-prevalence/ Head Start ECLKC. (2018, Jul 16). Children with disabilities: Classroom visuals and supports. https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/children-disabilities/article/classroom-visuals-supports National Breast Cancer Foundation. (n.d.) What to Say to a Cancer Patient eBook. https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/what-to-say-to-a-cancer-patient/ National Fire Protection Association. https://www.nfpa.org/events/fire-prevention-week Nemours Teen Health. (May 2023). Drugs: What to know. https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/know-about-drugs.html NFPA Sparky's School House. https://sparkyschoolhouse.org/ Red Ribbon Week. (n.d.). Red Ribbon inspires our kids to be happy/be brave/be drug free. https://www.redribbon.org/ Stomp Out Bullying. (n.d.). https://www.stompoutbullying.org/world-day-bullying-prevention Wonderlick, M. N. (2021, June 21). Starting with preschool, strive for kids who thrive. ADDitude: Inside the ADHD mind. https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-children-preschool-parent-teacher-help World Health Organization. (n.d.). World Mental Health Day. https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day/2023 UNESCO. (n.d.). World Teachers’ Day. https://www.unesco.org/en/days/teachers Tips for Teachers and FamiliesFor many of you, September signals the start of a new academic calendar year. The kids are back in school, and you are settling into your school-year routines. Even if you teach through the summer, or your children are in year-round childcare, they are probably transitioning as well, as they move to a new classroom with new teachers. We have several tips for both early childhood educators and parents or guardians to help you have a successful start.  Teachers:Provide what counts most. Keep in mind, as you begin the school year, what really counts for children's optimal development and learning:
In this blog post, we'd like to remind you of the rationale for allowing children to learn in developmentally appropriate ways. The most effective way that children learn is through play, so we encourage you to prioritize play - and the other things, like your relationships with your children - that count! Sooner is NOT better. Research shows that “sooner is better” early childhood education results in negative outcomes for children who are not ready for concepts (Elkind, 2006). Young learners need to experience lots of multi-sensory exploration first, so they can develop higher levels of thought as they grow and develop. As early childhood educators, it is our job to provide experiences that allow young children to learn through exploration of their physical and social environments. When we push preschoolers into the world of symbols by, for example, requiring them to complete worksheets or drilling them with flashcards, we may be rushing them past their capabilities. Time spent in these activities takes time away from the way young children learn best: through child-chosen, child-initiated, child-structured, free play. “It is during the early years, ages four to seven, when children’s basic attitudes toward themselves as students and toward learning and school are established. Children who come through this period feeling good about themselves, who enjoy learning and who like school, will have a lasting appetite for the acquisition of skills and knowledge.” “If we want all of our children to be the best that they can be, we must recognize that education is about them, not us. If we do what is best for children, we will give them and their parents the developmentally appropriate, high-quality, affordable, and accessible early-childhood education they both need and deserve.” - David Elkind If you're interested in more in-depth information from Dr. Elkind, check out his books in the references below. Families:The back-to-school changes can be anxiety-provoking for young children, so we have many tips for families to help your little ones feel a little less nervous. First, here are two self-help tips and two tips that help with separation anxiety: Next, here are 10 more tips for families to help your young children have a successful start:
“Remember that separation is a process. Expect that your child (or yourself) will need time to feel comfortable with the new situation.” -Diane Tunis, Rhonda Kleiner, and Fredda Band Loewenstein We hope you find these suggestions helpful. We are wishing all teachers, children and families a playful - and less stressful - start to a new school or classroom! References & ResourcesElkind, D. (2006). Much too early. Education Next1(2). Retrieved September 1, 2023, from https://www.educationnext.org/much-too-early/
Elkind, D. (1988). The hurried child: Growing up too fast too soon. Rev. ed. Addison-Wesley. Elkind, D. (1987). Miseducation: Preschoolers at risk. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Penn, A. (1993). The Kissing Hand. Tanglewood Press. Tunis, D., Kleiner, R. and Loewenstein, F.B. 13 tips for starting preschool. NAEYC. https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/13-tips-starting-preschool “All grown-ups were once children…but only few of them remember it.” -Antoine de Saint-Exupery Early childhood education needs YOU! Help us advocate for accessible, high quality early childhood education (ECE). Just follow these two steps: STEP 1. Get informedHere are four elements of quality child care from ZERO TO THREE's website, in an infographic entitled “America’s Future Depends on Quality Child Care.” The decision-makers affecting policies and funding need all our voices. Let's remind them about the value of childhood and about the resources needed to provide the education and care that nurtures it. Let's help policy-makers and funders see ECE as a wise investment - every dollar spent on quality ECE saves many more dollars in the future. And good ECE makes for happier childhoods that lead to more productive adult lives! It's important for our voices to be heard. Legislation and administrative decisions about ECE have a profound impact on how children and families are served, how child care professionals and educators are trained, evaluated and compensated, and ultimately, how children remember their childhood. These decisions affect not only children and our ECE workforce but also our communities and our country’s economy and workforce. So we need to share with decision-makers what “quality early child care” is and what it isn’t. Administrators, legislators, school board representatives and the voting public need to know what caregivers, teachers and researchers have learned through our work with young children. Remember: Advocacy is just reaching out and telling people what we know, and we can all do our part. Join us in advocating for ECE with the decision-makers in your community. Together we can support early childhood care and education!  Here are more facts for you: Child care is an essential service that requires support! There are so many young children in care, but unfortunately most of them are in programs of low quality. Child care professionals' work is critical to children's development, but it receives extremely low compensation. For high quality, affordable care and wages that support child care professionals, we need public investment - and we need it now! Again, please do your part to support early childhood education, childcare workers and families in the important work they do! Know the facts and share what you know with policy makers. Here are some statistics from ZERO TO THREE, from their resource "Infant-Toddler Child Care Fact Sheet":
STEP 2. Reach out
Here are two organizations we recommend that share our concern for not only funding early childhood education, but also for how those dollars should be spent:
Don’t let your busy schedule prevent you from doing something to advocate for young children, families - and yourself! If not us, then who? At ECS, we're advocating for you! My statement on this image sums up the reason I am so passionate about supporting children, families and early childhood caregivers. Early childhood education affects us all - whether we are in the early childhood profession or not, whether we are parents or not. When I wrote this statement, I was thinking primarily of the early childhood workforce. But it’s true of all parents - they need to feel supported in their work of raising children as well as in their paid employment. That’s why we early childhood educators must advocate for our profession, in addition to our primary task of meeting the needs of the children we teach and care for. We need to be supported, so we and our children can thrive! We wholeheartedly agree with Michelle McCready, the interim CEO of @Child Care Aware of America. Her opinion piece appeared in the publication The Hill on January 9, 2023, entitled “America 2023: When even members of Congress don’t have child care.” She discussed the importance of affordable and high-quality child care for families and for our country. Here is an excerpt: “Child care is a crucial component of our country’s economy; it’s the work that makes all other work possible. The high cost of child care and lack of availability is bad news for families, but it’s also bad news for employers and communities who benefit from widespread access to affordable, high quality child care.” Well said, Michelle! You can read the rest of her opinion piece here. References & ResourcesDefending the Early Years (DEY). (n.d.). Mobilizing kit for parents and teachers concerned about what’s happening in our early childhood classrooms (Preschool through 3rd grade). https://dey.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DEY-Mobilizing-Kit-FINAL-FINAL-2020-updated.pdf
McCready, M. (2023, January 9). America 2023: When even members of Congress don’t have child care. Child Care Aware of America. https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/3805641-america-2023-when-even-members-of-congress-dont-have-child-care/ National Association For the Education of Young Children. (n.d.). Public policy and advocacy. https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/public-policy-advocacy National Association For the Education of Young Children. (n.d.). Tell Congress to #SolveChildCare! https://www.votervoice.net/NAEYC/Campaigns/101148/Respond Zero to Three. (2019, October 11). America’s Future Depends on Quality Child Care. https://www.zerotothree.org/resource/americas-future-depends-on-quality-child-care/ Zero to Three. (2021, September 6). Infant-Toddler child care fact sheet. https://www.zerotothree.org/resource/infant-toddler-child-care-fact-sheet/  Safety is always the priority when caring for young children! In this post we're sharing information and tips for keeping children safe this summer - around water, in the heat, and in the sun. We want everyone to enjoy the summer safely! Water Safety“Every pool, every lake and every warm summer day holds the possibility of new, fun summer experiences. All you need to add is your undivided attention.” - National Safety Council Did you know?
Here are some tips from the National Safety Council for keeping children safe around water: Even when we’re not supervising young children in or around water, there are things we can all do to prevent drownings. We can find a local drowning prevention charity and take advantage of the programs they offer to keep your children safe. Or support their mission. Or better yet, do both! Here are two Texas charities I've found. Sadly, both were formed after a young child drowned:
Together, let’s save lives! Sun Safety Here are 7 sun safety tips for you from the American Academy of Pediatrics, through the website healthychildren.org: -Keep infants under 6 months old out of the sun -Dress children in lightweight clothes with a tight weave that cover the body -Have kids wear wide-brim hats -Stay out of the sun between 10am and 4pm -Provide youth sunglasses with 99% UV protection -Use sunscreen, reapplying every 2 hours -Model sun safety for kids Heat SafetyHere are some ways to keep children safe on hot days, also from healthychildren.org:
 Lastly, here’s one more important heat safety fact: “Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, about three kids die each week in hot cars,” according to the National Safety Council. “Even on mild or cloudy days, temperatures inside vehicles can reach life-threatening levels. Leaving windows slightly open doesn't help. Children should never be left unattended or be able to get inside a vehicle.” See the page “Kids in Hot Cars: One Child is Too Many” on their website for more info. The NSC also has free resources you can share with your program’s families. References & ResourcesHealthychildren.org. (2023, July 26). Extreme heat: Tips to keep kids safe when temperatures soar. American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/Protecting-Children-from-Extreme-Heat-Information-for-Parents.aspx
Healthychildren.org. (2023, November 20). Sun safety: Information for parents about sunburn & sunscreen. American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Sun-Safety.aspx National Safety Council. (n.d.). Drowning can happen in an instant. https://www.nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/seasonal-safety/drowning National Safety Council. (n.d.). Kids in hot cars: One child is too many. https://www.nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/seasonal-safety/summer-safety/heat Family travel can be a great summer adventure! Help your trips be enjoyable experiences by keeping these tips and benefits in mind. Know that whatever your summer brings, we are wishing you well! Travel Tips Here are some tips on how to prepare:
While on the trip:
Are you traveling to a theme park this summer? If so, here are some ideas that may make your trip rich with family memories – even the funny and unexpected ones!  Tips for Trips to Theme Parks:
Benefits of Family Travel Travel brings new perspectives. Traveling with children can be a challenge, but providing them with these varied experiences is well worth our effort! Travel boosts children’s development, especially their social and emotional learning. It literally expands their world and exposes them to different ways of doing things - speaking, dressing, eating, sleeping, etc. Children - and adults - may become more empathetic, appreciative of cultural and individual differences, and open to new experiences. We hope summer travel brings you and your children a new way of seeing! Travel cements connections and builds brains.  Traveling and taking adventures help us to grow! We humans are natural explorers, and our brains are wired to desire new experiences - to be physically active, especially in nature, and to use our brains to make sense of it all. We also have a primary need to be in relationships with others. So when we travel with our families, we’re tapping into these basic desires and needs. Going on family adventures is good for our children, and it’s good for us adults, too! Traveling supports strong brain development, but so does making any changes in our routines! Babies pay more attention to novel experiences, and so do we. To stimulate our children’s brains (as well as our own), try taking an adventure soon, even if it’s finding a way to disrupt your routine, like having a “backwards day” or “opposite day.” If you want to travel but your budget doesn’t allow for flights or long road trips with hotel stays, try camping. It was a favorite form of adventuring for my husband, my daughter and me when she was younger - and it was definitely budget-friendly. Now that I’m older, I must admit I prefer the comfort of a real bedroom and adjacent bathroom at night, but I still very much enjoy our family hikes! We're wishing you a summer of fun family travel!One wish for you is that summer travel brings you renewed appreciation of the people and the everyday routines in both your work life and your family life!  When we travel, sometimes we appreciate our work and home lives and the people in them even more. Many years ago, I went on a week-long trip with a friend, leaving my school-age daughter behind with my husband for his first stint solo-parenting. He was often away on work trips, and left all of the parenting up to me. Before we left, I was thinking that my time away would help him to appreciate me more as the primary caregiver of our child. What happened instead was that I appreciated him more for being a more compatible travel companion! What renews your appreciation for the people and things in your life? Another wish is that we all better appreciate what we have, even if we can’t get away and travel this summer. Sometimes when we travel or even when our routines change, our appreciation can grow - not only of people but of things as well. When we have been away from our own beds, our daily schedules, our preferred foods, our language, etc., we miss all the familiarity of our home or work spaces and routines. But we may also become happier with what we have been used to - even the mundane or boring parts of our lives! As the saying goes, “There’s no place like home! Whether your summer plans include a family trip, a needed grown-up getaway, or just a staycation, may you enjoy it all - the going somewhere and the being back home again! References & ResourcesOnline Psychology Degree Guide. (n.d.). 10 things to know about the psychology of travel & adventure. www.onlinepsychologydegree.info/psychology-of-travel-adventure/
Weiner, R. (2023, May 26). Surviving vacation with kids. learnplaygrowconsulting.com/blog/survivingvacationwithkids May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so I'd like to help you support the mental health of infants and young children!
1. Respond quickly to infants' needsBabies require a lot of attention! They depend on the adults in their lives for all their needs, transitioning at an incredible rate into more independent little people. While parents and caregivers are busy meeting their physical needs, an infant’s social and emotional foundation is also being established. Meeting an infant’s mental health needs not only comforts them in the moment, it also affects their future mental health, their ability to learn and process the world and information around them, and their ability to tolerate frustration, solve problems, and adapt to situations. These are all lifelong skills, crucial to learning, jobs and relationships.  2. Attend to attachment Speaking of attachment, it is one of the most important factors affecting infant mental health. Having secure attachment relationships to their caregivers - including you - is absolutely crucial for babies. Here is a quote from HiMama's blog (4) that shares tips for supporting attachment:
 3. Watch for warning signs These behaviors may sometimes be seen in healthy developing children. The time to be concerned is when something becomes a pattern. After making efforts to ensure that the child is safe and feels a sense of security, family caregivers may want to consult their medical or mental health provider . He/she can refer the family to other resources if needed. Here are some signs that an infant may be experiencing a problem with mental health, quoted from an online article from a behavioral health provider (6):
References & Resources
When we think of dramatic play for preschoolers, we often jump straight to deciding which theme we'll use. Housekeeping or home centers are by far the most common theme for dramatic play, and they are often the best themes to start with when children are new to your classroom or program. But besides brainstorming fun pretending set-ups - which I must admit is the fun part for me - there are also other things to think about. Here are five things to consider when setting up or enhancing your dramatic play center:  1. Help your children imagine new futures for themselves!"What do you want to do when you grow up?" It's a common question to ask children. Do your children see the immense world of possibilities for themselves? It's part of our jobs to open our children's world to what could be and to encourage them to dream bigger if they chose to. Especially for children from marginalized groups or disadvantaged backgrounds, we can expose them to new possibilities they may be unaware of. We can help them believe that they can do whatever work they dream of - as scientists, athletes, doctors, astronauts, etc. The dramatic play center is the perfect place for trying out these roles! A quote from Harriet Tubman reads, “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” As teachers, our dreams are for our children to change the world for the better. The challenge for all of us adults is to help children develop that strength, patience, and passion - so they feel capable of reaching for the stars and realizing their own potential!  2. Involve the children in creating the themes for their dramatic play!Together you can choose themes based on the seasons, holiday traditions, things you are learning about, or the interests of the children:
 3. Intentionally set the stage for fun and learning.Define the dramatic play area
Provide a variety of dress-up clothes and props Change the theme and add and remove props to maintain interest. Here are just a few ideas:
Add lots of “loose parts”
Include multicultural materials
Always consider safety when choosing materials to include in centers!  4. Bring dramatic play outside, too!Do you have a designated space for an outdoor dramatic play center, such as a playhouse, boat or other structure? Enhance the area with props! If you don’t have a specific place for pretending, you can still encourage dramatic play during outside time by bringing a basket of props with you. Most themes you use indoors (housekeeping, doctor's and vet's offices, stores, etc) can probably be adapted to outdoor play as well. Just choose materials which are washable and more durable to create enticing invitations for social and pretend play. Also, keep the number of props manageable if you will need to bring them back inside. Here are a few outdoor-themed dramatic play ideas you may want to explore as well:
 5. Let your dramatic play centers live up to their purpose!When children pretend by acting out scripts, scenes, and roles, they are engaging in socio-dramatic play - an especially valuable type of play. Besides having fun (which has value in itself!), children are learning social skills that include: communication, cooperation, problem-solving and perspective taking. For children to best learn from socio-dramatic play, they need lots of uninterrupted time to develop their play scripts, negotiate roles with other children, and enjoy them acting out together. This uninterrupted time means we should step back and let children direct their own play! This doesn't mean we never interact at all. Here are some ways we adults can provide support for successful dramatic play: -having personal conversations with every child every day - just not when they are immersed in play with their peers -using teachable moments to model, coach or mediate when helping children learn to share and problem solve. -modeling safe use of new materials, then stepping back, allowing creativity in play. We hope these 5 tips help you make the most of your dramatic play centers. We welcome your comments, and we would love to hear about your favorite dramatic play themes and props! ResourcesHere are some books you may find helpful:
Greenman, J. (2007). Caring spaces, learning places: Children's environments that work. Exchange Press, Inc. Loose Parts Series:
We early childhood educators often say that children learn best through play - but do we really mean it? If we're serious about children learning through play, we will prioritize the opportunities for them to play - both indoors and out! In the classroom, the best way to prioritize playtime is through learning centers - special areas devoted to free choice play.  The Importance of PlayPlay is the most powerful learning tool there is! It supports all areas of development:
But don't just take our word for it. Here is an excerpt on play from the position statement on developmentally appropriate practice from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC): Play... is the central teaching practice that facilitates young children’s development and learning... You can download the complete position statement here:  Our learning centers should be providing ideal play opportunities in our early childhood settings. When children are allowed to freely choose and direct their own play, they turn those opportunities into individualized learning experiences. Our role as educators - and parents - is to provide rich, play-based learning environments that encourage the development of knowledge and skills across all domains! Managing Centers to Maximize Play-When planning the number of centers to have in your classroom, a good rule is to provide 1 ½ choices per child. If you have 20 students, you should have 30 possible choices available – that is, places in centers to play . (For example, have 10 center areas where 3 children can play in each area.) Yes, that's a lot of play places! But try to find the largest number of centers that works for your setting, allowing as much child-led choice as possible that still allows for a positive environment for learning and exploration. Easily seen dots on center signs is one way to show how many can play in that center at one time. -Allow children to move freely from one center to another during center time. Simple rules like cleaning up what you took out before you leave an area (unless someone else is still playing with it) and following the rule of how many in a center can make this manageable. It may seem like allowing free-choice movement between centers would be more difficult to manage or cause more challenging behaviors, but the opposite is true. When we let children decide where and when they want to play in a center, they get more immersed in their play and they act out less! Also, you are avoiding too many transitions, which many children find challenging. -Make it easy for children to play independently. Provide storage and display shelves and containers that are easy for children to use on their own. Label shelves and containers with a picture or visual cue showing where things go. Easy storage and clean-up can help children develop self-help skills as well as a positive self-worth and a sense of belonging. -Signal when it is near time to clean-up and have a designated song or clean-up signal when it is time to end centers. You can change the song or signal when the routine needs to be refreshed. In Marjorie’s kindergarten classroom, children were encouraged to bring something they made or did during centers to share (either with a partner or whole group). This sharing time was a great time to practice speaking and listening skills and encourage peer support! -Change centers and materials as children’s interests and abilities change or you want to move to a new theme. Involving children in the set-up leads to more meaningful play in the centers! How Learning Center Play Supports Social Development  Let's pretend you got hurt fighting the fire and I'm the doctor who helps you." Social development is the gradual gaining of the skills, attitudes, relationships, and behavior that enable children to interact with others. Put more simply, it is learning about others. Social play happens when children are playing together (or with adults). By definition, social skills develop slowly over time - children need lots and lots of practice to learn how to get along with others! In early childhood, play gradually gets more social and more complex. By about age four, children begin to engage in sociodramatic play, cooperating to take on different roles and creating their own rules for how they will play. Sociodramatic play is an especially valuable type of play. Besides having fun (which has value in itself!), children learn social skills that include: communication, cooperation, problem-solving and perspective taking. Research shows that these social skills help children succeed in school and in life, too. For children to best learn social skills through play, they need lots of opportunities to play with other children, of course. But they also need support from sensitive adults. Here’s why: -Young children often do not know what is expected in different social situations -They lack experience and knowledge of appropriate ways to solve conflicts -They are naturally egocentric, so it is hard for them to understand others’ intentions and feelings We can support children’s social skill development by playing with our children and by modeling the positive social behaviors we want them to use. We can also teach them social skills using a technique called “scaffolding” - giving just enough help at first to build new skills, then letting them do more and more on their own. For more on ways to support young children’s development of social skills, see this blog post: We hope these tips help you make free choice play the #1 priority for your children! Comment and share with us your thoughts on play in learning centers. References for a Conversation About Play (from NAEYC)
We hope every one of your children feels your love and care each and every day! And we hope that you feel the love of your children and families, too! As we celebrate Valentine's Day at ECS this week, we wanted to share some ideas that help adults and children feel loved and that support emotional well-being and development as well.  1. Treasure the love!I have often said that one of the nice things about teaching young children is that they still love their teacher! Whether you are a classroom teacher or a daytime caregiver, you are like a second mom or dad! You take care of them for a big part of their day, you make sure they are fed and have things to play with, and you help them learn! Children - and families - know when you value them and will reciprocate by showing their love and trust! Keep those love letters! When you have had a bad day, read those love letters to remind yourself of the impact you have made on a child. To motivate you to help a child realize his/her capacity for love. And keep “love letters” from parents too - those end of the year notes that will remind you of the appreciation of the families you have helped! Whenever you receive little gifts you receive from your children - flowers, drawings, hugs - model appreciation for the person as well as the gift. “I love that you remembered that I like purple!” Expand on the opportunity for positive social and language interactions. Instead of just saying “Thank you, that’s nice!”, engage in conversation. “Tell me about the picture you drew for me.” “What kind of flower is your favorite?” Comment and share your favorite tokens of love from children!  2. Let children know they are loved!Adult-child relationships are crucial to healthy social emotional development - and to learning, behavior and health! Give children positive feedback and interactions that will let them know that they are treasured and appreciated. Show them that they are both loved and capable of loving. On the subject of love, one of our favorite stories to read to children is “How Do I Love You?” by P.K.Hallinan. With simple words and illustrations, it reassures, “I love you on your very best and very worst of days.” It goes on to model phrases we can use everyday, like, “I love to see you smile!” and “I love to watch you play.” Whether in the classroom, or snuggled up with our own children at home, reading it conveys the message of unconditional love. Dr. Gabor Mate’, an expert on trauma, addiction, stress and childhood development, states that, “Love felt by the parent does not automatically translate into love experienced by the child.” We can help communicate our love by sharing stories and expressing heartfelt messages. Time spent reading to and talking with children can strengthen the loving bond and help our children to experience it for themselves. For more ideas on how to express love and strengthen the connections children need to thrive, visit these websites: How do you let the children in your life know that you love them? Comment and share your ideas with us! 3-9 [slideshow]. Use these 7 intentional teaching strategies:We hope you find these ideas helpful as you support your children's emotional development. For information about our own "4 C's Framework of Emotional Support," check out our other blog posts: Besides sharing tips with you, we also want to let you know how much we appreciate you. The loving things you do for your children and families every day are helping to make ECS' vision come true: a more compassionate world where every child is cherished and nurtured. Thank you!! From all of us at ECS, happy Valentine's Day! References & ResourcesBrackett, M. (2019). Permission to Feel. London, England: Quercus Publishing.
Bailey, B. A. (2000). I Love You Rituals. New York City: William Morrow Paperbacks. Kostelnik, M. J., Rupiper, M., Soderman, A. K., & Whiren, A. P. (2014). Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum in Action. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Safe Place Breathing Icons. (n.d.) Conscious Discipline. https://consciousdiscipline.com/resources/safe-place-breathing-icons/ |
AuthorI'm Diane Goyette, a Child Development Specialist, Trainer, Consultant and Keynote Speaker. I'm excited to share my blog! Archives
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