Early Childhood Education
All Early Childhood Education Content
Let Kids Pretend!
Pretend play is as natural as eating and sleeping to kids and should not be dismissed. It is teaching them to practice being in the world and problem solving.
Safe Sleeping Methods for Infants
Safe sleeping positions and methods have come to light in the local news after an infant death in a daycare setting that could have been avoided.
Playing With Blocks
Who remembers building glorious structures and towers with wooden blocks? And then having a sibling knock them down and having to rebuild it over again? There are so many learning experiences with building and making mistakes in block play.
Let Them Play During Christmas Break
As we are quickly approaching Christmas break and kids will have time off and will be acquiring new toys and activities during this Christmas season, I want to encourage parents and providers to let children play.
The Value of Holiday Experiences
More and more people are changing how we give presents. Instead of focusing on the price tag, they are focusing on the experience of the gift. Here are a few options that are inexpensive and often more valuable than anything money itself can buy.
Helping Kids Cope and Understand Disasters/Flooding
South Dakota and many of our neighboring states are experiencing flooding and natural disasters. How children experience traumatic events and how they express their lingering distress depends, in large part, on the children's age and level of development.
Helping Children Learn Responsibility
Teaching children responsibility should start at a young age but is something that you have to keep working on throughout childhood. I am working with my 10-and-5-year-old girls to become more responsible for their school work and daily tasks throughout the day so I don’t need to be a broken record each day.
Celebrate Earth Month Outside and With These Activities
April is Earth Month and April 22nd is Earth Day. With the weather finally starting to turn into spring, this a great time to get kids outdoors and talk about science and do experiments.
Teaching Youth to Have Gratitude
Gratitude is often seen as a powerful emotion tied to positive health and wellness for both the individual and the community. Research shows that youth who demonstrate gratefulness are usually happier and more satisfied with their lives, friends, family, community, and selves.
Why Spending Quality Time With Your Children is Important
Making a meaningful connection with your children is important and can be a simple priority to incorporate into your daily schedule. Doing as such, will have lasting impacts on them as they grow into contributing adults in the future.