Content by Audrey Rider

Child stacking blocks against an entertainment center in al living room.

Schema Play is Not Challenging When Understood

Schemas, or imaginative and repetitive play patterns, may seem challenging at first, but they help children make meaning of their world. By identifying and supporting schema behaviors, teachers and parents can turn frustration into growth and joy.

Mother and toddler doing a learning activity on a tablet computer.

Embracing Technology to Teach Early Literacy Skills

Research suggests that learning happens when children can use multiple senses, such as sight, sound, and touch. With technology, parents, caregivers, and educators can nurture reading skills in new, exciting ways!

Mother holding two daughters outdoors in the countryside.

Outdoor Play is Educational

Getting kids outside to play and use their imagination is getting harder in our digital, screen-filled world. Using outdoor spaces and nature to create intentional learning opportunities is a great way to fulfill the need for kids to move and use their creative energy.

Incorporate Music into Your Day!

Children of all ages love to sing, dance, and make their own music. Let them explore music through play and give them opportunities to familiarize themselves as they develop many different skills.

A young girl and boy playing with a STEM geometric building kit.

STEM Learning: Tips to Let Kids Tinker and Build

Tinkering, or the playful, open-ended exploration of materials without a specific end goal, is an important part of STEM learning. It involves problem solving, creativity, hands-on learning, and more.

Mother with two sons decorating a dinosaur costume fashioned out of a cardboard box.

Using Boxes to Spark Imagination

Have you heard kids say, “Don’t throw that box away!” as you are receiving boxes and packages for the holidays? Keep your boxes and let kids use their imagination to create their own designs and creations!

Childcare Survey Reports

Survey reports that aim to understand the current landscape of childcare in the state, focusing on availability, cost, quality, and impact on families and the economy.

Baby seated at a highchair with a variety of soft, cut-up foods on its tray.

SDSU Extension working to bolster rural child care needs in South Dakota

September 05, 2024

South Dakota needs more child care providers, and SDSU Extension is part of a growing collaboration to meet that need.

Group of children eating fresh vegetables

Pick it, Try it, Like it for Preschool

Use these Pick it, Try it, Like it! lesson plans to make nutritious eating fun and engaging for preschoolers.

Child exploring a variety of textures in a sensory play box.

Importance of Sensory Play for Kids

What is sensory play and what does it do? Let’s explore some easy and affordable ways to incorporate sensory activities into your child’s day.