Social-emotional development includes the ability to interact and have positive, meaningful relationships with others. It enables children to recognize, express, and manage their emotions and appropriately respond to others' emotions. Young children rely on adults to help them manage emotions and learn and practice these new skills.Read More

by Angel Avery-Wright Dramatic play areas are often very popular with children. Children can dress up, cook dinner, take care of a baby, serve food at a restaurant, or take the cat to the vet. Materials that enhance dramatic play are plentiful. Dolls, plastic food and dishes, appliances such as a refrigerator and stove, tables...Read More

Lisa Mulliken At the start of each workday, the first thing I do is refer to the “to-do” list that sits on my desk. The list gives me a visual picture of what I need to accomplish each day and crossing things off the list gives me a feeling of accomplishment. I recently had to...Read More

Erin DelRegno Evans “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” Fred Rogers  Who doesn’t remember playing when they were young? Coming up with your own games, playing outside almost every day whether sunny, snowy,...Read More

Leah Zabari Yesterday I was in a toddler classroom when two children slowly walked by me. One of the toddlers went up to the other and gently took hold of his friend’s hand. They proceeded to walk around the room together holding hands and interacting. It was such a sweet moment that was only captured...Read More

The Program Quality Assessment (PQA) Team is available to support you in the Internal Assessment Process (IAP) by completing an on-site assessment in your program. In addition to the Environment Rating Scales® (ERS) and Classroom Observation Scoring System® (CLASS®) this opportunity is available for all Program Observation Instruments (POIs) listed in the Keystone STARS Standards.Read More