Angel L. Avery-Wright Having children move throughout the day promotes cognitive learning and physical health while reducing behavioral issues. Moving helps children focus better. “When you move, you stimulate all the nerve cells that we use to think with, and when you stimulate those nerve cells, it gets them ready to do stuff,” said Dr....Read More

Tracy Walter I have been asked by parents and new teachers I work with “When is the best time to read to children.” My answer is always, “Always and anytime!” There is always a time to read when it comes to children because there are many benefits of reading to and with children, and it...Read More

By Rochelle Deane The way you communicate with children teaches them how to communicate with others because children learn to communicate through everyday interactions and a language rich environment. Surrounding children with a rich language environment is important beginning in infancy. Talking, singing, reading, and offering many opportunities throughout their day, across all activities can...Read More

Natalie Grebe In a classroom setting, there are many ways to engage toddlers and preschool children in age-appropriate science activities. This can be a fun and interactive way to introduce science concepts and foster a love of learning. Here are some ideas for activities that can be incorporated into a preschool classroom and spark a...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

By Pam Schaffner What do the words punishment, discipline, and redirection mean to you? Do you think they are interchangeable; do they mean the same thing? Do they have different meanings? Are they all appropriate ways to manage the behavior of young children?Read More

Lisa Mulliken Piaget is a well-known name in the early childhood world. Piaget was a Swiss psychologist who created theories of cognitive development. Piaget’s theories included the concept of schemas. In simple terms, a play schema can be thought of as a group of instructions or repeated behaviors that children use during play. Children use...Read More

Kitty Syster Puzzles are not for everyone, but they are, and should be, a staple in early childhood classrooms. Children can learn and grow in so many ways from puzzles. Most people know puzzles help children develop fine motor skills. Puzzles come in many different styles.Read More

by Natalie Grebe Recently I attended a birthday party for a friend’s little boy named Cian. Cian was turning two and was all smiles as guests arrived and piled presents inside his red wagon. He mostly enjoyed playing with his cousins in the yard and luring his favorite “Grammie” to his sandbox to play alongside...Read More