Latest Blog & News
How Many Loose Parts Should You Offer at Once in a Preschool Play Area?
11/02/2026Too many loose parts can turn a promising play invitation into a crowded, hard-to-manage shelf; too few may limit the ideas children can explore. A thoughtful starting point is a small, purposeful selection that you can adjust by watching children’s engagement, space, and safety needs. For pra... How Many Loose Parts Should You Offer at Once in a Preschool Play Area?
How Can Storytime Questions Invite Children’s Ideas Without Becoming a Quiz?
11/02/2026Storytime can spark children’s theories, memories, and imaginative twists—or leave them feeling tested. A few well-timed invitations, followed by real listening, help you nurture conversation while keeping the pleasure of the book intact. Explore Reading Aloud and Storytelling to build p... How Can Storytime Questions Invite Children’s Ideas Without Becoming a Quiz?
How Can Preschoolers Explore Different Languages Without Being Expected to Translate?
11/02/2026Children can delight in the sounds, stories, and words of many languages without being asked to interpret for adults or perform for classmates. The Building Bridges for Dual Language Learners course offers child care providers practical ways to support language development, honor home languages, and... How Can Preschoolers Explore Different Languages Without Being Expected to Translate?
What Should a Seasonal Learning Center Help Children Do Beyond Admiring the Decorations?
11/02/2026A seasonal display can catch a child’s eye; a well-planned learning center invites that child to investigate, create, communicate, and return with new questions. Strengthen your approach with ChildCareEd’s Spicing Up the Classroom: Learning Centers, a focused course on planning centers t... What Should a Seasonal Learning Center Help Children Do Beyond Admiring the Decorations?
When Do Sentence Starters Help Children Express Ideas—and When Do They Limit Them?
11/02/2026A child who has an idea but cannot yet find the words may benefit from a small verbal foothold—while a child with a fully formed thought may need room to speak without a script. Used intentionally, sentence starters can support expression, language learning, and participation without taking ow... When Do Sentence Starters Help Children Express Ideas—and When Do They Limit Them?
How Can Drawing an Imaginary Invention Help Preschoolers Explain Their Thinking?
11/02/2026A child’s imaginary invention can reveal far more than a finished picture: it can show how they notice problems, imagine possibilities, and explain what they believe will work. Try this simple drawing invitation to make children’s reasoning visible, and explore Teacher-Child Interactions... How Can Drawing an Imaginary Invention Help Preschoolers Explain Their Thinking?
When Should You Wait, Prompt, or Help as a Child Puts On a Coat?
11/02/2026A coat transition can become a daily tug-of-war—or a small, confidence-building lesson in independence. Knowing when to pause, offer a cue, or provide hands-on help lets you support children without taking over; Supporting Children’s Independence offers a deeper, three-hour online learni... When Should You Wait, Prompt, or Help as a Child Puts On a Coat?
How Can After-School Crafts Include Children Who Find Cutting and Assembly Difficult?
11/02/2026When scissors, small parts, or multi-step directions turn craft time into a barrier, children can miss out on the creativity and peer connection after-school programs offer. The Monster-Friendly Classroom: A Guide to Supporting Students with DCD provides a starting point for considering supports for... How Can After-School Crafts Include Children Who Find Cutting and Assembly Difficult?
What Can Educators Change When a Child Hears Directions but Struggles to Follow Them?
11/02/2026A child may hear your words and still be unsure what they mean, what to do first, or how to shift away from an absorbing activity. Small changes to language, timing, routines, and classroom conditions can make directions easier to follow; for school-age settings, explore The Monster-Friendly Listeni... What Can Educators Change When a Child Hears Directions but Struggles to Follow Them?
How Can Children Practice Asking Permission Before Touching During Everyday Play?
11/02/2026A child reaching for a friend’s hand, hair, or toy can turn an ordinary play moment into a valuable lesson in respect. Providers can make “ask first” concrete through warm modeling, short phrases, and repeated practice woven into the day; ChildCareEd’s Teach with Respect! cou... How Can Children Practice Asking Permission Before Touching During Everyday Play?
