Restoring Hope to Children with Challenging Behaviours

Some years ago, I received a tearful phone call from a young mom whose son had been “expelled” from preschool. Her son – a precocious, intelligent builder of large block structures – exploded in anger when a teacher dismantled his tower to make room for a new class project. Frustration escalated…and a chair was thrown. Mom was called at work...

/ August 17, 2017

Values in action : Hospitality

Values need to be lived out loud I said at the start of this series on values in early childhood education: Children pick up on an awful lot without us saying it – they learn to talk, walk and jump without specific lessons, and they’ll pick up on lots of ‘the way we do things at our centre/in our family’...

/ August 16, 2017

Values In Action: Wisdom

Values need to be lived out loud I said at the start of this series on values in early childhood education: “Children pick up on an awful lot without us saying it – they learn to talk, walk and jump without specific lessons, and they’ll pick up on lots of ‘the way we do things at our centre/in our family’...

/ August 9, 2017

Reflective and Co-Constructed Practice: This is How Learning Happens!

This week’s guest post is written by Diane Kashin and Cindy Green, of Ontario Canada. In 2014, our province published How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years. At the centre of learning are children, educators, and families. With the view of children, families and educators as capable, competent and rich in potential, the four conditions for learning are;...

/ July 31, 2017
A young child leaning against a wooden post

Change Doesn’t Have to Be Scary! How to Help Children With Transitions

It’s been a long day and you’re finally settled on the couch to watch the season finale of your favorite television series. The dramatic conclusion is moments away when, without warning, someone changes the channel to check a sports score. Frustrating, right? Well, that’s how a young child feels when she’s building the world’s tallest tower and you say, “Put...

/ July 31, 2017

Values need to be lived out loud

Children pick up on an awful lot without us saying it – they learn to talk, walk and jump without specific lessons, and they’ll pick up on lots of ‘the way we do things at our centre/in our family’ unconsciously. But for some things, especially in the area of values, virtues, and character development, it’s necessary for us to live them...

/ July 26, 2017

I Hate You! Not Really…

On Mother’s Day, my five-year-old son created an original paper and crayon card with bold capital letters that declared, “Your the best mom.” There were yellow daffodils because that’s my favorite flower. And there was no attempt to make “your” into “you’re” – which is okay when you’re five. I got teary-eyed, he smiled proudly, and I knew I was,...

/ July 20, 2017

The problem with Screen Time

Now, let’s talk about screen time. A contentious issue for many parents and educators, especially with regards to children under 5. In many centres, children ask to see their ‘Storypark’ photos and videos every day and become documenters of their own learning by taking photos and videos, as well as recording their own voice and reflection in the comments area....

/ July 19, 2017

Paper based or digital? Let’s talk about documenting children’s learning

Should we use digital portfolios instead of paper-based options to document children’s learning? If everything is online, how will children engage with their own learning? And what about screen time! These are things early childhood educators around the world are asking when it comes to discussing the digital age we live in, and how we’re using technology when it comes to...

/ July 12, 2017

The research behind family engagement in children’s learning

The impact parental involvement has on children’s learning is well documented. Researchers have evidence for the positive effects of parent involvement on children, families, and school when schools and parents continuously support and encourage the children’s learning and development. The most accurate predictor of a student’s achievement in school is not income or social status but the extent to which...

/ July 5, 2017