Picture this: Two preschoolers. One beloved truck. One very determined peer. And an adult voice swoops in with the classic line: “You need to share.” Before anyone clutches their “kindness matters” poster—hear me out. This isn’t a post against generosity. It’s a post against forcing  a very adult social expectation onto very young brains… and then acting surprised when it turns into grabbing, tears, and power struggles. “Sharing” requires skills most young children are still

Every child experiences big feelings—frustration, overwhelm, sadness, or worry—and those emotions can easily spill over into behaviors that feel difficult for both the child and the adults supporting them. A Calm Down Corner  is a powerful, proactive tool to help children recognize their emotions and develop the skills they need to regulate themselves. Paired with simple, kid-friendly strategies—like the ones included in the Calm Down Strategies  chart—you can give children a

Remembering Freedom Think back to your childhood. What are some of your favorite memories? If you’re like me (a millennial or zennial — depending on your definition, born in ’82), many of your favorite moments probably involved some form of what we now call risky play. Mine certainly do. I remember the freedom of being able to play independently, without constant adult supervision or strict rules. The top two that come to mind are: playing in my grandparents’ basement and exp

In today’s world, it feels like childhood has turned into a race — a race to enroll, perform, and specialize before our kids even lose...

Teachers do a lot  every day — teaching, nurturing, organizing, and juggling a hundred little tasks that keep the classroom running...

Being a teacher means carrying lesson plans, papers, supplies, and sometimes even lunch—all while staying mobile. The right bag can save...

If you’ve ever worked with young children, you know that structure and routine  make a world of difference. Children thrive when they...

It’s the beginning of a new school year, and for many teachers that means welcoming a brand-new group of students. This can feel both...

Children playing together in new ways in an assigned center I think we can all agree that we all believe that children learn best through...

soccer team shoes So I had a little bit of a reality check the other day. I was at my son’s soccer game and my son was not playing well....

Ok, so I know I might get some hate for this one because I know it is a “go to” for a lot of teachers, but, having been in early...

Now of course we have developmental milestones that we are helping children reach so in some sense there is a certain amount of “a child...

There seems to be this every present thought that any time a child causes harm they “should” apologize and teachers “should” reinforce...

The constant thought that unless you are doing something you are a failure. This week’s inspiration came from a moment that happened...