A great way to help children express their emotions is to really sit and listen to what they are saying. Immediately offering a solution that might not be useful to what the child needs prior to hearing the problem can often make things worse. Instead, talking through a problem calmly and then finding a solution together is better for the child.

Talk about it with coworkers, but also make sure to reflect and acknowledge this problem and take more time for yourself while off work to decompress and talk to friends/family about your feelings.

Talking to children, reading with them, playing games with them, and just general interactions where we are communicating.

Breathe deeply is one that is good for in the moment. After working a logn day, I think eating a good meal and having a self-care routine is extremely important for destressing.

Yes, in emergencies, if a child is sick, if there’s an accident/injury

Crib or bassinet with a fitted sheet only. Hard mattress designed for babies; no crib bumpers or loose blankets.

All great ways!

Songs and rhymes, game-ifying the healthy habits like a washing hands or a cleanup song, for example.

Sensorial activities are a major help for engaging children. Using their senses keeps children invested. Touch, smell, sounds, etc. are all great ways to get and keep kids involved.

Build a routine, plan ahead, keep a schedule. I like to use a planner and have all schedules printed out and accessible to me throughout the day. I also like to wear a watch.

Are there any components of a good early learning environment that you think are especially important?Children feel safe, respected, and heard. Engaging lessons and environment.

I’d make to welcome them and then show the classroom, available activities, playground, accessible bathrooms, where we prepare any food for the children, our disaster preparedness plan and kits, and ensure to them who can access the building and what security we have in place to keep the child safe.

If I suspect child abuse or neglect, I’d gather the reasons why I think this, make sure I know the parent’s information, and make a call to CPS. I’m a mandated reporter and it’s my job to call in any suspected abuse or neglect.

My biggest worry about keeping children safe is outside factors like intruders or natural disasters.

I think to maintain a good relationship with families you need to be transparent, kind, positive, resourceful, and objective.

I’d want my child to be safe, happy, and treated kindly. I’d be scared that they are unsafe, anxious, or that they aren’t being attended to.

Prepare what to say beforehand and be prepared with a list of things you’d like to talk about. Be sure to let it be known you are open for discussion and questions and will provide support and resources if needed. Also, be positive and objective.

I think screen time is an easy cop-out for childcare providers, and that it is best for young children to have physical play rather than time watching a screen. I also have noticed in my own experience that children who spend their time using screens instead of playing have worse social skills, are more temperamental, and less patience and… Read more

How do you think early learning providers can create a “serve and return” environment in their classrooms?I think early learning providers can create a “serve and return” environment in their classrooms by being attentive to the students present and recognizing the cues that they are being given. A big part in being able to do that… Read more

Observing and documenting a child’s development can help early learning providers by giving them insight as to how they should be caring for and teaching the child. If they child needs additional help in some areas, they can receive that if their provider knows this about them. If they are advanced in a different area, the provider can offer… Read more

While completing the activity, I discovered that private residences are able to get licensed, but under specific circumstances, such as how the space will be used and it only being used for that purpose during set operative hours. This is also what I was most surprised by. Finally, yes, I can see how the WACs fit into my role as an early… Read more