Teaching kids about identifying emotions and using regulation strategies while they are well regulated helps set the stage for them to learn to use these skills while they are disregulated. Having visual supports and manipulatives can help children learn and remember these important skills.

If I start having compassion fatigue, I turn focus towards supporting myself in the same way I care to support others when they are having hard times. I ask for help and look for outside support as well, so I am not alone in the struggle.

Listening to children and responding with care, empathy, and being willing to support the child in forming secure connections can help them build resilience.

Debriefing with coworkers who understand what you’re going through really helps.

Frequently talk to and play with all of the children, taking care to notice what they respond positively to and what is meaningful to them.

Yes, because in stressful situations, it is helpful to have guidelines to follow.

A crib with firm, flat mattress and well-fitted sheet.

You can pay attention to what the children in your care enjoy and provide opportunities for them to engage in those things.

You can make healthy habits fun by making them like a game and modeling the habits in a positive way.

I would highlight the routines in place that ensured everyone knew how to implement saftey protocols so that the parents saw that the policies weren’t just on paper.

Document and talk to my supervisor to get assistance making a report.

My biggest worry is not preventing preventable injuries.

Being proactive about letting families know about resources before you even suspect any family is in need can help normalize the options and keep points of contact feeling positive.

The 3 most important things to me would be that my child felt like they were welcome, that they had the opportunity to do a variety of things throughout the day, and that they were safe physically and emotionally. My 3 fears would be that my child was excluded, that they were stuck with no options, and that they were not protected from harm.

Offering activities with prompts to inspire play can get children engaged in the activities. Introducing a new material to a small group and then asking questions and talking with the kids can extend the activity further and even inspire ideas for future activities.

Having environmental supports, such as visual schedules and strategically laying out your room, can help maintain a daily schedule.

I think it is especially important to have different areas that children can choose to go to based on their energy levels and what is interesting to them.

Before speaking to a parent, it would be helpful to prepare by gathering documentation of the observations and talking it through with coworkers. Approaching the conversation with the parent in a positive manner, mentioning the child’s strengths, and seeing if the parent has any concerns of their own would help set the stage to provide… Read more

Observing and documenting a child’s development is necessary because it makes it possible to be aware of the needs and interests of the child. This helps providers create meaningful and effective learning experiences.

I don’t think there should be screen time in early learning, because the recommendation is so limited that it should be reserved for time at home.

Caregivers can provide a serve and return environment by making it structured so children are able to navigate and caregivers are able to pay attention to the kid’s behaviors.

This is the third time in the last two weeks that Mrs. Hopkins has picked up her child late. Today she did not arrive until 20 minutes after closing time. I would check in with Mrs. Hopkins to understand why she has been running late and make a plan with her to ensure the child is reliably picked up on time.Lily is 20 months old. This is… Read more

WACs emphasize the importance of working together with families to create welcoming environments that celebrate diversity, as this is beneficial to children’s development.

I discovered that the WACs are required for a lot of situations. None of the WACs really surprised me, they seem to make sense in ensuring that children are adequately protected. I can see how the WACs will influence my day-to-day, since I am required to know them as they pertain to my job.