You can use measuring tools or scales so students can physically show their teach or caregiver how they feel without acting out. It can also be super helpful to help identify behaviors or actions associated with a certain emotion they are feeling so they can recognize it in the future. For example hitting or making a fist can be a sign… Read more

When you start to experience this fatigue you need to take a step back and ask another caregiver present to take over the situation or if you’re the only provider take a deep breath and try to calm yourself for the rest of the day. You should also talk to a friend or trusted colleague about your feelings so you can work through what’s… Read more

Some examples of responsive exchanges would be playing with children on their level, looking them in the eye, and giving them the opportunity to talk/express themselves before responding.

I’ve found that having a designated time each week just for myself is helpful in reducing my stress. I won’t answer calls or texts and I just do an activity that I enjoy. It helps me ground myself and relax.

The piece of advice I would give teachers trying to connect to students is to build trust with that student by consistently showing them attention and kindness. Once you’ve established this, take an interest in what the child likes to do and their opinion as they will be much more likely to open up to you.

I think policies can be helpful in several scenarios. It is also helpful to have a policy or guideline to refer to if there was a accident or emergency. It provides structure and helps you make better decisions rather that assumptions on what to do.

For a child at this age you should use a crib with a firm mattress free of any hazardous toys or materials.

Encouraging children to get up and move or dance between activities can help them get rid of some of their extra energy. Ensuring there is open space where children can move and play freely when appropriate is essential. It can also be helpful for some of the activities in the daily schedule to require movement or exercise.

Healthy habits can be fun when they are presented as a game or activity. Songs related to the healthy habits such as washing your hands may also make the activity more fun depending on the age group.

After welcoming the family and showing them around the classroom. I would highlight safety features such as emergency exits, first aid kits, and show only safe appropriate items were in reach of the children.

I would take note of any evidence or support I had to back up my concerns so I could make a complete and detailed report when I call CPS. I would have a brief but non-invasive conversation with the child to try to get any more information on the situation. I would then confer with my administrator to report my concerns before calling CPS.

My biggest worry about keeping children safe is not being able to protect all of the children if the school or facility is targeted by a dangerous or violent person. I can only control what happens in my classroom not what people outside of it decide to do and that scares me especially when these acts have become so common.

My advice is to first build trust between the provider and the family. This allows for respectful, effective communication about the child and their needs. I would also advise providers to remain non-judgmental even in difficult situations or conversations as families will be able to tell if you’re not and it may further sour the working relationship.

I would want clear communication from my child’s teacher, updates and evidence on their progress or areas to work on, and I would also want to see that my child’s teacher treated them with kindness and respect. Three fears I would have would be that the teacher did not provide proper supervision and my child was upset or harmed, did not work… Read more

In order for you to get children involved you have to understand what they are interested in or what grabs their attention. Incorporating their interests into a lesson or relating it to the activity can help encourage the child to meaningfully engage. You can also attempt to make lessons into a different format such as a game or physical… Read more

A daily schedule should have structure around when certain types of activities occur such as snack, meals, outside play, and free play. The activities within this general outline should vary to include staff-initiated, self-initiated, small group, and full class activities. This helps maintain a general structure for the child’s comfort… Read more

A component of a good early learning environment is somewhere children feel safe and comfortable. If a child feels tense or uncomfortable is a classroom they will have difficult engaging with the material or their peers. A safe, comfortable environment can achieved by having inviting decorations and age appropriate tools and materials.

It’s important to be respectful and prepared to show evidence and answer questions when having this discussion. A parent is going to want to know why you are making the recommendation so having clear evidence is important. I would then provide local/community resources for them to look into and give them some time to think over our… Read more

Observing and documenting a child’s development will help providers have a better understanding of where the child falls on the continuum. It can help a provider keep track of areas the need further development so they can adjust their teaching. It is also helpful for meetings with administrators and parents.

Screen time should be limited and only occasionally used to enhance a lesson. Children should first learn social skills, how to self-regulate without a screen, and to interact with their direct environment and peers before relying on screens for their primary source of information. I think a lot gets lost and can cause delays in children… Read more

Providers can create this type of environment by striving to be engaged and connect with each child. Providers can show interest in what the child is saying and doing during play time or encouraging the child after they show interest in something will go a long way in creating a serve and return environment.

I would start by having a respectful conversation about the importance of picking up their child on time and let the parent know how this could potentially negatively impact their child. During this conversation I would attempt to identify the root cause of the problem in order to address it. If the problem continues following the… Read more

1. Collaboration with a child’s family is discussed in WAC 110-300-0085. Diversity in early learning in discussed in 110-300-0030.2. The primary message about diversity and collaboration is to respect every child’s background, don’t exclude or discriminate and child or family based on their diverse background, and to always share information… Read more