[Yan Zhao]

I don’t think young children need screen time, especially in the classroom. The best way for them to learn is through hands-on experiences, particularly at an early age. Interacting with real people and engaging with the physical environment are essential for their growth. The classroom provides the ideal setting for children to explore, discover new things, and develop a wide range of abilities. Real-life experiences help shape both their mental and physical habits. After all, even adults find electronic devices distracting, so limiting their use for young children is especially important.

[Yan Zhao]

To foster a “serve and return” environment in an early education classroom, caregivers need to understand each child’s developmental stage in order to be able to quickly interpret the children’s actions, sounds, and gestures, and respond with appropriate support. The most important part is to let every child feel cared for and secure at any time.

[Yan Zhao]

I would like to show empathy to the parent and try to help find a solution that benefits the parent and the child. And also clarify the school’s schedule and policy to make sure the parent is aware of that. Here is my sample response. Mrs. Hopkins, I can see how busy your schedule must be lately. We all have days that don’t go as planned. I just wanted to check in to see if everything’s okay or if there’s anything we can do to help make pickup time a little easier. Our closing time is at 5:30, and we want to make sure both you and your child end the day calmly and comfortably. Maybe we can work together to find a plan that works better for you.

[Yan Zhao]

The WACs remind professionals that honoring diversity and maintaining open, reciprocal communication with families are not just best practices; they’re required standards for creating safe, supportive, and inclusive programs where all children can thrive.

[Yan Zhao]

Yes, I was a bit surprised by how early some regulations apply and how strict certain areas are. For example, I didn’t expect that an infant as young as six weeks could be accepted into care. I was also surprised that ongoing staff training is required every year, even after completing the initial STARS hours. It made me realize that working in child care means serious responsibility and involves continual learning, not just one-time certification. Another surprise was the attention to cultural sensitivity in toilet training, which shows how inclusive and family-centered the regulations are meant to be.