Remembering Rituals

Can you remember a special ritual from your own childhood or one that works with your own children or the children in your care? Please share… we’d love to hear about it!

What is Your favorite memory as a child of building a fort or secret place?

Share your favorite memory here!

Supporting Professionalism in Early Childhood

If we want to kick the stigma of being “babysitters,” we need to step it up and display professionalism in our work every day. Share what you are doing in your Early Childhood program or in your training agency to promote professionalism.

STEM in Early Childhood Education… Your Thoughts?

How have you incorporated STEM in your program in developmentally appropriate ways? We’d love to hear about it!

Back When…

Let’s have a conversation about what things were like when you were in school as a child. What has changed? What do you wish still happened?

Media Violence… Are children becoming desensitized?

Does the repeated exposure to media violence make it less significant to children? Is it, over the long run, lessening the reaction to (and perhaps increasing the acceptability of  participation in) real-life serious violence… making it “no big deal.” What do YOU think?

How can we put an end to shaken baby syndrome?

Sadly, Shaken Baby Syndrome is one of the fastest growing forms of child abuse in our country. It often takes place in our child care programs… places where we thought our children would be safe and cared for. How have you found success in getting the message across that quality child care matters? Do you have some helpful resources in your community to share for parents looking for safe, quality care? Share your thoughts on this topic!

Should Young Children be tested? What do you think about high stakes testing?

Using Technology with Young Children… Your Thoughts?

It’s part of our lives and our children’s lives. It is integral to how we conduct business, our lives, and how we communicate with each other. But, how much is too much and when is too soon? Is it taking the place, for some children, the kinds of face-to-face and hands-on interaction they need for optimal development? Share your thoughts and observations with us!

How important is student teaching or practicum for students in early childhood education training?

If you have participated in a practicum or student teaching, what do you see as the positives and negatives? Did it contribute to you being a better teacher? If you are an instructor, what is your opinion?