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An informative, inclusive, & inspiring community based destination for those seeking growth, development & learning…curated early childhood caregiving information with a Professional Perspective
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SIMPLICITY, EFFICIENCY & AFFORDABLE are the keys to Childcare supply success.
Choosing smart & planning ahead are great tips to keep the supply stocking costs in check.
10 simple & spend worthy ideas for caregiving:
Lifelong learning is a simple, basic concept. Never stop thinking you know enough, & never stop be open to evaluating new information & forming more effective thought patterns.
As an educator, I am responsible for the daily planning, preparation and application of age and developmentally appropriate growth, development and learning of every child in my care. My goal is to have each child have success in this each day.
Similar to a comment you may often hear my say about nap time βwho decided adults do not need naps!?β – I fundamentally believe that βhow can adults expect children to learn if they do not challenge themselves to learn as well!?β. This simple principal has guided my pedagogy and has kept the joy of teaching alive for me as I experience is through a lens of learning alongside my students!
Empower yourself with a simple tool you can use to approach learning. You may even remember this concept from schoolβ¦
This is going to be a tool you will be able to apply in so many situations. You may even shock yourself at the ways you will find to implement this.
The more time you devote to thinking through the use of this concept- the more equipped you will be with this broadly applicable tool for informed thinking.
We all have set thoughts and schemas when it comes to the information we have consumed. We each have a unique set of life experiences, goals & circumstances which have led us to our current state of knowledge understanding.
What do you want to find out?
(Insert Scientific Method Here!)
Formulate or identify an idea of what you want to explore, seek & learn.
Identifying what you want to learn in a specific sense also helps keep you focused and interested in following through on the process of obtaining the new information. Noting a reason you want the information is another application of this focus inspiring task.
Summary time! What did you ascertain from the experience of this mental exercise?
Taking time to identify information learned is an extremely beneficial reinforcement practice. Finding a way to utilize and apply your new knowledge base is the absolute best way to solidify your new understanding in a meaningful manner.
Thinking critically is a great mindset for being a lifelong learner. We live in a day and age where information aboundsβ¦ so we only set ourselves metaphorically βahead of the gameβ and βahead of the packβ if we intentionally acquire new information in a systematic and routine sense.
How can you do this realistically?
Being a lifelong learner is an admirable practice and an incredible example. Get informedβ¦get includedβ¦get inspired!
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5 Developmental Domains to teach LITERACY!
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Play is the Work of the Child – LITERACY
Have you checked out the prior posts on this topic to get informed, included & INSPIRED on this month long Literacy study?
The next level application of all the great resources out there for modeling & instructing the simple yet crucial skills of literate behavior with children is understanding the skills & methods that can be utilized…
lets get into Ideas for Approaching Early childhood literacy instruction using the 5 Developmental Domains!
Verbal & written communication skills are the building blocks of social interactions for children.
Caregivers speak to & with children to communicate love, care, concern, rules & conversation.
Other children speak to & with each other (verbally & non verbally) to organize, plan & negotiate play.
Supporting a childβs exposure to lots of social interactions with support for skill development is a great way to prepare them for a lifetime of successful communication abilities!
Emotional literacy is an often overlooked component of literacy instruction.
It is easy for caregivers forget that the ability to appropriately, respectfully & effectively communicate emotional feelings, needs, ideas, etc is a learned through practice skill.
We cannot expect children to be able to achieve these milestone behaviors without instruction, support, practice & reinforcement.
Literate behavior helps children learn – encourages them to practice communicating – & as they continue to grow, develop & learn… emotional literacy helps children develop important skills for success at home, work & in society!
The term cognitive refers to all things brain related. Comprehension, communication, computation, & creation are some of the literacy skills that are developed under this domain.
The term βlanguage literacy developmentalβ paints a very clear picture of what is gleaned from this type of learning- LANGUAGE!
As children progress through the stages of language development- we see them learn to coo – grunt & groan – use signs – babble – string sounds & letters – combine 2 word sayings – complete full sentences – all the way up to graduating kindergarten…LOL!!!
Speak to children in a manner that models the communication skills you would like them to develop.
Do you want your children to use indoor voices? Donβt yell!
Do you want your children to ask before taking something? Donβt snatch things from them!
Want your child to come to you with questions, problems, & ideas? Talk with them, too!
Remember- language is a lesson best learned through experience π
Physical literacy is probably the least explicative domain by name. I think many would see the term βphysicalβ- and brush that off as not relating to cognition. However- for most children, engaging a hands on- physical fun approach to learning is very effective.
So now its time to get LITERATE! Try out our FREE Childrenβs Choice Boards for some great ideas!
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Chloe is excited to introduce herself as a valuable member of the team! She is committed to helping spread the word on all things SAFETY for children!
Caregivers of all backgrounds, relations & situations can use Chloβs sound safety advice, activities, lessons & support to help children develop safety skills- such an important part of all 5 domains of development!
In my very 1st teaching position- (a Preschool class whom I will forever cherish in my heart- as I will all the children who have been in my care!) I set out bright eyed & bushy tailed to be the BEST teacher I could be. I felt so empowered from my training, hands on experience to date, & excited to be placed in a small center where I would get a shot at my own class.
I sat down with the 12 3 year olds – & we read some stories about following rules & directions, had a discussion on what ideas the children had for safety & classroom fun. We created a simple set of rules together that day which I can simply describe as career defining for me.
To this day, I still have the original class rules poster from back in 2012 – & I still use the same rules at the school where I am the Director.
Ask any child from that school if they know the rules- & they will chant them with you with excitement & enthusiasm because that is the day to day model they are offered. Expectations are set at reasonable, achievable, & appropriate standards. From there- behavior management is able to be applied when necessary in order to help guide, redirect, or squash certain behaviors.
Important Notes:
-It is a great idea to establish rules when spending time with children. When they know expectations, children are best set up for success.
-I mentioned sitting down with the Preschool class. You can do this with the children you interact with as well! When children are included in the process of setting rules- they have a chance to feel independence in understanding. .
-Make sure to use clear & concise information. For children who are verbal- offer opportunities for questions & have children repeat the rules back & explain their comprehension in their own words
-I love Chloβs 3 Rules because they are able to set set as a foundational guidline- & are able to be customized to most situations
-Consistency in follow through on rules is just as critical as having the rules themselves!
FOR EXAMPLE:
-A parent may use the rule βBe Safeβ @ home to apply to children respecting certain no touch items, rooms, or other boundaries
-A babysitter, family member or friend of a child may use the rule βBe Safeβ when spending time with children to mean no running out into the street during outside play
-A teacher may use the rule βBe Safeβ with children to mean wash your hands after using the bathroom!
These are just 3 examples of the vast applicability of the 3 rules. Caregivers of all types- with children of all personalities- in all sorts of settings- can use these 3 rules to ensure safety, fun, & learning.
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Teach a Child to Read in 1 Easy Step! JK Just READ with them!
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Read & Write: Literacy for Life!
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5 Developmental Domains to teach LITERACY!
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Play is the Work of the Child – LITERACY
This week represents the 1 year anniversary of our last week of pre-Covid craziness time.
I vividly remember the splash of green going up across my school with St. Patricks day decorations, the preparation for impending spring, & a faint fear in the back of our minds of craziness happening βfar away from us, at leastβ.
Little did we know – nothing would ever be the same.
Well … here we are! At a crossroads of sorts. Do we continue to wait for the days of old to return- or do we settle in with acceptance into our new realities?
I can speak only for myself- & out of observation of what I see going on around me in my personal, professional, & family communities. I see many still in limbo – waiting for better school options, safer guidelines, higher vaccination rates. But what I also see quite metaphorically in my mind is the ticking clock.
These are times/stages in a childβs development where they are most apt to master certain skills- many of these skills being crucial foundational building block elements for subsequent skill mastery.
That clock I mentioned?…
…well – itβs ticking on our childrenβs educational foundations.
On the ways we know how to prepare our students for school & for professional success later on. In a major societal sense we have lost sight of our own ability to create impact on our educational trajectory. As our methods, policies & procedures of the past have proved fruitless- or in the least outdated, unsafe in the current climate, & generally ineffective in comparison to other countries educational systems- the time is now to stand up & take control.
We know that we have control over our thoughts. I see the crumbling of our outdated system of education as a positive swing in the world of Childcare. For too long we have avoided true change by questioning practices but never having the courage, backing, funding, or support to bring about actual, let alone radical, change.
So- those who can approach this new era of education with an attitude of reflection, with a spirit of unity, & with a mindset of possibility will be able to take control of their own destinies- & therefore help shape the lives of the children around them. We have an opportunity to facilitate the change we all wish to see.
Sit back & take the ride- or stand up & take control. The choice is yours…& remember- change starts in your own mind. Do not get overwhelmed with the overarching educational impacts I allude to. You can make a huge impact one child at a time.
Letβs circle back to thIs weekβs topic at hand – LITERACY! Oxford Dictionary defines literacy as βthe ability to read & writeβ & alternately – as βcompetence or knowledge in a specific area.β
Literacy is a part of every personβs life. Our days are filled with the need for communication (which requires literacy), the need to work together with others as a team (which requires literacy), & the need to navigate through our communities for work, to get food & drink, & to find shelter (which- you guess it! … requires literacy!) You reading this blog right now requires literacy!
The need for a thoughtful approach to the integration of literacy from a young age is crucial for a strong literate foundation for children. As we already discussed- our educational system is upside down right now as it works to reinvent itself to meet new needs. But there is one constant that remains. The importance of reading & writing.
In order to enlighten and educate a next generation of movers & shakers, of go getters & visionaries- we start with literacy.
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(ππ- ππ¦π€π₯ βπΌπΈπ» π¨ππ₯π π₯πππ!)
Have you ever seen a commercial or ad offering a system to βteach a baby to read!β?
I would have to imagine that anyone who has … may have rolled their eyes at the idea … thought to themselves βwhen would I have time for that!β … or due to the typical high cost of these programs- overlooked the idea due to general inaccessibility from price.
I myself had a mix of all 3 of those reactions the 1st time I saw these advertisements- & that … + my LOVE of reading + March being Read Across America month – as well as the celebration of the infamous Dr. Seussβs birthday … is what has inspired this post!
In the spirit of the month long celebration of LITERACY this will be a 4 part series…
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Teach a Child to Read in 1 Easy Step! JK Just READ with them!
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Read & Write: Literacy for Life!
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5 Developmental Domains to teach LITERACY!
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Play is the Work of the Child – LITERACY
An important premise of the Mindset Movement Caregiving approach π₯ππππππππ ππ stands for is the following:
Literacy is one of the most precious … highly necessary … distinguished, evolved, & now often under appreciated tasks of higher human cognitive function.
Literacy is a vast & impactful world for children & adults alike.
When working with young children – caregivers are able to invest their thoughts & time towards:
There is a book, a song, a lesson, an art project, & 100 parents & teachers on social media who are willing to share advice & ideas for FREE.
So the message of βππ£π₯ π in this month long Literacy thought series is simply to get busy reading with children! (AKA – Do not overcomplicate starting to βTeach Your Baby to Read!β)
Start by finding enjoyable content for yourself to consume, & then find engaging content to share with the children you interact with!
How do you start a print & language rich habit, home, & world view approach?
You START ON PAGE 1!
Here is the BEST PART – when caregivers invest themselves into the thought of who, what, where, when, why, & how of what they are doing with children- they so quickly realize that the key to educational caregiving is modeling the journey to be your best self – so that a child learns by example to do the same.
Let me sum it up with a list of a few of my favorite literacy lesson takeaways for children!
The look on the face of a child who has stepped outside of their comfort zone with a challenging task is priceless.
Remember- language and literacy development are LEARNED skills!
Be patient – be a good model – practice, progress & praise!
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βWhat are you up to tonight?β
-The quintessential free time question!
ππ¦ππ€ππ£πππ πΉπππ π¨ to get MONTHLY GAME CHOICE BOARDS right in your inbox!
Game pieces go missing, boards rip, rules got lost- some children can play & some children are not able.
Think bigger than the basics:
GAMES DO NOT NEED TO BE COMPLICATED OR EXPENSIVE! Compile extra pieces, broken parts, & baubles that can work as play pieces. Search online for free printables. Combine games to create your own!
Get together with the children & family members who will participate – & decide what type of games youβd like to play! Use the π₯ππππππππ ππ CHOICE BOARDS to get inspired- to follow directly- or to create your own!
All you need is an idea, a few materials and willing participants. & of course, as with all approaches to caregiving entertainment, the ability to have FUN!!
Use games to reinforce topics you want the children to improve upon!
βPlay is the highest form of research.β
-Albert einstein
π₯ππππππππ ππ CHOICE BOARDS are a FREE printable resource! Please download, think it over, & BE SAFE, HAVE FUN, & LEARN with the children in your care while you play to learn, grow, & develop!
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