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Whole Child Development

Age Does Matter…

by Filed Under: Child Development & DAP 72 Comments

I’ve been back in the public schools lately, as my oldest son is now a kindergartener.  It struck me right away that what I was doing with first graders just seven years ago is now considered kindergarten territory.  As was mentioned in the article I linked to previously by Alicia Bayer, “In America, we currently have this idea that our children are struggling academically so the answer lies in pushing them more and more, at earlier and earlier ages… If our children are struggling academically, it does not make sense to make them do more of the same things that are failing them and from a younger age.”

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Curbing Computer Time: Using Choices Within Boundaries

by Filed Under: Child Development & DAP, Positive Guidance and Social Skills, Uncategorized 10 Comments

It started quite simply really.  Showing my son a few educational videos I found online.  Then some educational games.  Now my oldest son has become rather adept at using the computer to find his favorite games and sites, and  would gladly play all day long if he were allowed.  I’m sure there are some benefits to his new-found love: he learns some educational concepts and has some technology proficiency I suppose.  He may even have more computer know-how than his grandmother.  But I just don’t like letting him have too much computer time.  (Ironic I know, given the fact that I probably spend more time on the computer than anyone else in the house.)

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Repost Reminder: The Spectrum of Preschool Arts and Crafts

by Filed Under: Child Development & DAP, Create 15 Comments

Little Artist ginam

There’s a fascinating article from Newsweek entitled, The Creativity Crisis.  It was actually published in the summer, but I just stumbled upon it recently.  It’s left me with all kinds of writing prompts swimming around in my head, but I thought I’d actually start with something I’ve already written.  Here’s a look at what the term “arts and crafts” means to me, originally published August 12, 2009.

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Ten Things Every Child Needs: What's On Your List?

by Filed Under: Child Development & DAP, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

I recently taught a class which featured a video titled, “Ten Things Every Child Needs” (a special project of the McCormick Tribune Foundation’s Education Program).  I enjoyed discussing the topic with the teachers I was training with, and thought I would pose the question to you as well.  What would be on your list?  What types of things do you believe are most essential to a child’s healthy and whole development?  Don’t worry about making another top 10 list, but what would be your #1, or top 3?  I’m interested in hearing from you!

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Ten Things Every Child Needs: What’s On Your List?

by Filed Under: Child Development & DAP, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

I recently taught a class which featured a video titled, “Ten Things Every Child Needs” (a special project of the McCormick Tribune Foundation’s Education Program).  I enjoyed discussing the topic with the teachers I was training with, and thought I would pose the question to you as well.  What would be on your list?  What types of things do you believe are most essential to a child’s healthy and whole development?  Don’t worry about making another top 10 list, but what would be your #1, or top 3?  I’m interested in hearing from you!

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Difficult Behaviors — I Want Your Input!

by Filed Under: Child Development & DAP, Positive Guidance and Social Skills 28 Comments

I’m excitedly working on a new project aimed at helping teachers and parents positively and effectively address difficult child behaviors and build social skills for the long haul.  I really want to get your perspective on the topic so that I can be sure that what I write is pertinent to you!  Please take just a moment to answer the questions below and/or comment at the end.  Thanks so much for contributing to a project that has really meant a lot to me!  I hope to have this project completed and ready to share with you within the next two months!

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No More Tears…an Unfair Request

by Filed Under: Child Development & DAP, Positive Guidance and Social Skills 18 Comments

sad

Kids lose it.  They cry.  And that can be a stressful thing.  Especially when you were already on your last nerve sometime yesterday.  But there’s something I hear parents say that makes me cringe a little.  It comes in many forms: “No tears,”  “Big boys don’t cry,”  or the many other variations of “Stop crying now.”  It’s understandable to a degree.  The crying is stressful.  But there are a few things we have to realize. 

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High Quality Early Education: Dollars and Sense

by Filed Under: Child Development & DAP, Learning through Play and Experience Leave a Comment

Let me start off by making one thing clear.  Young children deserve a high quality early education because it is our responsibility as adults to care for them and give them what they need.  It’s a matter of moral responsibility.  Children need quality experiences to be whole and healthy and to meet the outer limits of their grand potentials, both as children and as adults.  That said, there have been a series of interesting articles recently, coming from unlikely sources.  It’s not NAEYC or Zero to Three issuing these papers, it’s economists and business leaders. 

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