Saying sorry. Swearing and potty talk. Little lies and full blown deception.
Whole Child Development
by notjustcute Filed Under: Child Development & DAP, Positive Guidance and Social Skills, Uncategorized 5 Comments
by notjustcute Filed Under: Uncategorized, Weekend Reads Leave a Comment
We all have them. Those moments when we realize we’ve taken some of life’s most miraculous moments for granted. I’ve been blessed to bring home four healthy baby boys. Fairly uneventful beyond the profound wonder that is birth.
by notjustcute Filed Under: Child Development & DAP, Create, Learning through Play and Experience, Uncategorized 3 Comments
Whether you’re a teacher or a parent, if you’re interested in promoting creativity, problem solving, curiosity, critical thinking, and tinkering in the lives of the children you love and teach, then get ready —- you’re going to love Rachelle Doorley’s new book,Tinkerlab: A Hands-On Guide for Little Inventors(*affiliate link).
by notjustcute Filed Under: Create, Uncategorized 11 Comments
It’s funny how we often debate things with a black/white, either/or paradigm.
Like whether preschool is for play or learning, for instance.
Or order vs chaos. (Controlled chaos for me, please.)
Or a little bit country vs a little bit rock n roll.
Or arts and crafts.
Yes, for many in the early education/child development world, the debate about arts and crafts rages on, with nary a UN negotiator to step in and help.
Like most debates, however, camping out in either extreme generally misses the point.
by notjustcute Filed Under: Building Readers, Learning through Play and Experience, Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Here’s the promised second installment from the fabulous Beryl Young, creator of Momtographie*. (Find Part 1 here.)
by notjustcute Filed Under: Quick Thought / Hot Topic, Uncategorized 4 Comments
by notjustcute Filed Under: Uncategorized, Weekend Reads 1 Comment
by notjustcute Filed Under: Create, Uncategorized 7 Comments
Any invitation to create yields wonderful benefits for children! Self-expression, fine motor skills, and creative thinking are all brought to the table every time. Art can even be therapeutic! But there’s something special that happens when you work on a bigger scale. With big art projects, larger motor movements are often encouraged, strengthening both the small muscles in the hand, used in most art projects, but also inviting the larger muscle groups in the arms, and sometimes even the whole body! With a larger project and bigger movements, kids who typically steer clear of the art table are often more easily enticed. Big art projects also add a social and linguistic element as kids often work together to fill up such a big canvas. And with such big projects and big movements, outdoors is often an ideal studio — perfect for this time of year! [Read more…]
by notjustcute Filed Under: Child Development & DAP, Uncategorized 14 Comments
I have a very dear friend, whom I’ve known since I was a gangly, tree-climbing girl. We played tee ball together, had dance recitals together, and, though we spent our teenage years in different states, ended up rooming together in college.
by notjustcute Filed Under: Learning through Play and Experience, Uncategorized 7 Comments
I’m so excited to introduce you to one amazing woman who wears many hats! Beryl Young is a mom, teacher, photographer, and the brains behind the amazing Momtographie workshop. She’s here to share some great tips for helping kids experience, explore, and learn through photography. This is part one of a two-part series, so be sure to come back for more of her awesome advice! (And be sure to check out her FREE workshop listed below!)
In my previous life, before becoming a ‘photography coach for moms’ I was a public school teacher for 10 years. I spent 3 of those years in classrooms with Kindergarten and First graders and then spent another 7 years as a technology specialist for both students and staff.
In my final year working in a school, my favorite days were Mondays. [Read more…]
In early education, there is too much distance between what we know and what we do. I bridge the gaps that exist between academia, decision-makers, educators, and parents so that together, we can improve the quality of early education while also respecting and protecting the childhood experience.
Content Copyrighted (2008-2024), Amanda Morgan, All Rights Reserved