Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
  • YouTube

Not Just Cute

Whole Child Development

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Speaking
  • Podcast
  • Books
  • Contact
  • New? Start Here.

Childhood is Meant to Take Time

June 18, 2020 by notjustcute Filed Under: Child Development & DAP, Uncategorized 2 Comments

It’s ironic that there are still some people who seem to believe that the faster you can move children through childhood, the more advanced they’ll be.

[Read more…]

I wish I didn’t have to write this.

June 5, 2020 by notjustcute Filed Under: Uncategorized Leave a Comment

This is the full text of the newsletter I sent out today.

 

I’ve been meaning to send out a newsletter all week.  It’s been staring at me from my to-do list.  But what I had planned to send out didn’t feel right anymore given the social context.  So, I’ve been trying to find the right words to share.

As I’ve wrestled with those words, I’ve been offered an out —
“You don’t have to say anything.”

[Read more…]

Play is the Therapy We All Need Right Now

April 10, 2020 by notjustcute Filed Under: Child Development & DAP, Learning through Play and Experience, Uncategorized 1 Comment

It’s been said that we’re all going through a collective traumatic event right now.  And while we try to shield our young children from much of it, they are still touched on some level.

[Read more…]

Books Plus Gifts for Young Scientists!

December 12, 2019 by notjustcute Filed Under: Building Readers, Celebrate!, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

Over the years, I’ve been sharing some of my favorite books along with the perfect gifts to go with them.  It really is one of my favorite recipes for gifts for children: 1 great book + 1 fun toy = sure-fire winner with loads of use!

On top of that, this list includes links to Amazon, which is another favorite ingredient: not running around to stores.  Especially this time of year, the more I can order without ever getting into a car (or a parking lot) the better!

[Read more…]

Online Preschool: Panacea for Inequality or Placebo for Guilt?

July 16, 2019 by notjustcute Filed Under: Child Development & DAP, Learning through Play and Experience, Uncategorized 1 Comment

Tapping the matching letters.  Swiping rhyming words together.

This isn’t preschool. [Read more…]

Data doesn’t make the decision.

May 28, 2019 by notjustcute Filed Under: Child Development & DAP, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

Data doesn’t make the decisions for you.

That was one of the big takeaways from my conversation with Emily Oster, researcher, author, and mother.  As an economist at Brown University, Emily explores the science of making good decisions based on the data.  In her newest book, Cribsheet, she explores how to apply that science to the decisions that face us as parents.

[Read more…]

The Paradox of Sitting Still in Preschool

March 27, 2019 by notjustcute Filed Under: Child Development & DAP, Learning through Play and Experience, Music and Movement, Uncategorized 4 Comments

Sometimes, when people picture what learning looks like, they imagine perfectly quiet children in perfectly arranged rows, sitting perfectly still.

Sounds perfect.

But research tells us that’s not always what learning looks like.  Especially when it comes to young children.

[Read more…]

Advanced Content Coverage at Kindergarten: What Can We Really Learn from this Controversial New Study?

February 27, 2019 by notjustcute Filed Under: Building Readers, Child Development & DAP, Learning through Play and Experience, Uncategorized 3 Comments

The debate over the roles of play and academics in kindergarten is not new.  While my first response to this tired argument is always that it is a false dichotomy, a more specific challenge has recently entered the arena and therefore deserves a more specific response.

[Read more…]

Can the Wrong Metrics Kill Learning?

January 23, 2019 by notjustcute Filed Under: Child Development & DAP, Uncategorized 5 Comments

This year didn’t quite start out the way I had hoped.  BUT, I did manage to cross off a goal millions of people set at the beginning of the year, and after only a few weeks in.

[Read more…]

Kids Deserve More than an Internet Connection

December 17, 2018 by notjustcute Filed Under: Child Development & DAP, Learning through Play and Experience, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

The headlines have actually been coming for years, but a new round has been catching everyone’s attention the past few weeks.

“Old-fashioned toys, not video games, best for kids, pediatricians say.”
“So-called ‘educational’ toys rarely really are.”
“Old-fashioned toys better for development than high-tech gadgets, study finds.”
“The best toys are those that support play, new report says.”

Just in time for the biggest gift-giving season of the year, the American Academy of Pediatrics released toy guidelines that suggest that high-tech trends are promoting toys for children that are over-stimulating, ineffective when it comes to development, and in some cases, actually lead to skill delays.

[Read more…]

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • …
  • 48
  • Next Page »

search this site

Privacy & Cookies: This site may use cookies to customize your experience. Learn more by reading our Privacy Policy.

I’m Amanda Morgan. Here’s what I’m about…

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 (2008-2025), Amanda Morgan, All Rights Reserved

Get Our Newsletter & Developmental Guide

  • Home
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2026 · Swank WordPress Theme By, PDCD

Loading Comments...