Temperament

What is Social Emotional Learning (SEL)?

Types of Play

Everybody is a Learner

If We Truly Cherished Children

The Term You Are Looking For is Dysregulation

Listening Ears

Present vs Busy

The Best and the Worst

Discipline vs Punishment

Wellness Wheel

Letting Go….

Roses and Thorns

Attacks on DAP

Normalized isn’t Normal

Normalized isn’t Normal

Serve and Return

As we move into the new year, we must reflect upon our relationships with young children. If we want to create secure attachments and meaningful connections, we need to shift our lens from “in charge of” to “responsible for.”

This view enables us to see a child’s behaviors as needs to be met through guidance and support instead of a child as defiant and in need of punishment. When we know better, we should do better.

Let’s do better in 2023!

I regularly ask early childhood professionals and parents about their image of the children in their care. How do they view the children? What words would they use to describe young children? Before the caregivers dig into the reflection process, I ask them to think outside the realm of children being "sponges" or "vessels." This request is the first piece in the process where I get lots of questioning looks.

One sentiment I share so often with teachers is reinforced in this book: It's not about a child's behavior, it is about an adult's decisions. The majority of behaviors that we (adults) find challenging are DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE. We are challenged by our inability to understand the child, their behavior, and how we can support them.