Blog

Information and inspiration for early care and education professionals.

Setting the stage: Learning through free play

“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play really is the work of childhood.” – Fred Rogers Why do we think of play and learning[...]
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Family child care: Where we love is our home

“Where we love is our home—home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.” — Oliver Wendell Holmes What does the word home make you think about? For many of us, home means comfort, safety, warmth and familiarity. It[...]
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Water play activities to support learning

Offering water play in the classroom and outdoors provides an engaging way to introduce science and math concepts. It provides opportunities for problem-solving, creative thinking and practicing social skills and language development. As with any type of activity, offering variety[...]
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Tools to reduce preschool expulsions

Did you know that preschoolers are three times more likely to be expelled than children in kindergarten through 12th grade? In many cases, preschoolers are suspended or expelled due to challenging behaviors that educators feel unequipped to handle. When faced[...]
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Tips for supporting literacy development

As an early childhood educator, your role is to lay the foundation for future literacy development. Helping children birth to age 5 connect written and spoken language and having meaningful experiences with print can be a challenge, but one effective[...]
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Nurturing a love of nutrition

From the hands-on examination and exploration of a watermelon, a pumpkin, corn on the cob, apples and applesauce, to color-themed food parties, children love to explore and discover different foods. Research shows that experiences like food tastings support an early[...]
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Outdoor classroom is fertile ground for learning

Plants, mud, bugs – the outdoors can be a wondrous place for children to explore and try gardening. Early educators, like Kelly Simmons, understand the importance of kids getting grass under their feet and are making deliberate choices to connect[...]
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Find early childhood programs in communities across Arizona

A new online tool can connect Arizona parents and families with a variety of no-cost early childhood programs to help them nurture their child’s learning and healthy development. First Things First supports programs across Arizona through grants to community organizations[...]
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