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Many families feel the high cost of quality early childhood education is out of reach. In Arizona, one tool to help break this barrier is the Department of Economic Security (ADES) child care subsidy. All centers and group homes licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and all ADES certified family child care
In Quality First, we use the VISION model to guide the quality improvement journey, and every journey needs a roadmap. In this first stage, you’ll focus on vision casting. As back-to-school season is upon us, educators are busy making plans for the year. The season is full with planning for the year’s special events, planning curriculum
“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 as two opposing ideas? Is it because playing is fun, often spontaneous, and because it feels
“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 is a place where we can truly be ourselves and enjoy close relationships. A home
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 can create renewed interest and support children’s learning. Here are ways to make the most
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 with behavior challenges in your classroom or care group, it’s important to know you are
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 strategy is dictation. Dictation–the process of writing children’s words and reading it back to them—helps
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 understanding of nutritious foods. The more experiences young children have, the more likely they will
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 children to nature. “My passion is to provide the highest quality early childhood program possible,
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 that provide services for young children from birth to age 5 (before kindergarten) and their