Different Ideas

Young children may see things differently, and that's ok. 

Infants and Toddlers Reggio Philosophy

Young children need the very best ways to learn: 

Tasty Tuesday! WOYC 2017

WOYC 2017 Tasty Tuesday!
Young children pride themselves when they accidentally learn new concepts. Sensory activities-the messier the better!   On this particular day, the children measured all of the ingredients needed for a 'chocolate cake.'  While I don't encourage indulging in 'mud pies,' I am sure the children had a real blast!  What are you doing for Tasty Tuesday? 

It's World Book Day!

Ideas for WOYC 2017 (Week of the Young Child)

What are you doing to celebrate young children? Next week marks the one week that we 'Celebrate' services to young children? Simple ideas: Books, baggies of books(books for the classrooms and to take home) paint kits, notebooks for doodling, stuffed animals (with sewn eyes, nose, nor mouth but no 'beads' and items that can fall of), photographs of nature, diversity, people working nontraditional roles, and similar items(these items would be posted in the classrooms at the children's eye levels). While most programs won't deny materials such as these, if you are interested and want to make sure the materials that you , contact a local provider (or more), and ask about the materials that they are able to receive. Particularly in North Carolina, all star rated programs are required to have photographs such as those mentioned above for the promotion of diversity. Storytelling, local businesses donating lunch during the week, and other similar actions are other ideas. If found this article to be a motivator, let me know what you think!!

http://www.hibbingmn.com/news/local/celebrating-early-childhood-education/article_a2b10c7c-26ff-11e7-8db4-8749cf34ce22.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=user-share

ECE Management Tip

E.C. EDUCATORS -OPERATIONAL MANAGERS NEED TO BE ABLE TO BUILD TRUST AND BUSINESS IMAGE
by relating to the wonderful educators that serve the families that have entrusted them.  As the Week of the Young Child approaches, celebrate the wonderful educators that serve in your program.  Perhaps, a special lunch/dinner/etc. could help secure your teacher for many more years to come. 

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12250103_1011664798885472_3734000497224544838_n.jpg?oh=a151dac1c2a2779438f4fe4f0fad1f3f&oe=59868F4F

Who's the Food Police?

http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/early-edition/audio/peter-reynolds-preschools-dont-want-to-be-the-food-police/#.WPV2WBsx49c.facebook

Being healthy, and making good health food choices for young children can be difficult. Once upon a time, I was given the esteemed honor of creating a variety of meal plans for young children. One of the obstacles that I faced was many of my teachers were not very comfortable with some of the food choices presented. I very quickly learned, when teachers support the concept, the transition would be quite smooth. After a few adjustments, we were offering such healthy and tas...ty home cooked meals, everyone was eventually on board (the children, parents, staff, and the organization)
For children that must have specialty diets, it is always a task to make sure that the lunches contained the components required by state and federal guidelines each day at drop off time. The components that must be present with lunch meals, for example need to ensure that the proper grains, fruits/veggies, milk, etc. are contained therein. We've seen cases where children's lunch box meals did not meet the requirements. Throughout my years of directing ECE programs, I found that nutrition matters. When young children are eating healthy food items, they seemed to make better choices, were more physically active outside, and were less sick. Families and program directors (to include other staff as well as overhead management as well), must collaborate in order to offer healthy and tasty food choices. Professional environments need to maintain a high standard in order to promote positively healthy children as well as serve as a safe haven for families that may struggle with proper nutrition. I enjoyed the article presented here. Take a peek!

http://netnebraska.org/article/news/1071802/rural-communities-provide-new-childcare-options-residents

http://netnebraska.org/article/news/1071802/rural-communities-provide-new-childcare-options-residents

Classy Surface, Unkept Internally: Tales of Corporate/Franchise Child Care

When children are enrolled in early childhood education programs, there are many types of programs that families shop in order to make an informed decision that they believe to be affordable and feel comfortable leaving their most prized possession!  Child care is an enormous investment, with most families spending $1K or more per month.  The surface of most programs is nice.  A nicely dressed and charming director in a corporate setting is sure to tell you all about their program, and provide many reasons why their program is the best.  Overall, the child care industry is one in which most caregivers put forth their very best effort to teach, nurture, and even entertain children every single day.  There are several types of child care offered in the US.  Children who attend group care may either attend a home care group or a child care group. There are over 100 child care corporations in the US.  Most large corporations tend to own facilities in multiple states.  There are some marked differences between enrolling a child in a corporate or franchised owned child care programs versus privately owned.  In general, corporate/franchise child care operate under an umbrella where the directors and owners are required to follow certain company rules and regulations, and educators in the classrooms are required to implement the 'company's' views.  Many of the company's rules inhibit educators from doing high quality work in the classrooms.  The educators typically receive 'canned curricula,' where they are required to implement the company's 'curriculum writer's' views (and are in conjunction with the company's philosophy). For example, many corporations required educators in the classroom, conduct lengthy group times, often the assignments or projects are not age appropriate, and even more disturbing, many programs do not operate the same way in all states.  Corporations that operate high quality standards based upon the states' laws, but are willing to jeopardize the education of young children in states where the states' laws are not as stringent.  An example would be:  If a corporate program operates in Washington, DC and are required to have two educators in the classroom until all children have been released from each classroom and a program that operates in Georgia, which allows the operation of one teacher in a classroom with high student/teacher ratios, should adhere to the higher standard.
What's More?
In my years of serving children and their families, I found it rather disturbing the methods of 'budget control' executed to attempt to 'break even.'  In most cases, attacking labor hours was the primary method of controlling the budget.  While it may have been the most significant action to increase in staying within budget lines, it was the one action that teachers hated the most. In my desire to keep things fair during my directorship days, I would rotate early leaves so that certain departments/classrooms shared early dismissals and forced days off in some cases. I would often tell families that if my teachers aren't happy because of my 'behind the scenes requirements,' their demeanor towards children will be negative, and their love for their career is certainly lacking.  Private ECE communities must follow the laws and regulations related to ECE for the state in which they are located.  There are some benefits in receiving services from private ECE programs.  In such cases, families have the ability to affect the companies policies, and how they operate, excluding policies that are mandatory state laws.
Stop the Tales of Corporate ECE services:  Use the chain of command when there is a problem in your program.  Meet with the childs' teachers about concerns, talk with them to gather solutions to the issue.  If there is another person between the director and the parent, behave matter of factly and meet with the administrators, and know your facts!

New Face of Early Childhood Education

Could you imagine your child's early educational experience in a stimulating environment?  Only the Best for the Best!

Stop 30 Minute Circle Times! Stop Rote Memorization!

Both as a parent and an early childhood education professional, I have often shared my educational philosophy of education with my family and colleagues over the years.  When I began my career, there was a huge push in the country (in the early90s), for children all over the country, to be 'ready for school.'  At that time, we all believed that children learned best with flash cards, worksheets, reinforcement during '30 minute' circle times, and so many other inappropriate methods of teaching, and across all subject areas.   After many years of 'teaching to school readiness standards,' I was introduced to the 'learn through play' movement in the early 2000s. I began a research project about the topic that has continued to this very day.
Although I have continued to learn about the concept of children learning through play, I now have parents and educators that want to know more and want to be sure that they are 'doing it right.'  Educators need a starting point.  My advice is simple:  Let children be children. Lessons must be varied during learning/play time, allowing children to make decisions about where they play, and ensuring that numerous subject areas are being taught in each learning center.

Want to know more about how to implement a learn through play environment at home and school?  Contact me directly!  I would love to help.


Contact Info:
Email:  waltonprivategroup@gmail.com