“IT’S SO FLUFFY!” a preschooler once said in my classroom with a delighted shriek. He was reacting to a shaving cream sensory bin – and what a relatable reaction it…
Fun dinosaur preschool activities that children LOVE
When teaching certain topics and themes in early childhood education, it’s hard to know where to start. There are themes like dinosaurs, for example, that are so broad and ambiguous…
Why play-based learning is essential for Early Childhood Education and how to incorporate it into your center
Welcome our Guest Writer, Mariana Carazo, Educator and Founder of Developing Minds Mariana holds a MA Degree from Columbia University in Curriculum and Teaching with a major in Gifted and…
What is Developmentally Appropriate Practice?
Developmentally Appropriate Practice (also known as DAP) is a teaching perspective in early childhood education where a teacher nurtures a child’s development (social, emotional, physical, and cognitive) based on the following:…
What is an emergent curriculum?
As a philosophy of teaching, emergent curriculum is a way of planning curriculum in response to children’s interests to create meaningful learning experiences. Emergent curriculum activities and projects are planned…
Benefits of sensory play for preschoolers (with free printables)
Ages zero to five are the most important for a child’s development, therefore choosing the right activities for them is critical. Preschoolers first learn to understand new things via their…
5 engaging and easy-to-implement Christmas activities for children
It’s the most wonderful time of the year… and the most chaotic for us in early childhood education! The children are super animated and the days just fly by. Planning fun…
Preschool cognitive development overview and techniques
During preschool and kindergarten (2.5 – 6 years old), children are beginning to develop and learn new skills through play. Play encourages all the important areas of development, which include:…
Preschool Socio-Emotional Development Through Play
As an early childhood educator, there have been many times in which it seemed like children were the ones who taught me a lesson. One of these moments was a…
Preschool All About Me Activities
More than superheroes and more than episodes of Paw Patrol, a preschooler’s favorite topic to talk about is themselves. And why shouldn’t it be? They’re awesome! In addition however, is…