In the article, Going Deeper: Exploring Reflective Practices with Inspiration from Reggio Emilia, Sarah Adams-Kollitz’s discusses her personal experience when the Reggio Emilia approach was incorporated into her early childhood program.  The article focuses specifically on the area of reflective practices beginning with the teachers and eventually spanning out to the children, parents, and surrounding community.  While the…

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At some point in our lives, we learn about the history behind the Thanksgiving holiday. We learn about who was involved and, of course, all about the feast.  What should the holiday represent in today’s society?  We are taught to give thanks during this time but do we really understand the benefits of being thankful,…

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Lilian Katz, Ph.D., is a professor emerita of early childhood education at the University of Illinois (Urbana Champaign), and is also the co-director of the ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education. She is the author of more than 100 publications that focus on many different subjects regarding childhood education. What Dr. Katz seems…

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A child’s educational journey begins the moment he or she is born.  Learning is constantly occurring in every day life events but as soon as a child steps foot into a classroom, this journey really takes off in a more formal way.  In order for this journey to be as successful as possible, the communication…

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The Reggio Emilia approach to learning was developed in Reggio Emilia, Italy through a city-sponsored educational system developed by Loris Malaguzzi.  Because it is commonly recognized as one of the best programs for young children, many educators from around the world travel to Italy annually to become immersed in this teaching philosophy.  Lella Gandini, author of…

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All young children, from infants to kindergarten, exhibit a variety of behaviors throughout each day.  Some days your child may be smiling and full of energy one minute and the next minute nothing seems to satisfy him. This is normal behavior and is a way children express themselves at an early age.  Some children, however,…

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 “The reason grandparents and grandchildren get along so well is that they have a common enemy.”- Sam Levenson National Grandparents Day 2016 It seems as though there are holidays for everything.  Some of these holidays are pretty humorous like National Donut Day and National Dog Day; others have more significant meanings and deeper traditions.  One…

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I was recently out to dinner and noticed a family with young children at a nearby table.  Each family member had an electronic device in front of them and everyone was so engaged in their own devices that they weren’t talking to one another.  In this media age, televisions, computers, phones, tablets, and other media…

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Healthy eating is about more than just consuming food that is good for you. Healthy eating is about sharing meals with others, building social skills and relationships, and laying a foundation for a healthy body and mind.  Nutritious food is crucial for children’s development and it is important they eat well at home, school, and…

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Incorporating music into your child’s everyday life is a great way to encourage creativity and has long-term benefits extending beyond home and in the classroom.  Parents and educators do not need to be experts in this musical foundation to be successful in providing children with positive musical experiences.  Rebecca Freeman, author of the article, Elements…

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