Preschool

Find everything you need for a pig story time theme here: book suggestions, coloring pages, craft templates, and a rhyming flannel board story.

Raising a child who loves math and feels confident in the subject starts in the first few years of life. The preschool age is the perfect age to build math foundations. Read about some of our favorite strategies!

When choosing a preschool, some parents get seduced by the very things that they should avoid: an academic focus, computer learning, teacher-directed lessons and paper-pencil work. A longtime educator explains why these indicate poor quality and an ignorance of developmentally appropriate practices.

A long-time early childhood educator explains why dads should choose a preschool for their sons, not their moms. She argues that boys need a male advocate as they enter this female-ruled world where they can be labeled as “hyperactive” and “immature” just for being boys and get turned off to school.

Early childhood education is in a harrowing state as preschools adopt practices contrary to the latest research in brain development. Even though studies show that exploring, socializing, and playing are best for building literacy, they're decreasing while teacher-directed lessons are increasing.

One-third to one-half of all youngsters are introverts, but there's little recognition of that fact at most preschools today. Kids are crammed into noisy classrooms where they're expected to constantly interact with their peers and teachers. No downtime causes introverts to feel drained and unhappy.

When looking at preschools, parents should realize how far early childhood education has strayed from its original focus. Over the last 20 years, it's been narrowed to one goal: getting kids academically prepared for kindergarten. As a result, children are now less creative, curious, and empowered.

A longtime educator details the things that moms and dads do that drive preschool teachers insane. From sending their kids to class in fancy duds to expecting special treatment for their precious tykes, these parents' actions exacerbate the sky-high turnover rate in early childhood education.

If we want preschoolers to express themselves through art and feel empowered while doing so, we're going about it all wrong. Open-ended art activities (painting, drawing, and sculpting) have been replaced by teacher-directed craft projects, much to the detriment of young children's imaginations.

Ms. CeCe's preschoolers celebrate our grandparents with poetry, their favorite activities as children, grandparents around the globe, and games our great grandparents played!

Ms. CeCe's preschoolers welcome spring with lesson plan activities including CeCe's "Spring is Coming Song," illustrating moving picture songs, planting pansies, and working in a garden center!

Hug the Earth lesson plan including "CeCe's Hug the Earth Song," "I Love the Earth" collage, valentine message to the earth, "going green" game, graphing, and a cooking activity.

Ms. CeCe's preschoolers explore their five senses while developing listening, math and problem solving skills in this healthy living lesson plan.

Circle time, also called group time or morning routine, should be a time that is both fun and educational. Here are a few tips to encourage your students to join circle time willingly. I will show you, step-by-step, how I begin each day in the classroom.

Need some fresh ideas to use in the early childhood classroom or at home that will teach problem solving skills? These normal activities with a twist have been used for years in my classroom, and they work wonders.

Choosing a preschool can be an overwhelming task with so many options. A long-time early childhood educator, though, urges parents to narrow their focus and pick one with a strong philosophy that attracts like-minded families. She strongly recommends Montessori, Waldorf, and play-based cooperatives.

Do you understand the mental health of your two year old? Social-emotional skills are essential to being a healthy adult, and these activities are for preschool teachers to use in the classroom.

A long-time early childhood educator details what parents should avoid when selecting a preschool for their daughters. She advises against schools that turn girls into observers, not doers, that overemphasize clothes and appearance, that promote the princess culture, and that offer excessive praise.

Let Ms. CeCe help create your Thanksgiving or gratitude lesson plan. She provides curriculum ideas for circle time, learning centers, drama, music, and movement.

Reading to preschoolers enlarges their vocabularies, expands their imaginations, and promotes their pretend play. These 10 picture books have stood the test of time and are guaranteed to spark the creativity of young children while delighting adults as well.

Let CeCe help design your fall "Getting To Know You" lesson plan. Curriculum ideas for circle time, learning centers, movement, music and dramatic play ideas are provided.

Parents in the US are enthralled with academic preschools, buying into the belief that earlier is better. However, research shows that play is how kids learn best. It enhances their imaginations, promotes exploration, increases vocabulary, and builds social skills.

Ben Clanton is back with his characters Narwhal and Jelly in this fun read aloud that teaches the power of a superhero who brings out the best in his friends.

Getting little ones to sleep in their own beds is a common problem that every parent will face at one time or another. Let Hoot and Honk help with this fun read-aloud picture book.

For teachers, parents, and librarians, an extensive list of books for babies and toddlers which show everyday diversity. These books features diverse characters portrayed in everyday contemporary life

There are many situations where the same proverb can be thrown in to highlight a situation, especially one that generates positivity. Proverbs are learnt on a subconscious level through exposure. Once

Calendar, craft projects, teacher-directed lessons, worksheets, and letter of the week are part of the daily routine at preschool. Yet, are they supported by research? A former teacher explains why they're not only a waste of time but can squelch a child's innate curiosity and love of learning.

Today, kindergarten teachers worry about their students' fine motor skills. Because they’re playing less and staring at screens more, many kids lack dexterity and struggle with using pencils and scissors. Parents can prevent this, though, with a simple fix from their own childhoods: play-dough!

We have decades of research that reveal young children learn best through play. However, our false belief that early academics create smarter children has triggered a "push-down" curriculum at preschools. As a result, kids now have less time for exploring, playing, pretending, and socializing.

Going against decades of research in early childhood education, preschools today have become more academic than ever. Youngsters are now guinea pigs in an experiment that may prove highly detrimental to their futures and society's as a whole.

A preschool teacher explains why the decline in hands-on learning should distress parents. It was once the bedrock of early childhood education, getting kids excited about discovering new things. Today, it’s been largely diminished due to our nation's fixation with preparing kids for kindergarten.

When choosing a preschool, some parents get impressed by ones that offer academics: a second language, STEM lessons, and handwriting workbooks. However, a long-time teacher says developmentally appropriate practices and free play are what matter most when cultivating independent life-long learners.

A teacher warns parents that they're making a big mistake when letting their guard down after selecting a preschool. She advises them to stay vigilant, making sure quality remains high. Because an owner's profit margins are slight, they strive to keep costs low and this can negatively impact kids.

Parents hate to see their children struggle with reading and will go to great lengths to help them. But, what many moms and dads don't understand is that reading difficulties are hugely preventable.

Many preschools have at least one circle time as part of their daily routine. Research, though, shows kids learn a lot more with small group activities, kinesthetic learning, play, and hands-on exploration. Why then are circle times getting longer and being overused?

Parents can get enticed by STEM activities, foreign language instruction and music lessons, thinking they will give their child a leg up. What really matters most, though, is a preschool program with a strong philosophy that emphasizes a learn-by-doing approach: playing, socializing, and exploring.

The princess culture has invaded preschool with girls coming to class in full regal attire: long gowns, high heels, and sparkly tiaras. A teacher explains why this trend is harmful to girls, turning them into spectators, not participants, and making them need constant approval for their appearance.

Three simple questions to help you decide, plus teaching tips and resources to use if your answer is "yes!"

Early learning curriculum for preschoolers and kindergarten age kids. Learn about continents, oceans and countries.

Kids love to pretend to be adults, and what better way is there than to mimic the shopping you do with your credit card? See easy instructions for making pretend credit cards, play suggestions, and simple financial literacy for young children.

Tips to running a toddler classroom while keeping structure and order in a room full of one year olds.

Teaching preschool at home can be a fun learning adventure for you and your child. Learn about some simple preschool activities you can do at home with your preschooler to help your child be ready for Kindergarten.

Concepts learned at school are learned faster and retained longer when kids actively participate in an activity. Preschoolers excel when presented with an opportunity to physically engage in their learning. The lesson plan outlined below presents a fun, active method of teaching kids primary and secondary colours!

Learning to make friends is an important social skill that will become an important life long skill. Teaching young children to make friends can be fun when you add music and singing to the lesson. Here are some great songs and activities to sing with your young kids.

How to help prepare your child for preschool interviews. Questions they may be asked and suggested answers.

Answers to questions a parent should be prepared to hear during the application process for today's competitive nursery and primary schools.

Pre-school activities for sorting by color are an important pre-requisite for learning to name colors. Activities with pegboards, counting bears, colored blocks, colored beads, & homemade activities.

Choosing a preschool program is a difficult choice for parents seeking a quality early childhood education curriculum for their children. This article addresses several areas of concern and suggests questions and observations parents should make before deciding on a preschool program for their child.

Pumpkin-themed reading list for your preschool circle time, library storytime, or anytime! Reading lists include pumpkin-themed fantasy fiction and realistic fiction, including a few titles that are also Halloween selections.