Preschool Education

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.

Certain activities at preschool—calendar, craft projects, teacher-directed lessons, worksheets, and "letter of the week"—are all part of the routine. Yet, are they supported by research? A former teacher with a master's degree explains why they're a waste of time and even harmful.

Choosing a preschool can be an overwhelming task with so many choices. As a former preschool and kindergarten teacher, I urge parents to pick a place with a strong and distinct philosophy that attracts a community of like-minded moms and dads such as Montessori, Waldorf, and co-op.

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!

Are you driving your child's preschool teacher crazy? You probably are if you send your kid to class in fancy duds, expect special treatment for your precious tyke, fret about her being bullied, and pick her up late with no apology or explanation. Find out if you're being the pain at preschool!

Are you worried that your child's preschool isn't living up to expectations? Is the owner adding more students? Is she making a lot of unfulfilled promises about accelerated learning? Do you feel like your kid's creativity is getting squelched? These are red flags that need your immediate attention!

Our country is moving toward preschools that are academically focused, going against what experts in early childhood education recommend. Studies show that play is how youngsters learn best. It enhances their imaginations, promotes exploration, increases vocabulary, and builds social skills.

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

When looking at preschools, it's easy for parents to get sidetracked by all the bells and whistles—their child learning Chinese, pre-reading skills, yoga, and even a musical instrument. A former preschool and kindergarten teacher explains what a high-quality program REALLY looks like!

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.

While teaching kindergarten, I had many students enter my classroom with weak hand muscles and poor fine motor skills. It was difficult for them to hold a pencil correctly, cut with scissors, and string beads. One of the easiest ways to prevent this is making play-dough with your children!

We're at a tragic point when preschools are seen as places to prepare students for kindergarten. Not only is this developmentally inappropriate and cruel, but it also has long-term negative consequences for our nation. It results in kids who are less creative, less curious, and less communicative.

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.

An early childhood educator tells parents why it's best NOT to send their children to preschool. As the government seizes control, preschools become laboratories and young children become guinea pigs. The push for academic rigor at younger ages takes away time for play, pretending, and being a kid.

Some practical tips for organizing a children's story time program including finding a host organization, planning a calendar, and other common-sense logistical considerations.