Evidence confirms that early experiences have both short-term and long-term impacts on learning and behaviour. Similarly, early environments affect both immediate and lifelong health. While health and learning are separated in policy, they are interrelated and interdependent. “Strategic investments in young children and the adults who care for them affect long-term physical and mental health… Read more
A new video from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard highlights the importance of play in any early childhood setting.
Have you heard of the 30 million word gap? Research in the 1980s by Hart and Risley found that children living in poverty heard 30 million fewer words by age 3, a difference which would have a lasting impact. This piece of research has been influential, often cited and used to inspire a large number… Read more
As the STEM Starts Early report indicated, children are born scientists. With adult support they can develop their natural science, technology, engineering and math capacities from an early age. But, adults may not feel confident in supporting children’s STEM learning. But, as 4 Things Everyone Should Know About Early STEM Learning tells us: The good… Read more
Even before a child’s first birthday, she is capable of making inferences, drawing conclusions about cause and effect, and reasoning about the probability of events. These roots, which lay the groundwork for later abstract reasoning, must be encouraged through engagement and play in order for inherent tendencies to develop into lifelong STEM thinking skills. (The… Read more
The International Literacy Association recently released a new Literacy Leadership Brief, What Effective Pre-K Literacy Instruction Looks Like. Authored by Susan B. Neuman, educator, researcher, and education policymaker in early childhood and literacy development, the brief discusses how to help young children develop critical literacy skills—and makes policy recommendations for strengthening early literacy education. Its… Read more
It’s Family Friday! Do you work with families with young children? Do you have a young family? Sesame Street in Communities is a website designed for you, the people who provide the “circle of care” that surrounds children. The web site provides free evidence-based resources to parents, caregivers, and community providers to help children to… Read more
Learning outdoors has several benefits. The following video talks about the Nature Kindergarten program in Sooke School District and how it promotes learning in a natural outdoor setting. Sooke Nature Kindergarten from Sooke Nature Kindergarten on Vimeo. For a more detailed look, click here. If you’d like ideas for outdoor learning activities to add to… Read more
Loose parts are open-ended play materials that spark imagination and invention. They invite creativity. They support learning. Loose parts are materials that can be moved, carried, combined, redesigned, lined up, and taken apart and put back together in multiple ways. Loose parts can be used alone or combined with other materials. There is no set… Read more
STEM starts early is a new report that examines the state of STEM learning in early childhood. Researchers and educators agree – through their playful learning, young children demonstrate a readiness for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) learning. And, STEM learning should start early for greatest benefit. Young children are quite capable of doing,… Read more