This is a variation on my “earlier-is-not-better” theme. If you’ve been following my work – whether recently or for a while – you know that I’m continually trying to debunk the insidious myth that earlier is better. It’s become so prevalent in our society! Whether we’re talking about athletics or academics, parents, administrators, policymakers, and…
In a recent interview for The Play Based Learning Podcast, host Kristen Peterson asked about my “origin” story. I explained that I’d fallen into the early childhood field by accident when a neighbor asked me to teach dance to a group of preschoolers. I then went on to outline how my mission evolved from being…
In my last blog post, I wrote that the late Bev Bos used the phrase childhood amnesia to describe the way in which adults fail to remember what it was like to be a kid. Bev believed that if adults could remember, they wouldn’t do to children what we’re currently doing to them. That is…
Way back in 2003, I wrote a book for parents in which, among other things, I warned against the “superkid” syndrome. It went out of print in a shorter amount of time than it took to write it, a situation I blame only partly on the stupid title the publisher gave it. I additionally attribute…
What are some words that come to mind when you think about transitions in your early childhood setting? Might they include chaotic, noisy, unmanageable, frustrating, or time-wasting? These are some of the responses I receive when I ask that question in my presentations. I then ask: Not academically speaking, what things would be at the…
The four components of the language arts are listening, speaking, reading, and writing. I’ve long contended that the first two don’t get the respect and attention they deserve because our education system focuses so heavily on the latter two — but especially on reading. That’s why I was thrilled to come across a post in…
A funny thing happened on my way to stronger knees. I had just barely begun physical therapy to work the muscles around them when I realized that I’d been coddling myself for years. Because my aching joints and muscles had caused so much discomfort, I had, with just a few exceptions, become too sedentary. It…
At this time of year, our thoughts turn to wish lists and goals. So, with that in mind, I thought I’d let Santa know what I want for children in the new year. Here’s my list, in no particular order: Free play! That means child-initiated and child-directed. As much of it as possible, please. The…
The other day I read an article that literally made me cry. I thought I’d heard it all when it came to the lack of movement in children’s lives, but this piece alerted me to something I hadn’t come across before: children are falling out of their chairs because they’re not moving enough. Is this…
A quality coach in Arizona who attended one of my recent presentations sent me this quote from a teacher of one-year-olds: We have to have long group times where we go over flashcards with numbers and letters, and require that the children sit still for at least 20 minutes, because that is … when the…