Posts by Jenn
Catchphrase – You need to try.
Sometimes it’s hard to find just the right words to say. These catch phrases can help by offering you go-to phrases in stressful situations. You need to try. Context: When it comes to opening lunch boxes, yogurts, putting on or taking off shoes, and many other tasks, we expect children to try and do what…
Read MoreCatchphrase – You can tell me if you need some extra help.
Sometimes it’s hard to find just the right words to say. These catch phrases can help by offering you go-to phrases in stressful situations. You can tell me if you need some extra help. Context: Your child is having a really hard time zipping their lunch box shut. They’re starting to cry as they pull…
Read MoreCatchphrase – It looks like it’s time to wait
Sometimes it’s hard to find just the right words to say. These catch phrases can help by offering you go-to phrases in stressful situations. It looks like it’s time to wait. Context: Sometimes there are two friends who both really want to work with the same toy, e.g. the yellow dump truck. None of the…
Read MoreCatchphrase – You are in charge of your body
Sometimes it’s hard to find just the right words to say. These catch phrases can help by offering you go-to phrases in stressful situations. You are in charge of your body. Context: If your child moves close to a friend, and then wants space, your child can move away. Tell your child, “You are in…
Read MoreNow is not a good time to go to the emergency room
Invitation to Dig Deeper: Comment, “Now is not a good time to go to the emergency room.” It may have just come out of your mouth. Your child was doing something risky and you thought, “Now is not a good time to go to the emergency room.” So you said it. You’re not a bad parent,…
Read MoreWhy practice continuity of care?
Our Neighborhood practices continuity of care, a system of keeping children and teachers together from infancy until age three. This practice is backed by research that tells us there are many benefits. Continuity of care promotes healthy brain development. It allows caregivers a deeper knowledge of the children and reduces stress on children and families.…
Read MoreSwaddling
In the US it is common to see young babies wrapped tightly with their arms held close to their body. Swaddling advocates say it mimics the tight hold of the womb. Claims are made that swaddling reduces the startle reflex resulting in better sleep and an easier transfer from arms to bassinet. Not to mention…
Read MoreECE Math
Basic math that is missing from the high-quality child care discussion. Infants need one teacher for every four children. One teacher’s salary at $15.00 per hour is $31,200 a year. That is $7,800 per infant annually. The federal government defines affordable care as care that costs no more than 7% of a…
Read MoreWhy We Chose Holacracy?
Power-With Adult Relationships In our commitment to treat children like whole people from birth and offer respectful care, we want to be mindful of the power dynamic between teachers and children and creating a power-with relationship. The goal in a power-with relationship is recognizing the needs of all parties, including the children, and interacting respectfully…
Read MoreLearning Through Play
As an early childhood professional I often find myself saying over and over, “Children learn through play.” I defend play as not only a way to learn, but the best way for children to learn. I was reminded recently of a simple study that shows how important play is for young children. Fifty years ago…
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