How Preschool Teachers Do It

In honor of the Barbie movie's record-breaking release, Cindy and Alison dedicate an episode to the messages girls in the preschool years need to get from their teachers and families. We don't discuss the Barbie movie plot, and we don't have to in order to think about being a girl in today's world. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page...

How can we ensure that all children will be able to learn the same ideas and be able to express them? Universal design! Join Cindy and Alison to learn what this looks like in early childhood settings. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolteachersdoit Learn more about Cynthia's work, including pro...

Did you know that mind-wandering can be intentional and unintentional? Did you know that mind-wandering can be beneficial or detrimental? Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about mind-wandering and young children. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolteachersdoit Learn more about Cynthia's wo...

We tell children to pay attention as if that is a simple thing to do. Cindy and Alison discuss the components of paying attention and all the steps we take that can be easily derailed. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolteachersdoit Learn more about Cynthia's work, including professional develo...

Children are used to technology giving them answers and those answers being correct. Join Cindy and Alison to discuss experiments being done related to children's experiences with humans, technology, and correctness. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolteachersdoit Learn more about Cynthia's wor...

Did you know that 1 in 6 children with autism are expelled from early childhood programs? Join Cindy and Alison to discuss why and what we can do about that. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolteachersdoit Learn more about Cynthia's work, including professional development, family education, an...

Do you know how much sleep children need at different ages? Do you have a routine to help children settle down and sleep? Join Cindy and Alison for an episode filled with information about young children and sleep habits. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolteachersdoit Learn more about Cynthia'...

It's summertime, and there is no better time to discuss the importance of sand play! Join Cindy and Alison to learn some benefits of sand play that you may not have realized and get tips for keeping that sand as hygienic and insect free as possible. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolteachersdo...

It's fun to make children laugh, AND it is educational! Cindy and Alison discuss why children find different types of jokes funny at different ages and how it helps them to build understandings. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolteachersdoit Learn more about Cynthia's work, including professio...

"Stop being silly." "You will be fine." "That's not a big deal." Did you grow up receiving these messages in the face of your emotions? We know better today! Join Cindy and Alison to discuss taking children seriously and supporting them as their social-emotional and cognitive skills take root. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  ht...

Many of us have heard of cultural responsiveness and cultural competence. Less known is the practice of cultural humility. Join Cindy and Alison to discover cultural humility and why it enables you to be more responsive and culturally competent. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolteachersdoit L...

With so much focus on literacy and math, what learning opportunities are lost? Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about the other areas of learning and how they benefit children. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolteachersdoit Learn more about Cynthia's work, including professional developm...

Once again, there are articles discussing pandemic learning loss and proposals to not have summer break. Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about what children lose by not having breaks or summer programs that focus on socialization. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolteachersdoit Learn mor...

The expectations of teachers in early education have changed drastically. Today's college and credential students may have expectations of job responsibilities that current staff did not have at the start or even middle of their careers. Cindy and Alison discuss how this gap started and what we might need to do now. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like...

When we think about collecting information about children's progress, we often focus on anecdotal notes and running records. Join Cindy and Alison to discuss processes that could be equally valuable - interest inventories and child interviews. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolteachersdoit Lea...

Much like there are great movies no one is watching, there are very interesting children no one is noticing. Our lives and their lives can be enriched by fostering connections with them. Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about the children who are growing up in the shade. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.faceboo...

Why do we only teach children sign language when they don't yet have language skills or for specific situations? Cindy and Alison discuss the benefits of teaching conversational sign language to all. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolteachersdoit Learn more about Cynthia's work, including prof...

Do you worry about going to the doctor? Do you have a fear of seeking help for medical issues? That perspective on going to the doctor may have been set up during your early childhood years. Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about helping children see doctors as a resource instead of as a threat. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook p...

Have you ever stumbled upon a page in a favorite older children's book and realized you should not read that to the children? Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about what they stumbled upon that might not be good for the emotional well-being of young children. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpre...

If we were taught how to reflect intentionally and have a gratitude practice when we were young, it would be a part of who we are as adults. Cindy and Alison discuss how to have intentional conversations with children that help them remember, think about experiences, and be grateful for the good in their lives. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our...

Three years ago, Cindy and Alison discussed the need for more men in early education settings. It is now 2023, and the issue seems to not be improving. We can do better than this, Preschool Peeps! During this discussion, consider ways to bring attention to discrimination against men in the early education field. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our...

Sometimes, we need to be willing to unlearn practices or ideas we have held onto for a very long time. Soon it will be spring - a perfect time for unlearning! Join Cindy and Alison for this discussion about facing the unlearning. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolteachersdoit Learn more about...

Should families know up-front that we will let the children pick whatever dress-up clothes or roles they want during free play? Is it time to be proactive and have policies that state that we don't put children in gender boxes when they are playing? Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about this important topic. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like...

When you disagree with a co-worker or other peer, the most professional thing to do is to go directly to that person first. How do you do that? Differences of opinion can be so uncomfortable! Cindy and Alison discuss ways to approach disagreements that help you feel more comfortable, and avoid adult tattling and gossip. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to...

Why are children afraid of trying new food? There's an answer to that question that will blow your mind! Join Cindy and Alison to find out what causes the fear and how we can avoid making it a life-long issue. Check out our website:   https://www.howpreschoolteachersdoit.com/ Be sure to like our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/howpreschoolteachersdoit Learn more about Cynthia's work, incl...