What is block play? As an Early Childhood Educator, I have noticed that children gravitate to certain areas of the playroom more than other areas. One such place is the block area. It is always a pleasure to observe the children manipulating different shapes, sizes,...
As spring peeks around the corner at us, it is time to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. Children naturally love being outdoors and now that the weather is nicer it’s easier to be outside more. Going for walks and listening to the sounds of nature has...
What is Nature Based Education? Nature based education is important to the early years but what exactly does this mean? Are children just left unattended in the woods somewhere? What is the specific programming or learning that happens in nature based education?...
Creating a Literacy-Rich Environment at Home Growing up, literacy was always accessible and visible in our home. My parents, older sister and brother were great role models for me. I saw my parents read the newspaper every day. They read letters, magazines and cards...
What would you do if your teen came home and told you that they were going to have a baby? We all have a vision of what we want our children to accomplish, and teen pregnancy can be very disappointing for some parents. You may feel like you have failed somewhere and...
What is circle time? If you have attended an EarlyON program or have a child who attends childcare, you may have heard of circle time. Maybe you leave programs early and have never attended circle time with your child and don’t know what it is or what to expect. Over...
EarlyON Facilitators are often asked, “Can babies come to any of the programs?” and the answer is “Yes!” In all our EarlyON playgroups, you can witness infants engaged in serious play. You can observe infants mastering skills such as reaching for objects, mouthing,...
Vertical Play Most often children play on a flat surface, either the floor or a table and see objects from overhead. Vertical play, however, introduces children to a very different experience. Once play is moved from a horizontal surface (for example, your kitchen...