Should We Be Worried About the Mental Health of Preschoolers?

mental health scare preschooler

Until a few years ago, nobody thought much about the mental health of preschoolers. Young kids were… kids. Nothing more. Kids, of course, are silly and immature.  They do dumb things.  Weird things. Today, though, attitudes have completely changed. Mental health is a hot topic in the media. Everyone from celebrities to college students are … Read more

Four Things Young Kids Expect from a Daycare

expectations of a child

What makes a great daycare? As a parent, you probably have a checklist. But your child doesn’t. He or she only knows whether they like a place or not. Fortunately, all kids, including yours, want the same things. Same things? You bet. That’s because young kids only have a few basic desires. Once met, they’re … Read more

What’s the Purpose of Quiet Time at Daycare?

green plant for quiet time

Believe it or not, there’s a lot going on during quiet time at a daycare. Most obvious is sleep. Young kids usually need naps in the middle of the day. (And everyone else–teachers, other kids–need them to nap!) However, scheduled quiet time includes more than a recharge. That’s why putting kids into nap/won’t-nap categories doesn’t … Read more

What Do Kids Do at a Screen-Free Daycare?

girl playing in puddle

As a parent, you probably have mixed emotions about screen time at daycare. On the one hand, some is OK because… well, it’s daycare. On the other hand, too much is bad. But how much screen time is too much? Thirty minutes a day? An hour? Two hours? (According to one survey of daycare centers, … Read more

Why Outdoor Play Should Be on the Daily Schedule of Your Daycare

kids playing outdoors in the rain

Is outdoor play “weather dependent” at your daycare? It is for most daycares… and that’s a problem. You see daycare licensing agencies leave weather interpretation up to the staff. While licensors do prefer that kids go outside every day, they do not issue edicts.  So there’s no ironclad definition of “good” or “bad” weather. Subjective … Read more

Why Do Most Daycare Classrooms Look Alike?

Imagine visiting Times Square for the purpose of trying to think. Or talk. Or learn something new. Crazy idea, of course. Because few of us could focus among the jumbotrons and 50-ft billboards. Kids, too, find it hard to ignore visual distractions while using their brains. Which makes it very strange that so many daycare … Read more

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