BACKGROUND: The transition from preschool to kindergarten presents several unique challenges. Children may experience heightened anxiety about moving to a new classroom and changes to their daily routine. Transition practices, or strategies employed to ensure a smooth adjustment to kindergarten, are an important component to children’s success (Gelfer & McCarthy, …
[Read more...]Practitioner Notes
Our Practitioner Note series serves to improve classroom practice, inform the teaching profession and enable teachers to have a voice in policy decisions that impact their professional lives.
Cultivating Young Children’s Self-Esteem
BACKGROUND: Self-esteem develops from a young age through experiences that help children feel capable, confident, accepted, and willing to try new things (Fuchs-Beauchamp, 1996). Research shows that children who experience many positive interactions with caregivers tend to have high levels of self-esteem and academic achievement (Haney & Durlak, 1998). In …
[Read more...]Successful Circle Times with Young Children
BACKGROUND: Circle time provides a prime opportunity for building young children’s academic and social skills (Benedict, Horner, & Squires, 2007). However, challenging behaviors that often arise during circle time may frustrate teachers. Although challenging behaviors can occur during any circle time activity (e.g., calendar, book reading, songs, discussions) they are …
[Read more...]Building Relationships with Parents and Young Children
BACKGROUND: Children form attachments to important adults in their lives, and these relationships are important for children’s later social and cognitive skills (NICHD Early Child Care Research Network, 2006), Children’s prior relationships influence the way they react to new caregivers, including early childhood educators; those who typically have their needs …
[Read more...]Potty Training with Young Children
BACKGROUND: Potty training is a developmental milestone that can be overwhelming for children, caregivers, and educators. Children begin potty training at different ages, follow different training processes, and often have setbacks such as accidents, constipation, and regressions. It is important for caregivers and educators to offer a consistent routine and …
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