A recent article from Community Playthings entitled, “In Defense of Active Learning” describes how physical movement supports learning in all areas of development. Children are better able to understand new vocabulary words that they can act out through movement. They learn scientific and mathematical concepts...
Our 2018 Photo Album highlights some of the many wonderful moments that took place at Especially for Children this year! It is amazing to stop and think about how much your child has changed and grown in just one year. We are thankful that you...
We feel privileged when EFC families take the time to share their family and cultural traditions. It is a wonderful experience for both the children and the teaching staff, and we all benefit by learning from one another! If you have a family or cultural...
Many people say that they can feel what a program is like on their first visit. But for others it is a difficult thing to know exactly what their child will experience in a center by simply taking a tour and meeting with the director....
We were interested in this Community Playthings article, Giving Children a Natural Start, which discusses the reasons for and methods of giving children an environmental education. The concept of literacy (what you know, how you feel, and what skills you have) in the context of...
After reading our Parent Article, are you interested in learning more about language development in infants? Check out this TedTalk by Patricia Kuhl on the linguistic genius of babies. It will fill you with wonder about how amazing the smallest among us really are! ...
Child development research shows that talking to infants and young children on a very frequent basis provides a myriad of cognitive and social/emotional benefits. The number of words a child is exposed to and the regularity of conversation is a predictor of school readiness. While...
by Angie Williams After the long winter we had, any activity that our family can participate in outside in the sunshine sounds like an excellent idea. I have never been known for my green thumb, and in fact always feel a bit guilty when given a...
by Angie Williams "...
Try walking around with a child who’s going, “Wow, wow! Look at that dirty dog! Look at that burned-down house! Look at that red sky!” And the child points and you look, and you see, and you start going, “Wow! Look at that huge crazy...
Parenting with firm rules, consistent and calm enforcement, limited negotiation, and plenty of warmth will help both our kids and our own mental health the most. -- Erin Walsh After the busyness of the holiday season, it can be a transition for both parents and children...
It has been a wonderful year at Especially for Children, and we want to thank you again for choosing our program. We've gathered together some of the special moments of learning and fun from across EFC centers in a photo slide show. Check it out, and...
As a follow-up to our Especially for Parents article, Supporting Your Child's Reading Development, below is a sampling from the list of the "Best Books for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners" from the Institute of Reading Development. Enjoy some of these classics with your child, and if...
At our professional development day in September, we honored our long-term teaching staff and directors. We are so grateful for their dedication to children, families, and our organization. ...
Embedded in the Creative Curriculum® framework is the idea that the teacher's (and parent's) role is to observe children's interests and how they are learning, then provide "scaffolding" to support young learners. This happens continuously so that children are always building upon their previous knowledge...