I recently came across this interesting post from the new Teaching Strategies blog. It discusses the importance of routines for children, especially during times of stress. The author writes:"Providing consistent routines, whenever possible, gives children certainty, something they can count on, and something they...
At Especially for Children, we love engaging in cooking activities with children. They can practice creativity and learn so many new skills. And it is always a fun time! Watch our video and check out the resources below to learn more. Find out more with...
We know from decades of research that too little stimulation early on is bad for brain development.But have we considered whether too much stimulation, or inappropriate stimulation, is bad for brain development as well?Watch this video of a presentation by Dimitri Christakis, a pediatrician, parent...
The physical learning environment is so important at Especially for Children. We arrange our classrooms according to the guidelines set out in The Creative Curriculum so that children have opportunities to learn through play in a safe, comfortable and challenging environment. See more in this...
We introduced the ez Write curriculum for handwriting at our centers earlier this year. See how ez Write is helping children learn to write in a fun, creative and effective way! You can learn more about the program here. ...
The holidays are upon us, and one of the best things about the season is the chance to share stories - whether real or imagined. We asked our center managers to tell us their favorite holiday books for children. Here's our list:Christmas Trolls by Jan...
We recently added 4 new videos to our website. The videos help parents learn more about EFC and our programs. Below is our About Especially for Children video. You can find the Infant, Toddler and Preschool Program videos on our YouTube Channel. We hope you...
One of the very unique features of our program at Especially for Children is that we take field trips on a regular basis. In addition to being incredibly fun experiences for children, field trips enhance the curriculum by providing hands-on learning opportunities. Field trips also...
Most young children naturally delight in art. They love the process of applying paint to paper, gluing things together, and pounding a lump of clay. Art enables children to learn many skills, express themselves, appreciate beauty and have fun – all at the same time!!Children...
Watch our latest video blog on sensory play. It is a wonderful way for children of many ages to make new discoveries about the world....
The dramatic play area is a popular place at our centers. Not only do the children have fun creating stories and role-playing different characters, they also develop many important skills while engaging in dramatic play including:Social/Emotional: cooperation, negotiationPhysical: small muscle skillsCognitive: imaginationLanguage: explanation, asking questionsRead...
At Especially for Children, we love books! Each day you will see:Teachers reading and telling stories to groups of childrenTeachers reading and telling stories to individual childrenChildren reading and telling stories on their ownWe learn new vocabulary and many facts from stories. Stories stretch our...
In our infant classrooms, we provide a caring and safe environment for children and a program that challenges infants to achieve new developmental goals. Our toys are developmentally appropriate and encourage curiosity and self-discovery. We use small structures to promote large motor skills. We love...
EFC, as a company, follows The Creative Curriculum by Diane Trister Dodge. A major part of The Creative Curriculum is the emphasis put on different interest areas, one of which is blocks. Building with blocks (in this case, ice blocks) teaches children many different math...