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Blog

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Home / Resources / Blog

Welcome to our Blog! 

The NAEYC blog aims to increase general awareness and engage the public in thoughtful discussion around topics and themes related to early childhood education. We share NAEYC initiatives and explore what’s new, upcoming, timely, or topical in the early childhood field.

We have expanded the focus of the blog to also include content that families might find useful. Tip: to view blog posts intended for families only, use the “Refine” box to the right and click on the box  next to "NAEYC General" and then select “For Families Blog”.

Note: Blog posts do not necessarily reflect the views of NAEYC.


a teacher observing a child using toys
Blog
June 17, 2022

Teachers’ Reflections on DAP in Action: Share Your Own Story 

Here are two passages from the 4th edition of DAP by educators Amy Blessing and Ron Grady that reflect on DAP in action.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Susan Friedman, Amy D. Blessing, Ron Grady
Members Only
child with flower
Blog
November 17, 2021

10 Tips for Finding Nature to Bring into Your Classroom

Here, we share 10 tips for finding nature-based objects to prompt curiosity, questioning, observation, and learning.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Kendra Nenia, Melissa Clucas Walter
Members Only
Mother and and a little girl holding a teddy bear
Blog
September 4, 2020

Supporting Relationships with Puppets, Books, and Self-Care

Our commitment to partnering with families has not changed. We are providing remote services that prioritize relationships and we are connecting with families using social media, sending weekly text messages to all, and reaching out to each family.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Shannon C. M. Banks
Members Only
father and daughter playing on a tablet under a homemade fort.
Blog
May 29, 2020

Have It Both Ways: Using Children’s Science Apps to Support Hands-On and Digital Learning

In our research we had the opportunity to investigate the The PBS KIDS Play & Learn Science app with the help of 32 families each of whom had at least one 3-, 4-, or 5-year-old child at home. We asked parents to use the resources in the app with their chi

Authored by

Authored by: 
Cindy Hoisington, Claire Christensen
Members Only
father and daughter playing on a tablet under a homemade fort.
Blog
May 29, 2020

Ambas opciones son válidas: Cómo utilizar las aplicaciones de ciencias para niños para favorecer el aprendizaje práctico y digital

In our research we had the opportunity to investigate the The PBS KIDS Play & Learn Science app with the help of 32 families each of whom had at least one 3-, 4-, or 5-year-old child at home. We asked parents to use the resources in the app with their chi

Authored by

Authored by: 
Cindy Hoisington, Claire Christensen
Members Only
Three children looking at leaves
Blog
August 6, 2019

Connecting our Nature Walks to the Classroom

If the environment is the third teacher, there is no better classroom environment than the outdoors. I use our experiences and my notes and pictures as inspiration for our curriculum.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Daniela Silver
Members Only
Two young girls at the lake scooping water into buckets
Blog
August 6, 2019

Gone Fishing

I think about being a parent and a teacher and observing children. Even experts can forget that there is a time to model and guide, and also a time to give space for the kind of learning that happens with uninterrupted play and exploration.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Julia Luckenbill
Members Only
Two children measuring a tree
Blog
July 11, 2019

How to Create a Forest Classroom Experience

Here are some tips to help you create meaningful forest experiences for the children in your care—no outdoor classroom required!

Authored by

Authored by: 
Daniela Silver
Members Only
Tinkering objects
Blog
April 22, 2019

Making and Tinkering at Home

Read about how this author helped her 4-year-old daughter create a tinkering space at home.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Julia Luckenbill
Members Only
NAEYC Hello Banner
Blog
June 14, 2018

Hello Book Club: NAEYC Members Discuss Making and Tinkering with STEM by Cate Heroman

In our first ever online book club, NAEYC members discussed Making and Tinkering with STEM by Cate Heroman.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Gilmar Rosas
Members Only
Group photo with teacher and preschool class
Blog
June 30, 2017

The Beauty of Early Childhood Mathematics: Playful Math = Engaged Learning

Editor's note introducing the cluster topic for the July 2017 issue of Young Children

Authored by

Authored by: 
Lisa Hansel
Members Only
Girl looking at her shadow
Blog
January 18, 2017

What's in a Shadow?

What is a Shadow? Denise Nelson and her class of preschoolers in Worcester, MA tried to answer that question over the course of a three-week exploration—both indoors and out

Authored by

Authored by: 
Denise Nelson
Members Only
Girl looking at her shadow
Blog
January 18, 2017

¿Qué hay en una sombra?

What is a Shadow? Denise Nelson and her class of preschoolers in Worcester, MA tried to answer that question over the course of a three-week exploration—both indoors and out

Authored by

Authored by: 
Denise Nelson
Members Only
Child designing and painting a spaceship
Blog
December 13, 2016

Family Perspective: Impact of a High-Quality Educator Nurturing Creativity in the Classroom

Teachers can foster diverse skills and abilities in early childhood classrooms. Read how Ms. Charlotte Brown affected the students and parents in her program

Authored by

Authored by: 
Naimah Wade
Members Only
Two children creating a project with cardboard box
Blog
June 17, 2016

Making, Tinkering, and The Toy Store Project

What happens when you give a young child a cardboard box? They turn it into a car, a robot, a doghouse, or a spaceship. Children are natural makers

Authored by

Authored by: 
Cate Heroman, Kerry Sheldon, Sarah West
Members Only
Father and daughter playing with plastic toys
Blog
March 7, 2016

Playing with Stories: Using Books to Inspire Play

Here are some ways I've used books for play with children. You can try these or come up with your own.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Melissa Taylor
Members Only
A classroom building scribbling machines
Blog
February 29, 2016

Scribbling Machines

Paige Zittrauer challenged her kindergarten students and their high school art student project partners: Make a contraption that moves on its own across a piece of paper and leaves a mark in its path

Authored by

Authored by: 
Cate Heroman, Paige Zittrauer
Members Only
A classroom building scribbling machines
Blog
February 29, 2016

Máquinas de hacer garabatos

Paige Zittrauer challenged her kindergarten students and their high school art student project partners: Make a contraption that moves on its own across a piece of paper and leaves a mark in its path

Authored by

Authored by: 
Cate Heroman, Paige Zittrauer
Members Only
Fathers playing with young son outside
Blog
June 27, 2014

Engaging Toddlers in Nature Play

If your aim is to instill respect and love for all things wild, try these simple activities with children ages three months to two years old.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Monica Wiedel-Lubinski
Members Only

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