NAEYC

Blog

Five diverse children smiling at camera

You are here

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 craft tree made from recycled materials.
Blog
January 5, 2023

Cardboard Challenge: Introducing New Skills in Authentic Ways

To create a community building event with family involvement, we decided to engage in a Cardboard Challenge focused on trees: How could children build a tree with cardboard-like materials and make it interactive?

Authored by

Authored by: 
Kelly Bird
Members Only
two parents with a young child clapping their hands
Blog
February 25, 2021

Singing and Moving in the Time of COVID-19

Recognizing the importance of music and movement in early childhood, here are strategies for safer music and movement activities in person and virtually, based on recommendations from the CDC and recent research.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Karen Salvador, Kerry B. Renzoni 
Members Only
Mother and son sitting on a picnic table outside
Blog
September 4, 2020

Focusing on Social and Emotional Needs – 6 Programs Begin the New School Year

As child development programs re-open or begin virtual interactions, teachers and families will need to make enhanced, intentional, targeted efforts to ensure those relationships are meaningful and individualized to respond to each child’s specific needs.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Derry Koralek
Members Only
woman at a computer on a video conference
Blog
September 4, 2020

Our Commitment to Self, Team, and Families

Our bi-weekly all staff virtual meetings included personal check-ins. During these moments of truth-telling and tears, teachers expressed loneliness and fears.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Dee Dee Parker Wright
Members Only
Teacher on a laptop waving
Blog
September 4, 2020

Meeting Families Where They Are

When schools abruptly transitioned to distance learning back in March, I found myself communicating with families more regularly than ever before. And it wasn’t long before I learned many parents and family members were struggling with fears, anxiety, los

Authored by

Authored by: 
Jenny Levinson
Members Only
Male teacher in a classroom at a desk
Blog
September 4, 2020

Addressing Social and Emotional Needs of Teachers and Parents

Through our virtual programming for both teachers and parents, our relationship-based approach that is already key to our programming was ramped up to identify, acknowledge, and attend to children’s emotions. 

Authored by

Authored by: 
Stephen P.  Zwolak
Members Only
mother and toddler daughter embracing
Blog
June 18, 2020

Tell Families, “We See You and We Value Your Contribution"

Dr. Brian Wright asks teachers to let families, especially Black and brown families, know that they are seen and their contributions to their children's learning are valued.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Brian L. Wright
Members Only
mother and daughter embracing each other
Blog
May 27, 2020

Why Making Mistakes Now May Benefit Us Later

That was a good time to remind myself that making mistakes actually makes you smarter, especially if you try to fix the mistake. Brain science backs this up.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Jessica Mercer Young
Members Only
Photo shoes a mother with her daughter on her shoulders and a father with his son on his back. All face the camera smiling.
Blog
January 13, 2020

Building a System to Support Family Engagement

Successful family engagement approaches make this work part of a coordinated school- or program-wide system. In our new book, Families and Educators Together, we include numerous, real-life examples and policies that serve as a user-friendly guide...

Authored by

Authored by: 
Karen Nemeth, Derry Koralek, Kelly Ramsey
Members Only
Children reading in a circle
Blog
June 20, 2019

Empowering Refugee Parents, Educating Little Learners

As the field of early childhood education looks to the future of preschool for children who are refugees, there are three key programming components that should be seen as best practices for the field moving forward.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Aimée Vachon
Members Only
Parent teacher conference
Blog
November 13, 2018

Five Easy Ways to Build Authentic and Genuine Relationships

The easiest way to help support effective behavior management is through authentic relationships with your students. Here are some ideas you can use to build real relationships with children and families in your program.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Colleen Schmit
Members Only
Child playing with recyclable materials with teacher
Blog
November 5, 2018

What’s Play All About? Children’s Museums Weigh In

As members of the Children’s Museum Research Network, we helped conduct a study to examine how children’s museums position themselves around play.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Nicole R. Rivera, Alix Tonsgard
Members Only
Two toddlers playing with modular solar system
Blog
July 20, 2018

Promoting Children’s Science Learning One Step at a Time

Here are five ideas that will help early childhood educators support science learning in the classroom and communicate with families about how to support children’s science learning at home.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Alexandra Adair, Cindy Hoisington
Members Only

Refine

Topic

Advertisement