Thank you for your interest in writing for Teaching Young Children (TYC), NAEYC’s magazine for preschool teachers.  

Before submitting your idea:

1. Browse the articles and tips on the TYC website.
2. Review our writing guidelines.
3. Learn more about the decision and publication process.
4. Upload your submission through Editorial Manager. After creating an account, you will see instructions for manuscript submission. You can view tutorials on the Editorial Manager website or contact the TYC editorial staff at [email protected] if you need assistance.
5. Nominate an outstanding teacher to appear on TYC's cover and be profiled in a corresponding feature.

Although we are not able to provide specific feedback on all submissions, we will contact you if your submission is a good match for the current needs of Teaching Young Children. Articles selected for publication are considered a contribution to the profession; authors do not receive fees or royalties.

Writing Guidelines

Please keep the following in mind when you submit your work:

Audience

The primary audience for TYC is preschool teachers, assistant teachers, and family child care providers who work with preschool-aged children.

Writing Guidelines

TYC publishes a few different kinds of articles and tips, and we need all types for each issue of the magazine. In general, TYC does not publish content or promotional pieces that focus on (or promote) one organization's products or services as editorial content.

We are actively looking for the following types of content:

1. Tips: Short and to the point. Word count - 300-500 words. See 10X Good Job Alternatives.
2. Articles and stories: Descriptions of research-based best practices and innovative ideas as well as personal essays on life as a preschool teacher. Word count - 500-1200 words. See the Boo-Boo Curriculum and How Process Art Supports Preschoolers.
3. A picture is worth 1000 words: Photos with captions that tell a story. In general, each caption should be no more than 20 words.
4. A great classroom activity.

Teaching Young Children publishes 4 times a year, in Spring, Fall, Summer, and Winter. Each issue has a theme, with at least 3 articles related to it. The table below provides the themes for upcoming TYC issues, along with the due dates for submitting articles. 

We look forward to continuing to highlight current thinking on promising practices in early childhood education, innovations in the field, research and its implications, and interesting ideas for and from preschool teachers.

Format and writing tips

• Present information using bullets, subheadings, lists, checklists, and high-resolution photographs, if available.
• Use plain language that is straightforward and easy for readers to understand. It’s also okay for content to be funny and to have some personality.
• Provide specific, practical tips and strategies for teachers.
• Content must be research-based, reflect developmentally appropriate practice, and include ideas on how to support children and families from diverse backgrounds, including dual language learners.

Photos

If you have high-resolution photographs that go along with your content, include them with your submission. See the Photo Submission Guidelines for more information.

Decision and Publication Process

Notification of decision: We will let you know if your content is accepted for publication, if a revision is requested, or if we will not be publishing the content at this time.

Editing: All submissions are subject to editorial review and revisions, copyediting, and design. We will share edits with you, pose queries, and ask for additional information, as needed.

Copyright and clearance requirements: Before publication, we will provide copyright and clearance forms to ensure that NAEYC has the rights to publish the content. We also require the rights to use all photographs and videos. Photographers must obtain and maintain model releases from the subjects of the photos/videos. See our Photography Guidelines for more information.

TYC Cover Teacher Nominations  

Teaching Young Children features an outstanding preschool teacher in each issue of the magazine. Teachers who are selected appear on the cover of the magazine and are profiled in a corresponding feature.

If you know an exemplary preschool teacher who deserves to be honored in this way, please complete the Nomination Form. Nominations are accepted year-round.

Submit to TYC here!       

Upload your submission on the TYC Editorial Manager site.

Interested in writing for other NAEYC publications?

Check out our author guidelines for:

• NAEYC Blog
• Teaching Young Children
• Young Children
• Voices of Practitioners