Author: Matthew Lynch

Children are not born knowing their own gender. They learn to embrace gender stereotypes based on what they see and experience from other children, adults, and the media. Early childhood is such an important time for children to develop their own identities and creating safe spaces for children to express their identities is crucial to allowing them to flourish and grow. This post explores a few simple ways educators and parents can create welcoming spaces for gender fluid children, including building a diverse classroom, using supportive language, and providing a range of books and toys.  The classroom or play space …

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How often have we, as teachers, felt that a significant portion of instructional time was wasted because of poor student behavior? Our instructional time is already so scarce, and this can be a frustrating feeling. But, the behavior of our students may not be to blame. Often, the reason students do not do what you want them to do is because they don’t understand exactly what is expected of them. For instance, we may become frustrated when our students enter the classroom noisily and talk to their friends instead of sitting in their seats right away and getting started on …

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It cannot be understated how vital for the first 3-8 years of a child’s life are for their success academically, socially, emotionally, and even physically. Our brains grow the develop the fastest during this time period and the experiences, good and bad, add up and create the trajectory we follow. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention compiled research on health disparities in early childhood and found that “disparities in overall health and well-being are rooted in early childhood when stressors in early childhood can disrupt neurologic, metabolic, and immunologic systems, leading to poorer developmental outcomes.” The Importance of Bonding …

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With so many distractions and new technology arising, kids are often less interested in playing and more likely to become glued to a television or phone. However, playing is an important part of childhood, so it is essential that parents and educators encourage young children to play whenever they get the chance. Even though playing may seem like a simple pastime, it can help kids to develop essential skills, such as engaging with others and learning about their surroundings. Here are some ways to keep play at the heart of early childhood. Encourage Imagination When kids play often, they develop …

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Conflict resolution is a subject that should be taught to kids at an early age to help them better resolve problems in the future. However, for young kids, such as toddlers, it can be a tricky thing to teach. Scholastic provides more specific tips for each age group, but the following five items are ways to reach out to toddlers about problem-solving. Remain Calm at All Times If you get frustrated with toddlers, they will be able to pick up on it. Therefore, when you handle a conflict situation with them, you must do your best to remain calm, or …

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Parents and teachers try to give children the most advantages possible when it comes to education. Something they may not consider is that children learn a lot simply through playing, whether it’s solitary play or playing with other children. This doesn’t mean that parents and teachers need to structure playtime, come up with elaborate activities or provide fancy toys for children to benefit from play. Children naturally build their communication skills, cognitive development, and social abilities through play.  Play builds communication skills Learning through play helps children develop language, communication, and listening skills. Children talk, learn new words, and hone …

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Most people have very few memories from early childhood. The memories that we do have from an early age are often not memories at all but formed from photos we have seen or stories others have told us. “Childhood amnesia,” or the phenomenon that humans retain very few memories before the approximate age of seven, is something that scientists and psychological still cannot fully explain.  A common belief is that babies and young children do not have the brain capacity to create and store memories. This doesn’t make sense, though, when we take into consideration how much learning is done …

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