Inclusion Matters

In this podcast, we will continue the last conversation by looking at 4-5 year olds. It is easy at times to see a child’s behavior outside of the context of their age and stage. When we look again at what we are hoping to teach children in a larger sense, we can begin to appreciate some of those challenging behaviors as their way at reaching important milestones.

In our podcast, we will discuss the joys and challenges of caring for 2 and 3 year olds. Often, what is developmentally appropriate behavior for young children is also what can be most frustrating in our work! Listen to hear some ideas for reframing the way we see typical 2 and 3 year-old interactions.

In the final session in this series, Priscilla Weigel and Cindy Croft will offer insights into some of the responses that may come from a family when they are told there are red flags in their child’s development. As parents grapple with developmental information, they will need ongoing support and understanding from the early educator and program staff. We can be an important partner in a journey that is just beginning.

In part 3 of our series on Sharing Concerns with Families, Priscilla Weigel and Cindy Croft discuss the sensitive topic of talking to a family about their child’s development. This is often one of the hardest jobs an early educator will undertake but it is critically important for the child for whom early intervention can make a world of difference. We will talk about ways to share developmental information and continue building the important relationship between parent and caregiver.

Once we have gathered our information to share about a developmental concern, we need to set the stage for our conversation with the family. The ongoing partnership between the early educator, family, and child will rely on trust, confidentiality, and compassion. In this podcast, we will share some fundamental tips that will help us as we prepare to talk with the family, including when and how to hold the meeting.

In this podcast, we will begin a series on the sensitive topic of how to share developmental concerns with families. The first steps in talking to families about a developmental red flag is to have objective, nonjudgmental observations and recordings that can give them an accurate developmental picture. This is foundational to a successful conversation and will help allay some of your anxiousness as you approach families with your concerns.

In part two of this series on developmental concerns, we will define what a red flag means as we observe a child’s development. Is it one behavior or a cluster of behaviors? In addition, we will discuss the impact culture may have on developmental milestones as we consider red flags for developmental concerns. Our inclusion consultant, Priscilla Weigel, will share examples from her work with young children.

In this series on developmental concerns, we begin by looking at typical developmental milestones as guideposts for understanding how children develop their social, emotional, language, physical, and cognitive skills. Why is this important to the early childhood practitioner? What do we need to know in order to provide developmentally appropriate care?

In the second part of our series, we will reflect on finding joy in the early childhood profession. It can be a stressful job, no question about it. How do we find the necessary supports and the self-discovery needed to truly gain the joy of our work? Come and share our discussion about loving what we do.

In this first part of a two-part series, we will discuss how important it is to be in the moment with children, remembering the sheer joy of play for children. It can be hard when there is so much emphasis on curriculum and cognitive achievement, but what is more gratifying than the wonder in a child’s eyes when you discover something new together, or the abandoned glee of outdoor play. Let’s remember why we do what we do!

In this podcast, Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel discuss the struggle that can sometimes arise between the early educator and a child in finding the balance between limit setting and power struggle. Some children can literally ‘run’ the program—how does this happen and how does the staff regain control? Priscilla shares some real life examples that can help shift the balance again.

In this concluding podcast on play concerns, we will look at some of the reasons a child might be ‘forgotten’ by his peers or even rebuffed when trying to join in play. Inclusion consultant Priscilla Weigel will share tools for the early educator to help the group include one another and build an atmosphere of acceptance.

Do you have children in your program who are reluctant to join others in play, or perhaps aren’t invited to join in because they seem too aloof? All children need one another to learn social competencies and to graduate to more complex social skills. So what can be done? We will discuss some scenarios for why a child might have these play issues and some strategies for easing anxiety and helping children connect with one another.

Building on the foundation of play skills from Part One, this podcast will examine children who can’t seem to settle into play activities or, conversely, the child who doesn’t want to leave a center or a particular toy. How can the early educator intervene to ensure that a child feels safe and secure but also is building important peer relationships? Inclusion consultant Priscilla Weigel will share some strategies that can help children settle into play.

In this podcast, we look at children’s development from infant stages through older preschool to explore what types of play children should typically be engaged in at different ages. Play is both developmental and learned so children need our help in acquiring skills that help them move from stage to stage. We will set the foundation for talking about some of the challenges children may face in their play.