The Power of Reflective Practice in Early Childhood Education – Part II: An Educator’s Journey
Welcome back! In our first installment on the power of Reflective Practice, we explored the importance of self-reflection and emotional awareness for ourselves as educators, and how Reflective Practice can be utilized within any education community to benefit everyone: teachers, supervisors, and mentors, families, and of course, children. Now, let’s take a look at an […]
Responsive Relationships | To Help Kids with Emotions, Help Yourself
In my monthly column ASK Dr. Donna, I answer questions from concerned, worried, and anxious parents about how their kids are doing and offer ideas, provide advice, and suggest ways on how to handle situations that cause children, and their moms and dads, emotional discomfort and distress. What I always try to impress upon parents, however, […]
The Power of Reflective Practice in Early Childhood Education – Part I: Helping Caregivers Tap Into Their Best Selves
Reflective Practice ensures that all members working in the educational community get the opportunity to communicate their self-reflections about how their work, their role, their actions, and their words impact others—and how they, in turn, are impacted by their work. ~ Dr. Donna Housman, Founder & CEO of Housman Institute In an article for Edutopia, […]
Instill Wonder in Young Children With Earth Day Activities
In this article, you will find 10 Earth Day Activities, 12 Earth Day Lesson Ideas, and 10 Earth Day Picture Books to instill wonder in young children. Jump to: Earth Day Activity Ideas Earth Day Lesson Ideas Earth Day Book List As we celebrate Earth Day, let’s use this great opportunity to spark and empower […]
Helping Every Child Unpack Their Backpack: Part 4 Emotional Regulation
Welcome back to the final chapter in our 4-part series about helping children to unpack the emotional backpacks they carry with them each and every day. Throughout this series, we have chronicled the story of our friend Annie, who — as we do with all of the children in our classroom — we have helped […]
How Do We Talk to Kids About Scary Times?
Q: Dear Donna, My preschool and elementary school-aged children are becoming increasingly aware of world news, from the media as well as discussions in school. My husband and I are struggling to answer their questions honestly, but we don’t want them to become anxious and afraid that it could affect their safety here. How much is […]
Celebrating Black Voices, Stories, and Experiences During Black History Month and Beyond
It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength. ~Maya Angelou Don’t miss the resource and book list on the bottom of this blog! ⬇️ Why is it important to learn about different types of people? As Black History Month comes to a close, it […]
The Covid Generation — Putting Kids on the Path to Well-Being
It’s hard to believe that we are entering the third year of Covid-19. It is also hard to get our heads around the fact that children under five have spent half their lives growing through the stress and uncertainty this relentless storm has wrought. What can we do to make sure that they are on […]
Helping Every Child Unpack Their Backpack: Part 3 Expressing Emotions
Welcome back to the third of our 4-part series focusing on how we can help young children in the process of unpacking their backpacks that are overflowing with emotions, both big and small. Last time, you followed along with us as we supported Annie on her journey towards identifying and understanding her big feelings in […]
Helping Every Child Unpack Their Backpack: Part 2 Understanding Emotions
Welcome back to the second of our 4-part series focusing on helping young children unpack their backpacks that are overflowing with emotions, both big and little, and how we can help in the process. Last time, we talked about how helping children to identify their feelings can lessen the weight of the emotional backpacks they […]
The Hope for Early Childhood Education
The federal debate over “Build Back Better” has everyone who loves and cares for children holding our breath. The huge bill includes a plan for historic investment in child care and early learning, representing a sea change for families, early childhood educators, and the future for every child. The significance of what the impact of […]
Empowering Small Learners
Children are at the center of our world each and every day. They are our axis – we spin around their needs and focus our energy on what is best for their education, development, sense of security, and well-being. We work to ensure they are safe, fed, supported, learning, and healthy. But are we doing […]
Helping Every Child Unpack Their Backpack: Part 1 Identifying Emotions
Welcome to our 4-part series focused on helping young children unpack those heavy backpacks toppling over with big and little emotions, and how we can help ourselves in the process. In this first part, you will learn why it is important to help kids identify emotions, and recognize the physiological signs related to emotions, and […]
Back-to-School Anxiety: How to Help Children Manage Their BIG Feelings
It’s the night before the first day of school. Your child is feeling so excited about their new classroom, making new friends, and meeting their teachers for the first time. They have been asking all the big questions: Will I like my teacher? What will my classroom look like? Will I make friends? They even […]
Friendship, Empathy, and Kindness Books
Making new friends is so important- it can be rewarding and exciting, but it can also be scary, prickly, and intimidating. Friendship looks different for everyone – it doesn’t always mean liking the same things, having the same interests in common, or participating in the same kinds of play all the time. Young children, especially, […]
A Q&A with Dr. Housman
In a recent webinar, Dr. Housman spoke to a group of over 3,000 early childhood professionals on “The Power of Emotional Intelligence from Birth to Age 8.” The webinar was framed around the impact the pandemic has on children, as well as educators and caregivers. As we move toward our “new normal”, and a new school […]