November 13, 2025
Holidays in early childhood classrooms can be joyful and meaningful. They also invite reflection: How do your celebrations, rituals, and seasonal activities reflect the children and families in your care? How do you make sure everyone is included? Thoughtful approaches honor family traditions, help children feel a sense of belonging, and provide culturally respectful learning experiences.
November 13, 2025
The holidays are quickly approaching! This time of year brings excitement and lots of festivities in the child care setting. But if you have diabetes (or prediabetes) or are caring for children with diabetes, this season can cause uncertainty and even stress as it brings about even more challenges than usual to manage this chronic disease.
November 13, 2025
November is Children's Grief Awareness Month, a gentle reminder to deepen our understanding of children's grief, loss, and healing-centered practices that support well-being.
October 11, 2025
ECE professionals are in a unique position to support children with autism in their care. Recognizing autism as a difference in how a child learns and not as a deficit sets the stage for a positive learning experience for the child.
October 11, 2025
The autumn season is loaded with opportunities for play with natural loose parts and exploration of seasonal plants and animals! Teachers can present beautiful invitations to investigate and make music with honey locust pods; build hide-aways from corn stalks; and paint or "cook" with pine cones, gourds, and nuts. And don't forget sticks. Sticks are very interesting to children and they can often be found in the play yard and be converted into writing, digging, or musical instruments.
September 15, 2025
Elizabeth Traff, a preschool teacher from Rochester, MN, sent this photo with the comment, "I created a one-legged alligator of sorts. His tail looks a bit suspicious, but the Dove-wrapper-teeth make up for it." So why was a teacher creating an alligator from scoops and tins and candy wrappers? It was part of a creativity challenge included in the course "Finding Wonder in Found Objects: An Inquiry-Rich Approach to Learning" to build a sculpture with five found objects from your surroundings.
August 20, 2025
In real estate, location is important. "Location, location, location!" With emergency preparedness plans, that is also the case. There is so much about a location that determines the emergency plans that should be put in place, anticipating possible crises and responses. Is your building located in a flood plain? How do you prepare? Is your program in a high-rise building? How do you prepare? Are you in the "middle of nowhere"? How do you prepare? Your location decides so much about an appropriate, customized response plan.
August 20, 2025
Learning a new skill begins with the basics to lay a good foundation. An infant or young toddler learning the skill of feeding themselves is no different. Building a proper physical foundation for feeding is necessary for the best feeding experience.
August 20, 2025
While some early learning programs operate year-round, others follow a fall-to-summer schedule mirroring that of K–12 schools—making late summer a prime hiring season, and we all know what comes next: onboarding!
June 18, 2025
Lisa Schroers, a home-based professional in Minnesota, recently completed our course “Find Wonder in Found Objects: An Inquiry-Rich Approach to Learning.” She was inspired to try out some of the concepts and invitations in the course and see how they work. The mixed-age children in her care are with her daily during the school year. Lisa was already quite comfortable with using loose parts in her programming. On this spring day, she decided to experiment.
May 12, 2025
Rising heat temperatures are occurring more frequently and lasting longer. Extreme heat awareness falls under the larger umbrella of climate awareness. Climate awareness is understanding how the effects of a changing climate—the long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns—impact children and how we can ensure children’s healthy and equitable development.
May 12, 2025
Educators and families can gently guide children to develop a love for nature and begin to understand how to care for and protect the natural world.
May 12, 2025
Many educators understand these scenarios: A 2-year-old in your class moves quickly from playing calmly with a friend to attempting to bite the friend and grab a toy, or as you are playing with several 1-year-olds in your class, a child moves from sucking her fingers to biting another child.
April 17, 2025
That’s what some learners asked as they completed the "Nature Sketching Builds Strong Observation Skills" course. Others, particularly those working with toddlers and infants, occasionally remarked something like "Sketching doesn't help my age group. I work with infants."
April 17, 2025
Mealtime is a time of learning, connecting, and fueling little bodies. Unfortunately, for some children with food allergies, mealtime can come with underlying risks.
March 10, 2025
Meet Lindsey Brown, owner and director of Brown's Family Child Care LLC in Franklin, PA. Lindsey operates this Nature Explore-certified group child care facility at her home. The slogan is "nature-based early learning." She will be moving to a new facility with even more space for nature-based learning in a few months.
March 10, 2025
"In emotionally supportive classrooms, teachers foster a climate of respect and communication, thus fostering positive relationships. They limit punitive and negative behaviors while being aware, responsive, and comforting toward children's needs" (Paschall et al., 2023, pg. 3).
February 14, 2025
Oh my gosh! Look at these packing materials! They came shipped in containers, protecting important products. Now what? They could go to a landfill. Better yet, they could get recycled. Even better yet, they could become loose parts, FREE play materials in your early care and education (ECE) or out-of-school time (OST) program.
February 11, 2025
Everyone needs a reminder every once in a while. That’s true for both new employees and highly experienced employees. Better Kid Care has updated two important health and safety reminders. See the updated diaper-changing procedure and handwashing poster.
January 31, 2025
The name Rube Goldberg has become synonymous with the building of crazy contraptions. How can this kind of wacky thinking inspire early childhood classroom experiences?
January 30, 2025
While toddlers are building their palates it is an ideal time to introduce new flavors. Find tips for successfully introducing ethnic foods to young children that reflect their culture. BKC's new course presents ways to specifically include more culturally competent meals from multiple cultural backgrounds.
January 28, 2025
Webinar recording, handout, and links from the presentation on January 23, 2025.
December 12, 2024
Discover how incorporating caring routines in early childhood education can enhance teacher-student relationships. Practicing caring routines help both educators and children thrive by fostering kindness and empathy.
November 14, 2024
November is a time for gratitude and remembering our roots. This time of year, the Better Kid Care (BKC) team remembers Dr. Jim Van Horn, our program's founder. We give thanks for the more than 30-year legacy that we now stand on.
November 12, 2024
Early relational experiences between children and caregivers that are safe, stable, and nurturing relationships (SSNRs) lay the foundation for healthy development. Learn what safe, stable, and nurturing relationships look like in the early childhood setting.
October 17, 2024
Learn the difference between fine and gross motor skills and find ideas for supporting motor skill development in the classroom and outdoors. Explore several BKC courses that support gross and fine motor skill development.
October 15, 2024
Winter can be a tough season for many families. Learn about factors that make it hard for families to afford food, how food insecurity can affect children in your care, and how child care providers can help families.
September 26, 2024
Anyone who works in the early childhood space encounters days that are thoroughly exhausting or rewarding—and probably many days that are both! When you are feeling worn down or burnt out it can be extremely beneficial to remind yourself just how important your work is.
September 24, 2024
Learn about green thinking and the benefits for children and caregivers. Find ideas for greening or naturalizing outdoor environments for children.
August 29, 2024
Get off on the right foot by proactively setting up your environment and supporting children's development while prioritizing your own well-being.
