November 16, 2021
We want children to grow up to be happy, well-rounded, caring people and a large part of this is influenced by their early experiences and interactions with those around them. It is extremely important that children grow up learning to respect, accept, and celebrate people from different backgrounds and that have different experiences than themselves.
September 17, 2021
School-Age Youth Programs: Learning Plans that Work; Supporting Youth with Type 1 Diabetes in Transitioning to Self-Management
September 16, 2021
2: You are essential. One thing Better Kid Care has learned over 10 years of On Demand professional development work is that every ECE/OST professional is essential. You are essential to the children in your care, to their families, and to the communities where you work.
August 18, 2021
Antiracism (Part 2): Program Policy and Family Engagement
August 18, 2021
A dozen STEM-rich summertime experiences. During this COVID season, summer camps will not be the same for school-agers or the staff who supervise them. Here are some safe, socially-distanced activities that tap in to the joy of friendships and connecting in the good ‘ole summertime. The last in a series of five.
July 19, 2021
During this COVID season, summer camps will not be the same for school-agers or the staff who supervise them. Here are some safe, socially-distanced activities that tap in to the joy of friendships and connecting in the good ‘ole summertime. (Third in a series)
July 19, 2021
During this COVID season, summer camps will not be the same for school-agers or the staff who supervise them. Here are some safe, socially-distanced activities that tap in to the joy of friendships and connecting in the good ‘ole summertime. (Fourth in a series)
July 2, 2021
Better Kid Care is celebrating ten years of On Demand professional development courses and we couldn’t have done it without you! Thank you for being a part of our growth and success—we can’t wait to see what the next ten years bring.
June 17, 2021
A dozen language-rich summertime experiences. During this COVID season, summer camps will not be the same for school-agers or the staff who supervise them. Here are some safe, socially-distanced activities that tap in to the joy of friendships and connecting in the good ‘ole summertime. The second of five articles.
June 15, 2021
School-Age Youth Programs: Learning Spaces that Work; EAT Family Style Module 7: Family Engagement; Experiencias Adversas de la Infancia: Construyendo la Resiliencia (Adverse Childhood Experiences: Building Resilience); Antiracism (Part 1): Self-awareness and Communication
May 18, 2021
A dozen physically active summertime experiences for school-age youth honoring COVID-respectful restrictions. The first of five articles.
May 18, 2021
EAT Family Style Module 4: Self-Regulation in Eating; EAT Family Style Module 5: Children Serve Themselves; EAT Family Style Module 6: Praise and Rewards
May 17, 2021
Climate walks offer an informal way for individuals and groups to intentionally walk through a program or school and notice the physical signs and perceived indicators of the program’s values, policies, climate, and culture. Climate walks help us to think about what is seen and experienced in a program from our individual perspective as well as from other’s perspectives. We can then use that information to celebrate strengths and plan ways to improve positive program climate.
April 16, 2021
Coaching + Mindfulness = Mindful Coaching; School-Age Youth Programs: Learning Spaces that Work
April 16, 2021
The first three years of life carry immense implications for later health and development. Infancy/toddlerhood is a period of rapid growth and development and sets the stage for executive functioning, school readiness, and ultimately long-term academic success and well-being. Given that this is seen as such a critical period for later development, along with the fact that infant-toddler care is the most sought-after form of child care in the U.S., makes the job of infant-toddler educators so important.
February 25, 2021
For the last year, we’ve been getting used to masks. In the natural world, there’s an animal who is born with a mask on—the raccoon. Besides willingly masking up, there are a few other lessons humans can learn from this animal neighbor.
February 23, 2021
CAT and gratitude? Let me explain. As professionals, we are “noticers.” We notice and observe by listening, questioning, and being a witness to the efforts and strengths of children, families, and our peers in our early learning programs. As noticers, we support what early childhood coach and author Cathy Toll (2019) calls CAT: Connectedness, Acceptance, Trustworthiness.
January 28, 2021
Just like adults, young children are impacted by stressful events around them. Making matters worse, they may not understand why they feel upset or have the words to express how they are feeling, both of which can be frustrating. Challenging and stressful times are when our ability to cope matters the most, but these are also the periods when it can feel overwhelming and make it difficult to use our coping skills.
January 28, 2021
Three new courses in January: Finding Wonder in Found Objects: An Inquiry-Rich Approach to Learning; Nourish Yourself, Create Healthy Futures: Your Journey to Wellness; Positive Work Environments—Where Programs and Educators Thrive!
December 18, 2020
Check our our new courses covering COVID-19 guidance, peer modeling healthy eating and sensory exploration of foods (EAT Family Style), and a new series on social-emotional learning from REDI for educators and coaches.
November 19, 2020
New course available on emergency responses, and also a Spanish version of our diabetes course.
November 18, 2020
This is a question that youth wrestle with, trying out different personas and experimenting with activities, attitudes, and friend groups, trying to find something that fits with their personal assets and giftedness. They are thinking deeply about culture and the groups with which they identify. Children as young as preschoolers are not only aware of, but struggling to understand and find, where they fit in a diverse environment. A child is simultaneously developing a future “possible” self—an image of what they might become.
October 20, 2020
Accentuate the positive. This lesson shares best practices for building community and supporting youth development. The emphasis is on social-emotional development but all areas of development are positively impacted when adults engage with youth in supportive ways.
October 19, 2020
“No matter how long you’ve known a child, there is always something new to learn. And, when you convey to children what you are learning about them, they know that you’re paying attention and that you care. A connection is formed” (Dombro, Jablon, and Stetson 2011).
September 18, 2020
Transitioning from one activity to another in the early childhood classroom can be challenging. You may have children who become very upset when having to switch from one activity to another and this can derail your plans for the day.
August 24, 2020
Better Kid Care wants to help. Please send us a message at betterkidcare@psu.edu and we’ll try to answer your questions.
August 10, 2020
COVID-19 has presented us with extremely challenging and stressful times, and it is more important than ever to assess and support the social-emotional development of the children in your care as well as prioritize your own personal well-being.
July 27, 2020
New On Demand courses are available about diabetes management and OST health and safety.
June 12, 2020
Adventure is exciting to children and meets important development needs, but facilitating risk-taking, thrill-filled experiences can be a challenge to the staff of regulated OST and youth development programs.
May 15, 2020
As an educator you are tasked with the enormous responsibility of supporting the health and well-being of the children in your care. While this is a noble and rewarding endeavor, it can be stressful.
