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Forest Kindergartens Make Nature Their Classroom
“ While schools and parents elsewhere push young children to read, write and surf the Internet earlier in order to prepare for an increasingly cutthroat global economy, some little Germans are taking a less traveled path — deep into the woods. Germany has about 700 Waldkindergärten, or “forest kindergartens,” in which children spend their days outdoors year-round. Blackboards surrender to the Black Forest. Erasers give way to pine cones. Hall passes aren’t required, but bug repellent is a good idea.”

*Read full article” by clicking below.

(Source: Wall Street Journal)



Early life experiences have disproportionate importance in organizing the mature brain and are direc-B.D. PerryMon, 04/07/2008 - 16:13 -- adminEarly life experiences have disproportionate importance in organizing the mature brain and are directly connected to children's optimal development.

”Babies are like the raw material for a self. Each one comes with a genetic blueprint and a uniqu-Sue GerhardMon, 04/07/2008 - 16:12 -- admin”Babies are like the raw material for a self. Each one comes with a genetic blueprint and a unique range of possibilities. There is a body programmed to develop in certain ways, but by no means (is it) on automatic programming. The baby is an interactive project, not a self-powered one. The baby human organism has various systems ready to go, but many more that are incomplete and will only develop in response to other human input.

The difference between the two outlooks – children who are confident and optimistic versus those w-T. Berry BrazeltonThu, 03/27/2008 - 14:03 -- adminThe difference between the two outlooks – children who are confident and optimistic versus those who expect to fail – starts to take shape in the first few years of life. Parents need to understand how their actions can help generate the confidence, the curiousity, the pleasure in learning and the understanding of limits” that help children succeed in life.

Early childhood development programs are rarely portrayed as economic development initiatives…and -Rob GrunewaldThu, 03/27/2008 - 13:29 -- adminEarly childhood development programs are rarely portrayed as economic development initiatives…and this is a mistake. Such programs often appear at the bottom of economic development lists. They should be at the top. Studies find that well-focused investments in early childhood development yield high public as well as private returns

It costs Canada $2.5 billion every year for remedial education because of delayed interventions or n-Child Care Education FoundaThu, 03/27/2008 - 13:27 -- adminIt costs Canada $2.5 billion every year for remedial education because of delayed interventions or negative early experiences

If the first few years of life include support for growth in cognition, language, motor skills, adap-Martha Erickson and Karen KThu, 03/27/2008 - 13:26 -- adminIf the first few years of life include support for growth in cognition, language, motor skills, adaptive skills and social-emotional functioning, the child is more likely to succeed in school and later contribute to society.

Supporting children’s play is more active than simply saying you believe that it is important. Whe-Marjatta KallialaThu, 03/20/2008 - 13:12 -- adminSupporting children’s play is more active than simply saying you believe that it is important. When children’s play culture is taken seriously, the conditions which make it flourish are carefully created. Children’s play culture does not just happen naturally. Play needs time and space. It needs mental and material stimulation to be offered in abundance. Creating a rich play environment means creating good learning environments for children.

The pedagogical value of play does not lie in its use as a way to teach children a specific set of s-Doris Bergen Ph.DThu, 03/20/2008 - 13:07 -- adminThe pedagogical value of play does not lie in its use as a way to teach children a specific set of skills through structured activities called ‘play.

Young children learn the most important things not by being told but by constructing knowledge for t-Ingrid Pramling SamuelssonThu, 03/20/2008 - 13:02 -- adminYoung children learn the most important things not by being told but by constructing knowledge for themselves in interaction with the physical world and with other children—and the way they do this is by playing.
Even the amount of stress a baby is exposed to ... can determine not just how well they do in school-Stuart ShankerWed, 03/19/2008 - 19:03 -- adminEven the amount of stress a baby is exposed to ... can determine not just how well they do in school, but if they're happy or have solid social relationships - it can also their physical health, mental health and their risk of depression, autoimmune disorders, cancer, whatever.

The broader and more diverse the experience when very young, the greater are the chances that, later-Stephen J. Quartz and TerreWed, 03/19/2008 - 19:00 -- adminThe broader and more diverse the experience when very young, the greater are the chances that, later in life, the individual will be able to handle open, ambiguous, uncertain and novel situations .

Our single most important challenge is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to excel at their-David Crane,Wed, 03/19/2008 - 18:59 -- adminOur single most important challenge is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to excel at their level of capacity, and the most important place to start is with early childhood development.

Early life experiences have disproportionate importance in organizing the mature brain and are direc-B.D. Perry, M.D.Wed, 03/19/2008 - 18:58 -- adminEarly life experiences have disproportionate importance in organizing the mature brain and are directly connected to children's optimal development.

If the first few years of life include support for growth in cognition, language, motor skills, adap-Martha Erickson and Karen KWed, 03/19/2008 - 18:57 -- adminIf the first few years of life include support for growth in cognition, language, motor skills, adaptive skills and social-emotional functioning, the child is more likely to succeed in school and later contribute to society.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), kids in the United States watch about 4 hours-KidshealthWed, 03/19/2008 - 18:56 -- adminAccording to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), kids in the United States watch about 4 hours of TV a day, even though the AAP guidelines say children - and only those over 2 years old - should watch no more than 1 to 2 hours a day of quality programming.

Television can affect learning and school performance if it cuts into the time kids need for activit-Media Awareness NetworkWed, 03/19/2008 - 18:53 -- adminTelevision can affect learning and school performance if it cuts into the time kids need for activities crucial to healthy mental and physical development. Most of children's free time, especially during the early formative years, should be spent in activities such as playing, reading, exploring nature, learning about music or participating in sports

Success by 6 - PeelSuccess By 6 Peel builds and expands community support for children by strengthening services for young children and their families. Research-informed and neighbourhood-based, Success By 6 Peel envisions a community where all children thrive and are valued, respected, nurtured, loved and given the opportunity to develop to their full potential as creative, caring, competent and responsible adults.



The Growth of the Mind: And the Endangered Origins of IntelligenceWed, 03/19/2008 - 16:22 -- adminThis compelling book reveals the six fundamental levels that form the architecture of our minds. The growth of these levels, four of which are deeper even than the unconscious, depends on a series of critical but subtle emotional transactions between an infant and a devoted caregiver. In mapping these interactions, Dr. Greenspan formulates the elusive building blocks of creative and analytic thinking and provides an exciting missing link between recent discoveries in neuroscience and the qualities that make us most fully human.



Between Parent and ChildWed, 03/19/2008 - 15:15 -- adminIn this revised edition, Dr. Alice Ginott, clinical psychologist and wife of the late Haim Ginott, and family relationship specialist Dr. H. Wallace Goddard usher this bestselling classic into the new century while retaining the book’s positive message and Haim Ginott’s warm, accessible voice. Based on the theory that parenting is a skill that can be learned, this indispensable handbook will show you how to:
• Discipline without threats, bribes, sarcasm, and punishment
• Criticize without demeaning, praise without judging, and express anger without hurting


the importance of playThe following report, Let the Children Play: Nature’s Answer to Early Learning was published in 2006 by the Early Childhood Learning Knowledge Centre, of the Canadian Council on Learning. It provides a comprehensive look at why play is essential for optimal development.



The Hundred Languages of Children: The Reggio Emilia ApproachThu, 03/13/2008 - 16:53 -- adminOver the past forty years, educators there have evolved a distinctive innovative approach that supports children’s well-being and fosters their intellectual development through a systematic focus on symbolic representation. Young children (from birth to age six) are encouraged to explore their environment and express themselves through many “languages,” or modes of expression, including words, movement, drawing, painting, sculpture, shadow play, collage, and music.



Best Practices in Early Childhood Education: The Reggio Emilia ApproachHailed as the best pre-schools in the world by Newsweek magazine in 1991, the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education has attracted the worldwide attention of educators, researchers and just about anyone interested in early childhood education best practices. Today, the Reggio approach has been adopted in USA, UK, New Zealand, Australia and many other countries.



Early Years Study 2: Putting Science Into ActionIn 2007, the Council for Early Child Development published Early Years Study 2: Putting Science into Action, a report that focuses on the scientific evidence supporting the importance of early learning and care as it relates to childhood development. This report is a follow up to the 1999 Mustard/McCain Early Years Study, a groundbreaking report that recommended an integrated system of community-based early child development and parenting centres linked to the school system.



Magic Trees of the Mind : How to Nurture Your Child's Intelligence, Creativity, and Emotions from Birth Through AdolescenceThu, 03/06/2008 - 14:14 -- adminAt each stage of development, the brain’s ability to gain new skills and process information is refined. As a leading researcher at the University of California at Berkeley, Marion Diamond has been a pioneer in this field of research. Now, Diamond and award-winning science writer Janet Hopson present a comprehensive enrichment program designed to help parents prepare their children for a lifetime of learning.

(Book description by publisher, Plume Books)



Why Love Matters: How Affection Shapes a Baby's BrainThu, 03/06/2008 - 14:06 -- admin

predisposed for developmentWe come with all the instructions and raw material for building adult bodies – for example, growing full -sized and functioning ears and lungs – and also with the capacity to develop the complete set of abilities that has helped our species survive and evolve over two billion years. We are born with predispositions for everything from our sense of vision to language and social skills. It’s all in there, waiting to unfold.



Time to Play: The Heart of Early Years LearningThis program explores the Swedish approach to nursery education. What is the secret to their success? What factors combine to help Swedish children perform so well in European literacy tables?

On the face of it, Sweden’s attitude to teaching nursery children is incredibly relaxed and informal. There is little structured learning, play is paramount, there are few locks or security coded gates and children are encouraged to help with cleaning and catering.



Elementary Students Design Own ClassroomWhen a dozen or so educators from Indianapolis traveled to Reggio Emilia, Italy, several years ago to study the famous constructivist approach in that city’s preschools, they came back prepared for more than project-based teaching — they came ready to decorate. Last fall, the group offered elementary school teachers a classroom makeover in the Reggio Emilia style, and Sharon Olson, a teacher at Winding Ridge Elementary School, immediately volunteered. Their decor strategy was based on the idea that to take ownership of their learning, children must own their learning space.



Time to play: early years education in SwedenOn the face of it, Sweden’s attitude to teaching nursery children is incredibly relaxed and informal. Could the absence of testing, inspection and excessive paperwork, combined with a strong emphasis on play and relaxation, be the very secret of their success?

Watch a fascinating video report on the British Teachers TVwebsite: [[http://www.teachers.tv/video/12090| Early Years Education in Sweden]]

the importance of playThe following report, Let the Children Play: Nature’s Answer to Early Learning was published in 2006 by the Early Childhood Learning Knowledge Centre, of the Canadian Council on Learning. It provides a comprehensive look at why play is essential for optimal development.



The Hundred Languages of Children: The Reggio Emilia ApproachThu, 03/13/2008 - 16:53 -- adminOver the past forty years, educators there have evolved a distinctive innovative approach that supports children’s well-being and fosters their intellectual development through a systematic focus on symbolic representation. Young children (from birth to age six) are encouraged to explore their environment and express themselves through many “languages,” or modes of expression, including words, movement, drawing, painting, sculpture, shadow play, collage, and music.



Best Practices in Early Childhood Education: The Reggio Emilia ApproachHailed as the best pre-schools in the world by Newsweek magazine in 1991, the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education has attracted the worldwide attention of educators, researchers and just about anyone interested in early childhood education best practices. Today, the Reggio approach has been adopted in USA, UK, New Zealand, Australia and many other countries.



Early Years Study 2: Putting Science Into ActionIn 2007, the Council for Early Child Development published Early Years Study 2: Putting Science into Action, a report that focuses on the scientific evidence supporting the importance of early learning and care as it relates to childhood development. This report is a follow up to the 1999 Mustard/McCain Early Years Study, a groundbreaking report that recommended an integrated system of community-based early child development and parenting centres linked to the school system.



Magic Trees of the Mind : How to Nurture Your Child's Intelligence, Creativity, and Emotions from Birth Through AdolescenceThu, 03/06/2008 - 14:14 -- adminAt each stage of development, the brain’s ability to gain new skills and process information is refined. As a leading researcher at the University of California at Berkeley, Marion Diamond has been a pioneer in this field of research. Now, Diamond and award-winning science writer Janet Hopson present a comprehensive enrichment program designed to help parents prepare their children for a lifetime of learning.

(Book description by publisher, Plume Books)



Why Love Matters: How Affection Shapes a Baby's BrainThu, 03/06/2008 - 14:06 -- admin

predisposed for developmentWe come with all the instructions and raw material for building adult bodies – for example, growing full -sized and functioning ears and lungs – and also with the capacity to develop the complete set of abilities that has helped our species survive and evolve over two billion years. We are born with predispositions for everything from our sense of vision to language and social skills. It’s all in there, waiting to unfold.



Time to Play: The Heart of Early Years LearningThis program explores the Swedish approach to nursery education. What is the secret to their success? What factors combine to help Swedish children perform so well in European literacy tables?

On the face of it, Sweden’s attitude to teaching nursery children is incredibly relaxed and informal. There is little structured learning, play is paramount, there are few locks or security coded gates and children are encouraged to help with cleaning and catering.



Elementary Students Design Own ClassroomWhen a dozen or so educators from Indianapolis traveled to Reggio Emilia, Italy, several years ago to study the famous constructivist approach in that city’s preschools, they came back prepared for more than project-based teaching — they came ready to decorate. Last fall, the group offered elementary school teachers a classroom makeover in the Reggio Emilia style, and Sharon Olson, a teacher at Winding Ridge Elementary School, immediately volunteered. Their decor strategy was based on the idea that to take ownership of their learning, children must own their learning space.



Time to play: early years education in SwedenOn the face of it, Sweden’s attitude to teaching nursery children is incredibly relaxed and informal. Could the absence of testing, inspection and excessive paperwork, combined with a strong emphasis on play and relaxation, be the very secret of their success?

Watch a fascinating video report on the British Teachers TVwebsite: [[http://www.teachers.tv/video/12090| Early Years Education in Sweden]]



-B.D. Perry, M.D.Fri, 01/18/2008 - 12:00 -- adminEarly life experiences have disproportionate importance in organizing the mature brain and are directly connected to children's optimal development.

-The Business Roundtable/Corporate Voices for Working Families Joint StatementFri, 01/18/2008 - 11:59 -- adminHigh-quality early childhood education produces “long-term positive outcomes and cost-savings that include improved school performance, reduced special education placement, lower school dropout rates, and increased lifelong earning potential.

-David CraneFri, 01/18/2008 - 11:56 -- adminOur single most important challenge is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to excel at their level of capacity, and the most important place to start is with early childhood development.

battery hens or free-range chickens: what kind of education for what kind of world?There is more material now about the nature of human learning than at any previous time in history. Why, therefore, do we have a “crisis” in education? John Abbott, discusses what is known about how humans learn and develop from birth through adulthood and how our education systems have it “inside out and upside down”.



Report: Early Years and Child Care Programs in CanadaThere are two major contexts in which preschool learning occurs for many children: the first is the family, the second is early learning and child care programs.The objective of this review is to determine the current state of knowledge about the effects of these types of programs on early childhood learning and development, and then to recommend directions for future Canadian research to expand this base of knowledge.

NB: to view this report, look down the provided CCL webpage for the link to the Early Years Review

(Source: Canadian Council on Learning)



How To: Strategies for Parents to Foster Early LiteracyThere is much truth in the cliché that parents are a child’s first teachers. Simple activities such as reading storybooks or singing songs to a child can have significant impact on a child’s ability to develop language and literacy skills, but there are many more things parents do and can do to ensure that their children get off to a good start on the road to speaking, listening, and reading.
(Source: Canadian Council on Learning)



Studies Confirm High-Quality Child Care is Essential for Early LearningIn Canada today, there are over 2 million children under the age of six and two-thirds of these children have a mother who works. Child care is now undoubtedly a significant factor in the way many Canadian children live, learn and grow. This article explores recent studies examining the effects of early child-care experiences on young children.
(Source: Canadian Council on Learning)



Let the Children Play: Nature’s Answer to Early LearningPlay enhances every aspect of children’s development and learning, however, it is increasingly rare for children to have long, uninterrupted blocks of time to play indoors and outdoors, by themselves or with their friends. Although children learn to play naturally, we all have a role in ensuring that children have enough time and opportunity to play.
(Source: Canadian Council on Learning)



Learning About Parenting for Optimal Early YearsParents are vitally important throughout a child’s life—as sources of love and security, as teachers and as role models—but they are particularly important in the earliest years. This article discusses various parenting styles and examines programs directed at helping parents to achieve better outcomes for their children.
(Source: Canadian Council on Learning)



No Time for Complacency: 2007 Annual Report on the State of Learning in CanadaThis report by the Canadian Council on Learning examines many of the factors that contribute to successful lifelong learning—from early childhood, through the school years and into adulthood. It also takes a special look at the link between health and learning, and at the learning challenges faced by Aboriginal Peoples in Canada.
(NB: published in both English and French)


Education is Inside Out, Upside Down: John Abbott SpeaksWed, 12/19/2007 - 18:33 -- admin
John Abbott speaks about how schools have it wrong.

Featured in this video:
John Abbott is the President of the [[http://www.21learn.org/|21st Century Learning Initiative]], an initiative to facilitate the emergence of new approaches to learning in the United Kingdom.

The changelearning website project emerged from the collaboration of John Abbott and Heather MacTaggart, the Executive Director of [[http://classroomconnections.ca/|Classroom Connections]], a Canadian non-profit educational organization dedicated to optimizing student learning.



early years-Canadian Education Statistics Council, Education Indicators in Canada.Tue, 12/18/2007 - 12:38 -- adminResearch shows, for example, that learning opportunities and enriched environments before age 5 profoundly shape individuals’ later performance in school and general success in life.

understanding human learningWe now know more about how humans learn than we ever have before. Research in everything from evolutionary biology to cognitive science to neurobiology has contributed to our current understanding. Some information is very new, like the amazing insights only recently available through brain-imaging technology. Other pieces of information are not so new, but they paint a new picture when they are put together with different pieces of the puzzle.
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