TAG: early learning
Storytime music to get your preschooler moving
Posted in kids, Parents and Teachers on December 18, 2018 at 6:00 am
By Rachel Edmondson Cold Spokane winters can leave us longing for the days when we can send the kids outside to run around and get some energy out. When the weather isn’t cooperating, music can be a great way to channel kids’ extra energy and help them get a little exercise at the same time. […]
Tags: dance, early learner, early learners, early learning, kids, kids music, music, musicians, parenting, parents, play, preschool, preschooler, storytime, storytimes, young learners
Let’s dance, let’s play: The genius of Jim Gill
Posted in News, Parents and Teachers on August 2, 2018 at 6:00 am
By Erin Dodge If you’re a parent or caregiver of a young child, then you may already know the joyful, playful music and stories of Jim Gill. If you haven’t yet heard his music or attended an interactive performance, then you are in for a treat! Get ready to jump, dance, sing, clap, and even […]
Tags: babies, caregivers, childcare, clap, dance, early learning, family, jump, kids, learning, music, music play, parents, play, playing, preschoolers, q&a, sing, STARS Training, toddlers, young learners
What’s cooking in the mud kitchen?
Posted in Explore and Discover, kids, Parents and Teachers on May 22, 2018 at 6:00 am
By Abra Cole In the last month, my garden has gone from looking like the dark side of the moon after the zombie apocalypse to a lush green jungle of happiness. Many plants I forgot I had planted last fall have popped up to greet the sun. I already know that I want to plant […]
Tags: books, butterflies, butterfly, butterfly garden, early learning, fairies, fairy, fairy garden, family, gardening, grandparents, hobbies, kids, mud, mud kitchen, outdoor play, outdoors, parents, play, science, teens, young learners
Screen time for small kids: education or entertainment?
Posted in kids, Parents and Teachers on May 8, 2018 at 6:00 am
by Rachel Edmondson I want to start this post with a promise and a disclaimer. First, I promise I am not going to tell you to never ever let your kids watch TV, play a video game, or use a tablet. Second, I’m also not going to give you concrete answers on how you should […]
Tags: 3 Cs of media use, babies, baby, Child, Content, Context, early learning, education, educational, entertainment, family, kids, media, media use, parenting, parents, preschooler, preschoolers, screen time, tablet, toddler, toddlers, tv, video game, young learners
Social-emotional picture books to help your kids get through the holidays
Posted in Parents and Teachers on December 12, 2017 at 6:00 am
by Rachel Edmondson The holiday season is often fraught with emotions. Many adults find themselves stressed, excited, joyous, and sad—sometimes all in the same day! It’s helpful to remember that the children in our lives are often dealing with the same strong emotions. While having a vacation from school, receiving gifts, attending celebrations […]
Tags: booklists, books, children, children's books, early learners, early learning, early literacy, emotional, emotions, family, feelings, health, holiday season, holidays, kids, parents, picture books, preschoolers, reading, social-emotional, social-emotional skills, social-emotional tools, toddlers, young learners
Block play and kindergarten readiness
Posted in Parents and Teachers on June 20, 2017 at 6:00 am
By Mary Ellen Braks This article is second in a 2-part series. The first article is 7 stages of block play: Building and early learning. As a librarian my go-to choice for baby gifts has always been books. The more books you have around your house and the more you read to children, the more likely it is […]
Tags: block play, blocks, Build a Better World, building, development, early learning, emotional, Hands-on Building, KEVA blocks, literacy, mash-ups, math, physical, Pre-K, pre-kindergarten, preschool, social, storytime, storytime mash-ups
7 stages of block play: Building and early learning
Posted in Parents and Teachers on June 16, 2017 at 6:00 am
By Mary Ellen Braks Blocks! Kids love them and parents love them. Most preschool classrooms and child care centers have blocks. Building programs seem to be everywhere. In fact, we’re having a week full of block and building activities at our storytimes this summer. You may be thinking, “Great! But why!?” My answer would be […]
Tags: block play, blocks, building, early learning, KEVA blocks, mash-ups, Pre-K, pre-kindergarten, preschool, storytime, storytime mash-ups
Talking about preschool STEM
Posted in Parents and Teachers on November 1, 2016 at 6:00 am
By Gwendolyn Haley STEM is a hot topic right now. STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields are the fastest growing sector of the economy, and businesses in Washington state are among the leading employers in these fields. As a parent, I want to make sure that my daughters are aware of all the opportunities […]
Tags: early learning, engineering, kids, Kindergarten, math, parents, Pre-K, preschool, science, STEM, STEM kits, technology, young learners
It’s Almost Time for Kindergarten Registration
Posted in For You, Parents and Teachers on February 16, 2016 at 6:00 am
By Rachel Edmondson I know, it’s only February. You might think it’s a little crazy to be talking about kindergarten registration when your child won’t start for another 7 months. But the reality is, early registration helps school districts plan ahead for how many classrooms and teachers will be needed come fall. It’s better for […]
Tags: early learning, education, Kindergarten, parenting, parents
