Today’s world of lightning-fast internet connections might make it hard for Gen. A kids to imagine what it was like to communicate with people far from home solely through handwritten letters. In prior generations, letters might have taken weeks (or even months) to arrive at their destination. Some letters More…
If you ask savvy parents and educators how they stick to their budget, many similar responses will likely come to light. The most effective techniques tend to revolve around shopping for items perceived to provide the most value. Yet, “value” is hard to pin down and define. It’s subjective. More…
Technology has significantly affected our culture. Children appear to have become the most profoundly affected age group. Their whole lives revolve around technology, and they have never known a day without it. Can the absence of nature’s elements in the educational environment cause stress levels to be elevated? Can More…
Children are wired to respond positively to predictable routines. Rest time is no exception to this rule. When childcare centers, preschools and other kinds of early education classrooms designate specific areas for children to nap, everyone wins. Little ones of different ages will have different needs when it comes More…
Life would be a utopian dream if every classroom had oodles of space for every single flex-space a teacher or student could conceptualize. The reality is most classrooms don’t have enough space for everything on our wish lists. Remove Unnecessary Furniture Remove large items you don’t use every day. More…
A child’s learning environment can significantly affect everything from performance and well-being to their ability to process information and achieve academic success. Gen A. refers to Generation Alpha. This age group starts with children born in 2012 and will continue through those born till about 2025. (This constitutes approximately 48 million children in More…
Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O’Dell, was published in 1960 and has inspired many children to build a fort. Can you imagine what it must have been like to be a 12-year-old girl stranded alone on a deserted island in the Pacific Ocean? Reading books is a More…
There is a magical world of fort building happening all over the world. Whether built indoors or out, experts say kids love constructing forts and their growth and development benefits during the process. It all starts with a little imagination and the tools needed to get started. The Whatsit™ More…
Have you ever noticed when you play a sport or engage in any activity with someone who is slightly more skilled, it often stimulates and motivates you to up your game? This principle is universal and applies to people of all ages and skill levels. Learning from others is More…
Classrooms designed with stimulation, individuality and naturalness in mind often have a positive impact on learning. According to research conducted by Peter Barrett, PhD, DSc, Faye Davies, PhD, Yufan Zhang, PhD, and Lucinda Barrett, PhD, naturalness accounts for about 50% of the impact whereas individuality and stimulation account for More…