Shows
How Preschool Teachers Do It338: Generational Shifts Pt 2 with Cindy and AlisonThe conversation with Cindy and Alison's millennial guest continues as they dive into the differences that technology has made in the lives of young children. Join Cindy, Alison, and Michael as this two-parter wraps up with the changes from one generation to another and how that can impact young children.2025-07-1429 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It335: Are You Intentionable with Cindy and AlisonIn one of the best mashing of two words unintentionally, Cindy's colleague created a great, new word - Intentionable. Are you intentionable? Join Cindy and Alison to learn what it means and join us in a campaign to make it viral and get it in the dictionary! Share this episode far and wide, Preschool Peeps!2025-06-2318 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It248: Healthy Sexuality in Early Childhood Part 2 with Cindy and AlisonCindy and Alison continue the topic of healthy sexuality in early childhood by discussing what we need to teach young children about safe and unsafe touches, protecting themselves, and more.2023-10-0224 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It247: Healthy Sexuality in Early Childhood Part 1 with Cindy and AlisonYoung children are curious not only about the world around them but also about themselves. Human sexual development begins in infancy with everyday actions we may observe. Join Cindy and Alison to learn about what is common for early learners and Part 1 of how we can and should react.2023-09-2523 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It246: The Value of Field Trips with Cindy and AlisonField trips stopped when the pandemic began. Some programs have never allowed them. Join Cindy and Alison to learn about the value of field trips and how they help children to build skills. Help us bring field trips back and to all early learners!2023-09-1821 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It245: Are Your Books Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Doors with Cindy and AlisonDid you know your classroom books should be mirrors, windows, and sliding doors? Join Cindy and Alison to learn what this means and what to look for in your classroom and school libraries.2023-09-1116 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It244: The School Staff Changed! with Cindy and AlisonWhen families discover that their child's teacher or the administration has changed, panic can set in. Join Cindy and Alison to discuss why this change can be good, what it can teach children, and how professionals might prevent that reaction from families.2023-09-0422 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It243: Observational vs Tech Game Assessments with Cindy and AlisonDid you know that there are game-based assessments that could take the bias out of determining children's learning and progress? Join Cindy and Alison for a frank discussion about this new way of monitoring children's skills and how it might replace or complement what we are doing now.2023-08-2820 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It242: Surviving Your First Year or Any Year Really with Cindy and AlisonJoin Cindy and Alison to hear some tips for first-year teachers that can really work for anyone heading into a new school year. Listen and share with the first-year teachers in your life!2023-08-2121 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It241: Small Teaching with Cindy and AlisonHave you heard of small teaching? Are you already doing this but didn't know? Cindy and Alison discuss this method for planning and introducing topics to young children.2023-08-1419 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It240: Can We Teach Believing in Nice with Cindy and AlisonWhen we hear people are not nice, we tend to believe it. When we hear people are nice, we tend to doubt it. Cindy and Alison discuss the possibility of both stranger danger and the possibility of nice people co-existing for young children.2023-08-0720 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It239: You're Enough, Girls! with Cindy and AlisonIn honor of the Barbie movie's record-breaking release, Cindy and Alison dedicate an episode to the messages girls in the preschool years need to get from their teachers and families. We don't discuss the Barbie movie plot, and we don't have to in order to think about being a girl in today's world.2023-07-3119 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It238: Universal Design in Early Childhood with Cindy and AlisonHow can we ensure that all children will be able to learn the same ideas and be able to express them? Universal design! Join Cindy and Alison to learn what this looks like in early childhood settings.2023-07-2418 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It237: Mind-Wandering with Cindy and AlisonDid you know that mind-wandering can be intentional and unintentional? Did you know that mind-wandering can be beneficial or detrimental? Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about mind-wandering and young children.2023-07-1716 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It236: Paying Attention with Cindy and AlisonWe tell children to pay attention as if that is a simple thing to do. Cindy and Alison discuss the components of paying attention and all the steps we take that can be easily derailed.2023-07-1023 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It235: The Robot Preference with Cindy and AlisonChildren are used to technology giving them answers and those answers being correct. Join Cindy and Alison to discuss experiments being done related to children's experiences with humans, technology, and correctness.2023-07-0320 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It234: The Cycle of Misunderstanding with Cindy and AlisonDid you know that 1 in 6 children with autism are expelled from early childhood programs? Join Cindy and Alison to discuss why and what we can do about that.2023-06-2621 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It233: Sleep Habits with Cindy and AlisonDo you know how much sleep children need at different ages? Do you have a routine to help children settle down and sleep? Join Cindy and Alison for an episode filled with information about young children and sleep habits.2023-06-1919 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It232: Benefits and Care of Sand with Cindy and AlisonIt's summertime, and there is no better time to discuss the importance of sand play! Join Cindy and Alison to learn some benefits of sand play that you may not have realized and get tips for keeping that sand as hygienic and insect free as possible.2023-06-1222 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It231: Jokes and Child Development with Cindy and AlisonIt's fun to make children laugh, AND it is educational! Cindy and Alison discuss why children find different types of jokes funny at different ages and how it helps them to build understandings.2023-06-0520 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It230: That IS a Serious Problem with Cindy and Alison"Stop being silly." "You will be fine." "That's not a big deal." Did you grow up receiving these messages in the face of your emotions? We know better today! Join Cindy and Alison to discuss taking children seriously and supporting them as their social-emotional and cognitive skills take root.2023-05-2920 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It229: What is Cultural Humility with Cindy and AlisonMany of us have heard of cultural responsiveness and cultural competence. Less known is the practice of cultural humility. Join Cindy and Alison to discover cultural humility and why it enables you to be more responsive and culturally competent.2023-05-2220 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It228: The Other Areas of Learning with Cindy and AlisonWith so much focus on literacy and math, what learning opportunities are lost? Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about the other areas of learning and how they benefit children.2023-05-1518 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It227: Can't Summer Be Fun with Cindy and AlisonOnce again, there are articles discussing pandemic learning loss and proposals to not have summer break. Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about what children lose by not having breaks or summer programs that focus on socialization.2023-05-0823 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It226: The Expectation Gap with Cindy and AlisonThe expectations of teachers in early education have changed drastically. Today's college and credential students may have expectations of job responsibilities that current staff did not have at the start or even middle of their careers. Cindy and Alison discuss how this gap started and what we might need to do now.2023-05-0123 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It225: Interests and Interviews with Cindy and AlisonWhen we think about collecting information about children's progress, we often focus on anecdotal notes and running records. Join Cindy and Alison to discuss processes that could be equally valuable - interest inventories and child interviews.2023-04-2422 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It224: The Most Interesting Children with Cindy and AlisonMuch like there are great movies no one is watching, there are very interesting children no one is noticing. Our lives and their lives can be enriched by fostering connections with them. Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about the children who are growing up in the shade.2023-04-1722 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It223: ASL for All with Cindy and AlisonWhy do we only teach children sign language when they don't yet have language skills or for specific situations? Cindy and Alison discuss the benefits of teaching conversational sign language to all.2023-04-1018 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It222: Talking About the Doctor with Cindy and AlisonDo you worry about going to the doctor? Do you have a fear of seeking help for medical issues? That perspective on going to the doctor may have been set up during your early childhood years. Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about helping children see doctors as a resource instead of as a threat.2023-04-0322 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It221: Check Your Books for This with Cindy and AlisonHave you ever stumbled upon a page in a favorite older children's book and realized you should not read that to the children? Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about what they stumbled upon that might not be good for the emotional well-being of young children.2023-03-2722 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It220: Reflection and Gratitude Skill Building with Young Children with Cindy and AlisonIf we were taught how to reflect intentionally and have a gratitude practice when we were young, it would be a part of who we are as adults. Cindy and Alison discuss how to have intentional conversations with children that help them remember, think about experiences, and be grateful for the good in their lives.2023-03-2025 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It219: Fighting Discrimination Against Men in Early Education with Cindy and AlisonThree years ago, Cindy and Alison discussed the need for more men in early education settings. It is now 2023, and the issue seems to not be improving. We can do better than this, Preschool Peeps! During this discussion, consider ways to bring attention to discrimination against men in the early education field.2023-03-1320 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It218: Unlearning for the Sake of the Children with Cindy and AlisonSometimes, we need to be willing to unlearn practices or ideas we have held onto for a very long time. Soon it will be spring - a perfect time for unlearning! Join Cindy and Alison for this discussion about facing the unlearning.2023-03-0620 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It217: Gender, Parents, and Policies with Cindy and AlisonShould families know up-front that we will let the children pick whatever dress-up clothes or roles they want during free play? Is it time to be proactive and have policies that state that we don't put children in gender boxes when they are playing? Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about this important topic.2023-02-2722 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It216: When Adults Disagree with Cindy and AlisonWhen you disagree with a co-worker or other peer, the most professional thing to do is to go directly to that person first. How do you do that? Differences of opinion can be so uncomfortable! Cindy and Alison discuss ways to approach disagreements that help you feel more comfortable, and avoid adult tattling and gossip.2023-02-2025 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It215: Food Fears with Cindy and AlisonWhy are children afraid of trying new food? There's an answer to that question that will blow your mind! Join Cindy and Alison to find out what causes the fear and how we can avoid making it a life-long issue.2023-02-1318 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It214: When to Go Rogue with Cindy and AlisonWhen is it okay to pivot from the curriculum or do things that are not in the plan? Join Cindy and Alison to discuss when and where to draw a line on pivoting in your plans and curriculum guidance.2023-02-0624 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It213: Early Education is Like Improv with Cindy and AlisonJoin Cindy and Alison for a lively discussion about the similarities between early childhood education and being a good improv comedian.2023-01-3024 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It212: From External Reward to Self-Motivation with Cindy and AlisonWe know that children need their good deeds acknowledged, so we have stickers, pompom jars, certificates of recognition, and other tools. Slowly but surely, we need to stretch and phase out external rewards. Children need to find internal motivation to do the right thing. Cindy and Alison discuss stretching and phase out the external as the motivation becomes internalized.2023-01-2321 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It211: Inspiration from MLK Day with Cindy and AlisonJoin Cindy and Alison for an episode inspired by the day commemorating the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Use this opportunity to think about the inequities that still exist and what we need to do to make our early childhood programs a safe haven.2023-01-1615 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It210: One Positive Early Childhood Experience with Cindy and AlisonWe often discuss Adverse Childhood Experiences but rarely discuss Positive Childhood Experiences (PCE). Join Cindy and Alison to learn about one impactful thing you can do to positively impact children's future mental health. Then, go to https://patreon.com/HowPreschoolTeachersDoIt, join for only $5 per month and learn about more PCEs!2023-01-0924 min
How Preschool Teachers Do ItLost Episode: Teaching Play with Cindy and AlisonIn this lost but still very relevant episode, Cindy and Alison talk about how we can support children's understanding of how to play. Teachers today talk about the fact that children have been exposed to less meaningful play. Play is essential for learning. Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about how we can help them.2022-12-2619 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It209: Starting Fresh with Cindy and AlisonThe New Year is upon us, and we can start fresh! What can you leave in the past? Cindy and Alison talk about starting fresh with our experiences, interactions, and responses to the needs of young children.2022-12-1923 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It208: The Behavior Committee Metaphor with Cindy and AlisonSometimes, we should look at how other fields handle complicated situations and consider how that could help us in early childhood education. Challenging behavior is complicated, so maybe we need to do what Cindy and Alison discuss during this episode!2022-12-1223 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It207: Skill or Performance Deficit with Cindy and AlisonWhat is the difference between a skill deficit and a performance deficit? How can that impact my teaching? Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about working with early learners, their skill deficits, and their performance deficits.2022-12-0522 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It206: Confidence Builders with Cindy and AlisonFor people to believe they can learn and do new things, they need confidence. Cindy and Alison discuss strategies we can use to help children build the confidence needed to add to their knowledge, skills, and abilities. Are you doing all you can do? Check us out on Patreon for more content, connections, and more! www.patreon.com/HowPreschoolTeachersDoIt2022-11-2825 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It205: Mind What You Say with Cindy and AlisonCommon words and phrases can have cultural implications or can be taken in ways we don't intend. Join Alison and Cindy for a discussion about being careful when we speak and get some food for thought about what we say. Don't forget to check out our Patreon! We are excited to expand this work with your support and to provide you with bonus content, connections, merch and more! https://patreon.com/HowPreschoolTeachersDoIt2022-11-2126 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It204: Don't Sugar Coat It with Cindy and AlisonWith all good intentions, we often fail to be honest with children about what it takes to learn something new. Positivity can be toxic and we need to prevent children from feeling like hard things should have been easier. Join Cindy and Alison for a conversation about encouraging children while being honest with them.2022-11-1421 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It203: Effort or Mastery with Cindy and AlisonAre we so focused on what children have and have not mastered that our communication about children's efforts are minimal at best? Cindy and Alison discuss ways to report effort to families during this year's meetings and parent-teacher conferences.2022-11-0723 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It202: Wanted! Special Education Bridges with Cindy and AlisonDo you struggle with how to help all of the children in your class? All children benefit from inclusive classrooms where general education and special education students and the teachers are together. Cindy and Alison ask why at 3 years old, those bridges are broken for both children and their teachers. Join us for ideas about how to create bridges that are needed by all.2022-10-3121 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It201: Phonological Awareness with Cindy and AlisonThe foundation for later decoding of words and reading may be different than you think and different from how you were taught. Join Cindy and Alison for this discussion about how to support young children's phonological awareness. Check our Patreon for the resource referred to in the episode: https://patreon.com/HowPreschoolTeachersDoIt2022-10-2423 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It200: Best and Worst with Cindy and AlisonIn this special 200th episode of "How Preschool Teachers Do It," Cindy and Alison share the best and worst advice they received for their work with young children.2022-10-1723 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It199: Scary Traditions with Cindy and AlisonRespecting and validating children's emotions should take place consistently, even when holiday or family traditions are the cause for big feelings. Cindy and Alison spend this episode talking about how to handle it when a child does not want to participate in what they decide is a scary tradition.2022-10-1020 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It198: Making Friends with Cindy and AlisonJust like all other skills, the ability to make friends is learned in stages and over time. Join Cindy and Alison to learn about the step-by-step mastery of skills that take place as children learn to connect to their peers and make friends.2022-10-0323 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It197: Problem Detectives with Cindy and AlisonOne of the behavioral challenges in early childhood is that children think their big emotions are the problem. Cindy and Alison discuss how to help children become problem detectives! How does it work? Hint: It's like peeling an onion. Listen to find out the details!2022-09-2625 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It196: Physical Activity and the Brain with Cindy and AlisonWhy is it important to have both structured and non-structured gross motor activity? Cindy and Alison discuss the importance of planning for brain connections through physical activity.2022-09-1926 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It195: Clean Up with Cindy and AlisonWhy have we concentrated on making cleaning up the center of teaching responsibility? Cindy and Alison ask... and answer.... this question and more in an episode dedicated to considering our practices at clean-up time.2022-09-1220 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It194: Science Areas with Cindy and AlisonGain inspiration for revitalizing the often ignored, sometimes neglected science area in your classroom. Cindy and Alison share ideas!2022-08-2928 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It193: Food for Thought with Cindy and AlisonOur relationship with food starts in the early childhood years. We have to think about our approach when children refuse to eat, when we are acknowledging efforts and events and when they grab for dessert first. Join Cindy and Alison for some actual food for thought!2022-08-2226 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It192: Dump the Kitchen with Cindy and AlisonWhy is the dramatic play area always a kitchen?! Cindy and Alison talk about inspiring ways to rethink the dramatic play area as you plan for a new school year.2022-08-1522 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It191: The Other Exceptional Learners with Cindy and AlisonWhen we hear the phrase "exceptional learner," we may think of children who receive special education services. Special education students are exceptional learners. There are, however, other exceptional learners. Are we doing all we can for those other exceptional learners? What happens to them if we don't? Cindy and Alison discuss another group of children and what we need to do for them.2022-08-0833 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It190: The Separation Anxiety Dilemma with Cindy and AlisonAs we head toward a new school year, we need to think about the connection between how we've handled separation anxiety and the ethics that guide our work. Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about separation anxiety, professional ethics, and what to do when families want to stay in the classroom.2022-08-0128 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It189: Are Learning Styles A Myth with Cindy and AlisonIs it a myth that people are auditory, visual, or kinesthetic learners? Listen to this episode to learn about the origins of the concept of learning styles and what the research does and does not say. Join Cindy and Alison to think about this construct and its impact on young children.2022-07-2523 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It188: Not Your Average Episode with Cindy and AlisonHow do we effectively individualize our teaching based on the brain development and needs of each learner if so many of our tools and traditional ways of walking through an early childhood day are based on averages? Cindy and Alison discuss how to rethink schedules and interactions.2022-07-1823 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It187: More Sponaneity, Less Impulsivity with Cindy and AlisonDo you know the difference between impulsivity and spontaneity? Do we do too much of one and not enough of the other with early learners? Cindy and Alison talk about experiencing impulsivity and spontaneity with young children, which one should be embraced, and why.2022-07-1123 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It186: Screen for This! with Cindy and AlisonChildren have been screened for vision and hearing for years. Cindy and Alison discuss other screenings that we should consider conducting and why.2022-06-2724 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It185: The Professional Development Episode with Cindy and AlisonProfessional development is essential; yet, it feels like a chore based on achieving hours instead of knowledge. Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about their perspectives on professional development, why it matters, and how it could be.2022-06-2029 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It184: Looking for Trouble with Cindy and AlisonWhen we look for trouble, we find trouble. Many of us know that but don't realize we are doing it. Join Cindy and Alison for an honest conversation about how our actions may be contributing to the ongoing struggles of students and to the preschool to prison pipeline.2022-06-1323 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It183: Seeking Safety with Cindy and AlisonHow should we handle young children's expressions of confusion and fear about the horrific school shooting that took place at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas? Does the ongoing lack of legislation that would help ensure our children's safety and the pandemic both teach us that the current educational system of everyone in large, crowded buildings does not work in this era? Cindy and Alison address these questions and more.2022-06-0625 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It182: Redefining a Familiar Word with Cindy and AlisonPrepare to have your mind blown as Cindy and Alison discuss the meaning of the word "suspension" as it applies to early childhood settings. How will this definition change how you view your response to children's challenging behavior?2022-05-3028 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It181: Change with Cindy and AlisonWhat happened to us as children that made us so hesitant about change? Cindy and Alison discuss how we can do better with young children as we teach them about how to handle change in their lives.2022-05-2323 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It180: Families and the New Normal with Cindy and AlisonIn a recent blog article on https://howpreschoolteachersdoit.com, a question was posed about how we involve families in their child's early education during this new normal. Cindy and Alison discuss strategies for family involvement now that the new normal seems to be here.2022-05-1621 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It179: When to Get Out with Cindy and AlisonWhen children are playing, adults should be asking questions and having conversations to extend their thinking. Many adults enter play spaces to do that, but do you know when to get out? Cindy and Alison discuss how you can support the thinking routines of young children and know when to exit so they can take it from there.2022-05-0919 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It178: Documentation and the New Normal with Cindy and AlisonIt seems that the "new normal" may have arrived. It's time to stop waiting and start re-establishing high-quality practices. Documentation of children's learning and progress should be one of the first practices we ensure is in place, but how do we do that in this short-staffed world where time seems to fly by? Join Cindy and Alison for a lively discussion!2022-05-0223 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It177: Fear Tactics with Cindy and AlisonWhat are we teaching children when we use fear as a motivation for behaving? Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about teaching children about behavior and the impact of fear tactics that were a part of many of our childhoods.2022-04-2518 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It176: Rehearsing with Cindy and AlisonWhy are tabloids upset that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge may have rehearsed their children for a public appearance? Could we all learn from that and spend more time preparing children for new experiences? Cindy and Alison discuss how to practice new situations with young children.2022-04-1822 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It175: The Starting Point with Cindy and AlisonLearning begins well before children enter an early childhood program at 3-5 years old. Cindy and Alison discuss the starting point for learning skills and how to build from the start through early childhood. That's right - we see you infant, mobile infant, and toddler teachers!2022-04-1120 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It174: Judge-Free Zones with Cindy and AlisonJoin Cindy and Alison in declaring your classroom, program, and/or home a "judge-free zone." Listen to learn why and how we should work to raise a generation that judges less and accepts more.2022-04-0422 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It173: Let Them Talk with Cindy and AlisonWhat do children think when adults jump in and answer questions for them? Why do so many adults do that? Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about letting the children speak!2022-03-2818 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It172: Bad Experiences with Cindy and AlisonEver have a bad experience that you realize has stayed with you and impacted your anxiety level and behavior? Do you avoid anything because of something that happened when you were young? Cindy and Alison discuss the impact of situations on children and how we can help them.2022-03-2119 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It171: Sharing with Cindy and AlisonIn a world where we have to discourage sharing because of the pandemic, how can we still teach sharing? What can we do when we have to say, "The puppets are sharing, but you cannot?" Cindy and Alison tackle this topic and start the conversation about teaching young children to share in 2022.2022-03-1419 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It170: Unmasking with Cindy and AlisonMasking mandates are changing, but the children are used to masks in early childhood programs and public schools. How might they react? What might they need us to do? Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about the impact of unmasking.2022-03-0721 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It169: When I Grow Up with Cindy and AlisonWe often talk to children about what they want to be when they grow up, but are we focusing them on goals that will last through their lives? Cindy and Alison discuss why who we want to be should be more than an occupation.2022-02-2821 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It168: A Bad Week with Cindy and AlisonEver have one of those weeks when everything you do seems to go wrong? Children have those weeks, too. Cindy and Alison discuss how to help them express that and move forward from it. You also won't want to miss the Feedback 5 at the end!2022-02-2125 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It167: Homework with Cindy and AlisonAt long last, Cindy and Alison talk about their take on homework. Should it be assigned? What should we think about? What would actually be a way to partner with families about what their children are learning? Listen to find out!2022-02-1422 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It166: PenPals with Cindy and AlisonCindy and Alison reminisce about the many lessons they learned by having PenPals and why we need to bring them back. Be part of the movement to bring PenPals to early childhood classrooms.2022-02-0720 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It165: Fairy Tale Expectations with Cindy and AlisonDo all those stories, television shows, and movies give children a false impression of life and happiness? Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about how children internalize what they see and the conversations we can have with them about fairy tales, tv shows, movies, and more.2022-01-3120 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It164: Parents, Guardians, Folks, and Kin with Cindy and AlisonOur words matter when addressing adults as much as they do when talking to children. Being welcoming and inclusive means providing children and adults with a sense of belonging. Cindy and Alison discuss how we name or label people who are raising children and if there is even a word that includes all possibilities.2022-01-2423 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It162: To Know or To Google with Cindy and AlisonCindy and Alison discuss a cognitive bias - sometimes called the digital effect, digital amnesia, or the Google Effect - and how that should help us think about priorities for children's learning. Don't miss learning about how our brains are sorting information in our highly digital world!2022-01-1026 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It161: Even I Don't Like That with Cindy and AlisonOne trip to a small group breakout room made us think about the activities we don't want to do that we ask children to participate in. Should participation be voluntary or is it important to make children try? Cindy and Alison discuss the things we don't even like to do and that fine line.2022-01-0322 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It160: Live and Let Live in Early Childhood with Cindy and AlisonIt's time to examine your dress code and think about the people in our early childhood classrooms. Are the people reflective of the real world that children experience outside the classroom? Are we unintentionally teaching shame or embarrassment about their family or others? Cindy and Alison discuss dress codes, staff, and more!2021-12-2720 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It159: Are the People High Quality with Cindy and AlisonWe talk about high-quality curriculums, environments, and other aspects of early childhood settings, but how do we figure out if the adults are behaving in high-quality ways? Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about the actions that make someone a great professional.2021-12-2021 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It158: The Nonsense We're Raised With...with Cindy and AlisonErik Erikson taught us that young children struggle with initiative vs. guilt. That guilt plays out for a lifetime. Listen to Cindy and Alison discuss some of the nonsense we are raised with and how we can do better for today's children.2021-12-1330 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It157: If Only Teachers Knew with Cindy and AlisonAs promised during their episode about what they wish families knew, Cindy and Alison discuss what they wish teachers knew about families, children, colleagues, and more! Don't miss this conversation and contribute by sending your wishlist in our contact form at HowPreschoolTeachersDoIt.com or as a message on our Facebook page.2021-12-0625 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It156: Brains, Tech, and Timing with Cindy and AlisonNow that use of technology has become an even bigger part of the lives of young children, what do we do about their screen time? Cindy and Alison discuss the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations and how we might "right-size" the amount of time young children spend looking at screens.2021-11-2918 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It155: If Only Parents Knew with Cindy and AlisonCindy and Alison share their top 3 lists of what they wish parents knew about young children. Share yours with us at HowPreschoolTeachersDoIt.com and on our Facebook page!2021-11-2221 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It154: When Kids Lie with Cindy and AlisonWhy do children lie and what should we do about it? Cindy and Alison discuss children and lies - a topic that pushes many buttons for adults.2021-11-1525 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It153: How To Do Holidays with Cindy and AlisonIn today's diverse and interconnected world, it is important to think about our approach to acknowledging holidays in early childhood settings. Join Alison and Cindy for a discussion about our focus when teaching about holidays.2021-11-0820 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It152: Repetition and Truth with Alison and CindyWhat is the connection between repetition, learning, and truth? Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about the impact of repetition on learning and how children understand the world.2021-11-0126 min
How Preschool Teachers Do It107: Cindy and Alison's List of But Adults Do That (The Lost Episodes #2)There are so many things that we ask children to do but don't do ourselves. Cindy and Alison discuss some of those behaviors and pose the question, "If we can't do them, why do we expect children to?" Listen, laugh, and share your list with us!2020-12-2117 min