CHAOS PRACTICE WITH CALM CENTERING Janai 'Grandma Boom' Mestrovich, M.S. Could you keep your calm if this chaos was happening around you? The calm center fairy knows that children need to have the experience of chaos and stress all around them while they focus on their calm center inside doing deep belly button breathing to practice self regulation. Their experience of BEING in the midst of noise and chaos is a living symbol AND practice of what happens in their lives with st

Children Determine Their Own Risk Level Nicole Fravel In the past few nature blog posts, I’ve been talking about the benefits of risky play and how to create environments that encourage children to take risks. I have also mentioned the need to separate “risk” from “hazard,” and to guide the children toward appropriate risk taking. Encouraging risks does not mean that a program is a free-for-all where teachers stand back while children do everything and anything their curious

"I'M EXCITED-SCARED TOGETHER" Helping Children Navigate Fall Transitions Lory Britain, PhD Eliana holds her drawing for her new teacher carefully against her chest. She hesitates for just a minute before stepping through the doorway into her new preschool classroom. Looking both excited and shy, her body language tells a story of "mixed-together" feelings. Her mother encourages her entry, by saying, "This looks really fun!" THE INFAMOUS FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL Does this feel fami