Council Blog
Read about what’s new and what’s important to you as a member of the ECE community.
The Importance of Supporting Infant Mental Health
Ordinarily, we don’t usually think of infants when the term “mental health” comes to mind. Rather, we think about adolescents or adults, as the two groups most likely to be affected emotionally, psychologically, and through...
6 Books to Help You Encourage Creativity and Exploration in Young Children
For young children, summertime marks the beginning of endless possibilities when it comes to fun outdoor activities that allows them to explore different environments. Whether it’s the pool, camping, or simply going to play in...
First High School CDA Student Becomes College Graduate
In 2011, Betsy Wayt (formerly Betsy Thompson) was among the first high school students in the country to earn a Child Development Associate® (CDA) credential™ through a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program while completing...
Working with Dual Language Learners of All Ages is Rewarding
As a parent of a young child learning two languages, I’m first to advocate for bilingualism. I also am aware of the challenges this long-term goal may bring upon my family and the early educators...
11 Tips for Making Mealtimes Healthy Fun for Young Picky Eaters
As a parent you’ve probably experienced many, if not all, of these common child eating habits: Not letting different foods touch other foods on their plate Spitting out foods with odd or unfamiliar textures or...
3 Best Practices for Educators Working with Military Families
Military families relocate 10 times more often than civilian families – on average, every 2 or 3 years.i This constant change of location can create stress on military families with young children. It also emphasizes the...
5 Tips on How to Teach Literacy Every Day in Early Education
The Council for Professional Recognition enjoyed promoting literacy in March, but as the month came to a close, we realized the need to remind everyone about the importance of literacy all year long. Literacy falls...
Child-focused Activities: Lesson Plans that Matter
It can be passed off as “tradition,” but how can anyone possibly get motivated or excited by this? More importantly, how is this appropriate for young children? You might say, “Oh, but everyone in the...
NAFCC and the Council
Bill Hudson, newly appointed Chief Executive Officer for the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), visited the Council’s office to discuss potential partnerships and to share information about his organization with our community. NAFCC,...