Understanding emotions is one of the most important parts of the human experience. Our emotions are intertwined with every facet of our lives including our individual well-being, relationships, and work. Gaining an understanding of our own emotions and the emotions of those around us begins at an early age, thus making social and emotional skills … Read more
There are so many layers to working in early childhood education. In addition to educating, caregiving, and running the business side of early childhood education, many programs also serve as a wealth of resources. We should be ready to support the children, their families, and our colleagues in a variety of ways. Many times families … Read more
If you or your program has developed a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) or worked with the Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood (DIEEC), you have likely spent some time focused on goal-setting. Setting a goal for yourself or your program is an important part of the quality improvement process. But the process involves more … Read more
This is the time of year when everything starts to feel a little bit dreary. The holidays are over, the weather is colder, and it gets dark earlier. It can be easy to fall into a slump. Self-care becomes more important than ever during this time! Working as an early childhood educator makes for busy … Read more
Every year the Week of the Young Child (WOYC) provides an opportunity to reflect on the magic that is early childhood. Created by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), WOYC has been celebrated by early childhood education programs since 1971. Following the themes set by NAEYC, DIEEC put together activity guides … Read more
What do you think of when the concept of “legacy” comes to mind? Take a minute. Now that you have taken time to gather your thoughts on this concept, have you ever considered your own legacy? Deep question, right? But it’s actually simpler than it seems! First, let’s explore the term “legacy”. Some people may … Read more
If you keep up with trends in early childhood education and what is considered best practice, you have likely heard of play-based learning. It is a term that is mentioned often when discussing how children learn. But what exactly does play-based learning mean? Play-based learning consists of child-led activities with the teacher supporting the play … Read more
For many people, the month of December tends to be a time of reflection. The current year is ending, a new year is about to begin, and the holidays can bring about lots of emotions. This can lead to thinking of the past and feelings of nostalgia. One of the ways we connect with the … Read more
Throughout the field of early childhood education, we hear the term “continuous quality improvement” often. But what exactly does that term mean? Continuous quality improvement (CQI) is used across a variety of disciplines. The concept originated in the business and health care fields. Study.com defines CQI as, “a management philosophy used to better their processes.” … Read more
For many early childhood educators, “business practices” is not a favorite topic. Most of our focus is on the education and care of the children we serve. But it is important to remember that good business practices lead to higher-quality programs. After all, early childhood education programs are also businesses and if you are a … Read more
DELAWARE INSTITUTE FOR
EXCELLENCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
