Best Practices Archives - Early Learning Nation

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When Teaching Sex Education and Consent, How Young is Too Young?

Tom Kertscher·May 14, 2019·6 min read

Some experts say that when it comes specifically to teaching consent, sex education for young children can be done without being explicit, and it can help kids learn about boundaries and empathy when it comes to their own bodies and the bodies of other people.

Round up: Spring Fever Edition with Deans for Impact, ZERO TO THREE, National League of Cities, and more

The Editors·Mar 20, 2019·1 min read

Happy Spring! Your spring fever is kicking in, you’ve got a ton on your plate and pollen is already making...

Mindfulness and Young Children: Six Resources for Beginners and Skeptics

Mark Swartz·Nov 19, 2020·3 min read

Sometimes a term gets repeated so often that the meaning becomes obscure. While it might seem like we’re all talking...

5 Top Takeaways from the Webinar: Local Matters: What Political Newcomers Need to Know

Mark Swartz·Dec 10, 2020·3 min read

Because we can’t take our Early Learning Nation Studio on the road during this time, stay tuned as ELN recaps...

7 Insights for Teaching and Serving Our Youngest Immigrants

Mark Swartz·Jul 19, 2022·4 min read

Not everyone who comes to America is pursuing the American Dream. Some are in flight from life-threatening crises. Layered on...

Building Young Brains When Schools Are Closed, Part 1: Offline Activities

Three-part Series Offers Top Tips for Parents and Caregivers

Mark Swartz and Art Hondros (Illustrator)·Mar 20, 2020·2 min read

This is part 1 of a a three-part series. Read Part 2 (Online Activities) and Part 3 (Outdoor Tips). We...

Meeting (and Teaching) Families in Unexpected Places Can Transform Cities

Grocery stores, bus stops, laundromats… what’s next?

Mark Swartz·Jun 25, 2019·5 min read

School is a great place to learn, but it’s not the only place. No matter how excellent our teachers are, no matter how enriching the curricula, school accounts for only about 20 percent of children’s waking hours. That’s why a growing number of education pioneers are building out nontraditional sites for young minds to develop their language skills and to learn about their world.

Brain Matters Documentary Attracts Global Interest

Behind the Scenes with Director Carlota Nelson

Mark Swartz·Feb 25, 2020·3 min read

Prioritizing early childhood development, says documentary filmmaker Carlota Nelson, “Is a no-brainer,” before adding, “No pun intended.” Born in Tokyo...

Resetting Expectations: 5 Takeaways from a Webinar on Screen Time in the Age of COVID-19

Mark Swartz·Apr 7, 2020·2 min read

Hiding in the basement from my wife and kids, I tuned into a recent webinar on screen time, part of...

Sparks Parent Video Series: Seven Minutes of Reassurance for New Parents and the Residents Who Care for Them

K.C. Compton·Jan 11, 2023·7 min read

The request might not show up on any baby-shower wish list, but the gift practically every new parent wants most...

A parent’s guide to surviving COVID-19: 8 strategies to keep children healthy and happy

Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Roberta Michnick Golinkoff·Mar 18, 2020·2 min read

For many of us, COVID-19 has completely changed how we work. Remote work might have its advantages for some, but when the kids are out of school and libraries and museums are closed, juggling two roles at once can be a challenge. What is a parent to do? As two developmental psychologists dedicated to understanding how children learn and play, these questions are filling our inbox.