Best Practices Archives - Early Learning Nation

Kids with dirt smudges on their faces, laughing and eating outdoors

The Mind-Building Magic of a Muddy Childhood

K.C. Compton·Aug 30, 2019·7 min read

Throughout most of human history and in most of the world, that paradigm of children playing outdoors as a part of childhood has been so integral as to be transparent. Not so in the U.S., where, according to the Child Mind Institute, the average American child spends four to seven minutes a day in unstructured play outdoors and more than seven hours a day in front of a screen. Washington State is changing that.

Megan McClelland: The Skills & Tools of Self-Regulation

The Editors·Apr 29, 2019·4 min read

Self control. Attention. Focus. These foundational skills make up a key area of early childhood development: Self-regulation. So what can teachers, parents, caregivers –even children themselves – do to help those skills grow? Oregon State University Professor Megan McClelland explains the science and the practical things we all can do. Filmed for Early Learning Nation’s Mobile Studio at the Society for Research in Child Development’s biennial meeting in Baltimore, MD, on March 22, 2019. #SRCD19

This Summer, Create Opportunities to Slow Down, Be Present, Reclaim the Wonder

MaryJean McCarthy·Jun 15, 2020·4 min read

While such togetherness and lack of the usual resources will likely inspire new horror films and comedy series, this quarantine period also provides a positive reminder for us to slow down, be present and reclaim the wonder.

To the Stars and Beyond from a Tower of Blocks

K.C. Compton·Jan 30, 2020·7 min read

The building block has been such a fact of American childhood for so long, it’s easy to dismiss the humble...

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...

Maria Montessori Myth Busting

Part 2 of a 3-Part Series

Mark Swartz·Sep 16, 2022·6 min read

The history of its proliferation and multi-pronged institutional dissemination has fostered a degree of confusion and myths about the founder’s intentions and how the method is practiced.

Geetha Ramani: You Want to Teach Math? Play Games!

The Editors·Apr 18, 2019·4 min read

When University of Maryland Associate Professor Geetha Ramani and her colleagues visit early learning classrooms, they’re known as the “game people.” Ramani’s research shows not only the importance of teaching math skills, but also the effectiveness of what might seem like an obvious tactic: Make it fun.