Best Practices Archives - Page 2 of 11

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Museums Are for Kids: Busting Myths at the Milwaukee Art Museum

Emily Sullivan·May 3, 2019·5 min read

The days of shushing kids in museums are long gone. Now, museums large and small, which once earned reputations for strict enforcement of “no talking,” “no touching” and “no fun” rules for kids, actively court families and kids with free days, family memberships, activities, tours and programs, all designed to celebrate and discover art and the creative spirit.

A little boy and girl play with toy hammers and nails

Children First: What a “Values-Based Budget” Looks Like

Mark Swartz·Sep 13, 2019·3 min read

What would happen if we prioritized children’s potential? That’s the question implicitly asked and explicitly answered in the recent paper...

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...

5 Top Takeaways from the Conversation: Mississippi’s Education Turnaround

Mark Swartz·Jul 28, 2020·3 min read

On Tuesday, July 14, Mississippi's Superintendent of Education, Dr. Carey Wright, shared the story of grade-level reading success in her state. The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (CGLR) powered the conversation as part of their Learning Tuesdays webinar series.

A woman reads a book outdoors with a small boy who has paint and dirt on his face.

Tiny Trees Preschoolers Get to Know Their World, Rain or Shine

K.C. Compton·Aug 30, 2019·3 min read

The children attending Tiny Trees Preschool classrooms in Seattle and King County parks may look like they’re “just playing,” but those little boots are actually marching, climbing, stomping and squishing their way to a well-rounded preschool education.

Early Childhood 2020: What Do You See?

Joan Lombardi·Jan 31, 2020·3 min read

The New Year, with its metaphor of clear vision, calls out to all of us to think about the future; to envision a better world for children, youth, and families. While we can’t predict what the decade will bring, we can use what we have learned over the years—and our common sense—to set some goals and move forward. Here is what I see and hope for in a new year, in a new decade.