ECE Playlist #172
a few things for the end of february
no. 172 / February 28, 2026
LATELY
I facilitated a lot of professional development in February! That is my “day job”, mostly: supporting child care providers and teachers and parents in improving the quality of our care so children can thrive. I love the conversations I get to have, and I appreciate when people are thoughtful and curious about their role as a caregiver. Its complicated and nuanced, and it isn’t easy. I understand why people are burnt out, and why optimism is hard to muster sometimes.
I consider myself an optimist, but also a realist. The quality of caregiving has an enormous impact on children’s lives, and there are so many pieces that come together to create quality. As I design and facilitate trainings on all sorts of topics - curriculum, playful learning, staff communication, teaching friendship skills - the success of all this in practice is connected to caregiving. Our warm, intentional, nurturing interactions that define clear limits and respect who children are and who they are becoming. We can’t grow without paying curious attention to each other.
NOTICING
I spent lots of time in the Sand and Water Tables archive, preparing for a conference session early in the month, it might be my favorite place on the internet. Bonus photo of the sensory table contraption I made for said conference session!
Do we overdo it on teaching children to be independent, and how can we balance that with healthy interdependence? (I’m collecting my thoughts on this one still…)
Related: This option piece, “Don’t Play with Your Kids. Seriously”.
I love the idea of a party cart in a preschool classroom for making materials: children need to have materials for making beyond the writing/drawing table!
“Built and natural environments—and the systemic factors that shape those environments—interact with each other and with a child’s social environment in deeply interconnected ways.” (Place Matters Working Paper from Harvard)
BACKGROUND MUSIC for play time
happy weekend -
allie