Early childhood educators are powerful changemakers. Their ongoing training and support help them foster nurturing, inclusive, and stimulating learning environments.

Providing them with the tools they need to empower their children helps them recognize developmental delays and provide timely support services. This is vital to ensuring that all children receive the care they need to lead healthy, productive lives.

Embrace a Play-Based Approach

Play is a vital component of the early childhood learning process. It helps to develop creativity and imagination, as well as social skills. Children learn to negotiate, cooperate, and share, and it fosters empathy. It also develops problem-solving skills, which are critical for academic success.

Unlike didactic learning, where the teacher is a dominant force, play-based learning is more child-led and open-ended. It allows for iterative play, a form of learning that builds on previous experiences and enables children to make sense of their world. Research has shown that iterative play supports deeper cognitive development and more meaningful understanding of topics, such as numeracy and literacy.

Another benefit of play-based learning is that it can be used to teach students with different learning needs. It can help them build on their strengths and support the areas where they need extra practice. In addition, it can be a great way to introduce topics that are difficult for students to understand.

It is important to note, however, that not all children have equal access to opportunities for play. Teachers and caregivers must promote play as a right for all children, regardless of racial group, socioeconomic class, or disability. Educators should focus on supporting children during their play and promoting it as a method of learning.

Create a Positive Environment

When you think of a positive learning environment, you might picture alphabet puzzles, books lined up on shelves, and blocks and water tables. These elements are all important to the overall classroom experience, but what’s even more impactful is the community of educators who make up a school. This includes teachers, family child care providers, and administrators who are committed to creating a responsive environment for students.

When children feel respected and heard, they’re more likely to trust adults and feel empowered to learn. This is why it’s critical to provide an environment that fosters a sense of camaraderie for all members of the community. Programs like Parents Empowering Parents (PEP) are a great example of this—they create a supportive community for parents to learn and share resources, while promoting equality and justice in early intervention systems.

Another great way to build a strong community of educators is by providing opportunities for professional development. This can help to reduce turnover rates in the field, as well as promote a positive work culture. Additionally, it’s important to prioritize your own mental and physical health to ensure that you’re able to show up fully for your students and colleagues. This can be done by implementing stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, exercising regularly, and prioritizing sleep. Taking time to do these things can help you rediscover the passion that brought you into the field, and stay motivated for the long haul.

Encourage Self-Discipline

Developing self-discipline is one of the biggest tasks children have. It helps them control their emotions and behavior, stay focused on a task or activity, and make good decisions in challenging situations. It’s a big skill that requires a lot of practice and effort, especially in young children, and the earlier it is nurtured, the better.

It’s no surprise that researchers have linked a child’s ability to exercise self-control with future success. Some people are naturally disciplined, while others need to work at it. Many parents find it hard to model self-discipline because it can be exhausting!

The best way to encourage self-discipline is to give your kids positive role models. When children see adults taking a deep breath and managing their tempers in stressful situations, they learn that it’s normal to do so. Similarly, when children see adults putting their own needs aside for the sake of a colleague, they learn that it’s okay to do so.

You can also help them develop self-discipline by encouraging activities that teach responsibility and commitment, such as chores, sports, a job, or caring for a pet. Even family routines, like following a morning and evening schedule, can help teach discipline. Lastly, teaching children to be patient is another great way to practice self-control. When they can be rewarded for waiting (like playing board games without interrupting), they’ll want to keep doing it!

Involve Your Family

Encourage family engagement by providing multiple ways for them to connect with the classroom. Create a flow of communication by welcoming families in person at drop-off and pick-up, keeping a journal for each child and encouraging them to write in it, using social media and newsletters, and sending texts or emails. Learn what kind of involvement each family wants and expects based on their culture, language, and parenting values.

Give families opportunities to participate in class projects or school-wide events like movie nights, holiday crafts, or class parties. This helps them bond with their children while also giving them a sense of accomplishment and community. It also shows them that their voices are heard and valued.

Empowering young children is a critical component of building a stronger and more equitable society. This is especially important in underserved communities. Small, intensively resourced pre-K programs that serve deeply disadvantaged students have shown remarkable results in randomized controlled trials and hold multigenerational effects.

Similarly, supporting parents through education initiatives, offering generous education savings accounts, and investing in quality home childcare are some of the best ways to improve outcomes for children from diverse backgrounds. This empowers children to pursue their dreams and tackle challenges with resilience, leading them to a more successful future. This also promotes teacher morale, which in turn benefits student learning and development.