Join the celebration! April 8-12 is the Week of the Young Child, sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and there are many ways you can participate. Thank an early childhood educator! Did you know there are 38,800 children under age 6 who live in families where all available parents Read More
Conversation Starters
Where do babies come from? Where did all the dinosaurs go? How come we don’t have a car? Children are full of curiosity. Sometimes it seems like the questions just keep coming! And let’s be honest, they aren’t always the easiest to answer. That’s where books come in. Using books as conversation starters with your child Read More
Welcoming Spring with Strength
We Alaskans greet spring with such enthusiasm. We comment to each other – even to strangers – about how the snow is melting and the days are getting longer. The news that we’re gaining five minutes and more of sunlight a day is met with happy smiles. April will be here soon, and so it Read More
Books You’ll Love for Bedtime
These bedtime stories are the perfect reading buddy for a calming bedtime routine. Again! by Emily Gravett (Preschool) A young dragon doesn’t want to go to bed. Instead, he wants his mom to read him his favorite story… over and over and over again. But mama dragon is getting awful tired herself and a little bit Read More
Ways You Can Help Your Child with Bedtime Stories
Start your routine early enough to enjoy it. If you or your toddler is over-tired, reading together quickly becomes a chore, and not the nice calming activity bedtime routines need. Turn off any distractions – TV, cell phones, electronic toys, etc. Avoid turning your bedtime routine into a teaching lesson. It’s okay to engage your Read More
Bedtime Stories
What does bedtime look like in your home? From peaceful slumber to battleground – we’ve seen it all. And while you can fill an entire library with books on the latest sleep training method and advice from well-meaning parents, there is one thing experts agree helps. Have a good bedtime routine. Young children especially need Read More
The State of Early Learning
Have you heard about the cuts to early learning in Gov Dunleavy’s proposed FY 2020 budget? It zeroes out funding for the following: Parents as Teachers home visiting program PreK grants to school districts Head Start matching funds to receive federal dollars Best Beginnings Let’s just look at Best Beginnings’ funding. Best Beginnings receives $320,000 Read More
Books You’ll Love to Read
These heart-warming stories are great for snuggling up with a book. All the Things I Love About You by LeUyen Pham (Toddler) Parents and caregivers share an unbreakable bond with their children. In this story, a mother recounts all of the things she loves about her son, from his laugh to the way his hair sticks Read More
Ways You Can Help Your Child Love Reading
Make reading together an inviting, snuggly time. Build a pillow fort to read in. Climb into the comfiest corner of the couch together. Let your daughter bring her favorite stuffed animals to cuddle. Plan a special reading time. There is no greater gift to your child than your time. Turn off all distractions like your Read More
Fostering a Love of Reading
The power of reading to your child is incredible. You already know how great it is for their brain development – how it builds their vocabulary, language, and communication skills. But the real beauty in reading together is in the way it strengthens your relationship with your child. Children need to feel loved, nurtured, and Read More