Our Blog

Happy (DIY) Halloween! Halloween is a great opportunity to get creative with your kids and encourage them to use their imaginations—and their hands. Celebrate the holiday with these costume and decoration ideas. Dressing Up Creating a memorable costume can be both cheap and easy. Check your wardrobe, raid the craft supplies, and be creative. Here […]

I began writing about guiding children’s appropriate behaviors, and because the subject is so complex, I felt there was a need for a continuation. Previously, I wrote that our ideal goal is to support children’s developing sense of “intrinsic motivation,” or the internal desire to behave appropriately rather than waiting to receive external rewards or […]

By Andrea Lynn Nothing ushers in autumn like the vast supply of crisp apples. Use this apple-centric recipe as an afternoon snack for the kids or add granola into the mix for a twist on breakfast. Warning: devour these over a plate, as they can get a bit messy. Also, change up the ingredients depending […]

September 22nd is Elephant Appreciation Day! Here are some fun facts about these incredible animals (click the image to view a PDF version):  

Assistant Director Ms. Caroline has worked at our Springfield, MO location for a total of 24 years! After working as a pharmacy technician for 10 years, she knew she wanted to do something different and found her calling in early childhood education. She has worked in every classroom at the center, and continues to be […]

Summer is over and you’re probably still getting used to that “back-to-school” mindset. Here are some tips for helping you maintain good communication with your child’s school, as well as how to manage homework time.   Maintaining Home and School Communication Introduce yourself to your child’s teacher. Communicate any specific goals you may have for […]

As children grow, the skills they need to learn and develop change. Normal developmental growth frequently involves children taking on and practicing milestones or challenges until they master them. But it’s also important for children to positively embrace learning, and that begins with a strong start in early childhood, that will lead to success in […]

By Colette Martin Approximately 8% of our children now have food allergies – that’s an average of two in every classroom. Food allergies have reached epidemic proportions (having grown 50% between 1997 and 2011), and it has changed the way we need to think about food in the classroom. Whether your child with food allergies is […]

Children grow and thrive when they are in dependable relationships that provide love, security and support. We want both you and your children to feel safe, accepted and valued at our school. We want you to feel a sense of belonging to our community. Therefore, it is important you communicate openly with school staff and […]

August 22nd is National Tooth Fairy Day! Today is for celebrating this exciting folklore about the fairy who gives a small gift to children after they lose a tooth. Next time your kiddo loses one of their pearly whites, leave this printable “receipt” along with their gift! To download and print the receipt, click the […]

What better way to celebrate Book Lover’s Day on August 9 than by reading a book with your little ones? We asked some of our staff members to share their favorite children’s book, and we’d like to know what yours is, too!   Tessa Mayben – Program Assistant Director, Oklahoma City, OK Favorite Book: Alexander […]

By Andrea Lynn This simple no-cook ice cream base is a breeze to make—kids can even do the first step of adding all the ingredients together into the bowl. Just lend a hand when it comes to pureeing the mixture. Homemade ice cream has never been so easy.   Easy Blueberry-Lime Ice Cream Want to […]