Daytona State College Early Childhood Education

06/05/2026

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06/05/2026

Growth mindset.

06/05/2026

06/04/2026

Open those books, take a trip to the library, read aloud to them...do something to avoid having this happen.

Reading counts!

06/04/2026

Wow! Now here's an interesting take on the topic of smart phones.

In Greystones, County Wicklow, parents, schools, and community leaders came together with a simple but powerful idea: delay smartphones for children so no child would feel isolated for not having one. The movement became known through a voluntary community pledge, not a strict legal ban, and it encouraged families to hold off on giving smartphones until children were older.

What makes this approach so interesting is the social pressure it removed. Many parents worry that their child will be the only one without a phone. But when an entire community agrees together, the decision becomes easier. Instead of one family fighting the screen battle alone, the whole town creates a shared childhood standard.

This matters because early smartphone use can affect sleep, attention, social connection, and emotional development. Children need real play, face-to-face conversation, boredom, outdoor movement, and time to build imagination. A phone can be useful later, but childhood does not need to be rushed into constant notifications.

The Greystones example shows that parenting becomes stronger when communities support each other. Sometimes the biggest protection for children is not one strict rule, but many families choosing the same healthier path together.

06/04/2026

What is an early childhood educator?

06/04/2026

Many parents worry they are not doing enough. They think stronger bonds are built through expensive vacations, perfect birthdays, or unforgettable milestones. But research in developmental psychology suggests that secure attachment is usually built through thousands of small, everyday interactions.

It happens when you make eye contact while they talk. When you put your phone away and listen. When you hug them before school, read one more story at bedtime, hold their hand while walking, laugh at their silly jokes, or ask how their day went. It grows when you notice their effort, comfort them when they are upset, apologize when you make mistakes, and stay calm during difficult moments.

Children remember how you made them feel more than what you bought them. A few minutes of undivided attention can matter more than hours spent in the same room distracted. Small routines like eating together, bedtime conversations, screen-free play, encouraging curiosity, celebrating little victories, and showing affection create powerful feelings of safety and connection.

Secure attachment is not built in a single magical moment. It is built one interaction at a time. One smile. One conversation. One hug. One moment of feeling seen and valued.

Those tiny moments may seem ordinary today, but they become the foundation of your child's confidence, emotional security, and future relationships.

06/04/2026

Toddlers are still learning how to understand emotions, manage stress, and make sense of the world around them. During these early years, their brains are developing at an extraordinary rate, making them highly sensitive to the emotional tone of their environment. Research suggests that repeated yelling may affect a child's emotional well-being and influence aspects of brain development over time.

From an developmental psychology perspective, young children often interpret raised voices as signs of danger rather than discipline. When yelling becomes frequent, it can activate the body's stress response, increasing levels of stress hormones and making it more difficult for children to regulate emotions effectively.

Studies have found that chronic exposure to harsh verbal interactions may be associated with increased anxiety, lower self-esteem, and difficulties with emotional regulation. This does not mean occasional parental frustration will cause lasting harm, but consistent patterns of yelling can create a stressful emotional environment for a developing child.

Experts generally recommend calm, consistent boundaries and age-appropriate guidance instead of repeated shouting. Toddlers learn best when they feel safe, connected, and understood, even while being corrected.

Supporting healthy emotional development involves teaching, modeling, and guiding behavior in ways that help children feel secure while they learn important life skills.