Dandelion Learning

For some reason it has become acceptable to throw a 3 or 4 year old into a room full of strangers and expect them to "Go play!".  But this is not a good first experience with school.  So why do we accept it? It's August.  School shopping is about to begin and soon many families will be peeled away from their clinging preschoolers and told to "say goodbye" from the door.  I see the concern and guilt and worry in the many Facebook posts and memes and I ask myself, "Why do they think it SHOULD be that way?". Of course, I have a different perspective.  I am not only a mother, but an educator who studies Early Childhood Education.  I am a preschool teacher and an adjunct college instructor so I am constantly up to date on the current best practices for early childhood education (which is birth to age 8... yes, that means child care through 2nd or 3rd grade!).  What many people who do not study child development or education do not know is tha...

Saturday, April 1, 2017 Florence Day! We woke up, had breakfast… which was continental at the Holiday Inn Express and the BEST breakfast we have ever had!   Fresh, delicious croissants, coffee, and bread to make toast, ham and cheese! J The biggest challenge we are facing is that there is no “mini-mart” or store inside the hotel; nothing with snacks, pop and water.   We’re so spoiled in the USA.   We got on a train to Florence and planned to see “everything”!   Our main goals were written on a piece of paper that Cindy’s daughters gave her. Both of them have visited Italy in high school with their Italian classes.   When we arrived in Florence at the train station (EVERYTHING is by train here!) we met a man who tried to sell us a private tour in his car for $40.   We declined…. At the end of our adventure we regretted it!   It was hard to navigate the city and see everything in the time we had before our train left. Mo...