Inclusion Matters

In this podcast, Cindy and Priscilla encourage listeners to have confidence in your skills and abilities to provide an environment that gives children what they need based on developmentally appropriate practice rather than whatever the 'prevailing winds" may be. When it comes to the push for academics, we need to trust our early childhood education and training in what children need most to be successful learners in our environments. We also need to learn to articulate why our practices are part of 'readiness' for children along all their developmental domains.

In the first part of a two-part series on praise and effective encouragement for young children, Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel will examine why it is important to use words that encourage a sense of accomplishment and competence in children. Why do we praise children? What makes for effective interchanges? Please listen for tips and tools for talking with your children.

Encouragement and Effective Praise (Part 2): Priscilla and Cindy take the message of Part 1 on why we praise children and broaden the discussion with specific examples of effective encouragement. How do we respond to children in ways that help them feel successful and competent? Why is this important to their social emotional development? Tune in to hear more.

Cindy Croft, Priscilla Weigel and guest Colleen Dockendorf discuss this positive and intentional tool for calming dysregulation in young children. In the two-part podcast series, we will discuss the definition of therapeutic language and how benefits children in their social emotional development. In particular, we will discuss situations where our words can diffuse a situation for young children and help them feel safe and secure.

In the second part of our series on using therapeutic language with young children, Colleen Dockendorf is a guest speaker with Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel. She will discuss specific ways to use therapeutic language as a philosophical framework to help you transform your interactions with children. Please listen for some practical ways to promote emotional literacy in young children, particularly those who need to communicate 'big' feelings.

Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel welcome special guests Martha Moriarty and Mary Beth Kelley from the Learning Disabilities Association of Minnesota. This podcast series begins with an overview of services that this organization provides to children and adults of all ages in Minnesota.

Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel welcome guests Martha Moriarty and Mary Beth Kelley from the Learning Disabilities Association of Minnesota for further discussion on what a learning disability may look like in young children. We will also discuss what the road to diagnosis can look like for families.

Mary Beth Kelley and Martha Moriarty share common red flags for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and who should make the diagnosis. Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel facilitate the conversation with their guests and discuss common misconceptions between a learning disability and ADHD. ADHD as a disorder is defined and the process of a diagnosis is covered based on the criteria in the DSM-V.

Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel wrap up this four part podcast series with Martha Moriarty and Mary Beth Kelley of the Learning Disabilities Association of Minnesota by discussing useful inclusion strategies for children who may have behavioral characteristics of ADHD or learning disabilities. Mary Beth shares many of the ways a setting can be adapted to meet the learning needs of all children and especially support those who struggle with language or attention.

In the first part of our series on Infant and Toddler Development Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel discuss critical milestones in an infant’s language development. Our hosts discuss common things to look for at the stages of 3 months through 1 year and highlight some concerns that would require further investigation. We will also talk about the ways child care providers and parents can encourage language development at this important age.

In the second part of our series on Infant and Toddler Development Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel continue their discussion of language milestones looking at the amazing period of 12 month-24 months. This time of incredible growth in communication skills sets the foundation for later learning and social interaction. Information about typical skills is shared as well as those things that cause us as caregivers to be concerned. The hosts share ways to encourage language through our interaction and engagement with toddlers.

Escuche a nuestra anfitriona, Marisol Chiclana mientras ella comparte contestaciones a las preguntas sobre tres (3) de las preguntas mas frecuentes que tienen los proveedores de cuidado cuando tienen una preocupación sobre el desarrollo de los niños. Marisol compartirá con usted consejos sobre la importancia de una conversación clara y positiva con las familias e ideas para estar preparados con documentación y recursos.

In the next part of our series on Infant and Toddler Development Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel discuss critical milestones in an infant’s fine and gross motor development. Our hosts discuss common things to look for at the stages of 3 months through 1 year and highlight some concerns that would require further investigation. We will also talk about the ways child care providers and parents can encourage physical development at this important age.

In the second part of our series on Infant and Toddler Development Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel continue their discussion of fine and gross motor milestones looking at the amazing period of 12 month-24 months. This time of incredible growth in physical skills sets the foundation for exploration, learning and peer interaction. Information about typical skills is shared as well as those things that cause us as caregivers to be concerned. The hosts share ways to encourage physical development through our interaction and engagement with toddlers.

Kala soo qaybgala, Marian Hassan oo inoo marti gelin barnaaminkan iyadoo Afka Soomaaliga adeegsanaysa oo ka jawaab celin sadex su’aalood oo ah su'aalaha baddanaa la is waydiiyo marka uu soo siyaado walaac ku saabsan koriimadda ilmaha. Marian waxay nala wadaagi talaabooyinka ugu muhiimsan oo ay tahay in la qaado si loo sameeyo jawi wanaagsan oo waalidka lagula hadli karo oo suurto gelin kara wadda hadal fiyow iyo isfaham. Intaas oo ay dheer ahay talooyin ku salaysan adeegsiga ilmaha oo si joogto ah loo derso ama loo eego lana diiwaangeliyo dhowridaas si ay uga turjunto xaalada koriinka ilmaha iyo wixii isbedal ah oo jira oo waaridka lala wadaagi karo.

Join our guest host, May Lee Yang as she shares in Hmong the answers to three of the most common questions asked when there is a concern about a child’s development. May will share the steps that are essential to create a positive conversation with families as well as tips for setting up the conversation using observation and documentation.

Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel welcome special guests from the Children's Theatre, Maria Asp, Neighborhood Bridging Director and Laura Mann Hill, Early Bridges Manager. In Part 1 of the three part series they share about their Early Bridges program It is an early childhood literacy program that uses storytelling and creative drama to promote language development and school readiness skills. Children may start with small steps in telling their own stories but with support, they become amazing storytellers!

In part two of our podcast on storytelling, Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel welcome Maria Asp and Laura Mann Hill. They share information about the Early Bridges program and the research they have done with the Center for Early Education and Development at the University of Minnesota to track the growth of literacy skills, social emotional skills, language usage, and play. Their enthusiasm for helping children learn to tell their own stories will fill you with joy!

Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel wrap up their series with Maria Asp and Laura Mann Hill from the Children’s Theatre by focusing on ways early childhood professionals can infuse their settings with storytelling. They share ideas for dramatic play, numerous ways to explore and show feelings, and ways to use open ended questions to encourage children to tell their own stories. You can use these same strategies in your program to help children increase language skills and confidence in their own 'stories'.

Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel welcome back special guest Nicole Frethem who is a Policy Specialist with the Minnesota Child Care Assistance Program at the MN Department of Human Services. They discuss in greater detail the Special Needs Rate that is available to child care providers working with children who are part of the Child Care Assistance Program. Nicole shares some of the reasons a child care provider might request a special needs rate for a particular child with a disability and explains why the rate helps families access higher quality care.