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Better Kid Care Tip Pages offer research to practice information relevant to early education and care. These front-to-back page articles provide applicable ideas in working with children that support the professional responsibilities practitioners face.
Choose from 150 Tip Page articles! The Tip pages are organized according to the Pennsylvania Core Body of Knowledge (curriculum framework) providing easy access to topics in child development. View and/or print the Tip Pages below or click a Knowledge Area you are most interested in.
New: Great Ideas! Supporting Quality Childcare for Military Families
Providing quality childcare is the best source of support you can provide to military families who have children in your care. Read our first issue of Great Ideas, researched based articles designed to support quality childcare, or visit Better Kid Care’s new Military tab to find out more!
Knowledge Area 1: Child Growth and Development
Knowledge Area 2: The Environment, Curriculum & Content
Knowledge Area 3: Families in Society
Knowledge Area 4: Child Assessment
Knowledge Area 5: Communication
Knowledge Area 6: Professionalism & Leadership
Knowledge Area 7: Health, Safety & Nutrition
Knowledge Area 8: Program Organization & Administration (For Directors or Home-based Practitioners)
Other
01 Child Development
- Trailblazing with Two-Year Olds (was Terrific Two-Year-Olds) (1-6)
- Fabulous Five-Year-Olds (4-4)
- Fun with Four-year-Olds (2-8)
- Self Regulation: Searching Intentional Practices - Part 1 (11-5)
- Self Regulation: Searching Intentional Practices - Part 2 (11-6)
- Terrific Three-Year-Olds (was Working with Three-Year-Olds) (2-5)
- What Do Children Need to Know to Start School? (5-2)
02 Child Development – social/emotional
- Boys in Dresses? (6-2)
- Caring for Kids - AND Your Kids Too! (2-9)
- Emotional Wellness: Understanding Its Importance (13-3)
- Helping Children with Sad Times (2-3)
- I'm So Mad! (Helping children deal with anger) (3-10))
- Mommy, Don't Go (1-9)
- Tips on Sharing (1-3)
- Temperament – What is it? (14-6)
03 Child development – cognitive/intellectual
- Connecting Play and Learning (9-6)
- Executive Function: What’s Play Got To Do With It? (15-7)
- Using Reflection to Connect and Inspire Learning (12-8)
04 Child development – physical/sensory/motor
- Brain Dance Part 1: Children’s Natural Explorations through Movement (12-05)
- Brain Dance Part 2: Awareness of Movement, Awareness of Learning (12-06)
- Lot's of Active Play (6-5)
05 Variations in development/special needs/early intervention
11 Responsive environment/curriculum
- Choosing Toys Children Really Like (4-12)
- Creating a Sense of Place: Considering Routine, Ritual, and Belonging (11-10)
- Creating Structures: Common and Uncommon Ideas (13-12)
- Leadership and Children (15-5)
- Loose Parts: What does this mean? (11-7)
- Relationships: The Essential Ingredient in Caring for Children and How You Can Support It! (12-03)
- Webbing (15-9)
12 Environmental design/room arrangement
- Infant Environment: Let's Take a Closer Look (8-2)
- Creating a Peaceful Environment for Young Children (8-1)
- Outdoor Spaces (12-10)
- Rock on! Creating Rock Gardens with Young Children (10-5)
13 Curriculum/programming
- Shaping the Plan: Elements to Consider in Approaching Teaching (14-4)
- Planning Strategies: What's the Rhythm of Your Day? (9-1)
- What Makes for a Beautiful Day? (12-7)
- Photographs: Meaningful Uses in Early Education and Care (7-12)
- Children and Nature: Are We Supporting the Connection? (7-9)
- Giving Children Choices (3-9)
- Go Outside! Fundamental and Fitting Views (12-11)
- Helping Hands (6-9)
- Let's Take a Walk (5-12)
- Outdoor Play on Winter Days (1-4)
- Slow Down - Try a thoughtful, reflective approach to childcare (7-3)
- The End of the Day (6-12)
- Tips for Clean-Up (5-8)
- Transition Clues (10-3)
- TV and Kids (2-6)
- Understanding Transitions (10-6)
- Successful Circle Times (15-13)
- “I Think I Can… I Think I Can…”: How To Manage Children’s Mistakes to Nurture Stick-to-itiveness and Other 21st Century Skills (15-8)
14 Developmentally appropriate practices
- Developing Memory (13-09)
- Exploring Developmentally Appropriate Practice (14-1)
- Applying Developmentally Appropriate Practice (14-2)
- Is This On Purpose? (15-12)
15 Play – types, functions, environment
- Learning Through Play (1-2)
- Play: “Can you hear me now?” Listening to the Voice of Play (10-12)
- Playing with Babies (2-1)
- Blocks: Great Toys for All Ages (3-5)
- Entering and Sustaining Play (8-4)
- Play Time - It's Not Just for Children! (3-2)
- Pretend Play (4-6)
- Shaping Ideas into Good Play (9-2)
- Why Do Children Play Like This? (2-10)
16 Emergent literacy/language
- Intentional Early Language Development (14-3)
- Creating Opportunities for English Language Learners: 4 Action Plans (13-11)
- Talking with Babies (4-5)
- Developmental Language Suggestion (10-8)
- The Language Connection (10-7)
- Reading Times (3-3)
- See, Scribble, Print: Encouraging Young Children to Make their Mark (10-4)
- Stories to Act Out (7-7)
- Early Literacy: 10 Views to Contemplate (13-2)
- Tell a Tale! (15-11)
17 Emergent numeracy/math
18 Science/social studies
- Explorations in Light (12-04)
- Gardening with Young Children -- Dig In! (7-11)
- Discovering Through Science (7-5)
- Make Your Own Mixtures (3-7)
- Mix It! Clever Pouring, Stirring, Dumping and Concocting (7-2)
- Nature Journals (13-4)
- Simple Science (5-3)
19 Music, dance, art, drama
- Art Wonderful! (13-10)
- Children's Art (1-8)
- Make Your Own Kind of Music (3-11)
- The Joy of Music! (8-3)
- Painting with Young Children: There's More to the Picture (7-6)
- Play With Clay (11-2)
- Scribbles Have Meaning (6-11)
20 Technology in the classroom
21 Behavior management, discipline, guidance, conflict resolution, supervision of children
- Biting (1-1)
- Discipline Tips for Infants and Toddlers (5-11)
- Change "No" to "Yes" (6-4)
- Hold My Hand: Gentle Guiding for the Misguided (9-4)
- I'm Telling (Working with a tattle-tale) (3-12)
- Let's Work Out (Helping children solve problems) (3-8)
- Stop Behavior Problems Before They Happen (2-2)
- Stop the Whining (4-1)
- Teaching Children to Cooperate (5-9)
- Teasing (6-1)
- Temper Tantrums (1-7)
- The Dance of Kindness: Promoting Goodwill in Your Program (7-8)
- When Children Use "Bad Words" (4-8)
- Working with a Bully (5-6)
- Working with Siblings: Will They Ever Get Along? (6-6)
22 Intervention strategies for variations in development/ special needs/early intervention
31 Children within the context of families/community/culture
32 Family structure, cultural diversity
33 Family values, attitudes, parenting styles
34 Family support, parent/community partnerships
- Children’s Learning: The Gift of Shared Responsibility (15-4)
- Helping Parents to Be Better Parents (5-7)
35 Family stressors, crisis intervention, legal issues
41 Child assessment – methods, tools, documentation
- Reflections to Move Forward: Gaining Insights from Your Work (12-9)
- Acknowledging Children's Efforts (12-12)
- Assessment, The Big Picture: What Is It? Why Do It? (15-10)
42 ECE assessments – curriculum planning
43 Child assessment – analysis, individualized planning IEP, IFSP)
44 Assessment/quality enhancement
51 Effective communication/barriers
52 Communication with children
53 Communication with adults: parents/families/staff/confidentiality
60 CBK/PDR training for directors or for practitioners
61 Professional philosophy/commitment
- Intentional Early Educators: Tell Me More (10-10)
- What Research Tells Us: Why Early Educators are Important(11-4)
- Rediscovering Joy in Our Work(11-3)
- Partnering with each other: the map to collaboration (10-9)
62 Professional development, career planning, training
63 Ethics
64 Advocacy
75 Emergency Management
76 Facility health practices, policies
77 Personal care routines (naptime, toileting, hand washing)
- Safe Sleeping for Babies (3-4)
- Naptimes (2-7)
- Sweet Dreams Part 1: Thinking about Sleep (11-11)
- Sweet Dreams Part 2: Sleep Recommendations (11-12)
- Toilet Learning (1-5)
78 Basic child health record keeping
79 Nutrition
- Best Drinks for Children (5-5)
- Kids and Food (1-4)
- Picky Eaters (6-7)
- More Nutritional recipes articles here.
80 Pediatric first-aid
81 CPR/lifeguard
82 Fire safety
83 Water safety
84 Other health and safety topics (childhood illness, asthma, allergies, etc.)
- Move On: Reversing Children's Sedentary Lifestyles Part 1 (11-8)
- Move On: Reversing Children's Sedentary Lifestyles Part 2 (11-9)
- Stress Busters (6-8)
- Understanding Stress (13-6)
- Talking with Children about the News (4-11)
- Television in childcare: What Do We Need to Know? (9-5)
85 Child Health Record Keeping (immunizations, screenings, special care plans)
86 Mandated Reporter
91 Program administration/management/styles and practices
- Developing a Mission Statement (10-1)
- Early Drop-Off and Late Pick-Up (9-3)
- Late Fees (6-3)
- Contracts with Parents (2-4)
- When Parents Don't Pay (5-10)
92 Personnel policies/procedures
93 Staff supervision/evaluation/record keeping
94 Regulatory requirements/facilities management
95 Budgeting/financial planning/accounting
- Dollars and Cents of childcare (5-1)
- Income Tax Deductions for Food (4-9)
- How Do I Join the Food Program? (8-5)
- Make Your Dollars Stretch with Freebies (3-6)
96 Evaluating program/strategic planning/continuous quality improvement
97 Marketing
98 Accreditation
99 Fundraising/grant writing/resource development
100 Legal Issues
101 Technology
102 Small Business Development Practices
X3 Technical assistance/mentoring
X4 College Course
X5 CDA training
X6 CDA Advisor
X7 Director Credential
Y4 School Age Credential
Y7 Satellite Training