"A person's a person no matter how small"-Dr. Seuss

"Passion is a ripple...it grows"-Leticia Lara LCSW, Regional Manager, Outreach and Professional Development, Zero to Three Passion is intrinsically driven within yourself.  If you allow it, the force can only continue to progress and get stronger.  Pursuing your passion is self-evolution for the better.

"Discipline is not something you do to children; it is something you develop with them"-Becky Bailiey Phd This quote is about partnering with your child, rather than dictating them.  Approaching discipline with a problem-solving approach and acknowledging feelings creates a reciprocal relationship that is mutually respected between the both of you.

        Fred Rogers is most commonly known for his work as Mister Rogers in “Mister Rogers Neighborhood” that aired in 1968 on the Public Television Service channel (Fred Rogers-Biography, 2017).   Rogers played himself on the show, taught lessons about kindness, and acknowledged childhood fears through puppeteering skits and playful songs, such as not going down the bathtub because you just cannot fit.   He worked with concepts of emergencies and terrorism, encouraging children to look for the helpers (police, fire fighters, ems).   Fred Rogers also wrote several books for children and parents on these topics.  Below is a short clip with Rogers speaking to children and families about violence in the media. Mr. Rogers talks about violence in media

A Small but Mighty Person       I want to share a story about a child I had that will forever impact how I operate as an educator and individual.  At the time, I was an infant teacher working in a classroom of eight children zero to age one and a half with two teachers, including myself.  I remember my Director telling us before we had a meeting with the family prior to the child starting, that she had a lot of things going on and it would be a challenge.  But I was not prepared for the challenge ahead.  The parents informed us their daughter, Charolotte, had been born as a micro preemie at less than two pounds.  Her digestive system, vision, lungs, and muscular system did not develop typically because of her prematurity.     Charlotte entered our care at the age of seven months.  At the time, she had a feeding tube directly connected to her abdominal area with a regulated pump in an attached backpack.  This ...

A Book to Love          To pick out just one children's book that I love is a hard task.  That is like asking me to pick one favorite kind of chocolate...impossible, I love them all!  But to narrow down my love for a kind of chocolate...I suppose I could choose dark chocolate.  And to narrow down my love for children's books, I would have to choose Dr. Seuss books.  I love to read rhythmic and rhyming books that can be silly, such as "Hop on Pop", or heartwarming  and life lesson books like "Horton Hears a Who". Children love these books too.  They speak to them on their level and understanding.  Just love it!          However, my all time favorite Dr. Seuss book is "The Lorax".  When I read it as a child it spoke to me, and still touches my heart every time I read it with my children as an adult.  So much so, that I have a tattoo of a Truffula tree on my leg ...

Hi,     My name is Crystal and I have a Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education.  I am currently a Program Director at a child development center that I have been with for over ten years.  I chose the title of my blog, "A person's a person no matter how small", for a couple of reasons.  First, I'm an educator, specifically with infants and toddlers, and the smallest people are the most important people in my career and life passion.  Secondly, my second child was born at a premature age of 28 weeks.  He was born at a small three pounds, but strong.  The amount of drive and will I witnessed in him as he has developed into a busy three year old boy has inspired me.  We have to believe that the smallest people in our world are the mightiest and can teach us the most about life.  This blog has been created to connect educators with knowledge and experiences.  I look forward to chatting with you and bouncing ideas with each other....