Mindfulness Practices to Support Children’s Learning and Development

VAAEYC Admin/ December 17, 2025/ Uncategorized

Early childhood classrooms are constantly bustling with movement, noise, discovery, and big emotions. As educators, we strive to help young children learn and develop as they navigate the challenges of their world—yet we often overlook a powerful tool that can support both children and teachers: mindfulness. Mindfulness for young children does not involve sitting still for long periods as with

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Cut Costs and Boost Efficiency with Service Vendor Sourcing Through Food & Supply Source

VAAEYC Admin/ July 10, 2025/ Uncategorized

In the human services industry, where every dollar counts, finding the right vendors at the right price is crucial for maintaining operations and maximizing resource allocation. The process of sourcing vendors can be time-consuming and often overwhelming, especially when you’re balancing strict budgets, regulatory standards, and the unique needs of your clients. That’s where a service vendor sourcing partner like

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How Kiddos Learn from Each Other—And Why That Matters

VAAEYC Admin/ June 30, 2025/ Good to Know

I’ve been thinking a lot about how students Learn. Over the years in a classroom, I’ve noticed something powerful: my kiddos often learn just as much from each other as they do from me. Watching them work things out together, copy one another’s strategies, or talk it out when something doesn’t make sense- it’s magic. That’s exactly what social constructivism

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Save 10%-35% on Food Purchases with Food & Supply Source

VAAEYC Admin/ June 24, 2025/ Uncategorized

Save 10%-35% on Food Purchases with Food & Supply Source This the second guest blog post by VAAEYC Partner, Food & Supply Source. The impact of food costs on human service organizations is significant, and finding ways to save on food purchases can directly influence their ability to allocate resources efficiently and fulfill their missions. As rising food costs stretch

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Meet Mister B

Michelle Raymond/ January 27, 2025/ Uncategorized

8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – Opening and General Session – Cultivating the Brilliance of Young Children through Intentionality Across Developmental DomainsPresenter: Mister B, AVA Educational Consulting, LLC Children are born with immense potential and a natural curiosity about the world around them. This keynote will underscore the role we have as early childhood professionals in cultivating the brilliance of

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The Power of Early Childhood Teaching

Guest Blogger/ January 25, 2024/ Uncategorized

Imagine a world where personal interactions are positive, we respect one another’s opinions, and we have civil conversation. Imagine yourself, as a teacher of young children, impacting the change that is possible. THAT IS THE POWER OF EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHING. WHAT YOU DO MATTERS. IT CAN CHANGE THE WORLD! Research over the last 20 years has revealed that young children

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Winter Reading List

Guest Blogger/ January 5, 2024/ Good to Know

Winter is here with its chill and a sense of renewal, halfway through the school year with anticipation of longer, warmer days. These books are perfect to enjoy while appreciating the beauty and calm of winter. This may be my most favorite nearly wordless book. As a Caldecott Medal winner in 2018, the illustrations tell the parallel tale of a

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Autumn Reading List

Guest Blogger/ October 25, 2023/ Good to Know

Autumn is here, along with a new school year. As we come into new routines in our classrooms, learn about new students and families, I chose these favorite back-to-school books. Getting to know the names of classmates, the change in color of falling leaves, our school community, the family table, and nocturnal animals are all relevant topics to touch on

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A Day in Family Child Care

Guest Blogger/ October 10, 2023/ Uncategorized

While the majority of VAAEYC members work in programs and centers, there is a segment of our membership that we represent that is often overlooked, Family Child Care. Many of these programs started in homes of care givers that were already caring for their own children, or extended family and neighbors’ children. These licensed programs are run and staffed by

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