the
empathy
lab

Once upon a time, preschool and nursery school teachers used songs to teach the children. We sometimes played old vinyl records, but mostly we sang. In the classrooms, we had a few puzzles, art supplies, books, and toys. We sang ABC's, nursery rhymes, and a few pop songs like "Monster Mash". We made our own fun with what we had. Children do the same today. Whether they have fancy wooden toys galore or just a stick and a ball, they play. Young children are wired to play b

What science has learned about the infant brain in the last 30 years is amazing! Magnetic Resonance Imaging can now be done noninvasively. This means babies' brains can be tested while sitting on their parents' laps or comfortably looking at images moving across a screen. These breakthroughs allow scientists to measure many things they previously could not. One example that comes to light is from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. Here's a quote from

Gentle parenting is a means of parenting without shame, blame, or punishment— Kimberly Zapata This is a wonderful philosophy until, as parents, we have to decide what to do when a child misbehaves and then doesn't listen to our gentle, reasonable explanation when we ask them to stop. Or what to do when they seem to listen but then repeat the behavior, or hold off on it until they're sure we're not looking, and do it anyway. Gentle parenting prescribes an ideal first response

If you're a working parent, stay-at-home parent, or a child care provider, you may have more in common with the others than you think. During the first few years of a child's life, we are all teachers, and we hold tremendous power to influence the young children we care for. In a world that tends to dole out too much judgment, pressure, tension, and blame, we want to help you relieve some of that stress and have more fun with your kids. We believe this is the key to helping y

How would you like a simple and fun Mother's Day gift that your kids will enjoy making and Mom will cherish forever? Here's your free template! Make as many copies as you like. I removed the date so you can add the correct year. I've been using this activity as a preschool teacher for 20+ years, and parents tell me they still have them years later! INSTRUCTIONS This works best with kids from 3-8. To do the activity, print the pages here and then ask the kids the questions

Start early! Parents and caregivers start teaching children to solve their own problems as soon as they're born. They do that by reacting to them and communicating with them. People who have had many such positive interactions in their own early childhood tend to do this without thinking. Others can learn. Every time you react to an infant by lifting them up and smiling at them fondly, or let them swipe at a toy while talking them through it instead of grabbing it for them,

Enjoy this professionally written article from our nonprofit organization with no outside ads or distractions. Empathy has declined significantly in recent years. Why? There's so much conflicting information out there. No wonder parents and providers feel confused or maybe even inadequate. We want to offer you support and clear, evidence-based options. Our ideas have the advantage of being tested with real children—hundreds of them. You can read my bio at the bottom of thi

Do you want your infant to grow up to be smart and to be able to respond to adversity should it arise? Including violence? If so, you'll want to teach them about problem-solving and positive communication from the beginning of life. These are skills that can begin in infancy and develop throughout one's lifespan. The same problem-solving skills used in social situations can be applied to other life problems, such as learning to read or passing a course one doesn't really enj

Enjoy this ad-free article from Early Childhood Rocks, a non-profit organization. If you spend time with toddlers, you know how it feels when they just won't listen to you. Perhaps you've tried being nice, giving them something fun to do, raising your voice, giving a time-out, and/or threatening some pretty dire consequences, but nothing is working, and you can't move forward because of all the fighting, whining, and general chaos. Welcome to your place of support. We want

I don't let anyone hit me! Period. There's only one little snafu. If we teach our children not to let anyone hit them, we probably shouldn't hit them ourselves. Children learn by example. My first job was as a teacher's aide in a 4K summer program for at-risk children. On my first day, as I bent down to tie a child's shoe, another ran up quickly behind me and grabbed my ponytail, trying to see if he could swing on it. I don't remember how I reacted over 40 years ago, but t

Welcome! All the experiences and activities I share are backed by evidence-based research and 50 years of real-world experience in early childhood learning. Citations are included. Songs Sing short rhyming songs often at predictable times during the day. Use singing as part of your routines. Make a list of the cute little songs you sing and share them with others who care for your child. If you can't imagine singing, you can always use chanting rhymes and finger plays. ideas

Early Childhood Rocks is a non-profit with a vision and a heart. You won't find any outside ads in our articles. Just solid information you can use. We have many articles about behavior, including tried-and-true activities that work with real children. We also include articles about self-care because sometimes even the best caregivers forget how important it is to take care of themselves. We also include many articles about fun and learning during the first few years of

Science now understands the significance of the first few years of life regarding learning. The neural connections formed and strengthened during that critical period shape the brain's architecture. A strong foundation can mean a lifetime of learning. A weak one can mean many missed opportunities. In the first few years of life, more than 1 million new neural connections form every second. After this period of rapid proliferation, connections are reduced through a process

Congratulations on making it through another tough week! I want to share something great today that you can use right away. I know how hard it is to stay motivated when caring for young children day in and day out. This activity is not only fun but also helps people everywhere see how very young children learn math in a hands-on way. I've been using this activity since I saw some master teachers use it years ago in a mixed-age group of children with special behavioral and

Enjoy this ad-free article from our non-profit organization dedicated to children during their first few years of life and the people who care for them. If you're in charge of a toddler for any period of time, you need this strategy now. It can give you the gift of an easier, less stressful day. This suggestion came from Dr. Becky Bailey PhD., creator of the world-renowned Conscious Discipline program. She shared this at the close of a national early childhood conference wit

Here's an idea for a letter to send to your candidates, no matter what side of the political spectrum they're on. The 2026 elections are crucial for everyone, especially our youngest and most vulnerable citizens.

Everyone wants their kids to be smart. And happy. There are a few things that neuroscientists know that others may not. one Start Early Too many people wait too long to start. It's not that the experts think we could prevent all mental and physical challenges. Of course not. Genetics and trauma count. However, they do agree that we can develop resilience to challenges by forming new neural pathways as needed. Those pathways are strengthened by repetition. Those pathway

Problem-solving for children during the first few years of their lives is more important than most people think. That's because, although we can't see it happening, the brain is forming over one million new neural connections every second! Those connections are needed for more complex reasoning later in life, but they are already being used as problem-solving strategies emerge throughout infancy and toddlerhood. Science has identified the strategies that promote problem-solv

Most babies would rather do just about anything than fall asleep peacefully. Innately, they want to safely explore the world and learn about it. Falling asleep may make them feel vulnerable and/or experience FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). Adults know that we need to sleep in order for our brains and bodies to work right, but babies' brains may be wired toward prioritizing survival and constant learning about their environment. We have to help them regulate, wind down, and rela

Hygge, pronounced hoo'-gah, is a Scandinavian term that roughly translates to English as a feeling of family coziness and well-being. Here's a definition I found online. a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture). History The concept of hygge came about in order to fight the dreariness of the long, dark winters in Scandinavia. It often includes natural ligh