Latest Blog Posts

Announcing Britannica for Parents!

Announcing Britannica for Parents!

New website provides information, resources, and advice from trusted experts in child development and early education. As Director of Early Learning at Encyclopedia Britannica, I’m especially happy to announce the launch of Britannica for Parents. This new website...

Allow Time for Learning

Allow Time for Learning

What happens when we allow time for learning? An example of a long-term creative project in a preschool classroom An excerpt from my recent article in Early Insights. Parents and policy makers are often misinformed about what teachers need to improve learning outcomes...

Maps Matter!

Maps Matter!

The Importance of 2D Representations in the Lives of Young Children An excerpt from my upcoming book Young Architects at Play (Redleaf Press, 2020) As digital technology advances, our relationship with maps -- as learners and as navigators of the physical world -- has...

Preschool: A Smart Investment

Preschool: A Smart Investment

“Look! A squishy worm!” A small child lifts her mud-covered hand to show her teacher the worm she found on the preschool playground. Soon a group of children are gathered around the muddy patch, searching for more worms with spoons and shovels. Later, after washing up...

Reflections on SXSWEDU

Reflections on SXSWEDU

I’ve just returned from the SXSWEDU conference in Austin, Texas where I gave a talk on computer science education for young children and signed copies of my new books: Robotics for Young Children and Coding, Robotics, and Engineering for Young Students. The focus of...

Why I’m Optimistic about Children and Technology

Why I’m Optimistic about Children and Technology

Each time I read the news I see dire warnings about technology: Robots are taking our jobs! Driverless cars are speeding through our streets! Hackers are stealing our secrets! It’s easy to become frightened and pessimistic about the future of technology in our world....

Coding & Robotics Link Pack!

Coding & Robotics Link Pack!

  Just FYI: When I speak to groups of educators about coding and robotics, these are the resources I recommend most often.     NAEYC Position Statement on Technology and Interactive Media...

Online Workshops for Teachers

Online Workshops for Teachers

This fall I will be leading two online workshops for educators who are interested in teaching coding and robotics to young students. Workshops & Dates: Introducing Coding to Young Students October 9-22, 2017 Introducing Robotics to Young Students October...

The Joy and Intrigue of Broken Toys

The Joy and Intrigue of Broken Toys

  Toys break. Wheels pop off axles, dolls lose their hair or even their heads, and the batteries inside mechanical pets weaken and die. As parents and teachers, we often try to protect young children from these events, repairing and replacing toys while they’re...

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