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Teaching Practices

Effective, nurturing, and responsive teaching practices and interactions are key for all learning in early childhood settings. They foster trust and emotional security; are communication and language rich; and promote critical thinking and problem-solving. They also support social, emotional, behavioral, and language development; provide supportive feedback for learning; and motivate continued effort. Teaching practices and interactions are responsive to and build on each child’s pattern of development and learning. They can be measured by the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS®) and other adult-child interaction tools. These observations may then be used to support professional development. Teaching practices also include how schedules and routines are carried out, how settings are managed, and how children’s challenging behaviors are addressed.

Biting Behavior in Toddlers and How to Respond

In this Parallel Play episode, reflect on the emotions that come up when biting occurs in the learning environment. Learn ways to address, prevent, and respond to biting behavior in toddlers.

Encouraging Toddlers to Share

This Parallel Play episode focuses on toddlers and sharing. Learn about the connections between sharing and the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework, culture, and our adult expectations, and ways to support toddlers in learning how to share.

Initiative, Creativity, and Curiosity

This Parallel Play episode focuses on initiative, curiosity, and creativity in toddlers. Learn to support toddlers in taking initiative and being curious and creative.

Self-regulation and Reframing the “Terrible Twos”

This Parallel Play episode focuses on the development of self-regulation in the toddler years and the important role adults play in co-regulation. Learn ways to reframe the “terrible twos” to the “thoughtful twos.”