How Preschool Teachers Do It

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Do you wonder how experts in working with early learners address children's behavior and motivate them to be their best selves? If you are a family member, teacher or anyone who impacts the lives of young children, join Alison Kentos (Early Childhood Teacher) & Cindy Terebush (Early Childhood Consu…

Cindy Terebush


    • Jun 2, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 21m AVG DURATION
    • 338 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from How Preschool Teachers Do It

    332: This is Positive Guidance with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2025 18:44


    Most early educators and families know that positive guidance helps children learn about rules, boundaries, and expectations. Do you know the characteristics of positive approaches for teaching children about behavior? Cindy and Alison discuss the essential elements of a positive approach that supports children and teaches them how to use their power in productive ways.

    331: Documenting Vacations with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2025 17:13


    It's the time of year when families plan their vacations. Let's encourage them to document vacations so their children can share their adventures with teachers and classmates! In this episode of the podcast, Cindy and Alison talk about several ways families can share their vacations with us in early childhood programs.

    330: You Can Find Nature Everywhere with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2025 19:06


    There is so much young children can learn from being in nature and exploring all it offers. Luckily, nature can be found in every environment. Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about nature activities in cities, the suburbs, and rural areas.

    329: The Continuing Prevalence of Name Calling with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 16:47


    The biter, the hitter, the runner, the climber...Why do some adults continue to label children this way? Would you do that to an adult? Join Cindy and Alison for a reflection on why this happens and what we can do.

    328: Focusing Your Large Group with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2025 16:21


    Whenever you gather children for a large group experience, consider focusing the lesson moral development. In this episode, Cindy and Alison discuss what is included in moral development and how we can focus on that during class meetings, read-alouds, and more.

    327: Spirit Tunnels in Preschool with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2025 15:23


    Have you seen the viral spirit tunnel videos from the  @JenniferHudsonShow  ? What a great way to prepare her guests for a great interview... and for us to welcome young children as they arrive at their early childhood program! Join Cindy and Alison to consider how you might add this motivational, fun, and engaging moment to your days.

    326: Are The Wrong Children in Special Ed with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2025 21:51


    Some populations are underrepresented in special education classes, and others are overrepresented. Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about being more aware of what impacts who tends to be referred more often and not often enough.

    325: Why Kids Paint Themselves with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2025 20:45


    Do you have children who paint themselves instead of the paper? Do you remember covering your hand with @ElmersGlue and peeling it off? Join Cindy and Alison to learn why children do this and other actions that cover their skin and bodies.

    324: Creating Brave Spaces with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2025 16:53


    What is a brave space, and why can that change how we perceive our early childhood settings? How can it help children meet the challenge of trying new things? Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about changing the focus of the sort of spaces we set up for young children.

    323: Reducing Outdoor Stress with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2025 18:57


    Adults often think of recess or outdoor time as a fun time for all children. Some children, however, find the outdoor, free-play, slightly chaotic environment stressful. In this episode, Cindy and Alison discuss the causes of that stress and how we can reduce it.

    322: Are Families Imposing On Other Families with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2025 19:32


    Has a family ever asked you to stop other families from allowing their children to watch particular TV shows? Has a parent ever asked you to tell other families to stop dressing their children in clothes that depict characters from video games or shows? This sort of request seems to be happening more often. Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about helping families understand that we cannot ask others to change their practices to match someone else.

    321: Disorganized Attachments- Infants, Toddlers and Beyond with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2025 17:09


    Secure, nurturing attachments are essential from the time children are infants and as they get older. In this episode, Cindy and Alison talk about the importance of children learning trust instead of fear and how you can make that happen.NOTE: This episode may evoke strong feelings. Though the episode does not focus on extreme situations, we encourage you to take care of yourself. If the episode is upsetting to you, please know you can walk away and come back next week for a new topic.

    320: Make Teaching Topics Verbs with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2025 20:04


    Have you ever thought about the fact that most early childhood teaching topics are nouns? Join Cindy and Alison as they discuss how using verbs for teaching topics opens up more possibilities for the curiosity and exploration of young children.

    319: Not Everyone Wants the Spotlight with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2025 17:40


    Being good with your own company or solitude is beneficial to everyone, including young children. Some children want the spotlight and others do not. Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about the children who stand out by not being in the spotlight.

    318: Screen Time and Other Limits with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025 21:14


    It can be challenging to set screen time limits, but it is worth it! Cindy and Alison talk about the life lessons that come from teaching children that they have the power to limit their actions.

    317: Family Child Care Is Early Education, Too with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2025 18:13


    Family Child Care providers are early educators! Join Cindy and Alison to learn more about these nurturing home settings and what a quality family child care environment values and provides for children and families.

    316: Feelings: Permission Granted! with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2025 18:19


    In prior generations, many children were taught to hide their feelings. We aren't going to do that anymore! In this episode, Cindy and Alison talk about the hows and whys of granting permission and making room for children's many emotions, from joy to anger to sadness.

    315: Infant and Toddlers Read Alouds with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2025 17:56


    Picture books and naming objects is important for teaching vocabulary, but there is so much more we can do when we read aloud with infants and toddlers. Join Cindy and Alison to learn more about reading with our youngest children.

    314: Ask Them What They Need with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2025 17:13


    When children are upset or in need in any way, we should avoid assuming how we can help. Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about assuming nothing and getting children used to thinking about and expressing their own needs.

    313: The Stuff That Is Disappearing with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2025 16:41


    Today's children don't see coins, paper money, stamps, and other items or experiences that were part of our childhoods. Everyone is swiping, tapping, and hitting send instead. Even learning to use cursive writing is still being debated. Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about if it is valuable to still teach about these disappearing items and actions.

    312: The Confusion with Sharing and Turn Taking with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2025 15:44


    Sharing and taking turns are two different actions, and one comes before the other. Join Cindy and Alison to examine these skills and ensure you are talking with children about what they are actually doing - sharing or taking turns.

    311: Play Predicts Your Future with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2025 17:25


    Think about how you played as a child. Do you see connections to who you are today? For some people, it may be obvious. For others, it may not be as apparent. Join Cindy and Alison to learn more about the predictive nature of play.

    310: Yes, They Can Say No with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2024 16:50


    Is it wise to tell children not to say no to teachers or families? For generations, saying no to adults was seen as disrespectful. Cindy and Alison discuss the generational belief that children should not say no to adults and the potential consequences of that practice.

    309: The Dolls are the Children with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2024 16:05


    Doll play may be more symbolic than you think! Cindy and Alison discuss how children use playing with dolls to figure out not only others but also themselves.

    308: Visually Connect Ideas with Hexagons with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2024 20:27


    Children benefit from visuals of all types, and making connections between ideas is no different. Using paper in the shape of hexagons, we can make a visual representation of how their ideas connect. We might even discover connections in their conversations we hadn't considered before! Join Cindy and Alison for this lively conversation about hexagonal thinking.

    307: Talking About Nursery Rhymes with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2024 23:00


    Nursery rhymes are fun for children to learn and have life lessons that we can introduce to children. Cindy and Alison have a great time reciting nursery rhymes and discovering the messages they teach. You will never look at some nursery rhymes the same way again!

    306: Guiding Behavior While Respecting Cultures with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2024 17:01


    When we talk with children about their behavior, it is important to remember that different families and cultures may have their own values, priorities, and ways they teach respect. Join Cindy and Alison as they consider differences between how cultures treat eye contact, use tone of voice, and more.

    305: Children Plan for Play with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2024 18:28


    If we use morning large group time to allow children to plan their time during free play, will they build more skills and allow us to better understand their creative thinking? Cindy and Alison discuss the benefits of children planning their time and how we can facilitate that.

    304: Provocations vs Instructions in Early Education with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2024 19:12


    Provocations challenge children to explore their interests in a deeper, meaningful, and self-directed way. Join Cindy and Alison to learn the difference between offering provocations and giving instructions and to get some ideas for providing provocations in your setting.

    303: What is Cooking with Kids with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2024 17:03


    You don't need a kitchen to cook with young children. Cooking activities should be done with early learners all the time! They build many skills, and it has great value; yet, people are hesitant to facilitate the experiences. Join Cindy and Alison to learn how this can be possible with all children, including those with allergies.

    302: Sibling Rivalry and Individuality with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2024 17:00


    Sibling rivalry is common and part of typical development for many children. Join Cindy and Alison to learn one of the main reasons for sibling rivalry (and it isn't always attention!).

    301: Separate Training is Not Always Equal with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2024 17:56


    There are reasons why early childhood staff members may be attending training with different facilitators or on different days. The same is true for families who watch information about raising children. Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about what to do because separate trainings aren't always equal.

    300: 300 Episodes- A Surprise to Us All with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2024 22:48


    Cindy and Alison discuss the inspiration behind the episodes in the podcast and how that can remind us all of the amazing early childhood education and parenting environment. Join them for a fun look back and a look forward!

    299: Bring the Joy Back to Reading with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2024 18:51


    There is evidence that children are not reading and not enjoying reading as much as in the past. You may think this is due to technology, not it is not! Join Cindy and Alison as they discuss how to bring back joy for reading starting at the youngest age groups.

    298: Yes, You Need Research-Based Standards with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2024 18:34


    It can be challenging to shift our mindsets from relying on our experience with young children to relying on research-based standards and objectives. Cindy and Alison discuss why using research-based standards and objectives matters and how it can change our understandings of each child's development.

    297: Least Restrictive Family Involvement with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2024 18:56


    Should schools and early childhood programs have requirements for families that can limit their involvement in their children's early education experience? Cindy and Alison discuss our ethics and the restrictions that exist in some early childhood settings.

    296: What Does All That Stand For? The ABCs of ECE with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2024 27:45


    No one loves initials or acronyms more that people who work in early childhood education. CITE, NAEYC, ABC, LRE, and a whole list of others can confuse teachers and families. Join Cindy and Alison to learn some of the most commonly used abbreviations and acronyms in the world of early education.

    295: The Impact of Ignoring with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2024 19:10


    For generations, adults thought ignoring behaviors was the way to teach children and change their behavior. That might work in the short term, but what does ignoring do to the lasting psyche? Join Cindy and Alison to discuss what we know today about the impact of ignoring.

    294: What ARE Sensory Experiences with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2024 15:09


    "Sensory" is a hot and sometimes misused word when products are marketed to families and early childhood programs. Join Cindy and Alison as they discuss experiences that are truly multi-sensory...and those that really are not.

    293: The Dress Up and Spirit Day Nightmare with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2024 21:13


    Dress Up and Spirit Days can be stressful for everyone involved. There has to be a better way to have community-building events! Join Cindy and Alison for a spirited discussion of Spirit and Dress Up Days as they consider the challenges they pose, especially for families, and what else we might consider doing.

    292: Trying to Force Families in with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2024 21:02


    Is your early childhood program trying to force families to attend events and meetings in person? Is this responsive to the needs of families? Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about lessons lost and connections with families that may not suit their needs.

    291: Don't Call It Best Practice with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2024 17:15


    When we declare something to be "best practice," are we saying there is no other way to meet quality benchmarks? Join Cindy and Alison to consider that phrase and other ways we may want to talk about what we strive to do.

    290: Compliance vs Social-Emotional Development with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2024 17:12


    Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about adults' goals when they deal with challenging behavior. Are they looking for compliance? Can we teach social-emotional lessons if our goal is compliance?

    289: Forced Buddies with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2024 18:07


    Can you imagine being forced to interact with people you don't like? It happens to children! Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about whether or not we should be forcing buddies.

    288: Where Are The Infant Toddler Credentials with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2024 23:52


    The most rapid brain development takes place between birth and two years old; yet, infant-toddler staff may not have access to credentials to earn degrees in that age group. Will public schools eventually serve infants and toddlers? Will that cause society to focus more on education about that age group? Should private programs seek credentials for their staff? These questions and more with Cindy and Alison!

    287: The Good Child with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2024 16:27


    Is labeling someone as "the good child" always good for them? Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about the impact of this seemingly good label we often give to young children.

    286: It's a Character Takeover with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2024 21:35


    Early childhood classrooms should have visuals of diversity among human beings. Join us for a discussion about a common trend of using cartoon characters as classroom decorations instead of images of people. When characters replace images of people, what do children miss out on learning? Cindy and Alison talk about that question and more during this episode of "How Preschool Teachers Do It."

    285: The Ditch- Quotes from the Field Pt 2 with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2024 20:01


    Join Cindy and Alison as they discuss another great quote from an early childhood education professional like you! This discussion focuses on a ditch many early childhood programs and schools can't seem to climb out of even though they may know they should.

    284: What You Give - Quotes from the Field Pt 1 with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2024 21:53


    Some of the best quotes come from early childhood education professionals working daily with educators, children, and families. Join Cindy and Alison as they discuss a quote about what we should strive to give to children.

    283: Indoor Activities in the Great Outdoors with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2024 18:55


    It's almost summer! It is time to think about bringing the same activities we do indoors to the outdoors. Cindy and Alison discuss the possibilities for more choices when children play in your playground and outdoor areas.

    282: Is Touch the Most Important Sense with Cindy and Alison

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2024 25:06


    If a child doesn't touch something, can they truly know it? Join Cindy and Alison for a discussion about touch and if it is, in fact, the most important of the five senses.

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