The Owl's Branch In-Home Childcare

06/18/2026

True, child-led play is so powerful 💗

Much of what we see advertised as “play-based” is really just structure disguised as play, and does not foster the same levels of creativity, imagination, and learning that interest based play does. Learning the difference can truly help provide children with a more age-appropriate and meaningful experience and environment.

05/27/2026

Because this very simply reaffirms what I posted earlier 🙌🏻

What children need most during the school day. In order. 📐

Notice what sits at the base. Not circle time. Not worksheets. Not calendar drills or assessments.

When physiological needs are met and a child feels safe, connected, and trusted, their nervous system can actually settle enough to learn. Not before.

Then child-led play and outdoor time whenever possible. We would actually encourage merging these two whenever possible (child-led play outside), but recognize that outdoor accessibility looks different depending on your setting and community). Then teacher-guided experiences. The smallest slice for a reason.

Notice what isn't on here at all: Circle time. Worksheets. Calendar drills. Assessments. Flashcards. Not an accident.

The order matters more than we were taught. When children are dysregulated and disengaged, the answer is almost always found at the base of this pyramid, not at the top.

We're breaking all of this down this Wednesday. 👇

🎓 Co-Regulation, Connection & Cooperation. A 3-Part Workshop: Raising Regulated, Resilient Children

Free live webinar | May 27th | 12:00 PM EST

For teachers and parents of children ages 0 to 6. Free to attend live.

Register here: https://www.weskoolhouse.com/event-details/three-part-sel-series-part-1-co-regulation-connection-cooperation

WSH Members - ALL THREE WEBINARS are included with your membership!

05/27/2026

I will never stop advocating for children needing less academics and more play, exploration, social emotional engagement, and solid trusting relationships for the first full 5 years of their development 💗.

Carlsson-Paige, Nancy; McLaughlin, Geralyn Bywater; Almon, Joan Wolfsheimer work in conjunction with the Alliance for Childhood to release a new report "Reading Instruction in Kindergarten: Little to Gain and Much to Lose." In the report they concluded that Common Core reading requirements for kindergarten are inappropriate and not well-grounded in research.

Download full report here:
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED609172.pdf

04/18/2026

What should you expect from your child’s daily experiences? Why are mess, risky play, and even rest so vital to your child’s daily routine and development?

Children don’t learn through worksheets, adult led take home art, and denied experiences. They learn through play, exploration and experience!

P.S. Yes, I absolutely love and their philosophy regarding early childhood and the childcare experience. I share a ton of their resources, not because I’m incapable of thinking for myself, but because they create such great content that deserves to be shared and there is no reason for me to recreate what they’ve already done 🙌🏻