DC3 Early Childhood Education

08/18/2026

Every time we correct, direct, or “fix” a child’s art, we send a subtle message about trust, in which our children learn that their ideas are less valuable than ours. They start to believe there is a “right” way to create, which slowly chips away at confidence, curiosity, and intrinsic motivation, which are the very traits that drive real learning.

It’s often said that crafts help children build fine motor skills or learn to follow directions, but those benefits are limited when the materials and steps are already predetermined. Most crafts involve only a few pieces that must be used in a specific way, leaving little room for variation or genuine skill-building. Open-ended materials meet children exactly where they are in both ability and interest. They allow for broader movement, coordination, and experimentation — and because there’s no fixed end product, children work longer, revisit ideas, and deepen understanding.

And while following directions is part of daily life, children already spend much of their day doing just that (listening, lining up, cleaning up, sitting down, transitioning, etc.). What they need far more of is time to think and do for themselves, to plan, make decisions, and act on their own ideas. That is what grows the brain.

Research shows that creativity and problem solving thrive when children have autonomy, choice, and open-ended experiences. Studies on motivation and development (Deci & Ryan, 2000; Kim, 2011) reveal that when children are free to explore without correction or comparison, they show higher creativity, longer engagement, and stronger critical thinking.

Before we hand out pre-cut shapes or guide little hands toward a “perfect” product, it’s worth asking: What is my child really learning from this?

And if you need some more guidance on open-ended provocations, our mini course can be a great support!Comes with 1.5 hours of PD credit too. Explore more here: https://www.weskoolhouse.com/product-page/invitations-provocations-sensory-rich-experiences

08/17/2026

Early Childhood is Neuroscience, Not Handprint Crafts.

Don't get us wrong...

Handprints are super sweet.
They’re truly sentimental.
And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with capturing one once or twice a year to remember how small their hands once were.

But what’s happening now goes far beyond that.

In so many classrooms, handprint crafts are being mass produced for every holiday, weekly theme, and event. These are not learning experiences. The child’s only role is getting their hand pressed into paint while the adult does the rest, adding decorations, details, and even “quotes” to the finished product. What’s left behind isn’t learning, it’s a display of adult effort and approval.

All of this burns valuable time and materials that could be used to offer real, brain-building experiences. The hours spent creating “ cute projects” could be spent exploring, experimenting, and discovering. The paints, papers, and tools could serve genuine sensory play and scientific inquiry.

If we want early childhood education to be taken seriously, we have to stop leading with what’s cute and start prioritizing what’s meaningful. When classrooms are filled with crafts children aren’t truly creating, we overshadow the deep and powerful work of early development.

And if capturing a handprint once or twice a year was all it was, this wouldn’t even be a topic for discussion. But when these prints fill classrooms year-round, it’s time to have the conversation and raise the bar.

08/17/2026

Notice the Good ❤️

When most of a child’s attention comes through correction, they may start to feel like we only notice what they’re doing wrong.

Make it a habit to notice what’s going right, too.

“I noticed how helpful you were.”
“You were really patient with your sister.”
“You stayed calm even when that was frustrating.”
“I’m proud of you for not giving up.”

Specific encouragement is more powerful than a simple “good job.” It helps children recognize the behaviors and qualities we want them to continue developing.

What we consistently notice and acknowledge tends to grow. 🌱

Correct when necessary—but make sure your child hears just as much about what they’re doing well. Those everyday moments of encouragement help build confidence, resilience, and a stronger parent-child connection. ❤️

❤️
Thank you Ibrahim Ben Kargbo

08/14/2026

Stomp into storytime at DC3! Join us Sept. 12 at 2 p.m. in the DC3 Library for dinosaur-themed stories, a hands-on craft and tasty snacks. Bring your little explorers for an afternoon of prehistoric fun.

08/14/2026

Pincer grasp...it’s more than a toddler picking up cereal. This important skill determines precision and dexterity in tasks like pencil grasp, writing, manipulating snaps, beads, threading a needle...so many skills.👌🏼 Pincer grasp is a skill that develops around 9-12 months of age. At this time, children are typically able to pick up small items such as cereal with the pads of the thumb and pointer finger. This pad-to-pad grip is called the pincer grasp.

Neat pincer grasp uses the tips of the thumb and pointer finger to stabilize objects. When using a pincer grasp, children use the pads of the thumb and finger to stabilize the object. Pincer grasp develops around 9-12 months of age. Neat pincer grasp develops between 12-18 months and is a much finer skill. 👉🏼For more info and loads of activities to build this precision skill, head to The OT Toolbox and search “pincer grasp”. 👌🏼👌🏼

08/14/2026

08/13/2026

08/06/2026

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.