Building Blocks Preschool - An Early Childhood Learning Community

10/05/2026

Fall has officially arrived at Building Blocks! 🍎🍂

Last week was filled with all the things that make this season so much fun—from our trip to Spicer’s Apple Orchard to exploring sunflowers and their seeds, pumpkin books, and plenty of fall-inspired play along the way.

What is your favorite fall activity? 🎃🌻

09/26/2026

A little look back at our Curriculum Night Picnic this past Tuesday! 🌿

We love giving families the opportunity to step into their children’s world at Building Blocks—to explore some of the materials, experiences, and documentation they see and hear about throughout the year.

Our teachers shared a closer look at our Reggio-inspired and nature-based approach, while families had the chance to explore, ask questions, and experience a little of the “why” behind what happens here each day.

And, of course, there was plenty of great food (provided by our amazing families) and time to connect. 🤎🤎🤎

Here are a few highlights from a really lovely evening with our Building Blocks community. A BIG thank you to everyone who made this great evening happen!

09/25/2026

Today we celebrate Ms. Tammy's birthday! 🎉🎉🥳🎂

A true Libra through and through — warm, thoughtful, and the kind of person who makes everyone around her feel at ease. When she is not in the classroom she is trying new recipes, hitting the gym, or winding down with tea and a good book.

Ms. Tammy we are so happy you are here. Happy Birthday! 🎂🌿

Show her some love in the comments!

09/21/2026

Happy Monday! Last week brought so much exploring, imagining, and PLAY at Building Blocks. 🌿

A mushroom project is beginning to emerge, with students exploring puffball mushrooms and heading outside on a mushroom hunt to see what else they could discover.

Inside, we continued building our classroom communities and explored all the different ways the story of The Three Little Pigs can be told. Outside, our spaces were filled with beautiful invitations to play, explore, build, create, and follow wherever an idea might lead.

And if watching a week like this makes you think, “I want to be part of that”… we’re hiring!

We’re looking for another educator who wants to be part of the exploration, play, nature, and everyday magic that makes Building Blocks what it is. Visit our website to learn more and apply.

09/17/2026

Your baby’s brain is building connections every single day.

Long before children can regulate themselves, they depend on us for connection, safety, and co-regulation.

And brain development doesn’t require fancy toys or flashcards.

❤️ Hold them.
📚 Read to them…even as infants.
🎶 Sing and rhyme.
💬 Talk back and forth.
🌿 Take them outside.
👐 Let them move, touch, and explore.
👀 Respond to their cues.

Reading with an infant isn’t just about words. They’re hearing language, watching your face, touching the pages, sharing attention, and experiencing the security of being close to you.

And it goes beyond the book.

Every cuddle. Every conversation. Every song. Every walk outside. Every playful interaction.

These ordinary moments are doing extraordinary work…building brains through relationships.

Connection first. Play always. Childhood matters. 🌱❤️

A baby’s amygdala is already well developed at birth. And the connections between the amygdala and other parts of the brain continue to develop rapidly during infancy.

Connecting to a large network of the brain including the brainstem, the amygdala helps our brain notice and respond to emotionally important information. Newborns can recognize familiar sensory experiences, such as a familiar voices, smells, sights and touch, while discomfort or stress can activate physiological responses such as a faster heart rate, rapid breathing, a tense body or a grimace.

These early months are an important period of brain development. Research shows that wiring of the amygdala changes substantially during infancy, and individual differences in amygdala connectivity present shortly after birth have been associated with later differences in fear, sadness and internalizing mental health symptoms by age 2.

Explore the Baby Brain Map to learn more about the science of the developing brain and babies’ earliest experiences: https://bit.ly/4w3j4jg

09/16/2026

1KHO 919: What If Smartphones Aren't Causing The Youth Mental Health Crisis? | Dr. Peter Gray, Restoring Childhood

Dr. Peter Gray is BACK! Listen here >> https://shorturl.at/5SnMs

What if the biggest threat to childhood isn’t screens—but the loss of freedom, play, and independence?

Ginny welcomes back psychologist and Free to Learn author Dr. Peter Gray for a fascinating conversation about his new book, Restoring Childhood: How to Set Kids Free in the Age of Anxiety. Gray traces the dramatic transformation of childhood since the 1950s, as television, increased schooling, homework, organized sports, and greater adult supervision gradually displaced children’s independent outdoor play.

He also challenges one of today’s dominant narratives: that smartphones and social media are primarily responsible for the youth mental health crisis. Instead, Gray argues that children desperately need three things—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—and even explores how computers and video games temporarily restored some of those needs during the 1990s.

Ginny and Dr. Gray examine the growing pressures of modern schooling, the impact of Common Core, and why restoring meaningful independence and self-directed play may be essential for healthier kids—and happier parents. It’s a provocative conversation that asks us to reconsider what children actually need to thrive.

Get Dr. Gray's book here! >> https://link.amazon/B00KlKKcs

09/16/2026

🌿 WE’RE HIRING! 🌿

Come grow with us at Building Blocks Preschool! 💚

We’re looking for experienced, passionate early childhood educators who:

✨ Have a minimum of a CDA or equivalent experience — or are currently working toward their CDA
✨ Truly love working with young children
✨ Value play, nature, relationships, and child-led learning
✨ Are eager to learn, grow, and be part of a supportive team
✨ Want to understand the “why” behind the work we do with children

At Building Blocks, we don’t just hire teachers—we grow educators and leaders.

Assistant Teacher → Lead Teacher → Leadership

If you’re looking for a place where your work matters and you can continue growing professionally, we’d love to meet you! 🌳☀️

📍 Building Blocks Preschool | Highland, Michigan
💚 Reggio-inspired • Nature-based • Play-centered

Interested? Apply here! https://buildingblocksschool.com/careers/

09/16/2026

🌳 Did you know? Play isn't just fun — it's a right.

Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child says every child has the right to rest, leisure, and play. Not a luxury. Not an extra. A right.

This week, we're not just celebrating play — we're standing up for it.

So today, we're asking: what does play look like for the kids in YOUR life? Tell us in the comments.

And if you haven't signed up to host a PlayDay yet, there's still time! We’re playing all week.