Yehudis Smith, M.S.Ed (2026)

25/11/2025

Today my baby felt dirt squish between her toes for the very first time.

And honestly? My first instinct was to scoop her right up, brush her off, and keep her clean.

But I paused.
I took a breath.
And I let her explore.

Because this is childhood at its best: messy, sensory, grounded, real.

As she pressed her hands into the earth and wiggled her muddy toes, I was reminded - yet again - why being outside is so essential for young children.

Outdoors isn’t just “fresh air” or a pleasant backdrop. It’s a multi-sensory, whole-body classroom. It strengthens motor development, builds resilience, nurtures curiosity, supports emotional regulation, and offers the kind of learning that no toy or worksheet can replicate.

In a world that urges us to sanitize, control, and protect every moment, it takes intention to lean into the mess. But this is where the magic is. This is where children connect - to nature, to themselves, and to the world they’re growing into.

Today, that connection started with ten tiny toes in the dirt.

And I’m so glad I didn’t interrupt it.

Here’s to letting children get messy, explore freely, and learn with their whole bodies - one muddy moment at a time.

17/11/2025

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗜 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝗧𝘄𝗼-𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿-𝗢𝗹𝗱⁣
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6-Part Series⁣
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𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟭: 𝗪𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝘀 𝗮 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿⁣
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Two-year-olds don’t walk through the world—they marvel through it. ⁣
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A leaf is magic. ⁣
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A shadow is a friend. ⁣
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A pigeon is a celebrity sighting.⁣
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Somewhere along the way, adults trade wonder for efficiency. But life softens when we slow down enough to notice the tiny miracles again.⁣
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𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺?

12/11/2025

This morning I had the privilege of spending time with a passionate team of early childhood educators, exploring one of my favorite topics: Rethinking Discipline.

Everything flowed easily—until we reached one powerful truth:

Sameness does not equal fairness.

I shared a story about a child who learns best when he can move during circle time. A teacher asked, “If I let him move, won’t all the others want to do it too?”

That honest moment opened the door to deeper reflection.
Rethinking discipline isn’t just about how we respond to children—it’s about how we see them.

Fairness isn’t everyone doing the same thing; it’s everyone getting what they need.

When we live that truth, we’re not “giving in.”
We’re giving—each child what their body, heart, and mind need to learn best.

Some wondered if young children can grasp this idea.
I believe they can—when they see us model it with calm, care, and clarity.

This is how a culture of responsiveness begins.
It starts with us—and ripples outward to every child, family, and classroom.

16/04/2025

𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻.⁣
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𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵-𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘮 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝟻...⁣
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Ten weeks ago, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Ella. She came into this world eight years after her older brother, making me a new mother... of five children. At least, that’s what it feels like.⁣
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I had forgotten what it’s like to have a newborn. I thought my life would be able to go on as usual - fast-paced, running, flying from meeting to meeting. At merely six pounds, she put me in my place. ⁣
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She taught me very quickly to SLOW DOWN. ⁣
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This reminds me of a moment that changed my perspective as a professional. Last year, I spent a week in Reggio Emilia, Italy, learning from some of the best of the best early childhood educators. ⁣
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During a Q+A session, an American educator asked a question that resonated with so many in attendance: “How do you handle the pressure that comes from parents and society to ensure the children achieve certain academic skills by the end of the school year?”⁣
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The answer from one of the pedagogistas stunned the room. “We don’t have such pressure. Our entire culture is different. We don’t feel the need to rush. We don’t put pressure on children to conform to our preconceived notions. We find that the most success comes from our ability to slow down and allow children to develop at their own pace. Slow. Down.”⁣
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The room was quiet. And then there was an audible release of breath.⁣
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Slow down. As educators, as leaders, as partners, as family members. Slow down. ⁣
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𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨.

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