Discover helpful articles, podcasts, blogs & webinars here

Ideas and inspiration to help you run an amazing early education center.

How ChildFriendly’s New Curriculum & Planning Suite Helps Centers Stand Out

On December 10, ChildFriendly co-founder and childcare operator Laura Bancroft unveiled our brand-new Curriculum & Planning Suite—a modern solution designed to help centers showcase quality, support intentional teaching, and keep enrollment high. If you missed the live session, the full recording is available below along with next steps and upcoming learning opportunities. Watch the full […]

read more

most recent post

How ChildFriendly’s New Curriculum & Planning Suite Helps Centers Stand Out

read more

On December 10, ChildFriendly co-founder and childcare operator Laura Bancroft unveiled our brand-new Curriculum & Planning Suite—a modern solution designed to help centers showcase quality, support intentional teaching, and keep enrollment high. If you missed the live session, the full recording is available below along with next steps and upcoming learning opportunities. Watch the full […]

Webinar

read more

On December 10, ChildFriendly co-founder and childcare operator Laura Bancroft unveiled our brand-new Curriculum & Planning Suite—a modern solution designed to help centers showcase quality, support intentional teaching, and keep enrollment high. If you missed the live session, the full recording is available below along with next steps and upcoming learning opportunities. Watch the full […]

Engaging small groups of preschoolers can sometimes feel like trying to corral a bunch of bouncy kangaroos. Thankfully, we’ve got just the right antidote! With these activities, you can keep your little learners entertained, engaged, and eager for more. Whether you’re navigating a sea of giggles or initiating the next Einstein, these small group activities […]

Classroom ECE, Early Childhood Education, preschool education, Teacher Resources

November 14, 2025

Small Group Activities for Preschoolers

Picture a room filled with toddlers, each immersed in their own little world. One carefully stacks blocks while another child is fixated on finding the perfect clothes to dress their doll. From the view of an adult looking in, it might seem like these kids are each in their own little bubble of solitary place. […]

Child Development, childcare, Classroom ECE, Early Childhood Education

November 10, 2025

The Importance of Parallel Play in Child Development

How can educators design programming that truly reflects children’s interests, encourages exploration, and supports intentional learning? In this session — Inspired Learning: Montessori, Reggio, Emergent + ChildFriendly Unveiled — we explore how these educational philosophies intertwine to create powerful, child-centered environments. Watch the recording to discover actionable ways to enhance your program using intentional learning […]

Inspired Learning: Montessori, Reggio, and Emergent Approaches in Action

Lunch & Learn

October 31, 2025

Burnout among teachers and early childhood educators is very real. These professions, without proper support, often see high rates of fatigue and turnover, especially among daycare workers. There are many actions you can take, as an employer or supervisor, to help decrease the stress in your environment and support your employees. Here are some simple […]

Admin & Operators, professional development, training

October 18, 2025

How To Prevent Burnout in Child Care Educators 

prevent burnout in childcare educators

Imagine a classroom that’s less of a classroom and more of a little artist’s studio. Picture: kids with paint-splattered smocks, mats for rolling around, and shelves filled with natural items like pinecones, seashells, and colorful glass beads. This may sound like an artist’s dream or even a fairy tale scene, but it’s not. It’s often […]

childcare, Classroom ECE, Curriculum Development, Curriculum Planning, early childhood development, Early Childhood Education, early learning, teaching methods

October 8, 2025

Exploring the Reggio Emilia Approach for Daycare

Circle time is the heartbeat of any daycare routine. Gathering together in a circle acts as a communal gathering that fosters a sense of belonging and interaction. That being said, to keep this part of the day fun and exciting, circle time needs to be engaging and dynamic. Today we’re sharing some amazing interactive circle […]

Interactive Circle Time Activities

childcare, Classroom ECE, parenting

September 26, 2025

Autumn is a wonderland for the senses, especially for preschoolers. The crisp air, the vibrant colors, the scent of cinnamon and pumpkin spice wafting through the air… there is no better time to introduce new engaging activities to capture this beautiful season. Here are some wonderful and fun autumn sensory activities for preschoolers that will […]

childcare, Classroom ECE, creativity, parenting, seasonal activities

September 23, 2025

Fun Autumn Sensory Activities for Preschoolers

Recorded September 3, 2025 (11:30 AM MT). In this Lunch & Learn, pediatric occupational therapist Jennifer Collett (Sensory Integration & Child Development Specialist) shares practical, budget-friendly ways to support children’s self-regulation and sensory needs—without overhauling your whole program. Hosted by Krystal Churcher, this session covers how lighting, noise, and seating affect regulation; simple tools like […]

Lunch & Learn

September 4, 2025

Supporting Self-Regulation & Sensory Needs in the Classroom

When you walk into a Montessori classroom, it might look a little different from what you imagine when the word school comes to mind. There are no rows of desks with teachers at the front of the room. There are also no rigid schedules dictating every moment of a child’s day. Instead, what you’ll see […]

Exploring the Montessori Approach to Childhood Education

Child Development, childcare, Classroom ECE, Curriculum Development, Curriculum Planning, parenting

August 29, 2025

If you’ve ever visited the enchanted forest of early childhood education, you’ve likely stumbled upon the mystical concept of “emergent curriculum.” While it might sound like something that sprouts organically from the ground, emergent curriculum is all about child-led learning and spontaneous discovery. Let’s journey into the essentials of emergency curriculum for daycare and learn […]

Child Development, childcare, Classroom ECE, Curriculum Development, Curriculum Planning, education

August 18, 2025

Essentials of Emergent Curriculum for Daycare

The great outdoors! There’s a special quality to it that’s particularly enchanting for little explorers, especially preschoolers. With limitless opportunities, the outside world is the very best playground for kids. Along with providing physical exercise, outdoor play also helps with both social and cognitive development. Let’s dive into some fun and engaging outdoor activities for […]

activities, Child Development, childcare, Classroom ECE, Early Childhood Education, outdoor education, personal development, preschool

July 22, 2025

Fun and Engaging Outdoor Activities for Preschoolers