Wonder Child: The ECE Lab

Hello to all my wonderful parents and fellow educators! As an ECE with over 20 years of experience in Canada, I have witnessed countless "tug-of-war" matches over a single wooden block or a plastic shovel. I remember a mother at my centre looking completely exhausted as her toddler shouted a thunderous “No, MINE!” at a peer. She whispered to me, “Is my child becoming selfish? I’ve tried so hard to teach them to share .”  I gave her a warm smile and a reassuring pat on the shoulder. My dear friend, your child is not being “bad” or “selfish”; they are simply reaching a major developmental milestone in self-awareness. Think of it as a young child discovering that they are an individual with their own belongings. Today, let’s explore this challenging yet completely normal phase through the lens of early childhood development and discover how we can guide our little ones toward their first successful friendships with patience and empathy. 1. The Egocentric Stage: Why “Mine!” Is a ...

Hello to all my wonderful parents and fellow educators! One thing I often notice in toy stores is how overwhelming the shelves can feel for parents. Bright lights, flashing buttons, sounds, music, and endless promises of “educational” benefits fill nearly every aisle. I still remember one mother at our  centre  asking me, “My two-year-old has so many toys, but they only play with them for five minutes. What should I buy for her?” My answer was simple:  sometimes the toy is doing too much, and the child is doing too little. In our programs, we explore many different themes and activities throughout the year, but one area I never grow tired of watching is block play. When a variety of blocks are placed in front of children, something remarkable begins to happen. One child creates a zoo, another builds a road to go home, while someone else carefully designs a tall tower for dinosaurs or a tiny house for their family. What looks simple to adults is actually rich with creativi...

Hello to all my wonderful parents and fellow educators! There is one activity that children almost never seem to tire of in early childhood settings: water play. Whether it’s pouring water between cups, washing toy animals, or splashing with measuring spoons at the sensory table,  children are naturally drawn to water in a way that feels both calming and exciting at the same time. In our centre, water play is one of the sensory activities we provide almost every day because it consistently captures children’s curiosity and attention. I still remember one little girl who often stayed close to the sidelines during group activities. One afternoon, I added a few drops of blue food colouring to a basin of water, and almost instantly, her expression changed. She slowly stepped closer, dipped in a measuring cup, and became completely absorbed in exploring the swirling blue water.  Moments like these are a beautiful reminder of how sensory play can gently invite children into explorat...

Hello to all my wonderful parents and fellow educators! One of the most common moments I observe in early childhood settings happens during transitions or moments of frustration. A toddler suddenly throws a toy, refuses to clean up, or cries harder the moment an adult says “No.” In those situations, many parents instinctively respond with firmer commands, only to find themselves pulled into an exhausting power struggle. I still remember one little child at our centre who became deeply upset during clean-up time. The more adults repeated “No more toys,” the more overwhelmed the child became. Instead of continuing the back-and-forth, I calmly offered two simple choices: “Would you like to put away the cars first or the blocks first?” Almost immediately, the child paused, looked carefully at both options, and quietly chose the blocks. I can still remember the mother’s surprised expression as she softly said, “That actually worked?” The truth is, positive redirection is not a complicated p...

Hello to all my wonderful parents and fellow educators! One thing I truly want parents to remember is this:  every behaviour has a reason behind it.  Sometimes that reason is frustration, exhaustion, sensory overload, hunger, jealousy, or simply the overwhelming feeling of wanting connection and attention. In early childhood settings, I often meet parents who feel overwhelmed when their normally sweet child suddenly has a meltdown. In those moments, it can be easy to assume a child is being “bad” or intentionally difficult. However, young children are still learning how to communicate complex emotions and unmet needs. I still remember one child at our centre whose mother had recently welcomed a new baby. The older child eventually gave the baby a small shove to climb back into their mother’s arms. This was not an act of malice; it was a child expressing a deep need for emotional security.  Behaviour is communication long before children have the emotional vocabulary to ex...

Hello to all my wonderful parents and fellow educators! Few moments in early childhood feel as overwhelming as a full toddler tantrum in the middle of an ordinary day. One moment, everything seems fine, and the next, your child is in tears because their name was written in blue marker instead of green. Moments like these can leave parents feeling exhausted, frustrated, or even embarrassed—especially in public spaces like grocery stores or busy playgrounds. Yet,  many tantrums are a normal and necessary part of early childhood development.  Young children are still in the early stages of developing self-regulation skills; they are learning how to manage strong emotions, communicate frustration, and cope with disappointment when things do not go as expected. While tantrums can feel intense in the moment, they also provide  vital opportunities to teach emotional regulation, connection, and problem-solving.  Today, let’s explore some gentle, developmentally supportive st...