The Early On OT

01/22/2026

This is something many of us have been saying for years. What has changed in preschool and kindergarten? Demands for skills that are not age appropriate. The results are increased behavior.

Play-Based Learning in Kindergarten Is Making a Comeback. Here’s What It Means

"“What I was noticing as a kindergarten teacher is that the opportunities for kids to come in and have chances to play, to experiment and test how the world works, were being pushed out for more academic instruction that wasn’t necessarily aligned with where their skill levels were or the experiences they had,” said Christopher Brown, the associate dean for teacher education at the University of Buffalo’s Graduate School of Education and a former kindergarten teacher who taught in the late 1990s. “That’s continued to be a concern with teachers that I’ve talked to for the past 20 years.”

Decisionmakers in some states and districts have begun to heed concerns raised by Brown and other education experts about the direction kindergarten has taken. As a result, some schools are returning play to its prominent role in kindergarten."

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE: https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/play-based-learning-in-kindergarten-is-making-a-comeback-heres-what-it-means/2025/10

12/08/2025

Why shared meals matter. Learn more about the importance of how and why to share your meals with your little ones from the first bite.

When little ones start eating solids, it’s easy to focus on what goes on the plate. The right textures, nutrients, and foods to avoid are important. But just as crucial as what children eat is how they experience mealtime. For babies, toddlers, and young preschoolers, sharing meals with family and...

09/16/2025

Have you recently noticed a lack of vibrant colors in the baby toy section of the store? I sure did! Check out the benefits of using color with babies and toddlers!

Have you observed that many baby and toddler toys are in muted colors? I've been quite surprised by the absence of vibrant colors in this specific aisle at the store. This is a change from the past when baby and toddler toys were full of color and contrast. Here is some information on why color is i...

06/18/2024

Have you felt overwhelmed about all the choices for toddler cups? You are not alone! So many choices and so much information… So let’s try to sort it all out. Click the link below to check out my blog post.

Have you felt overwhelmed about all the choices for toddler cups? You are not alone! So many choices and so much information… So let’s try to sort it all out.First let’s talk about when to introduce a cup. You can start introducing a cup around the same time you start solids. I usually encoura...

03/27/2024

I was recently presented with an opportunity to testify in front of the Michigan House Appropriations Subcommittee on School Aid and Education. It was an honor to work with other Early On Advocates who are as passionate as I am about supporting our most vulnerable population. It was such an honor.

https://mailchi.mp/michiganschildren/speaking_for_kids_ebulletin_3_15_24

07/02/2023

06/30/2023

Parenthood is hard... Parents today have social media, blogs, developmental websites all telling them how to parent, how not to parent, what is important and what isn't. It is in your face all day long. Although value exists in all these spaces it isn't appropriate for everyone or every child. We should spend more time lifting parents up, supporting their decisions and understanding that there is more than one way to get to a destination. All those paths are ok. One is not better than another simply a different choice. I see you and hear you! Read on to hear more about the Parent Guilt Trap....

https://www.theearlyonot.com/post/the-parent-guilt-trap

Something that I run across regularly is parental pressure. This generally occurs from 2 locations, outside forces and internal pressure from the parents themselves. I have been extremely fortunate in working with families who have very complex children. These complexities amplify the typical pressu...

02/27/2023

The dreaded tantrum years… As our kids grow and learn to be independent they start to protest, tantrum and meltdown. Learning to negotiate yes with your toddler will decrease protests and tantrums. Simple changes we make to our words and approaches as we interact with our toddlers will make a big impact on how they respond. In turn you should see less tantrums or protests during your daily routines and activities. Read on to see how to make those changes. Happy Toddlering!

Overusing the Word No As parents one of the things we do too much and too often is to say no. Our kids hear no all day long. They ask for something and our response is often no. So what does that do to our little ones? How does that impact their response to no? How many tantrums and protests are unn...

10/21/2022

07/11/2022

Helping families to become empowered parents and effective advocates is one of our priorities in Early Intervention. Families deserve to be heard by all the providers that work with them. Through coaching and modeling we can help parents become effective at communicating to these providers their knowledge regarding their child. They will then be able to advocate effectively for their child.

https://www.theearlyonot.com/post/helping-families-to-become-empowered-parents-and-effective-advocates

The Role of Early Intervention Providers One of the most important outcomes in Early Intervention is how parents become empowered and effective advocates for their child. It is very common for parents to feel overwhelmed when their child has delays. Many parents come to us and now feel defeated and....

06/07/2022

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