Inclusion Matters
1. The Fundamentals of Consultation top Podcast Feedback Survey
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Podcast on "The Fundamentals of Consultation": What is inclusion consultation and how does it benefit children with special needs in early childhood programming? In this first of a series of podcasts on the topic of inclusion consultation, Priscilla Weigel describes the role of the consultant in helping children and staff feel successful!
2. The Emotional Environment top
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Inclusion specialist Priscilla Weigel speaks with Cindy Croft about the impact of the ´emotional´ environment on children´s behavior. Setting up the environment for children´s success is a key piece for all early childhood or school-age practitioners to consider!
3. The Physical Environment top
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Inclusion specialist Priscilla Weigel shares stories and examples with CICC Director Cindy Croft on how the physical environment of a child care setting, including schedules and routines, can have a dramatic affect on the behaviors of young children.
4. Play Issues top
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Inclusion specialist Priscilla Weigel describes the importance of play skills in young children and offers strategies to listeners on encouraging children who need to learn how to play. Children may sometimes use challenging behaviors because they haven´t developed the social competencies needed to navigate a complex social world.
5. Challenging Behavior: Aggression top
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Aggression is a Learned Attention-Getting Behavior. Sometimes, children will use aggressive behaviors because they have learned that it ´works´ for them. We can help children replace these behaviors with other more appropriate behavior through responsive interventions and teaching new skills.
6. Challenging Behavior: Power-struggles with Young Children top
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When the early educator gets into a power struggle with a young child, no one wins. We want children to learn independence and gain self-efficacy, yet they must also conform to the structure of our programs and build social relationships with others. Helping children learn to make good choices is an important strategy here.
7. Challenging Behavior: Putting the Pause Button Between Impulse and Action top
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Many times, aggressiveness in young children is part of their typical development as they navigate through the social network. Helping them with emotional literacy skills and other important self-regulatory behaviors can diminish aggression towards peers as children learn to communicate more effectively.
8. The Development of Self-Regulation and Its Impact on Behavior top
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Often children will struggle with regulating their behaviors and emotions based on a number of factors, including their developmental age. You can help children master this important emotional milestone by giving them the skill sets they need to be successful!
9. I´m Mad, I´m Sad: Helping Children with an Emotional Vocabulary top
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Children are often told to ´use their words´ but in order to do so, they need to have the words that go with their feelings. There are many ways that the early educators can enhance a child´s emotional literacy through books, modeling, and other tools to help children learn to communicate with peers in ways that avoid aggression and promote friendships!
10. Inclusion: The Foundation of Our Practice (Part one) top
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In this podcast, we take a closer look at the DEC and NAEYC Joint Position Statement on Inclusion and how its application can help us promote inclusion within our settings. The important elements of access, participation and supports are basic to the needs of all children and staff and become cornerstones for successful inclusive settings.
11. Inclusion: Activities to Promote Belonging (Part two) top
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In Part Two of our discussion on inclusion, we will look at strategies and activities that can help promote inclusion in early childhood programs. While inclusion can be seen as developmentally appropriate practice, it also takes intentionality on the part of teachers and providers to ensure that all children feel included and accepted in the community of child care.
12. The Importance of Planned Transitions (Part one) top
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Transitions—they can often make or break the day! Planning for the transitions that are a necessary part of the day is key to helping children be successful and for avoiding challenges that might derail that success. But what do planned transitions look like? Listen as expert Priscilla Weigel discusses some tips on charting success.
13. Strategies for Successful Transitions (Part two) top
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In Part Two of our discussion on transitions, we will look at some specific strategies for making your transitions more successful. Included in this podcast will be activities to involve children and staff before and during transitions in order to avoid pitfalls around challenging behaviors.
14. Play: Play Skills are Developmental Too! (Part one) top
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In this podcast, we look at children´s development from infant stages through older preschool to explore what types of play children should typically be engaged in at different ages. Play is both developmental and learned so children need our help in acquiring skills that help them move from stage to stage. We will set the foundation for talking about some of the challenges children may face in their play.
15. Play: Helping Children Who Won´t Stay or Won´t Leave (Part Two) top
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Building on the foundation of play skills from Part One, this podcast will examine children who can´t seem to settle into play activities or, conversely, the child who doesn´t want to leave a center or a particular toy. How can the early educator intervene to ensure that a child feels safe and secure but also is building important peer relationships? Inclusion consultant Priscilla Weigel will share some strategies that can help children settle into play.
16. Play: Helping Children Who Seem Anxious or Distracted (Part Three) top
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Do you have children in your program who are reluctant to join others in play, or perhaps aren´t invited to join in because they seem too aloof? All children need one another to learn social competencies and to graduate to more complex social skills. So what can be done? We will discuss some scenarios for why a child might have these play issues and some strategies for easing anxiety and helping children connect with one another.
17. Play: Helping Children Who are Ignored or Rejected by Peers (Part Four) top
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In this concluding podcast on play concerns, we will look at some of the reasons a child might be ´forgotten´ by his peers or even rebuffed when trying to join in play. Inclusion consultant Priscilla Weigel will share tools for the early educator to help the group include one another and build an atmosphere of acceptance.
18. Who´s in Control and Why Does it Matter? top
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In this podcast, Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel discuss the struggle that can sometimes arise between the early educator and a child in finding the balance between limit setting and power struggle. Some children can literally ´run´ the program—how does this happen and how does the staff regain control? Priscilla shares some real life examples that can help shift the balance again.
19. Finding the Joy in Children (Part One) top
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In this first part of a two-part series, we will discuss how important it is to be in the moment with children, remembering the sheer joy of play for children. It can be hard when there is so much emphasis on curriculum and cognitive achievement, but what is more gratifying than the wonder in a child´s eyes when you discover something new together, or the abandoned glee of outdoor play. Let´s remember why we do what we do!
20. Finding the Joy in Our Profession (Part Two) top
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In the second part of our series, we will reflect on finding joy in the early childhood profession. It can be a stressful job, no question about it. How do we find the necessary supports and the self-discovery needed to truly gain the joy of our work? Come and share our discussion about loving what we do.
21. When Concerns Arise: Why Developmental Milestones are Important (Part One) top
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In this series on developmental concerns, we begin by looking at typical developmental milestones as guideposts for understanding how children develop their social, emotional, language, physical, and cognitive skills. Why is this important to the early childhood practitioner? What do we need to know in order to provide developmentally appropriate care?
22. When Concerns Arise: What are Red Flags for Developmental Concerns? (Part Two) top
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In Part Two of our series, we will define what a red flag means as we observe a child´s development. Is it one behavior or a cluster of behaviors? In addition, we will discuss the impact culture may have on developmental milestones as we consider red flags for developmental concerns. Our inclusion consultant, Priscilla Weigel, will share examples from her work with young children.
23. Sharing Concerns with Families: Observations and Recordings (Part 1) top
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In this podcast, we will begin a series on the sensitive topic of how to share developmental concerns with families. The first steps in talking to families about a developmental red flag is to have objective, nonjudgmental observations and recordings that can give them an accurate developmental picture. This is foundational to a successful conversation and will help allay some of your anxiousness as you approach families with your concerns.
24. Sharing Concerns with Families: Setting the Stage (Part 2) top
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Once we have gathered our information to share about a developmental concern, we need to set the stage for our conversation with the family. The ongoing partnership between the early educator, family, and child will rely on trust, confidentiality, and compassion. In this podcast, we will share some fundamental tips that will help us as we prepare to talk with the family, including when and how to hold the meeting.
25. Sharing Concerns with Families: Having the Conversation (Part 3) top
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In part 3 of our series on Sharing Concerns with Families, Priscilla Weigel and Cindy Croft discuss the sensitive topic of talking to a family about their child´s development. This is often one of the hardest jobs an early educator will undertake but it is critically important for the child for whom early intervention can make a world of difference. We will talk about ways to share developmental information and continue building the important relationship between parent and caregiver.
26. Families: The Process of Grief and Loss of Dreams (Conclusion) top
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In the final session in this series, Priscilla Weigel and Cindy Croft will offer insights into some of the responses that may come from a family when they are told there are red flags in their child´s development. As parents grapple with developmental information, they will need ongoing support and understanding from the early educator and program staff. We can be an important partner in a journey that is just beginning.
27. Busy Bodies: 2-3 Years top
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In our podcast, we will discuss the joys and challenges of caring for 2 and 3 year olds. Often, what is developmentally appropriate behavior for young children is also what can be most frustrating in our work! Listen to hear some ideas for reframing the way we see typical 2 and 3 year-old interactions.
28. Sit Still, Don't Touch, Wait...Are we setting children up for Success? top
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In this podcast, we will continue the last conversation by looking at 4-5 year olds. It is easy at times to see a child´s behavior outside of the context of their age and stage. When we look again at what we are hoping to teach children in a larger sense, we can begin to appreciate some of those challenging behaviors as their way at reaching important milestones!
29. Young Children with Autism: What Does the Label Really Mean? (Part One) top
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In the first of this 3 part series, Cindy and Priscilla interview Pat Pulice, Director of Autism Services at Fraser in Minneapolis, MN, on what the major characteristics of autism can look like in a young child, how early we might identify a child, and what the identification process includes for young children who may have development red flags for autism. As with all children, the important attitude is seeing who the whole child is and what can support their special needs as they grow and develop.
30. Choosing A Setting: What is the Best Option for a Child with Autism? (Part Two) top
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In our continued discussion with autism expert Pat Pulice, we will look at different settings a child might be in who has an autism diagnosis and how to build a beneficial environment for children we serve. What kinds of supports are present in the therapeutic setting which help a child as they develop skills and when does an inclusive setting with typical developing peers offer other benefits to the child? Early educators can examine their environment for structure, routines, stimulation, and visual supports. Again, each child is an individual and their needs will vary but we will discuss some general strategies for inclusion.
31. A Child Who Flies "Under the Radar": When a Diagnosis Isn´t Made (Part Three) top
listen now - length 11:49
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In this podcast, we will continue the last conversation by looking at 4-5 year olds. It is easy at times to see a child´s behavior outside of the context of their age and stage. When we look again at what we are hoping to teach children in a larger sense, we can begin to appreciate some of those challenging behaviors as their way at reaching important milestones!
32. Intro to Temperaments: How are Children Wired? top
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We will begin a series of podcasts on the major temperament traits that can relate to challenging behaviors at times. In the first podcast, Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel talk about how temperament traits impact each of us as adults including our perceptions and relationships. When we consider children, we need to realize that they also come to us with a unique blend of the 10 temperament traits that influence their interactions with others. The more we understand ourselves and the children we work with, the more likely we will be to avoid some of the challenges that come with the extremes of temperament.
33. Activity Level: Children Who Need to Move! top
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Cindy and Priscilla discuss a temperament trait that is commonly associated with challenging behaviors in early childhood settings: activity level. While we often think first about a child who is really busy, children who have a low activity level need adaptations to the environment as well in order to have successful experiences. Listen to this podcasts for some strategies as you think about children and their movement in your programs.
34. Adaptability and Mood: How to Help Children with Change top
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Some children have difficulty when it comes to adjusting to attempts to change or influence what they are doing. Change is often hard for many of us when we are doing something we really enjoy! When you also factor in a child´s natural mood, you can find yourself in a struggle with a young child. In this podcast, Cindy and Priscilla will talk about ideas to help children who may struggle with adapting to changes in their world.
35. Run Away or Run into Your Arms: Slow to Approach/Withdraw top
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A child´s initial tendency to respond to a new experience, new person, or new environment can be either ´arms open wide´ or ´wait-and-see´. Both types of approaches need our guidance as early childhood professionals to be sure that children are getting the social interactions they need to be successful and validation for their sense of self-esteem. If you work with either or both of these temperaments, you´ll want to listen to this engaging podcast.
36. Intensity: I Want Your Energy! top
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Intensity as a temperament trait is all about the amount of energy a child uses to express his emotions, and we know that some children cry, talk, and laugh more loudly than anyone else in the program! We want to honor this natural trait in children for the good things about high intensity while also giving children tools for impulse control and friendship skills. Join Priscilla and Cindy as they discuss children with high intensity and the energy they seek from others.
37. Emotional Sensitivity top
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Emotional sensitivity is the ease or difficulty with which a child responds emotionally to situations. Some children are very sensitive to what is going around them while others seem oblivious to the feelings or mood of peers. How can we help children learn empathetic skills and also learn about their own feelings and how to express themselves to others? This podcast will look at children´s sensitivity levels and how we as professionals can guide them in their relationships with others.
38. Minnesota´s Special Needs Rate top
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Listen to Laurie Possin, MN Department of Humans Service Child Care Assistance, and Chris Bentley, CICC, discuss the Minnesota special needs rate for children with disabilities who are part of the child care subsidy program. This informative podcast will answer many of your questions about when the SN rate applies and how to access this service.
39.Frogs, Snails, & Puppy Dog Tails top
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In this podcast, Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel will talk about little boys in early childhood programs. What do they need to be successful and how do educators use their skills to engage them? Boys are a frequent topic when it comes to inclusion consultation; we will share some tips on "What little boys are made of".
40. Group Time: Do you Love it or Dread it? (Part 1) top
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There are many areas of programming where challenging behaviors occur. Group or circle time is often an activity where children can struggle to stay tuned in and adults can be frustrated by not meeting their goals for it. Listen to this podcasts for creative ideas on how to accomplish your goals with group time by thinking outside the box.
41. Free Play or Free for All (Part 2) top
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In this podcast, Priscilla Weigel and Cindy Croft will discuss some of the ways that challenging behaviors can be prevented in free play through careful observation and planning. Priscilla will share examples of children who may have play problems and interventions that can help facilitate play. Free play is a wonderful opportunity to include all children; and, it´s really what children do best!
42. Meal Time: Magic or Mayhem? (Part 3) top
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In the conclusion of our series on daily activities in child care programs, we will talk about the benefits to children with and without disabilities that come from meal time. This is another area of the day when challenging behaviors can take our focus from what we are trying to accomplish like community-building, sharing, emotional regulation and other skills. What can you do when a child who eats more slowly? What about a child who takes someone else´s food? Listen to this lively discussion of the important part of the day.
43. Creativity: Looking for Children´s Cues top
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In this podcast, Priscilla Weigel and Cindy Croft will discuss children who can present challenges to us by their engagement. Some children are eager to participate in activities and others may need social prompting and encouragement in order to join in the fun. Children show creativity in many ways that can differ from our ideas; we need to read their cues to see when they need some help and when we need to follow their lead!
44. New Spin on Challenging Behaviors top
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Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel lay out a three-pronged approach for setting staff up for success when it comes to children´s behavior challenges. We know that children experiment with behaviors as a way to grow and learn so preparing for what will inevitably occur is a good tool in preventing staff anxiety when issues arise. We will talk about Plan, Prepare, and Support!
45. Six Acquired Strengths for Children´s Mental Health: Attachment (Part 1) top
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In this podcast, Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel will discuss children´s mental health and Dr. Bruce Perry´s Six Acquired Strengths for emotional development in young children. We begin the discussion with attachment as the foundation for a child´s positive mental health. Listen to discover ways that early educators can build the responsive relationship by tuning in to children.
46. Six Acquired Strengths for Children´s Mental Health: Self Regulation and Affiliation (Part 2) top
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In Part 2 of Dr. Perry´s Six Acquired Strengths, we will discuss the importance of self regulation in preschoolers and its impact on social skill development. These two emotional milestones are essential to a young child´s learning and success now and later in life. You can do much to enhance their mastery of these ´strengths´!
47. Six Acquired Strengths for Children´s Mental Health: Awareness, Tolerance, and Respect (Part 3) top
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In the final podcast of Dr. Perry´s Six Acquired Strengths, Priscilla Weigel and Cindy Croft will offer strategies for promoting awareness, tolerance, and respect in young children as they grow, develop, and reach their full potential. We want children to have friends, accept differences, and appreciate diversity in their world. The early childhood community can do many things to support children in these important emotional milestones.
48. Believe in Yourself as a Professional top
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In this podcast, Cindy and Priscilla encourage listeners to have confidence in your skills and abilities to provide an environment that gives children what they need based on developmentally appropriate practice rather than whatever the 'prevailing winds" may be. When it comes to the push for academics, we need to trust our early childhood education and training in what children need most to be successful learners in our environments. We also need to learn to articulate why our practices are part of 'readiness' for children along all their developmental domains.
49. CICC Inclusion Consultation Program top
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Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel talk with Dea Anderson, CICC Consultation Coordinator, about the how-to´s of Minnesota´s on-site inclusion consultation program. How do you get started? What if you don´t live in Minnesota? We´ll also share other resources with you around inclusive early childhood and school-age programming.
50. Nuts & Bolts of the Inclusion Consultant top
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In this podcast, Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel continue their discussion with Dea Anderson, CICC Consultation Coordinator, about the role of a consultant in a child care program. How does consulting differ from coaching and mentoring? How does consultation benefit a teachers, child care providers, and children? Listen to a story about one program´s success with a child with challenging behaviors using an inclusion consultant!
51. The Pyramid Model Part I top
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The Pyramid Model for supporting social and emotional competence in young children is being promoted in many states. In this podcast, Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel will welcome Dea Anderson to the program to talk about what makes up the framework and how it applies to early childhood practitioners. We will focus this podcast on the foundation of the pyramid which is an effective, well-prepared workforce.
52. The Pyramid Model Part II top
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In the conclusion of the podcast on the Pyramid Model, Priscilla Weigel and Cindy Croft talk to Dea Anderson about the three tiers of Pyramid Model for supporting social and emotional competence in young children. She shares resources on implementing social emotional supports for young children in early childhood settings.
53. Six Key Factors to Implementing Inclusive Practices (Part One) top
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The Early Childhood Research Institute on Inclusion (ECRII) has identified 6 key factors for success in supporting inclusion in child care programs. In this podcast, Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel will discuss the first 3 with practical implications for your work in building a quality, inclusive child care program.
54. Six Key Factors to Implementing Inclusive Practices (Part Two) top
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In Part Two of the discussion of the ECRII research on factors that support success with inclusion, Priscilla Weigel and Cindy Croft will talk about the final 3 including a lively discussion on passionate community involvement. Advocates including parents and others can promote the implementation of inclusive programming for children in their local communities.
55. Professional Development Opportunities through the CICC top
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Join Cindy Croft, Priscilla Weigel and Ellie Chase-Andresen as they discuss the online training opportunities in the CICC Learning Center. Ellie will highlight current as well as upcoming Self Study courses that help providers learn a variety of skills and topics that promote inclusion. Priscilla shares stories of teachers who apply Self Study courses to everyday practice.
56. Health Trends: Obesity and Overweight in Children top
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In this podcast, Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel talk with Ellie Chase-Andresen about trends in health pertaining to children and families. Particularly, we will discuss obesity and its impact on disease in young children. What can you do about in child care? Listen for some practical strategies!
57. Flu Safety in Child Care Programs top
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In this podcast, join Cindy Croft, Priscilla Weigel, and Ellie Chase-Andresen as we discuss health and safety concerns in child care programs when it comes to the flu. In particular, we will talk about how to avoid spreading germs and keeping children healthy, especially kids with special health needs.
58. Immunizations: Protecting All Children Part 1 top
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This important conversation on immunization and disease prevention takes place with Cindy Croft, Priscilla Weigel and Ellie Chase-Andresen. Ellie describes some of the diseases that are becoming more prevalent without immunization protection and ways to promote better understanding of disease prevention with the families we work. Please join us as we talk about health and safety concerns in child care programs.
59. Coping with Crying: Responsive Relationships top
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Parents may struggle with the idea of 'cry it out' when getting ready to put their infant in child care. In this podcast, Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel share insights with Dea Anderson on how child care providers can support parents as they both build responsive relationship with infants. Tips include building a consistent routine for infants to meet their developmental needs.
