The Confident Classroom

Quiet or shy preschoolers may take longer to step forward, but their voices matter just as much. By creating predictable routines, offering gentle invitations into play, and honoring students' different ways of expressing themselves, teachers can help every child feel valued and included.

Screens may shape the world in which children live, but we don’t have to let them shape their developing ability to focus. With intentional, brain-based strategies—like using short bursts of novelty, embedding movement, and creating sensory-rich routines—preschool teachers can nurture the habits of attention children need for learning and growth.

Classroom chaos is no match for the power of kindness. When children build empathy, self-awareness, and friendship skills, everyday moments of disruption turn into opportunities for connection, growth, and joyful learning.

Manners are more than etiquette — they’re joyful habits that help children live and learn together as they nurture kindergarten readiness. By weaving simple, playful activities like “Magic Words” Tag, puppet role-play, and kindness tickets into daily routines, preschool teachers can nurture courtesy in ways that feel natural and fun.

When most people think of kindergarten readiness, they picture letter recognition, counting skills, or the ability to sit in a circle and follow directions. While those are important, they rest on a deeper — and often overlooked — foundation: social skills and emotional intelligence.

Play isn’t just fun — it’s a powerful way to protect children from stress. Neuroscience shows that unstructured, joyful play lowers cortisol, builds resilience, and strengthens the brain systems tied to emotional regulation and learning, making it a vital part of healthy development.

Transitions may look like “filler time” to the untrained eye, but for preschool educators, they’re powerful opportunities to build language, self-regulation, executive function, and social skills. With simple, intentional routines, everyday moments like lining up or cleaning up can become some of the richest learning experiences of the day.

Family newsletters are a powerful way to connect classrooms and homes — and educators can build on that foundation with playful, low-lift strategies that deepen family engagement. From family play nights to quick challenge cards, these approaches make it easy for families to experience the joy and purpose of play-based learning firsthand.

One small act of kindness can ripple far beyond the classroom. Join Rachel Giannini and Highlights Early Learning in celebrating educators’ kindness and swap stories at upcoming events.

Education is an integral part of teaching preschoolers about kindness and incorporating kind acts into the classroom. Here are 15 ways to celebrate and encourage kindness in preschool classrooms.

Kindergarten readiness is about more than letters and numbers — it starts with strong social and emotional skills. Discover why emotional intelligence is the true foundation for school success.

Resilience starts in early childhood. Discover how playful, relationship-based strategies help preschoolers build emotional strength, optimism, and problem-solving skills for lifelong success.

What if the key to kindergarten readiness isn’t letters or numbers, but kindness? That’s the insight driving Florida's Early Learning Coalition of Polk County’s new Kindergarten Bridge initiative, in partnership with Highlights Early Learning to nurture empathy and well-being as the foundation for children’s success.

The first days of the school year shape everything that follows. Building a foundation of kindness from the outset creates calmer classrooms today and stronger readiness for kindergarten tomorrow.

Here are seven ways to help preschoolers build resilience and learn essential self-regulation skills.