Preschool Application Fees are a Scam
You’ve found the perfect preschool. You tour, you love the vibe, your kid loves the play kitchen—and then they hit you with a $100 application fee. Non-refundable. Just to apply. You’re not alone. And you’re not overreacting. This isn’t just a minor inconvenience. It’s part of a larger system that makes families pay—literally—for the chance…
“Gentle Parenting is for Gentle Kids”
Gentle Parenting is for Gentle Kids… Or Is It? Recently, a viral TikTok trend has been making the rounds, showing parents sarcastically demonstrating “gentle parenting” by passively asking their child to listen, being ignored, and then snapping—yelling or cursing to get the child’s attention. The underlying message? “Gentle parenting is for gentle kids”—and if your…
The Quiet Collapse of Early Education: Why Staffing Shortages Matter
Preschools across the country are facing a severe staffing shortage that threatens the quality and availability of early childhood education. This problem predates the COVID-19 pandemic and has worsened in its aftermath, leaving many classrooms understaffed or even closed. The consequences extend beyond teachers – children lose critical early learning opportunities, and parents struggle to…
An Educator’s View on Deconstructing the Early Childhood Education System
“We teach Apple* Curriculum here, you can be as creative you want and we encourage all styles of teaching. That was the elevator speech I received during my interview when I asked the administrator about their Curriculum. I thought, Wow! This is the real deal, I never thought I would find a school that teaches…
The Need for Occupational Therapy
Take Away The Walls would like to celebrate OT month by introducing Megan Lambert OTR to the educational forum. I interview Megan where we discuss why children struggle sitting still, the change in outdoor playground equipment and how its changing child development, and things to look for if a child needs OT support. Melanie Ingram:…
Behavior Intervention in Educational Environments
In this article I am showcasing Courtney Anderson, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), where we discuss a bit about her career path, increase of maladaptive behavior since the start of the pandemic, and behavior intervention in the classroom. Melanie Ingram: Hi Courtney, I just wanted to start by saying thank you and for joining…
My Favorite Podcasts and other news too…
This week I’ve had an opportunity to be actively involved with the NAEYC Public Policy Forum this week advocating for early childcare and educators. If you want to know more about the NAEYC Public Policy Forum, please refer to the NAEYC website: https://www.naeyc.org/events/policy-forum Here are some of my favorite podcasts that keep me uplifted, inspired,…
Big Emotions in a Micromanaged World
The Decline of Social Emotional Skills, Part One “Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary.” – Fred Rogers Mr. Fred Rogers has been on the rise in Hollywood the past few years.…
On my coffee table
I will be the first to admit that I don’t usually sit down to read leisurely books. As of late, I have been more into podcasts (I’ll do another post all about that too). I have a tendency to read books about education and varied practices in the classroom. Over the years, I have collected…
Follow My Blog
Get new content delivered directly to your inbox.
Take Away the Walls 