by Kate Dust BS, MSEd.

Kate Dust, our Vice President of Education and Staff Development, writes a weekly blog for our families on many of the child-focused topics you want to know about. Kate has been enriching the lives of children and educators for over 40 years. She is a nationally recognized Early Childhood and Childhood Education expert and has presented at conferences across the country. Kate inspires. She fosters growth and recognizes potential in all ages of children. In an effort to provide the best possible care and educational foundation for your children, Kate is actively involved in all aspects of EduKids' programming. To contact Kate, email her at katedust@edukidsinc.com

Kate Dust, our Vice President of Education and Staff Development, writes a weekly blog for our families on many of the child-focused topics you want to know about. Kate has been enriching the lives of children and educators for over 40 years. She is a nationally recognized Early Childhood and Childhood Education expert and has presented at conferences across the country. Kate inspires. She fosters growth and recognizes potential in all ages of children. In an effort to provide the best possible care and educational foundation for your children, Kate is actively involved in all aspects of EduKids' programming. To contact Kate, email her at katedust@edukidsinc.com
Why Graduation is a Big Deal
Congratulations EduKids’ Preschool Graduates! In a few weeks our Preschool Families will receive an invitation to the first of many celebrations known as “graduation”! You will be invited to watch your little one move with their class through the wonderful recognition of accomplishments they have achieved on their way to Kindergarten. Below are lists of Read More »
Read MoreGrey Winter Days are Reading Days!
Grey Winter Days are Reading Days! These chilly days of winter seem endless, even though February promises spring. So far this winter has been cold and snowy – children and families have been indoors a lot! It is time to investigate neighborhood book stores, Read More »
Read MoreWinter Wish List
Every year I am asked for recommendations of what to buy for young children for the holidays. While I never endorse a specific product, store or company, I am happy to share some ideas. Children spend a great deal of time with toys, equipment and materials at EduKids and at home. We all know that Read More »
Read MoreFall Fun!
Thanksgiving is around the corner and fall is definitely in the air. Simple pleasures are found when we look out our windows, talk about our neighborhoods and gather together in fun and learning. So while fall food is on your shopping list and kids are in your kitchen – enjoy the beauty of fall together! Read More »
Read MoreNew Year, Same Family
You can look anywhere and see all kinds of advice for making 2017 the best year ever. Advice about healthy eating and getting in better shape. Advice about life balance, jobs and financial planning. Advice about relationships and centering yourself through faith and yoga. You can even find advice about what to plant in a Read More »
Read MorePeople & Pets: 9 Holiday Safety Tips for the Entire Family
Now more than ever pets are considered members of the family and in my home it is no different. My husband and I have a very large, very adorable and very curious Boxer named Oscar De La Hoya (Oscar for short). Oscar has special blankets, a basket of toys, an eating area in the Read More »
Read MoreEvery Day Extraordinary: Incidental Learning for Families
Most children love bath-time. A warm bath is often a precursor to bedtime rituals—starting with the bath, leading to pjs and then a goodnight story. Sometimes bath-time is in the morning on a lazy Saturday . . . but there is really no such thing as a lazy Saturday in busy households, so we will Read More »
Read MoreThe 1,2,3’s of Gratitude: What Children Can Teach Us about Being Thankful
One of the joys of working with young children is that change happens constantly. Learning is a part of the everyday and conversations with families are both interesting and enlightening. At this very busy time of year adults become rushed and can feel pressure to be everything—to everyone. Often there are times it seems jobs Read More »
Read MoreNot Having Fine Motor Skills, not ‘Fine’ for Kindergarten
Our classrooms are filled with young children shaking toys, moving blocks, squeezing play dough, stringing necklaces and organizing pegs on pegboards. They are not watching television, poking at iPad or pushing computer keys. This is on purpose. Child development is our cornerstone at EduKids. What we know about children’s interests and needs at each age Read More »
Read MoreGet Ready – Halloween
Halloween is a “tricky” holiday for many reasons. Schools, communities and neighborhoods have begun to organize safe Halloween events that are organized, held in one spot at a specific time and include many adults monitoring children and activities. Our neighborhood elementary school has a “Trunk or Treat” evening. Families gather in the parking area of Read More »
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