Bright Ideas - The Natural Start Blog

New Toy Tops the TOADY Award for Worst Toy of the Year

December 10, 2013

Just one day after the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood announced the winner of its worst-toy-of-the-year competition--the iPotty--a new, even more questionable toy for babies has come on the market. Read More

Vote for the Worst Toy of the Year

December 6, 2013

See the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood's nominees for the year's worst toy, and cast your vote in support of healthy, happy childhoods. Read More

Making Mud Kitchens

November 22, 2013

British early childhood nature education expert Jan White argues that mud kitchens are low-cost, easy, and fun spaces for children to play and develop. Read More

What Young Learners Really Need to Learn

November 5, 2013

A growing number of education experts argue that the best way to prepare for future academic learning is not with early academic learning. Listen to a podcast in which experts advocate for more play-based learning that lets children explore, create, and develop a love of learning. Read More

Critical Investments Should Target the First Eight Years of Life, Report Finds

November 4, 2013

The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s latest KIDS COUNT® policy report finds that only 36 percent of third graders are on track in cognitive development. The report presents a strong case for investing in the early years of a child's life. Read More

New Courses Available in Nature-Based Early Childhood Education Program

November 4, 2013

Antioch University has released its spring schedule for courses in its Nature-Based Early Childhood Education Program Series. Read More

Why Toys R Us Should End Its New Ad Campaign

October 28, 2013

We hope lots of kids find great toys under the tree this Christmas, but not at the expense of the forests. Join us in letting Toys R Us know we don't support their new ad campaign. Read More

Turn Your Old Markers into Clean Fuel

October 5, 2013

Finally, when markers run dry, they don't have to be sent to the landfill. Crayola's new ColorCycle program offers schools a way to recycle spent markers, so they get a second life as a clean-burning fuel. Read More

New Report from North Carolina Promotes Healthy Weight in Early Childhood

September 26, 2013

The Natural Learning Initiative, College of Design, NC State University, recently participated in a task force convened by the North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) to draft strategies that would target the obesity epidemic at its roots—the state’s youngest children birth to five. Read More
The Nature Preschool at Irvine Nature Center

5 Pro Tips for Water Wear

September 20, 2013

We asked some of our nature preschool friends for their best tips for keeping kids comfortable outside on a rainy day. Read More

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