April showers bring… pollen and allergy season! Tree pollens start in early spring and then grass pollen follows in later spring. The Mayo Clinic lists distinctions between allergies and colds as well as comparisons with COVID-19 symptoms. It says that allergies and colds both usually have sneezing, itchy eyes, and a runny or stuffy nose. […]

When people question how we can teach leadership skills to young children, we love providing real life examples like this: Our INSPIRED leadership program has 8 literacies that we teach throughout the year, parallel to our proprietary play-based curriculum, PLAYWORKS. The lessons may seem simple, but they ladder up to BIG ideas. Several years ago, […]

It is Black History Month, and we are celebrating Early Childhood Black Educators.  Rita Pierson, Ed. D., born in Houston, Texas, was a child of educators. After graduating with her teaching degree from Elmhurst College, she began her career in 1972, teaching in elementary, junior high, and special education over the years. She also served […]

Happy Valentine’s Day! And nothing says “I love you!” like crafting with your little ones! Have a child who loves butterflies? We are sure they will enjoy this sweet butterfly craft.  As you work on this craft together, you can help your child take ownership of their work and make it a learning activity too! […]

This time of the year is filled with anticipation and excitement. Anticipating the holidays and all the fun (and sometimes stress) that comes with it. Excitement for the special traditions and gift-giving and receiving. Looking toward the new year can bring about those feelings as well. We reflect on the past year and look toward […]

It is always an exciting time of the year for our families here at LeafSpring Schools, where we enjoy celebrating with each other. Spending time with our friends and families and participating in traditions, new and old, make the holidays special.  Learning about different holidays and family traditions is a highlight for many. Whether your […]

Have you ever thought about how many times each day in your classroom you use the word “no” or some other form of “no” such as stop, don’t, no-no, etc.? Our words hold so much power in our children’s lives. Andrew Newberg, M.D. and Mark Waksman, in their Psychology Today article, “Why This Word is […]

On Thursday, October 21, 2021, North Carolina Governor Cooper and Secretary of HHS Cohen toured the LeafSpring School at Ballantyne campus. They took time to meet the staff, discuss the current workforce crisis and the state’s stabilization grants with Rhonda Rivers, Regional Director of Curriculum & Training at LeafSpring Schools in Charlotte, NC. “High-quality child care […]

How to support kids who are struggling with the return to normal (and maybe the return to school). by Melinda Wenner Moyer This week, I’m going to address an issue that one of my own children has been grappling with: social anxiety. My 7-year-old has a lovely group of friends, and she’s confident and outgoing […]

by: Clara Beaufort The coronavirus crisis is a great reminder that every family needs a home emergency plan. You never know when disaster could strike, whether it be a hurricane, earthquake, wildfire, or global pandemic. During major disasters, it can take emergency crews a long time to reach you, so it’s crucial that your family […]

“The best predictor of beginning reading achievement is a child’s knowledge of letter names” (Adams, 1990).  I am sure that you have heard this statement. It is one of the most popular quotes about letters, and it is routinely shared with educators in professional development sessions, on websites, and in curricula. Unfortunately, some have interpreted […]

Ms. Essence Walker is one of our phenomenal Infant Room teachers at LeafSpring School Ballantyne, and very deserving of the honors recently bestowed upon her by the North Carolina Early Childhood Coalition, taking top honors and winning the NC Childcare Hero Award.  The Outstanding Early Education Advocate Awards were created to honor and recognize individuals […]