Updated December 2022

If you've ever spent time with toddlers, you know how high-energy these tiny humans can be! And how quickly smiles can turn to tears when nap time is delayed, a favourite toy goes astray, or the little one starts missing mum.

To say babies and small children are unpredictable would be a major understatement. But if working as an early childhood educator (ECE) is your true calling, you're up for the challenge.

Is it possible to care for your kids too much? At what point does "helping" and "supporting" turn into "overbearing" and "smothering"?

This is a question you'll find yourself pondering quite often as an early childhood educator (ECE). Or maybe you're a parent and have already wondered how much is too much when it comes to helping your own kids learn and grow.

We're talking about the phenomenon called "helicopter" parenting. In a nutshell, helicopter parents are overly focused on their children. They "hover" over their every move, and take too much responsibility for their child's failures and successes.

Updated November 2022

What should early childhood educators (ECEs) know about ADHD in preschool-age children?

Let's start with the fundamentals. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurological disorder that breaks down into three different categories:

1) Predominately inattentive (previously referred to as ADD)

2) Predominately hyperactive (very rare)

3) Combined (most prevalent)

According to the Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada, ADHD is the most prevalent childhood neurodevelopmental disorder. More than five per cent of all schoolchildren have ADHD.