Blog Posts

Find all of the toys listed above on our Amazon List 


Find all of the toys listed above on our Amazon List 


Find all of the toys listed above on our Amazon List 

The Teal Pumpkin

October 25, 2022

As we know food allergies are more common or at least more understood in today's day and age and with that comes a trickier trick or treat for some kiddos. The way to ease some worries as parents and educators and children themselves who come to your door this particular evening there is a wonderful alternative option! The teal pumpkin project has been around for quite some time but not everyone is aware of it's importance or significance - therefore, ECHO has got you covered! 

The idea behind the teal pumpkin is to indicate that your home is an allergy friendly house where you have a "no - food" option for these specific individuals who visit on Halloween night. You can either purchase a teal pumpkin through amazon, target and other retailers such as these including your local dollar store, however, if you want to make this into a learning activity and fun opportunity to involve the whole family you may suggest painting a typical pumpkin teal blue and setting it out on your porch! Leaving the pumpkin by your door helps others in your neighborhood recognize the message and ask you for a non-food treat if necessary. Some items to have by the ready are some fun halloween pencils, stamps, temporary tattoos, and other goodie that can engage littles in other fun ways rather than food they could have an allergy too. 

This may sound like a wonderful opportunity but a bit pricy as you start compiling alternative "treats" for individuals who knock on your door. The best thing we can suggest is to buy items in bulk on amazon to save a few bucks but also the dollar store! Sometimes places like this can sell items in a small pack and you can put a few small relatively cheap but meaningful and exciting items in halloween sacks as parents and children specify their recognition of the teal pumpkin! 

If you are not able to participate and offer your house as a teal pumpkin location that is completely understandable but if your child or someone you may know allergy and would love the opportunity to visit homes and businesses in their neighborhood on Halloween night with alternatives to candy please check out the link provided! You can get a map based on your location and/ or register your house as "Teal-Pumpkin Safe"! 


We hope this idea helped ease some worries and reached some families willing and able to help every child feel included this Halloween season! Please, be safe out there and have an enjoyable holiday with your families! 


Love, 

All of us here at ECHO! 



Click the link to register your home for the project within your area and/ or locate a map of your neighborhood to better see at a glance who else is participating!

 Also, please consider reviewing the website if you hope to learn more and can get the idea out whenever you can! Any wonderful organization that puts children and their health and safety first is important to ECHO! 

Putting Family first

October 18, 2022


As we know family is of utmost importance to you as well as the education or your young children, however, if you are in search of new and exciting ways to help incorporate your family in more ways we have you covered! Try some of these ideas! 


Here a just a few ways in which to involve your entire family on a variety of age levels and strengthen the unit both as a whole and individually! Remember, anything can become a tradition make it unique just like your own family! 

All Are Welcome: How to create a Positive & Accepting Classroom or Home learning Experience

October 11, 2022


As teachers, parents, and administrators our whole mission is to create acceptance and a love-filled environment for our young learners even before they walk though our doors.  A major part of that is depicting diversity in a variety of ways within the classroom for each student to feel included, seen and to help understand others. Here are some items that are staples in each one of our classes: 


These are only some suggestions to help make your classroom, school or home-play area a positive learning experience and teach young children diversity. 

Positive Ways to Introduce or Work on Potty Training At Home and School

September 27, 2022


As teachers working with young students as they navigate this milestone in life we have come to compile a variety of ways to introduce potty training to your child or add to your existing routine. We have seen it all from the potty training boot camp to the candy reward system and everything in between and we're not here to tell you which is best for your child since the only person who knows that is you and your parenting partner. In our classrooms, we, however utilize these tips and tricks that we have picked up over the years that work with every unique personality and individual to help encourage toilet training and reinforce these principals as they work on their own. 


Let us know what has helped your in your child or children's potty training journey! 


Built to Thrive - Brenda Ban

September 13, 2022

Through our ECHO journey we had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Brenda, a retired teacher who turned her passion into a business. This business helps put emphasis and aid on Social Emotional Learning (SEL) for group and individual settings and this past year she dedicated her Wednesday mornings to enrich the local school system with her program along with other schools within the area.  Each class  gathered together during their time slot to read a story, work on a large group activity and broke into smaller groups for further exploration when necessary. 

Each week, we had the incredible opportunity to witness these students work hard at the task at hand - all age appropriate (in which Ms. Brenda carefully crafted each lesson for different age groups and Developmentally Appropriate Practice) activities but just enough for our little learners to stretch that extra mile for their own success! She was patient, kind and encouraging with our learners and in turn each student could not wait for next week's lesson while discussing with each other the fun things they learned with their favorite Wednesday teacher.

Somethings Ms. Brenda covered were calming our bodies like different animals, shaking up our feelings and emotions like glitter then letting them fall to a calm and carefully placing fruit loops on pretzel sticks to better understand our bodies and our own strength. She shared belly breaths with our belly buddies, talked about how we are Super Heroes for showing our emotions and working through tough decisions and events as well as communicated with even the littlest of scholars as they work through these big emotions. 

We do not want to give away Ms. Brenda's amazing approach but wanted to share our experience with her and express our gratitude for working with our students over the year.  We hope that we can continue to work with her further as the years go on as we open up additional ECHO libraries! 

However, if you want to experience Ms. Brenda's magic for yourself please visit her booth at Story Fest held by the Ford House this September 24, 2022 (Check our event's tab for the ticket link) and see what she is all about, you will not be disappointed. Also, if you want a chance for your child to work one-on - one with her, better understand her program, check out her personal BTT blog, contact Ms. Brenda, herself and more check out her website! https://builttothrive.weebly.com/ 

9 Ways to Encourage and Enhance Dramatic Play and Imagination

September 21, 2022


Imagination and Pretend play are important developmental milestones in your child's life, but sometimes we worry we aren't doing enough to aid them in this process since it's not something tangible. Well, we have you covered; here are 9 simple and effective, kid-approved ways to nurture their creative side and have fun in the process! 



As your child continues to grow so will their imagination, these foundational steps and ways can help encourage this in different stages or development and offer the ability to grow and expand along with your child and they continue to take them one step further each time! Remember, if you feel comfortable tag us on instagram of you and your young learner participating in these activities or ideas or a quick snapshot of the activity itself for privacy reasons! We love to be a part of the fun! 


Built to Thrive - Brenda Ban

September 13, 2022

Through our ECHO journey we had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Brenda, a retired teacher who turned her passion into a business. This business helps put emphasis and aid on Social Emotional Learning (SEL) for group and individual settings and this past year she dedicated her Wednesday mornings to enrich the local school system with her program along with other schools within the area.  Each class  gathered together during their time slot to read a story, work on a large group activity and broke into smaller groups for further exploration when necessary. 

Each week, we had the incredible opportunity to witness these students work hard at the task at hand - all age appropriate (in which Ms. Brenda carefully crafted each lesson for different age groups and Developmentally Appropriate Practice) activities but just enough for our little learners to stretch that extra mile for their own success! She was patient, kind and encouraging with our learners and in turn each student could not wait for next week's lesson while discussing with each other the fun things they learned with their favorite Wednesday teacher.

Somethings Ms. Brenda covered were calming our bodies like different animals, shaking up our feelings and emotions like glitter then letting them fall to a calm and carefully placing fruit loops on pretzel sticks to better understand our bodies and our own strength. She shared belly breaths with our belly buddies, talked about how we are Super Heroes for showing our emotions and working through tough decisions and events as well as communicated with even the littlest of scholars as they work through these big emotions. 

We do not want to give away Ms. Brenda's amazing approach but wanted to share our experience with her and express our gratitude for working with our students over the year.  We hope that we can continue to work with her further as the years go on as we open up additional ECHO libraries! 

However, if you want to experience Ms. Brenda's magic for yourself please visit her booth at Story Fest held by the Ford House this September 24, 2022 (Check our event's tab for the ticket link) and see what she is all about, you will not be disappointed. Also, if you want a chance for your child to work one-on - one with her, better understand her program, check out her personal BTT blog, contact Ms. Brenda, herself and more check out her website! https://builttothrive.weebly.com/ 

Types of Bravery WE See In The Classroom

September 6, 2022

Bravery comes in all shapes and sizes but all are extraordinary in means.  As teachers, we are incredibly lucky that we work with these amazing, compassionate, brilliant and albeit sometimes stubborn students everyday and can witness these wonderful moments on a daily basis! Here are a few anonymous stories from our classrooms that can uplift your day.



On the topic of "Bravery" in schools we don't just see it in students but Teachers, Assistants and Caregivers alike. Here's an additional story from an  Assistant teacher at another Center as told from an ECHO Board Member. 




If you or anyone you know has an anonymous story about "bravery" inside the classroom message us on either Facebook or Instagram if you'd like to have it posted as we promote "bravery" and lead by example. 




A+ (Easy) Lunch Ideas Kids Will Love, Parent Approved

August 30, 2022


We all know having a balanced meal is essential to learning and both cognitive and physical development but raising a picky eater can be a bit tricky. Whether they are on the “toddler diet” or just don’t like all-things green, their pasta touching their apple slices, or turning their nose up at the yogurt you just bought even when they devoured a whole bowl yesterday morning; we came up with a few new ideas to try!


Here at ECHO we are not nutritionists or dietitians and certainly not miracle workers,  but have learned a thing or two as teachers, parent, and being around littles in an educational or at-home setting and want to share our tips and tricks that may help ease some back-to-school worries when it comes to lunchtime. 














Now, we know these six tips may not solve all your picky and peculiar preschooler's eating habits but it is a place to start and expand on. Do not feel discouraged, this is something typical at early ages and stages, and as teachers this is something we work with parents and students on throughout the school year. Changes may not happen over night but with continued student-forward, parent involvement and teacher awareness your already taking an initiative! 




Also, don't be so hard on yourself, you're doing great!











 (If enough interest we could do a part two with additional meal ideas and don't be afraid to DM us on instagram or Facebook if you would like to see particular blog posts, resource, book themes and activities! We want to hear from you! Authors, Teachers, Educators, Parents, Caregivers; all are welcome!)