the big red blog

Welcome to our Blog page, your one-stop-shop for parenting tips and tricks & info about our Academy! Click on any of the links or pictures below to read more on that topic. More blogs are always in the works, so check back every now and then for more articles!

Saying Sorry the Conscious Discipline Way

Making mistakes, doing the wrong thing, and having a child apologize for it has been normalized in childcare settings for far too long. Apologies can be overused and that makes the apology less meaningful. Does a 2-5-year-old really know what it means to be sorry? Anyone can say “I’m sorry” ...

Staying Safe & Healthy During Flu Season

Young children who have just started in a childcare setting are more vulnerable to illness, especially during flu season. This is primarily because it may be their first time being exposed to certain germs. In addition, they may also be too young to receive recommended vaccines to help develop their ...

Why is Lakewood a good area to raise a family?

Lakewood, a wonderful community with the most amazing jaw dropping views of the Rocky Mountains! Not only is Lakewood a good area to raise a family, it is a wonderful place to plant your roots, there is affordable housing, a growing job market, access to outdoor recreation, and so much ...

thankful kid

Gobble Gobble!🦃 Let’s Talk Thankful Conversations🍂

Hey there, awesome parents and guardians! The leaves are turning, there’s a crispness in the air, and the aroma of pumpkin spice is everywhere. Yes, you guessed it right! Thanksgiving is just around the corner. 🦃 Amidst the hustle and bustle of preparing festive meals and cozying up our homes, ...

Tips & Tricks to Staying Safe this Halloween

BOO!👻 Halloween is just around the corner, and we all know how excited kids get about costumes, candy, and spooktacular fun. But, as parents and caregivers, it’s our job to make sure the excitement doesn’t turn into accidents. At the Big Red Barn, we totally get that, so we’ve put ...

5 Tips for No-Sweat Daycare Drop-offs and Pick-ups

The daily daycare drop-offs and pick-ups can sometimes feel like herding a cat through a yarn shop—especially when you’re racing against the clock. An easy morning drop-off can kickstart an amazing day for your little one, then an effortless pick-up can set a peaceful tone for the evening. Here are ...

The Importance of a Home-like Environment in Early Childhood Education

It’s no secret that children largely feel most at home, when they’re at home! The home is where most of your young child’s developmental milestones are made and where they make the most early memories, and this naturally gives your child an attachment to the place they call home. This, ...

5 Benefits of Hands-On Activity for Kids

Even for the biggest supporters of outdoor and hands-on play, the benefits of such play can be surprising! Beyond getting some fresh air or letting them get some energy out of their system, outdoor hands-on play provides a number of tangible, real-world benefits to your child’s development that will help ...

Daycare vs Preschool: What Are the Differences?

Daycare and preschool… two words that parents of young children know all too well! For many these two words are synonymous, but the truth is that there are several key differences between the two. When comparing daycare vs preschool, parents should keep in mind that while they are in many ...

Why You Should Work in Childcare

With every passing year, the childcare industry continues to grow and compete within itself for both business and talent. When it comes to talent in particular, new and up-and-coming childcare professionals are always in high demand -- and for good reason! With the continued growth of this industry, many preschools ...

5 Tips for Boosting Your Kid’s Emotional Intelligence

As your child grows from an infant to a toddler to a kindergarten-aged kid, they're bound to discover all sorts of things regarding their minds and emotions. From giggling to temper tantrums, it can be difficult for young kids to fully understand their emotions and keep them under control — ...

5 Tips for Getting Your Kid Ready for a New School

Any parent knows how daunting a child’s first day at school or daycare can be! The first day in the care of people who are, to your kid, strangers, can be an uncomfortable and difficult thing for many kids. But if you think your kid is going to have a ...

The Core Tenets of Our Early Childhood Curriculum

It's a common misconception that early childhood learning is simplistic in nature, or trivially easy. While the lessons and activities children dmay seem that way from the outside, the truth is that there's an enormous amount of research, planning and science behind the reasons why ECE, or early childhood education, ...

The Importance of Social-Emotional Learning For Kids

A well-rounded education is at the heart of any child's learning journey. Letters, numbers, colors and all make up the foundations of any bright mind, as any early childhood educator can tell you — but modern early learning curriculums go beyond book smarts! How a child learns to interact with ...

What Sets The Big Red Barn Apart?

We're The Big Red Barn, a new Preschool, or Early Learning Center, in Lakewood, CO! We understand you have a lot of choices when it comes to your child's early education, and that's why we set out to be different from the get-go. In this brief article, we'll run you ...