Dr. Deb Zupito Let's Say the Uncomfortable Part Out Loud I'm going to say something that might feel a little uncomfortable. A lot of what we call "challenging behavior" in young children is actually a mismatch between developmental stages and adult expectations. And right now, that gap is growing in ways we cannot ignore. We Are Asking for Skills That Are Still Developing We are asking developing brains to perform like finished ones. We expect two and three-year-olds to share

Dr. Deb Zupito There's something special about this week in the preschool world. You might notice some themed days, a little more music, a little more movement, and what looks like simple fun. And on the surface, it can feel like just that. But beneath it all, something much deeper is happening. By age five, a child's brain has reached about ninety percent of its adult size. During these early years, neural connections are forming rapidly, shaped not by pressure or performanc

Dr. Deb Zupito There's a moment in parenting that sneaks up on you. You're just trying to drink your coffee while it's still warm, maybe answer one email, maybe sit for a second, and suddenly you're fielding questions like, "Why is the sky blue?" "How do cars work?" “Where did that plant come from?" and, my personal favorite, "Why can’t I have ice cream for breakfast if it has milk in it?" Just like that, you've been promoted to Chief Answerer of All Things, no training, no m

Dr. Deb Zupito A Misunderstanding That Needs to Shift There is a quiet but powerful misunderstanding that continues to follow early childhood education. It shows up in the language people use. It shows up in assumptions. It shows up in the way preschool is sometimes reduced to “daycare” or “just watching kids.” But what is happening inside a high-quality preschool classroom, especially here in New Jersey, is far more complex, intentional, and essential. We are not simply

Dr. Deb Zupito A Lunchtime Banana Saga: Understanding social emotional development in the moments that matter most! It was lunch time. Simple, calm, predictable lunch time. Until the banana broke… Not just broke, broke wrong . And suddenly I had a full body, end of the world, on the floor situation. Tears, yelling, the whole production. Meanwhile, another child is offering their banana like a tiny, confused humanitarian, and a third is just watching like this is the best sh

Dr. Deb Zupito If you spend enough time around parents of preschoolers, you will eventually hear a familiar wish. "I just want them to listen the first time." It sounds simple enough. Adults hear instructions all day and manage to follow them. Put this here. Finish that task. Send that email. Stop at the store. So it can feel confusing when a small human hears, "Please put your shoes on," and somehow ends up building a dinosaur out of couch cushions instead. But preschoolers