1. Build relationships first

Relationships— with children, families, and co-workers— are the foundation of early childhood education. When children feel emotionally safe and connected, their learning thrives. When families see that their children are happy and learning, they become receptive to building positive relationships with their children’ s educators. Strong connections with colleagues lead to strong support systems.

In my first year, drop-off and pickup routines were instrumental in building relationships with the children and families at my center. When each family arrived, I greeted them by name and asked how their night or weekend was. They shared how their child was feeling or if something happened that might have an impact on their day. Then, I would follow the family’ s lead about taking the child or having them help their child settle in and indicate it was okay to leave.

At pickup time, my co-worker or I took turns greeting families and updating them about the day. We mentioned something positive, such as an activity their children especially liked doing or a new idea they learned. We also noted any questions or concerns that came up, such as symptoms of being sick or big feelings a child may have experienced and how we navigated that moment. Greeting families by name, asking about them, and reciprocally sharing information helped me as a new teacher build positive relationships with each child and family.

2. Create and maintain a professional portfolio

A professional portfolio is a living collection of your work, values, and growth as an educator. Start by including a brief statement of your teaching philosophy, your resume, sample lesson plans, and how you document children’ s learning. Over time, add artifacts that highlight your skills and achievements, such as new certifications, credentials, or degree completion.

Use your portfolio when interviewing for your first position( and beyond). Mine resides in a three-ring binder. At one interview, the hiring manager brought up needing to see documentation of a successful background check and first aid certificates. I immediately opened my binder and found what they were asking for. That left a positive impression on the interviewers, as they were able to give this directly to the administration.

In addition to interviews, your portfolio can be a tool for goal setting during your first year. For example, you could include reflections on what parts of a lesson plan worked and what to improve next time. And with how busy that year can be, it’ s valuable to reread your teaching philosophy and remind yourself why you’ re doing this work and how you’ re progressing.

Fall 2026 Educating Young Children 21