Wisconsin Division for Early Childhood (WDEC)

11/13/2026

11/10/2026

💚 The Power of Teaching Feelings: The Impact Lasts a Lifetime! 💚

What if the social-emotional skills we teach preschoolers today could make a meaningful difference in their well-being 20 years from now?

A new longitudinal study highlighted by Education Week offers an inspiring reminder of the lasting impact of early social-emotional learning (SEL). Researchers found that young adults who participated in a preschool SEL program at age 4 demonstrated positive outcomes at ages 21 and 22, including greater life satisfaction, increased empathy, less loneliness, and fewer symptoms of depression.

🌱 Teaching children to recognize their feelings, build friendships, manage emotions, and solve problems is about so much more than creating a positive classroom today. We are helping children develop skills that can support them throughout their lives.

This research reinforces the importance of the work we do every day through the Pyramid Model. Every intentional interaction, every opportunity to practice a social-emotional skill, and every supportive relationship matters!

💚 The seeds we plant in early childhood can continue to grow for years to come.

Read the article from Education Week:
🔗 https://www.edweek.org/leadership/teaching-feelings-at-age-4-pays-off-at-21-20-year-study-shows/2026/10

11/09/2026

Oakwood School is pleased to welcome Michael McLeod, ADHD and Executive Function Specialist and author of The Executive Function Playbook, for a webinar on the skills that help children manage their emotions and responsibilities with increasing independence. Parents and caregivers will leave with a....

11/08/2026

Join the Student and Early Career Committee, in collaboration with the Diversity Committee, for an engaging Town Hall focused on understanding student behavior through culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and inclusive practices.

Find out more and register now: https://exceptionalchildren.org/events/beyond-behavior-building-belonging-trust-and-culturally-responsive-classrooms

11/08/2026

Check it Out! Updated DEC-NAEYC Joint Position Statement on Early Childhood Inclusion. The update features clarification on the view of what inclusion is in early childhood, offering defining features of access, participation, belonging, and
system-level supports. If you haven’t already, take some time to review this helpful position statement for our field. Click here for more information: https://www.dec-sped.org/single-post/the-joint-early-childhood-inclusion-position-statement-is-here

11/08/2026

11/02/2026

Join us next Thursday, November 5, at 5:00 PM ET for a webinar that will explore practical strategies for explicitly teaching writing and self-regulation while helping all students become more confident, strategic, and independent writers.

Find out more and register now: https://learn.exceptionalchildren.org/p/PowerofSRSD