In the Next Issue
Published four times a year, each issue of Young Children offers practical, research-based articles on timely topics of interest. The Fall 2025 issue focuses on leadership in early learning programs and schools. Look for articles on practices that elevate a leader’ s effectiveness across different settings and age groups.
46
38
NAEYC News
56 From Our President Children at the Center of It All! The Role of Children in a Strengths-Based, Play-Based Curriculum Tonia R. Durden
60 Guiding Quality in Early Learning: The Latest Updates to Our Learning Standards Stacey French-Lee
64 Member Spotlight
Voices of Practitioners
66 The Pedagogical Narrative as a Form of Teacher Research: Stories for Inquiry, Reflection, and Transformation Barbara Henderson
Feature Article
76 Promoting Spatial Reasoning in the Early Years: Exploring Pattern Blocks and Pattern Block Puzzles Christina Sales, Seong Bock Hong, and Jill M. Uhlenberg
Columns
88 Rocking and Rolling Supporting Infants and Toddlers in STEM Explorations: An Inquiry Learning Approach Sherri Peterson
94 The Reading Chair Isabel Baker and Mariam Baker Schiffer
NAEYC Membership NAEYC. org / membership membership @ naeyc. org 800‐424‐2460 or 202‐232‐8777
Subscriptions NAEYC. org / publications / subscribe Purchasing( single issues) NAEYC. org / shop Submission guidelines NAEYC. org / resources / pubs / yc / writing Permissions NAEYC. org / resources / permissions
Advertising rates / media kits 202-350-8906 or 800-424-2460, ext. 8906 advertising @ naeyc. org NAEYC. org / about / advertise
Copyright © 2025 by NAEYC unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Cover photo © Getty Images Periodicals postage paid at Washington, DC, and at additional mailing offices. Printed in Pewaukee, Wisconsin.
Postmaster: Send address changes to YC – Young Children NAEYC Member Services 1401 H Street NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20005 – 2051
Index of Advertisers
HighScope Educational Research Foundation
Tools of the Mind 1
87
Walden University 75