Ms Bernstein is the founder of Maplewood Child Development Center. This nature-based eco-conscious child development Center is founded on the principles of Dr. Emmi Pikler’s Pikler® Pedagogy and Magda Gerber’s Educaring® Approach to respectful, responsive, and reciprocal relationship-based early education and care. When she is not with Maplewood’s babies and children on school days she facilitates guided playgroups for infants, toddlers and young children, teaches observation/discussion classes for educators and parents, and travels the country to lecture on early education and care practices for early childhood professionals.
Ms Bernstein is a Child Developmental Specialist and ECE Consultant who serves Chicago area professionals and parents through Making Ever Moment Count™ and Murphy-Bernstein Early Childhood Education Consulting Services™. She is the founder of the Chicago Fellowship of Child and Family Support Professionals and the Chicago’s Childcare and Early Childhood Education Resource Network. In February 2017 Ms Bernstein joined the Pikler Fund/USA.
As a DePaul University Early Childhood Education graduate and a Certified Type 04 early childhood educator, Ms Bernstein’s teaching career has been spent as a toddler teacher, preschool teacher, and infant teacher. Ms Bernstein completed the RIE® Foundations: Theory and Observation™ intensive with Polly Elam, President (2011-present) of Resources for Infant Educarers in spring of 2013 and the Pikler® Advanced Training: Observations, Research and Theory – How Does Play Relate to Cognition?™ with Eszter Mózes, Judit (Jutka) Kelemen, and Elsa Chahin from the Pikler Institute/Pikler Fund USA in summer of 2016 to continue her formal training and deepen her understanding of infant and toddler learning and development. She is an avid researcher and has most recently has been studying early intervention & assessment as well as pediatric health & nutrition.
Ms Bernstein holds a membership with multiple associations and organizations whom advocate for the quality care and education of young children and adheres to their standards. The following agencies and organizations are those which Ms Bernstein has membership or is working towards obtaining accreditation for herself and Maplewood:
• National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)
• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
• Golden Corridor Association for the Education of Young Children (GoAEYC)
• Illinois’ Gateway to Opportunities
• Child Care Center and Family Child Care Network
• National Early Childhood Professionals Association (NECPA)
• National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA)
• Family Child Care Environmental Rating Scale (FCCERA)
• National Child Care Association
• Resources for Infant Educarers® (RIE®)
• Pikler/USA Fund
• Environmental Development of a Global Education (EDGE)
• Go Green Rating Scale
• Nature Explorers
For more information on Ms Bernstein’s previous work and experiences within the field of Early Childhood Education and Care, connect with Ms Bernstein on Linkedin.
Remarks From Parents
“We are so appreciative of ALL [Susan does] as a partner in caring for our sweet [daughter].” – MHS, Parent
“Thank you, Susan, so much for all that you do as part of the village helping to raise our daughter. We know she is loved and cared for, challenged, and given the space to take important risks. We are so glad we found Maplewood and so happy that it is [Susan’s] calling!” – MHS and MS, Parents
“How can we thank the person who has loved [our daughter] like a daughter and put so much energy and care in to helping us raise her for the past year and a half? [Susan’s] work is a beautiul service, not just to children, but for families. We were reflecting today about how much [Susan] has influenced our parenting, and by extention, our family culture. [Susan has] been a blessing, and we want [her] to remain in [our daughter’s], and our lives. With deepest gratitude,” – TT and AWT, Parents
“Haven’t had a chance to mention this much…but we are so blessed with the care that we have for [our son]. His [teacher] Susan is AMAZING!!! and such a big part of his life…so thankful for a thoughtful, caring, loving, intentional educator/childcare provider….couldn’t be more delighted with the situation! ” – KGJ, Parent
“My son was with Susan for over a year in pre-school. Her skill and talent with children is outstanding. She even babysat for us. My son learned all his numbers, letters and sign language by the time he was 2.5 years old. She has the patience and skills that is required to work and succeed in an early childhood teaching environment. My son thrived!” – MCS, Parent
“Susan has a wonderful rapport with people of all ages, especially children. Her ability to connect with her students and her talent at teaching simple concepts, as well as more advanced topics, are both truly superior. Her rapport with children is natural and instinctive and her knowledge of theories of how young children learn is outstanding. Susan’s warm and engaging personality makes young children feel comfortable and safe in her environment. I never had any doubt in entrusting Susan with the most precious things we have…our children.” – AW, Parent
“Susan’s enthusiasm for kids and learning and science is amazing and contagious. I had fun sharing what I discovered with her, let alone what my child did. She freely shared her knowledge of books, social relationships, cycles of nature and more, embracing each child’s curiosity.” – SC, Parent
“Susan brought a great enthusiasm and professionalism to my daughter’s pre-school classroom. She is intelligent, attentive and I appreciated her “out of the box” thinking when it came to her classroom and teachings.” – NKS, Parent