Family, friend and neighbor child care providers learn they are teachers, too
|
|
| More than one-third of Arizona’s children under age 5 are cared for in informal child care settings, better known as Family, Friend and Neighbor care. As the preferred caregivers for so many families, they’re an important group to include in efforts to improve the quality of care; and a local study found improved outcomes when these providers participated in training. Learn more about how First Things First and partners are reaching this important population of child care providers. |
|
Quality caregivers ignite young minds
|
|
| For young children, learning happens through everyday experiences. And while their teachers may vary, the fundamental principle is the same: positive, high-quality interactions with the adults in their lives matters.
Our new early childhood awareness campaign reminds Arizonans that all caregivers – from parents, grandparents, family, friends and neighbors, to child care professionals — have the opportunity to give young children the gifts of early learning. These gifts include curiosity, confidence, literacy, persistence, well-being and, ultimately, a brighter future.
Watch the video on YouTube, share it and help spread this important message. |
|
News Round-Up
News about early childhood around Arizona and across the U.S. |
|
Using technology to advance toddler and preschool learning
The Maverick Magazine, Aug. 2
“A great alternative to media use that is non-engaging, such as a child sitting alone watching a television show, is to use an app or other technology that involves age-appropriate learning and allows parents to engage their children in conversations that grow their vocabulary or allow for an exploration of the senses,” said Kelly Lubeck, First Things First program manager for family support and literacy. |
|
Preschool development grants boosted access to high-quality care, report says
Education Week, Aug. 3
The 18 states that received federal Preschool Development Grants have collectively worked to increase the number of high-quality slots available for children from low- and moderate-income families, according to the latest progress report on the grant program released by the U.S. Department of Education.
The grantee states are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, and Virginia. They have used the funds either to start or expand state-run pre-K programs. |
|
Opinion: America is guilty of neglecting kids: our own
The New York Times, June 27
Nicholas Kristof: Some 3 million American children live in extreme poverty, with a cash income of less than $2 per person per day, the global metric for extreme poverty…These are difficult problems but not hopeless ones, and we know what works. Early childhood programs in particular make a huge difference: parent coaching, high-quality prekindergarten, lead poisoning interventions, social worker visits and mentoring. |
|
How can Latina mothers overcome health factors that put their babies at risk?
Orange County Register, Aug. 1
Home visiting programs like Los Angeles County’s Nurse Family Partnership can help support and strengthen families, which is especially beneficial for households facing health and economic challenges. |
|
|
|
