Prevent Child Abuse New York’s Post

Play is learning. It is not a “break” from learning, something extra, or a prize to be earned. It is not to be minimized in the daily schedule to accommodate for “real” learning. In the design of school spaces and learning experiences, the facilitation of play must be central. When we prioritize play, we respect the learners in front of us and provide for them what they need. In turn, they thrive.

5 1/2 minutes. 🕔 That's all it takes to watch this mini-masterclass about the importance of play for early learning and development delivered by Jack Shonkoff, a MASTER at translating complex brain development research into really practical and understandable advice. #play #playbasedlearning #parenting #parents #braindevelopment #earlychildhood #childdevelopment #parenteducation #childcare #ECE

Throughout my 23 years of teaching early childhood special education, I have seen the power of PLAY! This is such a great video about the importance of play in the early years. I am so excited to use my knowledge of play as a curriculum developer and writer. Play builds so many skills! We are building the areas of social-emotional development (relationships, emotions), language, physical development, problem-solving, cognition, executive functioning, math, literacy, and most importantly, play creates a safe environment for learning that promotes growth. Play is building the brains of young learners!

In a new report from Urban Institute, my colleagues and I scanned initiatives in Massachusetts that coordinate the delivery of early childhood programs and services for families with young #children from #birth to age 5. We found: -More than 50 separate programs and initiatives are working to coordinate services for families -Coordination is typically facilitated through a "no-wrong-door" approach and/or the co-location of services in a "hub" -These initiatives are not cohesively linked together and fewer options exist in rural areas, leaving many families without support to navigate needed services. -Eligibility for service coordination varies and some groups, such as those learning English, refugee and immigrant parents, and young parents, are rarely identified as prioritized populations. We interpret these findings in the context of research on early childhood services and make recommendations based on these and additional learnings gathered from parents, providers, and system leaders: https://lnkd.in/gU4sA6Ux Eve Mefferd, Diane S., Kimberly D. Lucas, Jonah Norwitt

Unlocking the potential of every child begins with early childhood education. 😊 According to UNICEF, investing in these crucial formative years can help bridge the gaps that often create disadvantages for children from low social and economic backgrounds. Research shows that these programs can also guide children out of poverty and exclusion. (1) In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, we want to give a shout-out to early childhood education teachers who nurture young minds with care, patience, and dedication. You are helping them in ways that will last their entire lives. Here's to the heroes of early education, shaping the future one child at a time. #TeacherAppreciationWeek #EarlyChildhoodEducation Reference: (1) https://hubs.la/Q02w6BW00

At FIRST 5, our focus areas guide our strategic initiatives internally with staff and externally with our partners and families with young children, 0 to 5.

Read our latest piece in the Sahan Journal about the ongoing efforts to support early childhood care and education, including the work of #granteepartners Northland Foundation, AFRICAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS, and CLUES: https://lnkd.in/gxPFcXDn

📒 NEW PUBLICATION 📒 Learning from Lived Experience: Opportunities to Strengthen Early Child Development in Ealing 📍 🏘 Ealing borough has a strong foundation of assets supporting early childhood development. Enhancing coordination and accessibility of services, empowering community partners, facilitating parent/carer social connections, and uplifting family voices can improve lifelong outcomes, especially for those facing the biggest barriers. 📈 The Enabling Early Child Development in Ealing project (ECDE) is a research project that took place in 2023. https://lnkd.in/dkExvTVk Drawing on an ecological understanding of early childhood development, this research took a qualitative approach to delve deep into families' lived experiences. The findings reflect important and unexpected nuances, with implications for better supporting children in their earliest years - both in the specific context of Ealing, as well as in the UK more broadly. Read the full report now 👇 https://lnkd.in/eEWt_sVK #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment #CommunitySupport See the River of Life fictional illustrative map based on research from the Early Childhood Development in Ealing Research 👇 https://lnkd.in/djgCi4FS

Happy International Day of the African Child! Since 1991, this day has honored the Soweto uprising in South Africa, where thousands of black school children protested the poor quality of their education. Today we honor the children that lost their lives and affirm that quality education is vital for the development of children everywhere. Education systems play a crucial role in early childhood and brain development, but the developmental process starts even before children enter their formal education. Caregivers can significantly influence their children's readiness for school and promote brain development through responsive caregiving. The serve and return framework is an effective tool for this purpose, involving five key steps: 1. Share the Focus: Pay attention to what the child is focusing on 2. Support and Encourage: Show the child they are heard and understood. 3. Name It: Identify and describe what the child is observing. 4. Take Turns: Allow the child to respond before introducing something new. 5. Practice Endings and Beginnings: Recognize when the child is ready to transition activities. Responsive caregiving occurs in everyday moments throughout a child's early life. We're proud to work with pediatric societies in Tanzania, Kenya, and Mozambique to promote this caregiving strategy. Learn more about responsive caregiving and the serve and return framework here: https://buff.ly/2P36CMJ #InternationalDayOfTheAfricanChild #Education #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment #ResponsiveCaregiving #ServeAndReturn #AAP

The latest report from Child of the North and the Centre for Young Lives sheds light on the challenges facing the early years system. https://lnkd.in/e2AN5BdY