Being bilingual connects one to their culture and family of origin. It opens up a world of travel and exploration. It also opens up a wealth of employment opportunities that single language speakers don’t have access to. Whenever possible, teaching our children more than one language makes their world richer and unites the larger world just a little bit more than it was before.
Child care workers like Crystal Hardy-Flowers are essential to our families, our economy, and our future. We must protect Maryland providers from COVID-19.
2020 is finally almost over. We can make 2021 the year put in place better supports for parents, children, and child care providers so the next time disaster strikes they will have the help needed to thrive.
Has your child care provider told you her plans for staying safe from COVID-19 over the holidays? Have you told her yours? Sharing your plans are essential to keeping your kids healthy.
Tantrums are a normal part of a toddler's development. But you can help your child learn skills now that will help them cope well with all the disappointment and frustration that will come thier way.
For over 10,000 years parents have been carrying on when times are tough. Let's look to them for encouragement during these difficult days. (Photo credit: iStock/kali9)
Building Better Beginnings harnesses the knowledge, talent, and ideas of state and local early childhood agencies and organizations to ensure that every child has an equal path to success. Join us.
We know heavy alcohol use while pregnant can cause harm to babies. But women can get mixed messages about whether there's a safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Find out more.
Taking time to be fully present with your child, even for a little while, helps you both reconnect and gives you a well of strength to draw from when life gets hard.
The number of food insecure kids in America has grown significantly since COVID-19. But by investing in early childhood we can provide nutrition for the brain and for the body. (Photo by iStock/SDI Productions)
Black lives matter. Yet from the moment children of color enter the world, the disparity between races is evident. New research from George Mason University found that black newborn babies in the United States are three times more likely than white babies to die when cared for by white doctors. Likewise, they’re more likely to survive childbirth if cared for by Black physicians. (Photo by iStock/Mongkolchon Akesin)
When choosing child care, it is just as important to look outside the building as it is to look inside. We offer some times on playground safety to help you make the best and safest choice for your child. (Photo credit: iStock/sturti)
According to a new Danish study, adverse childhood experiences can significantly shorten a person's life expectancy. The good news is by investing in programs for young children, we can save those lives. (Photo by iStock/cokada)
What would you do if your child contracted COVID-19? You’d probably call your doctor, quarantine your family, and do everything you could to keep them well and prevent the virus from spreading. But what if you lived pay check to pay check? You would have to make some very difficult choices. (Photo: iStock/ti-ja)
What happens when a child exposes others to COVID-19 at child care? Even if the child care provider does everything right, it could still force them out of business. We must save child care. (Phot credit iStock/Yobro10).
Imagine you’re a baby. You love being with mom and dad but there is so much more to learn. You’re excited about child care! But what if child care isn’t there? (Photo by iStock/ruizluquepaz)
If you’ve been crazily working from home with your pre-schooler, and are now ready to send them back to child care, you may not want to hear this: you’re not done. The University of Arizona says parental involvement in your little one’s child care experience, is a major indicator of whether that child arrives at Kindergarten ready to learn.
An ever growing number of early childhood experts are urging Congress to invest at least $50 billion in the next, and perhaps final, COVID-19 emergency funding bill. The Child Care is Essential Act could save child care and get America back to work.
Over 60% of Americans have one or more adverse childhood experience or ACE, which are linked to chronic mental and physical health problems, substance misuse, and underemployment in adulthood. We can change this by investing in our children. Learn how.
COVID-19 has disrupted all of our routines. That includes young children for whom this interruption could negatively impact their behavior. So how do you know if a change you see is just growing pains or something more? Listen now and find out.
“Benevolent sexism” can start early and persist throughout life. Talking to your kids about perpetuating stereotypes early can break this cycle. Listen now to learn more.
COVID-19 is making many parents scared to take their children places. But this aversion is having unintended and life threatening implications – few immunizations. Listen now to find out more.
