Outdoor Education
Little brains learn best when they are active. That’s why nature makes such a great classroom.
Resources
Laboratory for Learning: The Power of Outdoor Classrooms to Fuel Creativity (Outdoor Playthings)
Why Kids Need to Spend Time in Nature (Child Mind Institute)
Why Kids Need to Spend Time in Nature (Child Mind Institute)
Self-Control
Self-restraint is hard. So why expect a toddler to have mastered the art of self-control?
Resources
Toddlers and Self-Control: A Survival Guide for Parents (PBS Parents)
Help Your Child Develop Self-Control (Zero to Three)
Help Your Child Develop Self-Control (Zero to Three)
When Mom Or Dad Is Incarcerated
Despite being behind bars and often separated by many miles, young children and their parents still need each other when the adult is incarcerated.
Resources
Strategic Plan (Governor’s Office for Children)
The Right Investment? Corrections Spending in Baltimore City (Prison Policy Initiative)
Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration (Sesame Street)
Children and Families Affected by Incarceration (Governor’s Office for Children)
The Right Investment? Corrections Spending in Baltimore City (Prison Policy Initiative)
Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration (Sesame Street)
Children and Families Affected by Incarceration (Governor’s Office for Children)
Upk Is Good For The Mind . . . And The Body
Pre-K helps a child learn and succeed socially and economically. New findings suggest that when young children have access to early care and education, their health outcomes are good, too!
Resources
Universal Pre-K Improves Kids’ Health in a Hidden, Powerful Way (Business Insider)
Strong Foundations
Here is some news that will expand your mind. For years it was thought that a newborn’s brain makes 700 to 1,000 new neural connections per second. It’s actually more. A lot more.
Resources
The Price Of Doing Nothing
The price of high-quality child care is through the roof. But what is the price of not helping our children get a strong start?
Resources
The Lifecycle Benefits of an Influential Early Childhood Program (Heckman Equation)
Child Care Subsidy Program (Maryland Family Network)
MFN Written Testimony (Includes testimony regarding Child Care Subsidy) (Maryland Family Network)
Child Care Subsidy Program (Maryland Family Network)
MFN Written Testimony (Includes testimony regarding Child Care Subsidy) (Maryland Family Network)
46 Years Of Progress
Where do you see your child in 10 years? 25 years? How about 50 years from now? If they have access to quality early care and education, parents may be a little closer to being able to predict a child’s future.
Resources
Sleep Tight
Getting enough sleep is even more important to a child’s development than you might think. Rest assured getting that sleep is possible. Find out more.
Resources
Sleep in early childhood may lead to cognitive, behavioral problems in later years (Science Daily)
Children and Sleep (National Sleep Foundation)
Children and Sleep (National Sleep Foundation)
Food Insecurity
Food insecurity touches one in six children in our nation. It’s a problem that will affect them into adulthood.
Resources
Building Baby's Brains
Did you ever cram for an exam? It was probably not a successful way to learn. But babies are learning incredible amounts very quickly. Find out how!
Resources
Talking is teaching: 5 creative ways to help your baby learn today (Mother.ly)
Learning, Play, and Your Newborn (KidsHealth.org)
Learning, Play, and Your Newborn (KidsHealth.org)