Poverty And Other Risk Factors
A variety of risk factors (physical or emotional abuse, chronic neglect, caregiver substance abuse or mental illness, exposure to violence, and/or the accumulated burdens of family economic hardship) can impinge on healthy development in the early years.
Resources
Poverty as a Childhood Disease (New York Times)
Toxic Stress: The Facts How toxic stress affects brain development in young children. (Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University)
From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development (National Research Council and Institute of Medicine)
Poverty Fact Sheet (Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families)
Research findings on effects of poverty at the Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University Metro Trends blog and The Negative Effects of Instability on Child Development: A Research Synthesis from Urban Institute
Addressing Poverty in Schools (New York Times - includes the 9/11 trauma study mentioned above)
'Crack baby' study ends with unexpected but clear result (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Toxic Stress: The Facts How toxic stress affects brain development in young children. (Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University)
From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development (National Research Council and Institute of Medicine)
Poverty Fact Sheet (Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families)
Research findings on effects of poverty at the Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University Metro Trends blog and The Negative Effects of Instability on Child Development: A Research Synthesis from Urban Institute
Addressing Poverty in Schools (New York Times - includes the 9/11 trauma study mentioned above)
'Crack baby' study ends with unexpected but clear result (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Language Acquisition
Young children learn language by hearing words, especially conversation directed at them.
Resources
The 30 Million Word Gap (United Way of Racine)
Bridging the Vocabulary Gap: What the Research Tells Us about Vocabulary Instruction in Early Childhood (National Association for the Education of Young Children)
The Power of Talking to Your Baby (New York Times)
Studies Show Talking With Infants Shapes Basis of Ability to Think (New York Times)
Narrating Your Child’s Day (video from Maryland Family Network)
Bridging the Vocabulary Gap: What the Research Tells Us about Vocabulary Instruction in Early Childhood (National Association for the Education of Young Children)
The Power of Talking to Your Baby (New York Times)
Studies Show Talking With Infants Shapes Basis of Ability to Think (New York Times)
Narrating Your Child’s Day (video from Maryland Family Network)
The Importance Of Play
Experts agree: Children’s work is play. Through play, children acquire cognitive, social, and physical skills.
Resources
Why Preschool Shouldn't Be Like School (Slate)
The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Play is more than fun. (TedTalks)
Effort to Restore Children’s Play Gains Momentum (New York Times)
Playing for All Kinds of Possibilities (New York Times)
Old-Fashioned Play Builds Serious Skills (National Public Radio)
For more information, go to the Alliance for Childhood.
The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Play is more than fun. (TedTalks)
Effort to Restore Children’s Play Gains Momentum (New York Times)
Playing for All Kinds of Possibilities (New York Times)
Old-Fashioned Play Builds Serious Skills (National Public Radio)
For more information, go to the Alliance for Childhood.
The Promise Of Pre-K
Preschool plays an important role in preparing children to succeed in kindergarten. Publicly funded pre-K helps ensure that children of all income levels have access to preschool.
Resources
Transforming Public Education: Pathway to a Pre-K-12 Future (The Pew Center on the States)
The Case for Pre-K in Education Reform (The Pew Center on the States)
Investments in Education May Be Misdirected (New York Times)
The Effects of Oklahoma's Early Childhood Four-Year-Old Program on Young Children's School Readiness (National Institute for Early Education Research)
For more information, go to the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER).
The Case for Pre-K in Education Reform (The Pew Center on the States)
Investments in Education May Be Misdirected (New York Times)
The Effects of Oklahoma's Early Childhood Four-Year-Old Program on Young Children's School Readiness (National Institute for Early Education Research)
For more information, go to the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER).
School Readiness
Research has determined that the foundation for educational achievement is well-established before children enter school. Educators have identified a wide range of skills and competencies that help children succeed in school by allowing them to express themselves verbally, manage their emotions, use small and large motor skills, explore and solve problems.
Resources
Tips for Parents: This booklet explains school readiness, the seven domains of learning, and everyday activities parents can do to promote early learning and school readiness. (Maryland Family Network)
Maryland Model for School Readiness: The Division of Early Childhood Development in the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) provides information on school readiness. Parents may want to scroll down to "What is MMSR" for an overview. (MSDE)
School Readiness Assessment is conducted by kindergarten teachers for every child. Aggregated assessment data is available for Maryland and for each jurisdiction. (MSDE)
The School Ready Infographic provides a visual overview of development from infancy to age 5. (ZERO TO THREE: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families)
Maryland Model for School Readiness: The Division of Early Childhood Development in the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) provides information on school readiness. Parents may want to scroll down to "What is MMSR" for an overview. (MSDE)
School Readiness Assessment is conducted by kindergarten teachers for every child. Aggregated assessment data is available for Maryland and for each jurisdiction. (MSDE)
The School Ready Infographic provides a visual overview of development from infancy to age 5. (ZERO TO THREE: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families)
What Does Quality Childcare Look Like?
Quality child care can be found in many settings - family child care, center-based care, Head Start or preschool. Indicators of quality include warm relationships, safe and stimulating environment, and developmentally appropriate planned activities for play-based learning.
Resources
Choosing Child Care: How to Find the Right Care for Your Child (Maryland Family Network)
Is This the Right Place for My Child? 38 Research-based Indicators of Quality Child Care (Child Care Aware)
Essentials for Your Child Care Visit (Child Care Aware)
Is This the Right Place for My Child? 38 Research-based Indicators of Quality Child Care (Child Care Aware)
Essentials for Your Child Care Visit (Child Care Aware)
Family Support
Family Support helps families identify strengths, set goals, and work toward them. Family Support Centers work with disadvantaged parents and young children, providing children with stimulating, nurturing child care while their parents take classes ranging from GED preparation to parenting techniques to life and job skills.
Resources
More information on Family Support in Maryland. For short videos from Maryland Family Network, see:
A Win-Win for Struggling Parents about adult education and GED preparation at a Family Support Center;
What Adults Learn from Play about coaching parents as they engage in child-directed play;
A New Delivery Model for Family Support about a Community Hub; and
In the Door and On the Floor where you can watch a home visit in action.
A Win-Win for Struggling Parents about adult education and GED preparation at a Family Support Center;
What Adults Learn from Play about coaching parents as they engage in child-directed play;
A New Delivery Model for Family Support about a Community Hub; and
In the Door and On the Floor where you can watch a home visit in action.
Protective Factors
Strengthening Families is an approach to promoting healthy family functioning. Taken together, protective and promotive factors increase the probability of positive, adaptive and healthy outcomes, even in the face of risk and adversity.
Resources
The Protective Factors Framework (Center for the Study of Social Policy) provides an overview of the five Protective Factors listed above.
Protective and Promotive Factors provides an explanation of the factors that mitigate or eliminate the risk of negative outcomes, as well as factors that actively enhance well-being. (Center for the Study of Social Policy)
Core Meanings of the Protective Factors provides examples that explain the Protective Factors. (Center for the Study of Social Policy)
The Five Things All Families Need (4 minute video) describes the five Protective Factors that are the core of the Strengthening Families approach. It includes video of participants in a Parent Café, the primary method of spreading information about the Protective Factors. (Maryland Family Network)
For more information, visit the Center for the Study of Social Policy.
Protective and Promotive Factors provides an explanation of the factors that mitigate or eliminate the risk of negative outcomes, as well as factors that actively enhance well-being. (Center for the Study of Social Policy)
Core Meanings of the Protective Factors provides examples that explain the Protective Factors. (Center for the Study of Social Policy)
The Five Things All Families Need (4 minute video) describes the five Protective Factors that are the core of the Strengthening Families approach. It includes video of participants in a Parent Café, the primary method of spreading information about the Protective Factors. (Maryland Family Network)
For more information, visit the Center for the Study of Social Policy.
The Social & Emotional Foundations Of Early Learning
Every child needs one person who is crazy about him, said renowned psychologist Uri Bronfenbrenner. This affirming human connection is the prerequisite for healthy social and emotional development, which is a necessary foundation for all learning.
Resources
Resources for Parents: A series of short publications (3 to 6 pages) on topics such as teaching your child to identify and express emotions, reading your child’s cues, and helping your child build persistence, confidence, and relationship skills.
Backpack Connection A series of one-page guides on topics such as teaching children new skills and expectations; stopping whining; using positive language to improve behavior; helping your child understand sadness, anger, frustration, jealousy, or disappointment.
The primary online source for early childhood professionals concerned with the Social and Emotional Foundations of Early Learning (SEFEL) is maintained by Vanderbilt University.
The online SEFEL source for early childhood professionals in Maryland is maintained by the University of Maryland School of Social Work.
"Tucker the Turtle" video (2 minutes) shows an anger management technique in practice at a child care center.
Backpack Connection A series of one-page guides on topics such as teaching children new skills and expectations; stopping whining; using positive language to improve behavior; helping your child understand sadness, anger, frustration, jealousy, or disappointment.
The primary online source for early childhood professionals concerned with the Social and Emotional Foundations of Early Learning (SEFEL) is maintained by Vanderbilt University.
The online SEFEL source for early childhood professionals in Maryland is maintained by the University of Maryland School of Social Work.
"Tucker the Turtle" video (2 minutes) shows an anger management technique in practice at a child care center.
The Conundrum Of Child Care Economics
When it comes to the economics of child care, both sides are hurting. For parents, the cost of child care is a huge financial burden. For child care providers, the financial compensation is grossly inadequate. Maryland Family Network collects and analyses extensive data about the demand, supply, and cost of child care in Maryland. Child Care Demographics 2013 includes data on population, income, workforce participation, and child care in Maryland.
Resources
Child Care Demographics 2015: The Maryland Report provides aggregate data for the state.
Child Care Demographics 2015: Jurisdictional Reports provide county-level data for Baltimore City and the 23 counties in Maryland.
Trends in Child Care 2015 provides a state-level summary of demand, supply, and cost of child care in Maryland from 2008 and projecting to 2017.
For international comparisons of government subsidy for early care and education, see The United States is Trailing Other Countries on Early Education Investment and Enrollment (including colorful infographic) from Center for American Progress.
Education at a Glance 2012 provides international comparisons on access to preschool on page 74 - 75.
Innocenti Report Care 11 from UNICEF’s Office of Research ranks the U.S. as 26th out of 28 developed nations in the provision of preschool to 4-year olds. In addition, the Report Card offers many other indicators of child well-being.
Child Care Demographics 2015: Jurisdictional Reports provide county-level data for Baltimore City and the 23 counties in Maryland.
Trends in Child Care 2015 provides a state-level summary of demand, supply, and cost of child care in Maryland from 2008 and projecting to 2017.
For international comparisons of government subsidy for early care and education, see The United States is Trailing Other Countries on Early Education Investment and Enrollment (including colorful infographic) from Center for American Progress.
Education at a Glance 2012 provides international comparisons on access to preschool on page 74 - 75.
Innocenti Report Care 11 from UNICEF’s Office of Research ranks the U.S. as 26th out of 28 developed nations in the provision of preschool to 4-year olds. In addition, the Report Card offers many other indicators of child well-being.