Southwestern Child Development Commission Inc

Big news for #childcare funding! A Senate committee passed a $2.3 billion increase for early learning programs. More funds will make #childcareSTRONG and we urge Congress to support and build on this momentum for FY25. Read our statement: https://hubs.li/Q02JPVh-0

Our Co-Executive Director, Tassy Warren, EdM, co-authored a new brief that explores why the "whole child-whole family" approach matters and how the latest insights from science and practice can inform programs with this approach (like Head Start and Early Head Start) to further promote healthy child development, learning, and thriving in the 21st century. Read the report here: https://bit.ly/3RN2aUC

Your baby’s optimal development hinges on trust. This week I’ll be spotlighting infancy’s most important outcome: attachment (a deep and enduring emotional bond between infants and their parents). When this bond - especially between mother and child - is healthy, it’s characterized by confidence: Namely your baby’s abiding trust that you are a reliable caregiver, responsive to their needs, and ensuring of their safety. Need an example of what it looks like? This video is a nice illustration. Mother and son are going to try something new: a really big slide. But you’ll note that this doesn’t phase our hero. He knows he’s safe with his mom. Knows it to his core. When this kind of trust and safety are present, your baby’s emotional and physical health are optimized in ways that will undergird their longterm success and wellbeing. But as we kick off the conversation, it’s worth noting that there are multiple types of attachment, some more desirable than others. Each is shaped (though not exclusively) by the quality of relationships and experiences during the earliest months of life. I’ll spend the bulk of my energy this week on the most desirable outcome: secure attachments like those described above. But not all attachments begin securely. Researchers have identified four major types of attachment, measured in part by a protocol called the strange situation. It assesses infants’ and toddlers’ reactions while navigating an unfamiliar setting. The room presents opportunities to interact with toys in the presence (and absence) of both their mother and unknown adults - all of whom come and go at different points during a roughly 20 minute play session. The researchers are watching 4 things: The child’s comfort with exploring the room and its toys. The child’s reaction to their mother’s brief departure from the room. The presence of stranger danger (when left alone with an unfamiliar adult) And how the child reacts upon their mother’s return. When exploring this new environment, securely attached children will typically explore and play freely, periodically looking to - or in some cases even briefly returning to - their mother, who serves as a “secure base.” Her presence makes the situation novel but presumably safe. (Note: Due to restrictions on post length here on LinkedIn, this post continues in the comments below.)

Teachers this year saw the effects of the pandemic’s stress and isolation on young students: Some can barely speak, sit still or even hold a pencil. It’s too early to know whether young children will experience long-term effects from the pandemic, but researchers say there are reasons to be optimistic. For many students, simply being in school is the first step. Read more from The New York Times, including remarks from ZERO TO THREE Board Member Catherine Monk and our National Director of HealthySteps Rahil Briggs: https://lnkd.in/gpbxBvNW

Our Faculty Director, Dr. Jack Shonkoff, wrote a guest essay for The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood on the critical importance of investing in early childhood development. This essay accompanies a new report from the Royal Foundation, "Prioritising early childhood for a happier, healthier society: How businesses can drive, and benefit from, transformative change in the UK." Read Dr. Shonkoff's essay here: https://bit.ly/3VpPAwG And the report from the Royal Foundation here: https://bit.ly/3X2dYpk

?? ??Webinar alert!! Quality childcare is crucial for children's safety, development, and community trust. How can we ensure all children benefit from safe, quality childcare provision while considering contextual differences? Join us for a webinar on promoting quality childcare across countries and contexts. Our speakers Chirashree Ghosh from Mobile Creches Frances Bowen Day from The World Bank Group Jessica Harrison Fullerton from NurtureFirst Justine Jowell from SmartStart South Africa Melissa Kelly from The World Bank Register now https://lnkd.in/dk3bb3yY ?? June 20, 2024 ?? 8:30 – 10:00 (EDT)

Nearly one million children in North Carolina are eligible to each receive a one-time payment of $120 to purchase nutritious foods this summer through the new Sun Bucks program. Visit https://lnkd.in/eeBjscWZ to see if your child qualifies!