ZERO TO THREE

Your first look a LEARN Conference 2025 is here. Big impact. Big conversations. Big savings — if you act fast. Register today: https://bit.ly/4gFzG8w This is your chance to register for two days of learning, networking and growth in early childhood. All this at the lowest prices we'll offer this year. ?? Baltimore | October 8-9 With over 70 sessions and workshops led by leading experts, plus networking opportunities designed to spark collaboration, this is your chance to gain insights that will drive your impact. Don’t miss out on exclusive First Look pricing — save up to $295 when you register now. Bring your colleagues along too! Groups of 5+ get additional discounts. Bring your team, bring your vision and leave inspired. #LEARNwithZTT

Babies need nutrition to thrive. SNAP helps families afford healthy food, fueling early brain development. But cuts to this program puts babies at risk. Take action and tell Congress to fund SNAP and other vital programs for babies: https://bit.ly/41xFKM3 No baby should go hungry. #ThinkBabies

If you’ve been affected by recent layoffs, we just want to say: we see you. This moment is hard, but you’re not alone. ? So many brilliant, compassionate professionals are navigating uncertainty right now. If you're “open to work,” there are places where your skills, heart and expertise are deeply needed. ? ZERO TO THREE is hiring. And across the early childhood field, organizations are looking for leaders, caregivers, educators and advocates who are ready to keep showing up for babies, toddlers, and families. Know of other openings? Drop them in the comments! ZERO TO THREE Sr. Program Associate, HealthySteps Salary Range: $50,000 - $70,000 Full Time Remote https://lnkd.in/g4pV_RAA Child Care Aware of America Senior Advocacy Specialist Salary Range: $65,000 ? $70,000 Full Time Arlington, VA (Hybrid) https://lnkd.in/g7xRk4Fe Riverside Community College District Early Childhood Education Center Manager Salary Range: $111,661 - $135,942 Full Time Riverside, CA https://lnkd.in/gEXMWGuD Monterey County Office of Education Director, Early Learning Program Salary Range:?$145,775 - $186,048 Full Time Salinas, California https://lnkd.in/gcZcy_G8 Denver Health Infant Mental Health Specialist LCSW/LPC Salary Range: $81,900 - $97,800 Full Time Denver, CO https://lnkd.in/giSEzDh2 University of Florida Endowed Chair and Executive Director, Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience Gainesville, FL https://lnkd.in/gr6ftmuB Oregon State University Our Little Village Site Director Salary Range: $56,179 - $65,000 Full Time Corvallis, Oregon https://lnkd.in/gcYVqnGZ UnidosUS (@WeAreUnidosUS) Policy Analyst, Early Childhood Education Salary Range: $66,900 - $70,400 Full Time Washington DC (Hybrid) https://lnkd.in/gzD3tgD5 National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Sr. Research Specialist Salary: $74,400 - $93,000 Full Time Washington DC (Hybrid) https://lnkd.in/gxswhGcB University of Wisconsin-Madison Waisman Early Childhood Program (WECP) Teacher Minimum?Salary: $45,000 Full Time Madison, Wisconsin, https://lnkd.in/g8eSrjK8

New research published by Tristan Yates, a cognitive neuroscientist at Columbia University and her colleagues in the journal Science, proposes that babies are able to form memories, even if they become inaccessible later in life. The scans revealed that starting at about 12 months of age, the more activity there was in the baby's hippocampus when seeing an image for the first time — like that canyon — the more likely they were to remember that image later. These results allow scientists to "put the time stamp of our first memory a little bit earlier than when we thought possible," says Flavio Donato, a neurobiologist at the University of Basel who wasn't involved in the research. He says it now appears that infancy isn't a passive, forgettable stage of our lives — a relevant consideration for how we raise and educate children, and even how we understand early trauma or stress. "It's an important question," says Donato, "how these traumatic events might lead to memories or traces in the brain that might persist for a long time and might even influence the way in which this person will develop." Read more and let us know your thoughts about this research: https://n.pr/4c2xDuU Learn more about the growing brain: https://bit.ly/4hkT6RZ

How does hope shape our lives? Internationally renowned researcher and award-winning author Chan Hellman, PhD has spent over 15 years studying the profound impact of hope on well-being. At the ZERO TO THREE LEARN Conference, Dr. Hellman will share how hope strengthens resilience, buffers adversity, and fosters positive outcomes for children, parents, and families. Join us for this transformative science plenary and leave with tools to cultivate hope in your personal and professional life: https://bit.ly/4bhxq6k #LEARNwithZTT

Experiential learning in action! We love this story of how early childhood educator, Elizabe Troisi, dug deep into the children's natural curiosity. While playing outside, her students became fascinated by a construction vehicle — a front loader — working nearby. Instead of just answering their questions, Troisi encouraged exploration, leading to a real-world learning experience when the truck’s operator, Joe, engaged with the children. This simple yet profound moment highlights the importance of responsive teaching—meeting children where they are, following their interests, and embracing community connections. As Troisi shares, “Experiential learning ensures that learning is not only developmentally appropriate but also reflective of children's experiences.” When children are given the freedom to ask, explore, and connect, their learning becomes deeper and more meaningful. Whether inside the classroom or in the world around them, every moment holds the potential for discovery. Read more: https://bit.ly/3xzj2as

Only 2-5% of early childhood education professionals are in contact with a mental health consultant on a regular basis. And data from the Wisconsin Office of Children's Mental Health show that 49% of children with mental conditions, age three and up, didn’t receive treatment. Thank you to Lana Shklyar Nenide of Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health for highlighting what Wisconsin, and many other states across the country, need to support healthy social and emotional growth for young children. We applaud Gov. Tony Evers for naming 2025 “The Year of the Kid” and promising allocations to child care and school-based mental health. Read her piece here: https://bit.ly/4izggnA

We urge the President and Congress to reconsider their decision to close the Department of Education. The Department of Education supports essential programs — like Title I preschool and IDEA Part C for infants and toddlers with disabilities — that help ensure children, especially those in poverty or in rural areas, get the strong start they need to grow and thrive. Early experiences set the stage for success in school and beyond. Securing a strong start for babies and toddlers is intrinsically tied to their success in K-12. Dismantling the Department puts these essential early childhood supports at risk. Read our full statement: https://bit.ly/41HER2v

The Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Financing Policy Project (FPP) brought together 35 states this week, including our newly announced fourth cohort, to continue shaping policies and systems that strengthen the mental health of babies and toddlers: https://bit.ly/3Y0yiqE Since 2016, FPP convenings have provided a space for state leaders to build, test and scale models that support young children and their caregivers. By aligning practice, policy, and developmental science, we’re working toward a future where every child has access to the high-quality support they need to thrive.

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