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

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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For the past eight years, Bernadette McDaniel has been making a real difference in families’ lives as a HealthySteps Specialist at Ellis Pediatrics. She meets moms where they are, without judgment, creating trust and space for open conversations. Bernadette’s work inside the pediatric office goes beyond child development. She, and other HealthySteps Specialists, alleviate stress for families by helping them coordinate transportation, navigate specialist referrals and even access essentials like food and clothing when needed. From alleviating the ‘mental load’ to addressing intergenerational trauma, see how HealthySteps supports maternal health as part of transforming the promise of pediatric care: https://bit.ly/4iujoB6

The first three years of life are critical for brain development. Without proper nutrition, babies can face lifelong challenges, including developmental delays and poor health. ? The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps families put healthy food on the table, ensuring babies get the nutrients they need to grow, learn and thrive. But proposed cuts to SNAP threaten this vital support. ? No baby should go hungry. No parent should have to choose between food and other necessities. Tell Congress: Protect and fund SNAP and other essential programs for babies! ?? Take action now: https://lnkd.in/g7Vy5p_2 #ThinkBabies

From the moment they’re born, infants’ brains constantly form connections. This process, called experience-dependent plasticity, means that every interaction, cuddle and conversation helps active specific neural pathways, strengthening those that are frequently engaged. ?? Learn more about the amazing baby brain: https://bit.ly/3DizYEX

Our partners at Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network have so many valuable resources for organizations and agencies supporting kinship families. Check them out ??