Parents are their child's first teacher. Success by Six works to educate and support parents so they understand the crucial role they play in forming the child's early learning years.
Greater Mankato Area United Way funds the following programs that work to support positive parenting while providing quality education that works towards getting children ready for school.
It is important that all parents have support, especially during the early years. The following websites offer some more helpful information and resources for parents
Born Learning is a user-friendly website that offers ideas, tips, and information that every parent can benefit from.
Minnesota Parents Know is a phenomenal website with information for parents with children from birth to 12th Grade.
Zero to Three has a great School Readiness interactive tool that is age specific and includes information on how to stimulate early learning by nurturing and supporting school readiness skills in your child from birth to age three. There are activities, frequently asked questions, and video clips to help support and educate parents and caregivers.
Questions About Kids from the Center for Early Education and Development at the University of Minnesota provides answers to many of parents toughest questions. Information is available in multiple languages.
Parent Warmline is a free phone service for parents wanting to get parenting support, help and information. This service connects you to a parent educator who can help answer questions or concerns you may have. Services are available in mulitiple languages. To access this service call 1-866-916-4316.
|
Formal and informal childcare providers play a very important role in providing young children with quality early learning opportunities that help build school readiness skills in the child(ren) that they care for.
Greater Mankato Area United Way supports early care providers through community partnership and collaboration with numerous networks in our community that provide outreach, training, and support to help enhance the system of quality early learning in our community.
- ECFE Storyteller Program provides in-home childcare providers an opportunity to learn about activities and gain information on how to help children ages 2-5 years old develop ongoing kindergarten readiness skills.
- Let's Dish and Do Luncheons are quarterly networking lunches that provide early care providers with information and updates on what is happening in early childhood while building a network of support, information and referral.
- Sign-up to be on the Let's Dish and Do email list to get periodic updates and articles related to the world of early childhood.
Child Care Resource and Referral is a tremendous resource that helps connect parents to childcare providers while supporting child care providers with information, training, and financial resources.
Training and Professional Development Opportunities support and enhance the quality of early learning experiences children gain while in your care, whether you are working in a child care center, out of your home, or watching your grandchildren.
Child Care Resource and Referral's Professional Development Opportunities
Tip Sheets created by the Center for Early Education and Development at the University of Minnesota provides early childhood and special education professionals easy-to-use tips in how to provide the best possible educational opportunities to students in their homes and classrooms. Everything from infant mental health to how to support difficult behaviors and red flags to watch for.
South Central College's new online Advanced Certificate in Administration of Child Care Programs. For more information contact Darci Stanford at darci.stanford@southcentral.edu or call 507-332-5827
|
Its not hard to find research-based information on early childhood, it is difficult to know the good sources to go to. Below are some of the premier organizations that are helping to keep us informed as new research and technologies in brain-based research continue to expand our understanding of the early childhood years.
- Zero to Three is a nonprofit organization leading the way in informing and educating parents, providers and policy makers on the importance of early childhood from prenatal stages through to age three. Click the video link below to see an amazing short video for anyone interested in learning more on why Early Experiences Matter by Zero to Three.
- Wilder Research has been leading the state of Minnesota in local, regional, and statewide research on numerous issues that affect the quality of life in communities throughout our state. Wilder's research shines a new light on early childhood in Minnesota, click Early Childhood Minnesota report to learn more.
- Ready 4 K is a grassroots campaign committed to public policy that works towards building an early childhood system that will improve school readiness for all children in the state of Minnesota. It is an easy way to stay up-to-date with what is happening at the state level with early childhood advocacy and legislation.
- New Developments in February 2008, a small group of Minnesota based foundation and funders agreed to work together to fund a comprehensive action plan to guide the state of Minnesota in the area of early childhood education and care policies for the next five to seven years. They are getting feedback from from individuals throughout the state as they begin writing Building on Assets, Changing our Course: Collective Action Plan. Click here to learn more.
|
