EmpoweredEd2020

Today’s parents are more involved than they’ve ever been with their children’s development. Except for when it comes to preschool. Many parents drop their kids off in the morning while the teachers take over, and then pick them up at the end of the day without giving their learning much more thought. To get the true benefits from early childhood education, however, parents need to consider how they can support what their children are learning throughout the day. The Benefits of Parent Involvement Some of a child’s most important cognitive development happens during their preschool years. By taking an active role in the early childhood education process, parents can help ensure that their child has all the support they need to develop to their full potential. Parent involvement helps extend teaching outside the classroom, creates a more positive experience for children and helps children perform better when they are in school. It is essential for parents to support the learning that hap...

Early childhood education is a term that refers to the period of time from a child’s birth to when they enter kindergarten, according to Dr. Jessica Alvarado, academic program director for the BA in Early Childhood Development at National University. According to  Alvarado, it is an important time in children’s lives because it is when they first learn how to interact with others, including peers, teachers and parents, and also begin to develop interests that will stay with them throughout their lives. It is a common misperception that early childhood education is only about learning basic skills. It is so much more than that, It is a time when children learn critical social and emotional skills and a partnership is formed between the child, their parents and the teacher. When this is done successfully, it lays the groundwork for it to continue throughout the child’s education. Nations around that world are becoming aware of the importance of early childhood education as well....

David Schatzkamer wrote this fantastic piece after last year’s Super Bowl. The cost of a 30-second commercial spot for this year’s Super Bowl was about $5.6 million, and according to AdAge, 30 seconds gets your attention – now do the same with our own kids. So how can 30 seconds improve you relationship with them? Our children know when we’re engulfed in our own technological or work-driven tasks; perhaps you have heard an eager voice say “Daddy, look what I colored,” or “Mommy, you wouldn’t believe what I built, come and see.” For adults, it seems obvious that you simply cannot give them that attention all the time. To borrow from gridiron terminology call a “Time Out!” Also, get the timer out for this experiment…I challenge parents out there to stop all that you’re doing in one 30-second long period (yes, you can time it). 1) Get down on their level 2) Turn your body towards them 3) Listen to what they’re saying. Take that time to acknowledge what they are doing and how they are feel...

Just as healthy food nourishes a growing baby’s body, language nutrition nourishes a baby’s brain. Quantity and quality of nourishing language, like healthy food, is critical to brain development. Language-rich adult-child interactions, beginning at birth, have a direct impact on social-emotional and cognitive development and language and literacy ability. The impact of adult-child interactions on the brains of infants and toddlers is unparalleled by any other stage of development, as this is the time when they are forming the neural “connections that build brain architecture – the foundation upon which all learning, behavior and health depend” (Center for the Developing Child, Harvard University).  And a solid foundation of language nutrition - the use of language, beginning at birth, that is sufficiently rich in engagement, quality, quantity and context that it nourishes the child socially, neurologically and linguistically - is critical in developing a child’s capacity to learn....

According to the United States Department of Education,  more than 85% of America’s black male 4th grade students are  not proficient in reading. In an increasingly global and knowledge-based economy,  poor reading skills among young black boys today will produce  black men who are unprepared to compete in the workforce  of tomorrow.  Four key factors contribute to low reading proficiency  among black boys: limited access to engaging reading material;  lack of black men in black boys’ early childhood learning experiences;  few culturally competent educators; and  educational systems that are  unresponsive to Black boys’ individual learning needs. I would be in favor of not de-funding the police but redirecting some of the funds for programs that help change this trend Language Nutrition is free.  Parents don’t have to have fancy puzzles, toys, or  even be able to read. All parents have to do is talk,  interact, and en...

A child’s early years are perhaps the most important, because they lay the foundation for the rest of their life.  Research  shows that early childhood education is highly beneficial because the human brain is the most receptive to learning between birth and three years of age. Early education has been linked to both cognitive and socio-emotional gains. Early childhood education relates to the teaching of children, both formally and informally, from birth up to the age of eight. Education at an early age doesn’t just help them excel academically, either. There are a number of benefits to early childhood education, including: 1. Social skills  – Even young children need a diverse social life. Access to early education gives kids the ability to be entertained, happier, and more communicative. The earlier that children are introduced to others their age, the quicker they can overcome shyness and gain self-confidence. 2. Personal development  – Relationships are an essen...