The Challenge

In 2018, California passed a bill (AB 2960) to ensure that families have access to timely, accurate information about high-quality Early Learning and Care (ELC) programs, how to enroll their children, and benefits they may be eligible for via an eligibility screener and the development of a public online portal – referred to as the “Parent Portal” – which must be created by June 30, 2022.

The Early Learning Lab (The Lab) was brought on board to provide design recommendations for the portal that would ensure it meets the needs and desires of the parents, providers, and stakeholders who will use the site.

The Results

Through this project, The Lab delivered a set of near-term and longer-term recommendations to develop the Parent Portal as a robust platform that supports all of the stakeholders across the early learning and care sector in California.

These include specific recommendations on:

1. Integrating subsidized child care related services into existing eligibility screeners offered by the State of California
2. Increasing transparency and addressing the complexity of the waitlist process for subsidized child care slots
3. Additional data on child care programs that families would find useful when evaluating program
4. A roadmap and plan for ongoing platform improvements and enhancements for the Parent Portal to ensure it meets the evolving needs of stakeholders
5. A communications strategy to increase awareness of the Parent Portal among various stakeholders

Music plays a huge role in our culture and our lives from theatre, to television, movies and important ceremonies. But did you know that it can also play a big part in your child’s development?

Of the 12 million children under age 3 in the United States, nearly 25 percent live in a family with earnings below the poverty level, with little to no access to quality and affordable child care. To address this problem, Congress appropriated $500 million in 2014 to expand access to Early Head-Start programs, which included the creation of Early Head Start – Child Care Partnerships (Partnerships).

In 2019, Start Early conducted interviews with a variety of state leaders regarding Partnerships programs. Interviewees included those who administer a Partnerships grant, and some who supported implementation of Partnerships in their states but did not have a Partnerships grant. As a result of these interviews, Start Early is proud to share our report on the lessons of implementation of the Partnerships across states.

In our fast-paced world it can feel like issues of violence and racism are dominating the content we consume from the news to social media to conversations with our friends and loved ones. While we are all working to process our thoughts, feelings and emotions around these difficult topics, so are our little ones. They are seeing these topics play out around them and, more importantly, they’re watching how the adults in their lives are responding. They might not be able to fully grasp what is going on, but even our youngest learners are picking up on our emotions in these challenging times.

That’s why here at the Start Early we created this series, Tackling Tough Topics with Your Little One, to give you helpful advice from our experts as well as tips to navigate discussing difficult topics such as violence, racism and loss with your children.

Why Racism?

The racially charged murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd have been in the spotlight recently, but for every high-profile death that makes national news, thousands of similar incidents are quickly dismissed or ignored. As our country works to dismantle and rebuild in the wake of these violent events, it’s important to remember that even though your child may be too young to understand it, they are seeing how racial injustice and anti-Black sentiment are playing out on a national stage. Children as young as 6 months old begin to notice race-based differences, and by age 2 children are beginning to internalize racial biases. That is why it is so important to talk to your children about racism and discrimination early on and in an age appropriate way.

How to Address the Topic of Racism

• Five things to remember as a parent when talking to your child about racism:
  • Remember to take care of yourself. Do not binge on news and social media. Watch what you need to stay informed and then make sure you process the information in a health way.
    • Use mindfulness activities, exercise, spending time with your family, or music and movement activities, etc.
  • Practice what you want to say ahead of time. These conversations can bring up a lot of uncertainty and fear in parents, too. It’s ok to call a friend or family member and practice ahead of time so that you will feel more comfortable when the time comes to talk to your child.
  • Be aware of your own biases. Your child is paying attention to your behavior and learning from how you act and react in different situations.
  • Be open to your child’s questions around racism and encourage them to come to you with them. Remember, it’s ok if you don’t have all of the answers.
  • Consider that this conversation is approached very differently between Black and white parents.
    • The “talk” in Black families is often started very early, usually around when the child is 4 years old and includes:
      • Don’t resist police.
      • Don’t run when approached by police
      • Don’t talk back
      • When in a store, do not run and keep your hands visible at all times
      • Don’t think that just because your white friend can do it, you can to
      • Do stay close to your parent at all times
    • For white families sometimes the talk happens much later, or not at all, and parents don’t know where to start. If you are struggling to have the “talk” with your child, here are a few things to keep in mind:
      • Children aren’t colorblind, all children develop racial prejudices unless their parents engage them directly about it, which is why talking about racism is so important.
      • Be direct and intentional, use the words race and racism when talking about this topic.
      • Lead by example to help your child understand why it’s so important to be anti-racist
      • It’s ok to point out that skin color doesn’t have much biological significance, but skin color does have a lot of historical importance.
      • If your child does say or do something racist, help them to understand that it’s not ok. You can thank them for being honest, and even admit if you’ve felt that way before. But explain why it’s racist and wrong. Intention doesn’t matter, even if they didn’t mean it, comments and actions still do harm, and they need to know that.

• For Infants and Toddlers
  • Read picture books—make sure they see images of themselves reflected in the pictures at storytime.
  • Make sure you present different races and cultures through books, toys, food, languages, etc.
  • Reinforce that difference is not bad—recognize and celebrate differences.

• For Children Ages 3-5
  • Read books
    • If all of the characters in the book look the same, ask your child what they think about that.
    • Add different books that show black and brown children of different cultures being the hero or solving the problem.
    • Introduce age appropriate books the discuss topics of Civil/Human Rights, Discrimination.
  • This might sound simple, but it’s actually pretty important—ask your child how they feel. You know your child best and can sense when they are upset. Try asking what they might be worried about or afraid of so you can reinforce that you are there to protect and support them.
  • Use the idea of fairness to help describe how racism is unfair and unacceptable; young children understand the concept of fairness very well, and this will help them understand why we need to work together to make it better.

Other Resources

• A Kids Book About Racism
• Recommended books with characters of color
• Recommended books on social justice

Stay tuned for the next article in our series which will cover how to talk to your little ones about loss. Connect with us for more resources, tips and expert advice.

In our fast-paced world it can feel like issues of violence and racism are dominating the content we consume from the news to social media to conversations with our friends and loved ones. While we are all working to process our thoughts, feelings and emotions around these difficult topics, so are our little ones. They are seeing these topics play out around them and, more importantly, they’re watching how the adults in their lives are responding. They might not be able to fully grasp what is going on, but even our youngest learners are picking up on our emotions in these challenging times.

That’s why here at Start Early we created this series, Tackling Tough Topics with Your Little One, to give you helpful advice from our experts as well as tips to navigate discussing difficult topics such as violence, racism and loss with your children. During the first installation of our series, Kristie Norwood, Start Early grantee education manager, shares tips and resources on how to address the topic of violence with your child.

Why Violence?

To say that recent events in our country have been violent would be an understatement. Children see the violence happening around them whether that is on television, at school or simply by hearing what the adults in their lives are saying. Even though very young children may not be able to talk about these topics in depth, they can still pick up on and respond to how the adults in their lives feel. It is important to address the topic of violence with your young children to make sure that they have accurate information and can learn how to handle their emotions. Most importantly you want to make sure to reinforce that that you love your child and that you all are working as a family to be safe and to help keep others safe, too.

How to Address the Topic of Violence

• For Infants and Toddlers

  • It’s critical to instill a feeling of safety and security with your infants and toddlers. Their well-being is linked to the strength of their relationships with their caregivers.
  • Let your child know that it is their job is to be a kid, and your job as their parent is to keep them safe.
  • Let them know that you are staying safe and are trying to be safe in everything that you do.
  • Even babies can sense if you are sad or upset, so as much as it might be difficult for you, try not to expose your children to your anxiety around this topic. It might be helpful to try a few mindfulness activities to reduce stress, such as breathing exercises or repeating positive mantras.
  • Work with your child to find a way to identify and process their own feelings of anger, stress, fear and anxiety in a healthy way. For example, you could ask them to draw a picture about how they are feeling and talk about it.
  • Talk with your child about their feelings and reassure them that you are there to love and support them.

• For Children Ages 3-5

  • Have conversations about what they are talking about at school with their friends—this will let you know if they are discussing current events.
  • When your child starts to discuss topics like gun violence, death or police brutality, let them. It is only natural for them to be curious. Use this as a learning opportunity to ask how they feel about these topics.
  • When your child asks you a question, keep your answers short and focused on what you and your family can do to be safe.
  • Remember to stay calm and use simple language that your child will understand. And if you don’t know the answer, it’s okay to say just that.

• For Both Age Groups

  • One of the best ways to start a conversation with your child is through books. Pick an age-appropriate book on the topic for storytime and then start to read. Your child’s questions will naturally develop from there.
  • Ask your child questions like: How do feel about that? Tell me more about that? Why do you think they are angry?
  • Monitor your child’s television viewing and screen time to prevent “overload.” This will help to ensure that you know what kind of content your child is consuming.
  • Try to limit your own viewing of the news or other potentially violent content to times when your child is either asleep or not in the room.
  • Explain the concept of safety using examples your child will understand. For example: Remember how we hold hands when we go outside so you don’t get lost? That is one way we stay safe. We work very hard to make sure that we can be as safe as possible.

Other Resources

• Recommended books on the topic:
  • Something Happened in Our Town, ages 4-8
  • I Walk with Vanessa: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness, ages 4-8
  • Peaceful Fights for Equal Rights, ages 4-8
• Consider talking to your pediatrician if you notice any of the following signs of anxiety:
  • Withdrawal from activities your child used to love
  • Excessive nail biting
  • Regression in potty training
  • Separation issues
  • For example “James used to love going outside for walks, now he cries whenever I suggest it.” Or “Hannah is starting to bite her nails until they bleed. She just started doing this within the last couple of weeks.”
  • It’s always good to have an open line of communication with your child’s doctor, they are trained to note differences in behaviors and what those differences can mean medically.
• From our friends at ZERO TO THREE: Racism and Violence: Using Your Power as a Parent to Support Children Aged Two to Five
• Addressing childhood fears with our friends at PBS Kids

While something like “7 Habits of Highly Effective Preschoolers” might be a bit excessive, there are some simple stories and ideas on leadership in the books below that will help toddlers and preschoolers build the traits and skills that will set them on the path to becoming courageous, compassionate and positive leaders. Consider one of our recommendations for your next storytime with your little one.

1. Swimmy by Leo Lionni
   Swimmy is different than the other fish in his school. But when the other fish are scared of the dangers in the deep water, he learns how to combine his uniqueness with a little bravery, ingenuity and teamwork to lead his friends to overcome their fears.
2. My First Biography: Martin Luther King, Jr. by Marion Dane Bauer
   This book, aimed at beginning readers, describes Dr. King’s journey from a child who sees social injustice all around him to the iconic civil rights leader who helped Americans move closer to racial equality.
3. Little Blue Truck by Jill McElmurry
   This board book is a great story for teaching toddlers how they can overcome obstacles with a little help from their friends. With fun truck and animal noises, it will help them learn compassion, perseverance and teamwork—all traits of a good leader.
4. Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss
   This classic encourages children to have confidence in themselves and broaden their horizons. Yet it doesn’t shy away from telling them that they’ll face a variety of challenges along the way; it gives them the encouragement that they have the potential to do whatever they set their mind to.
5. The Watcher: Jane Goodall’s Life with the Chimps by Jeanette Winter
   As a child in London, Jane Goodall would observe the activities of birds. This love of watching wildlife eventually took her to the jungles of Africa, where she documented the lives of chimpanzees in great detail. This book shows young children how to become a leader in one’s chosen field, and for young girls, it offers a female role model in the sciences.
6. The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
   A boy named Duncan opens his box of crayons one day and finds it empty. That’s because they’ve gone on strike due to various grievances, which include overwork, boredom and professional jealousy. In the end, a solution is reached that makes everyone happy. This funny story shows that part of leading is about understanding the perspectives and feelings of others.
7. The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
   This timeless tale can be summed up in a single line: “I think I can.” It’s a great tool for teaching children to believe in themselves through positive self-talk. It also teaches children that leading means working as a team, staying positive and having the courage to face any challenges that come your way.

Gardening is great way for children to experience nature and science by exploring how things grow and where food comes from while offering opportunities for lessons in math, language, social interactions and cultures.

Recommended for Preschoolers

Materials Needed:

• Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert
• A pencil, crayon, pen or other writing tool, and paper
• Grocery store advertisements and scissors

Developmental Goals: 

• Identify a variety of healthy food options, in this case fruits and vegetables.
• Associate letters with the beginning sounds of words.
• Recognize upper and lower case letters. Categorize produce as either a fruit or a vegetable.

In the Future:

• The more opportunities young children have to explore a variety of foods, the more likely that they will eat a varied and healthy diet as they grow.
• As children build their understanding of letters and the sounds they make, they will begin to piece letters together in invented spelling.
• The ability to categorize objects is a beginning math skill that children will later build upon as they identify the properties of shapes and understand how to complete a pattern.

Activity:

1. Introduce the book to your child.  As with any new book, take time to allow her to explore the book’s pictures on her own before sitting down to read it out loud.
2. As you read the book, invite her to talk about the foods she sees on each page.
3. In addition to simply identifying the fruits and vegetables, talk about which ones she likes, which ones she wants to try, or what recipes you could make with the foods.
4. If your child has shown an interest in the alphabet, invite her to tell you the letters she recognizes.
5. For more letter play, you can encourage her to make connections among the letter sounds and the first letter of the foods on each page.
6. After enjoying the book a few times, invite your child to guess which foods are fruits and which are vegetables. You can extend on this idea by bringing out grocery store advertisements from the newspaper and having her cut out pictures of fruits and vegetables. Once she cuts out the pictures, have her sort them into two piles: a fruit pile and a vegetable pile.
7. You can take this further by having your child create a grocery list of fruits and vegetables by either drawing pictures of the foods, writing letters to represent the beginning sounds of each food, or using invented spelling. At the store, ask your child to look closely for the foods that she put on your list.

Don’t underestimate the incredible thinking skills that young children have. Through this activity, your toddler will learn about the idea of perspective by using everyday objects and comparing their sizes.