ZERO TO THREE
The organization I selected is Zero to Three. The link for this organisation is http://www.zerotothree.org/
ZERO TO THREE is a national, nonprofit organization that provides parents, professionals and policymakers the knowledge and know-how to nurture early development. It plays a critical leadership role in promoting understanding around key issues affecting young children and their families, including child care, infant mental health, early language and literacy development, early intervention and the impact of culture on early childhood development. Their mission is to ensure that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life. ZERO TO THREE is unique in their multidisciplinary approach to child development. Their emphasis on bringing together the perspectives of many fields and many specialists is rooted in the robust research studies showing that all domains of development—social, emotional, intellectual, language and physical—are interdependent and work together to promote a child’s overall health and well-being in the context of his family and culture.
A current issue that I found interesting is 'The Rally 4 Babies. Rally 4 Babies seek to bring awareness to the importance of early stimulation for babies (0-3) and hopefully get states to allocate funds for projects that will teach parents and other programs that work with young children how to provide stimulating, secure environments for the child from the prenatal period to approximately three years(Zero to Three).
Another issue that I found quite interesting is school readiness
School readiness is best conceptualized as a process that occurs over time, in the context of caring relationships with informed and supportive adults who can nurture both the qualities and the developmental skills that help children become successful learners. We know that kindergarten is not the beginning of a child’s educational experience, nor is it the endpoint for school readiness. We know that infants and toddlers
explore, process, and understand their world differently than older children. Furthermore, infants and toddlers are dependent on their relationships with adults in distinct ways that have an effect on their learning and development. In addition to unique cognitive and developmental processes, infants and toddlers are developing the foundational qualities of curiosity, mastery motivation, and other approaches to learning that are critical precursors to school success. Finally, social and cultural contexts add another layer of complexity to early development that further influences the goals and expectations for early development, learning, and school readiness (Zero to Three).
I am very impressed with the strides that Zero to Three is making to improve the lives of young children and their families. After attending the Rally 4 Babies. I wish I was living in America so that I could sign the petition to make my voice heard. Those who can, please support this campaign!,
Another issue that I found quite interesting is school readiness
Hi, Nicola!
ReplyDeleteI also chose Zero to Three. I also read about the Rally 4 Babies and found it to be very interesting and remarkable! It is very nice to hear that there are programs and organizations out there that support young children and their families from the very start. I am ready to read and learn more from Zero to Three. Good post!
Hi Nicola,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that school readiness in very important. However the concept of what school readiness is needs to offer more flexibly and be more openly defined. School readiness involves more than just children. School readiness, in the broadest sense, is about children, families, early environments, schools, and communities. Children are not innately “ready” or “not ready” for school. Their skills and development are strongly influenced by their families and through their interactions with other people and environments before coming to school. I feel that it is important for teachers and care givers to understand that all children develop in different ways and at different rates. Developmental readiness does not happen at the same time or in the same way for all children. For example, one child may develop language skills rapidly while being slower to gain social competence. Definitions of readiness must consider these variations.
All areas of children’s development and learning must be included in definitions of readiness. Readiness is more than basic knowledge and recognition of colors, shapes, numbers, letters, language skills. A child's readiness for beginning their educational journey should include all areas: physical, cognitive, social, and emotional competence as well as positive attitudes toward learning.
The concept of readiness includes much more than the child's parent being ready for them to go to school or the child’s readiness. As defined by the National Education Goals Panel,the School Readiness Indicators Initiative, and others, "readiness includes ready children, ready families, ready communities, ready early care and education, and ready schools. All are necessary so that all children will experience success".
Thank you for your post it was very informative. I look forward to learning more about your topic of issues.
Reference:
NAEYC Position Statements on Readiness and Related Issues All position statements are available online at www.naeyc.org/positionstatements.
Hi Nicola,
ReplyDeleteThe Zero to Three is a very helpful website and organization for early educators. I like that Rally for Infants campaign and items talked about in the newsletter. This topic is very dear to my heart. I worked as an Infant/Toddler teacher for four years, and one of the things I always prayed and hoped for was more attention to the birth to three age level. I thought that if more attention was given to that age because there is so much potential in that age group. Children are the most influenced from their environment at that level. I would love to have a classroom for my infants and toddlers that had technology, more various types of material and equipment that enhances their cognitive development instead of the typical environment that mostly focus on physical development. Infants and toddlers can do alot more than they are given credit for.
Have you found any other sites to be as useful as Zero to Three? I have found this site very useful as well, especially since I am unfamiliar with this age group. Are there any other sites that you would recommend that are as resourceful as this one for a professional who does not know much about early childhood years?
ReplyDeleteThanks