In a survey by the National Center for Early Development and Learning, nearly half (46 percent) of kindergarten teachers in a nationwide sample said that over half of the children in their class weren’t ready to succeed in school. Why?  Before we get out the magic wand and with Harry Potter-like precision create pre-kindergarten programs in every state focused on pre-literacy and early math strategies, education experts ought to review the relationship between “executive function” and a child’s future school success, particularly for low income children.

Last week in Washington, D.C., David Gray and Lisa Guernsey from the New America Foundation’s Workforce and Family Program and Early Education Initiative, led a panel discussion entitled, “Speaking Up: What the Presidential Candidates Should be Saying about Child Care and Early Learning.”

Early learning experiences are important to your child’s education and development. You work hard to give your child the best experiences and a positive start. Someone else you can rely on to do the same is your child care provider. When you and your child care provider work together, you are giving your child a great start and providing her an excitement for learning.

Las experiencias de aprendizaje tempranas son importantes para la educación y desarrollo de su hijo. Usted trabaja bastante para darle a su hijo las mejores experiencias y un empiezo positivo. Alguien más en quien puede confiar para hacer lo mismo es su proveedor de cuidado de niños. Cuando usted y su proveedor trabajan juntos le están dando a su hijo un buen empiezo y proveyéndolos con ánimos hacia el aprendizaje.

Too many states fail to ensure the safety of children in child care during disasters

In August, Child Care Aware® of America released Parents and the High Cost of Child Care: 2012 Report, which presents 2011 data about the price parents pay for full-time child care in each state.