Featured in the summer issue of Milestones magazine, a publication of the North Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children (NCAEYC), is a story that highlights the significance of the Durham Directors Leadership Academy. 

As a valuable resource for enhancing leadership skills, the Durham Directors Leadership Academy provides in-depth training and support for new directors of child care facilities seeking opportunities for professional growth in their role as administrators. The Durham Directors Leadership Academy is a project of Child Care Services Association's Quality Enhancement Program, which is funded through the Partnership.

“Research has taught us that young children need support and guidance from caring, consistent adults,” explained Charlene Daye, Training and Support Director at Child Care Services Association (CCSA). “Turnover in the leadership position of a center can cause instability, stress and lack of direction that impacts the quality of the children’s learning environment.  Many new center directors have little business experience and find the transition from a lead teacher to a director difficult.  The inability to guide, supervise, and train staff can result in a decrease in quality and increase in staff frustration and turnover.”

Through the Directors Leadership Academy, new directors network with other early childhood professionals to create more meaningful, creative learning environments for young children.  NCAEYC services are likewise valuable for professional development as the association represents and unifies professionals who work directly with, or on behalf of, children birth through age eight.


» The 2012 NCAEYC 59th Annual Conference is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 13 - Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012.  To learn more or to register, click here.

On Thursday, October 25th, 2012 from 8:30 am to 11 am, the Partnership will hold our 2012 Annual Meeting at Bay 7,  American Tobacco Historic District.  We would like to extend an invitation to our community of supporters, including early childhood advocates, community partners and volunteers. 

We are pleased to welcome Robert H. Dugger as our keynote speaker for the event. Dugger is a founder of ReadyNation, chairman of the Invest in Kids Working Group, and a Trustee of the Committee of Economic Development – all projects focused on ascertaining and communicating the economic growth and job creation value of investing early in the lives of children. In his home state of Virginia, Dugger is a board member of Smart Beginnings, a member of Governor Kaine’s Strong Start Pre-Kindergarten Council, served as co-chair of Governor Warner’s Virginia Early Learning Council, and is a founding board member of the Alexandria Community Trust.  Dugger has had a long and varied career in business and public service. He is an expert on government policy, as well as on the effects of public policy on domestic and global markets and financial institutions.

Following our keynote will be a panel of local leaders in discussion around early childhood as an economic imperative. 

Please let us know if you are able to join us to hear this critical message and to reflect on a year of outcomes in the world of early childhood.  RSVP to Kelly McCoy at kelly@dpfc.net or (919) 403-6960 ext 230.

We know that early care and education is responsible for laying the groundwork for Durham County’s future economic success by building a ready workforce.  Research shows that high-quality programs prepare young children to succeed in school and become part of tomorrow’s leaders.

But what impact does the early care and education industry have on families’ economic viability?  It is an interesting perspective to view early childhood through the lens of working parents who rely on these programs in order to contribute to the workforce and the economy.

According to the Insight Center for Community Economic Development, the early care and education industry statewide generates $1.7 billion annually in gross receipts — more than computer programming, outpatient care, textile mills and more. It also employs nearly 50,000 people — more than the chemical manufacturing industry, nursing care facilities and superstores. Investments in the early care and education industry ripple through communities and are essential to economic development.

The most recent data – from 2011 – shows us the impact of early care and education in Durham County:

• 17,998 children under six live in families where their sole parent or both parents are working.
• Generates more than $63,400,925 in revenue annually.
• Includes 384 licensed child care programs that directly employ 1,952 people.
• Provides safe learning environments for 7,472 young children.
• Provides high-quality child care to 61% of all young children enrolled in child care, increasing their chances of succeeding in kindergarten.
  

» Read the statewide report from the Insight Center for Community Economic Development. 
» View the widget to find out how early childhood education impacts other NC counties.

“Learn the Signs, Act Early” is a comprehensive developmental milestones resource page offered by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for children birth to age 5.  There are downloadable, bilingual checklists that outline important social/emotional, language, cognitive, and physical milestones that most babies and young children reach by a certain age.  Though all children should be screened for developmental delays and disabilities during regular well-child doctor visits at 9 months, 18 months, 24 or 30 months, concerned parents and caregivers should certainly speak to their pediatrician if they suspect their child is behind.

Despite all the terrific milestones and skills that two year olds master – things like sorting shapes and colors, throwing balls, and following simple instructions – many people refer to this stage as “the terrible twos.”  In reality, what may seem “terrible” about the twos is part of healthy development.  Some of the more prominent social/emotional behaviors displayed in two year olds include showing increased independence and showing defiant behavior, or doing what he/she has been told not to.

The most recent edition of Congregations and Early Childhood, the monthly newsletter of the Early Childhood Faith Initiative, focuses specifically on two year olds while outlining discipline tips, resources for information on ages and stages, and outreach ideas for congregations.  Some of our favorites discipline tips include:

• Provide alternatives such as replacing an item that your child enjoys with one that is forbidden.  Say: “You cannot play with the remote, but you can play with the blocks.”
• Avoid power struggles. Temper tantrums are a weapon against adults and occur when the child is angry, tired, frustrated, or does not get his or her way. Use the “I’s”—ignore or isolate.
• Discipline should be firm and consistent, yet loving and understanding. Be sure to praise good behavior and accomplishments. Role model the behavior you want.
• Encourage making choices whenever possible, but keep choices limited to those you can accommodate. Use simple choices (red or green paper?), rather than open ended questions unless you are willing to live with the answer.

» If you are concerned with your child’s development, contact your pediatrician and/or visit the CDC Web site.
» If you are concerned with your child’s behavior, consider participating in a parenting education class through Welcome Baby.

The Partnership hosted its fourth workshop in our Tools You Can Use Series on Wednesday, August 15th. Focusing on “Communicating Your Message: Effective Visuals, Press and Social Media,” the workshop helped participants tackle several areas of strategy for improving their work. Three speakers joined us in presenting on the communications strategies, and invited attendees to share some of their design, press, and social media experiences. 

Dwan Jones, owner of Anesnah Design and Marketing

Bob Ashley, editor of the Herald-Sun newspaper

Kevin Briody, director of digital strategy for Pace Communications

The Tools You Can Use training provided an incredible opportunity for our partners to network with leading industry professionals in a constructive way.  Thank you to all who participated in this event!

Check out this infographic by the Institute of Medicine: "Obesity: Complex but Conquerable."  It illustrates quite dynamically the obesity problem that lays before this nation.

Today’s Herald-Sun featured a guest column by Melanie Busbee (Communications Manager with the Partnership) that focuses on childhood obesity and what parents should expect of high-quality child care centers in regards to health and wellness practices that help prevent this serious problem.  As mentioned in the column, nearly 10 percent of infants and toddlers have excess weight and almost a third of children are overweight or obese. Research tells us that excessive weight gain in infants and toddlers is more likely to lead to overweight children. And evidence indicates that for children under the age of six with a high Body Mass Index (BMI), adult obesity is likely to follow.

>> The Herald-Sun guest column can be read in full here.

Here on the Partnership blog we regularly illustrate how play is a critical pathway to learning for young children.  Elements learned through play help build the foundation a child needs to enter school ready to learn.  Through play, children are better able to understand and make sense of the world around them as they develop physical and mental skills including motor skills, creativity, imagination, thinking, and problem solving.

The Play to Learn exhibit at the Museum of Life and Science is a shining example of this theory in action.  Designed with expert research and visitor input, the 1,500-square-foot play exhibit offers full body movement, fine motor skill development, creative play and experimentation for infants and children up to six years of age.

Exhibit activities at a glance

• Building Blocks.  Build a bridge or tower out of blocks and develop mathematical skills along the way.
• Climbing Wall.  Children develop gross motor skills and confidence in their physical abilities.

• Gentle Zone.  Designed for infants and toddlers as an area of safe play that includes mirrors, textures, sounds, soft balls and blocks, sensory toys, and low climbing structures.
• Ball Tracks.  Climb up a ladder and send balls racing down a zigzagged track to help introduce the concept of gravity to preschoolers!
• Paint with Water.  Draw or write by brushing water onto a blackboard.  The message/design disappears as the water evaporates.
• Imaginative Play Area.  Kids can pretend to be vets, museum animal techs, ranchers, or farmers. 

What a great space that encourages play as “the real work of childhood,” where children’s skills can flourish.

The annual Countdown to Kindergarten event at the Museum of Life & Science saw another year of success this past Friday, August 3rd.  A crowd of more than 600 people attended the event.  Organizations from across Durham participated in Countdown to Kindergarten, dedicated to providing valuable resources for rising kindergartners and their families.

The Partnership experienced outstanding participation in our “The ABC’s of My Child” activity by both parents and children.  Parents displayed an enthusiasm to be involved in their child’s academic success through participation in this important transition to kindergarten activity.  Filling out the “The ABC’s of My Child” form helps teachers get to know their new students with information directly from the parent.

See below for some of our favorite photos from the Countdown event.  Check out the Partnership's Facebook page for more photos.

>> If you would like a copy of “The ABC’s of My Child” activity, access it here in [English] or [Spanish] and give it to your child’s teacher.

>> Visit our Transition to Kindergarten Resources page for more information.


The Transition to Kindergarten Initiative is supported through funding from the Morgan Creek Foundation and the Wells Fargo Foundation.

This annual event is held on Friday, August 3rd from 5:30 to 8 pm at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham.  Free to all rising kindergartners and their families, tomorrow's event helps children transition into the 2012-2013 school year smoothly.  Participants will have the opportunity to ride a school bus, learn about bus safety, learn about school lunch programs and meet UNC-TV characters and Dottie (the DPS kindergarten mascot).

What to do when you first arrive
Parents will be asked to sign-in at tables in front of the Museum.  Then you will be free to enter the Museum and move around to different groups and exhibits.

Visit the Partnership Booth
The Partnership and our Transition to Kindergarten Initiative will have a booth at the event where we will be sharing important information and resources for rising kindergartners and their families including "The ABC's of My Child" activity.  This activity provides parents an opportunity to introduce important information to their child’s new teacher by providing answers to statements like, "My child could use help with..." and "I think my child is good at...".  These pieces of information are key in helping teachers get to know your child. 

We will be asking parents to complete The ABC's of My Child form and fill in your child’s assigned school.  We will ask children to draw a picture of themselves or their family to attach to the parents’ form. The picture and form will be delivered to your child's kindergarten teacher.  You can also download the activity here if you are unable to make it to the Countdown event.
>> Click here to download [English] [Spanish].

Partnership Raffle
The Partnership will be raffling off a backpack with books and other school supplies inside!  Visit our booth to fill out a raffle ticket.  We will draw the winning ticket at 7:20 pm (No need to be present to win. Winner will need to come to the partnership to pick up the backpack if not present at time of drawing).

>> Visit our Transition to Kindergarten Resources page for more information.


The Transition to Kindergarten Initiative is supported through funding from the Morgan Creek Foundation and the Wells Fargo Foundation.