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Valley of the Sun Early Childhood Association

Our DEY Mini Grant for Alhambra Preschool Academy was used to purchase an outdoor table that allowed for wheelchair access. The in-ground mounted table allows access by the special education classroom and children with wheelchairs. The teachers use this table for sensory provocations, potting seedlings, and reading storybooks together.

By Geralyn Bywater Access Advocacy Care caregivers Child Care Childcare director Children Community Connection early childhood Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Enrichment Equity exploration family Grantees Love Mini Grants Mini-Grant Recipient observation Parents partnership Play Play for All Playful learning relationship

“Meet Me At the Museum” Days for Families

Labor of Love Childcare in South Bend, Indiana is using their DEY Mini Grant award to host “Meet Me At the Museum” days at no cost to families. They held two dates in May and are planning more dates for August and beyond.

By Geralyn Bywater Childhood Children Developmentally appropriate practice early childhood Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) emotional health exploration Messy Play Mini Grants Mini-Grant Recipient Nature Outdoor Play Parents Playful learning

International Mud Day 2023!

The Oaks Children’s Academy participated in their first ever International Mud Day celebration on June 29, 2023!! Mud Day is a way to connect children to the Earth and soil, and discover the messy joy that comes from playing in and with mud!! We joined others around the globe in a day of splashing, rolling, squishing, sliding, making mud pies, and more!

By Geralyn Bywater Advocacy Advocacy Efforts Child Care Childcare director Family Childcare Grantees Mini Grants Mini-Grant Recipient Organizing

Child Care Advocacy Day in Madison, Wisconsin

Child care providers received advocacy training and shared their stories with state legislators at the Child Care Advocacy Day in Madison, Wisconsin.

By Geralyn Bywater Access Advocacy Advocacy Efforts Care caregivers Child Care Childhood Children Community Connection early childhood Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) ECE Equity Equity family Grantees Leadership Mini Grants movement Nature Organizing Parents partnership Play Play for All relationship Respect Social-Emotional

Sarah’s House Celebrates, Educates, and Advocates During “Week of the Young Child”

Our Week of the Young Child celebration was amazing. Our county executive, Steuart Pittman, Chief of Staff, Jeff Amoros and our local library CEO, Skip Auld attended the event. It was so important to us that our stakeholders not only experienced the program at Sarah’s House but saw first-hand the barriers faced in our industry with workforce and affordable childcare for all families.

By Geralyn Bywater Advocacy Advocacy Efforts Care caregivers Child Care Childcare director Childhood Community Connection early childhood Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) family Grantees Mini Grants Mini-Grant Recipient Organizing Play Play for All

Addison County Celebrates and Advocates for Young Children and Play

Addison County Celebrates and Advocates for Young Children and Play – Currently in Vermont there is historic state legislation being crafted to support early care and learning programs and the families who access these programs. On April 12, a Courage to Care Rally was held at our statehouse. Leading up to the rally ACDN worked with the local newspaper to include a special Early Childhood insert in the paper. The insert included articles on the following topics: The Importance of Play, Legislative Update (highlighting the rally and other ways families can advocate), Learning in the Great Outdoors, Play-based Learning, and more.