Mission: Founded in 1989 and located on the North Shore of Chicago, The Alliance for Early Childhood is a collaborative, community organization that supports and guides families and educators to nurture the healthy, well-rounded development of children from birth to eight years old.
Vision: As a community, we can “put the child back in childhood” and build a strong developmental foundation for our children’s lifelong learning, accomplishment, and joy.
Our Core Values:
-
We believe childhood is sacred and should be protected.
-
We promote play-based, experiential learning and inquiry.
-
We champion child agency by endorsing time for unstructured activity and discovery.
-
We honor our community and the potential it has to transform lives.
-
We treasure human interaction and the power of relationships.
-
We commit to continuous improvement and human development.
-
We embrace iteration and acknowledge the ever-adapting needs of our community.
-
We anchor our work in best practice and research.
Programs and Resources for Parents:
- Let’s Play
- Newsletter
- Speakers and workshops
- Special Needs Roundtable
- Teacher Tributes
Programs and Resources for Educators:
- Annual Networking Breakfast
- Professional development opportunities
- Preschool-Kindergarten Summit
- Inspiring Nature Play Conference
- Annual Networking Dinner
- Early Childhood Directors’ Roundtable
- Mental Health Consultation Program during COVID
State:
IllinoisInterests:
Children with Special Needs, Early Childhood Mental Health, Play, Play-Based Teaching And Learning, Support For Parents Of Young ChildrenContact Email:
Resources
Resource Url:
http://www.theallianceforec.org