Think Small – Minnesota

Services, resources, and advocacy for early childhood education in Minnesota.

We think much can and must be done to improve the quality of early childhood experiences so children will thrive.

We think learning experiences should adhere to best practices. That teachers should be skilled, knowledgeable, and engaged. That children need a safe, healthy, and child-friendly environment. And that stimulating activities should be balanced with appropriately structured routines.

We think every child is unique, and each child’s situation is different. We think their success depends on the adults in their lives—parents, early childhood professionals, policymakers and other influential people—making the best choices for children.

 

Mission:

To advance quality care and education of children in their crucial early years.

History:

In 1971, no one imagined that a community’s first, simple steps to help working moms would decades later grow into a leading voice for children.

But that’s how we started.

It was a time of profound change for families in St. Paul and around the nation. With mothers of young children entering the workforce in record numbers, child care arose as a major issue. Who would take care of the kids while mom was at work? Where? How? Would it be affordable? How could the community help?

We started by creating a mobile toy lending library that visited family child care homes. While children enjoyed supervised play on the bus, providers participated in training sessions aimed at improving the quality of care.

The Toys N Things Training and Resource Center was a humble, colorful beginning of a group that would in time join with four other organizations—each dedicated to affordable, organized, and accessible early childhood care and education—to ultimately become Resources for Child Caring.

In 2012, we changed our name to Think Small, a name that’s contemporary, differentiating, and reflective of our intense focus on early childhood. We remain as dedicated to our mission now as we have always been—and to the principles that gave rise to our organization in 1971:

• That the quality of a child’s early experiences greatly influences his or her success later in life.
• That there is much that can be done to improve the quality of early childhood settings to optimize a child’s development.

For Parents – Think Smart.

Kids start learning from the moment they’re born. As young children, they’re having learning experiences everywhere—at home, in child care, or at school.

Finding the right care can be overwhelming, and we are here to support you in this important decision. We’ll provide you with the information, tools, and knowledge to help identify your care and early education options.

We partner with Parent Aware, Minnesota’s quality rating and improvement system that gives you the tools and information to find the best quality child care and early education for your child.

For Early Childhood Professionals – Think of the Possibilities.

Your job is important. Every interaction you have with children helps shape the person they’ll grow up to be. Will they be ready for school?  Will they be equipped with the tools for success in life?  You have the opportunity for tremendous impact. And that’s why we’re here to help.

Think Small supports excellence in early learning for all types of professionals–providers, parent educators, and teachers. By offering classes, coaching, and financial support, we can help you become the best professional you can be. So you can help kids become the best people they can be.

For the Community

We envision a community that affords every child the best start in life. That’s why we’re actively engaged—through policy development, advocacy, evaluation, and program piloting—in creating a Minnesota that supports optimal child care and early learning.

For policymakers, funders, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and others concerned with kids, we’re a bold and effective partner. We invite you to work together with us on community and state-wide issues involving early childhood.

Parent Aware is Helping MN Children Learn

It’s also helping child care providers stay in business. Learn more:

Parent Aware is Helping MN Children Learn

A Letter to Minnesota Policy Makers

We are proud to stand alongside these great organizations in support of investments in Early Learning Scholarships and the Child Care Assistance Program.

Letter supporting investments in Early Learning Scholarships and the Child Care Assistance Program

Think Small Public Policy Priorities

When it comes to addressing Minnesota’s severe opportunity gaps, we know starting early is effective. In fact, the single best investment the state can make is targeted early childhood investments in our most vulnerable children.

We have made great progress in early education in Minnesota. However, many children still do not have access to high-quality care. Children who enter kindergarten unprepared are less likely to achieve third grade reading standards, less likely to graduate high school, and less likely to ever attend college. They are more likely to drop out of school and more likely to be arrested for a violent crime.

You can use the resources below to talk with others about the need for high-quality child care in Minnesota.

Resources

• Resource Url:

  https://www.thinksmall.org/