In the Places to Play in Providence (Rhode Island) project, teachers treat children as citizens--not as hypothetical or future citizens, but as contemporary members of their community. They see children as capable of constructing and communicating complex ideas, adding their unique and valuable perspectives. What does it mean for a city or a state…

The Week of the Young Child 2009, April 19-25, presents a public policy advocacy opportunity for early childhood programs, faculty, and families. This article offers some ways one can use Week of the Young Child (WOYC) events specifically to further advocacy efforts.

Offers a rationale for including advocacy training in early childhood preparation programs, suggesting that, among other topics, such courses cover the history of early childhood public policy, current issues in early childhood, the mechanisms of policy formation and government operations, and political involvement. (KS)

Explains the process whereby the Valley of the Sun Association for the Education of Young Children developed the Early Childhood Network in Phoenix, Arizona and describes the resulting successes with increased communication among members. (DT)

Suggests a process for analyzing potential public policy goals and for developing effective strategies to reach them. (RH)

This report from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Organizational History and Archives Committee focuses on the growth of NAEYC and on its commitments and achievements over the past 50 years. (HS)

Describes a training method, through simulation exercise, for developing child advocacy skills. A sample exercise is presented, as used with early childhood education graduate students. (BF)

Publicizes collaborative efforts of national organizations to generate increased support for child care and to develop national child care legislation to be introduced in the 100th Congress. Reprints letter sent to national organizations; lists charter member organizations of the "Alliance for Better Child Care;" and states principles…

Delineates advocacy strategies for action related to the provision of child care for infants and toddlers. Goals, target groups, and approaches are specified for publc information campaigns, training, and policy formation. Related printed materials and organizational resources are listed. (Author/RH)

The NAEYC Spring Leadership Conference raised fundamental questions about the nature and scope of early childhood leadership in a changing world. Leaders in the field come from all parts of the education spectrum and each have valid contributions. They include those who lead programs or services, conceptual leaders, community leaders, advocacy and…

Describes components of high quality child care programs and the structural and social barriers to quality. Discusses how three early childhood practices have been detrimental to raising child care quality: voucher programs for child care, acceptance of license-exempt care, and the view that market economics will ultimately determine care quality.…

Learning to be PROactive, as the title of this article suggests, means Pooling one's knowledge, Reflecting respect, and Opening oneself to action. It recognizes early childhood educators' promises to their field of practice, based on widely held beliefs and principles. Educators can apply professional ethics to everyday problem solving and their…

Contends that strategies commonly used to persuade decisionmakers to direct more resources to early childhood education are not effective. Presents the Stand for Children's strategy, an intensive organizing approach used over the past 3 years in Oregon, Idaho, Tennessee, and Maryland. Describes efforts of Stand for Children to reinstate children's…

This speech addresses itself to the problems involved in building an effective child advocacy movement. Especially considered are the typical arguments of those who oppose the movement. (CS)

Examines implications of public interest in findings on brain development for building support for high-quality early childhood education. Discusses how children learn, neural plasticity, and the existence of critical periods. Provides recommendations for parents, caregivers, policymakers, and the public from the Families and Work Institute…