5 Reasons You Should Care about Early Childhood

1. CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE:  These are not just words written in a popular Whitney Huston song, it is reality.  The continuation of our society and what it is built upon is dependent upon future generations.  An investment in our youngest citizens means an investment in the future of our nation.

2. EARLY CHILDHOOD PRODUCES A SOLID RETURN: “Every dollar invested in quality early childhood education produces a 7-10% per annum returns in better education, health and social and economic outcomes.”

3. PAY NOW OR PAY LATER:  Your investment reduces the costs of special education, lessens the achievement gap, produces healthier children, increases the graduation rate and creates a more skilled workforce.

4. SUPPORTS SCHOOL READINESS: Children who participate in a high quality preschool program are more likely to be successful in kindergarten.

5. EARLY CHILDHOOD MATTERS…TO EVERYONE: If you are a parent of a young child, early childhood development MATTERS as you want your children to be school ready. If you are an educator this MATTERS as you want every child to be successful in your classroom meeting all the high stakes standards.  If you are an employer it MATTERS as “Early Childhood development is workforce development”, and you want the most skilled workers to employ.  If you are a middle age adult or senior citizen it MATTERS to you as early childhood policies impact your grandchildren and the policies these future decision makers will put forth impacting your future.  If you are a child birth to five, what happens in the first few years of life MATTERS and it can have an impact positively or negatively for the rest of their life.

Learn more about early learning by watching this brief video : 

Early Learning Matters

Giving Thanks to Early Interventionists

As early interventionists we come into your homes and become an integral part of your lives.  We are there to share your struggles as well as your joys in your efforts to support your child's development.  It is a blessing for both the giver and the receiver.  Read the following blog from a parent giving thanks to her early interventionists.

Giving Thanks

Make Reading Fun For Kids

Do you love to read? Can you curl up in your bed for hours and get lost in a good story?  Do you ever think about how you got there?  Have you always loved to read?  Were you the best reader in your grade?  No?? Well, don’t worry, neither was I!  I learned to love reading after I was no longer made to read!  Now, in my busy life, I would give anything to tune out the world and dive into a good book, but my children are now my priority.  My pleasure reading consists of a few minutes at night after the kids are in bed.  Some nights I get to read longer than others, depending on how long I can keep my eyes open!  As a book lover, I wanted to teach my kids to love books as well but that wasn’t as easy as it sounds!  I started young, while my kids were small enough that they couldn’t escape my lap on their own.  This helped develop a love for reading early on; however, once those munchkins could move it was hard to keep their attention. Sometimes all they wanted to do was turn the pages.  Sound familiar?  Do you have any ideas on how I got past this stage?  Take a look at this great video by Learn with Adrienne. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki5jYbRcydU&sns=em .  She makes reading fun and interactive, and it really does work for young children!  Don’t worry about reading the words on each page, YET!  Get them interested and engaged, teach silly sounds, words, and actions, and watch their attention span grow right before your eyes!

This blog entry was shared by Dana Lepien. Dana is a Speech-Language Pathologist with the Early On Program in Ionia County. She is also a mother of three busy, book-loving little girls!

The Bountiful Benefits Of Establishing Routines

I have always been the parent that my friends would say is more rigid then others. I like to say that we have routine and structure in our house. Ever since my kids were babies, it was important to my husband and me for them to be on a normal routine. There were many benefits for us as a family if the kids were on a routine. For example - we knew how long we had to run errands before kids were hungry or needed a nap, we could easily avoid unnecessary meltdowns, and the kids took naps every day at the same time. The list can go on and on. A normal sleep pattern for kids equals happier kids!

Check out the article below on why routine and structure will benefit your toddler…

Why Routine and Structure Benefits Your Toddler

This blog was shared by Nicole Elliott who is an Early Intervention Teacher with the Ionia ISD Early-On Program. Nicole is also a mother of three busy kids, and the routines she has established have helped her to manage all of the day-to-day activities she encounters!

Is It A Problem If My Child Walks On Her Toes?

   This is a very common question because it is a very common occurrence!  Many kids go through a stage of walking on their toes and it is of no concern at all.  Other times it IS a concern.  Check out this awesome article which discusses the difference!

Toe Walking

This blog post was selected by Amy Swagart, a physical therapist with the Ionia ISD early intervention program.