National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

As we continue celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re highlighting the voices, experiences, and communities that help shape early childhood education. Members are still talking about last year’s Grandes Comienzos sessions, our Spanish-language track at Annual Conference. And this December, Grandes Comienzos returns as one of 28 topic tracks waiting for you at Annual Conference in Washington, DC. The full session schedule is officially live! Filter by role, topic, or CEU eligibility to build a conference experience that’s uniquely yours. Click the link to explore our session lineup and plan your Annual Conference today: https://lnkd.in/eTqzxd48 #naeycAC #HispanicHeritageMonth #NAEYC100

What happens when young children learn more than one language? Multilingual learning can open the door to new ways of thinking, creating, connecting, and understanding the world around them. In the latest episode of Small Talk: Big Ideas About Little Learners, Raul Echevarria joins NAEYC’s Alissa Mwenelupembe, Ed.D. to explore how language, culture, and play come together during some of the most important years of a child’s development. Swipe through for a closer look, then listen to Episode 5 and read our latest blog to continue the conversation. 🖥️ : https://bit.ly/4AwGLU4 #NAEYC #SmallTalkPodcast #EarlyChildhoodEducation #MultilingualLearning

What happens when play and purpose come together? The Fall issue of Young Children explores “Integrating Guided Play and Hands-On Learning: Insights and Applications,” with ideas and strategies for bringing joyful, intentional learning to life across early childhood settings. Susan Bowles Donsky, NAEYC’s Senior Editor of Periodicals, is giving us a look inside the newest issue and sharing why guided play matters for educators, children, and the learning experiences we create together. Dive into the Fall issue of Young Children today by accessing your membership portal to explore the research and practical strategies for yourself. Already reading? Tell us what’s standing out to you in the comments. #NAEYC #YoungChildren #EarlyChildhoodEducation

September and October mark the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month! 🎉 From the languages spoken in early learning settings to the traditions shared across generations, Hispanic and Latino communities continue to enrich the experiences of young children, families, and educators across the country. NAEYC celebrates the cultures, histories, experiences, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino educators, children, families, and communities—and the many ways they continue to shape the present and future of early childhood education. 💬 Join the celebration: What does Hispanic Heritage month mean in your space?

Children are natural engineers. Give them time, space, and everyday materials, and they'll build, test, question, and try again. That's the idea behind Making and Tinkering with STEM, Second Edition, and it's exactly what our newly released professional development courses teach you to nurture intentionally. Most PD stops at theory. Ours doesn't. Choose the Preschool or Kindergarten track and move from theory, to practice, to reflection, so you leave knowing how to spot real tinkering, making, and engineering in your program, and how to set up spaces that invite more of it. Earn 10 clock hours and 1 CEU per course. NAEYC members save 10% per course. Register today: https://lnkd.in/eWX_m5Sw As an IACET Accredited Provider, NAEYC offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard.

🧑🏫Riley, an accreditation coordinator in Gaithersburg, MD, has seen what NAEYC accreditation truly offers a program. The standards give teachers a clear, practical path to excellence, backed by real commitment, so every child is impacted individually and supported in being the best they can be. 🧑🏫Georgia, a program director in New Haven, CT, went in expecting to just check a box for her state's rating scale. What she found was a program that was already good, with a clear path to great. 🧑🏫Mary has run her program in Philadelphia since 1976, when there was no shared definition of quality to build toward. NAEYC's standards gave her one grounded in research, something she could put into practice and grow from year after year. Accreditation isn't just a credential. It's proof, to every family and every child, that this program is built to help them thrive. Learn more at naeyc.org/accreditation

Thank you Elizabeth Huebeck and EdWeek for uplifting National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)'s latest ECE workforce survey this week. I enjoyed getting the chance to discuss our team's work elevating the experiences of early childhood educators and program leaders in the context of current policy debates about regulations and program standards. https://lnkd.in/e-mHJe2m

What happens when young children learn in more than one language? In Episode 5 of Small Talk: Big Ideas About Little Learners, Alissa Mwenelupembe, Ed.D., NAEYC’s Chief Early Learning Quality and Research Officer, talks with Raul Echevarria, co-founder of CommuniKids Preschool and Children's Language Center, about the benefits of multilingual and multicultural learning environments. From building strong language pathways to supporting social-emotional development, cognitive flexibility, creativity, and a sense of belonging, multilingual learning can help create rich, welcoming experiences where every child can thrive. 🎧 Listen to Episode 5, Multilingual Learning, and discover what multilingual learning can look like in early childhood. Listen now: https://lnkd.in/eRtvYfPZ #SmallTalk #EarlyChildhoodEducation #MultilingualLearning

Every early educator carries a story that influences their work with children. No Single Story: Amplifying the Voices of Asian American and Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Early Educators shares over 30 stories that take you on a journey through language, history, and culture. Presale is now open to everyone. Members still save 10% on your copy. Not a member? Join NAEYC to unlock your discount and exclusive offers like earlier presale access. 📖 Presale runs through October 12. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gJqikC6R #NoSingleStory #AANHPI

NAEYC has always made the case that early childhood educators deserve compensation that reflects the value and expertise of their work. That case grows stronger every time an educator in this field shows up as a registered voter. Today is National Voter Registration Day! Take a moment to confirm your registration status — and consider sharing this with a colleague. A more informed, more engaged workforce is a stronger voice for the profession. 🗳️Learn more about #ValueVoiceVote at https://lnkd.in/dyzFnWbN