An absolute must-watch: 7-year-old Molly Wright gives a TED Talk about how parents and caregivers can support children’s brain development. Also, FYI: Tuned In will be taking a vacation for the next two weeks and will be back in your inbox on August 27th.
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“True digital natives, pro-government, social justice-minded and progressive, Gen Z is the most educated and racially and ethnically diverse generation in our country’s history. They also report being lonelier, more anxious and more depressed than any other American generation. The oldest members of Gen Z were in preschool on 9/11, know what to do during an active shooter drill and are accustomed to frequent, intense natural disasters. What does all of this mean for how Gen Z might parent? First, we can expect this open and inclusive generation to be accepting, understanding and empathetic towards their children, as well as other children and their families. Secondly, they are likely to be concerned, maybe even fearful, for their children’s future, but willing to be politically active and involved in their community to make that future better. Their firsthand experience with mental health disorders and treatment will make them more likely than previous generations to talk with their children about emotions and mental health, equip them with social-emotional skills and seek mental health treatment. We expect them to be hands-on parents who value sharing experiences with their children, a reaction to their own highly scheduled childhoods with technology as their babysitter.”
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who:
Joe Waters and Meghan Chaney
where:
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According to a 2020 survey from Global Strategy Group and reported on by New America, 84% of American voters across party lines support paid leave.
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State
Earlier this week, Gov. DeWine signed two executive orders which will direct millions of TANF dollars to nonprofits and faith-based organizations to address addiction and services for low-income families including assistance with affordable housing.
Public school advocates are planning to sue the state over its private school voucher program, due to increased funding for private and home schools in Ohio’s recently passed budget bill. Senate President Matt Huffman believes the voucher system will hold up and that the increased voucher amount will go towards ensuring an appropriate educational setting for each child.
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Federal
In light of recent federal proposals to increase the minimum wage, the Bipartisan Policy Center examines possible consequences this could have on the child care market, given its underlying “structural flaws.”
U.S. News and World Report describes ongoing efforts by Rep. Ayanna Pressley to pass federal legislation addressing childhood trauma. The bill intends to funnel new money to state departments of health to spend on helping families to disrupt cycles of intergenerational trauma.
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Crane senior research associate Dr. Rebecca Dore was quoted in a USA TODAY article focusing on limiting children’s screen time. Dore offers advice for parents and caregivers to focus on activities to replace screen time and to collaborate with their kids to create media plans.
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ZERO TO THREE is hosting a virtual 2-part series on Infant Mental Health. The first session on August 12th from 1-2 pm will focus on perinatal mental health services for Black families and the second session on August 19th from 1-2 pm will focus on supporting child care providers’ well-being. Register here.
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Earlier this week, New Mexico expanded its eligibility for child care assistance to 350% of the FPL (nearly $93,000 a year in annual salary for a family of four) for the next two years. This article highlights the hope that women, specifically women of color, will be able to rejoin the workforce. New Mexico also earns a mention, along with Illinois and Connecticut, in this Early Learning Nation piece focusing on child care innovation.
The governor of Illinois announced that $200 million in federal funds will go towards providing additional training, mentorships, and scholarships for the state’s child care workforce over the next two years. Gov. Pritzker also signed a bill to establish a statewide early childhood consortium to both assist child care workers in earning advanced credentials and to expand access to high-quality care.
This article describes a Houston-area program that helps immigrant women start their own home-based child care businesses.
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Here is a personal essay unlike ones we often read. Published on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation blog, it reflects one man’s experience as a Black Father. “There’s also a cultural piece—caregiving responsibilities can impact someone’s career growth. It’s so important for those in senior positions of power to understand this. Even if you have the right policies in place, people may judge or subtly dismiss those who actually take time off to provide care. Supervisors must lead by example, and be aware of implicit biases.”
The 74 Million features a thoughtful look at what school leaders are doing to meet the mental health needs of students: “As students flood back into classrooms, experts are warning that the anxiety and mental health challenges could increase. Knowing the warning signs will be key to catching challenges early, getting the young person professional help, and possibly saving a life.”
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A research series from EdSurge gives voice to the day-to-day experiences of early childhood educators throughout the pandemic. Compiled by a researcher/labor historian, the series provides an oral history of seven early childhood educators from across the country and from a variety of learning settings, who spoke to researchers from December 2020 to May 2021. As described by EdSurge, “Early childhood educators have faced a year like no other during the pandemic. It’s been a year punctuated by fear, panic, frustration, anxiety and, at times, hope... Through these research activities, we learned, in deeply personal terms, what it looks like to teach young learners, engage with families, run businesses and manage personal and professional stress during the pandemic.”
A study published by an Ohio State associate professor of sociology highlights an important finding: The vast majority (82%) of Americans support paid parental leave, nearly on par with the support level demonstrated by those surveyed in other countries. Researchers did find important distinctions between those surveyed in the U.S. and in the rest of the world. For instance, “Americans also didn’t want as much paid leave as did those from other countries in the survey. People in the United States wanted about four months of leave allocated to new parents. Worldwide, people supported close to 13 months.”
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This edition written by: Jamie Davies O'Leary, Associate Director of Policy and Caitlin Lennon, Communications & Policy Specialist |
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