We educate, advocate, and collaborate to advance the healthy development of infants, toddlers, and their families.

  
February eNews

2021 Build Up! Pre-Conference Workshop
The Brain Architecture Game Facilitated by First3Years Staff
March 1st | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

ONLY 10 SPOTS LEFT! REGISTER NOW!!
 

This presentation will feature an interactive presentation of the brain architecture game, a small-group, virtual 'tabletop' experience where attendees will engage in constructing a brain to understand the powerful role of early experiences on brain development. This activity will provide attendees with an understanding that early experiences shape the structure of our brains - for better or worse. A facilitated discussion will aid in interaction as players carefully design models depicting the science of early brain development.

Pricing:
Member: $10
Non-Member: $15
Student: $5*
*To receive student discount code email info@first3yearstx.org

Earn 2 CEUS 
2021 Build Up! Conference
Build Up! Conference: Focus on the Fundamentals
Presented By United Way of Metropolitan Dallas County HOPES Program


 March 2nd & March 3rd
 
 
In March of 2021, the Build Up! Conference will be held virtually over 3 days. The opening keynote will be jointly presented by the co-creators of the "Simple Interactions" approach - Dr. Junlei Li, Saul Zaentz Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Dr. Dana Winters, faculty director of the Fred Rogers Center at Saint Vincent College. Dr. Li and Winters will present on a strengths-based perspective as they dive into how providers are essential in creating "deep and simple" interactions and how interpersonal relationships are key to promoting resilience, and supporting families in difficult times, even across distances. They will also focus on how relationships and interactions impact all aspects of our Early Childhood Education system work. Additionally, they will host an interactive workshop to support the creation of a common language and understanding of "simple" and developmental interactions that links knowledge to practice.
 
The closing keynote will be presented by Dr. Yvonne Ator, Certified Daring Way Facilitator Coach, Facilitator, and Advocate Founder, Thriving Idealist. Dr. Ator will present a lecture with additional Q&A time; her presentation will explore Rumbling with Vulnerability - How to Answer Your Call to Courage. Attendees will discuss and learn skills such as the myths of vulnerability and how to dispel them, how to rumble with hard conversations, how to enter the cave we fear, how shame shows up at work, the components of courage, the armor that keeps us from being seen at work, and how empathy and self-compassion help us enter the arena where we desire to show up and be seen and lead.
 
Pricing:
Member: $40
Non-Member: $65
Bundle (Membership + Entry): $90
Student:$25*
*To receive student discount code email info@first3yearstx.org
 
Earn 5 CEUs

Thank you to our conference sponsors:








Baby Dash


Join us for our 2nd Annual Baby Dash taking place
 May 22-23, 2021, anytime and anyplace. 

What's a virtual race? You can complete your race at your convenience anywhere and anytime on Saturday, May 22nd or Sunday, May 23rd. Available race options include a 5K walk/run, a 10K walk/run, a 1/2 marathon, a 20K bike ride, a 40K bike ride, or our Couch Potato option. Each registrant will receive an official Baby Dash moisture wicking tee or cotton tank, a Baby Dash bib, AND the first 75 registrants will receive a finishers medal! 

We encourage you to sign up and invite your friends and families all across the globe to share in some togetherness while social distanced!

To learn more or to register, click HERE.

Baby Day


We would like to thank our supporters and partners who made Baby Day 2021 possible! 

SUPPORTERS























PARTNERS
Aetna | Any Baby Can | Arlington Public Library | Austin Child Guidance Center | Bachman Lake Together | Botanical Research Institute of Texas | Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston| Children's Learning Institute | Children's Museum of Houston | City of San Marcos Parks & Recreation and Total Wellness | Collaborative for Children | Community Action, Inc. | Dallas Museum of Art | Dallas Public Library | Easter Seals of Greater Houston | First3Years | Fort Worth Public Library | Fred Rogers Center | Get Parenting Tips - Prevention and Early Intervention | Harris County Public Library | HCDE Head Start | Help Me Grow North Texas | Houston Symphony | KERA | Mayor Brandon Capetillo of Baytown | Mayor Betsy  Price of Fort Worth | Metrocare Services | Mi Casa Es Tu Casa | Mindful Being | Momentous Institute | Mothers' Milk Bank of North Texas | My Health My Resources of Tarrant County | Parent Engagement for Active Child Enrichment | Play Studio by Green Space | Prelude Music Foundation | Representative James Talarico | Representative Mary González | Rice University's Baker Institute | San Antonio Public Library | SEARCH Homeless Services | SJRC TX | Songs for Seeds | Start Smart Hays & Caldwell | Texas Christian University Music Preparatory Division | The Center for Children's Health led by Cook Children's Medical Center | The Children's Shelter | The Houston Basics | The Warren Center | UH Healthy Start | UNT Health Science - Pediatric Mobile Unit | UNT Health Science - Healthy Start | Uplift Education | UT Dallas Center for Children and Families | UT Dallas Infant Neurodevelopment & Language Research Lab - Baby Brain Lab | YMCA of Greater Houston | Yoga N Da Hood 
Trainings
February Webinars
Partnering with Caregivers to Support Relationship-Based Transitions: Using Child Development as a Guide
With Heather Pugh, MS
Have you ever heard the expression "the only constant is change?" One person may embrace change for its excitement, whereas others dreads the same upcoming transition. The term transition literally means that something is changing. Although we work hard to weave consistency and predictability into our lives, sometimes life throws us something crazy, like a global pandemic. Having a lack of control is particularly hard for us, but especially true for our very young, routine-craving children. Things just change. As uncomfortable as it may feel, we adapt and lean into vulnerability when we transition. However, not all transitions are equal, and everyone experiences them differently. In life, there are monumental moments (also known as transitions) like the birth of a baby, moving to a new state, or starting a new job. Yet, what about the daily transitions that are not few and far between? Each child in your life is an individual and will experience transitions in their own way. It's important that we make purposeful transitions for everyone's sake and sanity. In this webinar, we will not only examine why some children have a harder time with transitions, but also support caregivers in navigating some of the different kinds of transitions that go on in young children's lives, using a developmental lens to guide us.
 

 
For more information, click HERE
Online Courses Are Now Available!
The first phase of the online courses is now available at no cost to members. 
This phase includes the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Track, this track includes the following courses:

-Introduction to Infant Mental Health-
-Developmental Milestones and Delays-
-Early Relational Health and Sensitive Caregiving-
-Early Brain Development, Attachment and Bonding-
 
View the courses here

Endorsement Renewal Change
Endorsed? 

You will now submit your annual Endorsement renewal through the EASy system! Learn more HERE.
 
Bright By Text
As our community partner, we would like to remind you to submit requests to share information about local resources and events to Bright By Text families in Harris County: Bright By Text for Partners!
 
We also need your help getting the word out about Bright by Text to families in Harris County. Please also refer to our Bright By Text for Families/para Families page for sample language which you are welcome to adapt and share with your clients and community members. 
Career Opportunities
We are hiring!
First3Years is seeking qualified professionals to fill the following role: