Seminar: Quality is essential in infant/toddler child care
The Better Baby Care Policy and Practices Seminar highlighted the need for policies promoting good health, strong families, and positive early learning experiences for all infants and toddlers. Held on September 27, 2004, the seminar revealed current and promising practices and research underscoring the importance of high quality infant/toddler child care.
Keynote speaker Anne Goldstein, Director of State policy Initiatives for ZERO TO THREE, reminded participants that development in the early years cannot be left to chance because infants and toddlers are in a period of extraordinary growth, impacted by their range of experiences and relationships. By age 3, about 85 percent of the brain’s core structure is formed. The growth period includes social and emotional development, when children learn to regulate emotions and form interpersonal relationships. High quality child care – care that is safe and health, family-centered, and developmentally appropriate – is essential in this period because 61 percent of mothers with children under 3 years old are employed, Goldstein said.
The seminar was designed to help child care stakeholders, including child care providers, administrators, and policymakers, forge new partnerships and advocate for increased opportunities and resources for Pennsylvania’s families and caregivers of infants and toddlers.
Speakers included:
Jennifer Smith-Boss, a training specialist with the Early Head Start National Resource Center at ZERO TO THREE.
Ebonnie Simmons-Hall, Better Baby Care Project Director for Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children.
Mary Mackrain, Michigan’s statewide technical assistance consultant to the Child Care Expulsion Prevention (CCEP) program, and a researcher on building self determination and resiliency among the parents and caregivers of young children.
Sharon Ward, director for child care policy for Philadelphia Citizens for Children and Youth.
Barbara Welsh, policy and advocacy specialist for Voices for America’s Children.
Amy Zoellner, instructor/mentor for the Capital Area Early Childhood Training Institute.
