The new statewide Indiana Licensing and Education Access Depot (I-LEAD) arrives in July. We’re excited to share the new streamlined solution for managing licensing paperwork, background checks and program information updates. Today, we want to give you some background on how I-LEAD will simplify your child care administrative tasks. Here’s what you need…
Dual language learners have a lot in common with their peers. Just like non-dual language learners, they love to play and laugh, and they want to feel safe and supported. But as you’ve probably noticed, there are also some very important factors that set them apart. Even though all children have things in common, it…
Early Learning Indiana awards $26,500 for healthy development in early learning programs. Thanks to the generous support of the Indiana State Department of Health, Early Learning Indiana awarded $26,500 as part of the Healthy Start! Award Program. The funding opportunity consists of $500 cash prizes for boosting healthy development for children and families receiving care in…
Benefits & Supports in Preschool and Pre-K Imagine two children wrestling. Each child is trying to stay upright and to destabilize the other by using their hands to grab the other person’s waist or ankles. Is your first instinct to separate them? What if we told you that those kids were playfully engaging in…
“One of the most highly effective preventative measures a mother can take to protect the health of her infant and herself is to breastfeed.” — The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding, 2011 As early childhood education professionals, we play an important role with families and their children. And as new…
Thanks to the generous support of the Indiana State Department and the Lilly Endowment, we are happy to provide the Let’s Get Moving grant opportunity. Beginning today, licensed child care centers, registered ministries and licensed family child care homes can apply for $500 grants to increase the physical activity for their children and families. Apply…
Simple tips lead to deliciously healthy, decidedly happy eating experiences! Making sure that children get proper nutrition can be daunting. The challenge grows during the late toddler and preschool years. In their second and third years, children begin to decide what they do and do not like to eat. With that new knowledge, little ones often…
Today, March 8, is International Women’s Day. Started in the early 1900’s as International Working Women’s Day and recognized by the United Nations, the purpose of this day is to commemorate women’s rights. Many also view this day as an opportunity to highlight the power of women in the U.S. workforce. Of the 123 million…
It’s that time of year when we are all anxious to get outside and let the children run! Bright, sunny days pop up every so often, but Indiana’s winter and spring specialize in cold and wet forecasts. When gray, brown, cold days keep children indoors, gross motor activities sometimes get pushed to the side. It’s easy to put…
How can we balance the increasing demands of school readiness with developmentally appropriate practice? Hear from local and national experts and visit preschools in Marion and Indianapolis to discover what high quality early education means. We talk a lot about high-quality early childhood care and education programs, and we all have our own ideas about…