Early Childhood Health Outdoors (ECHO)

ECHO is hiring! The National Wildlife Federation is seeking an experienced and innovative individual to lead Early Childhood Health Outdoors and foster nationwide efforts to improve and activate children’s built environments. See more info here: nwf.org/ECHO/Connect/j….

PAY PROVIDERS MORE! Over half of early educators rely on public assistance, and, on average, they make $13.51/hour (data: @CSCCEUCB). To make the model more equitable, we must commit to paying educators like the professionals they are. #ThankYouChildCare #ThinkBabies

Q4: More than 90% of child care providers are women, and 40% are people of color. In what ways did you see models of or movement toward a more equitable child care system? Or, how would you like to see change? #ThankYouChildCare

It takes a big heart to help shape little minds. #ThankYouChildCare! #ProviderAppreciationDay

A4 If you want to explore further, view our racial justice webinar series, featuring honest dialogue with experts in the field about the mental health & health trauma that exists because of systemic racism. hubs.li/Q019Lpjz0 #ThankYouChildCare

Today is #ProviderAppreciationDay! Skilled and dedicated early educators help our children learn and grow, supporting their healthy development with the skills they need to take on the world! Thank you to #childcare providers - the profession that makes all other work possible.

@ChildCareAware #Minnesota still has a lot of work to do, especially since the pandemic exacerbated existing racial disparities. Community Solutions Grant Program is one promising policy for supporting young children. Need to continue to remove barriers for BIPOC educators. #ThankYouChildCare

Join us, along with @childcareaware, on Friday, May 6 at 1 pm ET to say #thankyouchildcare and celebrate all that #childcare providers have done in the past year. hubs.li/Q018_FxC0

Thank you so much to everyone who joined our webinar this morning! We will be uploading a full recording to our website soon for all to watch. #ThriveOutside

If you need to win over the hearts and minds of your state policymakers to support #EarlyChildhoodEducation being outside, connect them with places like Washington state who has made it happen! Great ideas and points by @AlizaYair of @waDCYF at #ThriveOutside

“Some of the opportunities children have to climb trees, splash in puddles – you need to embrace and create these opportunities for safe risk-taking in outdoor play.” – Kim Shaw, Owner, A Safe Place Child Enrichment Center, Raleigh NC #ThriveOutside

"This is incremental change. We don’t want to see these things happen over night. Shift those paradigms over time and advocate to ensure every child has access to natural spaces every day." Katie Krause, Nebraska Extension Educator, The Learning Child #ThriveOutside

"Whenever I think about my wish list I think abut the paradigm shift that large metal structure is what children need in early childhood settings, because we know that’s not true there is so much research showing this isn’t true."

And here's evidence of state-level government taking interest in outdoor learning possibilities for young children too! #ECE From the @codepted at #ThriveOutside event:

Here's anecdotal evidence of small #childcare centers making outdoor learning environments a reality! "We are a small center... We wanted to create as many 'yes' 's as possible and so we said that outside, YES you can, jump, play and shout!" -Kim, #ThriveOutside

"We have places that are quiet, sheltered, and that children can escape to." – Kim Shaw, Owner, A Safe Place Child Enrichment Center, Raleigh NC #ThriveOutside

Okay, so we want young children to #ThriveOutside... but what does that look like in small, urban spaces? Like this! And federal funding is available to support this in #earlyed!

"Time spent in high-quality outdoors spaces improves physical health, especially the immune system which has never more important than today. We know that children are 22% more likely to engage in moderate to vigorous activity playing outdoors." - From @echo_nwf #ThriveOutside

This is more than adding some sticks and rocks to playgrounds. We maximize the positive benefits for young children when place meets practice. It’s critical that providers have access to professional development that empowers them to engage young children outside. #ThriveOutside

Specifically, children of color, and children in families living with low incomes are more likely to live in areas without quality parks and green space. The Center for American Progress calls this “The Nature Gap”. #ThriveOutside

Research suggests that children disproportionately suffer the long-term developmental consequences of limited experiences in nature. #ThriveOutside