Blog, News & Events
Insights, Ideas, and Resources for Early Learning
Welcome to the Think Small Blog, your go-to destination for valuable insights, innovative ideas, and inspiring stories in the field of early learning. Dive into a treasure trove of articles crafted by our team of experts, dedicated to empowering child care providers, educators, and families.
Think Small Institute Achieves IACET Accreditation for High-Quality Training for Early Childhood Professionals
Think Small is proud to announce that the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) has accredited Think Small Institute’s professional development in early childhood care and education. This ...
What's in the Budget: Early Care and Education Workforce
It is no secret to those who work in or rely on child care that the field struggled even before the pandemic. The challenge of covering the actual costs ...
2023 Early Care and Education Legislation
There?s now a clearer picture of what will become law in 2023. When it comes to early care and education, there is a lot! We?re still digesting, but here?s ...
Early Care and Education in the Omnibus Bills
State legislators are on Spring Break, and omnibus budget bills are available. An omnibus bill is made up of many other bills centered on a specific topic. State legislators ...
Guest Post: Why Compensation Matters
By Christa Anders, Coordinator, Transforming Minnesota?s Early Childhood Workforce I am so looking forward to 2021!!?Despite a rough start to the year, I am hoping that science will help bring ...
Child Care Provider Sanitizer & Bleach Give Away
Nearly 300 child care providers in the metro area picked up hand sanitizer & bleach beginning in April. The hard-to-find products were made available to child care programs at no ...
Policy Hour - Coronavirus Early Childhood Update
By Cisa Keller, Senior Vice President of Early Childhood Quality Development The April Policy Hour focused on Coronavirus Early Childhood Updates.? Children?s Cabinet Update Stephanie Hogenson, Policy Director for the ...
Guest Post: What Do We Know About Minnesota's Early Childhood Workforce?
By Christa Anders, Coordinator, B8 Early Childhood Workforce Team Minnesota?s early childhood educators are ?the workforce behind the workforce.???These women, and a few men, who care for young children so ...
Early Learning Council Submits Recommendations to Governor
Early Learning Council members are responsible for providing recommendations to the Governor and Legislature on how to create a high-quality, early childhood system in Minnesota that will help improve outcomes ...
Say Thanks to a Child Care Provider!
Happy Child Care Provider Appreciation Day! Today, we recognize the millions of child care providers across the nation who give their time, experience, concern, and skills to our littlest learners ...
Small Talks - Elevating the Early Childhood Profession
Small Talks features leaders who share key insights on early childhood education and discuss innovative solutions to early learning issues in Minnesota. By Kristie Thorson?If this is going to be ...
Policy Hour - Improving the Early Childhood Workforce
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy CoordinatorDecember Policy Hour presenters shared information about state and national initiatives that are working to enhance and improve the early childhood workforce.Power to ...
Policy Hour: Power to the Profession Initiative
Early education is in the spotlight now. That was the message from Kathleen O?Donnnell, Executive Director, and Sara Benzkofer, Director of Policy and Communications, of MnAEYC-MnSACA. The April Policy Hour ...
Policy Hour: Reports Propose Solutions for Early Learning in Minnesota
Legislative Task Force on Child Care Access and Affordability Senator Melissa Wiklund, DFL-Bloomington, was one of the presenters at the February Policy Hour organized by Minnesota?s Future and hosted by ...
Come on In, the Water is Fine! Welcoming New Child Care Staff with a Purpose
Think Small is hosting an event to help child care directors welcome their newest staff members.During this two-hour, interactive session, participants will explore new employee orientation processes and systems that ...
Think Small Resource Fair: Connecting for Children
Join families, child care providers, and child care centers to discuss what you think about parent engagement. Tell us what changes you’d make, or what you want to remain the ...
MNStreams.org Changing to Develop in Summer 2016
Beginning July 1, 2016, MNStreams.org ? Child Care Aware of Minnesota?s current online catalog for face-to-face trainings ? will no longer be accessible. In its place, early learning and school-age ...