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.

Discover practical tips, evidence-based strategies, and the latest research findings to support children aged 0-5 on their journey to kindergarten readiness. From fostering social-emotional development to promoting cognitive skills, our blog covers a wide range of topics, ensuring you stay informed and equipped to make a positive impact on young lives.

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In home child care provider teaching amids preschoolers standing in a circle

Family Child Care Program Set to Expand to Meet Child Care Needs in Minneapolis

“I fell in love with teaching children,” shares Sally Boyd, director of Personality Childcare Learning Center in North Minneapolis. Boyd has served more than 600 children in the 20 years ...

covid-19, Family Child Care

Update: Child Care Licensing Modernization Project

Last year we shared a blog post and timeline for early care and education projects underway in Minnesota. In this post we’re checking in on the Child Care Regulation Modernization ...

Child Care Legislation, Family Child Care, How to Advocate, Marie Huey

Early Education Spotlight: Buttons & Bows Child Care

By Marie Huey, Public Policy & Advocacy CoordinatorVideo by Kristie Thorson, Communications Specialist Early Education Spotlight is an ongoing series that showcases great work happening in high-quality child care and ...

Child Care, early childhood education, early childhood education minnesota, Early Education Spotlight, early learning in Minnesota, Family Child Care, Family Child Care Providers, Parent Aware

Advocate for Early Learning at the Great MN Get-Together!

By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator The Minnesota State Fair is a great time to put your advocacy skills to work! With so many organizations and resources, you don’t have ...

advocacy, Child Care in Minnesota, early childhood education, Early education, early learning in Minnesota, Family Child Care, Minnesota state fair, mnleg

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 ...

child care deserts, daycare, Early CHildhood, early childhood education, early childhood workforce, Early education, early learning in Minnesota, Family Child Care

Early Education Spotlight - My Friends Christian Child Care and Preschool

Child Care, early childhood education, early childhood education minnesota, Early Education Spotlight, early learning in Minnesota, Family Child Care, Family Child Care Providers, Nature Certified Backyard, Parent Aware

Policy Hour: Play, Parents and Policy

By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator The November Ann Kaner-Roth Policy Hour focused on play, parents and policy. One of the presenters was Katy Smith, a Parent Educator who ...

Child Care, early childhood education, early childhood education minnesota, Early education, Early Education Policies, Family Child Care, infants and toddlers, Kindergarten Readiness, Minnesota Early Learning, Play, Toddlers

Small Talks: True Costs to Families and Early Child Care Educators

Small Talks features leaders who share key insights on early childhood education and discuss innovative solutions to early learning issues in Minnesota. Inadequate investment, scholarship caps, complicated funding streams, and ...

achievement gap, early childhood education, Early education, Early Education Policies, Early Learning Scholarships, Economic Development, Family Child Care, Kindergarten Readiness, minnesota achievement gap, Minnesota child care, Minnesota Early Learning, Minnesota Legislature, Minnesota Opportunity Gap, Parent Aware, Quality Child Care

U.S. Senator Tina Smith Introduces Bill to Improve Access to Child Care

U.S. Senator Tina Smith introduced a new bill aimed at reducing the child care shortage in Minnesota and across the nation. The Child Care Supply Improvement Act proposes supports for ...

Child Care, early childhood education, Early education, Early Education Policies, early learning in Minnesota, Family Child Care, high quality child care, infants and toddlers, Quality Child Care

Learning from the Data We Seek

Think Small’s mission as a nonprofit is to advance quality care and education of children in their crucial early years. We do this by preparing providers, strengthening families and catalyzing ...

Child Care, early childhood education, Early Education Policies, early learning in Minnesota, Early Learning Scholarships, Equity in Minnesota, Family Child Care, high quality child care, infants and toddlers, Minnesota Early Learning, Minnesota Legislature, Nonprofit, Parent Aware, Quality Child Care

An Encouraging Find: Another Potential Benefit of Parent Aware

“The survey results show that Parent Aware-rated programs across all parts of Minnesota were twice as likely to have stayed in business than non-rated programs.” High-quality early learning, as defined ...

Child Care, early childhood education, Early education, Early Learning, early learning in Minnesota, Early Learning Scholarships, Family Child Care, high quality child care, infants and toddlers, Minnesota child care, Minnesota Early Learning, Minnesota Legislature, Nonprofit, Parent Aware, Quality Child Care

Policy Hour: Legislative Wrap-Up

By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator The 2018 legislative session ended on May 22. To explain the implications for the early care and education field, two experts joined ...

Child Care, early childhood education, Early education, Early Learning, early learning in Minnesota, Family Child Care, Governor Mark Dayton, high quality child care, Kindergarten Readiness, Minnesota Legislative Session, Minnesota Legislature, Minnesota's future

Policy Hour: St. Paul's Citywide 3K Proposal

By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator Saint Paul is planning for a citywide 3K program, and Council Member Rebecca Noecker joined May’s Ann Kaner-Roth Policy Hour to explain ...

Child Care, early childhood education, Early education, Early Education Policies, Early Learning, early learning in Minnesota, Early Learning Scholarships, Family Child Care, high quality child care, Kindergarten Readiness

Picturing Brighter Futures

By Kristie Thorson At Think Small, we picture a brighter future for Minnesota’s kids. We picture a day when ALL young children have access to high-quality early care and education ...

early childhood education minnesota, Early education, Early Learning, early learning in Minnesota, Early Learning Scholarships, Family Child Care, high quality child care

Policy Hour: National Update

By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator The Minnesota State Legislature was off for Easter/Passover Break this week, so Ann Kaner-Roth Policy Hour turned its focus to national issues. ...

Child Care, Child Care Development Block Grant, early childhood education, Early Education Policies, Early Learning, Family Child Care, Greater Minnesota, high quality child care, Quality Child Care

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 ...

B8 workforce, Child Care, early childhood education, early childhood workforce, Early education, early learning in Minnesota, Family Child Care, high quality child care, power to the profession

Early Education Spotlight: Big Red House

Early Education Spotlight is an ongoing series that showcases great work happening in high-quality child care and preschool settings across Minnesota. From innovative early learning programs to parent perspectives on ...

Child Care, early childhood education, Early education, Early Education Spotlight, Early Learning, early learning in Minnesota, Family Child Care, high quality child care, Parent Aware, Quality Child Care

Small Talks - Don't Expel Me: Social Emotional Strategies for a More Inclusive Child Care Program

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, Communications Specialist The third Small ...

early childhood education, Early Education Policies, early learning in Minnesota, Equity in Minnesota, Family Child Care, high quality child care, Kindergarten Readiness, Minnesota child care, Minnesota Early Learning, Nonprofit

Policy Hour - Early Childhood Data

By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator January Policy Hour started with a special announcement: the event is now named the Ann Kaner-Roth Policy Hour. Ann served as the ...

Child Care, Early education, Early Education Policies, early learning in Minnesota, Family Child Care, high quality child care, Kindergarten Readiness, Minnesota child care, Minnesota Legislature, Policy Hour, Quality Child Care

Policy Hour - Improving the Early Childhood Workforce

By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator December Policy Hour presenters shared information about state and national initiatives that are working to enhance and improve the early childhood workforce. ...

early childhood education, Early education, Early Learning, early learning in Minnesota, Family Child Care, Minnesota child care, Minnesota Early Learning, Minnesota's future, Quality Child Care

Early Education Spotlight: The Teddy Bear House

Child Care, early childhood education, Early Learning, Early Learning Scholarships, Family Child Care, Greater Minnesota, high quality child care, Minnesota child care, Minnesota Early Learning, Parent Aware, Quality Child Care

Policy Hour - Changes to Child Care in Minnesota

Staff from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) presented at November Policy Hour about the changes to child care in Minnesota. During the 2017 legislative session, many changes ...

Child Care, Child Care Assistance Program, Family Child Care, high quality child care, Minnesota child care, Minnesota Early Learning, Parent Aware, Quality Child Care

Policy Hour: Parent Aware Changes & Legislative Update

The final Policy Hour of the season was a double dose of early education information! We heard about changes to Parent Aware and received an end of legislative session update. ...

Child Care, early childhood education, Early education, Early Education Policies, Early Learning, Family Child Care, high quality child care, Minnesota child care, Minnesota Early Learning

Legislative Wrap-Up: How did Early Learning Fare?

Minnesota legislators wrapped up the special session last week, and the Governor signed budget bills into law. Read about the new policies and programs that affect early learning throughout the ...

Early education, Early Education Policies, Early Learning, Early Learning Scholarships, Family Child Care, high quality child care, Minnesota child care, Minnesota Early Learning, Minnesota Legislative Session

Early Education Spotlight: Little Wonders Daycare

By Marie Huey, Public Policy & Advocacy Coordinator Video by Kristie Thorson, Communications Specialist Early Education Spotlight is an ongoing series that showcases great work happening in child care and ...

Child Care, early childhood education, Early Education Spotlight, early learning in Minnesota, Family Child Care, high quality child care, Kindergarten Readiness

Early Education Spotlight: Little Angels Child Care

By: Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator Early Education Spotlight is an ongoing series that showcases great work happening in child care and preschool settings across Minnesota. From innovative ...

Early Education Spotlight, Family Child Care

Early Education Spotlight: Little World of Angels

Early Education Spotlight, Family Child Care

Early Education Spotlight: Achcha's Daycare

By: Marie Huey Early Education Spotlight is an ongoing series that showcases great work happening in child care and preschool settings across Minnesota. From innovative early learning programs to parent ...

Early Education Spotlight, Family Child Care, Hennepin County, Minnesota Early Learning, Montessori, Parent Aware, Richfield

Early Education Spotlight: Country Kids Childcare

By: Marie Huey Early Education Spotlight is an ongoing series that showcases great work going on in child care and preschool settings across Minnesota. From innovative early learning programs to ...

Early Education Spotlight, Family Child Care, Greater Minnesota, outdoor learning, Zimmerman

Quality Child Care Impacts Karen Community in Minnesota

This is the first in a series of videos showing the impact high-quality early learning has on children, families and child care providers across Minnesota. Check back here for a new ...

Family Child Care

Blog, News & Events

Insights, Ideas, and Resources for Early Learning

Family Child Care Program Set to Expand to Meet Child Care Needs in Minneapolis

Update: Child Care Licensing Modernization Project

Early Education Spotlight: Buttons & Bows Child Care

Advocate for Early Learning at the Great MN Get-Together!

Guest Post: What Do We Know About Minnesota's Early Childhood Workforce?

Early Education Spotlight - My Friends Christian Child Care and Preschool

Policy Hour: Play, Parents and Policy

Small Talks: True Costs to Families and Early Child Care Educators

U.S. Senator Tina Smith Introduces Bill to Improve Access to Child Care

Learning from the Data We Seek

An Encouraging Find: Another Potential Benefit of Parent Aware

Policy Hour: Legislative Wrap-Up

Policy Hour: St. Paul's Citywide 3K Proposal

Picturing Brighter Futures

Policy Hour: National Update

Small Talks - Elevating the Early Childhood Profession

Early Education Spotlight: Big Red House

Small Talks - Don't Expel Me: Social Emotional Strategies for a More Inclusive Child Care Program

Policy Hour - Early Childhood Data

Policy Hour - Improving the Early Childhood Workforce

Early Education Spotlight: The Teddy Bear House

Policy Hour - Changes to Child Care in Minnesota

Policy Hour: Parent Aware Changes & Legislative Update

Legislative Wrap-Up: How did Early Learning Fare?

Early Education Spotlight: Little Wonders Daycare

Early Education Spotlight: Little Angels Child Care

Early Education Spotlight: Little World of Angels

Early Education Spotlight: Achcha's Daycare

Early Education Spotlight: Country Kids Childcare

Quality Child Care Impacts Karen Community in Minnesota

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