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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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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

Guest Post: Candidates for Governor Speak Out About Early Education Issues

By Ericca Maas, Close Gaps by 5 My organization is focused on closing Minnesota’s worst-in-the-nation achievement gaps, which means closing the early education opportunity gaps facing the 35,000 low-income Minnesota ...

achievement gap, Child Care, early care and education, Early education, Early Learning Scholarships, Equity in Minnesota, Minnesota Governor, Minnesota Opportunity Gap, Parent Aware, Quality Child Care

Small Talks - Text Me: Turning Everyday Moments into Early Learning Experiences

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 Text Me: Turning ...

brain development, early childhood education, Early Learning, infants and toddlers, Kindergarten Readiness, Minnesota Opportunity Gap, school readiness, Think Small ParentPowered Texts, Think Small Texts

Early Learning Scholarships Are Critical for Children in Child Protection

The Policies in Play series takes a closer look at the recently passed state legislative policies that affect early care and education. We work with partners to find out what ...

#policiesinplay, brain development, Child Care Assistance Program, Early Learning Scholarships, high quality child care, Kindergarten Readiness, minnesota achievement gap, Minnesota Early Learning, Minnesota Legislature, Minnesota Opportunity Gap, Safe Passage for Children

Policies in Play

Join us on the playground as we explore Policies in Play! Think Small believes that placing a priority on children and their families through access to high quality early childhood ...

#policiesinplay, achievement gap, Child Care, Child Care Assistance Program, Child Care Development Block Grant, Early Learning Scholarships, Equity in Minnesota, Greater Minnesota, high quality child care, Kindergarten Readiness, Minnesota child care, Minnesota Early Learning, Minnesota Legislature, Minnesota Opportunity Gap, Parent Aware

Early Learning Investment - Turn Up the Volume!

By Todd Otis The early childhood movement has come a long way in the past twenty years, and has a long way to go. The public now understands the importance ...

early learning in Minnesota, Early Learning Scholarships, high quality child care, infants and toddlers, Kindergarten Readiness, Minnesota Early Learning, Minnesota Legislative Session, Minnesota Legislature, Minnesota Opportunity Gap

Using LENA to Help Close the Word Gap

By: Gerri Fisher This month marks one year since the start of the Think Small blog. To celebrate, we’re using January to highlight information and initiatives from Think Small and ...

Early education, early literacy, Infants, infants and toddlers, LENA, LENA Start Program, Minnesota Early Learning, Minnesota Opportunity Gap, Toddlers, word gap

Prenatal to Three Policy Forums: Working Together for A Great Start

This month marks one year since the start of the Think Small blog. To celebrate, we’re using January to highlight information and initiatives from Think Small and our partners about ...

0 to 3, brain development, Dave Pinto, high quality child care, Infants, infants and toddlers, Minnesota, Minnesota Early Learning, Minnesota Legislative Session, Minnesota Legislature, Minnesota Opportunity Gap, St. Paul, Toddlers

Closing Opportunity Gaps to Shrink Achievement Gaps

By: Maya Fanjul-Debnam The opportunity gap is one of the biggest obstacles our education system faces today. As highlighted in a Minnpost op-ed written by Think Small President, Barbara Yates: ...

achievement gap, early childhood education, Early education, Kindergarten Readiness, MCAs, minnesota achievement gap, minnesota early education, Minnesota Opportunity Gap, National Opportunity to Learn Campaign, opportunity gap

Word Pedometers Brought to Minneapolis to Help Close Word Gap

By: Maya Fanjul-Debnam Minnesota is heralding in an innovative program to help close the word gap. The word gap–a 30 million word deficit between children from low income families and ...

brain development, Child Care, closing word gap, early literacy, LENA Research Foundation, LENA Start Program, Minnesota child care, Minnesota Early Learning, Minnesota Education, Minnesota Opportunity Gap, Quality Child Care, word gap

Early Learning Scholarship Helps Prepare Child for Kindergarten

Meet Lisa Wilson. She is a single mother to a rambunctious 4 year-old. They try hard to make ends meet every month, but sometimes it just didn’t work out. Child ...

Early Learning Scholarship, Minnesota Early Learning, Minnesota Opportunity Gap