HOT TOPICS
In 2019, the center-based childcare and early education workforce faced unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This snapshot from the National Survey of Early Care and Education describes important aspects of the employment experiences of this workforce during the early months of the pandemic and to explore how these experiences varied by race and ethnicity. The percentages of 2019 early childhood center (not including public schools) teachers and assistants who were still teaching in these centers fell sharply from February 2020 to October 2020 and most of this workforce experienced work disruptions.
Read the brief here.
NIEER ACTIVITY
Are you interested in the role of play in early childhood education? Check out our latest research note and brief, part of the Legos Path to Play Research project, which explores classroom observation tools and their ability to capture the facilitation of playful learning.
Read the Research Note on Measuring Play Facilitation here.
Read the Policy Brief on Playful Learning in Colombia here.
Learn more about the Lego Paths to Play Project here.
Components to Consider When Planning City Preschool Programs Webinar Series
Are you a city leader interested in implementing a successful preschool program? Join NIEER for our upcoming webinars, where we’ll delve deeper into the components to consider when planning city preschool programs. Our expert panel will discuss important themes from our recent brief and offer valuable insights into how you can create a high-quality preschool program that benefits your community.
We’ll be in conversation with leaders from Alameda County, CA, Multnomah County, OR, and St. Paul, MN, about the most important questions and considerations policymakers should ask as they approach planning to implement or expand pre-K.
Register now
April 20th at 3 pm – 4:15 pm ET | Making government work for kids: governance models for local pre-K programs
We’ll be in conversation with leaders from Denver, New Orleans, and San Antonio about how they have approached governance for their early childhood programs and what lessons they might share with other program leaders.
ECE RESEARCH
Researchers examined the relationship between creativity at kindergarten and multi-level ecological contexts including neighborhood safety, parenting quality, home environment, and center-based preschool enrollment. They found that children from lower-income backgrounds who experience high-quality parenting and safe neighborhoods tend to score higher on measures of curiosity.
Read the study here.
The impact of screen time (both TV and mobile devices) on young children has been a topic of concern for many parents and professionals. A recent study aimed to investigate the relationship between screen time and school readiness in preschool children. The Metropolitan Readiness Test was utilized to measure school readiness.
Read the study here.
According to a study from researchers at Vanderbilt University, caregivers’ emotional experiences and attunement with the child affect preschoolers’ overall tendencies towards positive emotions in everyday interactions. The study investigated the correlation between caregiver emotional experiences and external behaviors and children’s general positive affect tendencies. Findings suggest that caregivers’ emotional experiences and attunement help shape preschoolers’ positive affect tendencies.
Read the study here.
A recent review of research on mobile learning in early childhood education in Indonesia has emphasized the potential benefits of this approach in providing accessible, engaging, and effective education to all children in the country. However, the review also highlights the need for effective policies and initiatives to tackle issues related to digital infrastructure, access, and teacher training to realize the full potential of mobile learning.
Read the review here.
The Effect of Role-Playing Methods on Social-emotional Development in Preschool Children
According to a review conducted by researchers from Indonesia, the use of role-play has a significant impact on the social and emotional development of preschool-aged children. The findings of this study highlight the importance of incorporating role-playing activities into early childhood education programs to promote healthy social-emotional development.
Read the review here.
OPPORTUNITIES AND JOB OPENINGS
The Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation is soliciting applications for Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data grants. This funding opportunity aims to support researchers conducting secondary analyses of data to address key questions of relevance to Head Start, Early Head Start, American Indian Alaska Native, and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs.
Apply here.
Senior Policy Analyst, Early Childhood Education, New America