Article Table of Contents Child Development and Racism Discussing Anti-Racism: Important Terms and Definitions What Does it Mean to be an Anti-Racist Educator? What can Teachers do in Early Learning Settings? Anti-Racist Strategies for Early Learning Programs Child Development and Racism As early childhood professionals, we want all children to thrive and reach their fullest […]

Working with children and families means that, at any given time, at least one, usually more, are experiencing a crisis situation. Whether families experience the unexpected loss of employment, a sudden sickness in the family, or have to shift into quarantine during an international pandemic, they are constantly needing to adapt to and navigate these […]

As we start out this new year, we find ourselves worn out from the emotional toll that 2020 brought. A pandemic, financial challenges, social distancing, a difficult election, a racial reckoning – it was a hard year to say the least. However, in spite of, or possibly as a result of, the challenges, many positive […]

Did you know that a child with an involved father or father-figure is more likely to do better in their education? Studies show their presence can lead to an increase of nearly ½ a year of academic learning over children with less involved fathers! As our culture shifts perspectives and better recognizes the value of […]

Are you looking to give your early literacy activities a spring refresh? Ready to hop into new ways of managing challenging behaviors? Do you want your program’s social-emotional learning to flourish? Just as we have implemented the new, “You Asked, We Answered,” section in our monthly Family Engagement Newsletter, we are offering this new periodic […]

Did you know that in 2016 California repealed Prop 227 which required education only in English? We at QSLA understand that many people reading this post grew up with this educational policy, but recent education policies have changed to reflect a better understanding of the value of the cultural, social-emotional, and educational benefits of bi/multi-lingualism. […]

In our October Family Engagement webinar focused on cultural diversity, Martha Tapia, a QSLA provider, shared “Knowing each other from the point of view of our cultures is very important in knowing each other individually.” We have previously discussed the concepts of diversity and inclusion as integral to building strong relationships with families in our […]

The African proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child,” rings loud and clear in the world of early childhood education. Families depend on us, we depend on them, but may not always remember a crucial third partner – community organizations. As our programs and the families we work with are often busy keeping […]

Our public view of nuclear family structures has changed in the past decades – from a “typical” family, mom and dad married with children – to more diverse family structures. Today, many families are made up of LGBTQ+ parents, single parents, separated/divorced parents, stepfamily members, multiethnic family members, foster/adoptive family members, multigenerational families, biological guardians, […]

Our culture can shape how we view ourselves, our surroundings, and our place in the world. We are often most comfortable in the cultures where we grow up and feel most accepted by those whose cultures are most similar to our own. Let’s consider our own family gatherings and how easy it might be to […]