Small Talk: Big Ideas About Little Learners

Early childhood educators don't just teach children. They navigate complex social systems on behalf of families, connecting them to resources like food, shelter, mental health, and immigration services. NAEYC's Alissa Mwenelupembe talks with former NAEYC Governing Board President and Executive Director Jerlean Daniel and DC Public School kindergarten teacher Rahshita Lowe-Watson about supporting f...

It seemed fair to pay early childhood educators the same as K-12 teachers with similar education and experience. Taxpayers and policymakers in Washington, DC, agreed, setting up the Pay Equity Fund. The move increased ECE salaries by $15,000 per year, stabilizing the workforce and opening more childcare slots for families. NAEYC’s Daniel Hains talks with DCAEYC Executive Director Berna Artis and M...

For decades, researchers in early childhood development have documented evidence that young children learn best while doing what they do best: playing. CEO Michelle Kang explores the importance of play in helping little learners build foundational skills in literacy, math, and more, in a conversation with author, Temple University Professor, and Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Kathy Hirsh-Pase...

Three NAEYC CEOs, spanning 25 years of leadership, reflect on what it means to lead the early childhood education field through periods of upheaval, uncertainty, and change. As NAEYC kicks off its centennial year, CEO Michelle Kang sits down with two of her predecessors to talk about where the early learning field has been and where we are going. Host: Michelle Kang, NAEYC CEO Guests: Mark Ginsber...

How important is play to a child’s brain development? Why do Americans pay so much for child care while educators earn so little? How can families and policymakers work together to shape the future of early learning? NAEYC, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, presents Small Talk: Big Ideas About Little Learners. CEO Michelle Kang and her colleagues dive into conversations...