Your Child’s Amazing Brain

A few weeks ago, two of my colleagues and I had a wonderful opportunity to meet with Professor Phil Zelazo at the Institute for Child Development, University of Minnesota. Professor Zelazo’s primary area of research is called Executive Function. This label may sound misleading at first because it is not about how business executives plan their day: rather it is research into how people make conscious decisions and work flexibly towards a goal, including planning, controlling impulses, and selecting relevant information.

Surprisingly, research has shown that executive function begins to develop in very young children with impressive growth between ages three and four, the primary ages studied by Professor Zelazo.

And why is executive function important? As children develop they not only need to know facts and possess skills, they also need to be able to self-regulate and to sort through information to decide what information is important to attend to, in what circumstances, and what information can be ignored. They need to learn to persist on tasks even when distracted by irrelevant information. And they need to be able to respond flexibly when new rules or new circumstances present themselves rather than persisting in behaviors that are no longer relevant to new expectations.

As a parent, it is important that you ensure that your child is exposed to an environment with positive social interactions and rich language experiences to support their cognitive and emotional development. In addition, remember that purposeful play, particularly with realistic themes and props, is a critical developmental opportunity and can help support development of self-regulatory skills.

A great overview of Executive Function and how it develops can be found in a series of articles by Professor Zelazo on the About Kids website. Although research has shown that training can facilitate development of these skills, the development of executive function is related to the development of the brain that occurs even before birth and throughout a lifetime.

Another great resource for learning more about the brain of developing infants can be found on the Zero to Three website in the Baby Brain Map. This “map” provides great information about the development of relevant areas of the brain throughout the infant/toddler years, such as vision and hearing in newborns and language and cognition in two-year-olds.

Although parents do not need to be neuroscientists, understanding how your child’s brain is developing can provide great insight into your child and the amazing changes they go through as they grow. We will continue to explore how early experiences can shape the brain and, in turn, impact your child’s cognitive and social development. Let me know if you have interest in a particular subject and I’ll be sure to cover it.

Meeting First Lady Michelle Obama - In Support of Work Life Solutions

Periodically, I welcome a guest to join me on my blog. This week, Fran Durekas, Chief Development Officer of Children’s Creative Learning Centers (CCLC) is joining us to discuss her recent trip to Washington D.C. and her opportunity to spend time with First Lady Michelle Obama.  

During my visit to DC on May 7, 2009 I had the opportunity to attend Corporate Voices’ 2009 Annual meeting.  This was my first opportunity to attend a Corporate Voices event and clearly this was not a typical meeting.  What made this meeting unique was a visit from the First Lady, Michelle Obama.  I was truly anxious and unsure what my experience would be like. How long would she stay?  Would she engage with the audience? What information would she share with everyone in attendance?

When the First Lady entered the room, there was a common reaction amongst the more than 80 guests. First, complete quiet followed by quick commentary at the tables.  My reaction was more of disbelief that I was one of a few honored guests to be so close to her while she sat and listened to Donna Klien, President and Founder of Corporate Voices, gracefully introduce her.  As the First Lady began her speech, she immediately added humor and brought a sense of ease as she shared her past experience as a working mom.  She was really no different from the many working moms in the room.  The difference now is that she has the awesome responsibility of raising her two girls, supporting her husband’s new career and balancing her life in the public eye. 

The First Lady did not mince words when sharing her support of sick days with pay and flexible work schedules. She strongly believes that workers should have paid sick days, schedules that give them time for their family responsibilities—such as picking up children from school or taking an aging parent to a doctor’s appointment—and quality child care on the job.  As a provider of Work Place Child Care I was pleased that she noted the need for this benefit.  She also praised the work that Corporate Voices was doing and commended the audience for their commitment to providing the best work environment for their employees.

As she wrapped up her speech, the First Lady kindly approached the audience and took the time to shake hands and greet members of the audience individually.  When she approached where I was standing, I was in disbelief that I was only seconds from meeting the First Lady.  Many things ran through my head. What do I say to her? Do I tell her my youngest daughter wants to have a play date with her daughters or that my passion is providing quality learning experiences for children? Do I thank her for her support of early childhood education?  Well, there simply was not time to share all of my thoughts, but simply an acknowledgement of my appreciation for her time and for her outstanding work. 

Once the First Lady left the room, I sat for a while and reflected on the important message she delivered.  We have an awesome responsibility as mothers in the work place.  It is our responsibility to set our own path and to ensure we are giving 120% all the time. This is how we can make a difference in the life of a child and for ourselves as women.

Want to be inspired by the First Lady? You can review the transcript of her speech online.

About Fran Durekas, Founder and Chief Development Officer, CCLC

Fran Durekas is Founder and Chief Development Officer for CCLC, a leading provider of employer-sponsored early childhood education and care. In this capacity, she provides executive leadership and support for new center openings, long-term strategy development for centers and client relations. She also assists with CCLC center design, construction and program recommendations.

Durekas brings to her position over twenty years experience in early childhood education and care. Her experience in early childhood education, new center development and extensive knowledge of LEED certified requirements for green construction, coupled with an impressive client list also led to project management and consulting relationships with dozens of other childcare providers throughout her career.

Over the years, Durekas has been an active member of state and national child care organizations. She is currently an active member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and a Board member for both the California Polytechnic State University’s Child Development Department and the Eco-Healthy Child Care Advisory Committee. She is also actively involved in planning and public speaking for the World Forum on Early Care and Education, World @ Work and Milken Global Conference. In October 2005, Durekas was chosen as the Alumni of the Year at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for her contributions to the field of Early Childhood Development.

Fran has had all three of her children at CCLC and enjoys not only being the Founder, but also seeing our programs from a parent’s perspective. She holds a degree in Human Development from the California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo and has been certified through Boston College’s Work/Life Program.

Our Most Important Investment: The Education of Our Future Generation

Just last month the Department of Health and Human Services released $2 billion in supplemental “stimulus” funding for child care, and it has begun to release $2.1 billion in funding for Head Start.  These funds will help states cope with increasing demand for services as a result of the recession.  More importantly, however, they are the first major investment in a decade in our most important resource—our future generation. As parents I don’t need to tell you that the experiences that a child has during the first five years of life are essential to that child’s success in school and into adulthood. Approximately 70% of brain development occurs by age three, and 90% by age five. By nine months children begin to develop a sense of their own capabilities to accomplish new and challenging tasks. And by the time children reach five years-of-age they have developed the cognitive, linguistic, social and emotional foundation on which all future development depends. There is a brief window of opportunity in each child’s life to support the development of the formative skills needed for success in school and in later life. And we, as parents and as a society, have the ability and responsibility to help each child develop his or her full potential by ensuring that our children are nurtured and supported in their development during their earliest years.

Investing in our youngest children not only benefits the children and families themselves, but there is now conclusive evidence that high quality early childhood education yields overwhelming economic benefits. A 2005 study by the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research organization, found that every dollar invested in early childhood education leads to a return of $2.62, as well as additional benefits to the state, such as reduced crime and greater international competitiveness. A 2007 study by the Economic Policy Institute calculated the return on a targeted program at $12.10. And in what has become one of the most cited studies on the economic impact of early childhood education, Nobel Laureate James Heckman found that the return on an investment in high quality early childhood education could be as much as 17%. All combined, these studies suggest that our society has not only a moral imperative, but also a financial one to support working families or any parent who wants their child to participate in high quality early childhood education programs.

What can you do to help? First and foremost, never take for granted the importance of your interactions with your child, even when you may not see the immediate benefits of your actions. For example, vocabulary development among infants and toddlers depends on the child’s language experiences during those critical years—so talk to your child as much as possible and give them early exposure to books and oral language. And you have an equally important role in becoming an advocate for improved social policy and funding in support of early childhood education. Reach out to your local and national representatives to let them know that you support continued investments in early childhood education to ensure the success of each individual child and of our nation as a whole. We need to make sure that when the stimulus funding runs out, that we continue to meet the need for early care and education.  As we look to the future in these trying times, the long term hope for a sustainable  economic recovery depends investments in our greatest natural resource and our most vulnerable citizens—all of our children.

Great Teachers Give Life to the Dreams of Our Children

From the moment students enter a school, the most important factor in their success is not the color of their skin or the income of their parents, it’s the person standing at the front of the classroom.

-President Barack Obama speaking to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, March 9, 2009

So many of us remember that one teacher who helped us read our first words or explained a math concept we never thought we’d understand. And sadly, how many remember the teacher who made you lose interest in music or history or science? One great teacher has the power to impact literally hundreds and thousands of lives, ignite the passion for learning, and open an infinite number of doors to a better future for our world for generations to come. There is no more meaningful opportunity nor greater responsibility. Great teachers give life to the dreams of our children.

But unlike the teacher in front of the classroom that President Obama described, teachers of today do not just stand in front of classrooms. Great teachers are just as important in early childhood education, where they are rarely seen at the “front” of a room. They are seemingly everywhere in the classroom, ensuring that there are purposeful learning activities in interest centers all around the room. They talk individually with children, listening to their words and encouraging them to take risks and master new skills and concepts in a safe and positive environment. And they always find the time to partner with you as parents, each child’s most important teacher, bridging the gap between your home and their school environment. At the other end of the spectrum, as technology becomes a critical component of our educational system, that great teacher may be a virtual teacher, but is still there to guide, support, and enhance a child’s or adult’s learning experience. While the ways teachers interact with their students has changed, and will continue to change, their fundamental role will not be replaced.

To recognize those who exemplify the highest standards of excellence in teaching in early childhood education, Knowledge Learning Corporation introduced the Knowledge Universe Early Childhood Educator Awards last year, selecting five outstanding early childhood educators from the over 40,000 educators in KinderCare Learning Centers, CCLC, and Knowledge Beginnings. In addition to a surprise announcement at their centers, each of these amazing teachers received a $10,000 award and was flown to the annual conference of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), where they were given national recognition in front of their peers at a reception in their honor. I encourage you to learn more about these accomplished teachers who received the Early Childhood Educator Awards and the difference they make in the lives of their children. This award was modeled after the Milken Family Foundation Educator Awards, where nearly 100 outstanding public school educators are recognized by the Milken Family Foundation every year. Recipients are given a $25,000 award and are flown to Los Angeles to participate in a National Education Conference sponsored by the Milken Family foundation and highlighted by an Awards Dinner and Gala. I was privileged to be able to attend this event this year, and I assure that there truly is no more powerful and uplifting experience. Please learn more about this year’s Milken Educator Awards.

I am truly honored to be associated with a company that treats teachers like the professionals they are, recognizes the importance of great teaching, and rewards excellence. But it is not the money or the ceremony that matter most. The teachers who are selected for these awards are truly distinctive, but they represent the hundreds of thousands of dedicated teachers everywhere, who quietly and purposefully make a difference every day in the life of a child, a family, and a community. Their reward is not monetary; it is not fame or glory. It is the hugs they get from the children they care for, the look of triumph in a child’s eyes when a difficult concept is mastered, and the knowledge that the world is a better place because they are in it. Please take an extra moment today and every day that you can to thank your child’s teachers for sharing their skills, talents, experiences, and passion. Your child’s future and all of our futures are in their capable and caring hands.