Do Something.

Remember those annoying camp songs you sang every year, particularly the ones that repeated themselves with the ending, “Same song, different verse, a little bit louder and a little bit worse?”

Welcome to the state of America’s children.

As this article clearly states, our future isn’t looking any better than it was a few years ago (no, we don’t need shades for this one).  The number of children living below the poverty line is increasing; families are having an even harder time raising tomorrow’s leaders.

How can we expect great things to happen here when parents spend 30% of their income on child care alone? Child care which, for the most part, isn’t even exceptional, isn’t really preparing our children for the task of starting school.

We live in a society where people will stand in line for hours just to be among the first to buy the newest smart phone, yet we won’t stand up for providing the best early care and education for our children.

We should all adhere to Frederick Douglass’s insight: “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”

How long will it take us to realize that we are only hurting ourselves? We don’t need to focus so much on amending the problem as we do in preventing it.

Here’s my challenge to you: do one thing this month for our children. For five minutes, get off your social network, put down your smart phone, press “pause” on your DVR. Take a few minutes to take the first step in creating a better economic future for Alabama. Here are some suggestions: {links to all will be given}

• Sign up for E-News from VOICES for Alabama’s children
• Join the Alabama Children’s Movement
• Follow a children’s organization on a social network:
  • VOICES 
  • Alabama Children’s Movement 
  • Childcare Resources 
  • Alabama School Readiness Alliance 
  • Child Care Aware of America 
  • Zero to Three 
• Learn about the status of childcare in Alabama
• Spend time with the children in your life: Read, Sing, Play! Get more ideas at BornLearning.org

There is no better time than now: what are you waiting for?

The Time is Now

Imagine this:

You spend $150 per week on care for yourself. This “care” is advertised as supposedly preparing you for a future career, exercising your mind and body.

What you end up getting is several hours a day with a group of others like yourself, all being cared for by someone who doesn’t understand the best ways to teach you and isn’t clear on exactly what you should be able to do.

Would you demand a refund by the end of the week?

My guess is yes. And yet, for roughly 40% of our children under the age of five in Alabama, this is their reality. Child care in the United States is too often seen as glorified babysitting. Programs advertise using a curriculum and offering activities, but, more often than not, children are simply allowed to do as they please (within reason…most of the time). Our “standards” are not where they should be; they don’t look out for our children’s best interests.

Why, you ask? Easy: our society doesn’t put enough emphasis on the importance of the earliest years. We worry about our children once they get to the public school system, but pass over them until then.

Never mind that the first five years in a child’s life can largely determine his or her potential.

It’s hard to turn on any media source without hearing or seeing the latest “hot topic” these days, mainly gun control. Society is crying out for the right and responsibility to protect our children, but what about their right to a solid educational foundation? Where are those supporters?

Social change doesn’t happen with silence and passivity.

The time has come, dear friends, to start getting angry at the injustice of early childhood education and our young children; after all, these will be our leaders and lawmakers soon enough. Shouldn’t we want them to have the best start?

Learn more about what Childcare Resources does to assist local early childhood teachers, families, the community, and what you can do to help!

Tips for TEMPO!

Follow us on Instagram: @CHILDCARERESOURCESBHAM

We look forward to you joining us for TEMPO – A Family Fun Festival.

Our event is on the West Green directly across 1st Avenue South from the new Regions Field baseball stadium. The BLUE line is the best line for Railroad Park access.

Parking downtown can be confusing! Keep these tips in mind:

• Parking: Parking is limited close to the park. Here are our suggested parking options.
• NOTE: The entire block of 18th Street to 19th Street between Morris Avenue and 3rd Avenue South will be CLOSED from 9 – 11:30 AM for the cycling events.
• DART Trolley: Because there is a game Saturday evening, the downtown trolley DART system will be available for free starting at 10 am Saturday for you or your family’s use.

Activities/Entertainment: There will be much to see and do at TEMPO – A Family Fun Festival. Checkout the fun-filled schedule below!

10:00 am                   Cahaba Cycles Mock Crit Race

10:00                          Stage: BC/BS Zumba

10:30                          Family Bike Ride

10:30                          Stage: HEAL Dance

11:00                          Stage: The Checkerboard Guy

11:30                          Stage: Si Reasoning Improv Rhythm Activity

12:00 pm                   BUMP Skills and Safety Clinic, 12 and under

12:30                          Stage: Mommy & Me Time Fitness Mommy Fit 

1:00                            Stage: BC/BS Zumba

1:30                            Stage: The Checkerboard Guy

See you tomorrow!

P.S. Check out all of our awesome partners and sponsors!

“Oh, the thinks you can think!”

“You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child.” 
― Dr. Seuss

Happy birthday, Dr. Seuss!

Celebrate the beloved children’s author today by simply reading to your child.

Take the literacy experience deeper with these ideas:

• Talk about the pictures. “What do you see?” “Where else have you seen that?” “What color is the car?”
• Ask questions about the story. “Why did she do that?” “What do you think will happen next?”
• Point to the text as you read it.

Need books to read? Visit your local library in Blount County, Jefferson County, Shelby County, or Walker County.

Want more fun? Visit Seussville for more fun ideas!

While you are at it, check out our Dr. Seuss Pinterest board too!

Leave a comment and let us know how you celebrated today. Or, even better, post a picture to our Facebook page!

And remember: “When he worked, he really worked. But when he played, he really PLAYED.” 

― Dr. Seuss