Sharing Resources

I actually ended up signing up for a few e-newsletters and reviewed the website information from a few of the organizations listed, including the National Institute for Early Education Research and National Association for the Education of Young Children. However, the organization I initially chose to research further is Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. Although I have yet to receive a newsletter called "From Baby to Big Kid" from Zero to Three, as it is supposed to be sent the first of April, I did spend time reviewing the goals and policies from their site. The Zero to Three mission as a national, nonprofit organization is to inform, train, and support professionals, policymakers, and parents in their efforts to improve and promoting the health, development, and lives of infants and toddlers (Zero to Three, 2011).  

Overall, Zero to Three is extremely informative about the developmental stages from birth through age three, providing concepts for parents and caretakers to consider as their infant grows into a toddler. They thoroughly discuss brain development, challenging behaviors, mental health, screening and assessment, health and growth, play, social and emotional development, sleep, and more. For an upcoming first time parent, it really gives a lot of perspectives and statistics on these and other topics of development in those first few years. Additionally, while they introduce many positive learning, they also talk about the effects of maltreatment, trauma, and stressful environments for children both in the home and at school. Zero to Three also discusses how early childhood care for children at these ages can play a role in their growth and development in a variety of different child care arrangements, including family-based, center-based, or care from a friend or neighbor.

I have already learned a lot from their site in regards to, not only child care, but also the importance of their policies to advocate on the unique developmental needs of children to the age of 3 through research-based resources and federal and state policymakers (Zero to Three, 2011). They provide a ton of information through a variety of medias, such as articles, webinars, videos, and books, for review and keeping up to date with new research and policies. It's important to understand and be aware of the policies and issues that govern early childhood education standards and Zero to Three really provides a variety of resources that discuss these topics, and even provides tools to help educators advocate for infants, toddlers, and families in their facility through the Policy Network (Zero to Three, 2011). 

I have yet to find information that discuss specific topics in diversity and changing demographics, but instead encompasses infants, toddlers, and their families as a whole. I feel that they could certainly incorporate more about diversity and the policies and challenges that changing demographics can have on a growing family.
Reference List
Zero to Three National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2011). http://www.zerotothree.org/