Breaking Down Brain Development
A child’s brain undergoes an impressive amount of change between birth and age three. In fact, by age three, the brain has reached 80 percent of its adult volume. Because a child’s developing brain is most flexible during the earliest months and years of life, this time period sets the foundation for lifelong health and […]
Healthier Smiles = Healthier Children
Oral health is a key indicator of children’s success. When kids experience cavities, it affects their abilities to eat, speak, play, and learn. Left untreated, tooth decay can lead to chronic absences, lower grades, and scores of adverse health and education outcomes. In our state alone, the Arkansas Department of Health found 80% of third-grade […]
What is Home Visiting?
Whether teaching positive parenting skills or helping caregivers secure child care, the Arkansas Home Visiting Network (AHVN) is focused on providing quality, evidence-based services to help families during pregnancy and until their kids enter kindergarten. Tyra Greenwood, AHVN Director and Excel by Eight (E8) steering committee member, is sharing more about what these programs entail—and how they help […]
School Readiness in Cedar Ridge
How can we measure children’s development? We must rely on insight from those closest to them. Throughout the school year, teachers have the opportunity to witness key facets of students’ cognitive, emotional, physical, and social growth. They are able to see where kids are excelling, and where they may need additional support. In Excel by […]
HealthySteps: Connecting Families to Resources
Research consistently shows the first three years of a baby’s life are a period of incredible growth and development. That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends infants receive eight well-child visits in their first 15 months of life. These appointments allow health care providers to monitor their development and recommend early interventions, as needed. […]
Breaking Down the Iron Triangle of Early Care and Education
If quality child care costs more than most families can afford, why is the child care market not financially stable? When developing a budget or business plan, a child care center must consider the iron triangle: full enrollment, revenue that covers per-child expenses and on-time collection of fees. This blog explores the model developed by Louise Stoney […]
Excel by Eight Overview
Realizing the EDI’s Full Impact
Building a strong foundation for children’s success starts with taking a look at where they are now. Enter the Early Development Instrument (EDI), which offers a comprehensive view of how children are developing in neighborhoods and census tracts across Arkansas. The Excel by Eight (E8) planning process in each community begins with a research phase […]
T.E.A.C.H.ing Our Future
Arkansas’s economy depends on quality early care and education. These programs not only allow parents to return to and stay engaged at work, they also provide stimulating, responsive learning environments for children during critical periods of early development. These experiences help build core literacy, social emotional intelligence, early executive functioning, and self-regulation—essential skills for our […]
Uncovering the Impact of the Early Development Instrument
When building a house it is best to start with a strong foundation. This applies to early brain development as well. The brain develops faster in a child’s first three years than any other time in life, laying the bricks and mortar of future learning and success. A child’s early brain development foundation is improved […]
