Advocating for our Youngest Learners (Early Childhood Education (ECE))

Starting last year ACM started working with NAEYC to create common language that all advocates can use when talking to power-brokers.

 *The goal is to promote funding for early childhood education.

 *The panel consisted of the ACM President, an NAEYC representative, a member of the Institute for Self Active Education, Inc. *Unfortunately museums and NAEYC are having problems convincing politicians that "Play" is something they need to take an active interest in and fund.

 *NAEYC and AC feel politicians see "Play" in the context of early childhood education as the job of parents.

 *Early childhood education-->development of social/emotional skills-->if literacy skillsreached by 3rd grade=less financial investment in child education/trying to get them caught up)-->graduating high school-->more education/educated labor pool, safer streets, better communities, etc.

 *We must honor the child's choice of play. Play is the purest form of a child's self expression. *Last conference had this same workshop to create PSA "Exploration Begins at Birth"

 *ACM & NAEYC are still looking for a catch phrase like "STEM". Something that will sweep the nation and bring ECE to the forefront of everybody's mind, concerns and hopefully pockets.

 While in a breakout session to discuss the PSA and catch-phrase I met the CEO of United Services for Children in Missouri and she is currently working with a St. Louis library to create a children's museum. We traded information and I let her know about how we have incorporated play into our library and one way was by demonstrating our vision for the second floor by creating the Play and Learn Islands (sales in St. Louis would be nice).