Crete's Daisy Ortiz and daughter Kayla took part in Strolling Thunder, an event this summer aimed at drawing attention to legislation supporting babies, toddlers and their parents.
Strolling Thunder: Daisy and Kayla’s Summer Adventure
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Posts by: First Five Nebraska
First Day of School Holds Mixed Feelings for Parents, Kids
Parents' anxiety or apprehension about something easily influences their children through a mechanism early childhood research calls “social referencing.” Here are some ideas for parents to consider as they send children off for preschool or kindergarten this month.
New Harvard Study to Focus on Formal and Informal Child Care
Harvard University researchers are embarking on a longitudinal study to learn how informal and formal child care environments affect how children learn and grow.
Nebraska law enforcement leaders say quality early learning can keep kids out of prison later
Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine and Douglas County Sheriff Timothy Dunning released a new report on the critical influence quality early learning can have on a child's trajectory, particularly if the child is at risk. A strong start prepares children for success in school and reduces the chance they will drop out and become involved in crime later.
Brain Development is Positively or Negatively Influenced by the Quality of Children’s Relationships
Science has demonstrated that children who are repeatedly exposed to adverse childhood experiences face severe developmental impacts. Instead of having children who expect to be well cared for and safe, we have children whose expectations of the world lead them to scan repeatedly for the possibility of danger, leaving their nervous system in a chronic state of alert and flooded with high levels of stress hormones.
New Research: Screen Time Linked to Delayed Speech Development
The more time children under age 2 spend playing with smart phones, tablets, electronic games and other handheld screens, the more likely they are to begin talking later, according to research presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies meeting in May.
The Daddy Factor
Fathers play a unique, powerful role in their children's physical, social-emotional and cognitive development.
Online Tool Helps Early Childhood Workers Organize, Access Professional Records
The Nebraska Department of Education developed an online record system to support early childhood workers by housing their professional records in one place that follows them throughout their career, even as they change employers.
State Board of Education Awards 2017-18 Early Childhood Grants
The Nebraska State Board of Education approved 11 new and expansion Early Childhood Education Program grants to provide access to high-quality early childhood education for approximately 270 at-risk 3- and 4-year-olds during the 2017-18 school year.
Nebraska Legislators Adjourn Sine Die
The first session of Nebraska's 105th Legislature adjourned Sine Die on May 23, Senators tackled many important issues and introduced nearly 700 bills, but the session was dominated by efforts to achieve a balanced budget despite significant revenue shortfalls. See our report on bills we identified as high-priority during this legislative session.
Head Start Changes Program Standards to Increase Child Outcomes
Twenty-one grantees across Nebraska provide Head Start services to more than 5,783 young children ages birth to age 5 and pregnant women. Key changes are being implemented to enhance high-quality early learning opportunities aimed at helping to eliminate the education achievement gap.
NHHS Implements Changes Resulting from Child Care and Development Block Grant Reauthorization
The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) was reauthorized by a strong bipartisan vote in 2014. Staff at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services have worked tirelessly since the reauthorization to implement new policies. Here's an update on changes that have gone into effect and others that are being considered.