First Five Nebraska is an initiative of Early Futures Partnership
First Five Nebraska is an initiative of Early Futures Partnership
As a County Attorney, it’s my job to do everything possible to protect the public. Putting people behind bars who commit crimes is one way I do that. But I know from my personal experiences in the courtroom that we can’t simply arrest, prosecute and incarcerate our way out of our crime problems. We have to implement strategies that keep people from turning to crime in the first place.
One of the most important things parents can do to prepare their children for school is to read to them. The number of words a child knows upon entering kindergarten is a key predictor of future success, and the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that parents read aloud to babies starting at birth to build pre-literacy skills in the earliest years. And as children grow, reading aloud and talking about pictures in age-appropriate books strengthens their emerging language skills and literacy development. And the resulting closer parent-child bond boosts a child’s social-emotional development.
If a parent reads to a child just 15 minutes a day starting at birth, by kindergarten, they will have shared 456.25 hours of reading together. The benefits for the child include a larger vocabulary, plus the security and confidence that result from a parent's one-on-one attention.
Tell us about yourself — how did you get started with your child care business? I began U.N.I.Q.U.E. Childcare and Family Services Family Home in 1997 in the North Omaha community. The mission and vision of our child care is: Using Necessary Involvement to provide Quality Unlimited Education to children and their families. We currently serve eight children and are licensed for 10.
How old were you when you realized that your parents weren’t the omnipotent beings you thought they were? I was about midway through second grade, and on a family visit to grandma and grandpa’s several hours’ drive from where we lived.
Great hands-on learning opportunities at the Nebraska State Fair offer families a chance to celebrate the end of summer and spend some time together.
In 2013, the Nebraska Legislature passed LB507, establishing the Step Up to Quality Child Care Act – resulting in Nebraska’s Early Childhood Quality Rating and Improvement System. The implementation of Step Up to Quality is in the early stages but much has occurred in its development that will provide valuable information for moving forward.
Lincoln Public Safety Director Tom Casady has called on lawmakers to expand high-quality early care and education to lower crime. Casady spoke on behalf of Nebraska’s 80 members of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids.
“Kids are kids . . .And moms are moms; they know what’s good for kids . . . Moms are moms; they know what’s fun for kids.”
It’s summertime and a variety of activities fill the schedules of kids and families. The warm weather brings more opportunity for fun outdoors, but also the potential for accidents. Here are a few safety rules to keep you and your loved ones safe as you enjoy the summer.
Reading together builds closer relationships plus language and literacy skills for the youngest people in our lives!
Providing child care can be challenging, especially when children come from varied economic backgrounds and home environments. Research shows that children’s experiences during their first five years profoundly affect social, emotional and cognitive skill formation, and healthy life outcomes.