/Children-Well-Being-The-Measure-of-our-Worth1

Children’s Well Being: The Measure of our Worth

The first shoot of any plant, if it makes a good start, has the greatest effect in helping it to attain its mature natural excellence.

Plato. The Republic

Measuring Early Childhood Development for Prevention and Intervention Symposium February 13, 2008

Early child development is: “Child development is a foundation for community development and economic development…”

2007. The Science of Early Child Development: Closing the Gap Between What we Know and What we Do

Early child development is affected by:     

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Socioeconomic factors Parenting style The language environment Social and cultural context Values and beliefs about children, childhood and childrearing Neighborhood factors and community

The result of a complex interaction between nature and nurture.  Integrated  Rapid  Resilient  Natural  Eclectic  Variable  Unpredictable  Sometimes uneven

Early childhood development is

complex

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The social and cultural context of early childhood is changing… 

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Accumulating evidence of the value of early childhood programs Increasing diversity of families More children in non parental learning and care settings Increased policy focus on school readiness Accountability for developmental outcomes

The BIG picture: A question of purpose….        

The BIG picture: A question of pedagogy…   

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A new educational paradigm An expanded role for the “educator” Pedagogic relationships with families as well as with children A multidisciplinary context Integration of care and education

The BIG picture: Measuring early child development…       

Measuring for prevention and early intervention…    

What can be measured?

What can’t be measured?

What must be measured?

What shouldn’t be measured?

To prepare children for school?

To educate children?

To improve adult literacy rates?

To prevent crime?

To give children a good childhood?

To improve our economic productivity?

To provide parent education?

To support families?

Early identification Eligibility Accountability Monitoring progress Informing planning Communicating results Assuring quality

Today’s program      

Implications Indicators Innovation Invisibility Adequacy Description

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A question of will

Doing what we know is right for children

The last word to Rousseau‌ Hold childhood in reverence, give nature time to work before you take over her business.

Emile

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