January 21, 2021 Through the Eyes of a Child, Harvard Medicine About Direct and indirect exposure to racism and discrimination during early childhood can have lifelong impacts on a child’s development, physical health, and general wellbeing. In “Through the Eyes of a Child,” Elizabeth Gehrman explores these topics and more, including: racial trauma; the difference between positive, tolerable, and toxic stress; lifelong impacts on health; trauma-informed care; and more. Featured Quotes “We do surveys with Black youth here in Pittsburgh, and kids ages 10 to 15 are reporting that people have been racist toward them. By tenth grade, about fifty percent of them have encountered racial discrimination.” – James Huguley, Interim Director of the University of Pittsburgh’s Center on Race and Social Problems “The general public belief is that early experiences don’t have lasting impacts until kids get older. But now we know that even very young kids are affected. Biology makes it clear: The body doesn’t forget. Early experiences both positive and negative literally shape the architecture of the developing brain and other biological systems from the beginning.” – Julius B. Richmond FAMRI Professor of Child Health and Development at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Harvard Graduate School of Education “Part of the work of becoming an adult is learning how to modulate the fear response and move toward safety. But when the sense of threat never goes away, and you’re in a chronic state of seeking safety, that short circuits higher-order functions.” – Alisha Moreland, Director of Trauma-Informed Treatment, Consultation, and Outreach at McLean Hospital’s Center of Excellence in Depression and Anxiety Disorders “No child can survive significant adversity by pulling themselves up by the bootstraps. But whether it’s a parent, a childcare or health care provider, a neighbor, or a teacher, just one person can confer the protective effect, bringing the stress system back to baseline by providing caring support.” – James Huguley, Interim Director of the University of Pittsburgh’s Center on Race and Social Problems Access This Resource To read the full article, visit the Havard Medicine website.
December 14, 2020 Child Development and Lifelong Health, Harvard Center About In their Working Paper entitled “Connecting the Brain to the Rest of the Body: Early Childhood Development and Lifelong Health Are Deeply Intertwined,” the Harvard Center on the Developing Child “examines how developing biological systems in the body interact with each other and adapt to the contexts in which a child is developing—for better or for worse—with lifelong consequences for physical and mental health.” Featured Topics The Working Paper examines the following topics: What 21st-Century Science is Teaching Us How Early Adversity Affects Developing Biological Systems Common Illnesses in Adults Have Roots in Early Childhood Adversity Facts About Health That Are Often Misunderstood Future Directions for Policy and Practice Final Reflections in a COVID-19 World More Information For more information, read the full Working Paper. This resource is available as a downloadable PDF.
Anti-Racism Resources for Families About As parents and caregivers, we have a responsibility to ensure that every child and family is safe from racism and discrimination and has equitable opportunities to thrive. In order to do this, we must begin with ourselves. Set aside time in your day to do a personal inventory. What thoughts, feelings, and behaviors have you contributed to upholding systems of racism? What assumptions are you making? What actions or inactions have you taken that contribute to systems of oppression? Next, consider your family and your friends—what behaviors, statements, or jokes have gone unchecked? What actions or inactions have you taken within your interpersonal relationships that have contributed to an unsafe community for our black and brown children, neighbors, and colleagues? How might you begin to lead by example within your own family or community? Anti-racism work is something that has to be attended to in an ongoing way. In order to support you in this work, Trying Together compiled the following resources. This list is not exhaustive. Resources for Adults Video: ‘I Can’t Breathe: From Agony to Activism’, Pitt Diversity Implicit Bias Test, Harvard Anti-Racism Resources, Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein Black History Month Library African American History: From Emancipation to the Present, Yale 5 Ways White People Can Take Action in Response to White and State-Sanctioned Violence, Medium The critical role white parents play in shaping racism — and eradicating it, PBS How Not to be an Ally: Common missteps and advice for effective allyship, Psychology Today An Anti-Racist Reading List, The New York Times Mental Health Support and Education, Steel Smiling Center for Race & Gender Equality, YWCA Greater Pittsburgh Race Research Online Directory, University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work How to raise anti-racist kids: 20 resources for parents, Motherly Podcast: Notice the Rage, Notice the Silence, On Being with Krista Tippett Talking About Race, National Museum of African American History & Culture Want to support Black Lives Matter? Here’s where to start in Pittsburgh., Kidsburgh Why Raising Kids to ‘Not See Color’ Doesn’t Help Fight Racism, HuffPost Video: What I am learning from my white grandchildren – truths about race, TEDx Talks Video: Juneteenth Round Table with Rep. Chris Rabb & Rep. Ed Gainey, For Our Future Pennsylvania Race and Equity Resource List, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Antiracism Meditation Confronting Prejudice: How to Protect Yourself and Help Others, Pepperdine University In My Skin Podcast, University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development Mental Health Issues Facing the Black Community, Sunshine Behavioral Health Our Family’s Commitment to Being Anti-Racist, PBS Kids Black Lives Matter, Substance Abuse, and Addiction Recovery in the United States, Addicted.org Citizen Journalism and Political Protests, Syracuse University Black Boys Matter: Cultivating Their Identity, Agency, and Voice, NAEYC Things to Know If You Love a Multiracial Child, Embrace Race COVID-in-Color: Race-conscious Resources For Children & Families, Embrace Race Exploring & Understanding Structural Racism, Embrace Race “Love is not enough”: Supports for Transracial Adoptive Families, Embrace Race Nurturing Resistance & Joy in Black Children, Embrace Race Raising Muslim American Children Who Thrive, Embrace Race Anti-Hate Safety Resources, Asian American Federation Asian Americans Advancing Justice BIPOC Addiction and Mental Health Resources, Addictions.com Discussing Racism and Violence with Children Racism and Violence: How to Help Kids Handle the News, Child Mind Institute Video: A Clinical Perspective on Talking to Kids About Racism, Child Mind Institute Transcript: A Clinical Perspective on Talking to Kids About Racism, Child Mind Institute Talking to Children About Race, Policing and Violence, The New York Times Addressing Race and Trauma in the Classroom: A Resource for Educators, The National Child Traumatic Stress Network Resources for Talking about Race, Racism and Racialized Violence with Kids, Center for Racial Justice in Education Anti-Racism for Kids: An Age-by-Age Guide to Fighting Hate, Parents.com ‘Raising White Kids’ Author On How White Parents Can Talk About Race, NPR George Floyd. Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor. What do we tell our children?, USA Today They’re not too young to talk about race!, The Children’s Community School Talking to Children About Racial Bias, HealthyChildren Video: “How do I make sure I’m not raising the next Amy Cooper?” with Jennifer Harvey, Embrace Race Talking Race with Young Children, NPR How to Talk to Kids about Race and Racism, Parent Toolkit 10 tips for teaching and talking to kids about race, Embrace Race How to Talk with Kids About Racism and Racial Violence, Common Sense Media Resources for Talking About Race, Racism and Racialized Violence with Kids, Center for Racial Justice in Education How to Talk to Your Children About the Protests, The Wall Street Journal Talking about Race with Kids and Teens, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Talking with Children About Racism, Police Brutality and Protests, Aha! Parenting How To Talk To Your Kids About Race, Racism And Police Violence, WBUR How to talk to kids about racism, explained by a psychologist, Vox 21 Anti-Racism Videos to Share With Kids, We are Teachers Experts answer your kids’ tough questions about race and racism, The Hechinger Report Talking to Children Authentically about Race and Racism, PBS Kids How To Talk About Race And Protests With Your Kids, Explained By A Child Psychologist, WBUR The Power of We: A Sesame Street Special, Sesame Workshop Video – PBS KIDS Talk About: Race & Racism, PBS Kids Talking to Young Children About Race and Racism: A Discussion Guide, PDB Kids Raising Kids Who Embrace Race, National PTA Talking to Kids About Anti-Asian Racism, Time for Kids Asian Americans K-12 Education Curriculum, Asian Americans Advancing Justice So You Want to Raise a Young White Ally?, Embrace Race Supporting Children’s Leadership & Activism, Embrace Race Supporting Healthy Racial Learning in Early Childhood, Embrace Race Talking to Kids About Racism and Violence, Child Mind Institute Parenting in Racially and Culturally Diverse Adoptive Families, Child Welfare Information Gateway Raising Socially-Conscious Kids: Talking About Skin Color, First Up Children’s Books I Too Am America, by Langston Hughes, ages 5+ Baby Blessings: A Prayer For The Day You Were Born, by Deloris Jordan, ages 0-6 Lullaby, A Poem, by Langston Hughes, ages 0-6 Welcome, Precious, by Nikki Grimes, ages 0-5 Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grow Up to Become Malcolm X, by IIyasha Shabazz, ages 6+ CROWN: An Ode To A Fresh Cut, by Derrick Barnes, ages 3-10 Turning 15 On The Road To Freedom: My Story of 1965 Selma Voting Right March, by Lynda Blackmon, ages 12+ A Child’s Introduction To AA History, by Jabari Asim, ages 5+ 10 Children’s Books About Racism And Activism To Help Parents Educate Their Kids, HuffPost 31 Children’s books to support conversations on race, racism and resistance, Embrace Race These Books Can Help You Explain Racism and Protest to Your Kids, The New York Times Books About Racism and Social Justice, Common Sense Media Books on race and racism, by age, recommended by Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Kidsburgh Reading Race in Picture Books with Children, Embrace Race Jill and Christine: Books to Teach Kids About Diversity and Anti-Racism, First Up Resources for Social-Emotional Development Helping Children Cope With Frightening News, Child Mind Institute How to Foster Resilience in Kids, Child Mind Institute What to Do (and Not Do) When Children Are Anxious, Child Mind Institute NASP: Managing Strong Emotional Reactions to Trauma, National Association of School Psychologists Supporting Young Children after Crisis Events, NAEYC Coping with Grief After Community Violence, SAMHSA The Brown Mama Blueprint Podcast, Pittsburgh Brown Mamas Resources to Support Children’s Emotional Well-Being Amid Anti-Black Racism, Racial Violence, and Trauma, Child Trends
June 15, 2020 The Recess Advocacy Team About The Recess Advocacy Team is a group of organizations dedicated to health, wellness, education, and play with a focus on recess practices and policies in Pre-K through sixth grade. Mission The Mission of the Recess Advocacy Team is to: educate and advocate for the importance of recess; engage with children, families, and educators on recess experiences; establish a resource for recess-related advocacy, policy, and best practices for both families and educators; and engage stakeholders (additional organizations, parents, community members, teachers, principals, etc.) to support recess advocacy work. More Information For more information and ways to get involved, visit the Recess Advocacy Team website.
Flyer: Recess Advocacy Team About The Recess Advocacy Team is a group of organizations dedicated to health, wellness, education, and play with a focus on recess practices and policies in Pre-K through sixth grade. Parents, educators, and caregivers recognize how important recess is for a child’s success. Additionally, recess promotes social and emotional skills that become fundamental lifeline tools. Learn More A flyer is available for download and distribution to learn more about the importance of play and recess. View the Recess Advocacy Team flyer (PDF).
May 29, 2020 Call It Child Care Child care supports children’s healthy development and a lifetime of learning. That’s why we call it child care. In June 2018, the Pennsylvania state legislature passed House Bill 1677 to update Pennsylvania’s regulations and code to use the term “child care” rather than “day care” to reflect the work of early learning programs more accurately. Trying Together worked closely with the bill’s prime sponsor, Representative Jason Ortitay, who represents Allegheny and Washington counties. Thanks to advocates like you, and Rep. Ortitay’s persistence, HB 1677 passed and was signed by the Governor. Why Call It Child Care? Trying Together recognizes that shifting commonly used language can be difficult. However, by using the term “child care” instead of “day care,” you recognize that: 1. The impact of child care is much longer than a day. Early childhood programs support lifelong success for children and families. Research has shown that high-quality child care builds a strong foundation from which children grow and thrive. By having access to early care and education programming, families experience multi-generational benefits, with young children achieving higher test scores and graduation rates, committing fewer crimes, and earning higher wages, to name a few. Caregivers are able to reenter the workforce, increasing the financial stability of the family and the long-term professional success of the caregiver. 2. The words we use matter. The words we use affect the public’s perception of the early care and education field and affect the field’s own accountability in providing high-quality care. Using “child care” rather than “day care” recognizes the important work of these professionals, in addition to the work children put in to learn, develop, and grow. Accurate language is critical to gaining respect, validation, and investments in currently under-resourced systems. 3. “Child care” acknowledges the complexity of high-quality early care and education programs. High-quality child care programs employ, develop, and retain educated credentialed staff. Child care professionals use a curriculum, lesson plans, and family engagement activities to promote the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development of the children they serve. How You Can Help Please join us in the coming months as an advocate for the “Call It Child Care” initiative. If you’re an early care and education professional, use the term “child care” when speaking about your work and update your materials as needed. If you’re a family or community member, embrace the term “child care” and use it when referencing your child’s program! DIGITAL RESOURCE TOOLKIT Interested in doing more? Use our digital resource toolkit to advocate for “Call It Child Care” today! Help spread the word about using the term “child care” by having conversations with your colleagues, family, and friends. Use our talking points for help with responding to colleagues, family, friends, and others who use the term “day care”. Share a graphic on social media and tell your followers about the initiative. Write a letter or email to the families in your early learning program. Print Call It Child Care posters and post them around your office or program. Read a letter from the Trying Together Executive Director. Watch This Video Learn More To learn more about the initiative, visit our Call It Child Care page.
May 27, 2020 Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series Creating high-quality learning experiences at the earliest stages of your child’s life As an early childhood nonprofit, Trying Together recognizes that a child’s parent is their first and most important caregiver. From the moment a caregiver meets their child, whether that is through birth, adoption, fostering, or guardianship, parents use their instincts and experiences to guide their personal caregiving style. Caregivers’ perspectives are valuable and can be especially powerful in supporting children’s long-term success when paired with research and science on the way that children learn and develop. Evidence-based research shows that children’s brains develop rapidly from zero to age five. Through consistent and caring daily interactions with their children, parents and other caregivers are able to build healthy relationships with and best support the early development and learning of their children. When children grow up in safe environments with engaged, supportive caregivers, the positive effects are felt throughout their lifetime. But where do caregivers go to find information and resources that help them do this? Through the family resource series Developmentally Appropriate Parenting, Trying Together assists parents and caregivers like you in creating high-quality learning experiences at the earliest stages of your child’s life. About the Series Developmentally Appropriate Parenting is a family resource content series developed by Trying Together as an effort to empower caregivers to create high-quality experiences at the earliest stages of their child’s life. To do this, we are developing digital and print content for families that covers critical early childhood topics. To stay up-to-date on available materials, sign up to receive our newsletter. Featured Content Use the list below to navigate through each series topic: Part I: Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Part II: Childhood Physical Health Part III: Child Care Part IV: Early Intervention (EI) Part V: Safety Part VI: Social-Emotional Development Part VII: Childhood Mental Health Part VIII: Race and Equity Part IX: Transitions & Routines Part X: Gender and Gender Identity Part XI: Family Dynamics Part XII: Caring for the Caregiver Request free printed materials from our Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series. Available Languages Caregivers viewing our online resources can use the “Select Language” button in the top right corner of the screen to access the information in their native language. Printed Materials Request free printed materials from our Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series. Printed materials are available in English and Spanish. More Information For questions about the Developmentally Appropriate Parenting series, email Trying Together at: info@tryingtogether.org.
