News

April 7, 2021

Parenting Together Pathway Provides Information for Parents

In April 2021, as part of Month of the Young Child, Trying Together launched the Parenting Together Pathway to provide high-quality information on early childhood topics for caregivers. The Parenting Together Pathway provides families the opportunity to learn more about: brain development; play; interactions and relationships; technology; child care; and advocacy to better support their children’s healthy growth. Additional videos will be released through 2021.

Course Content

The Parenting Together Pathway currently includes six topics related to early childhood.

The Beautiful Brain

  • This presentation provides an overview of how the brain develops during early childhood. Caregivers will learn about the impact of interactions, environments, and trauma on a child’s brain, and develop an understanding of how strong brain development can be effectively supported through fun and engaging activities.

It’s More Than Just Play: The Role of Play in a Child’s Life

  • This presentation provides an overview of the types of play and how play benefits young children. Caregivers will learn about how they can support playful learning.

Everyday Interactions Matter: Noticing the Simple and Ordinary

  • This presentation provides an overview of positive interactions between children and their caregivers. Caregivers will learn to recognize moments of connecting, sharing, growing, and belonging in everyday moments.

The Role of Technology in Caregiving and Caregiving Experiences

  • This presentation provides an overview of how technology can be resourceful in caregiving experiences. Caregivers will learn how integrating technology into children’s daily routines, including play, can be fun and supportive towards their development.

How to Choose High-Quality Child Care

  • This presentation provides an overview of important characteristics to look for when searching for child care. Caregivers will learn about the various aspects of child care that attribute to high quality interactions and experiences.

Becoming A Child’s First Advocate

  • This presentation provides an overview of advocacy, its definition, and the role it plays for young children and their families. Caregivers will learn about various campaigns related to early childhood and how they can become and advocate for all children.

Additional Information

Please visit the Trying Together website to view video content for the Parenting Together Pathway.

News

September 18, 2020

Essential Trauma-Informed Practices During COVID-19 Recovery

Are you interested in learning about essential trauma-informed practices you can use to support your students during the COVID-19 recovery? Join The Social Express on October 13 for their webinar, “Essential Trauma-Informed Practices During COVID-19 Recovery.”

About

During this webinar, presenters will explore the topic of trauma, the brain, and effective strategies to help teachers, students, and their families reach positive outcomes in school and at home. This webinar will be of particular interest to PreK-12 teachers; school and district leaders; special education leaders and specialists; guidance counselors; and school psychologists. Time for questions will be provided.

Registration

To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.

News

September 11, 2020

On the Shoulders of Giants: Scientific Symposium

Join the Child Mind Institute on October 6 for its 2020 Virtual Symposium: On the Shoulders of Giants. The Symposium will feature 2020 Sarah Gund Prize recipient W. Thomas Boyce, MD.

About

On the Shoulders of Giants is the Child Mind Institute’s annual celebration of scientific achievement in child and adolescent psychiatry, psychology, and developmental neuroscience. This symposium celebrates the spirit of scientific collaboration and stewardship, and highlights seminal contributions to the field’s understanding of the brain and behavior.

Motivated by the recent crises, there will be a new format for this year’s event. Following brief presentations by Dr. Boyce and his proteges, participants will move onto a roundtable discussion, moderated by Dr. Nora Volkow and composed of past Distinguished Scientists honorees, to discuss issues of racism and inequality on children’s mental health – as well as the future of training in the field.

Registration

To register and learn more, visit the event registration page.

News

June 10, 2020

Infant/Toddler Movement as a Foundation for Learning

Are you interested in exploring movement as the foundation of learning? Join the National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness (NCECHW) on June 23 for their webinar, “Tummy Time: Infant/Toddler Movement as a Foundation for Learning.”

About

Infants enter the world prewired and primed to move. In this session, participants will learn about the impact tummy time has on brain and muscle development and its influence on developmental milestone progression. Additionally, participants will learn their role in how to create an environment that stimulates, promotes, and supports motor development.

This webinar is best suited for early childhood education teachers and administrators; family child care providers; infant/toddler coaches, consultants, and specialists; Child Care Resource and Referral leadership and staff; parents; and guardians.

Featured Topics

Topics include the following:

    • gross motor development,
    • tummy time best practices,
    • creating an environment that supports an active child, and
    • the caregiver/parent’s role in tummy time.

Registration

To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.

More Information

For questions, contact NCECHW at health@ecetta.info or 888.227.5125.

News

June 2, 2020

Parenting in a Pandemic: Help in a Time of Need

Are you interested in learning how children will be impacted by the trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic? Join First Up this June and July for their virtual series, “Parenting in a Pandemic: Help in a Time of Need.”

About

Join First Up for Parenting in a Pandemic: Help in a Time of Need, a three-part series of one-hour informative webinars, where they will answer common questions parents and caregivers have about their children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each session, presented by professionals with early childhood expertise and certificates in trauma-informed practices, will:

    • introduce the concepts of how brains develop and the impact that current events;
    • might have on children from birth through age eight;
    • introduce new ways to think about self-care; and
    • offer strategies for supporting children’s mental well-being.

Participants will be entered in a drawing for special giveaways!

Session Dates

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

More Infomation

For questions, please contact Jillian Best Adler at jillian.adler@firstup.org.

Share this flyer with your network. 

News

May 12, 2020

Connections and Conversations: Virtual Check-Ins

Connections and Conversations: Virtual Check-Ins are interactive sessions that highlight topics of interest to the field of early childhood education. Participants will engage in virtual discussions via Zoom with child development experts while interacting with early learning practitioners to share questions, experiences, and expertise about the highlighted topic.

After registering, participants will receive a Zoom Meeting link via email from the session instructor. Each session will offer one hour of PQAS credit. Act 48 credit will not be offered for these sessions.

Available Sessions

    • Trauma and the Effects on Brain Development
      Wednesday, 6/17 | 3 – 4 p.m. | Instructor: Alison Babusci | Click here to register.
      The COVID-19 crisis has brought many new stressors into our lives. Participants will join Professional Growth and Advancement Strategist Alison Babusci to review how stress affects healthy brain development in children, learn about the brain’s response to stress, and talk about how early learning professionals can help our young children to cope.

Session Rules and Guidelines

These virtual discussions are designed to provide educators the opportunity to grow professionally and share knowledge on early childhood topics. During the meeting, participants should follow the guidelines below to ensure a successful virtual meeting for all participants.

    • Please allow all participants a chance to speak. Listen respectfully and actively.
    • Commit to learning about each other, not to debating the topic.
    • Embrace differences of opinion as healthy and support each person’s authentic self-expression.
    • Participants will be muted for the beginning portion of the session.
    • Participants may use the “Raise Hand” feature in Zoom to request an opportunity to comment or ask a question. Individuals will be temporarily unmuted by the moderator.
    • Participants may type a comment or question in the Chat or may send comments or questions directly to the moderator for them to share.
    • To receive PQAS credit, you must complete an evaluation at the end of the session and include your PD Registry number.
    • Have fun, make connections, and engage in the conversations!

More Information

For questions or more information, please contact Jasmine Davis at 412.567.3933 or jasmine@tryingtogether.org.

News

Connections and Conversations: Virtual Check-Ins

Connections and Conversations: Virtual Check-Ins are interactive sessions that highlight topics of interest to the field of early childhood education. Participants will engage in virtual discussions via Zoom with child development experts while interacting with early learning practitioners to share questions, experiences, and expertise about the highlighted topic.

After registering, participants will receive a Zoom Meeting link via email from the session instructor. Each session will offer one hour of PQAS credit. Act 48 credit will not be offered for these sessions.

Available Sessions

    • Trauma and the Effects on Brain Development
      Wednesday, 6/17 | 3 – 4 p.m. | Instructor: Alison Babusci | Click here to register.
      The COVID-19 crisis has brought many new stressors into our lives. Participants will join Professional Growth and Advancement Strategist Alison Babusci to review how stress affects healthy brain development in children, learn about the brain’s response to stress, and talk about how early learning professionals can help our young children to cope.

Session Rules and Guidelines

These virtual discussions are designed to provide educators the opportunity to grow professionally and share knowledge on early childhood topics. During the meeting, participants should follow the guidelines below to ensure a successful virtual meeting for all participants.

    • Please allow all participants a chance to speak. Listen respectfully and actively.
    • Commit to learning about each other, not to debating the topic.
    • Embrace differences of opinion as healthy and support each person’s authentic self-expression.
    • Participants will be muted for the beginning portion of the session.
    • Participants may use the “Raise Hand” feature in Zoom to request an opportunity to comment or ask a question. Individuals will be temporarily unmuted by the moderator.
    • Participants may type a comment or question in the Chat or may send comments or questions directly to the moderator for them to share.
    • To receive PQAS credit, you must complete an evaluation at the end of the session and include your PD Registry number.
    • Have fun, make connections, and engage in the conversations!

More Information

For questions or more information, please contact Jasmine Davis at 412.567.3933 or jasmine@tryingtogether.org.

News

January 3, 2020

Supporting Young Children’s Brain Development Through Music

Early childhood professionals are invited to attend “Supporting Young Children’s Brain Development Through Music” to gain knowledge on how to intentionally use music in their day-to-day work with children to support development.

About

This webinar will discuss the ways in which music participation in early childhood naturally supports the brain development of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Developmentally appropriate music activities can be an enjoyable and easy way for educators to support the development of important structural changes, neurological processes, and cognitive skills during this very active time of development. Attendees will learn about recent research, gain a deeper understanding of music’s impact on the developing brain, and gain musical tools and interaction ideas that support young children’s development.

This webinar is suited for pre-k through elementary grade level teachers. Time for questions will be provided.

Registration

To register for this webinar, visit the event webpage.

*Information provided by edWeb.net

News

July 18, 2019

Eye Contact with Babies Increases Information Coupling

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences concludes that shared eye contact increases information coupling between infant and adult brains.

About

Communication is a fundamental part of life, especially when considering the early learning and development of a newborn child. In conversation, we use different types of social signals, both verbal and non-verbal, to share meaning with others. These signals can include things such as mimicking facial expressions, vocal tone, and eye contact. However, a recent study concluded that eye contact in specific can be a powerful tool to increase information coupling between infants and adults.

Information Coupling

In the study, researchers state that “previous research indicates that when communication is successful, close temporal dependencies arise between adult speakers’ and listeners’ neural activity.” Through these dependencies, an individual that’s communicating with another person can have varying levels of influence on the other person’s neural activity. In short, this coupling acts as a form of “social connectedness,” where the actions, reactions, and expressions of a person impacts how another person’s brain responds.

For adults interacting with young children, using social signals such as direct eye contact can bring the child and adult’s “brains into temporal alignment, creating a joint-networked state that is structured to facilitate information sharing during early communication and learning.” Temporal alignment between adults and infants is important, as it “plays a vital role in supporting early learning across multiple domains of language, cognition, and socioemotional development.”

Infants spend a lot of time looking at the faces of others, interpreting the way their facial features move, where their eyes shift to, and how their voices sound. And as they rely on these social cues to interpret meaning in their daily life, direct gaze is thought to be one of the most important cues for individuals and infants to infer communicative intent. Babies prefer to look at the face people who are looking right at them, with direct gaze even reinforcing the social responses that babies produce and their ability to recognize face-related information.

Conclusion

In conclusion, adults working or living with infants should consider using direct eye contact frequently with their child. Whether an adult is playing with, reading with, bathing, or even singing a nursery rhyme to a child, shared eye contact can act to build strong communication and information sharing between the two.

To learn more about the importance of speaker gaze, read the full report.

Article Citation

Leong, Victoria, et al. “Speaker Gaze Increases Information Coupling between Infant and Adult Brains.” PNAS, National Academy of Sciences, 12 Dec. 2017, www.pnas.org/content/114/50/13290.

News

July 3, 2019

Paid Opportunity: Baby Brain Emotion Study

Are you the mother/caregiver of an infant age 0-3 months? If so, you and your baby may be able to participate in a Pitt+Me research study to help learn more about the ways in which infants’ emotions are connected to areas of the brain and how parenting behaviors might affect these connections.

About

The purpose of this study is to help researchers learn more about the ways in which infants’ emotions are connected to areas of the brain and how parenting behaviors might affect these connections. Researchers hope their findings will lead to a better understanding of emotional challenges in children in the future. Compensation provided.

Study Eligibility

  • Infant aged 0-3 months old
  • Infant was born full-term (at least 37 weeks)
  • Infant’s birth weight was more than 5.5 pounds
  • Infant has not been in the hospital for any physical health issues, including neurological
  • Infant does not have any metal in their body
  • Mother/Caregiver did not use illicit substances during pregnancy and is not using them now
  • Mother/Caregiver spends at least 2 hours per day caring for the infant

Learn More

For more information and to participate, visit the study webpage.

*Information provided by Pitt+Me