Your involvement matters

Learn with NH ChILD

Why the emphasis on early childhood learning? What is Ideal Learning? How can it impact our homes, communities and city?

The first three years of a child’s life — their first thousand days — are foundational for their brain architecture. Their experiences during these early days set the stage for future educational and life outcomes. NH ChILD is committed to ensuring that all children in New Haven — regardless of income or address — have the opportunity to benefit from Ideal Learning, whether at home, in home-based care, or in a center-based program. Though the term Ideal Learning may be new to many,  its principles are drawn from well-known and proven early childhood approaches, including Montessori, Reggio Emilia, HighScope, Tools of the Mind, Bank Street College of Education, Friends Center for Children, and Waldorf.

Learn more about Ideal Learning here.

Opportunities

If you are an educator, parent, school or community leader, family child care provider, or anyone who cares for or about young children, we offer workshops and Professional Learning Communities that provide opportunities for you to develop your personal or professional experience with Ideal Learning in early childhood education.

Professional Learning Communities

NH ChILD’s Professional Learning Communities provide opportunities for educators, parents, school and community leaders to come together to explore and develop new knowledge and skills to give children ideal learning experiences. PLCs meet once a month for six months. Our next PLC is scheduled to begin fall of 2021. If you are interested in joining, please email info@nhchild.org

Partner with NH ChILD

At its core, NH ChILD is a collaborative effort: formed by an alliance of like-minded organizations; steered by a Board and Council of community leaders; and fueled by the partnership of community programs and community members. We invite your participation! Below please find some examples of how we’re working with our partners.

Child Development Associate Program

Our Child Development Associate (CDA) program — created in collaboration with Elm City Communities, Gateway Community College (GCC), Integrated Wellness Group, Friends Center for Children, and Elm City Montessori — helps new educators obtain their CDA by combining Gateway College’s CDA  I and CDA II courses with training in Ideal Learning and racial equity.  While open to all, targeted recruitment helps us offer the opportunity to those most in need of assistance on their career pathway. 

Early Childhood Resource Network (ECRN)

As one of the core strategies of the ACCESS pathway, our Early Childhood Resource Network (ECRN) is being developed in partnership with the New Haven Early Childhood Council. Featuring a common application and referral systems for families with young children, the ECRN will provide equitable access to resources and create a support system for families and the early care and education workforce. The network is being designed to address the barriers encountered by families, providers and teachers within the existing early care and education system.

Ideal Learning Roundtable

The basis for our work, Ideal learning is a comprehensive approach built upon proven pedagogical beliefs shared across the early care and childhood community. The Ideal Learning Roundtable works collectively toward the equitable expansion of Ideal Learning for under-served young children, families, and communities. The group consists of NH ChILD founding members — Bank Street College of Education, Friends Center for Children, Montessori Leaders Collaborative, North American Reggio Emilia Alliance, Tools of the Mind, and Trust for Learning — and has expanded to include a collaborative of groups championing high-quality early learning opportunities.

Our Partners and Friends