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Take Action

Child care teachers, home visitors and family home providers play a critical role in helping provide a healthy start for our children during their most formative years. Acquiring more training and education enhances your ability to provide higher-quality care for young children.

What can I do as an early childhood professional?

Explore ways to advance your education and take courses in early childhood development:

Create transition plans to prepare children and families for the move from pre-school to kindergarten:

  • Download ‘I Want to Be Ready for School,’ - a guide containing simple, everyday activities you can use and share with parents to help children prepare for kindergarten.
  • Be a VOICE for children. Help business leaders and policy makers understand how important your work is in shaping young lives and advocate for changes that will support your profession.
  • Read about the importance of non-profit child care programs to VPI expansion at: Virginia Tech Report on VPI Pilot Project  or view full report by clicking here:  Full Report Virginia Tech on VPI Pilot Project
  • Invite someone from Smart Beginnings South Hampton Roads’ Speakers’ Bureau to address you child care organization, business or civic group.
  • Volunteer to participate in the QRIS Quality Initiative (QRIS). Virginia’s Star Quality Program offers a market-based solution to help improve the quality of early childhood programs.
  • Help connect parents with community resources that will help their children reach their full potential.
  • Download and distribute the Community Connections Resource Guide (PDF)
  • Recognize yourself as a PROFESSIONAL and take pride in the important work you do.
  • Watch “Say Yes Now!” - a video from Educational Productions Inc., about enhancing the lives of children by increasing the skills, sensitivity and awareness of the adults who work with them
  • Apply to the Director’s Institute at Old Dominion University’s Department of Early Childhood Education, offered tuition free through a Tidewater Foundation for Children grant. Click here for application
  • Put your center on a wait list for QRIS.

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Did You Know?

Did You KnowDid You Know
  • 90% of a child’s brain is developed by the age of 5.
  • 78% of parents of children under 6 in South Hampton Roads work outside the home, and must find care for thier children.
  • 1 in 8 children in our region arrives at kindergarten not ready.
  • Children who start school behind tend to stay behind.
  • Nationally, 49% of children arriving at school unprepared come from middle and upper income families.
  • 18% of kindergartners held back in Virginia live in South Hampton Roads.
  • Holding back a child in kindergarten adds almost $8,000 to the public cost of that child’s education.
  • 3rd grade reading level is a powerful predictor: for those who fail the 3rd grade reading test, half will also fail the 5th grade.
  • In fact, 62% of Virginia’s students cannot read proficiently by the end of 3rd grade.
  • A working, middle class family, with two young children, will spend on average 29% of their income on child care.


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