ZERO TO THREE

01/26/2023

Webinar: Talking Trauma With Young Children - ZERO TO THREE

Children are never too young to experience trauma and stress, and these difficult feelings can have a big impact on little kids. With ongoing violence in public spaces and media coverage of these events, young children–including infants and toddlers–may be experiencing high levels of anxiety.

Dr. Renee Boynton-Jarrett, MD and Dr. Chandra Ghosh Ippen, PhD, experts on child trauma, have a candid conversation about how adults, whether caregivers, early education professionals, or advocates, can navigate conversations with young children to support the overall well-being of children and of themselves.

Supporting young children during times of crisis With ongoing violence in public spaces and media coverage of these events, young children–including infants and toddlers–may be experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety. Dr. Renee Boynton-Jarrett, MD and Dr. Chandra Ghosh Ippen, PhD, experts...

01/25/2023

Study: Wealthiest Black Moms More Likely To Die In Childbirth Than Poorest White Moms

This recent study reminds us that there is still much that needs to be done to ensure equal access and care for ALL moms and their newborns.

Even the wealthiest Black women can’t escape the effects of structural racism when it comes to pregnancy and childbirth, a new study finds.

01/24/2023

Bring your voice to Strolling Thunder!

Babies have a lot to say, and so do the families that raise them! That's why we’re bringing babies & their families from across America to D.C. for on June 21 to tell policymakers to . And we need your voice!

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3QQCOmX

01/23/2023

Upcoming Events - ZERO TO THREE

We're always adding new trainings and events to our calendar! See what's coming up — it may be just what you've been looking for.

Home ZERO TO THREE works to ensure that babies and toddlers benefit from the early connections that are critical to their well-being and development. Search Apply filter AllUncategorized Need group training solutions? We can help. Get in touch

01/22/2023

Happy Lunar New Year! From red envelopes, known as hóngbāo, full of lucky money, to eating tteokguk, or rice cake soup, for good luck, this day is culturally significant for many families. Rooted in thousands of years of tradition, Lunar New Year is celebrated in China, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, and many other Asian countries. While many families mark the Year of the Rabbit, a symbol of longevity, peace and prosperity, in 2023, Vietnam celebrates the Year of the Cat.

Celebrate this day with young children by reading books about Lunar New Year written by Asian authors. Sample a variety of traditional foods like dumplings, pineapple cake, steamed square cake, and longevity noodles. Join in the festivities happening in your area. Learn together about the differences in Asian cultures. And most of all, enjoy Lunar New Year!

01/21/2023

January is National Bath Safety Month. We're sharing tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics to keep little ones scrub-a-dub-dub safe in the tub.

01/20/2023

Toddler Biting: Finding the Right Response - ZERO TO THREE

Toddler biting is a very common behavior, which means there are a lot of concerned parents out there. You are not alone. The good news is that there is a lot that parents and caregivers can do to reduce and, ultimately, eliminate biting.

Children bite in order to cope with a challenge or fulfill a need. For example, your child may be biting to express a strong feeling (like frustration), communicate a need for personal space (maybe another child is standing too close) or to satisfy a need for oral stimulation. Trying your best to understand the underlying cause of the biting will help you develop an effective response.

Trying your best to understand the underlying cause of toddler biting will help you develop an effective response.

01/19/2023

A Year of Play - ZERO TO THREE

New year, new playtime ideas! 💡 Check out our month-by-month guide to keep littles ones active all year long.

Browse fun seasonal activities by month to find play activities that promote your child’s development all year. You are your child’s favorite toy. There is nothing in the world your child would rather do than play with you! Use the ideas below as a starting point for the many joyful ways there a...

01/18/2023

Give your baby the mic! ZERO TO THREE's looking for families from every state and D.C. for on June 21. You could be the family representing your state on Capitol Hill, speaking up to tell Congress to !

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3QQCOmX

01/17/2023

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health - ZERO TO THREE

Despite trending conversations about our emotional well-being, the mental health of our youngest citizens is largely ignored or misunderstood. No other core issues matter if we don’t begin by acknowledging that babies come into the world with a capacity for a rich emotional life and are so much more than passive observers of the world around them.

Infant and early childhood mental health is at the center of every single step we take at ZERO TO THREE. As a baby grows through infancy, toddlerhood and the preschool years, each experience—positive or negative—becomes a building block for their future wellness. Learn more about our work:

Home Mental health is the foundation of early childhood development. Babies come into this world ready and wired to form relationships. From the moment of birth, children are forming connections, developing social responses and learning about themselves and the world around them. Infant and early ch...

01/16/2023

The data are clear: a child's race affects their access to a quality life.

With more than half of babies born today being children of color, we're advancing programs and influencing policies that increase every baby's infinite potential.

Learn more about our commitment to racial equity, diversity and inclusion: https://bit.ly/3vZuF5S

01/15/2023

Half of the 250 Kids Expelled from Preschool Each Day Are Black Boys

"Along with banning the practice, Zinsser says, steps need to be taken to address teacher stress, which is a predictor of expulsion."

Learn more about our commitment to help minimize early childhood expulsion: https://bit.ly/3GAAewD

Racism and overstressed teachers help explain high expulsion rates for Black preschool boys

01/14/2023

100 infant deaths have been linked to the Fisher-Price Rock ’n Play Sleeper. Though recalled and pulled from stores in 2019, inclined sleepers are still being purchased through a large resale market. This week, Fisher-Price reannounced its recall as a reminder not to use the company's sleepers, which have continued to lead to infant fatalities.

The recommends that infants sleep on a firm, flat surface, with fitted sheets and no pillows or blankets. Any surface that inclines more than 10 degrees is not safe. For more safe sleep recommendations, visit https://bit.ly/3W67odf

01/13/2023

Problem Solvers: A Free Early Math Curriculum - ZERO TO THREE

Some early research has found that the more that young toddlers were exposed to early mathematical language by their parents, the better their vocabulary was and the better some of their early math skills were in preschool.

We know that talking about math helps to build early math understanding. And that play-based activities are best for young children. In steps Problem Solvers.

Problem Solvers is a free, early math curriculum that includes:

-22 play-based early math activities, spanning 7 domains of early math
-22 specially-composed songs that support early math learning in each activity
-22 book suggestions and extension activities that nurture early math language -through read-alouds
-22 parent resources (English/Spanish) that build bridges between school and home, and give parents ideas for engaging math play
-A Teacher’s Guide to help educators implement the curriculum

Download it today!

An Free Early Math Curriculum for Children Aged 30 to 48 months New Winter Bonus Unit: “Chilly Patterns” now Available!! Research tells us that early math skills are a powerful predictor of overall school achievement. But what does “early math” look like for toddlers and young preschoolers? ...

01/12/2023

Fellowship Class of 2022-2024 - ZERO TO THREE

👋 Meet these 20 early childhood leaders working to make the world a better place for infants and toddlers! We're looking forward to another wonderful Fellowship cohort to advance innovative, sustainable change.

Home ZERO TO THREE is pleased to present our 2022-24 ZERO TO THREE Fellows! The Fellows are a vibrant, diverse cohort of early and mid-career leaders who bring a broad range of expertise, skills, and perspectives to their commitment to ensure infants an...

01/11/2023

Glad to see our representatives 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 America’s families! We must continually remind Congress to and support policies like the expanded Child Tax Credit, child care reform, and paid leave.

01/09/2023

What We Do - Fostering Healthy Development - HealthySteps

By partnering with pediatric primary care, our HealthySteps program brings focus to the key social, emotional, and cognitive skills important to healthy development. In strengthening these areas for young children, we strengthen our communities.

HealthySteps Specialists work with cutting-edge pediatric primary care practices to prepare young children for school and life. These Specialists, also child development experts, build strong relationships with families and providers and works to promote nurturing parenting, which improves babies’ and toddlers’ healthy development and well-being.

Based on the most recent scientific understandings, HealthySteps has created a model to help ensure individual, family, community, & societal well-being.

01/08/2023

Help Your Child Develop Early Math Skills - ZERO TO THREE

Before they start school, most children develop an understanding of addition and subtraction through everyday interactions. Learn what informal activities give children a head start on early math skills when they start school.

01/07/2023

Learning to Write and Draw - ZERO TO THREE

For very young children, art and early writing skills are one and the same. At first, it’s all about just figuring out what these cool things called crayons can do. Then they discover the link between their hand holding the crayon and the line they made on the page.

For very young children, there are four stages of learning to write that you may see as your child grows from 15 months to 3 years old.

01/06/2023

Council Post: Supporting Working Parents Means Supporting Invisible Caregivers

"At a time when there’s not enough affordable, accessible child care to go around, invisible caregivers play a critical role in keeping the workforce afloat. Often referred to as family, friends and neighbors (FFN), invisible caregivers provide care for an estimated 60% of American children, making them the most meaningful child care solution for the vast majority of working parents.

It’s the work of invisible caregivers—Grandma, Auntie or the stay-at-home-mom next door—that enables many parents to return to and stay in the workforce. And yet, most of these caregivers are unlicensed and unpaid, making them 'invisible' to the child care economy and leaving the working families who rely on them vulnerable and insecure."

If companies want to attract and retain working parents, they need to support all kinds of working parents—including those who rely on these invisible caregivers.

01/05/2023

WIC, funding for child care and other programs make a difference for babies and their caregivers. Our Chief Policy Officer Miriam Calderón spoke with Here & Now’s Deepa Fernandes on NPR on how Congress must and prioritize our youngest Americans. Listen here: https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2023/01/05/young-children-pandemic

01/05/2023

Critical Competencies Coaching Program - ZERO TO THREE

Transform teacher-child interactions! Build coaches’ capacity to integrate the ZERO TO THREE Critical Competencies for Infant-Toddler Educators™ model and resources into current and potential coaching plans, curriculum, and strategies.

Beginning February 1, our expert faculty will guide a cohort through an intensive program that equips them with strategies and resources to help their coaches reflect on, practice and advance their Critical Competencies.

Transform teacher-child interactions! Build coaches’ capacity to integrate the ZERO TO THREE Critical Competencies for Infant-Toddler Educators™ model and resources into current and potential coaching plans, curriculum, and strategies. ZERO TO THREE Expert Faculty guide a cohort of coaches (or o...

01/04/2023

Top resource alert 🚨! Question: How can I tell if my 2-year-old is gifted? She can count to 50, knows her ABCs, and is extremely verbal. My husband and I are wondering if she is “gifted” and, if so, is there anything we should be doing to nurture her talents?

Read our answer: https://www.zerotothree.org/resource/how-can-i-tell-if-my-2-year-old-is-gifted/

01/03/2023

Early Learning - ZERO TO THREE

Babies are born curious about the world, and their brains grow exponentially between birth and age 3 as they develop language, motor skills, and early literacy. The foundation for lifelong learning is built during these critical years.

Early learning happens wherever babies are—at home or in child care led by qualified early childhood education professionals. Access a library of resources for evidence-based early learning information that encourages literacy, communication and early math and science skills.

Home The foundation for lifelong learning is built during the critical early years. Babies are born curious about the world, and their brains grow exponentially between birth and age 3 as they develop language, motor skills, and early literacy. The foundation for lifelong learning is built during th...

01/02/2023

A Year of Play - ZERO TO THREE

You are your child’s favorite toy. There is nothing in the world your child would rather do than play with you!

We're offering monthly activity ideas as a starting point for the many joyful ways there are to explore, play, learn, and discover with your child.

Browse fun seasonal activities by month to find play activities that promote your child’s development all year. You are your child’s favorite toy. There is nothing in the world your child would rather do than play with you! Use the ideas below as a starting point for the many joyful ways there a...

01/01/2023

New Year's Resolution: No More Yelling - ZERO TO THREE

Almost 60% of parents said they struggle with figuring out the most effective way to discipline. And about 40% of parents told us they wished they could do a better job of not yelling or raising their voice so quickly with their children. The truth is that many of us yell, even though we know it’s not the best way to shape our children’s behavior. But what can you do at the moment when you’re about to lose it? Read on for tips on keeping your cool.

About 40% of parents told us they wished they could do a better job of not yelling or raising their voice so quickly with their children.

12/31/2022

No Wiggle Room - ZERO TO THREE

Our New Year’s Resolution at ZERO TO THREE is to reach even more infants and toddlers in 2023 than we did in 2022. Thanks to the support of Baby Champions like you, we’re well on our way to doing so... but we still need a little help.

Before we ring in 2023, we want to remind you about our matching gift offer. There’s no better time to give. If you contribute before the ball drops tonight, your fully tax-deductible, 2022 gift (and impact!) will be doubled up to $50,000.

All of us at ZERO TO THREE wish you a happy, healthy New Year! Thank you for everything you do!

The first three years are incredibly important in a baby's life-- and during this critical time, there's no wiggle room for anything less than the best. Our work to ensure that every baby has a strong start in life-- no matter their economic status or z...

12/30/2022

Caregiving Strategies for an Active Child - ZERO TO THREE

Did you know? A busy toddler will take more than 9,000 steps and travel the distance of more than 29 football fields—every day!⁠

Some children are movers and shakers. Find parenting strategies for the child who is always on the go, exploring the world around them by crawling, running, and climbing. A child's activity level doesn't mean there is a problem. It's just how they prefe...

12/29/2022

Breaking the Cycle - ZERO TO THREE

Your gift will help us expand HealthySteps and reach more families. Families like Eamani's: http://bit.ly/3tumNYW

Eamani Williams is a proud mother of two young children that strives to be the “happy mom” her kids deserve. But she didn’t have the easiest childhood herself. Then a pregnancy interrupted her teen years.

Like many adults, Eamani experienced trauma growing up or what experts like to call “adverse childhood experiences.” And because a mother’s and infant’s mental health are woven together, a trauma can impact her ability to bond with her child, manage parental stress, or be emotionally available. Now, she is committed to breaking the cycle of trauma in her family— and HealthySteps is there to help.

HealthySteps meets parents and families where they are, providing additional support and resources during well-child visits at their pediatric primary care offices to help families reduce day-to-day stressors that could negatively impact babies.

From now until January 1st, all gifts— up to $50,000— will be matched dollar-for-dollar. There’s no better time to give. Please join us today.

Eamani Williams had a tough childhood raised by a single mom. Then she learned it how tough is is being a single mom when a pregnancy interrupted her teen years.

12/28/2022

Mindfulness for Early Childhood Professionals - ZERO TO THREE

You nurture, teach, prepare meals, change diapers, play, resolve conflicts, and provide the structure that helps children feel safe and secure. But—the pay isn’t great. The hours are long. And early childhood professionals have to be the world’s best multitaskers, juggling everything from diaper changes to school readiness, from parent meetings to lullabies.

How do you manage the day-to-day stress that’s part of early childhood work? Mindfulness is strategy that may help.

Stressed? Bring Mindfulness to Work. Caring for young children can be stressful. You nurture, teach, prepare meals, change diapers, play, resolve conflicts, and provide the structure that helps children feel safe and secure. But—the pay isn’t great. The hours are long. And early childhood profes...

12/27/2022

How to Stay Calm When Baby Won’t Stop Crying - ZERO TO THREE

A crying baby can rattle even the most level-headed person. It doesn’t mean that you are doing anything wrong as a caregiver or that the baby doesn’t like you. Some babies cry more than others for reasons we don’t fully understand. But when the crying doesn't stop, it's completely normal to feel stressed. Here are some strategies to help manage that stress and stay calm while it feels like the world is erupting.

It’s normal to feel stressed when babies cry. Here are tips on how to cope when your baby won't stop crying.

12/26/2022

A Talk That All Parents Need to Hear

Research and clinical experience demonstrate that a baby’s earliest relationships and experiences with their parents and other caregivers dramatically influences brain development, social-emotional and cognitive skills, and future health and success in school and life.

Watch 7-year-old Molly Wright explain how connecting, talking and playing all help in the healthy development of a child's brain in the first few years.

12/24/2022

Quiet, Cozy Celebrations: Curl Up With a Good Book - ZERO TO THREE

There’s never a bad time to share a book with your little one. But the holidays provide a special opportunity to connect with family members through books that celebrate traditions.

Check out this collection of stories that celebrate the many ways you can build traditions with your child all year long. Find some quiet time away from the holiday hubbub, curl up, and enjoy!

There's never a bad time to share a book with your little one. But the holidays provide a special opportunity to connect with family members through books that celebrate traditions. Check out this collection of stories that celebrate the many ways you c...

12/23/2022

Survival Strategies for Traveling With Your Baby or Toddler - ZERO TO THREE

Travel can be exhausting and stressful on the best of days, but packing up your young children and hitting the road amps up the difficulty level to “expert.” Here are some tips for making sure your trip goes as smoothly as possible.

Travel can be exhausting and stressful on the best of days, but packing up your young children and hitting the road amps up the difficulty level to “expert.” Here are some tips for making sure your trip goes as smoothly as possible: Pack some favorite m...

12/22/2022

No Wiggle Room - ZERO TO THREE

Parents wonder how to raise children who will stand up against racism and injustice. Our social justice resources offer starting points for parents who want their children to develop a just and inclusive worldview: https://www.zerotothree.org/resource/parenting-for-social-justice/

By supporting our mission, you can expand the reach of our resource library of videos, articles, and training aimed at antiracist parenting, anti-bias training for early childhood educators and equitable advocacy for policymakers. Donate by January 1 and your impact will be doubled through a match up to $50,000.

The first three years are incredibly important in a baby’s life— and during this critical time, there’s no wiggle room for anything less than the best. Our work to ensure that every baby has a strong start in life— no matter their economic status or zip code— is urgent, but we can’t do i...

12/21/2022

Child poverty reached its lowest rate on record, largely due to the expanded Child Tax Credit. With prices of basic necessities soaring, the , which was left out of the Omnibus Bill, would have been vital in helping families like Karla’s. Congress must & invest in children next year. Read Karla's letter in USA TODAY here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2022/12/21/child-tax-credit-helps-parents-like-me/10885590002/

12/20/2022

Opinion | Sick kids need their parents. Why don’t we give them what they deserve?

Paid sick days are a crucial part of supportive policy for infants, toddlers and their worker families. Alyssa Rosenberg highlights the experience of children, too often missing from the conversation.

Grown-ups deserve paid sick leave. But we need a national policy guaranteeing that sick children can be cared for by their best advocates.

12/19/2022

No Wiggle Room - ZERO TO THREE

When it comes to caring for infants and toddlers, there’s no wiggle room for anything less than the best. And now you can double your impact when you donate through the end of the year. 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 — 𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫-𝐟𝐨𝐫-𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 $𝟓𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫.

All funds raised will go directly to helping babies and toddlers thrive through advocacy efforts that strive to make changes through local, state and federal policy and by providing resources and training to early childhood professionals that impact the learning and development of babies and toddlers. If you want to be a big part of helping to give our littlest people their best lives, become a baby champion today.

The first three years are incredibly important in a baby's life-- and during this critical time, there's no wiggle room for anything less than the best. Our work to ensure that every baby has a strong start in life-- no matter their economic status or z...

12/18/2022

'Tis the Season ... Handling Unwanted Parenting Advice With Grace - ZERO TO THREE

It can happen anywhere. A visit or video chat with your child’s grandparents. A comment from a random stranger. A text from a friend. Friends and family love us and (mostly) have our best interests in mind when they offer advice. But when you are up to here with ideas and suggestions, read on for ideas of what to do—instead of channeling your inner baby and flinging mashed potatoes.

It can happen anywhere. A visit or video chat with your child's grandparents. A comment from a random stranger. A text from a friend. According to ZERO TO THREE's Tuning In Survey, nearly 9 in 10 parents feel judged some or all the time! Friends and fam...

12/17/2022

A New Coalition Promotes Children's Self-Esteem (and Expanded Worldviews) through Diverse Books - Early Learning Nation

"These picture books play an important role to help nurture positive self-identity and self-esteem for every child. Books that reflect children’s lives also invite children in: they send a message that books and reading are for them. This is an important entry ramp to literacy and education in general."
-ZERO TO THREE Chief Communications Officer Ernestine Benedict

First Book, a nonprofit social enterprise focused on furthering educational equity for children ages 0-18 who are growing up in low-income communities,