蜜桃影视

Every year, Early Learning Nation magazine asks experts and friends what they鈥檙e thankful for in the early learning world. This year, contributor Mark Swartz asked our favorite people to pretend they鈥檙e sitting at the kids table for Thanksgiving and talking to a 5-year-old. Here鈥檚 what they said:

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“I’m the president of a special group that helps kids under 8 years old like you! I’m so thankful because I get to help kids be healthy from birth, go to affirming and good schools, eat yummy vegetables, use the internet safely, read fun books with kids and families that look like them, breathe clean air and drink clean water, be seen as kids and play outside with friends in their neighborhood. I want all kids, especially Black and brown kids, to have a happy and joyful childhood where they can be their energetic selves!”

鈥擫eah Austin, president and CEO,

鈥淚鈥檓 thankful, particularly in the absence of congressional action, that state policymakers are taking the lead for young children 鈥� in red states and blue. What do North Dakota and Vermont have in common? This year the answer is transformative, bipartisan investments in child care.鈥�

鈥� Dan Wuori, senior director of early learning,

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鈥淚 am grateful for every single adult who plays a loving role in the life of a child. Whether they know it or not, they are helping to build kids鈥� brains and lay the foundation for a life of learning.鈥�

鈥擠ana L. Suskind, founder and co-director, the 聽and author of

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鈥淚鈥檓 fortunate to live in a state where the needs of children and families continue to be prioritized by policymakers, advocates and our resilient workforce. From historic state investments to early learning, to volunteer Chicagoans who continue to tirelessly provide supports to our newest arrivals, Illinoisans have demonstrated their commitment to ensuring that young children have the opportunity to thrive.鈥�

鈥擩ulissa Cruz, senior director, community-based advocacy,

鈥淚’m thankful that more children in California will be able to go to preschool and will have the opportunity to learn more than one language thanks to our organization’s efforts in partnership with fellow early learning advocates and leaders in our state.鈥�

鈥擟arolyne Crolotte, director of dual language learner programs,

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鈥淚 am incredibly grateful that the narrative is shifting around early learning. Specifically, an understanding that our economy doesn鈥檛 work without child care; it is fundamentally an economic issue.鈥�

鈥擟hastity Lord, president and CEO,

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鈥淚 am thankful for teachers who take the time to learn. Teachers who continually perfect their craft are an asset. My actual 5-year-old daughter says, 鈥業鈥檓 thankful for school because my teachers make me smart.鈥欌��

鈥擠anielle Grant, educator, Joseph Lee Elementary School

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鈥淚 am most thankful for everyone working to build a society where children and families have everything they need to be safe and cared for in their homes and communities. As a society that truly cares about children and families, we should expect nothing less, and I鈥檓 grateful for everyone doing the work to make this vision a reality.鈥�

鈥�, editor,

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鈥淗ere’s what I am thankful for: For Ani, Mari and Liza (teachers at my son’s day care) who provide my son with love, comfort and plenty of opportunities to learn and explore. For the few green areas and mulch in the parks near our home where my son can get dirty while learning about nature. For my colleagues who are working hard to build a future where all young children and families are supported, healthy and happy.鈥�

鈥擜nkita Chachra, senior fellow,

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鈥淢y family grew this year, and, more than ever, I鈥檓 grateful for the early childhood professionals and caregivers who nurture my kids. These folks help our entire family to thrive. And they make it possible for me to work to help other families access quality early care and education.鈥�

鈥擡rica Meade, senior policy manager, at New America

鈥淚鈥檓 grateful that more and more in the early childhood field are recognizing the importance of centering parental economic mobility in programs to help improve child outcomes. Parent income is an incredibly strong predictor for child outcomes, ranging from early literacy and health to college attendance rates. In our work at EMPath and with our partners in the field, we see firsthand how integrating an economic mobility lens has the potential to help families thrive and, ultimately, to have a positive impact on children鈥檚 lives.鈥�

鈥擪im Janey, president and CEO, (Economic Mobility Pathways)

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鈥淚 am thankful for the teachers who help the next generation to learn more deeply, feel more engaged and thrive both in their mental and physical health. I鈥檓 so grateful that the conversation around early learning now emphasizes resilience, coping and well-being as well as academic skills.鈥�

鈥�, author of

This story originally published on Early Learning Nation and is now archived on 蜜桃影视. Learn more here.