First Things First update for May 21

May 2018

Arizona kindergarten teachers share the scoop on what kids need to be ready for that first day
First Things First asked kindergarten teachers from across Arizona: What’s the one piece of advice you’d give parents to help prepare over the summer? Click to read their answers. Kindergarten teachers are passionate about teaching young children and could have probably added a few extra pages of advice had we given them room. So even if your child isn’t starting kindergarten this year, remember that it’s never too early to help them get a great start.

Mental health is an important part of early childhood developmental milestones
We celebrate Children’s Mental Health Awareness in May—a time to remember that a child’s future success depends on social-emotional development as much as physical health. This Q & A with Leah Eckley, associate director of Smart Support at Southwest Human Development in Phoenix, helps clarify what early childhood mental health looks like and how to support it.

FTF Graham/Greenlee Champion wants community to see how early childhood resonates into adulthood
Susan Elsberry spent years researching artificial intelligence as a manufacturing engineer. But it wasn’t until she became a mother did she realize that her work in training adults actually had its roots in early childhood, since critical work skills like self-discipline are built in the early years. She was recently honored for her efforts to promote the importance of the early years by being named First Things First Graham/Greenlee 2018 Champion for Young Children. Each year, FTF honors early childhood champions like Susan throughout Arizona who actively volunteer to raise awareness of the importance of early childhood development and health.

pArentZ pod covers language and early literacy
This episode of the pArentZ pod, the Arizona infant and toddler podcast from First Things First, is all about reading. Our guest, Jenny Volpe, the CEO of Make Way for Books in Tucson, is passionate about starting young kids on the path to a lifelong love of reading. Listen to her thoughts about early literacy.

Listen to podcast

Early registration is now open for the FTF Early Childhood Summit 2018
Register now at a reduced rate for the First Things First Early Childhood Summit 2018. You’ll experience two days of keynote and featured speakers and select from 80+ breakout sessions on a wide range of early childhood topics. You’ll have the opportunity to meet, learn and share strategies that help kids be ready for school and set for life.

May 2018

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