Education and Early Learning

A coordinated effort to encourage developmental and behavioral screening and support for children, families, and the providers who care for them.  It involved a partnership of several Federal offices including HHS’ Administration for Children and Families and Office of Special Education Programs at the Department of Education.  

Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive! seeks to:  Celebrate milestones; Promote universal screening. Identify possible delays and challenges early; and Enhance developmental supports.

To do so, Birth to Five: Watch Me Thrive!  includes:

1. A compendium of research-based screening tools.

2. “User’s Guides” for multiple audiences.

3. An electronic package of resources for follow-up and support.

The Early Childhood Academy collaborates with participating community and junior colleges, the Mississippi Department of Human Services, and child care providers to ensure that Mississippi’s family-based unified and integrated early childhood system connects and integrates resources and services for both parents/caregivers and their children. 

The Office is also responsible for establishing an Early Childhood Academy with a Resource and Referral Center at participating community colleges to deliver professional development for all centers, delivering and managing technical assistance and coaching, and providing leadership to the Resource and Referral offices.

Website for parents and teachers. The information in this area can help you better understand the childhood themes in Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and the philosophy behind them. You’ll also find discussion ideas and suggestions for follow-up activities for children at home, school, or child care.

The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHILD CARE RESOURCE & REFERRAL AGENCIES has a checklist for families to use to identify high quality child care centers in their free booklet Is This the Right Place for My Child?

PBS KIDS is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of children through curriculum-based entertainment with positive role models and content designed to nurture a child’s total well-being. With a 360-degree approach towards learning and reaching children, PBS KIDS leverages the full spectrum of media and technology to build knowledge, critical thinking, imagination and curiosity. PBS KIDS encourages children to interact as respectful citizens in a diverse society. By involving parents, teachers, caregivers and communities as learning partners, PBS KIDS helps to empower children for success in school and in life. PBS’ bottom line is measured by how much it contributes to the welfare of America’s children.

PBS’s children’s media and family and educator resources include PBS KIDS television series, pbskids.org, PBS Parents, PBS Teachers, PBS KIDS Raising Readers, and literacy events across the country. PBS is a nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation’s 356 public television stations.

Every day is full of possibilities and so is your child! Get activities and tips you can use to help kids learn at home.

Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

The Sesame Workshop website contains information on health and wellness and other topics related to children.

ZERO TO THREE is a multidisciplinary organization that supports the healthy development and well-being of infants, toddlers, and their families by informing, educating, and supporting adults who influence the lives of infants and toddlers.