Dear Small Talker,
Welcome to the thirty-second edition of Small Talks. Every Friday, I highlight 6 areas of weekly joys and reflections in early childhood and the whole family. Small Talks leverages my experience at the intersection of education, philanthropy and impact investing. Enjoy!
What I’m celebrating -
Two new studies about play: Children who play and have stimulation have significantly higher IQ, higher grit scores, lower depression rates, higher conscientiousness, lower substance use, higher income, and more.
Typical child development has clearly been derailed by prolonged exposure to stress from the global pandemic. Fortunately, we know the remedy: an environment of supportive relationships, as outlined in this working paper from the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child and the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University.
What I’m listening to -
The Daily Show “Is Child Care a Public Responsibility?” reports on the child care supply-and-demand challenges in Greensboro, NC. It highlights how many Americans pay more for child care they do for mortgage, even though care giver wages are among the bottom 2% in the US. It concludes with a balanced view on fears of tax increases and move from private to public service.
I joined the annual meeting of New Markets, one of the leading edtech funds in the U.S., with 19 years of history at the intersection of postsecondary education and workforce innovation. In addition to featuring the impactful work of portfolio companies PathStream, PresenceLearning and CreatorUp, the team also shared those sobering data.
What I’m reading -
“The Power of Discord: Why the Ups and Downs of Relationships Are the Secret to Building Intimacy, Resilience, and Trust Hardcover”, by renown psychologist Ed Tronick and pediatrician Claudia Gold, shows how the critical inevitable dissonance of human connection is the path to better relationships and socio-emotional development.
What I’m watching -
This TEDx talk with Dr. Karen Treisman has a fairly simple, but essential message “Good relationships are the key to healing trauma”.
PBS News Hour “Raising the future spotlights the child care crisis.”
What I’m learning and exploring more deeply -
An incredible piece of investigative journalism highlights an utterly harrowing account of pre-teen children jailed for made-up crimes.
Dr. Pamela Cantor’s detailed piece “All Children Thriving” outlines her vision for whole child development- a system that recognizes children as whole people, values their assets, and supports them to excel in myriad ways.
“Pandemic may have lowered baby IQ” spotlights research from Brown University with likely long-term impact for years to come.
In Louisiana, 1 in 3 child care centers lost >=50% of leader teachers in a single year. This was pre-pandemic. Things are getting worse in a tight labor market, and unfortunately does not bode well for quality outcomes for young children.
On the positive side, Handshake published some fascinating results on professional networks/social capital: 73% of Gen Z say it’s easier to make professional connections than it was for their parents.
Quote I am pondering -
“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.”
— Desmond Tutu
Feedback is a gift. Which part above is your favorite? What did I miss? What do you want more or less of? Other recommendations? Please kindly let me know. Thank to all all of you who are sending me amazing suggestions.
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Have a wonderful week. Please stay safe and care for each other.
Isabelle