Small Talks, No. 38
December 3, 2021
Dear Small Talker,
Welcome to the thirty-eight 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 -
This bold proposal for a “Caring Corps” of 1 million grand-adults involved in early care & education by Marc Freedman at Encore.org and Carol Larson, former president of the Packard Foundation. The evidence on intergenerational learning strategies is so compelling. See summary by Generations United.
This terrific new global early childhood report places young children at the center of the climate change conversation: child-friendly city designs, children voices and more.
Several important analyses of the pandemic’s effect on little learners:
Drop in enrollment for 3- and 4-year-olds in 2020-21.
Negative impact on cognitive development: baby IQ is dropping (for the first time in 100 years, since IQ was invented)
Negative impact on physical development for children under 5 in the UK.
Celebrating the education innovators on the Forbes 30 under 30 list: our bright future. Some innovators in child care, like Michael Lai at TinyCare in 2021, or innovators with a broader platform and interest in early childhood, like Alberto Arenaza at Transcend in 2022.
What I’m listening to -
Two impact investors - Daniel Pianko and Nasir Qadree - discuss their impact thesis and investing in the future of learning on the GettingSmart’s podcast.
What I’m reading -
“Battling Over Birth: Black Women and the Maternal Health Care” by 5 co-researchers Julie Chinyere Oparah, Helen Arega, Dantia Hudson, Linda Jones and Tolita Oseguera at Black Women Birthing Justice, highlights through 100 Black women’s experiences the crisis in maternal health care.
Black women are 3x as likely as white women to die of pregnancy-related causes.
A Black baby is 2x as likely to die before age 1 as a white baby.
55% of Black women surveyed were anxious about the process of birth.
What I’m watching -
Brain Matters , a documentary by film maker Carlota Nelson, highlights the fascinating brain growth in the early years, the long-term benefits in adulthood of quality early childhood programs, and the role of nurturing parenting.
Favorite quote (from a little boy): “the brain is to fight zombies.” Yes it it.
What I’m learning and exploring more deeply -
New survey data from Pew Research Center suggests continued low birth rates going forward.
“When asked for a reason, 56 percent of childless adults who said it is not at all or not too likely they will ever have children said it’s because … they just don’t want them.”
Another great synopsis by the RAPID-EC team that has surveyed families with children under 5 weekly since the onset of the pandemic: Nearly 60% of center- and home-based childcare providers are facing staff shortages, which is linked to increased stress and burnout for providers, and more disruptions and emotional distress for families.
A fascinating read: how to think about care in city design.
The “Alchemy of Age” - a brilliant short piece by Chip Conley on modern elders.
Quote I am pondering -
“You must get an education. You must go to school, and you must learn to protect yourself. And you must learn to protect yourself with the pen, and not the gun.”
--Joséphine Baker, first Black woman buried this past week at the Panthéon in Paris alongside other national French heroes.
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