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Welcome to The Playing Field

Learn more about our Campaign

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Learn more about our Campaign

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Access to High Quality Child Care

The Playing Field offers the highest level of early care and education to children from varied socio-economic backgrounds.

A young child may spend 10,000 hours in a group child care program. These early years form the foundations for how the child views themself, relates to others, manages emotions, and learns. During these formative years, there is no place for anything less than quality care and early education. Unfortunately, only ten percent of US children attending child care are enrolled in centers that meet the standards for high quality.

The Playing Field has created a model for access in early education by offering the highest level of care and making that care available to all families.

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Sensory Play Path

Developing Early Educators

Our model is built on the understanding that early attachments form the basis for learning and provide the best buffer against early adversity.

The Playing Field believes that taking good care of teachers supports them in providing the best care to children. Through our intensive training, coaching, and mentoring program, teachers gain the skills needed to assist children impacted by trauma. We encourage teachers to stay with the same group of children through multiple years and our low turnover rates provide children with stability and allow them to form strong bonds with caregivers.
Our reach extends beyond teachers in our program to those in our community and beyond Wisconsin. We host onsite trainings and offer observation opportunities for other early educators.
Learn more

Developing Early Educators

Our model is built on the understanding that early attachments form the basis for learning and provide the best buffer against early adversity.

The Playing Field believes that taking good care of teachers supports them in providing the best care to children. Through our intensive training, coaching, and mentoring program, teachers gain the skills needed to assist children impacted by trauma. We encourage teachers to stay with the same group of children through multiple years and our low turnover rates provide children with stability and allow them to form strong bonds with caregivers.
Our reach extends beyond teachers in our program to those in our community and beyond Wisconsin. We host onsite trainings and offer observation opportunities for other early educators.
Learn more

Partnering to Support Families

As we break the barriers to access of quality early education, we have formed partnerships to support adult family members in breaking their own barriers.

We have long partnered with The Road Home Dane County to offer quality child care to families impacted by housing insecurity. We also partner with the Department of Workforce Development to offer paid apprenticeships in early childhood education. We are currently working with Plumbers Union Local 75 to offer onsite child care and training in the skilled trades.

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Be there for Madison’s Children

“What the best and wisest parent wants for their own child, is what the community must want for all of its children.”

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