Letter From Abbi
Dear Friend of The Playing Field,
My daughter and son in law recently invited me on their vacation. I got to spend the week as my granddaughterâs âNanny-Grannyâ and I canât imagine anything better!
It was interesting to observe her in different situations- joyful, loud and silly with us yet cautious, quiet and watchful when strangers smiled at her. We laughed about the way she âmean-muggedâ anyone who tried to speak to her. All of this filled me with gratitude that I get to be one of âher people.â
Young children have a very small number of people who they fully trust, and I think it is a great privilege to have this role in the life of a child. At a recent family night, I saw a toddler excitedly leap from his motherâs arms when he saw his teacher. It was easy to see the teacher was one of âhis people.â
Adults earn this place in a childâs life in simple ways such as responding consistently to the childâs needs and expressing delight in the childâs presence. These small moments may seem unimportant to observers who donât fully understand their importance. However, these moments add up to build foundations for how the child sees himself, relates to others, manages stress, motivates himself and achieves.
I truly believe that if we understood the importance of a childâs earliest years, the experiences they have, and the people who surround them, our early childhood professionals would be the most educated and best resourced teachers.
Childcare is a broken system, and its survival has long depended on sacrifice from teachers, parents, and even children. In a recent study, only 10% of US preschools met the standards for âvery highâ quality. The vast majority of children attend childcare ranked only as âfairâ (La Crosse Schools, 2024).
The Playing Field is committed to offering care that any parent would choose for their own child and assuring that care is accessible to all families. As we are celebrating our ninth birthday this month, I would like to thank each of you for your continued interest and support.
Your help makes it possible for us to hire qualified staff, keep our class sizes small, and the ratio of children to teachers low. Your help ensures that all children in our community can experience the moments needed to build strong foundations for life and learning. We couldnât do it without you!
With gratitude,
Abbi
Back to School at The Playing Field
At The Playing Field, we know that providing exceptional early care and education is no easy task. It requires not only passion but also specialized skills and a deep commitment to the well-being of each child. As we begin a new school year, we are proud of the dedication our teachers and staff have shown in getting ready for the return of our students.
Each August, The Playing Field closes for Staff Development days to prepare for the new school year. This year, our team participated in a two-day professional development session where educators focused on strengthening their knowledge of child development, expanding their strategies for care, and thoughtfully preparing their classrooms to create intentional environments that foster optimal early learning and development. These training sessions are just one of the many ways we ensure that our teachers are well-equipped to meet the unique needs of each child in our care.
Understanding child development and employing effective care strategies are especially important for children who have experienced trauma. Our professional development emphasizes trauma sensitive practices, ensuring our educators are prepared to offer compassionate and responsive care. This approach helps create a safe and nurturing environment where every child can thrive.
As part of their training, our teachers worked hard to create warm, inviting classrooms that are ready to welcome students back. Using their understanding of child development, effective care strategies, and best practices, they created safe, engaging spaces designed to inspire and support children as they grow, learn, and explore throughout the year.
We believe that the success of our children begins with the strength of our teachers. We invest in their ongoing growth and development, knowing that when teachers feel supported, they are better able to support the children in their care.
As the school year begins, we are excited to welcome our students back to a warm and nurturing environment. Our School Family is ready, prepared, and eager to provide high-quality care and education for the start that every child deserves. We look forward to all the growth, joy, and learning this new year will bring.
Helping Our Heroes
Parents, grandparents, and guardians are often a young child’s first and most trusted people. To a young child, these trusted adults are like superheroesâalways there to guide, nurture, and celebrate their progress.
But even heroes need help. When lifeâs responsibilities, like work or school, keep them from being by their childâs side, that circle naturally grows to include caregivers, like early care educators.
At The Playing Field, our mission is grounded in the belief that caring for children begins with caring for early educators and that every child deserves access to high-quality early care. We are committed to breaking down the barriers families face in accessing this vital support.
However, as we start the new school year, many children are still being left behind.
The challenges facing early care and education are significant:
- Staffing Shortages in the Early Care and Education SectorâšMany early care programs struggle to remain open due to a shortage of qualified staff. In Dane County alone, programs had to turn away 646 because classrooms were closed due to these staffing shortages (4-C, 2024).
- The Cost of Care for FamiliesâšEven when classrooms are open, the high cost of early care and education is prohibitive for many families, leaving numerous children without access to these essential services. The Cap Times reported that according to a recent market rate survey by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, âchild care costs in counties like Dane County were 9% to 15% higher last year than in 2022, depending on the age group and provider type.â (Cap Times, 2024)
At The Playing Field, we are dedicated to ensuring that children do not get left behind before they have even had a chance to start. We have expanded to Madisonâs East side and opened additional classrooms to ensure that no child is denied access to high-quality care due to a familyâs inability to find or afford it. But even heroes need help.
Sources:
- 4-C. (2024). Wages, Benefits, and Staffing in Dane County. (Retrieved from https://www.4-c.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2024-Wages-Benefits-Staffing-Dane.pdf) Cap Times. (2024).
- State survey: Costs for Dane County child care up more than 9%. (Retrieved from https://captimes.com/news/state-survey-costs-for-dane-county-child-care-up-more-than-9/article_4ded613e-4ea4-11ef-9aa7-d750dbf9c1a2.html“) La Crosse Schools. (2024).
- Study finds 90% of US preschools don’t meet high-quality standards. (Retrieved from https://www.lacrosseschools.org/district-rolls-out-la-crosses-first-mobile-preschool/)
What’s Next?
Investing in Our School Family
Your support plays a crucial role in bridging this gap. By investing in our School Family, you help us provide the support necessary for children, families and educators to thrive. Thank you for being an essential part of our School Family and for helping us make a meaningful impact every day.
