Letter From Abbi
Dear Friends of The Playing Field,
You may not know that early educators hate the term “daycare.”
We’ve long preferred “childcare,” often quipping, “We don’t care for days. We care for children.” Recently I’ve been reading The Daycare Myth: What We Get Wrong About Early Care and Education by Dan Wuori. In his book, Mr. Wuori brilliantly explains that the term “daycare,” and even the more palatable “childcare,” perpetuates the erroneous notion that care can be separated from education.
For too long, this notion has shaped systems that operate on the belief that education begins when a child enters kindergarten. However, we now know learning begins in the womb, and a child’s first 1,000 days are critical for brain development. These early years lay the foundation for how a child will see herself, relate to others, manage emotions, resolve conflict, learn, and motivate herself. Every day a child spends in an early education program shapes who she becomes.
All environments are learning environments. For infants and young children, the care is the curriculum. When a child’s cries are met with attuned responses, he learns that the world is a safe place, his needs matter, and he can trust others to care for him. This becomes the foundation of how he will care for himself and others throughout his lifetime.
Despite the profound importance of these early years, the childcare system remains broken. For too long, society has underestimated early educators, often undervaluing their work. The focus has been on maximizing the number of children in the least resource-intensive settings, underpinned by an unspoken belief that “anyone” can care for children, while “real” educators are those in K-12 classrooms.
But now that we understand so much more about early brain development and the critical foundations built during these years, it’s clear that if we truly recognized the significance of early childhood, we would see that early childhood educators should be the most educated, best-resourced, and highest-compensated professionals.
When we invest heavily in K-12 and higher education while neglecting early childhood, we’re doing it backwards.
Imagine a contractor who offers luxurious upgrades that are out of your budget. When you ask how he can afford it, he explains, “We rush through the foundation. We use cheap labor and materials so we can put the money into these upgrades.”
That’s what we’re doing when we shortchange children in their foundational years.
The result? Early care and education is under-funded and under-resourced. A child may spend up to 10,000 hours in an early education program before age five, yet many programs, unfortunately, cannot meet the standards for high-quality care due to lack of resources. When we sacrifice quality of care in children’s early years, we are building a house on a shaky foundation.
That’s why your support matters so much. With support from friends and family like you, The Playing Field is able to provide high-quality care to children, regardless of family income. Your contributions help ensure all children receive the foundation they deserve.
As you consider year-end giving, please remember us. Early childhood programs are still reeling from pandemic-related funding losses, and your support is needed now more than ever.
Other ways you can support The Playing Field and early care and education professionals:
- Advocate for early childhood education. Contact your legislators and urge them to invest in the foundational years. Invite them to visit The Playing Field to witness the impact of quality early education.
- Encourage those in your circle to read The Daycare Myth to better understand why these early years matter.
I want to personally thank each of you for your interest in our mission. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season, surrounded by loved ones.
With gratitude,
Abbi
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Featured Recognition: The Century Foundation
The conversation around the importance of early childhood education is evolving, and we are excited to be part of the national discussions calling for greater recognition and investment in this critical field. At The Playing Field, we’ve long advocated for a system where all children, regardless of background, have access to high-quality early learning experiences.
That’s why we’re especially thrilled to share that we’ve been featured in an article by The Century Foundation, which showcases how we are integrating Early Head Start and private pay tuition to create a truly inclusive early education model. By bringing together families from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, we’re not only strengthening our community but also ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive in an equitable, high-quality learning environment.
You can read the full article here: Mixing Early Head Start and Private Pay Tuition at a Wisconsin Early Childhood Program
Partners in Play
As we reflect on the importance of early childhood education and the foundational role it plays in shaping young lives, we are reminded of the incredible community that brings this vision to life.
Through meaningful and intentional partnerships with other local organizations, we are able to strengthen and broaden our reach, ensuring that children and families have the resources and support they need to thrive.
In this season of celebration, we celebrate our community partnerships and collaborations.
Family Connect WI
We are deeply grateful to Family Connect WI for their ongoing support through their CarePortal, a powerful care-sharing technology that connects local resources to families in need. Family Connect of Wisconsin supports vulnerable children and families by fostering connections among resources, the local church, and the community. Through CarePortal, vetted needs are entered by agency partners, and shared with over 100 community responders from 18 churches.
Since its launch at the end of July, Family Connect WI has supported over 40 children in Dane County, collaborating with six agency partners including The Playing Field. This platform allows us to quickly reach out for essential items like car seats, clothing, and more, ensuring that the families we serve have the resources they need to thrive. Together, we’re making a lasting impact on the lives of families in our community.
Learn more about Family Connect WI and how they’re making a difference at Family Connect of Wisconsin.
Hero Helpers- Downtown Madison Rotary
At The Playing Field, we know that parents, guardians and caregivers are true community heroes, and their work never ends- especially this time of year. But sometimes even heroes need a little help. That’s when our village steps in.
We are incredibly grateful to our partners Downtown Madison Rotary for acting as hero helpers this season by donating gifts. Their thoughtful generosity has helped our heroes make the season bright. Thank you for your incredible generosity and support!
Celebrating Community – We Couldn’t Do It Without You!
As we celebrate the strength of our community, we want to express our deep gratitude for your support. Because of you, every child has the opportunity to grow, explore, and thrive in an environment that values their unique potential.
The early years of a child’s life are foundational, shaping their future in profound ways. Thanks to your generosity, we’ve created a community where children and families are supported, nurtured, and empowered to reach their full potential.
As the year comes to a close, we invite you to include The Playing Field in your giving plans. Your continued support helps us sustain and expand the work that transforms lives every day.
Thank you for believing in the power of play and for being an integral part of our mission. Wishing you and yours a warm and safe season filled with joy and celebration.
