Kim Sheagren, Author at Think Small

Graphic that has a yellow circle with blue background and red tape is twisting through the circle with a black scissors cutting the tape

Beyond Red Tape: What Innovating Child Care Licensing & Quality Standards Looks Like

Reduce Licensing Micromanagement in Service Quality: Minnesota should ensure children’s safety while freeing child care providers to meet industry standards. At Think Small, our mission is clear — to advance ...

early childhood legislation, licensing, Parent Aware

Young mother sitting next to four-year-old daughter, smiling and sitting in car, on their way to child care thanks to Early Learning Scholarship

The Impact of Early Learning Scholarships: Corinne's Story

“It literally changed my life,” shares Corinne Martin on the impact of an Early Learning Scholarship for her family. These scholarships help families pay for quality early care and education ...

early childhood legislation, Early Learning Scholarships, parent stories

March highlights Music in Our Schools! Music supports early learning, at home and in early care and education settings

March is Music in Our Schools month! Music is also a vital part of early childhood, at home and in early care and education. There is so much joy in ...

brain development, early literacy, research

Child care provider sitting on low chair telling story to children sitting in circle.

Reimagining Early Care and Education Standards: Lessons from the Bainum Foundation's WeVision Initiative

Any way you look at it, the early care and education (ECE) space is on the cusp of significant transformation. As Marica Cox Mitchell of the Bainum Family Foundation recently ...

A multi-ethnic group of preschool kids is indoors in their classroom. They are sitting on the floor and raising their hand to answer a question posed by their teacher while reading a story. They are all smiling.

Early Learning Scholarships Help Minnesota Families Pay for Quality Early Care and Education

Think Small has been working with Minnesota lawmakers to introduce legislation that keeps Early Learning Scholarships funded at their current rate for the next two years. Funding is set to ...

early childhood legislation, Early Learning Scholarships

Child sitting on pavement alone on playground with knees to his chest.

Eliminating Expulsions, Suspensions, and Exclusions of Children in Early Learning Programs

Expulsions, suspensions, and exclusions in early childhood education have far-reaching consequences for young children. Historically used for older students, these disciplinary measures are increasingly implemented in child care programs and ...

expulsion, implicit bias, trauma

In home child care provider teaching amids preschoolers standing in a circle

Family Child Care Program Set to Expand to Meet Child Care Needs in Minneapolis

“I fell in love with teaching children,” shares Sally Boyd, director of Personality Childcare Learning Center in North Minneapolis. Boyd has served more than 600 children in the 20 years ...

covid-19, Family Child Care, long story short

Red apple on stack of study books sitting on a table next to colored pencils

Think Small Institute Achieves IACET Accreditation for High-Quality Training for Early Childhood Professionals

Think Small is proud to announce that the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) has accredited Think Small Institute’s professional development in early childhood care and education. This ...

early childhood workforce

Blog, News & Events

Insights, Ideas, and Resources for Early Learning