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Insights, Ideas, and Resources for Early Learning

Welcome to the Think Small Blog, your go-to destination for valuable insights, innovative ideas, and inspiring stories in the field of early learning. Dive into a treasure trove of articles crafted by our team of experts, dedicated to empowering child care providers, educators, and families.

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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 ...

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Update: Child Care Licensing Modernization Project

Last year we shared a blog post and timeline for early care and education projects underway in Minnesota. In this post we?re checking in on the Child Care Regulation Modernization ...

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eLearning announcement from Think Small Institute

New: eLearning Courses from Think Small Institute

Early childhood educators spoke and we listened. We started Think Small Institute to provide high-quality, affordable, mobile-first professional development putting the tools you need to spark new ideas in your ...

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Think Small Institute to Host Annual Family Child Care Week

For over 25 years, Think Small has offered an annual Family Child Care Business Seminar in the fall focused on increasing providers? knowledge and skills on topics to support their business.   In 2020 the Think Small Institute (a ...

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Early Education Spotlight: Buttons & Bows Child Care

By Marie Huey, Public Policy & Advocacy CoordinatorVideo by Kristie Thorson, Communications Specialist Early Education Spotlight is an ongoing series that showcases great work happening in high-quality child care and ...

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From the Front Lines of Child Care: Wendy's Story

?I?m exhausted. But I love my job and my families. I?m blessed to be an educator and care provider for the youngest Minnesotans.? Wendy Dewall used to have eight to ...

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From the Front Lines of Child Care: Britney's Story

“I’m doing everything I can to ensure the families in my child care program have the financial stability they need right now and to keep everyone enrolled for the future.” ...

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From the Front Lines of Child Care: Jean's Story

“I just ask that you realize we are essential business owners ALL the time, not just during the pandemic.? When Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued the stay-at-home order, Jean Mathison ...

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From the Front Lines of Child Care: Jamie's Story

?I am happy that I am able to help out where I am needed. Although it may be a struggle, we will all get through it together.? Jamie Brown has ...

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From the Front Lines of Child Care: Josalyn's Story

“The virus has thrown everything off so bad, and I?m worried that all the progress we’ve made with the kids will be gone, and that it?s going to be hard ...

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From the Front Lines of Child Care: Irene's Story

?I wanted to remain available to all of my families so that even if they are working from home, they could have their children maintain routines, and the parents could ...

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From the Front Lines of Child Care: Robyn's Story

?I love my job. I provide an important service to the community, but to be able to stay open much longer will be a challenge.  We need financial help desperately.? ...

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From the Front Lines of Child Care: Tammy's Story

?Do you close and risk losing families, or do you stay open and risk yourself and your own family’s health? Child care providers deserve a big pat on the back ...

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From the Front Lines of Child Care: Elisa's Story

?The mental toll caused by the risk that an infection poses is a daily preoccupation.? With so many uncertainties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Maria ?Elisa? Vega is worried about ...

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From the Front Lines of Child Care: Rdella's Story

?I don?t think child care providers were taken very seriously before,? White said. ?I think people are seeing how important we are, and the Governor sees that too.  We are ...

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From the Front Lines of Child Care: Shirley's Story

?Family child care is a small business that depends on parents bringing their children to survive. If we all close down, then there will be nowhere for children to get ...

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Guest Post: What Do We Know About Minnesota's Early Childhood Workforce?

By Christa Anders, Coordinator, B8 Early Childhood Workforce Team Minnesota?s early childhood educators are ?the workforce behind the workforce.???These women, and a few men, who care for young children so ...

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Early Education Spotlight - My Friends Christian Child Care and Preschool

By Marie Huey, Public Policy & Advocacy CoordinatorVideo by Kristie Thorson, Communications Specialist Early Education Spotlight is an ongoing series that showcases great work happening in high-quality child care and ...

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Small Talks: True Costs to Families and Early Child Care Educators

Small Talks features leaders who share key insights on early childhood education and discuss innovative solutions to early learning issues in Minnesota.Inadequate investment, scholarship caps, complicated funding streams, and low ...

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Learning from the Data We Seek

Think Small?s mission as a nonprofit is to advance quality care and education of children in their crucial early years. We do this by preparing providers, strengthening families and catalyzing ...

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Say Thanks to a Child Care Provider!

Happy Child Care Provider Appreciation Day! Today, we recognize the millions of child care providers across the nation who give their time, experience, concern, and skills to our littlest learners ...

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Early Education Spotlight: Big Red House

Early Education Spotlight is an ongoing series that showcases great work happening in high-quality child care and preschool settings across Minnesota. From innovative early learning programs to parent perspectives on ...

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Early Education Spotlight: The Teddy Bear House

Early Education Spotlight is an ongoing series that showcases great work happening in high-quality child care and preschool settings across Minnesota. From innovative early learning programs to parent perspectives on ...

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Early Sprouts: Growing Great Gardeners

By Kristie Thorson, Communications SpecialistThere is much more ‘being planted’ in this backyard then simple seeds and seedlings.? These Minnesota children, along with their family child care provider, are also ...

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The Triple Bottom Line of Child Care

The Policies in Play series takes a closer look at the recently passed state legislative policies that affect early care and education. We work with partners to find out what ...

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Early Education Spotlight: Little Wonders Daycare

By Marie Huey, Public Policy & Advocacy CoordinatorVideo by Kristie Thorson, Communications SpecialistEarly Education Spotlight is an ongoing series that showcases great work happening in child care and preschool settings ...

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Early Education Spotlight: Little Angels Child Care

By: Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy CoordinatorEarly Education Spotlight is an ongoing series that showcases great work happening in child care and preschool settings across Minnesota. From innovative early ...

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Early Education Spotlight: Little World of Angels

By: Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy CoordinatorEarly Education Spotlight is an ongoing series that showcases great work happening in child care and preschool settings across Minnesota. From innovative early ...

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Early Education Spotlight: Daryeel Group Home Daycare

By: Marie HueyEarly Education Spotlight is an ongoing series that showcases great work happening in child care and preschool settings across Minnesota. From innovative early learning programs to parent perspectives ...

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Early Education Spotlight: Bloom Early Learning and Child Care

By: Marie HueyEarly Education Spotlight is an ongoing series that showcases great work happening in child care and preschool settings across Minnesota. From innovative early learning programs to parent perspectives ...

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Early Education Spotlight: Little Learners

By: Marie HueyEarly Education Spotlight is an ongoing series that showcases great work happening in child care and preschool settings across Minnesota. From innovative early learning programs to parent perspectives ...

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Early Education Spotlight: Achcha's Daycare

By: Marie HueyEarly Education Spotlight is an ongoing series that showcases great work happening in child care and preschool settings across Minnesota. From innovative early learning programs to parent perspectives ...

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Register for Think Small's 23rd Annual Family Child Care Business Seminar

Think Small’s 23rd Annual Family Child Care Business Seminar is coming up! It will be held November 5th at the Ramada Plaza Minneapolis. Use this opportunity to review 2016 tax ...

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Early Education Spotlight: Country Kids Childcare

By: Marie HueyEarly Education Spotlight is an ongoing series that showcases great work going on in child care and preschool settings across Minnesota. From innovative early learning programs to parent ...

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Early Education Spotlight: Kris Larson's Family Child Care

By: Marie HueyEarly Education Spotlight is an ongoing series that showcases the great work happening in quality child care and preschool settings across Minnesota.Kris Larson?s Family Child Care program in ...

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Early Education Spotlight: Aldrich Memorial Nursery School

By: Marie HueyEarly Education Spotlight is an ongoing series that showcases the great work happening in high-quality early learning?settings across Minnesota. The first?installment features Aldrich Memorial Nursery School and its ...

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Quality Child Care Impacts Karen Community in Minnesota

This is the first in a series of?videos showing the impact high-quality early learning has on children, families and child care providers across Minnesota. Check back here for a new ...

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Partnership Brings Reading Corps into Child Care Settings

We are very proud to partner with Minnesota Reading Corps to bring early learning experts into family child care settings to work directly with children and child care providers on ...

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