Blog, News & Events
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.
Early Childhood Suspension & Expulsion: Understanding the Policy and Its Impact
What is early childhood suspension and expulsion? Suspension or expulsion happens when a child is removed from their early childhood classroom. In practice, this can look a few different ways. The ...
Child Care at the Door in 2024
Campaign season is in full swing, and candidates at the local, state, and national level will be knocking on doors in hopes of winning your vote. You can use this ...
Advocate for Early Childhood at the Minnesota State Fair
After you zip down the giant slide and in between your fair food checklist, take a moment to engage with policymakers about early childhood. The Minnesota State Fair is a ...
Children's Books to Spark Conversations about Democracy and Voting
Young children aren’t old enough to vote, but they are old enough to learn about democracy and voting! Principles like fairness, listening, and cooperation are key to strong communities in ...
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 ...
How to Advocate: Tips and Resources to Get Started
Are you intrigued by advocacy but not sure how to start? This guide is for you!? As an early childhood professional and/or parent, you have invaluable first-hand experience and knowledge ...
How to Host a Child Care Program Tour for Elected Officials
Inviting elected officials to tour your child care program is one of the most advocacy effective strategies. It?s an opportunity to both build a relationship with your elected official and ...
Early Childhood Newsletters--Get Connected!
A great way to stay connected with early childhood policy is by making sure you?re signed up to newsletters from organizations and projects you care about. It can also keep ...
What’s in the Budget AND When is it Happening: Child Care Assistance Program
In the summary of what passed this legislative session, one of the important items was changes and funding for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).CCAP helps families pay for child ...
When is it Happening: Early Childhood Infrastructure, Policy Changes, and Reports
Many changes to early care and education policy passed this legislative session. In an attempt to organize and track the milestones ahead, we?ve created this blog post and accompanying ...
When Is It Happening: Early Learning Scholarships
Early Learning Scholarships will see significant changes in the months and years ahead. Early Learning Scholarships give low-income families financial support to help pay for quality early care and ...
What's in the Budget: Early Care and Education Workforce
It is no secret to those who work in or rely on child care that the field struggled even before the pandemic. The challenge of covering the actual costs ...
2023 Early Care and Education Legislation
There?s now a clearer picture of what will become law in 2023. When it comes to early care and education, there is a lot! We?re still digesting, but here?s ...
What’s in the Budget: Early Learning Scholarships
House File 2292, the early education omnibus bill, passed both the House and Senate and was signed into law by Governor Walz. This bill contains new investments and policy ...
Early Care and Education in the Omnibus Bills
State legislators are on Spring Break, and omnibus budget bills are available. An omnibus bill is made up of many other bills centered on a specific topic. State legislators ...
Early Care and Education Efforts in Progress
The 2023 State Legislative Session is officially underway. Legislators are meeting with constituents, bills are being drafted and introduced, and committees are holding hearings!? Legislative leaders and Governor Walz ...
Advocate for Early Childhood at the Minnesota State Fair
The Minnesota State Fair is a unique opportunity to connect with elected officials because so many of them have a presence on the fairgrounds.??Here's how you can connect with them!
2021 Elections Matter for Young Children
By: Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator at Think Small It?s election season! While there aren?t any Presidential or Congressional candidates on the tickets this year, there is still plenty to ...
5 Reasons to Be Hopeful about Early Care and Education Policy
By: Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator Lately I?ve had been feeling extra-inspired by my state and national colleagues about where we?re at when it comes to early care and education policy. It feels ...
How Mixed Delivery Builds Equity and Inclusion for Families
Image of building blocks symbolizing building equity in families through mixed delivery.
Two Public Policy Interns Join Think Small in 2021
By Kristie Thorson, Communications Specialist You?ve heard the phrase ?the more the merrier”? This legislative session, Think Small made the decision to host two Todd Otis Public Policy interns.?The internship ...
From the Front Lines of Child Care: Creative Kids Academy
Update: As you will see from the video and photos below, we first met with Creative Kids to do this story on a warm September day. While the situation remains ...
Snack Pack Delivery to Child Care Providers
It?s always a pleasant surprise when healthy and money-saving treats show up on your doorstep. The ?You Matter? snack packs come from Health Fair 11, a non-profit dedicated to improving ...
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 ...
Keys to a Successful Meeting with an Elected Official
There?s the saying, ?it?s all about who you know.?? When it comes to gaining support for your issue, meeting in person with your legislator is one of the most effective ...
How to Write or Email Your Elected Officials
Writing a message to your legislator on paper or via email is a good tool to have in your advocacy toolbox. A written message allows you to craft your words ...
How to Use Social Media for Early Education Advocacy
Are you familiar with the world of likes, shares, and retweets? Want to use your social media savvy to make a difference in the early childhood education field? Whether you?re ...
How to Advocate...Virtually
Parts of our pandemic life are becoming familiar. Video calls, online ordering, different health and safety protocols. We adapt and create as we go. Elected officials have had to adapt ...
How to Call Your Elected Officials
Calling elected officials is a great way to communicate with them. Effective, yet time-efficient, a phone call allows you to connect for any number of reasons. If you already know ...
How to Write a Letter to the Editor
Are you feeling passionate? Frustrated? Angry? Inspired? Consider channeling that energy toward advocacy. A letter to the editor is a great way to share your thoughts. Here are some situations ...
From the Front Lines of Child Care: Lori's Story
Lori Williams started offering child care from her home when her son was about a year old. He?s 30 now.?I had planned to go back to work as an insurance ...
From the Front Lines of Child Care: Erin's Story
Erin Echternach is back at the office now? her 14-month old son, Aiden is once again attending his much-loved family child care program. But it wasn?t always smooth sailing. ?It ...
From the Front Lines of Child Care: Annie's Story
Annie Dunham is a Center Supervisor at Radiant Montessori, an early childhood program that typically provides care and education to more than 100 students in the Maple Grove area. Due ...
How to Connect with Your Minnesota Legislators
By Marie Huey, Public Policy & Advocacy Coordinator and Kieu My Phi, Public Policy Intern Talking to your legislators is great way to advocate for young children. Whether your goal ...
Attend a Precinct Caucus and Submit a Resolution to Support Early Learning
By Marie Huey, Public Policy & Advocacy Coordinator On Tuesday, February 25 at 7:00 pm, Minnesota will holdprecinct caucuses around the state. They are the beginning of a process thatMinnesota?s major ...
Policy Hour - State Level Coordination Efforts
By Marie Huey, Public Policy & Advocacy Coordinator February’s Ann Kaner-Roth Policy hour provided an opportunity to hear from state agencies about their current early childhood projects. Governor?s Children?s Cabinet ...
Policy Hour - 2020 Legislative Session Preview
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator Every year, we gaze into the crystal ball to predict what might be ahead for the legislative session. Nobody ever gets it ...
Early Care & Education Crisis Work Group Convening
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator Two interconnected crises continue in Minnesota: worst-in-the-nation achievement gaps and a severe child care shortage in many parts of the state Last ...
Advocate for Early Learning at the Great MN Get-Together!
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator The Minnesota State Fair is a great time to put your advocacy skills to work! With so many organizations and resources, you don?t have ...
Policy Hour: Trauma in Early Childhood
By Marie Huey, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator Katy Smith, Licensed Parent Educator and 2011 MN Teacher of the Year, and Dr. Monica Potter, Supervisor of Early Childhood and Family Education ...
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 ...
Policy Hour: Federal Update
By Marie Huey, Think Small Policy and Advocacy Coordinator While the state legislative session is heating up in Minnesota, there?s also plenty to discuss about what is going on with ...
Policy Hour: State Budget Forecast & Governor's Budget Proposal
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator The March edition of Ann Kaner-Roth Policy Hour covered the state budget forecast and the Governor?s budget proposal. February Budget Forecast Betsy ...
Policy Hour: Child Care
By Marie Huey, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator Staff from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) joined us for February?s Ann Kaner-Roth Policy Hour to provide updates on child care. ...
Know Your Numbers...
What are your numbers?6, 43A, 2, 7?5, 12B, 4, 1? By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator Several elected officials represent you at different levels, and their districts often ...
Five Helpful Resources for Advocating for High-Quality Child Care in 2019
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator Are you motivated to advocate for children this year? If you?re looking to support high-quality child care in Minnesota, below are some ...
Policy Hour: Mixed Delivery
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator Mixed delivery is a hot topic in early care and education. Even with an extra half hour, December?s Ann Kaner-Roth Policy Hour ...
Policy Hour: Play, Parents and Policy
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy CoordinatorThe November Ann Kaner-Roth Policy Hour focused on play, parents and policy.One of the presenters was?Katy Smith, a Parent Educator who spent 31 ...
Policy Hour: What Did We Do Over the Summer?
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy CoordinatorKids were on vacation this summer, but many adults didn?t have time for a break. October?s Ann Kaner-Roth Policy Hour got us up ...
Use Your Advocacy Skills at the Great Minnesota Get-Together!
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy CoordinatorThe Minnesota State Fair is a great time to put your advocacy skills to work!With so many organizations and resources, you don?t have ...
How Do 2018 Candidates Interact with Early Education?
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy CoordinatorEvery eligible Minnesota voter will have the opportunity to make their choice for statewide and federal offices this November. What authority do these ...
Be an Advocate: What to Do When Candidates Come Knocking
“Knock knock.?Who?s there??Candidates.Candidates who??Candidates for Governor, Senator, Attorney General, State House of Representatives?.” Campaign season is in full swing, and candidates around the state are knocking on doors in hopes ...
Policy Hour: Legislative Wrap-Up
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy CoordinatorThe 2018 legislative session ended on May 22. To explain the implications for the early care and education field, two experts joined us: ...
Policy Hour: St. Paul's Citywide 3K Proposal
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy CoordinatorSaint Paul is planning for a citywide 3K program, and Council Member Rebecca Noecker joined May?s Ann Kaner-Roth Policy Hour to explain the ...
Policy Hour: National Update
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator The Minnesota State Legislature was off for Easter/Passover Break this week, so Ann Kaner-Roth Policy Hour turned its focus to national issues. ...
Policy Hour: Early Learning Coordination and Collaboration
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy CoordinatorMarch Ann Kaner-Roth Policy Hour focused on coordination and collaboration projects in the early learning field.Early Learning CouncilDianne Haulcy, Senior Vice President of ...
Policy Hour: Previewing the 2018 Legislative Session
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy CoordinatorFacts and speculation both made appearances at February?s Ann Kaner-Roth Policy Hour at Think Small in Minneapolis, and Sara(h)s abounded.Sarah Orange, Policy Advocate ...
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 ...
Attend a Precinct Caucus and Submit a Resolution to Support Early Learning
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy CoordinatorOn?Tuesday, February 6 at 7:00 p.m., Minnesota will hold precinct caucuses around the state. They are the beginning of a process that Minnesota?s ...
Policy Hour - Early Childhood Data
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy CoordinatorJanuary Policy Hour started with a special announcement: the event is now named the Ann Kaner-Roth Policy Hour. Ann served as the Executive ...
Policies in Play: Child Care Assistance Program Changes
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 ...
About Todd Otis
Todd Otis? lifelong advocacy career in Minnesota, and his work as a change-agent in early childhood, has had a significant and long-term positive impact on early childhood public policies, systems, ...
Early Education Spotlight: People Serving People
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 ...
Policy Hour - Improving the Early Childhood Workforce
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy CoordinatorDecember Policy Hour presenters shared information about state and national initiatives that are working to enhance and improve the early childhood workforce.Power to ...
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 ...
Policy Hour - Changes to Child Care in Minnesota
Staff from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) presented at November Policy Hour about the changes to child care in Minnesota. During the 2017 legislative session, many changes ...
Children Experiencing Homelessness Benefit from Early Learning Scholarship Changes
Early Learning Scholarships allow children ages 3-5 from low-income families to attend high-quality early learning programs. During the 2017 legislative session, lawmakers made a change to allow children 0-5 from ...
Policy Hour: Early Education Policy and Funding Changes
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy CoordinatorRepresentatives from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) presented at the first Policy Hour of the season. June Reineke and Amanda Varley shared ...
Early Education Spotlight - Here We Grow
By Marie Huey, Public Policy & Advocacy CoordinatorVideo by Kristie Thorson, Communications SpecialistEarly Education Spotlight is an ongoing series that showcases great work happening in high-quality child care and preschool ...
Northeastern Minnesota Addresses Child Care Shortage
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 ...
West Central Minnesota Child Care Providers Benefit from Forgivable Loans
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 ...
Early Education Spotlight: Stepping Stones Childcare Learning Center, Inc
By: Marie HueyEarly 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 ...
Policies in Play
Join us on the playground as we explore Policies in Play! Think Small believes that placing a priority on children and their families through access to high quality early childhood ...
Legislative Wrap-Up: How did Early Learning Fare?
Minnesota legislators wrapped up the special session last week, and the Governor signed budget bills into law. Read about the new policies and programs that affect early learning throughout the ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
December Policy Hour Looks Toward 2017 Legislative Session
December?s Policy Hour featured three early childhood?lobbyists: Valerie?Dosland?and Patrick Lobejko of Ewald Consulting, and Sonnie Elliott of FaegreBD Consulting. We also heard from Ben Horowitz of the Minnesota Budget Project.?Many ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Leaders in Early Learning Bring Concerns to MN House Committee on Child Care
The Minnesota House Select Committee on Affordable Child Care held a hearing on July 19 at the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board office to hear from the community on child ...
#TourDeNice and A Journey for Early Learning
By: Marie HueyAs a passionate advocate for the importance of early learning, I?m always interested in ways to support the cause. When I heard about an opportunity combining fitness, fun, ...
Think Small to Compete in First #TourDeNice
By: Maya Fanjul-DebnamCyclists will hit the streets of downtown Minneapolis for a good cause on Saturday July 9. Nice Ride and The Minneapolis Foundation have teamed up with several local ...
Help Me Grow Hoping to Expand Scope in Minnesota
Kelly Monson, Minnesota?s Children’s Cabinet Program Manager, talked about Help Me Grow at May?s policy hour.The purpose of Help Me Grow is to promote healthy development in children prenatal to ...
What are People Saying About Parent Aware?
In print and social media, Parent Aware has been a hot topic in the past couple of weeks. Parent Aware is Minnesota?s early education Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). ...
April Policy Hour Focuses on Compliance with Federal Requirements
The April edition of Minnesota?s Future Policy Hour featured leaders from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) discussing Minnesota?s response to the federal reauthorization of the Child Care and ...
Make a Difference During Week of the Young Child 2016
The Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) celebrating early learning, young children, their teachers and ...
Attend a Precinct Caucus and Submit a Resolution to Support Early Learning
On Tuesday, March 1, 2016, at 7:00 pm, Minnesota will hold precinct caucuses around the state. They are the beginning of a process that Minnesota?s major political parties use for ...
MN DHS Dives into New Federal Guidelines at Policy Hour
The first Minnesota?s Future Policy Hour of 2016 took place at Think Small?s Minneapolis office featuring leaders from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) to discuss the re-authorization of ...