Head Start East

04/11/2026

Spring is here 🌸🌿 Longer days, warmer weather, and a perfect time to get outside! Remember these safety tips while you soak it all in:

☀️ Wear sunscreen & stay hydrated
🚴‍♀️ Be alert on roads. More bikes & pedestrians are out
🌧️ Watch for slippery surfaces on rainy days
🐝 Be mindful of allergies & insects. Keep bug spray or medicine handy
🌳 Check weather before outdoor plans - spring storms can pop up fast

Enjoy the season, stay safe, and make the most of every sunny moment

04/10/2026

"Handwriting, as innocuous as it seems, is deeply human. For us not to teach that skill is as awful as not teaching them how to read." — Holly Britton, Squiggle Squad

New episode of Early Childhood Chats is live! Holly joined Andy to talk about the developmental science behind handwriting, what it means that up to 80% of kids are currently being pulled for literacy interventions, and how play-based classrooms can build handwriting foundations without a worksheet in sight.

This episode will completely change how you think about early education.

🎧 Listen here: https://childhoodchats.transistor.fm/
💻 Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/qmhQzxttUBQ

04/09/2026

Great FREE training for Virginia based programs! Virginia Association for the Education of Young Children Virginia Head Start Association

Cyber attacks are at an all-time high—and child care programs are not immune. In fact, 1 in 4 programs experienced a cyber attack in the past year. Now is the time to revisit your digital safety practices.

Led by the Institute for Childhood Preparedness, this session will cover:
• How to identify cyber threats and assess your risk
• Ways to protect your personal information
• Best practices for staying safe online and on social media
• The importance of mobile device security
• Promoting digital citizenship for families and staff

Register today: https://stage.worklifesystems.com/training/25

04/09/2026

If you have ever watched a child grip a pencil in a full fist and write every letter from the bottom up — or had a third grader who could not get their thoughts onto paper despite clearly having so much to say — this conversation is for you.

Holly Britton, founder of Squiggle Squad Handwriting
joined Early Childhood Chats this week to talk about why handwriting is one of the most overlooked foundational skills in early childhood education, and what teachers and parents can do to bring it back — even in play-based classrooms.

She also shared a free resource available right now at squigglesquad.com that you can use with your students today.

Listen at earlychildhoodchats.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome to "Early Childhood Chats," the podcast dedicated to all things related to early childhood education. Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of early childhood development, parenting tips, teaching strategies, and the latest research in the field. Hosted by passionate educators and e...

04/08/2026

Keep up the great work La Casa de Don Pedro !

04/03/2026

03/25/2026

Love seeing this from WHSA. The research on early eating habits is so clear and Head Start programs are uniquely positioned to make it stick because of the trusted relationships already built with families. This is exactly the kind of whole-child, whole-family work that makes Head Start irreplaceable. 🙌

Did you know that children who develop healthy eating habits early are more likely to carry them into adulthood? At Head Start, supporting family nutrition is part of our whole-child approach.

Here are a few simple tips we love sharing with families:
• Make fruits and veggies fun by letting kids help pick them out at the store
• Cook together at home, even toddlers can help with simple tasks
• Swap sugary drinks for water as the everyday go-to
• Aim for regular meal times to give kids structure and stability

Head Start Programs connect families with nutrition education and resources, because every child deserves a healthy start.

03/25/2026

🚨 New podcast episode is now live!

Running a childcare program in 2026 is no joke… 😅

From staffing shortages to parent communication, burnout is hitting early childhood leaders HARD, but there are ways to make it easier.

In this episode of Early Childhood Chats, we’re diving into:
✨ The biggest challenges childcare directors face today
✨ Why so many leaders feel isolated
✨ How technology can actually reduce stress (not add to it)
✨ Practical ways to improve communication with staff & families

If you’re a director, owner, or educator... this one is for YOU.

🎧 Listen here: https://childhoodchats.transistor.fm/
💻 Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/C9PbpjoLuCw
➡️ Get a 14-day free trial to Famly here: https://bit.ly/AndyRoszak

If you’ve ever felt the burnout, you’re not alone.

03/24/2026

Many thanks for the kind words and your support!!! Can’t wait to see you all again soon!!

03/24/2026

🌸 Spring days, busy playgrounds, field trips, and classrooms full of energy… communication matters.

ICP Walkie Talkies help families, teachers, and child care teams stay connected with secure, private, push-to-talk communication that works wherever the day takes you.

✔️ No public channels
✔️ No phone distractions
✔️ Simple to use right out of the box
✔️ Built for safety, simplicity, and real life

Learn more here: https://www.childhoodpreparedness.org/walkietalkies
Don’t Be Scared. Be Prepared.

🌷📻

03/21/2026

Kudos to the The National Early Childhood Program Accreditation - NECPA National Child Care Association team on a great conference!

It was an absolute blast and so good to catch up with some of our awesome Head Start East speakers - Together We Grow Re'Shaun Webb Raelene Ostberg Institute for Childhood Preparedness! Looking forward to the next NECPA conference in 2028!