How important is play to a child’s brain development? Why do Americans pay so much for

child care while educators earn so little? How can families and policymakers work together

to shape the future of early learning?

NAEYC, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, presents Small Talk:

Big Ideas About Little Learners. CEO Michelle Kang and her colleagues

dive into conversations that matter now -- to little learners and the big people who show up

for them, bringing you stories of struggle, inspiration, and hope for our children’s future.

Learn more at https://www.naeyc.org/smalltalk.

Three NAEYC CEOs, spanning 25 years of leadership, reflect on what it means to lead the early childhood education field through periods of upheaval, uncertainty, and change. As NAEYC kicks off its centennial year, CEO Michelle Kang sits down with two of her predecessors to talk about where the early learning field has been and where we are going.

Host: Michelle Kang, NAEYC CEO

Guests:

1. Mark Ginsberg, President, Towson University (NAEYC CEO 1999--2010)
2. Rhian Evans Allvin, Founder, Brynmor Early Education & Preschool (NAEYC CEO 2013--2022)

For decades, researchers in early childhood development have documented evidence that young children learn best while doing what they do best: playing. CEO Michelle Kang explores the importance of play in helping little learners build foundational skills in literacy, math, and more, in a conversation with author, Temple University Professor, and Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Kathy Hirsh-Pasek.