Families Leading Change: Family Leaders Share Their Experiences and Perspectives on Early Childhood Systems
Being proactive. Supporting other families. Having honest discussions.
These are just a few responses from members of our Family Advisory Leadership Council when asked what the term “family leader” means to them. The council advises ECDHS: Evidence to Impact Center activities to help make early childhood developmental health systems more inclusive, equitable, and fair.
Read on for more and to learn the council members’ experiences with early childhood services, thoughts on why comprehensive early childhood systems are important, and favorite activities to do with their children.
Kassondra L. – Michigan
What types of early childhood services have you had experience with?
I have experience with Early Childhood Special Education and Early On services.
Why are comprehensive and equitable early childhood systems important for the health and well-being of babies, toddlers, and families?
By ensuring equitable and comprehensive early childhood systems, we set up each child with the best possible outcome in their future and our future as a country and people. We are only as strong as how well we take care of our children.
What does “family leader” mean to you?
Family leader means someone who is willing to have honest discussions about what is and is not working in every aspect of life. It also means being relentless and not being easily deterred.
Tell us one of your favorite activities to do with your child/children.
Our family enjoys visits to the “Cabinet Farm,” a.k.a. our local home improvement store. Our son uses a wheelchair and enjoys zooming up and down empty aisles. He is also autistic and one of his special interests involves opening and closing cabinet doors. We make sure to spend time at the kitchen and bath displays so he can visit his favorite cabinet while we plan for our dream accessible home.
Wenxi S. – Pennsylvania
Equitable early childhood systems are important for babies, toddlers, and families because they ensure children have the resources and care they need to have a strong start in their life.
What types of early childhood services have you had experience with?
I have experience with home visiting services, child care services, and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) services.
Why are comprehensive and equitable early childhood systems important for the health and well-being of babies, toddlers, and families?
Equitable early childhood systems are important for babies, toddlers, and families because they ensure children have the resources and care they need to have a strong start in their life. Early comprehensive childhood systems also assist families to identify symptoms of developmental disabilities that can be mitigated by early intervention services.
What does “family leader” mean to you?
Being a family leader means fiercely advocating for my family and my children to have a strong start in life and live a meaningful life. Being a family leader also means being proactive, connecting with programs and services, reaching out for help, and supporting other families. Being a family leader means serving my community by sharing my stories and voices to advance equity and democracy in our society. By joining alliance with other family leaders, early childhood service providers, administrators, legislators, policymakers and other stakeholders, I, as a family leader, can meaningfully advocate for systemic changes for all children.
Tell us one of your favorite activities to do with your child/children.
I love spending time with my children doing a variety of activities. In summer, I enjoy spending time with them catching fireflies, playing in the water, riding bikes, and jumping on the trampoline. In winter, I love making snowmen and having snowball fights with my children. Spending quality time with my children is my daily priority to build meaningful relationships with them.
Dulce S. – California
What types of early childhood services have you had experience with?
He recibido ayuda de Help Me Grow, PBS Kids, First 5, y SAELI (Santa Ana Early Learning Initiative).
I have received help from Help Me Grow, PBS Kids, First 5, and SAELI (Santa Ana Early Learning Initiative).
Why are comprehensive and equitable early childhood systems important for the health and well-being of babies, toddlers, and families?
Son esenciales ya que muchas veces los padres no tenemos una idea de cómo ayudar en el desarrollo físico y mental de nuestros bebés y si no tenemos ese apoyo los niños no reciben la educación temprana que beneficia su desarrollo.
They are essential since, many times, parents do not have an idea of how to help in the physical and mental development of our babies, and if we do not have that support, children do not receive the early education that would benefit their development.
What does “family leader” mean to you?
Como primeros cuidadores de nuestros niños, tenemos el compromiso de ver por su desarrollo lo cual nos convierte en la voz primordial para dar a conocer lo que se necesita. Y eso nos hace líderes de nuestra familia. Los padres deberían ser reconocidos como expertos y estar en el centro de las agencias de primera infancia ya que cada uno conoce más profundamente a los hijos y como ellos se están desarrollando, lo que nos lleva a abogar por sus necesidades básicas a temprana edad.
As the first caretakers of our children, we are committed to seeing to their development, which makes us the primary voice to make their needs known. And that makes us the leaders of our family. Parents should be recognized as experts and be at the center of early childhood agencies since each one knows their children more deeply and how they are developing, which leads us to advocate for their basic needs at an early age.
Tell us one of your favorite activities to do with your child/children.
Una de mis actividades favoritas ya que no manejo, es ir rumbo a la escuela cantando a veces con ellos o que traten de contarme una historia con personajes imaginaros. Lo que realmente amo es pasar tiempo con ellos y que sea de calidad, creando momentos que dejen huella en su mente y en su corazón.
One of my favorite activities, since I don’t drive, is to walk to school sometimes singing with them, or let them tell me a story with imaginary characters. What I really love is spending time with them and having it be quality time, creating moments that leave marks in their minds and their hearts.
Wendy P. – Nevada
Being a family leader to me means advocating, guiding, legacy, and being a role model to your children for them to make the right choices and succeed in their lives.
What types of early childhood services have you had experience with?
I have experience with home visiting services and parents’ sensory play groups.
Why are comprehensive and equitable early childhood systems important for the health and well-being of babies, toddlers, and families?
They are important because children and their families need to have the resources and services available to them to help them meet their goals and their needs, and to avoid getting behind in their growth, etc.
What does “family leader” mean to you?
Being a family leader to me means advocating, guiding, legacy, and being a role model to your children for them to make the right choices and succeed in their lives.
Tell us one of your favorite activities to do with your child/children.
My favorite activities I truly enjoy with my children are reading with them, doing art, rock painting, and learning new things. We try to turn off technology and spend time together and connect and talk about the day they had at school, etc.
Sierra M. – New York
What types of early childhood services have you had experience with?
I have experience with Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Early Head Start.
Why are comprehensive and equitable early childhood systems important for the health and well-being of babies, toddlers, and families?
I believe all children and families deserve equitable early childhood systems, because no matter where children come from, they all deserve the same opportunities as other children. When children are babies is when they first learn to interact with others, and this molds them to become the best they can be.
What does “family leader” mean to you?
Being a family leader to me means standing up for everything that my children and I want/need. I will always advocate for my children and always push them to advocate for themselves as well. We are our children’s first teachers, and we must start from somewhere — it’s never too late!
Tell us one of your favorite activities to do with your child/children.
One of my favorite activities to do with my children would be camping. We as a family have been on annual camping trips since I was a child, so being able to continue the tradition with them is really something I enjoy. We swim, go fishing, BBQ, and make s’mores.
Ginger D. – Wisconsin
Every child deserves access to whatever supports they need to succeed.
What types of early childhood services have you had experience with?
I have experience with Birth to Three; Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); child care services; and free-standing therapy centers, including aquatic and equine centers.
Why are comprehensive and equitable early childhood systems important for the health and well-being of babies, toddlers, and families?
Every child deserves access to whatever supports they need to succeed.
What does “family leader” mean to you?
Family leader means whichever parent/grandparent/aunt/etc. who makes sure things happen for the family. They advocate for whatever the family needs.
Tell us one of your favorite activities to do with your child/children.
My husband and I have had the opportunity to travel/chaperone so many trips all over the country with our kids for band trips, scout trips, etc. Remembering those experiences always brings a smile.
