Early Childhood

The 5-minute daily playtime ritual that can get your kids to listen better
Called "special time," the strategy is widely recommended by children's health professionals to help reduce behavioral issues in young children. Here's a guide on how to do it with your kids at home.
3 key facts about RSV and kids this season in Minnesota
Last year was one of the worst in recent Minnesota history for RSV infections and hospitalizations. This season has been much more manageable, although numbers are rising and health officials are keeping close watch on the data. Here’s what to know.
Why affordable child care is so hard to find  
Child care costs high, but wages for child care workers remain low. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about the child care squeeze and how new state programs could help parents and providers.
'Making grandfriends': Mankato care model draws kids, seniors together
Memory loss can be an especially isolating experience as people age. A new child care and memory care model in Mankato seeks to bring generations together through connections and joy.
Minnesota’s new state agency focuses on children and caregivers
Currently, four different state agencies oversee programs for young children but during this year’s legislative session, a proposal for a new state agency was passed to consolidate those programs under one jurisdiction: the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families.
Early education experts converge in Minneapolis to find best outcomes for babies
The Zero to Three LEARN Conference which wrapped up Wednesday brought a few thousand early educators, researchers and pediatricians to the Minneapolis Convention Center.
St. Paul City Council overrides mayor's veto of child care ballot measure
The St. Paul City Council voted Wednesday afternoon to override Mayor Melvin Carter’s veto of a proposal that would let voters decide whether to raise property taxes to pay for early child care.