Podcast

Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel wrap up their series with Maria Asp and Laura Mann Hill from the Children’s Theatre by focusing on ways early childhood professionals can infuse their settings with storytelling. They share ideas for dramatic play, numerous ways to explore and show feelings, and ways to use open ended questions to encourage children to tell their own stories. You can use these same strategies in your program to help children increase language skills and confidence in their own 'stories'.

In part two of our podcast on storytelling, Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel welcome Maria Asp and Laura Mann Hill. They share information about the Early Bridges program and the research they have done with the Center for Early Education and Development at the University of Minnesota to track the growth of literacy skills, social emotional skills, language usage, and play. Their enthusiasm for helping children learn to tell their own stories will fill you with joy!

Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel welcome special guests from the Children's Theatre, Maria Asp, Neighborhood Bridging Director and Laura Mann Hill, Early Bridges Manager. In Part 1 of the three part series they share about their Early Bridges program It is an early childhood literacy program that uses storytelling and creative drama to promote language development and school readiness skills. Children may start with small steps in telling their own stories but with support, they become amazing storytellers!

Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel welcome back special guest Nicole Frethem who is a Policy Specialist with the Minnesota Child Care Assistance Program at the MN Department of Human Services. They discuss in greater detail the Special Needs Rate that is available to child care providers working with children who are part of the Child Care Assistance Program. Nicole shares some of the reasons a child care provider might request a special needs rate for a particular child with a disability and explains why the rate helps families access higher quality care.

Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel welcome special guest Nicole Frethem, Policy Specialist with the Minnesota Child Care Assistance Program at the MN Department of Human Services to discuss the Child Care Assistance Program. Nicole shares important information about the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and how its subsidies aid families in accessing quality child care. Both families and child care programs should know what the eligibility is, how you begin the process, and why it can help offset financial costs.

Join Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel as they continue their discussion with Jayne Cox-Lindsey, Early Childhood Referral In-Take Specialist. Jayne shares with our listeners the next steps that occur once a child enters the Help Me Grow referral process. An example of a referral success story is shared by Jayne which points out the collaborative process that create success for a child and a family.