At our February First 10 Network meeting we were joined by Isabelle Hau, executive director of the Stanford Accelerator of Learning and Lisa Luceno, senior director of Early Childhood Strategy at Briya Public Charter School. A nationally recognized early childhood leader, Isabelle discussed her important new book, Love to Learn: The Transformative Power of Care and Connection in Early Education. Lisa shared the ground-breaking approaches to outdoor education, family integration, and early childhood education being implemented at Briya.
According to Isabelle, the most important aspect of early education is the quality of the relationships a child forms. Love to Learn shows how to build and develop these relationships through innovations anchored in neuroscience and technology. Isabelle shared research with the First 10 Network that demonstrates the positive impact relationships have on child outcomes. The research highlighted that both the quantity and quality of relationships young children have matter for supporting their school readiness and development. Unfortunately, children now have fewer points of contact with their peers, adults, and community, making it harder to establish relationships, especially deep relationships. The decrease in the quantity and depth of relationships young children have is due in part to increased screentime and lingering effects of pandemic-related isolation.
Emphasizing relationship-centered parenting is one way that community groups are helping to build meaningful connections between families and their children. This kind of parenting support encourages parents to be fully present when spending time with their children. Isabelle also stressed the importance of encouraging peer relationships among children. This requires that early childcare programs create the time and space for play and exploration that leads to friendships and authentic interactions. Centering schools and early childcare programs as relationship hubs is also key in improving access to meaningful connections not just for children, but for parents and staff as well.
Lisa provided Network meeting participants with an overview of the ways in which the Briya model focuses on augmenting human relationships at many levels. Briya is a two-generation school which includes on-site education for children ages 0 to 5 and adult education with wrap-around services in partnership with Mary’s Center, a local public health provider. Briya leverages a family focused approach that highlights the innate capacity parents have to be their child’s first teacher. The school’s model also creates supportive networks of care for the “carers” or parents and staff so that they can then support children’s learning and development. Briya also emphasizes the importance of connecting to the natural world through their programming as a means of building relationships with other living creatures.
Lisa shared some key lessons learned at Briya with First 10 Network participants:
- Adults should co-construct knowledge with children
- Resilience is built through relationships
- Families thrive when we are truly listening to them, value them within the school, and provide them with authentic opportunities to engage with the school
- The power of parent leadership can change systems
- A connection to nature can help us break down barriers and grow in our stewardship for nature and other living beings
Network meeting participants also had an opportunity to discuss the ways in which they are already supporting relationship building in their communities. One community shared how their district Big/Little program helps to connect high school students with elementary school students. Another community has a mentorship program that connects retired professionals with young children in their district. First 10 communities also shared their interest in leveraging outdoor learning in their play and learn sessions and using this as a way to connect with community-based early childcare programs as well.
Check out this EdSurge article, Relationships Are Key to Kids’ Growth — And They’re in Crisis, Expert Says to learn more about Isabelle Hau’s work focused on the importance of relationships for young children.