The word advocate means to publicly recommend or support a cause or initiative. Essentially, it involves adding your voice to a larger collective that is attempting to effect change in the community.  On a broad scale, advocacy entails acts that raise awareness, influence decision makers, and advance legislative proposals.

For some people, this may seem intimidating, especially if participating in advocacy efforts is something new.  Fortunately, there are many different opportunities to act as an advocate, once you have identified a worthy cause. Some of these opportunities involve face-to-face interactions with government officials, but many efforts can be accomplished in a less direct manner. 

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is one of the most valuable advocacy organizations in our field.  They work tirelessly on behalf of early childhood professionals to address the issues that impact the work you do with children and families. They have developed excellent resources that you can use to add your voice to the masses who are fighting for high-quality early learning experiences for young children.

Throughout this month’s newsletter, we will explore the place that advocacy has in our field and how it can be used to advance important issues related to early childhood education.

For the article Advocacy Opportunities in ECE, CLICK HERE

For the article Advocacy Strategies, CLICK HERE

For the article Involving Families and Children, CLICK HERE

For the article Incorporating Advocacy into Professional Development, CLICK HERE