| Dana and Donna discuss dangers |
 EYI's Dana Friedman talked with WALK-FM News Director and Morning Anchor Donna Vaughan about young children and the dangers of too much screen time. The show aired on March 21. Click to listen. |
| Have Your Kids Name Our Bugs! |
 Four-year-old Jackie learned to play with a new EYI pet...a Madagascar Hissing Cockroach used to excite children, teachers and parents about interacting with nature. But our two girl roaches are nameless! Enter the "Name Our Bugs" contest here. |
| Teachers trained to teach nature |
 Educators learned how to teach nature to young children at Seatuck in Islip on April 10. The training was conducted by Hillary Olson of EYI's LINCK (Long Island Nature Collaborate for Kids) program. Pictured building together are (l. to r.) Jill Fedun, Allison Grief and Melissa Delepas-Smith. The next training program is on May 1 from 12-2 p.m. at Jones Beach Nature Center for nursery & pre-K educators. |
| "Pyramid Approach" to learning May 12 |
| From the Netherlands comes the Pyramid Approach, a research-based, holistic, balanced way to improve reflective practice and child-teacher interactions. Come to a free orientation for program directors, trainers, teachers, and curriculum designers on Wednesday, May 12 at Suffolk Y-JCC, Commack from 9-11 a.m. and at Friedberg JCC, Oceanside from 2-4 p.m. Call 516-304-5480 or email Kerri at EYI to register. Click to learn more. |
| "Mind in the Making" looks at research |
|
 EYI President Dana Friedman interviewed her co-founder of the Family and Work Institute, Ellen Galinsky, who discussed her new book "The Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs." More than 200 attended the April 13 program in Port Washington.
|
| Surveys complete; EDI moves forward |
 EYI assisted Westbury kindergarten teachers in March with completing the Early Development Instrument (EDI), a developmental checklist. EDI will assess school readiness and identify areas of need. Read more about EDI. |
As concerns heighten about how much our young children are exposed to screen time, the science of marketing products to kids is becoming increasingly sophisticated. We're talking a lot about this topic (see article below), and two Early Years Institute staff members attended the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood's national conference in Boston last week to learn more. EYI will follow up with an April 28 meeting of local leaders interested in joining us in addressing commercialization of children and its impact on brain development. We'll keep you posted on our next steps. -- Dana Friedman, Ed.D., President
