You may download pledge forms, flyers and applications to be part of Screen-Free Week, which takes place April 18-24.  EYI has joined the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood and hundreds of organizations, libraries, child care centers and pediatricians to encourage families to balance their use of electronic entertainment with play and creative learning.  Parents may sign a pledge and merchants and community organizations can provide alternative activities for free or at discounted prices.  The materials are also available in a Spanish-language version.  EYI 's on-line "Screen-Free Alternatives Guide" will be a valuable reference for families the entire week.  For more info on how you or your organization can participate in Screen-Free Week, click here.

President Obama and the House of Representatives differ in their support of early childhood issues.  House bill H.R. 1 cuts $39 million from the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and $1.083 billion from Head Start for 2011; together these cuts mean that 300,000 children could lose federal assistance.  Meanwhile, President Obama's proposed 2012 budget increases funding for CCDBG by $1.3 billion and Head Start by $886 million.  To send a message to House members on H.R. 1, click here.

Check out some recent articles of interest to all who care about kids:
 

• New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli expresses concern over cuts to effective children-at-risk programs in an executive summary.
• Sara Mead writes in Education Week on "Breaking the Code: How to Make Early Childhood About Reform." 
• The New York Times' David Bornstein talks about how cell phone technology helps new moms in "Mothers-to-Be are Getting the Message." 
• Adam Singer blogs about how turning off the TV gave him far more time in The Future Buzz's "The Ultimate Lifehack: Gain Back 13.9% or More Time." 
• "Will Budget Cuts Put Early Learning at Risk?" asks Scott Walden of the Times Union.
• Sarah D. Sparks writes about a University of Chicago study which concludes that "Social-Skills Teaching Boosts Academics."
• Dana Friedman blogs about Watson, the "Jeopardy" supercomputer that has learned by playing.