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The Iditarod Trail Sled dog Race championship occurred in early March. We have heard for years about the perseverance of the dogs and extraordinary lengths they go to cover the 1,000 miles of travel by sled. The Iditarod champion for the years 2007-2010, Lance Mackey, was interviewed about his relationship with his dogs. He says he doesn't pick his team for speed or strength; he covets a good attitude, a willing appetite and cooperation. These are the traits of champions and the hallmarks of healthy social/emotional development. We should all look to apply these qualities to our lives and, most importantly, teach them to our children. What better way to prepare them for the race to succeed in school and life?
-Dana Friedman, president, The Early Years Institute |
 Public Policy in Early Childhood |
Governor Cuomo and NYS Legislative Body to proclaim April 29-May 5 as Screen-Free Week in the State of New York. Under the direction of President Dana E. Friedman, EYI invites families, schools, childhood programs, libraries, pediatricians, places of worshipand parks to work together to promote children's health and literacy so they are ready to succeed in school and life by turning off screens. Stayed tuned in more to follow...
"New Details on the President's Pre-K plan" - The release of the President's fiscal year 2014 budget provides a clearer picture of the quality standards states would have to meet to receive funds under the Obama administration's "Preschool for All" proposal. New America Foundation (April 15, 2013) Read more
"Obama Pre-K Expansion Battle Pits Kids Against Cigarettes" - President Barack Obama's 2014 budget pits education activists against the tobacco industry by proposing to help fund a new early childhood education program with a tax hike on tobacco. Huffington Post, Politics (April 10, 2013) Read more |
Hot Topics in the News |
Read EYI's Dana Friedman's Blog - "Use Your Words" - When my children were younger and wanted to use their bodies to express anger or hurt, I remember always saying, "You're your words"... Read more
"For Early Childhood Development, the U.S. Should Look South" - The examples of Mexico and Brazil should teach us the importance of a holistic approach to early development: one that that addresses health and nutrition as well as classroom time. The Huffington Post Latino Voices (April 1, 2013) Read more
"Tracing Technologies Unintended K-12 Effects" - As two longtime corporate executives who have been engaged in education for decades, we have no doubt about the answer to this question. Education Week (April 16, 2013) Read more |
EYI in Westbury |
 EYI participated in the Third Annual Fidelis Care and St. Brigid's Church Health Fair on Sunday, March 14, 2013. The health fair occurred during Cover the Uninsured Week, March 14-20, a national effort to highlight the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance. An estimated 46 million Americans, including 2.5 million New Yorkers, lack health insurance. EYI promoted Screen-Free Week and the importance to Be Screen Smart; balancing technology with creative play to help young children be ready to thrive from their very first day of school. |
Celebrate EYI's Annual Screen-Free Week - April 29-May 5 |
Take the Pledge today!
Today, children spend far too much time with screens: preschoolers and older children. Excessive screen time is harmful for children - it's linked to poor school performance, childhood obesity, attention span problems, and the erosion of creative play.
Screen-Free Week (formerly TV-Turnoff Week) is a wonderful way to help children lead healthier, happier lives by reducing dependence on entertainment screen media-including television, video games, computers, and hand-held devices. By encouraging children and families to unplug, Screen-Free Week provides time for them to play, connect with nature, daydream, create, explore, and spend more time with family and friends. It's also a time for parents to take an audit of family screen time and Be Screen Smart;balancing technology with creative play! Play helps children build essential school readiness skills: social and emotional development, problem-solving and communication skill and critical thinking!
The Nassau County Museum of Art invites children of all ages and their adult companions to explore our galleries, grounds and over 30 sculptures during Screen Free Week on April 29- May 5. When you arrive at the museum stop at the front desk and ask for one or all of our many resources that will help to enrich your visit including our Turn and Talk Family Guide, Sculpture Map, and a Trail Map that guides visitors through 7 nature trails . On Sunday May 5th 1:00, join us for a Family Gallery Tour and hands on Art Making to explore our current exhibition AB- EX /RE-CON: Abstract Expressionism Reconsidered. Bring your SFW pledge form and give it to one of our volunteers at the front desk and you will receive a coupon for free family admission (limit 6) to use on your next visit. This does not include any museum events that carry a separate admission fee, only those that are designated as free with museum admission.
From Long Island's East to West - EYI friends and partners are hosting Screen-Free Week events all week including: family night pajama story time reading, relay races, arts and crafts, children's birdwatching feathered friends, twilight walk, family game night and much more!
 
Remember - share your favorite Screen-Free Week moments!
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Screen Smart Resources
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EYI's Screen Smart Guide for Elementary Schools - As schools increase the deployment of technology as a teaching tool,our goal is to encourage educators, families and children to be mindful of how much time is spent on screen-based entertainment media.Now is the time to learn how to Be Screen Smart by balancing time with screens and time spent in activities that are more conducive to creative play, problem-solving, critical thinking and active play outside. Read More
Child Care Program "Facing the Screen Dilemma: Young children, Technology and Early Education" - Smartboards, Smartphones, Tablets, E-books, and more. The rapid influx of new screen vices poses a special challenge for the early childhood community. How do we best support children's growth, development, and learning in a world radically changed by technology? Read More
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Events, Trainings, and Workshops |
Earth Day - Sunday, April 22
Teaching kids to be green from an early age helps develop future stewards of the environment.
Long Island's All Kids Fair - Sunday, April 28, 2013 Marriott Melville A fun day filled with informative workshops, services, music, martial arts, sports,
exercise, health and wellness professionals, tutoring and therapeutic services...and much more!
Meet LI's Top 25 Advocates for Latino Empowerment for 2013
Tuesday, May 7 @ The Westbury Manor
presented by The Hispanic Network and sponsored by Briarcliffe College
Join us in support of EYI's Helen Dorado Alessi - one of the top Latino Advocates To purchase tickets visit: http://honoringhelenalessi.eventbrite.com/
View other Top Latino Advocates @ www.thntop25.eventbrite.com
Círculo de la Hispanidad's 33rd Annual Spring Gala
Friday, May 17 @ The Garden City Hotel
All proceeds go to benefit over 20 organizations who
programs withinthe community are in the areas of education, career services, domestic violence, youth services, housing and HIV/AIDS. To order tickets contact: jrotta@eyi.org
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Honors and Awards EYI staff, board members |
 EYI's SVP Helen Alessi is being honored twice in May: by The Hispanic Network as one of the Top 25 Advocates for Latino Empowerment on May 7; and, by Circulo de Hispanidad on May 17 for her contributions to the Latino community during and post Hurricane Sandy.
EYI's Coalition Coordinator, Stella Miller, received the "Norman Stotz Award for Outstanding Chapter Leadership" as President of Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon Society from Audubon New York on March 23, 2013 at the Spring Council Meeting in Saratoga Springs. This award is in recognition of her outstanding commitment to her chapter, environmental leadership in her community and for carrying on the Audubon mission. |
Play, Learn, and Explore in Nature |
Pickapark.org is an online resource of approximately 700 Long Island parks where you can pick your park by zip code or amenities such as bathrooms, wide pathways for strollers, refreshments, playgrounds and benches with shade.
Time well spent...reconnecting in nature!
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Favorite Quote | |
"For ourselves, and for our planet, we must be both strong and strongly connected - with each other, with the earth. As children, we need time to wander,to be outside,to nibble on icicles, watch ants, to build with dirt and sticks in the hollow of the earth, to lie back and contemplate clouds...."
Gary Paul Nabhan Stephen Trimble, The Geography of Childhood, 2004 |
Through your generosity, EYI improves early learning opportunities for all children in our region to help them achieve success in school and life.
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EYI on the Web
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EYI's Board of Directors
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Jane Ashdown, Ph.D., Chair
Adelphi University
Warren Rosenfeld, M.D.
Vice-Chair & Secretary
Winthrop-University Hospital
John Sepe, Treasurer
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Lorraine Aycock
Bank of America
Dr. Constance R. Clark-Snead
Educational Consultant
PHH Arval
Erica Lee-Bendetto
Worldwide Who's Who
Benjamin Malerba
Rivkin Radler LLP
Michael Rainone
ProActive Technology Group, LLC
Sandy Feinberg
Middle Country Public Library |
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EYI's Board of Directors
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Jane Ashdown, Ph.D.,
Chair Adelphi University
Warren Rosenfeld, M.D.
Vice-Chair & Secretary
Winthrop-University Hospital
John Sepe, Treasurer
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Lorraine Aycock
Bank of America
Dr. Constance R. Clark-Snead
Educational Consultant
PHH Arval
Erica Lee-Bendetto
Worldwide Who's Who
Benjamin Malerba
Rivkin Radler LLP
Michael Rainone
ProActive Technology Group, LLC
Sandy Feinberg
Middle Country Public Library |
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EYI's Media Partners
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Contact Us
| The Early Years Institute
One Dupont Street
Suite 101
Plainview, NY 11803
516.304.5480
516.304.5484 (fax)
info@evi.org
www.evi.org
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