The Wardens Today: ALLISON BLACK

Allison Black is currently the Communications Coordinator for the?Atkinson Centre for Society and Child Development at OISE, University?of Toronto. ?Her involvement with the promotion of early child?development (ECD) stretches back 8 years, including working with?Fraser Mustard, Canada's champion of ECD and the co-author of the?"Early Years Studies". ?Black speaks with passion and eloquence about?ECD. ?Her enthusiasm is contagious; I find myself irate knowing that?with so much persuasive research about the importance of this time in?life, society is only beginning to recognize it.

It has been known for hundreds of years that our first years have a?powerful influence on the life that follows. ?While most of a baby's?organs are formed during the period in utero, the brain continues to?develop long after birth. Brain development during the first few years?of life lays the foundation for what the brain will be capable of?later on. ?Recent research into ECD demonstrates the ways that society?can help improve a child's chances of reaching their potential in?these early years?and throughout the lifespan. ?

One research focus at?the Atkinson Centre is early childhood education (ECE) and what ECE?programs can do to support children to meet developmental milestones. ?In a high quality program, the emphasis should not be only on the?child but on the family as a whole; by providing quality early?learning environments to children, parents are better supported in?caring for their children, as well as to work or study and contribute?to the economy. ?While high quality ECE programs are not inexpensive,?a public investment in young children should result in a significant?economic return. Immediate returns can be seen in the amount of tax?their parents pay when they are able to participate in the paid?workforce. ?Later on, savings can be seen as these children are?statistically less likely to end up in prison, with mental health?problems or with substance abuse issues in adulthood.

Black has seen positive change during her time working in this field.?Provincial and territorial governments have asserted the importance of?the early years as the foundation of lifelong learning, behavior and?health and many jurisdictions are moving towards merging child care?and education programs as early childhood is understood as the first?stage in a child's educational path. ?In the early child development?sector, there is a growing focus on the notion of childrens' rights;?that all children have basic human rights, such as the rights to food,?clothing, housing, protection from harm, and to education. November?20th is Universal Children's Day, a United Nations initiative?acknowledging the importance of children. In Canada it is celebrated?as National Children's Day to commemorate the 1989 UN Convention on?the Rights of the Child that Canada adopted in 1993. ?We've got a way?to go to reach the Covention's goals but seem to have found the right?track.? I recently heard This American Life episode on the unlikely state of?Oklahoma being one of the first to adopt universal pre-school. ?It's?worth a listen.

Source: http://thewardenstoday.blogspot.com/2012/11/allison-black.html

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