Awesome Tips for Young Explorers! STEM isn’t all about coding Sure coding is fun, but STEM does not have to be screen based or super technical. STEM is also learning about animals, following a recipe, observing the weather, building with blocks, sorting objects, and other simple things. Of course, if you have a future Read More
Fun activities to Celebrate Families
Dramatic play is an essential part of early childhood. Watching children play at being a family reveals what they see, hear, and feel in their day to day life. Playing house is one of the most popular themes for young children. Possible props can be dolls, keys, stuffed animals as pets, and other household items. Read More
With Gratitude – A Thanksgiving Reflection
As we gather around our tables this Thanksgiving, there’s an abundance of gratitude filling the air here at Best Beginnings. It’s with a heart full of thanks and a smile on my face that I reflect on the remarkable journey we’ve embarked on over the past year. Filled with treasured moments and milestones we’re honored Read More
Anchorage Mayor Pledges $250,000 Support to Best Beginnings in 2024 Proposed Budget
Anchorage Mayor Pledges $250,000 Support to Best Beginnings in 2024 Proposed Budget Best Beginnings, a leading public-private organization dedicated to early childhood development, is proud to announce a significant boost in funding thanks to the 2024 budget proposals released by Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson. In an afternoon press conference on Monday, Mayor Bronson revealed his Read More
Books about Daily Routines
This list features books about what a day in the life of a child looks like – can you find the spots where adding some songs fit? What Happens on Wednesdays by Emily Jenkins (Preschool) Young children don’t experience time or schedules quite the same way that adults do. For one little girl, her Wednesday Read More
Partners Make the Work Go Round
This year is all about partnership. Partnering with parents to care for their child. Partnering with our community to do more for children. Partnering with programs to connect families to resources. Partnering with agencies to build better programs and policies. Partnering with people to ensure Alaska children are ready to succeed. A lot of people Read More
Starting Kindergarten with a Smile
Is there a 5-year-old in your family? If yes, chances are that child has just headed to kindergarten. Some children sail right into new experiences, places, and groups of children, but there are others who take things a little more slowly, or who have expectations of kindergarten that don’t match up with reality. Even in Read More
For All of Alaska’s Children
I recently was asked if Best Beginnings provides any services outside Anchorage. This person knows Best Beginnings because her child receives books from Anchorage Imagination Library, a program of Best Beginnings. The answer is YES! Our mission statement says “Best Beginnings is a public-private partnership that mobilizes people and resources to ensure all Alaska children Read More
Legislative Update
Many thanks to advocates all over Alaska who helped ensure the needs of young children and their families were not forgotten during the legislative session that ended at midnight Wednesday, May 18! Again this session, Best Beginnings worked with the five other members of the Alaska Early Childhood Advocacy Group* to push for a state Read More
A Simple Way to “Go Blue” Every Day
Did you “Go Blue” on April 1? April has been designated Child Abuse and Prevention Month, and thousands of Alaskans participated in Go Blue Day to call attention to our state’s high rate of child abuse and neglect – and what we can do to support families and lower that rate. But concern about this Read More