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
Making the Most of Developmental Milestones
The old adage that “Babies don’t come with instruction manuals!” is so true. And it can be just as true for parents with more than one child. Each child is unique, with their very own personality, sleep and eating habits, and growth and development trajectory. Many a parent or caregiver has wished for an on-call adviser Read More
Celebrating Stories of Diversity
February is Black History Month. At Best Beginnings we recognize how important representation is in children’s literature, and want to take this opportunity to share stories written by black authors and illustrators that feature characters of color. Here are staff pick’s of our favorite Imagination Library stories that celebrate diversity: The Night is Yours Day Read More
15 Ways to Read Every Day
1. Show your child how to use books/websites to read answers to your questions. 2. Read a recipe to make a meal. 3. Listen to audiobooks in the car or before bed (listening helps kids with word proficiency when they see it in print later). 4. Read the print that is all around you throughout Read More
