Thank you for responding with the NAEYC perspective. It is encouraging to hear this is something they are open to thinking about.
I've been doing some research on this for our local affiliate, including polling at events for attendees. None of the people I've talked to expect childcare to be free, it is having access to it and making it affordable that is the big draw. I hope NAEYC will look into offering pre-registration/pre-payment of childcare for their events. It would be possible to either have something onsite or to work with the network of fantastic childcare providers within NAEYC to collaborate on offering it at an offsite location (higher ed child development center, accreditation center etc.). Having people register in advance would help you know numbers/ratios etc. and communicate forms for the families to fill out.
The American Alliance of Museums is piloting something at their Annual Meeting this year for childcare. School aged children are invited to sign up for a camp run by a local museum. They also have listed local childcare options that they obtained from the conference hotels for those with younger children. It would be a beginning step for trying it out.
I understand that older children would potentially be a distraction to adult learning, but I think that non-mobile infants would not impede learning in any way. I know when my daughter was an infant her feeding schedule would not have allowed me to be away for long stretches, so a conference where I couldn't have her with me would have been impossible. I think it would be fair to spell out guidelines for people who were bringing infants so that they would know what was expected of them. If any presenter was opposed to having children of any age in their session that could be noted in the program book.
Offering childcare is complicated, an additional expense and not common practice at professional conferences....but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be done. NAEYC is a leader in early childhood education and with Power to the Profession bringing attention to the needs of educators this is a chance to create a model that meets all of their needs, including personal ones.
I would be happy to help in any way I can with exploring this option.
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Sarah Erdman
Vienna VA
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-20-2018 09:36 AM
From: Monique Cabiness
Subject: Childcare at PLI in Austin
Hi Sarah--Thanks for raising this issue. NAEYC understands that finding quality and affordable childcare can be a challenge. However, for safety reasons, NAEYC doesn't allow children into the exhibit hall. Also, in order to provide an experience and environment conducive to adult learning, we don't encourage attendees to bring children to conference sessions. Unfortunately, we don't have the resources to offer childcare onsite at the Institute but we recognize the need and will further evaluate how we can best support our members at future events.
Sincerely,
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Monique Cabiness
National Association for the Education of Young Children
Washington DC
Original Message:
Sent: 04-19-2018 07:29 AM
From: Sarah Erdman
Subject: Childcare at PLI in Austin
I hope you will forgive me if I use your question to jump to a larger discussion.
First, a practical idea. You can check with the hotel that you are staying at and see if they have a list of trusted babysitters that may be able to watch your child during your presentation. Perhaps there are even some early childhood professionals in the area of Austin who are on this forum and would be interested in working with you.
Now, this really highlights a larger problem with conferences of all descriptions. Finding childcare at one is rare and that means that it limits the people and presenters that are able to attend. If you don't have reliable childcare/disposable funds to use it for a multi-day conference or a partner/family member who can travel with you...you are out of luck.
I would be curious to hear from NAEYC why children are not allowed at an early childhood conference and if there has been any exploration into offering childcare of some description. It could be for presenters onsite, they could contract with a local center for general participants, they could vet a list of childcare providers for people to hire individually etc.
This topic is one that I am nudging groups I'm involved in to explore further. I think that NAEYC, especially with their access to highly trained professionals, could really be an industry leader in offering this benefit to conference attendees. It would certainly highlight their commitment to including a diverse set of professionals in their learning opportunities.
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Sarah Erdman
Vienna VA
Original Message:
Sent: 04-18-2018 08:42 AM
From: Cara Djonko-Moore
Subject: Childcare at PLI in Austin
Hi Everyone,
I am presenting at NAEYC PLC in Austin, and I've learned children are not allowed. I have to travel with my one-year old. Is anyone else in a similar situation? What are your childcare plans?
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Cara Djonko-Moore
University of Tennessee
Knoxville TN
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