PITC Spotlight Archive

First Things First

First Things First (PDF)

Since the start of the "For Our Babies" campaign, many people have asked me why should America alter its funding priorities during this very challenging economic time to spend more money on babies. Why babies before others?

The answer is a simple one. Based on what we continue to learn about the developing brain from conception to age 3, we know that without paying attention to infants whatever we do later with children and adults either builds on or compensates for a weak foundation.

To continue reading, download the article (PDF).

A Message from Ron Lally

Reduce the Deficit, Strengthen the Economy, and Reform Education by Supporting Early Development (PDF)

As Congress sits down to write the budget for both 2011 and 2012 it is looking for ways to both reduce the deficit and increase the effectiveness of dollars spent on education. High-quality early childhood services should be seen as a significant part of their plan. Fifty years of solid research has documented these services as the most economically viable approach to building better students and productive citizens.

To continue reading, download the article (PDF).

Concepts for Care: 20 Essays on Infant/Toddler Development and Learning

In commemoration of PITC's 20th anniversary, WestEd is pleased to announce the publication of "Concepts for Care: 20 Essays on Infant/Toddler Development and Learning". Leading experts in infant/toddler development have contributed succinct essays drawn from research, theory, clinical case studies, and carefully documented practice. Each essay represents current thinking in the field of infant/toddler development and care. Individually and as a collection, the essays provide a springboard for reflection, discussion, and further exploration, especially for infant/toddler professionals seeking to enhance their programs and for students in the early care and education field. View the Essays

PITC 20th Anniversary Celebration

The Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC), a collaboration between WestEd and the California Department of Education, celebrated its 20th Anniversary with a PITC Graduate Conference, an Anniversary Gala, and National Symposium. The event, which took place October 3 - 5, 2006 in San Francisco, brought together infant care practitioners, policy makers, and researchers for the year's premiere education and networking event. Speakers included Jack O'Connell and Michael Jett (California Department of Education), Glen Harvey and Deanna Winn (WestEd), Lynn Woolsey and Pete Stark (U.S. House of Representatives), Ross Thompson (UC Davis), Lella Gandini (Reggio Emilia), Ed Zigler (Yale University), Tammy Mann (ZERO TO THREE), Alicia Lieberman (UCSF), and Todd Risley (University of Alaska). For more information about the event, please visit www.wested.org/2020vision.

East Coast PITC Trainer Institute

In response to requests from the field, PITC is pleased to announce the east coast PITC Trainer Institute! July 23 - 28, 2006 in Baltimore, Maryland Module I: Social-Emotional Growth and Sociazliation Module II: Group Care Applications are due May 5, 2006

PITC Demonstration Programs: VIRTUAL TOURS!

Take a virtual tour through five California community college children's centers that are implementing the PITC approach to infant/toddler care. Read about the unique journey that each has traveled to become a PITC Demonstration Program and peruse a variety of photos that show high quality infant/toddler care in practice. Take the Tours >

Dr. J. Ronald Lally: Webcast

This PITC Spotlight is on Dr. J. Ronald Lally's recent Closing Plenary at the 8th Annual Birth to Three Institute, February 12, 2004 in Baltimore, MD:

"Our Stories About Children Influence Our Practice" Click here to view the webcast of Dr. Lally's presentation. For more information on other plenary sessions at the institute please go to the Early Head Start National Resource Center Web site at: www.ehsnrc.org

California Community College Seminars

Special Seminar on Infants and Toddlers: Implementing PITC at Community Colleges The California Department of Education and WestEd are accepting applications for participation in an exciting new experience for California Community College Teams of infant/toddler faculty and campus infant/toddler center staff. The seminar will provide an opportunity to learn about the PITC instructional materials, philosophy and content and how they can be used in your work. more details and applications>>

Italia!

A delegation from The Program for Infant/Toddler Caregivers recently returned from an exciting and unique opportunity in Reggio Emilia, Italy. For the first time ever, Reggio Children conducted a weeklong infant/toddler focused intensive in Reggio Emilia. The program included working with the Reggio Emilia staff to learn about the philosophy, environmental arrangements, program policies, and planning and documentation strategies of the Reggio Emilia infant/toddler programs. We visited their infant/toddler centers and engaged in discussion with parents, teachers and other members of the community.

Teachers from Reggio Emilia, Italy with Ron Lally

This intensive was set up exclusively for PITC participants who had attended all four modules, and PITC faculty and staff. Reggio Children was established in 1994 in response to the growing international interest in the schools, the many proposals for international projects and the number of requests for information, resources and visits. In addition to our visit to Reggio Emilia, we were thrilled to provide the opportunity for 50 participants to spend two days visiting the infant/toddler programs in Pistoia, Italy. For many years, Pistoia's infant programs have been considered as some of the best in Europe. We had the opportunity to spend two mornings in the centers and two afternoons in seminars to discuss, among other things, Pistoia's comprehensive planning and documentation approach.