Community Love and Connection in Early Care and Education

Learn how to create more just and equitable spaces for the young children you serve. Written by experienced educators, Community, Love, and Connection in Early Care and Education is a call to action for early care and education professionals who are ready to make real change in children’s lives. Drawing on Maisha Winn’s framework of transformative justice in education, the authors address the harms and challenges embedded in early childhood education, while offering strategies for dismantling systems of oppression and creating spaces where all children can thrive. You’ll uncover how to recognize and confront challenges in the field; implement anti-racist practices that foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for every child; rethink “developmentally appropriate” practices that often fail children from historically disinvested communities; and avoid language that labels and limits children, particularly in relation to race, disability, and multilingualism. Whether you are an early care provider, teacher, administrator, or community advocate, this book will help you challenge traditional practices. It offers a wealth of practical strategies for fostering spaces that are inclusive and just, so you can contribute to shaping the future of education—one that is more equitable, hopeful, and joyful for all young children and their families.