Our Work

At MaineAEYC we support parents and families of young children. We advocate on behalf of children, birth through age eight, and we help connect parents, educators, and legislators. We provide parents and families resources to learn more about high quality early childhood education and ideal learning environments.

RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES

• Child Care Choices - online search tool to find child care in Maine

• Maine Parent Federation - resources for parents of children with disabilities or special health care needs

• Harold Alfond College Grant - $500 grant for every baby born a Maine resident

• Maine Equal Justice - access to financial supports and legal services

HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION INFORMATION FROM NAEYC

• What you want to see in an infant program

• What you want to see in a toddler program

• What does a high quality program for preschool look like?

• What does a high quality elementary school classroom look like?

resource lists curated by maineaeyc:

The following resource lists have been curated by MaineAEYC to help educators, families, and other caregivers learn more about specific topics. If you are looking for resources on a topic not yet included here, please let us know! We want this to be a relevant and useful place for you. Reach out to info@maineaeyc.org if you would like resources on something not present here.

• How to Talk to Children About Violent Events & Tragedies

• Navigating Gun Play in the Classroom

What do we mean by “high quality” early childhood education?

• The time of childhood is valued

• Children construct knowledge from diverse experiences to make meaning of the world

• Play is an essential element of children’s learning

• Instruction is personalized to acknowledge each child’s development and abilities

• The teacher is a guide, nurturing presence, and co-constructor of knowledge

• Children and adults learn through relationships

• The environment is intentionally designed to facilitate children’s exploration, independence, and interaction

• Decision-making reflects a commitment to equity

• Continuous learning environments support adult development

Learn about the principles of ideal learning environments for child care, preschool, and elementary school:

Ideal Learning in Principle and Practice

What Parents Should Look for in a Child Care Setting

Looking for Child Care?

Thank you to the Portland Office of Economic Opportunity for creating a new visual resource for families in Maine looking for child care. You can download the “map” here in multiple languages with answers to frequently asked questions.