Children at the Border

Marjorie Kostelnik, early childhood professor at the University of Nebraska, had a recent discussion with her students about what they thought the early childhood community could do about "the children at the border."  Here is her report of the conversation:

"They thought a statement from NAEYC was important — a way to be on the record as 'Standing Up for Children.'  However, they also wanted us all to be more proactive and to include their generation in the process.  They noted that over the past several days the airwaves and digital news images have been full of anger, fear, and hate.  What they wanted was to create an alternate perspective of acceptance, love, and tolerance.  Their suggestion was to create a Pinterest site of 'Faces of Love' or 'Faces of Caring' showing the proactive things people are doing to support these children and others who come to the U.S. as 'refugees.'  

"For example, our state has taken in 200 children over the past few months quietly — that was a positive act.  Just next door in Iowa, communities are gathering now to discuss ways to help.  The students wondered how other states and communities are reacting and if NAEYC couldn’t coordinate a site illustrating positive actions as models for others to consider.  I am sharing this with you because I was struck by the active nature of their ideas and by their desire to be involved in some way — I wanted you to know we have some innovative leaders coming along."

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