Early Childhood

Join Footnotes, a texting club and community service through MPR News offering early childhood news, updates and information for children aged 0-5 and their caregivers. Engage with other parents/guardians and early childhood reporter Kyra Miles:
MPR News launches ‘Footnotes’ service for caregivers of young children
MPR News is excited to announce the launch of its new messaging club, Footnotes. This service provides early childhood news updates and essential information about children aged 0-5 for their caregivers.
Grooming and child abuse: 6 questions, answered
Experts say it’s exceedingly difficult to recognize grooming while it’s happening. But there are steps institutions can take to prevent grooming and child abuse at schools and childcare centers
More than 70 Minnesota children detained in Operation Metro Surge, data show
Sahan’s analysis of court records and federal deportation data represents the most thorough accounting yet of the Minnesota children detained during “Operation Metro Surge.”
Drownings drive new safety effort for Minnesota kids with autism
Fay Jede created Waeys Water Safety Foundation to honor her son who drowned after wandering from his home in 2024. She hopes to support mothers, especially in the East African community, with scholarships and information on water safety and kids with autism.
Minnesota child care centers worry as ICE surge absences build
Families who kept children home as federal agents flooded the Twin Cities now face the prospect of losing a needed subsidy because their kids missed more than 25 days. It’s a potential crisis for families — and for the child care centers that can’t absorb the lost income.
A coalition of groups argues child care is as necessary as roads and bridges. Here's why
The “Child Care is Community Infrastructure Road Tour” has paired lawmakers and child care leaders with community members to make the case that child care is as necessary as infrastructure like roads and bridges.
Push for cameras in more Minnesota day cares pitched by families, lawmaker
Minnesota could become the first state in the country to require security cameras in child care centers. There was an informational hearing in a House committee Tuesday on a bill sponsored by Republican state Rep. Nolan West. He joined Cathy Wurzer on Morning Edition to explain his need for more surveillance.
Daylight saving time disrupting your child's sleep? Pediatrician offers advice
With the time change and spring break on the horizon, Dr. Liz Placzek, pediatrician at Children's Minnesota, joined Cathy Wurzer on Morning Edition with suggestions for getting a good night’s rest.
How ICE’s presence is affecting child care in Minnesota
What happens to day care providers when families decide to stay home? MPR News host Angela Davis is joined by early childhood education reporter Kyra Miles to talk about how the the increase of federal immigration agents is affecting the child care industry and children, families and child care workers.