Early Childhood Education

Newsom declines to extend childcare provider benefits, but does order state to offer phone support

With fire relief money now lapsed, Gov. Newsom has ordered the state to reach out to providers to take them through what other benefits might be available to them.

Three children with medium dark skin tone stand in front of a play kitchen in a sunny backyard with a blue and green mural in the background.

Some Head Start programs still can't access federal funds in wake of Trump order

Child care programs could be 'on the brink' due to funding delays.

Head Start teacher Stephanie Perez, 23, leads a classroom full of 2-year-olds on San Antonio College's campus.

How will Mayor Bass' executive order help LA preschools and daycares reopen?

The order aims to eliminate red tape for childcare centers looking to relocate temporarily.

A woman in a burnt orange suit is speaking into several microphones affixed to a stand. She is surrounded by other men and women in suits in an interior room.

Childcare providers ask state for a lifeline after the fires

Governor Newsom allowed reimbursements for impacted providers for 30 days. Will he extend them?

A blue and white swing set with green swings. Half the ground on the left side is covered in sand. The right side is covered in green fake grass. There are three swings on the swing set, but only the middle and right hand one are in tact. The swing on the left has just chains and no swing seat. The chains look charred. Behind the swing set, a children's red plastic truck is semi-melted. A tangle of other plastic colorful toys are behind it. Branches and ash is strewn across the ground.

‘We use our words, they use their play’: How playtime is helping kids process the LA fires

Drawing, playing and make-believe are tools children can use to comprehend the disruption of the past month.

A wooden table is covered with blocks. Some of the blocks are u-shaped, others are shaped like trees or half-moons. An orange and red scarf hangs over the blocks, and a small child's hand can be seen pulling on the scarf. A blue and green scarf sits on the front of the table, covering some of the blocks.

For childcare providers, wildfires are just one more crisis

Childcare providers say they know that their work is critical to allowing families to find new housing or return to work. But they're also trying to figure out how they themselves will recover, or stay afloat at all.

An older man wearing flannel and gray sweats sits next to an older woman with white hair wearing gray sweats, next to them are two young boys and a woman wearing all black. They sit on a gray couch in a living room and above them on the wall is a hanging painting that reads "Home" in cursive.

What parents should know about wildfire air quality, ash, and protecting kids

Wildfire smoke causes particularly dangerous air quality, especially for sensitive groups including children and pregnant people.

A woman with a ponytail and a hat on holds a young boy in her arms. They're outside on a parking lot surface. In the background are piles and piles of clothing.

More family leave pay in California starting in January

Starting in January, California will increase leave payments for workers caring for a new child or a sick family member.

A closeup of newborn baby feet in a maternity ward.

More infants in OC are getting exposed to harmful substances, report finds

The finding is among several in Orange County's "Conditions of Children" report identifying youth and maternal health disparities.

Two kids with glasses play on a jungle gym.

With thousands of slots still open, LAUSD opens up subsidized preschool to higher-income families

The program is aimed at serving low-income families, but the district is opening it up to other families because of low enrollment.

The interior of a classroom for young children, with wooden tables and chairs neatly arranged around cubbies filled with toys.

Finding family services is hard. How South LA built a one-stop shop for people with young kids

Families in crisis have to knock on multiple doors to find services, often getting turned away before they can find help. In South L.A., 42 organizations are working together to make sure families are taken care of.

A medium skin-toned woman in a black top and a young medium skin-toned girl in a brightly patterned jacket stand together, the woman holding the girl close.

We asked chefs: How do you involve your kids in Thanksgiving food prep?

Kids might not be the most efficient sous chefs, but having them be part of the kitchen can be an enriching learning experience to learn about family traditions.

A young girl and boy stir together something in two metal bowl while cooking at home. There's also flour visible on the tabletop.

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