Defending the Early Years is delighted to announce the latest feature on our website - our interactive Advocacy Map.

And of course, let us know what you think by contacting us info@dey.org

Defending the Early Years is joining forces with Haymarket Books, publisher of "Black Lives Matter in School," to host this webinar, on Wednesday, March 17 at 5 pm EDT.

Nancy Carlsson-Paige, DEY's founder and senior advisor, will serve as moderator.

Panelists include:

Learn more about the webinar in Denisha Jones' blog, "You're Invited...Making Black Lives Matter in Early Childhood Education."

We stand with CCFC in arguing against schools using this online 'learning' tool that causes more harm than good.

Prodigy is an online, interactive fantasy game, with math “battles” mixed in. It’s hugely popular—they report being used by millions of students in 90,000 US school districts.

The problem is that Prodigy has become entrenched in schools and homes through deception. They tell educators the game is free and always will be, and provide a version sanitized of distractions and marketing for use in school.

But that version encourages kids to play at home as well, and the home version inundates them with marketing for a Premium membership, at $59 annually, or $108 if paid in instalments. 

They say the game is effective—promising to “boost learning outcomes,” “build essential math skills,” and “improve grades and test scores.” But they can’t substantiate those claims. And they use persuasive design and other manipulative tactics such as peer pressure to get kids to nag their parents to buy the Premium membership. Kids who are not members see their friends showing off the jewels and abilities that classmates possess when they’re members, thereby creating division in the classroom between the haves and have-nots.

DEY joined Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood and 20 other organizations signing a letter of protest to the Federal Trade Commission. Read the letter here.

Judith Van Hoorn, Ed.D, a member of DEY's National Advisory Board, has just published "The Gift of Play: How Grandparents Enhance the Lives of Young Children."

Dr. Van Hoorn, a grandmother and professor emeritus of education and psychology, writes from both perspectives. Her understanding of child development allows her to delve deeply into all aspects of young children's growth. Her experiences as a grandmother informs her understanding of the strong ties that bind grandparents and grandchildren.

The book can be purchased through booksellers or you can download a pdf copy here.

We accept applications four times a year. Deadlines are: Sept. 1, Dec. 1; March 1, and June 1. Applications will be reviewed and up to 12 awards will be granted per year (depending on grant sizes). Applicants can apply for a mini grant once per year. Find more information about applying for a DEY mini grant here.

Kerry Zagarella, a Winthrop School kindergarten teacher in Ipswich, MA applied for and was awarded a DEY mini grant in 2020, but her initial plans to promote play in a community-wide effort were interrupted by COVID. Read how Kerry and her team went back to the drawing board and devised a pandemic-friendly way to promote play in their community in her blog, "'Play is the Way,' A Team of Educators in Ipswich, MA Find Ways to Promote Play, Even During COVID."