Christina Kuhn, a mentor for teachers and a parent of a three-year-old, brings a unique perspective to the discussion of quality education. Her dual roles have shaped her views significantly. “Even though I am a professional in early childhood, being a professional and a parent are two completely different roles,” she reflects. Christina emphasizes the importance of quality education and childcare from her experiences.
Christina’s journey into parent advocacy began unexpectedly when a coworker invited her to Zero to Three’s Strolling Thunder. Strolling Thunder is an annual rally held in Washington, D.C., where parents and babies gather to advocate for increased support from lawmakers for families. The event typically features parents pushing strollers adorned with signs and slogans, creating a playful, yet impactful atmosphere. The primary goals of the rally include advocating for paid leave, affordable child care, and other familial support measures from Congress. It was there that she started building a community of parents and became involved with the Think Babies Michigan Coalition.
Her passion for advocating for parents stems from both her professional expertise in education and her newfound understanding as a parent. Her commitment to early childhood program quality is deeply rooted in her professional background, which has become even more crucial as she navigates parenthood.
Her perspective was transformed when she became a parent herself. “I knew daycare was expensive when I was a teacher, but I didn’t realize, as someone without kids, that the quality wasn’t there,” she recalls. Christina was surprised by the high cost of childcare and the scarcity of well-educated staff in the field. She advocates strongly for quality care, stressing that while education in child development is essential, it’s not the sole factor. For her, the best educators are driven by a passion to provide the highest level of care and education.
Christina believes that the leadership within child care centers plays a pivotal role in program quality. “When a director or owner cares about their teachers and families, that creates a good program,” she asserts. Quality, for Christina, means a nurturing environment where children feel loved, listened to, safe, and secure. Effective communication with families and a robust curriculum are also essential components.
She emphasizes that a quality program provides peace of mind for parents, ensuring their children are well cared for and loved. Christina celebrates her daughter’s curiosity and expects caregivers to appreciate and support it. Her advice to parents seeking quality childcare includes asking questions beforehand, visiting potential centers, and ensuring their child’s personality is respected and nurtured.
Christina’s knowledge and experiences uniquely qualify her to guide other parents. She urges parents to advocate for their children’s individuality and emphasizes finding a childcare setting that aligns with their family values and practices.
The knowledge and experience Christina has helps her advise other parents as well. Her advice to parents looking for quality childcare settings includes asking any questions you have. She suggests writing questions down ahead of time or even emailing questions to ensure that they are answered. She also suggests parents do a walkthrough of a potential center or school and ask how that day care or school handles behaviors to make sure it aligns with how the family handles them as well. “Let your child be who they are and don’t make them feel bad for who they are. And don’t let anyone ese make them feel bad either.”
Christina’s experience as a parent leader with a young child in care has made her especially knowledgeable when it comes to selecting a child care option that is good for her family. Parents who are interested in reviewing quality child care options that suit their needs can search the Great Start to Quality website. Parents interested in getting involved in the Think Babies Michigan Coalition can learn more here.