(cheerful music) >> Child: (faintly speaking) Good morning.

>> One more (faintly speaking), one, two, three, four- >> Mary: Facilities that provide early childhood education can have a lasting impact on a child's development.

Intentional, enriched care helps children prepare for school, relationships, and life.

Cuts to state and federal funding in Indiana are putting pressure on both educators and families, raising costs for providers, while making early care and education less affordable.

We follow a dedicated teacher and explore what real investment in children looks like for communities.

(cheerful music) Welcome to "Building Blocks," The Future We Build.

(cheerful music) >> Narrator: This episode of "Building Blocks" is a co-production of Indiana AEYC and Lakeshore Public Media.

Indiana AEYC promotes high-quality learning for each and every child birth through age eight by connecting practice, policy, and research.

We advance a dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children.

Lakeshore Public Media, dedicated to enriching the lives of people in the communities we serve.

Legacy Foundation is Lake County's Community Foundation.

For over 30 years, we've partnered with donors and nonprofits, focusing on youth development, the arts, the environment, health, literacy, and other causes that matter to you.

We're committed to Lake County forever.

First things first, Porter County is dedicated to supporting families, healthy beginnings, and quality early learning, ensuring every Porter County baby is born prepared for a strong start in life.

Learn more at firstthingspc.org.

(cheerful music) >> I have a very strong connection to other students.

Everyone makes an effort to help each other.

I'll remember the feeling of being here, the feeling that I was a part of a family.

(cheerful music) >> Narrator: Routine visits with a pediatrician are vital to a child's development.

That's why, at NorthShore Health Centers, pediatricians provide quality care to every child every time, ensuring that your child is reaching their developmental milestones and are up to date on their vaccines.

Learn more at northshorehealth.org.

>> Narrator: Doing as much as you can as quickly as you can is important to me.

Life is short.

And the earlier we get started helping our community, the better off our community will be.

(cheerful music) >> Narrator: Additional support for "Building Blocks" is provided generously by Tom Sourlis and Sue Eleuterio, as well as Porter County Community Foundation, serving Porter County since 1996.

(cheerful music) Additional support for local programming and Lakeshore Public Media is provided by viewers like you.

Thank you.

(cheerful music) (children faintly speaking) >> A, B, C.

>> B, C, D.

(children faintly speaking) >> Mary: High quality, developmentally appropriate early education goes beyond the alphabet and counting.

It focuses on nurturing curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking from the start.

Classrooms are spaces where play has purpose and social-emotional skills matter as much as academics, preparing children not just for school, but for life.

>> Early education is important, because a lot of brain development happens within the first five years of life, So you wanna get in there and teach them as much as possible while they're building those new synapses in the brain.

So it's very important.

>> Mary: Often, early childhood educators face misconceptions based on outdated ideas of daycare and babysitting.

>> A lot of times, people don't know what early education is.

It is not daycare.

It's actual education.

And when you allow parents to come in and see that, it's beginning to shift their mindset.

(cheerful music) I teach late three and then early five-year-olds.

After they turn five, most of them transition into the elementary schools, but while they're here, we use the creative curriculum, and it has different studies.

We've done the box study, we did the exercise study, the recycling study.

And right now, we're actually in the clothing study, and we talk about what our clothes made out of, how do we wash clothes, where do you go buy clothes?

Next week, we'll talk about what do you wear to match whatever job you work.

So it's literally breaking down everyday different aspects of clothing.

(cheerful music) I love the creative curriculum, because it literally touches on everything, and the kids get to learn through play and through experimenting and through asking questions.

It's a beautiful thing.

>> Mary: Everyday tasks help children grow through responsibility and friendships.

By making choices and helping others, children learn independence, cooperation, and self-worth.

>> We teach them how to serve themselves.

We teach them how to clean up.

It's important for children to know, "Hey, when you make a mess, clean up."

We help guide them through daily transitions.

We do a lot of with timers, just make transition throughout the day a little bit easier.

They are able to follow our schedule.

We have a picture schedule, so they can move the schedule throughout the day, so that they know where they're supposed to be, or what's happening at what time throughout the day.

Dressers, maybe some people- A lot of times, when we have behaviors, if they're not following the schedule, rather than taking that time to yell or fuss, "Hey, we just finished eating lunch.

If you're done eating, what should you do?"

"Oh, I throw my trash in the garbage."

"What do you do after you throw your trash away?"

"I go wash my hands."

"What are we getting ready to do?"

"Oh, we're getting ready to take a nap."

They're used to that routine every day.

And so now that they know it, if I veer from it, they're like, "What are you doing?

It's time for small group."

They know.

(cheerful music) When you give kids a daily routine that they can follow, one, it helps them become more comfortable with where they are.

It helps them become like leaders.

They, "Hey, I know what to do, Ms.

Le-Asya.

I know that I can get my blanket from my cubby and put it on my cot to get ready for nap."

And they're happy to be self-sufficient.

So give them a schedule, you give them a daily routine, it helps them become self-sufficient, helps 'em be comfortable, and they're able to teach others as well.

(cheerful music) >> Mary: In the simple rhythm of play, children learn how to listen, care, and grow together.

These early bonds quietly shape confidence, compassion, and emotional strength.

>> We use conscious discipline.

It is new, and it is completely different from everything I've ever known in my entire life, right?

Actually taking the time to teach them and correct them in a way, so that they learn that there is a better way, right?

I had a kid hit another classmate.

All I see is the action of the child hitting.

But then instead of yelling at the child who hit, let's go back, let's break this down.

"What caused you to hit?

Okay, he took the toy from you.

Instead of hitting your classmate, what could you have done differently?"

"Oh, I could have asked for it back."

"You could have told the teacher."

And then, after that, correcting the child who also took, "No, you shouldn't have hit.

You could have used your words.

You could have gotten an adult, but also, you feelings are valid.

Hey, I understand you're angry.

I understand you're sad.

I understand you're frustrated.

And that's okay.

But when you are feeling this way, take you a deep breath, and let's try this instead."

These skills that we're teaching now literally last children a lifetime.

(cheerful music) >> Mary: Conscious discipline is one approach to fostering self-regulation, emotional awareness, and connection, helping children learn to manage feelings and make positive choices.

>> Unfortunately, oftentimes, they're referred to as soft skills, these emotional and social skills.

And that does a disservice to the importance of those skills.

So what's really come out in research is that the skills that are actually more predictive of school success and educational success and educational outcomes aren't just a person's IQ or language ability or literacy skills early in life, but it's really those soft skills, as you allude to.

Most teachers in, like, kindergarten will tell you, if a kid comes into their classroom, who's able to sit in circle time, share with the group, follow directions, carry those directions out, ask appropriately for help, form a relationship with the teacher and the other kids in the class, that kid, they can easily teach everything they need to learn in a kindergarten curriculum or first-grade curriculum.

So we have some adjustments to make in our society to fully appreciate that.

(cheerful music) >> Mary: Quality early education relies on the quiet dedication of those working directly with children, the skilled teachers and caregivers who show up every day.

For many, it's more than a job, it is a calling.

(cheerful music) (students cheering and applauding) >> I was a special education paraprofessional for six years, and then after that, I transitioned into early childhood education.

My wonderful COO pushed me to go further my education, and I actually just graduated December 2025 with my early childhood associate's degree.

(cheerful music) I don't wanna be like, "This is my life," (laughs) but it is, in all honesty, it is literally my life.

I don't wanna say all I've ever done is been in education.

I worked at Little Caesars for six months, if that counts for anything.

But outside of that, being an educator is all I've ever done.

When I go to church, I teach children's Bible study.

(cheerful music) To be able to say, "I'm an educator," I think that's a beautiful thing.

>> Mary: Increasing demands and low wages are forcing many committed educators to make difficult decisions affecting their families and their careers.

The industry is losing talent.

>> You really have to have a love for it.

It has to go beyond money to be a good educator.

And honestly, not just in early childhood.

Education as a whole, as a whole umbrella, is suffering, it's undervalued.

Early childhood education, not just child education, but the early stages of it, people are just now catching on to it, because they didn't pay attention to it for a while.

So the money isn't there.

You're gonna look at your account sometimes, you're gonna be like, "Oh my gosh."

So you have to have some kind of love for the field, because if not, you'll be burnt out.

A couple of years ago, I had a child, he was nonverbal.

And I told my mom, I said, "Ma, I gotta figure out something, because I don't know what he needs."

And so she was like, "Why not teach him sign language?"

So I bought a book, and I would show him water from the faucet, and I would say, "Water."

Every day, I would be intentional about using those basic signs, and he would sign back to me.

I may not be fluent, but I can teach you your letters A to Z, I can teach you water, I can teach you milk, I can teach you juice.

You are gonna get the basics.

You can tell me if you hungry or if you're thirsty, right?

His mom wanted to know, "Hey, Ms.

Le-Asya, what is this?"

I said, "Oh, that's water."

So then I started sending packets home, so that parents knew what I was teaching their children in class.

To this day, his mom updates me, "Oh, he's doing good in school.

He started talking.

He's writing."

Oddly enough, I ran into them, "Look, it's Ms.

Le-Asya."

And he said, "Oh."

And I was like, "Oh my gosh.

He remembers me."

It makes everything worth it, to not only know I made a difference in that child's life, but not only are the children learning, but the parents are also learning as well.

(children faintly speaking) They're so sweet.

Even on your worst day, even in your most like frustrating moment, they give you a pick-me-up.

Yeah.

I come early, I take me a deep breath, I decompress, and I'm not gonna say it's easy to just come in and just, "I'm gonna leave my personal life right here in the lobby, and I'm gonna go into class, and I'm gonna be the best teacher I can be."

It's hard, right?

'Cause we're human.

But if you allow the children to, they give you just as much love as you give them.

When you build positive, genuine relationships with them, they're happy to see you.

And one of my kids, he comes in, I was out two days this week.

And so, today, I could see him leaning to see if I'm there.

and he had his coat on.

He says, "Ms.

Le-Asya, you're back.

I missed you."

And he came running.

And so if you allow them to, they give you just a little bit extra.

I don't like not being at my job.

I look forward to seeing them just as much, honestly, as they look forward to seeing me.

(cheerful music) >> Mary: Teachers guide learning while also comforting fears, building trust, and supporting emotional growth.

In these moments, caregiving and education become one.

(cheerful music) >> We do a lot all day, and I think we don't even, sometimes I don't even realize what all I've done by the time the end of the... I know I'm tired when I get ready to go home, but when you see crafts, and you're cleaning, and if somebody falls, then you gotta become, you gotta get the first aid kid and put on your gloves, and in the middle of everything else, right?

The good thing is, I'm in a team, so we share the roles, right?

That's the beautiful thing about having a team.

It's funny, because when you do it every day, you don't even realize that you're doing it, but I like it.

It keeps you on your toes.

I like that.

I know how to do everything.

>> Mary: Success stories don't rise alone.

They're lifted by many hands.

Le-Asya was raised with love and care, values that shape who she is.

What she received, she now passes on each day.

Her son grows within that same nurturing foundation.

For Le-Asya, community, education, and care are inseparable.

>> My mother is the regional SPED supervisor for Phalen Academies.

She was oddly like the community mom.

So my house was always filled with children.

She, at one point, was a foster mom.

It was a beautiful thing to see, because it became second nature to love children.

My mom was the first person to really show me, outside of the way that she treated and loved us, how to love other people's children as well.

It all intertwines.

I needed a community.

I'm a single parent.

And I was a young mom.

I had my son at 20.

So I needed a solid community to help guide me and to help me meet the needs of my child, because I wasn't always able to.

Being a parent is hard, even without community and without church.

Church is a community also, right?

So even without my church community or my family community, it's hard without that anyway, right?

So I needed that extra support as a young mom, as a single parent.

And then to know that I was able to send my son to reliable childcare was also a blessing.

(cheerful music) Every day in general, you never know what you're going to get.

When I come to work, I come with an open mind, and I know that my energy has the power to either make or break somebody's day.

Because I'm arriving so early, because I'm an opener, I'm probably one of the first faces a parent may see.

That gives you confidence to know, "Hey, Ms.

Le-Asya always happy.

She always smiling.

She always got a joke.

You know, she always got a nice compliment or a nice word," right?

So not only are you leaving with a positive feeling, but you know that I'm giving your child that same kind of energy throughout the day.

And that gives parents that confidence.

"You know what?

My baby is safe.

My baby is loved.

My baby is well taken care of.

I can take me a deep breath, and I can go to work."

(cheerful music) >> Child: I'm going.

I'm going.

>> Let me see.

Cuts in funding makes it harder for families, because now, they have to make hard choices.

Maybe I'd see if Auntie so-and-so can watch the babies, so I can save that money to paint my car note and to make sure we have food to eat.

People really did depend on those vouchers to be able to send their children to a reliable, safe childcare.

>> The cost for childcare in Indiana really ranges upward toward the cost of a year's worth of tuition at a four-year public institution, Indiana families, on average, pay about 11% of their income per child on childcare, which is above the 7% benchmark that the federal government has targeted as a sustainable number.

>> The amount of facilities that have had to close because there is no funding, so parents can't afford childcare, so they're losing numbers, so they have to close their doors.

The amount of children who aren't getting proper care anymore, that is a crisis.

>> Mary: In addition to insufficient funding, the childcare system is criticized for being out of touch with modern times.

>> Wow.

>> Oftentimes, when you talk about early childhood, the rhetoric is, "Well, we wanna support kids to reach their full potential."

And what we're saying is, "To reach your full potential, your family needs to have certain supports and systems in place."

Right now, if a child doesn't reach their potential, we like to say, "Well, the parents failed them."

But we have to acknowledge that not every parent has access to the systems, services, or supports that other parents do.

>> There are still alternative arrangements that can be made, right?

Kinship care, grandparents, you know, those sorts of things.

Circumstances are still requiring them to work.

They're not able to retire in the way that they used to.

They're picking up side jobs.

Their schedules are in flux.

Those environments, while they were safe, and often provided good experiences for kids, weren't providing the sort of educational preparation to get them ready for school and life.

And then you have the sort of other challenge of our mobility as a society.

We're just not as close to extended family as we used to be.

We're not as close to our neighbors as we used to be.

It makes some of these other alternative arrangements less realistic for most families, right?

We have to build more community in order to make those things a reality.

(cheerful music) Another important thing, the general public has to accept responsibility of active citizenship and really help their policymakers at all levels of government understand why this is an important issue.

Our government exists to serve people, to promote the general welfare, which means to create an environment in which people can seek happiness and seek fulfillment and seek stability.

And they do that best when they are educated.

When you reach out, when you write letters, when you call, when you say at town halls like, "Childcare matters to me, early learning matters to me.

Here's how it's benefited my household.

Here's what it's made possible for my kid," or, "How it's allowed me to fulfill my ambitions or dreams."

Those are powerful stories.

>> We know it's cheaper and more effective if we invest early.

We know we help people reach their potential if we invest early.

We know they'll have better educational outcomes.

We know they'll have better health outcomes.

And people don't really argue that science.

The question is, what do you do about it?

(cheerful music) >> Mary: The return on childcare investment benefits all, it supports working families, strengthens the workforce, and boosts local economies, advantages that extend far beyond the classroom.

>> The returns that we see are not just economic, although the economics are important, because they're what allow the programs to be sustainable over the long term.

The best returns that we get are kids who are ready for kindergarten, who can read at age level, who can read at grade level, who are then prepared for success in school, who then don't end up needing public supports, that don't end up incarcerated, that end up in productive jobs and able to do things to pour back into their communities, into their families.

(hopeful music) >> Mary: The benefits of investing in early childhood are well documented.

Yet this crisis has set in motion a cycle of decline.

>> Financial margins are already razor-thin, because you're paying relatively low wages and not offering benefits, it becomes difficult to attract and retain talent, which then limits the number of kids you can serve, which then strains your margins more.

If providers know they can make payroll, if providers know they can pay a living wage and can access benefits, that means they can rely on keeping those teachers, which means that they can serve this number of families consistently.

When you can figure out how to address the sustainability of the provider and the early educator, you've gone a long way to solving the broader challenge.

(cheerful music) Every provider and every family that is involved in the early education system has a great story to tell.

There are challenges that they're facing, certainly, but they can tell you the great things that are happening despite those challenges.

Just imagine what more they could be doing with the stability that they need.

(cheerful music) Just imagine how many more families they could serve.

Just imagine how much better kindergarten preparedness could be.

Just imagine how much better our early literacy would look.

Just imagine how much better child health statistics would look.

So many things cascade from participation in these kinds of programs.

There are beautiful stories in every classroom, in every building, all across our state, every single day.

I know, 'cause I've seen them.

(cheerful music) >> Mary: Quality early education is more than custodial care.

When families have access to affordable care and education, they experience greater stability, and children have opportunities for a fair and equitable start.

Essential systems continue to function when they are most needed.

At its core, how we care for and educate our children reflects our shared humanity and reminds us that what we value is what we must choose to protect.

>> We're supporting families.

And why do we do that?

Because we're trying to help our children, the future of this country, reach their full potential, which is going to impact the future of this country and the future of everybody's family.

>> And we can either wait for someone else to solve it, or we can step in to our role as a citizen and make true the beautiful promise that is America, that we, the people, will form a more perfect union.

And part of that is our engagement on these really core issues to what it means to be a family, a household in Indiana.

(cheerful music) >> Narrator: This episode of "Building Blocks" is a co-production of Indiana AEYC and Lakeshore Public Media.

Indiana AEYC promotes high-quality learning for each and every child birth through age eight by connecting practice, policy, and research.

We advance a dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children.

Lakeshore Public Media, dedicated to enriching the lives of people in the communities we serve.

Legacy Foundation is Lake County's Community Foundation.

For over 30 years, we've partnered with donors and nonprofits, focusing on youth development, the arts, the environment, health literacy, and other causes that matter to you.

We're committed to Lake County forever.

First things first, Porter County is dedicated to supporting families, healthy beginnings, and quality early learning, ensuring every Porter County baby is born prepared for a strong start in life.

Learn more at firstthingspc.org.

(cheerful music) >> I have a very strong connection to other students.

Everyone makes an effort to help each other.

I'll remember the feeling of being here, the feeling that I was a part of a family.

(cheerful music) >> Narrator: Routine visits with a pediatrician are vital to a child's development.

That's why, at NorthShore Health Centers, pediatricians provide quality care to every child every time, ensuring that your child is reaching their developmental milestones and are up to date on their vaccines.

Learn more at northshorehealth.org.

>> Narrator: Doing as much as you can as quickly as you can is important to me.

Life is short.

And the earlier we get started helping our community, the better off our community will be.

(cheerful music) >> Narrator: Additional support for "Building Blocks" is provided generously by Tom Sourlis and Sue Eleuterio, as well as Porter County Community Foundation, serving Porter County since 1996.

Additional support for local programming and Lakeshore Public Media is provided by viewers like you.

Thank you.

(cheerful music) (dramatic music)