It could be said that Anelizabeth “Grannie” Marlowe was born to be an early childhood educator. Even when she took a break from her child care business and tried working jobs in other career fields, her passion for working with young kids brought her back to where she is today: Grannie’s House, the child care group home in Prescott Valley she owns and directs.
Though she was confident that she could provide a safe nurturing environment for young children, Grannie wanted to be the best she could be. In 2010, she enrolled in Quality First, a program for licensed child care centers and homes funded by First Things First. Through the program, Grannie started to receive regular visits from a quality coach, who partnered with her to improve her curriculum, design the children’s play spaces, and ensure safety. “My coach has been a source of encouragement, information, motivation and inspiration,” Grannie said.
Through the Quality First program, Grannie has also received a Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (T.E.A.C.H.) scholarship, which allowed her to go back to school to get her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from Yavapai College. She knows her degree has made her a better teacher. “Education and knowledge are empowering,” said Grannie. “The more I know about child development, the better I am able to create a quality environment for young children where the kids are able to explore and learn as they play.”
Quality First also offers financial assistance to its enrolled programs for things such as curriculum materials and safety equipment. This year, Grannie was able to buy a small new playground for the children.
Though financial assistance and individual coaching have proved to be very helpful, Grannie knows that the most important thing that makes her program high-quality her relationship with the children. “When you walk into a high-quality center, children feel welcomed, comfortable, safe and secure,” Grannie said. “The number one element of a quality center is the positive relationship between the child care provider and the children.”
Early childhood matters. 90% of a child’s critical brain development happens before age five, and critical social and behavioral skills take root in the early years. “Early childhood is the foundation that a child has to prepare for the rest of their life,” Grannie said. “We’re raising the leaders of tomorrow right now.” With the help of Quality First, Grannie is making sure that young kids have the experiences they need to build a strong foundation for success.
Quality First is a program created and funded by First Things First. For more information, please visit ReadyAZKids.com.
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