ISSA - International Step by Step Association

✨ Join our Online Study Visit in Slovenia!

📅18 September 2024 🕐13:00 – 15:00 (CEST)

✏️ Kicking off the new school year, this event takes us to one of Slovenia's most iconic destinations — Bled, where breath-taking natural beauty surrounds the kindergarten. 🌿 Nestled amidst picturesque landscapes, Kindergarten Bled uses its unique environment to create an enriching outdoor learning experience for young children.

🎥 As well as exploring the incredible outdoor setting, you'll witness, through captivating video footage, how the kindergarten nurtures strong connections between children, their families, and the local community.

🎟️ Register below to register to secure your spot!👇

👉 Already registered at GREELCO? https://www.greelco.eu/study-visits/
👉 Not yet? Register now and take part in the Study Visit https://www.greelco.eu/registration
👉 Read about GREELCO: www.greelco.eu



Vrtec Bled

📢 Join us for exclusive pre-conference satellite events on 22 October!

These action-oriented pre-conference events will provide practical strategies and fresh insights into education, family activism, and community transformation. Engage directly with experts and leaders in the field!

🎓 The Case for Transforming Urban Segregated Communities - Hosted by Тръст за Социална Алтернатива/Trust for Social Achievement
Discover how schools and early learning centers are transforming marginalized neighborhoods. Researchers from the USA and Bulgaria will share real-world examples of education driving community change.

🎨 The Element of Play®: Not a Day Without Play - Hosted by Worldwide Foundation for Vulnerable Children (WWO)
Explore the Element of Play® program in this interactive workshop with WWO and WWO-Ukraine educators, highlighting innovative methods to foster natural growth and thriving early learning environments. Worldwide Orphans, Worldwide Orphans Bulgaria/ Фондация за децата в риск по света

👪 Families as Agents of System Change - Hosted by Tanya's Dream Fund and Trust for Social Achievement
Join researchers and parent activists from the UK and Bulgaria in a discussion on how is shaping better systems to support family well-being and prevent child-family separation.

📌 Spaces are limited—register now to secure your spot at the ! 🔗 https://www.issa.nl/pre-conference-2024

Exciting Opportunity at the Side Event! 🌍

Next week, a hybrid side event aligned with the Summit of the Future during the United Nations General Assembly will explore the crucial role business leaders can play in ensuring healthy, happy childhoods today and preparing the workforce of tomorrow.

We're proud to highlight the involvement of Carmen Lica, Executive Director of Step by Step Romania and ISSA Board Member, who will be sharing insights from her personal experience on how businesses can champion and invest in .

📅 Date: September 16, 2024
💻 Virtual: 16:00 - 18:00 CET

📍 In-Person (New York City): 9:30 am - 12:30 pm ET

🔗 Register to attend in person or virtually: https://ow.ly/UzRT50Tk6u2

You're Invited! Join Our Virtual Workshop on Playful Parenting 🌟

📅 September 26th
⏰ 13:00-15:00 CET
📍Online

🚀 Pick and choose your way through the world of playful parenting!

Are you passionate about innovative parenting techniques? Do you believe in the power of play? Then, don't miss our virtual ISSA Thematic Workshop: Future Pathways for Playful Parenting.

🔗 Save your spot now: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAscuGhrTgoEtFtUznwTYpQkpJJf-Zm52H- #/registration

Join us for a vibrant session filled with ideas, discussions, and actionable insights. Let's shape the future of playful parenting together.

Save the Date! We’re excited to kick off the autumn season with a FREE virtual study visit to Kindergarten Vrtec Bled in Slovenia!

🗓️ Date: Wednesday, September 18, 2024
🕒 Time: 13:00 - 15:00 (CET)
📍 Location: Zoom

During this interactive session, you will:

🎥 Have a behind-the-scenes look into Kindergarten Vrtec Bled
🤝 Engage with dedicated teachers and explore their practices
🌍 Connect with an international community of professionals to exchange ideas and best practices

Don’t miss this unique opportunity for professional development.

Save your spot now and join us for this inspiring event! 👉https://www.issa.nl/content/greelco-study-visit-kindergarten-vrtec-bled-slovenia

Stay tuned for detailed program updates!

🚀 Hot Off the Press! The latest edition of ISSA News is out, brimming with exciting opportunities and events geared around improving conditions and advancing the well-being of young children.

Highlights include:

🛝 Consultancy Opportunity: Help design a child-friendly facility in Bulgaria for Фондация "За Нашите Деца" (For Our Children Foundation)

✍️ Contribute to Research: Participate in surveys on Community Frontline workers. Deadline: September 22nd.

🔦 Spotlight on Child Poverty: Eurochild emphasizes the need for a unified approach to tackle child poverty and uphold children's rights.

📅 September 17: Register for Places to Grow event to explore collaborative projects enhancing early childhood development, with Platforma pro včasnou péči.

🐣 Last Call for Early Bird: Don’t miss discounted rates for the in Sofia. Register by September 6th!

Find everything you need to know here 👉 https://mailchi.mp/issa/issa-news-weekofsept2?e=176ce96d28

🚨 Last chance for Early Bird rates! 🚨

⏰ Register by September 6 to save on in Sofia, Bulgaria!

Join us from October 22-25 for an inspiring lineup of workshops, keynotes, and site visits. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with early childhood professionals from around the world. 🌍

ISSA Members & Groups: €360, Non-Members: €435.

✍️Learn more and register here: https://www.issa.nl/ConferenceHome

🎉 This year’s ISSA Conference is extra special as we celebrate 25 years of ISSA’s impact and 30 years of the Step by Step Program! Join us in Sofia to commemorate these milestones and reflect on the strides we’ve made in early childhood education. It’s going to be an event to remember—don’t miss out! 🎊

✨ And since we’re celebrating, we’ve given our conference branding a fresh new look just for the occasion.

✍️ Learn more and register today: https://www.issa.nl/ConferenceHome

We’re thrilled to share our Playful Parenting series, in partnership with The LEGO Foundation and UNICEF! Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or educator, this series is packed with resources to help you nurture joyful and meaningful play experiences that boost child development, build resilience, and strengthen bonds.

Explore the series and discover:
🎉 13 Reasons Why Play is Essential – Learn why play is a serious business for your child’s growth.
📚 21 Joyful Learning Activities – Simple, fun, and educational activities for babies and toddlers.
🚀 Transform Story Time into Adventure Time – Playful strategies to make reading magical.

Plus, dive into insightful vlogs and guides:
👨‍👧 The Key to Engaged Fatherhood – Discover the impact of fatherhood in playful parenting.
🌍 Nurturing Resilience Through Play – Learn how play supports migrant and refugee families.
🎮 Navigating Digital Play – A guide to safe and enriching digital play experiences.

Find everything you need to start your Playful Parenting journey today and protect every child’s right to play👇
https://mailchi.mp/issa/summer-playfulparenting?e=176ce96d28

📢 Report Release: "The Participation of Fathers in the First Thousand Days in Italy"

As we prepare to release new evidence in the coming months as part of our work on the Engaging Men in Nurturing Care (EMiNC) initiative, we want to highlight a vital report released last fall by , Centre for Child Health and Development (Centro Salute Bambino Onlus), exploring the state of fatherhood in Italy.

The report focuses on structural and cultural factors affecting fathers' engagement, especially in the first thousand days of their child's life and emphasizes the importance of work-life balance policies for gender equality and enriched fatherhood experiences.

Key insights include:

- Low female employment and fertility rates in Italy.
- Impact of limited childcare facilities and insufficient parental leave policies.
- Cultural norms affecting the division of domestic work.

The report also underscores the need for remote work and extended paternity leave to foster gender equality and support both parents in childcare.

Learn more about the report in this article 🔗https://www.issa.nl/content/participation-fathers-italy-report-issa-member-centre-child-health-and-development

📖 or read the full report (in Italian) on our website and learn how we can promote positive gender norms in .

🌟 Elevate the Educators! 🌟

Continuous professional development (CPD) is vital for the workforce, yet those providing these opportunities — like trainers, mentors, and coaches — often go unnoticed. The PIQET project aims to change that by enhancing the support CPD educators themselves receive.

1. We've conducted an analysis to identify key challenges: https://ow.ly/XbvR50SWVyg

2. And created nine guiding principles to enhance the continuous knowledge and skill development of CPD educators: https://ow.ly/Qz2n50SWVyh

Stay tuned this autumn for our modular training and PIQET handbook, offering practical tools and guidance!

👉 Check out our resources and join the movement to uplift CPD educators! https://ow.ly/OgrO50SWVyf

What is PIQET? High-quality Continuous Professional Development (CPD) events and training are beneficial in equipping teachers with these necessary soft skills. PIQET aims ...

Alongside Eurochild, ISSA has co-led the campaign, through which we have pushed to keep the needs of vulnerable families and communities high on the EU and national agendas.

While we have witnessed some progress, are often still invisible in policy-making, especially those from vulnerable groups. Migrant children and children with disabilities face significant barriers when accessing essential services and 90% of are at risk of poverty. More work and continuous public investment is still needed.

Our final report highlights recommendations and lessons learned from the campaign. Read it here 👉 https://firstyearsfirstpriority.eu/resources/lessons-learned/

🌟🚀 Last Week for Early Bird Rates! 🚀🌟

Don't miss your chance to save on the in Sofia, Bulgaria!

⌛️🕰️ Register by Monday, 12 August to enjoy the following discounts:

✨ Member & Partner Discounts:
🔹 ISSA Members: €360 (Early Bird) / €415 (Regular)
🔹 Bulgaria Conference Partner: €330
🔹 Non-Members: €435 (Early Bird) / €500 (Regular)

💡Curious about what makes this conference a must-attend event?

From October 22-25, immerse yourself in a dynamic lineup of pre-conference workshops, networking events, and local site visits. This is your chance to connect, learn, and grow! 🌱

Register now 👉 https://conference.issa.nl/registration #/

📸 Images: ISSA Conferences over the years.

☀️Summer Special: Your Ultimate Webinar Watch List! ☀️

Busy schedule? No worries! This special edition summer watch list has all our best webinars on hashtag you might have missed! ☀️🎥

📺 Topics include:
👨‍👦 Men's engagement in hashtag
🎈 Playful Parenting strategies
🌍 New resources for Europe and Central Asia, developed and launched with UNICEF Europe & Central Asia & WHO Regional Office for Europe.

Find it all here 👉https://mailchi.mp/issa/summer-watch-list?e=[UNIQID]

Let us know what you'll be watching this summer. 🍿⛱️

🎉 Double the Benefits! 🎉 Become an ISSA Member and enjoy significant savings on our ISSA Conference, 2024 in Sofia, Bulgaria! 🌟 Sign up before the conference and unlock exclusive early bird rates. 🐦

✨ Savings for Members & Partners: 🔹 ISSA Members: €360 (Early Bird) / €415 (Regular) 🔹 Bulgaria Conference Partner: €330 🔹 Non-Members: €435 (Early Bird) / €500 (Regular)

🗓️ October 22-25, join us for inspiring sessions, networking, and site visits at our first in-person conference in five years – don’t miss out!

🖊️ Register today and enjoy exclusive benefits!
https://conference.issa.nl/registration #/

📸 Images: ISSA Members at the , 2019 in Leiden, Netherlands.

🔥📬 Ready for a summer of cutting-edge insights? Subscribe to the ISSA newsletter to receive our exclusive Summer Watch List! 🎥

Covering topics such as:

📈 Empowering Local Governments to elevate systems
👨‍👧‍👦 Fathers Matter, Too! Innovative strategies for men’s engagement in child care and development
🌍 UNICEF’s Framework for Europe and Central Asia
🛠️ New Regional Resources for advancing child health and development

Nurture your interests and stay ahead in the field! 🌞📚

Don’t miss out — subscribe now to get these top-tier webinars delivered directly to your inbox 👉 https://www.issa.nl/sign-up-newsletter

📚✨ In Case You Missed It: "Early Childhood Education in Social and Political Transitions" is now available as an open-access book!

Deeply inspiring and insightful, this book, is the culmination of four years of dedicated work by co-authors Tatjana Vonta, Sarah Klaus, and Jan Peeters.

Through interviews with over 40 participants and experts, the book highlights the experience and impact of the Open Society’s Step by Step Program, celebrating the leadership of Eastern Europeans in advancing early childhood education across Europe and Eurasia, in the wake of the democratic transitions of the 1990s.

The tireless work of these passionate early childhood education pioneers spearheaded impactful changes and reshaped systems to foster democratic and socially inclusive societies, ultimately leading to the establishment of the International Step by Step Association (ISSA) twenty-five years ago.

📖🌍 Don’t miss out on this essential read!

Get your copy today: https://ow.ly/TbzH50SKNUR

🚀 Navigating Digital Play: A Guide for Safe, Responsible, and Beneficial Screen Time for Young Children 📱

As early childhood professionals, we understand the challenges of integrating technology into the lives of young children. In our digital age, screens are omnipresent, and balancing their use can be complex. Our latest guide provides insights and strategies to ensure is both safe and beneficial, fostering learning and development in our .

Here’s how to make digital play both fun and enriching:

🎮 Choose High-Quality Content: Select apps and games that stimulate creativity and critical thinking.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Engage Together: Encourage parents to participate in screen activities with their children to turn digital time into opportunities for bonding and learning.

📵 Set Clear Boundaries: Help families establish rules about screen usage to promote diverse activities and interactions.

💪 Model Healthy Habits: Demonstrate balanced and mindful use of digital devices in educational settings.

Remember, not all screen time is created equal! This guide is packed with tips for making screen time a positive experience and addressing common concerns such as sleep disruption and the importance of face-to-face communication.

https://www.issa.nl/content/playful-parenting-series-navigating-digital-play-fun-guide-safe-responsible-and-beneficial

The LEGO Foundation UNICEF

🚀 Bigger Group, Bigger Savings! 🚀

Heading to the with colleagues? Take advantage of our group rates and save! 🌟 Register your group of 5 or more by August 12, 2024, to enjoy special discounts.

✨ Group Discounts:
🔹 ISSA Members: €360 per person (Early Bird) / €415 per person (Regular)
🔹 Non-Members: €435 per person (Early Bird) / €500 per person (Regular)

📍Join us in Sofia, Bulgaria, 📅 from October 22-25, for a conference filled with engaging sessions, networking opportunities, and exciting site visits. Together, we can make a bigger impact!

✍️ Register your group now and benefit from substantial savings!
https://conference.issa.nl/registration #/



Тръст за Социална Алтернатива/Trust for Social Achievement

In case you missed it, here's a quick recap of the Playful Parenting video series filled with tips and resources for parents, communities, and practitioners.

Share this and your tips using the hashtag 👇
https://ow.ly/TPfR50SG10y

UNICEF The LEGO Foundation

☀️🏖️ The summer edition of the First Years, First Priority newsletter is here!

This issue features insights from national coordinators on how the European elections could impact children and families and the implementation of the in various countries.

🎥 It also includes special events and webinar recordings.

And a rich summer reading list covering topics like:
📚 Advocacy and policy recommendations for
🌍 Impact of environmental and societal factors on
🏫 Programs and initiatives enhancing services

Stay informed and get inspired! 🧒👶

Read the full newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/eurochild/fyfp-july-2024

Eurochild

🌟🚀 We are thrilled to announce the release of "Early Childhood Education in Social and Political Transitions" as an open-access book.

Explore the extraordinary efforts of early childhood education pioneers and the impactful changes they spearheaded following the democratic transitions of the 1990s. This book is a treasure trove of lessons and insights from experts in the field.

📖 Get your copy today: https://www.bloomsburycollections.com/monograph?docid=b-9781350257849

Join us at the this October to celebrate 30 years of the Step-by-Step program and ISSA's 25th anniversary together with the co-authors of the book.

🚀 Don't Miss Out! Join Health Systems for Early Child Development for this Parenting Support Webinar! 🚀

On July 11th, dive into "The Power of Parenting in the Early Years" as UNICEF launches its new Parenting Support Framework for Europe and Central Asia. 🌍👶

We'll explore the importance of parental well-being and demonstrate how a multi-sectoral approach can transform parenting support into effective programs, services, and policies to ensure thrive. Expect to gain key insights, learn best practices, and vibrant discussion with experts and stakeholders. 💡🤝

🔗 Register Now: https://ow.ly/h3vj50SxYlU

Secure your spot now and be part of this pivotal conversation!

UNICEF Europe & Central Asia, WHO Regional Office for Europe

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: The Power of Parenting in the Early Years: Presenting UNICEF’s Parenting Support Framework for Europe and Central Asia. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Parents are vital to a child's development but often lack the necessary resources and support to provide optimal nurturing care. Parental well-being is also crucial for effective parenting. By providing parents with information, services, programmes, and resources, we can boost their confidence, ski...

☀️🐥 Unlock the best deal on conference registration with our early bird offer!

The early bird gets the worm, and in this case, the best conference rates too! 🐦🪱 Secure your spot at the ISSA Conference 2024 before July 19, 2024, and benefit from our fantastic early bird rates.

✨ Save Big:
🔹 ISSA Members & Groups: €360 (Early Bird) / €415 (Regular)
🔹 Bulgaria Conference Partner: €330
🔹 Non-Members: €435 (Early Bird) / €500 (Regular)

Join us in Sofia for a conference experience packed with workshops, networking, and local exploration from October 22-25.

🚀 Don't delay – register today: https://conference.issa.nl/registration #/

🎉 A big thank you to the amazing speakers and participants of today’s webinar, which marked the launch of the new Early Childhood Development ( ) Toolbox developed by UNICEF Europe & Central Asia and the International Step by Step Association.

The webinar gave a fantastic overview of the toolbox. Speakers from the municipalities of Milan, Bucharest, Budapest, and Zagreb shared real-life examples of how they’re using the toolbox to boost service delivery and planning for and in their cities. 🌍🏙️

The new resource was met with a hugely positive reception! 🎊 The overwhelming feedback from panelists and participants is that the "pick and mix" feature is the most valuable and exciting aspect, letting users tailor the toolbox to their specific needs and contexts. 🧰✨

Check out the resource here 👉 https://www.issa.nl/content/strengthening-local-governments-capacity-ensure-quality-equitable-and-comprehensive-services

📺 Stay tuned for the recordings!

🚀🌟 Hot off the press: The latest ISSA newsletter is here! Dive in for exciting events and opportunities.

🌍✨ Upcoming Events: Get ready as we launch two brand new regional resources to empower and connect our community even more.

📅🔥 ISSA Conference Alert: Don't miss out! Early bird registration and rates are now available for the . Secure your spot today!

🗞️💬 News from the : Stay in the loop with news from our network.

🚗 Join us on the journey, stay informed, and never miss an update!
Sign up to the ISSA Newsletter 👉 https://ow.ly/HY1M50Sun5j