Celebrating Educators for Women’s History Month

March is Women's History Month. As lifelong educators who are passionate about setting future generations up for success, we’re honoring the incredible women who transformed early childhood education as we know it today.

Parents and teachers both benefit from the work of female pioneers in the field. This month, we want to highlight and celebrate three women who forged paths we still benefit from today: Magda Gerber, Patty Hill Smith, and Elizabeth Peabody. These three were trailblazers that revolutionized how we educate and care for young children.

Magda Gerber

Magda Gerber influenced and shaped the way we view infant care. She introduced the Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE) philosophy, which encourages respectful caregiving and treating even the youngest children as capable people. Her work encourages all caregivers to slow down, observe, and allow babies to develop naturally.  Her works influence Learning Care Group’s approach to infant caregiving, helping infants build strong emotional foundations and independence from the start.

Patty Smith Hill

Patty Smith Hill believed in the power of learning through play. She co-founded the National Association for Nursery Education (known today as NAEYC, the National Association for the Education of Young Children). This nationally recognized organization sets the foundation for modern preschool education. Play-based learning is now extensively recognized as essential for early childhood development. Learning Care Group provides enriched environments and encourages the practice of learning through play.

Elizabeth Peabody

Elizabeth Peabody was a champion for early learning. Her efforts were instrumental in bringing kindergarten to the United States. Her passion for this important step in learning helped create a national movement that made early education more accessible. She believed children learn through play, storytelling, and structured activities. Her influence continues to shape the preschool and kindergarten experiences we see today.

Books are a great way to share stories about impactful women with children of all genders and ages. It builds awareness while adding perspective and knowledge to their growing minds. Yes, one person really can make a big difference!

Here are a couple of kid-friendly titles you can share at home to honor Women's History Month in a fun and engaging way:

• Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World by Vashti Harrison READ ALONG to learn about Fatima Al-Fihri, an educational philanthropist.
• She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World by Chelsea Clinton READ ALONG to extend your exploration of impactful, inspiring women

As we celebrate Women's History Month, we invite you to also consider the legacies in motion being carried out by each of our own teachers every day in classrooms across our caring community of schools. Our team of educators is committed to sharing high-quality, respectful play-based learning experiences for all children—an extension of the groundbreaking work by all three women highlighted above.

The best education begins with love, respect, and curiosity.

Additional Resources:

National Association for the Education of Young Children® (NAEYC): naeyc.org

Resources for Infant Educarers® (RIE): rie.org