This video presentation discusses the critical role of early childhood education in shaping the future. The speaker emphasizes how early childhood serves as one of the primary foundations for developing individuals and highlights Malcolm Gladwell’s idea that 10,000 hours are required to become an expert, relating this concept to a child's early experiences. The speaker argues that early education offers opportunities for nurturing innate abilities and shaping character traits that last a lifetime.

The video stresses the importance of supportive environments for both children and educators. It questions the quality of support provided to early childhood educators and parents, criticizing the inadequate wages and resources available, despite children being one of the most precious resources. Drawing attention to the critical role of parents and mentors, the speaker encourages investing in the skill and development of educational staff and supportive community networks.

Main takeaways from the video:

Please remember to turn on the CC button to view the subtitles.

Key Vocabularies and Common Phrases:

1. regret [rɪˈɡrɛt] - (noun / verb) - A feeling of sadness, repentance, or disappointment over something that has happened or been done. - Synonyms: (remorse, sorrow, contrition)

Would I live with the regret that I missed an opportunity to start a dialogue about one of the most important parts of our community, our kids, our future?

2. outlier [ˈaʊtˌlaɪər] - (noun) - A person or thing differing from all other members of a particular group or set. - Synonyms: (exception, anomaly, deviation)

So in his book outliers, Malcolm Gladwell states, it takes 10,000 hours of intentional practice to develop your innate abilities to greatness.

3. innate [ɪˈneɪt] - (adjective) - Inborn; natural. - Synonyms: (inherent, intrinsic, natural)

So in his book outliers, Malcolm Gladwell states, it takes 10,000 hours of intentional practice to develop your innate abilities to greatness.

4. nurture [ˈnɜːrtʃər] - (verb) - Care for and encourage the growth or development of. - Synonyms: (foster, cultivate, nourish)

For a while, I thought my way to nurture my kids was to point out everything that they were doing wrong in hopes that it would encourage them to change

5. sprout [spraʊt] - (noun / verb) - A shoot of a plant as it begins to grow. - Synonyms: (bud, germinate, shoot)

I need to notice the tiniest sprout of greatness when they show this much patience.

6. expulsion [ɪkˈspʌlʃən] - (noun) - The action of forcing someone to leave an organization, school, or country. - Synonyms: (discharge, removal, ejection)

250 children a day in the United States are expelled or suspended from their preschool program a day.

7. enrich [ɪnˈrɪtʃ] - (verb) - Improve or enhance the quality or value of something. - Synonyms: (enhance, improve, augment)

Can we come around parents? Can we enrich those who are working in early childhood?

8. devoted [dɪˈvoʊtɪd] - (adjective) - Very loving or loyal. - Synonyms: (dedicated, committed, faithful)

Now Gladwell also said that it's really important to create those experts or to create those greatest people in their field. It required the influence of devoted and skillful coaches or mentors.

9. empower [ɪmˈpaʊər] - (verb) - Give someone the authority or power to do something. - Synonyms: (authorize, enable, permit)

What if we enrich and empower parents and our early childhood educators so they are ready for kids?

10. chamber of commerce [ˈtʃeɪmbər əv ˈkɑːmərs] - (noun) - An association, usually of business people, to promote and protect the interests of the business community in a particular place. - Synonyms: (business association, trade organization, commercial association)

I joined the chamber of commerce because I wanted to see what the business sector is like.

The importance of nurturing greatness in early childhood - Jana Bruhschwein - TEDxFargo

Hello. Since agreeing to speak at this event a few weeks back, I have asked myself numerous times, why did you say yes? And I wondered, what if I just called and said, I guess I can't do it? And then I wondered, would there be someone who would come and stand on this stage and speak about the importance of early childhood? Would I live with the regret that I missed an opportunity to start a dialogue about one of the most important parts of our community, our kids, our future?

So I stand here today on behalf of all the people working in early childhood that make it possible for many of you to be here today. I stand here speaking on behalf of the children who don't have a stage like this, but are relying on us to get it right for them.

So in his book outliers, Malcolm Gladwell states, it takes 10,000 hours of intentional practice to develop your innate abilities to greatness. A child who begins full time child care at six weeks of age until they enter kindergarten, will spend over 10,000 hours in care. What an opportunity. What are the skills that you would choose to have your child become an expert in? Initially, we think, I want them to know the abcs and the one, two, threes, and they should be able to read. I look at a list of characteristics like this, and I think these will serve them long into adulthood. Regardless of what our world looks like, we'll be peopleing our entire life, and these are the skills they're going to need.

So how do we go about raising kids who are experts in being themselves the greatest version of themselves? We start by nurturing them. And I can speak from my experience as a parent. For a while, I thought my way to nurture my kids was to point out everything that they were doing wrong in hopes that it would encourage them to change. I gave my energy to the wrong things. Now I know to truly nurture a child and to let them feel it and to be loved and feel heard. I need to notice the tiniest sprout of greatness when they show this much patience. I have to say, I saw how you waited. That is patience. I need to name the qualities of greatness that I see in them. And I can water it by recognizing it and giving the same level of excitement that I used to give to misbehavior.

I used to get big and loud and in their face. Now I accuse them of having self control, of being brave eaters when they try the porcupine sliders at lunch. Because you see, what we give our energy to, we will get more of now Gladwell also said that it's really important to create those experts or to create those greatest people in their field. It required the influence of devoted and skillful coaches or mentors. I'm going to add parenthood.

How many of you took courses before you became a parent? Hmm, not a lot of hands. After leading a parent education session one night, a dad came up to me and he said, I didn't want to come here tonight. And now that I've been here, I want to tell you something. Do you know how many seminars, webinars, classes I have been to for my job? This is the first one I've attended for my most important role.

250 children a day in the United States are expelled or suspended from their preschool program a day. I have had the opportunity to sit across the table from parents who have experienced that. I've been with the teachers who say, I love this child, but I don't know what else to do. Can we come around parents? Can we enrich those who are working in early childhood? The average wage of a childcare worker in the United States right now is $14.60. And we're handing them our most precious, complicated resource and asking them to produce magic on a budget that's struggling to buy glue sticks.

So also, in the Gladwell's formula for creating experts or creating greatness, he spoke about a supportive community. I joined the chamber of commerce because I wanted to see what the business sector is like. And each time I go to an event, the word I hear most next is workforce. Workforce. What are your issues with the workforce? I'm going to tell you right now, the future workforce of this town, of this community, of the state and our nation is probably sitting in my program right now drinking water and having some animal crackers.

What kinds of skills would you give them to ensure that they are ready for the future that awaits them? They're counting on us. There is a Nobel Prize winning economist who said that $1 spent in early childhood pays out a return of four to $16. In other words, we can spend a dollar to do it right, or we can wait a few years and spend 16 to fix what we didn't do.

So I'd like to ask you, what if we nurture kids to their greatest potential? What if we enrich and empower parents and our early childhood educators so they are ready for kids? And what if our community enthusiastically supports early childhood? I believe we changed the world. And in the words of Mahomet Gandhi, he says, if we wish to create a lasting peace, we must begin with the children. Thank you.

Early Childhood Education, Community Support, Workforce Development, Education, Inspiration, Philosophy, Tedx Talks