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| Cary Larson-McKay |
Baby Feet
I have a foot fetish! I can spot a naked baby foot from at least a mile away. I love to watch the foot action of young children as they walk, run, leap and jump.
Watch closely the next time you have the chance. The difference between children’s feet and adult feet is quite striking. Children’s feet are straight forward going directly toward their desired goal. The goal might change along the way, but they are on the path to what the goal is at that moment. They have vision and purpose. Children place their feet solidly on the ground with confidence. When they walk it may be with hesitation or may wander as they make their way toward the intended goal—but always toward their goal. In contrast, watch adult feet. Their feet slide, role, stumble or strike a superficial pose along the way. They trip or limp without the purpose and determination I see when watching children. I learn a lot from seeing these differences, one foot at a time.
Like the way children use their feet to accomplish their goals, I have had the pleasure of watching CAAEYC achieve some very practical goals with strong purpose to serve its community of Early Childhood Educators. Three cheers that CAAEYC is now solidly on a path to more clearly serve its members.
The restructuring of NAEYC and its relationship with its affiliates brings new faces and energy to the direct and indirect professional nourishment of its members. Through CAAEYC’s direct relationship with Chapters throughout the state we can build our goals with greater intention and more opportunities to share meaningful ways of reaching out, but it takes all of us working together.
This is an opportunity to energize ourselves. Please communicate with your local Chapters, ask for what you wish so that you and your colleagues can be the best possible professionals and advocates for children. Set your path firmly in the direction you want to go and gather the resources you need to do it.
The new structure also encourages multiple ways to share both directly and indirectly with other members and professionals in the field. Use it. In-person networking opportunities abound as each Chapter creates gatherings to share with each other; workshops to increase awareness, knowledge and skills; and materials to inspire you. NAEYC is also a good resource, learn to use their materials to help you do what you want to do. Find your path to continuous learning, and bring others with you. Like children’s feet take the practical steps to get where you want to go.
NAEYC, with many other partners, has set itself the task of leading the movement of “Professionalizing the Early Childhood Education Field.” A mighty vision has inspired this movement. It is a noble endeavor and I hope everyone participates in informing this process. You are the ones who have a great deal at stake in this undertaking. We must always keep in mind how this enterprise will create the most beneficial way to establish and maintain the best possible outcomes for the children and their development as competent individuals with strong abilities to become wise and contributing citizens. You have deep wisdom about what is needed for your work. This personal wisdom needs to be a guiding force in the professionalization movement. We must insist on what is best for the field, the children and the professionals. It is largely dependent on you. We must have the determination of a child’s firm grasp on where we want to go. Let our voices ring out loud and clear.
In these last few years CAAEYC has developed a clearer focus on its purpose as it met and overcame many challenges. I have been calling CAAEYC an “umbrella” organization. It has as members those who work and serve children in all its many forms. Members come from all the possible areas of work representing every area of early childhood. This makes us a very diverse organization with unlimited possibilities to do good work, to reach out to all who are concerned for the well-being of children, and for them to guide the work to be done.
We have made good progress and I have been privileged to be part of this work. Thank you all for allowing me to be a participant. I hope I will have the opportunity to continue to meet and exchange ideas with many of you in the future. Call on me if I can be of help—really. I would love to hear what you are doing, what is exciting about your work and what path your feet are taking you.
This is my final “President’s Message.” I must say it has been quite an interesting ride, and I am grateful to you for your acceptance and support along the way. I want to thank the leaders of each Affiliate for their warm welcomes each and every time we met and worked together. I have mightily appreciated the CAAEYC Board Members and their dedication to serving both the organization in the larger sense and specifically the work to be done. I am privileged, I am honored. I am also amazed at what we have accomplished together. Much like a caterpillar, we are emerging and strengthening our wings. Let’s see what beauties emerge.
Thank you for embracing me and engaging in the work CAAEYC has done during these last few years to become a stronger advocate for our members, our organization, our field, and most importantly, the children. We will serve children better, families more productively and our profession more completely because we work together.