Early Childhood

Child care providers want changes to strict rules that result in costly upgrades, licensing issues
Family home-based child care providers are leaving the profession. Some say it’s because of complex regulations and strict enforcement that’s driving up the cost of doing business. But, there is bipartisan legislation that could change that.
What research says about parenting, attachment and raising resilient kids
MPR News guest host Kelly Gordon and early childhood education reporter Kyra Miles talk with a developmental psychologist about what creates a strong attachment between parent and child — and why it matters.
Minnesota is losing more child care providers amid rising costs and sticky red tape
More in-home child care providers in Minnesota are calling it quits, and day care centers are closing, leaving parents scrambling to find places for their children to stay while they work or attend classes.
Minnesota bets big on free public preschool; private child care operators watch, worry
Funding approved by the Legislature last year added 5,000 voluntary pre-kindergarten slots this fall in Minnesota schools, a 75 percent increase. While it eases the burden on families, private child care operators worry they “can’t compete with free.”
After the shootings: How communities heal
MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two therapists and a violence researcher about the grief, anger and fear that follows public shootings and the long and difficult process of healing afterwards. 
Why child care costs so much in Minnesota
Minnesota has the third-highest average cost of infant child care in the country. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about why child care is so expensive, who's affected most and what ideas for solutions are on the table. 
Nihilistic online networks groom minors to commit harm. Her son was one of them
When Dana’s son was hospitalized last year, it led her to a path of discovery about predatory online networks that groom children into harming themselves and others. Their reach is global and growing.