Making Space for Children: A Year of Play, Connection, and Community
Carly Andrews, Executive Director for The Alliance for Early Childhood
As another year comes to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on the extraordinary moments of play, learning, and community that have filled 2025. At The Alliance for Early Childhood, our work is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: when adults thrive—parents, caregivers, educators—children thrive. This year has shown us, again and again, just how true that is.
Across neighborhoods in Chicago and the North Shore, children climbed, created, dug, imagined, and explored through our Let’s Play! events. Families stepped outdoors together, discovering that even an hour of unstructured play can bring joy, connection, and a sense of belonging. Children found freedom. Parents found community. And all of us found moments of wonder.
For new and expecting parents, our Mindful Beginnings gatherings offered something rare in the early days of parenthood: a place to slow down, breathe, and feel supported. Each walk reminded us that caring for caregivers is an essential part of caring for young children.
Educators in our region, serving classrooms from infancy through early elementary, joined us for meaningful professional learning, including The Emotional Landscape of Early Childhood and Unlocking the Power of Play. Together, they reflected deeply on children’s experiences, strengthened their own emotional well-being, and returned to their schools re-energized with new insights and practices. Their dedication uplifts thousands of young children every day.
These moments are the heart of our mission. And they are possible because of you, our community of supporters, partners, and friends who believe in making space for children and the adults who love them.
As we look toward the year ahead, we are committed to expanding our reach and deepening our impact. But we cannot do this without you. As you consider your end-of-year giving, we invite you to support our Making Space for Children campaign.
Your gift will help us:
bring free, nature-based play opportunities to more neighborhoods,
support new parents during one of the most important transitions of their lives,
nurture the educators who hold children at the heart of their work, and
provide families with trusted, research-based early childhood resources.
Every contribution, at any level, strengthens the community of care surrounding our youngest learners. As we close out 2024, thank you for being part of this work and for believing, with us, that play can change everything.
Together, we can continue nurturing the joyful, curious, resilient beginnings every child deserves.