UD Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood

09/08/2026

Happy International Literacy Day! 📚✨

DIEEC professional development coordinator Rebecca Joella shares why celebrating the power of reading and preparing for Children's Book Week means so much to our community.

Early literacy starts with shared stories, big questions, and moments of discovery. Join us in inspiring the next generation of readers! Register today: https://dieec.udel.edu/quality-improvement-system/initiatives/childrens-book-week/

09/04/2026

In observance of Labor Day, all UD/DIEEC offices will be closed on Monday, September 7th.

We'll be back to our regular hours on Tuesday, September 8th. We hope you have a safe and relaxing holiday weekend! 💙

09/03/2026

🎉Great news! Registration for DIEEC’s Family Child Care Conference has been extended until September 11! 🎉

This year is extra special, as we celebrate the 5th anniversary of the conference. We have some exciting things planned, and we’d love for you to be part of this milestone celebration!

Register now:
http://www.udel.edu/0014757

09/02/2026

Exciting funding opportunity for Delaware ECE programs!

Licensed ECE programs can apply for mini-grants of up to $10,000 to fund pilot programs that support children's physical fitness, encourage healthier eating habits, and create lasting change. Mini-grants are funded by the Delaware Advancing Healthy Lifestyles Healthy Early Childcare Mini-Grant Program

Eligible projects include:

🥦 ECE gardens and farm-to-table initiatives

🏃 Creative physical activity programs beyond traditional PE

🥪 Healthy snack or meal programs

🧘 Staff and student wellness challenges

📚 Curriculum enhancements focused on nutrition and movement

Next Steps & How to Apply:

Attend the Info Webinar: Join on September 9, 2026, at 1:00 PM EST to learn more about the application process.

Submit Your Proposal: Fill out the online survey application by September 18, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST.

⬇Links to register for the webinar and access the application form are available at the link in our bio/comments!

09/02/2026

At DIEEC's Block Party in August, we raffled off over 45 active-play prizes, giving educators the flexibility to choose gear that fits their unique program and outdoor space.

Check out how local educator Shakira Waples of Next Generation Childcare put her prize to work, using sponges, paintbrushes and spray bottles in a portable mesh bag to create a great water play experience for her children.

Funding for this initiative was provided by Funding provided by the Delaware Division of Public Health – Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity Prevention Program (PANO).

09/01/2026

If you're planning to pursue your Child Development Associate credential this year...the application for CDA scholarships is now open! There are multiple options to suit your needs and meet you where you are. Check it out!

09/01/2026

Program leaders: If you have a child under age 6 in your program who has a suspected or diagnosed disability, developmental delay, or challenging behavior, the SPARQ project greatly appreciates your assistance in passing the attached flier along to their families.

The SPARQ project seeks to better understand families' experiences with locating information and resources to support their children's needs. Families may be eligible to participate in compensated focus groups and interviews.

(Please note, DIEEC is sharing this information on behalf of the SPARQ project; this is not a DIEEC initiative.)

09/01/2026

We're bringing the joy of reading to classrooms across Delaware! Registration for the 2026 Children's Book Week celebration with DIEEC is officially live now through September 30th.

This year, early childhood programs can participate in two ways:

📖 Host a Guest Reader: Center administrators and family child care educators can request a DIEC guest reader to visit your programs. Your reader will bring stories and a collection of brand-new books for your classroom to keep!

🗣️ Share Your Favorite Read-Aloud: Classroom educators can submit their top read-aloud book recommendation. The first 100 eligible programs to share a recommendation will receive a free new book by mail!

🎁 EARLY BIRD BONUS: Register by September 8th to be automatically entered into our early bird raffle for an extra bundle of books to expand your program’s library!

👉 Tap the link to register your program today! https://dieec.udel.edu/quality-improvement-system/initiatives/childrens-book-week/

08/25/2026

We are proud to recognize the programs that have successfully completed comprehensive cohort experiences with DIEEC in Pyramid Model Tier 1, and Shining the Light on You.

To view past DIEEC cohort participants or to learn more about each cohort, visit https://dieec.udel.edu/qualit.../dieecs-cohort-participants/

We extend a heartfelt thank you to these programs for their partnership. We can’t wait to see how they carry the momentum into the months and years ahead.

08/24/2026

DIEEC loves a good library! The new The Wilmington Library, NOMA Branch sounds like a wonderful addition to the Wilmington Community- with traditional library services and so much more! Check it out!

Thank you to everyone in our community who has come out these past few Saturdays to get an early look at NoMa Library! The support so far has been amazing. 💙

It’s not too late for one final sneak peek before the grand opening on August 29! 🎉

Join us for our final soft opening and your chance to explore the space, check out everything NoMa Library has to offer, and get ready for all the fun to come.

📍 NoMa Library | 3905 N. Market St.
🗓 Saturday, August 22 | 10 AM–5 PM

We hope to see you there! 👋