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Welcome to this month's issue of the Better Kid Care E-Newsletter - A newsletter for those caring for children.
Notable Quote: "Children don't read resumes, job descriptions, applications, or manuscripts. They read YOU. Every single person who has an impact on the life of a child is a Very Important Person."
-- Mimi Brodsky Chenfeld
(Excerpt from The First 40 Years Fly the Fastest! Copyright by NAEYC, Young Children September 1998)
Due to recent events in Southeast Asia, this month's listing includes Disaster Resources.
The following tip is from Kathleen Scott. Kathleen works at the Easter Seals of Central PA with the three- to five-year-olds.
"When I began at Easter Seals, I was introduced to the idea of using 'fidgets' as a way to help children remain on task and more focused during small group activities. A fidget is a stimulating object they can hold and manipulate when being asked to sit and listen, which is difficult for many young children. In my classroom we have stress balls, squishy balls, graduation tassels, cornstarch-filled balloons, and other squishy items. One student prefers very small items, such as counting bears. As well, our occupational therapist has offered materials for children who need more intense stimulation, such as a rubber-tubing necklace that is easy for them to bite as an alternative to biting other children. Every teacher at our facility has used this method and has found many affordable and creative materials to calm even the busiest child. We have even had parents tell us what their child uses as a fidget at home. Although it may take a few trials before finding the item that best suits a specific child, it has proven to be a worthwhile endeavor."
Where do you find the best ideas on caring for children? From child care providers, of course! Do you have a great tip or good thing? Send us your best tips in writing and your tip may end up in our newsletter! If your tip is chosen for the newsletter, you will receive a little something from the Better Kid Care Program. Mail tips with your return address, place of work, and the number and ages of those you care for to:
Better Kid Care Program
c/o Christine Belinda
Tips from Child Care Providers
253 Easterly Parkway
State College, PA 16801
E-mail to: crb16@psu.edu
by Christine Belinda
Many caregivers often feel they are in a constant state of being rushed. Schedules are penciled in down to the minute, filled with adult-planned activities and transitions for children to make. If you feel rushed, this may be a sign to slow down. When caregivers slow down, they are given the opportunity to take a thoughtful, reflective approach to caring for children.
One good reason to slow down is to be able to spend more time establishing and nurturing relationships. We miss a lot by being caught up in schedules, planned activities, and the preparation and efforts these require. When caretakers can spend time playing, listening, observing, questioning, and sharing parts of themselves with children, they begin to form positive, rewarding relationships and discover more about each child. Many milestones, talents, and personal characteristics of each child will be discovered. It sounds easy, but slowing down and reflecting requires effort and careful thought.
To slow down means to change. What needs to be changed, and why? An area that may need change is the schedule. Schedules are needed in child care, but must be in tune with the children. We know infants' needs are to be met on demand. We feed them when they are hungry, put them to sleep when they are tired, and comfort and nurture them when needed. Taking a careful look at the schedule for toddlers and preschoolers helps us see if we are meeting and supporting their needs and interests as they arise.
Are we truly meeting children's needs by adding so many adult-planned activities that involve change, transition, and require them to stop their play idea to come to our play idea? Many caregivers are opting for fewer adult-planned activities to allow for more child-centered, quality play/activity time and less transitioning. Some caregivers offer snack during free play for those who choose to have a snack, instead of stopping the play and transitioning the whole group into snack. This idea offers extended, valuable time for both the teacher and the children to interact, build enriching play experiences, and support time for relationships.
Offering routines and activities that support each child's interests, needs, and their own pace of schedule allows for quality experiences. Children are happy exploring their ideas and environments, while adults are less hurried and can enjoy time to interact, guide and observe the children. Making time for each child daily and staying focused in our interaction with them will be beneficial. Caregivers who are well prepared in advance and who can adjust to children's rhythms will be supporting a thoughtful approach to child care.
Slowing down also presents an opportunity for reflection. Caregivers can reflect on how and what they can do to guide and enrich the play, how the schedule should flow based on the children's needs and interests, and what observations should be recorded to assist in planning and to share with families. Some reflections can be acted on immediately, while others may take time and preparation. Adults who work together caring for children can also reflect with one another. Often each adult sees examples the other does not. Sharing information and reflections can support communication, quality planning, and add to a cohesive, positive environment to work in.
Slowing down allows a caregiver to be in the moment and discover the many facets of each child as well as the group as a whole. It offers the sense of valuing what is important and what makes for a respectful, happy learning environment.
Better Kid Care resources are available for child care providers by contacting your local Penn State Cooperative Extension office. A Better Kid Care resource library, with resource and activity books, is available for those caring for young children and some counties also have theme kits containing small toys, puppets, puzzles, and books.
Transitions are times of day when children are moving from one activity to another: coming to child care, moving from playtime to snack time, finishing lunch and moving to rest time. These times can be difficult for children, causing tears and misbehavior. When you understand why children sometimes have trouble with transitions, you can better support them.
Young children don't understand ideas about time--yesterday, today, tomorrow, hours, and minutes--in the same way that adults do. Give children a clear and predictable routine to help them feel secure and begin to understand time. While they might not understand "We will be going outside in an hour," they can understand "We will be going outside after snack time." Set up a good daily routine that includes snack and meal times, free play, outdoor play, and rest. You can include other activities, such as circle time, when you have a group of children who are ready for such activities. While you want a balance of activities, try to keep things simple to keep transitions to a minimum.
This is a selection from the Better Kid Care Web-based lesson, Active Times - Quiet Times: Making Transitions Easier. To view this lesson, a complete listing of all distance education lessons, and additional information and resources, visit the Better Kid Care Distance Education page. Complete distance education lessons to earn PA Department of Public Welfare/PA Pathways training hours.
Meets the Keystone STARS Core Series Training Requirements - This three part series shows how to establish, run and maintain a successful child care business and presents important information about understanding and supporting the developmental needs of each child.
Receive the videos and workbooks in the mail. Complete the entire series and return assignments to the Better Kid Care office for review to earn six Department of Public Welfare training hours.
To order: 1-800-452-9108 or betterkidcare@psu.edu
Reading aloud with children is a wonderful activity. Children of all ages love to be read to. Support the love of reading for children in your care by trying the following books:
In the Snow-Who's Been Here? by Lindsay Barrett George, published by Harper Trophy, ISBN 0688170560. While sledding, two children discover many clues to unfolding who has been in the snow before them. Beautiful, clear, crisp illustrations describe their adventures.
Snowballs, by Louis Ehlert, published by Voyager Books, ISBN 0152020950. Ehlert offers a delightful exploration of creating not just a snowman, but a whole snow family! Snow baby, snow cat, snow dog, snow mom, all come to life with an abundance of found and natural elements and, of course, snow!
Millions of Snowflakes, by Mary Siddals, published by Clarion Books, ISBN 0395715318. Join in the delight and fascination of a young girl playing in the beautifully falling snow. Siddals offers just what young readers like--lots of rhyming!
The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats, published by Viking Books, ISBN 0670867331
Snowmen at Night, by Caralyn Buehner, published by Dial Books, ISBN 0803725597
Contact your local children's library or your local Penn State Cooperative Extension office to find out about more books on making friends and child care. Reading with children creates lifelong readers. Enjoy your time reading with children!
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is proud to introduce Kidd Safety and his pals in the premier Web site geared to prevent unreasonable risks of injury to children associated with consumer products.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products.
Toll-free consumer hotline: 800-638-2772 (TTY 800-638-8270). Call to obtain product safety and other agency information and to report unsafe products. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Join with many other caregivers at live satellite training workshop offered in Pennsylvania and across the states. To participate in these workshops, visit the Satellite Workshop link.
Do you have questions about caring for other people's children, such as:
Call the Better Kid Care Mentoring Line at 800-859-8340 or e-mail your questions to betterkidcare@psu.edu for information about child care and children's issues.
The New Staff Orientation curriculum is now available to child care centers in Pennsylvania. This curriculum is specifically designed for new staff members in child care centers. Included are a thirty-page workbook and thirty units on seven videotapes. The easy-to-understand information is reinforced with activities and assignments. Units are designed to be used during naptime or other small blocks of time as staff/child ratios permit. Meets the Keystone STARS Performance Standards.
Do you provide care for children in your home? The kit, which is free for Pennsylvania residents, includes booklets with activities, child care ideas, information about distance education training, a children's development chart, and much more. Complete our on-line registration form or call 800-452-9108 to order.
PA Pathways Professional Development for Child Caregivers has information, training, and educational opportunities for child care providers across Pennsylvania. Visit PA Pathways or call toll-free 800-492-5107.
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