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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: “A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.” ~ Maya Angelou
Remember!
May 12, 2006 is
National Provider Appreciation Day
Enjoy the following tip from Sandi Archi from Comfy Care 4 Children Center in Millbourne, PA
We created a room called the Peaceful Room, which is filled with all things soft; stuffed animals, pillows, soft flooring, etc. When we see children showing signs of aggression, anger, or other frustrating feelings that lead to a loss of control, we guide them to the peaceful room. The children know they can plop on the pillows, hug a stuffed animal, and find things soft and cuddly.
We also put a large poster in the room that has a mirror-like image on it and is framed in faces showing different expressions. When children have calmed down, we walk over to the mirror and find some of the faces that express how they may have been feeling, as well as how they may be feeling now. With an adult by their side (and at their eye level), the child is encouraged to discuss what caused those feelings, what she can do next time, and see what is needed to follow through. It always ends with lots of hugging!
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
The building blocks for language are present in children's lives from birth. When observing newborns, you can almost see the brain wiring for language. Infants follow the sound of their parent's voice and form their mouths and faces in such effort to produce sound. Research shows that language connections are formed early on in life, most often in the first five years. As early educators, parents, and those caring for children, how do we best support early language foundations and early language connections?
From the start of life (and some believe before birth), we can bring language to children in easy yet exciting ways. We all know wonderful ways to enrich language: singing, reading, conversing, writing, drawing, finger plays, rhymes, poems, music, and telling stories. But to be well informed and in tune with language development, we need to know more.
Think of what language connects for children: communication, understanding, emotion, need, bonding, social skills, literacy, thought, knowledge, problem solving, identity, rhyme, listening, receptive language (ability to understand spoken words), oral language (speaking ideas and feelings), cognitive associations, reflection, written print, and much more. This language connection will be important in all areas of development now and carry over to later learning in life. With the tool of language, we can open many doors.
Language experts agree that infants need to be surrounded by spoken words. Infants are developing hearing, discovering vibration and rhythm of sound, and experimenting with making sound. As language is absorbed, the brain is making many neural connections that enhance brain development.
Equally important are the social connections made through language interactions with infants. This is where critical bonds are formed with parents, caregivers, siblings, and others caring for children. An early, positive attachment with parents, and other caregivers, supports strong emotional, social, and physical development.
As children grow, along with their developmental language abilities, it is essential to continue to foster and spark language development. Toddlers are beginning to understand language and its function as their brains continue to develop.
With all children, it is important to not correct language. When a child says a word incorrectly, it is better to ignore the mistake. Young children are still learning rules of grammar and pronunciation. Calling attention to mistakes in language may make children feel bad and make them less likely to share ideas. Children will eventually learn correct usages by hearing the adults in their life model appropriate vocabulary and grammar through conversations, stories, and songs.
Expand language and ideas
In our role of supporting language development, we need to become good listeners. After all, it truly is the children we want to hear, not ourselves. It is beneficial to wait for responses, to prompt responses, and to allow for lots of discussion.
It's difficult for young children to sit and wait and equally difficult to not talk. Let them share exciting conversations, stories, and experiences. Readjust meeting and group times to allow for conversations, not to stifle them.
Children often use what is termed "self-talk" or "private speech," where they speak their thoughts out loud. This is normal and an expected stage of language development, where they are learning to process components of language. Self-talk can give us wonderful insights into how and what children are thinking. Be aware that children may add self-talk at inappropriate times, since many young children do not have control over speaking their ideas at early ages.
Be keen to the fact that all children acquire language skills and comprehension at different times and in different ways.
Early connection to language will be successful if we make conscious efforts to provide language opportunities for children. Becoming aware of each child's abilities and needs will guide us in choosing what is appropriate and stimulating in language development. A strong foundation in language development is a valuable gift to give children and is easy and fun to do!
Resources: Montessori Life, Fall 2001, Young Children, September 2003
Enjoy the following highlights from one of the many Better Kid Care Distance Education Lessons. Participate in Distance Education training in the convenience of your home.
Better Kid Care Distance Education Program awards:
As Mrs. Conklin offers 15-month-old Serena a drink from her sippy cup she picks up a teddy bear and asks, "Is teddy thirsty too? Shall we give him a drink?" Serena's eyes widen and she frowns slightly as Mrs. Conklin holds the cup to Teddy's face. Then Serena chuckles and holds out her spoon as if to offer Teddy a taste of her applesauce. A short few months ago, Serena would have enjoyed watching milk drip from her cup when she turned it over or she might have banged her spoon against it to make a noise. Now, for the first time she is demonstrating her uniquely human ability to imagine or pretend that something is happening when, in fact, it is not.
Her caregiver has introduced her to the magic of dramatic play. Serena's response and her ability to extend the adult's offer of a drink for teddy by offering a pretend taste of her applesauce is an important step in her intellectual and emotional development. Mrs. Conklin's ability to introduce a simple form of pretend play at just the right time shows us that she has observed Serena carefully and knows her well.
If Serena is lucky enough to have caregivers and teachers who encourage her, by age six her dramatic play will show that she has developed a richer vocabulary and better language comprehension.
Through dramatic play children develop communication skills. When children ask other children to play they must use language. As the play develops, they practice talking with each other and listening to what others have to say. It's not unusual to hear young children mimic the conversations spoken by the adults around them.
The environment of dramatic play encourages children to use expressive language. Dramatic play truly benefits language development in so many areas as well as positively influencing physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. This type of play offers children opportunities to learn about themselves, others, and the world in which they live.
To learn more, view the complete Distance Education lesson Dramatic Play.
To view a complete listing of all distance education lessons and additional information and resources, visit the Better Kid Care Distance Education page.
Up-to-date and Reliable Health and Safety Information is Just a Click Away!
ECELS - Healthy Child Care PA is run by the PA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. At ECELS, pediatricians and nurses provide training, technical assistance and consultation to help child care providers give safe and healthful care. The ECELS Web site is full of great resources for child care providers, including the ECELS E-mail Alerts. To sign up for ECELS E-mail Alerts, use the instructions in the right hand column of the home page. Visit and bookmark the Web site for future use at www.ecels-healthychildcarepa.org .
On the ECELS Web site, you'll find handouts, procedures and practice tips. You can order materials, including videotapes, and self-learning modules. The self-learning modules offer state-approved training credit.
Do you have a health or safety question? ECELS provides help via telephone or email. Call ECELS 800-243-2357 (PA only) or 484-446-3003, e-mail ecels@paaap.org.
The Penn State Better Kid Care Program has developed a new and exciting season of interesting, helpful satellite topics for 2005-2006. Join with many other caregivers in experiencing live satellite training workshops, offered through the Penn State Better Kid Care Program, in Pennsylvania and across the United States. To participate in these workshops, visit the Satellite Workshop link.
Last Satellite of the Season!
May 11, 2006: How to Get Parents on Your Team
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:
Anna's Table, by Eve Bunting, published by Northword Press, ISBN 1559718412. Anna creates a beautiful nature table in her bedroom. Inspired by her mother's love of nature, Anna collects many items of nature and carefully displays them on her table.
My Spring Robin, by Anne Rockwell, published by Aladdin, ISBN 0689804474. Celebrate the arrival of spring with the story of a little girl and her search for the spring robin she heard singing last year. While searching for the robin, she discovers many other wonders of spring.
A Place for Ben, by Jeanne Titherington, published by Harper Trophy, ISBN 0688170641. Ben is a young boy whose younger brother has just moved into his room, crib and all. Ben is searching for places to call his own and to get away from his baby brother. Ben's searches lead him to a surprise visitor and happy place.
Flower Garden, by Eve Bunting, published by Harcourt Children's Books, ISBN 0152287760
What Newt Could Do for Turtle, by Jonathon London, published by Candlewick, ISBN 0763605898
Spring: My First Look at Seasons, by Jill Kalz, published by Creative Education, ISBN 1583413634
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!
Providers in the CDA (Child Development Associate) Program Better Kid Care Distance Education Lessons are now coded in a format to help in planning CDA training (based on the 120 hours of formal education /training needed and the eight content areas). View codes and lesson titles in the Penn State Better Kid Care Distance Education Brochure.
For information regarding Child Development Associate, contact Christine at 814-865-7894 or email: crb16@psu.edu.
Better Kid Care Mentoring Telephone Help Line for Child Care Providers in Pennsylvania
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.Click on the New Staff Orientation link for more information and to view the materials online (also available in Spanish).
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.
- Part 1 - Family Child Care...It's a Business
- Part 2 - Understanding and Supporting
Children's Physical and Cognitive Development- Part 3 - Understanding and Supporting
Children's Language and Social/Emotional Development
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
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.
The monthly issue of Family Time / Work Time contains short articles and tips for busy working parents. Parents Count has information for parents on children's issues that are featured in training workshops for child care providers. Both publications are available online to print and share with your friends, family, and other childcare providers. Select issues are also available in Spanish.
Attention Child Care Staff -- New Program! Be a participant in the Pilot Group, receive college credit, and obtain your CDA all at the same time! Visit the Northampton Community College Web site for more information.
In response to recent events, the Disaster Resource page is available for information to assist children and providers affected by Hurricane Katrina.
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View archived Better Kid Care E-Newsletters
Upcoming June E-Newsletter:
Acknowledging Children's Efforts
We would love to hear from you! We want the Better Kid Care E-Newsletter to be informative, useful, and inspiring to you! Please contact the Better Kid Care Program with your ideas. Is there something you want to see more or less of? What information is most important to you? What topics are you interested in? How is the newsletter helpful to you? E-mail your ideas to crb16@psu.edu or call 814-865-7894.