Public Service Announcements
February 2001
CHILD CARE TIPS FOR PARENTS
PSA #1 - Children are learning from the moment they are born
from the people in their life, their surroundings, and from what they
do each day. Children learn many things through play. When choosing child
care for your child, find a program with a trained caregiver and lots
of play activities that are right for your child's age.
Child care providers in Pennsylvania can get information
about training and free educational materials from Penn State Cooperative
Extension's Better Kid Care Program by calling
1-800-452-9108.
PSA #2 - If you are a parent
looking for child care, find a program that offers a variety of play activities
each day. There should be time for reading stories, art activities, and
playing with blocks to develop thinking skills. Children need active play
for large muscle development. To learn social skills, children need to
learn to play together, take turns, and have time for pretend play.
Trained child care providers are always looking for new ideas. Providers
can call
1-800-452-9108 for free educational materials and information
from Penn State Cooperative Extension's Better Kid Care Program.
PSA #3 - Children need to be talked to
and read to from the time they are born. It helps them learn the language
and reading skills they will need to succeed in life. It is important
for parents to do this at home, and when looking for child care, to find
a provider who understands the importance of helping children learn.
1-800-452-9108 is the number for child care providers in Pennsylvania
to call to order free materials and to get information about training
from Penn State Cooperative Extension's Better Kid Care Program.
PSA #4 -A good child care program that
promotes learning and language will have lots of books and writing materials
where the children can reach them. There will be story times throughout
the day. The writing materials will include washable, nontoxic markers
and crayons, different kinds of paper, paints, and brushes.
There are educational materials and various training options from Penn
State Cooperative Extension's Better Kid Care Program for caregivers
in Pennsylvania. Caregivers can call
1-800-452-9108 to order.
PSA #5 -Children will succeed in learning
language and reading skills when parents and child care providers talk
to them and read to them frequently. A good child care program will have
a special place for reading and writing activities. The caregiver will
point out printed words on things around the center or home and when taking
walks outdoors.
If your child's caregiver would like to order free educational materials
and training information, have her call Penn State Cooperative Extension's
Better Kid Care Program at
1-800-452-9108.
PSA #6 - Parents, are you looking for ideas
of things to do with your child? Are you searching for information on
children's issues? Go to the Better Kid Care Web site on the Internet
at
www.betterkidcare.psu.edu
to find all those things and much more. There are also links to other
Web sites.
Child care providers can find information and ways to obtain child care
training on the Penn State Better Kid Care Web site.
If you have access to the internet, look up the Better Kid Care Web page
at
http://betterkidcare.psu.edu.
You will find information about children's issues, child care,
and links to other Web sites.
Nancy Wilson, Better Kid Care Program Specialist
Penn State Better Kid Care Program
253 Easterly Parkway
State College, PA 16801
e-mail:
naw6@psu.edu
Phone: 814-863-5880
Fax: 814-865-7893
February 2001
