Friday, February 29, 2008

Minnesota Advocates, Take Action...

From Child Care Works:

We are asking all advocates to take action by calling House and Senate leadership!

The Issue:
We now know that Minnesota is facing a $935 million state budget deficit. This is the time where we, as child advocates, want to urge our state leaders to spare child care and earily childhood education any cuts to solve the state’s budget woes. In 2003, another time of economic distress, child care and early childhood education experienced disproportionate cuts ($200 million) in funding. We must reiterate that the child care and early childhood education system cannot afford to move backwards again.

Action Needed:
Take action now by calling our House and Senate leadership (Be prepared to leave a message with their Legislative Assistant or voice mail. Calls are quick and easy!):

Senate Majority Leader, Senator Pogemiller - 651-296-7809
House Speaker, Representative Anderson Kelliher - 651-296-0170

Tell them: "Child care and earily childhood education are essential for ALL children in Minnesota. Please do not balance the budget by cutting our youngest citizens again!"


Thursday, February 28, 2008

Garden grants!


A child’s early years are a crucial time of development, and preschool education can significantly influence the rest of their lives. Gardening is a hands-on project that allows children to explore at their own pace and engage in age-appropriate experiential learning. Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! is sponsoring an award to give more children these valuable opportunities.



If you plan use your green thumb to plant with pint-sized gardeners this spring, you may be able to win a grant to help you grow.


The National Gardening Association and Starz Media have announced the Wuzzleburg Preschool Garden Awards, which will distribute 75 grants, each eligible for $1,000 worth of gardening products. The preschool grant program is sponsored by "Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!," an animated comedy that airs on Nick Jr. and Noggin.


Eligibility requirements: The grants are open to organizations offering structured programs in settings such as preschools, day care centers, and Head Start programs. Applicants must plan to garden with a group of at least 10 children aged 3 to 5 during 2008.


Award Packages: 75 winners will each receive an assortment of garden tools and garden- and nature-oriented teaching materials valued at $1,000, including a Link-a-Bord Raised Bed Kit, a GrowLab Compact Light Garden, a WormLab with worms, a Deluxe Seed-Starting Kit, a Butterfly Observation Habitat, and much more, plus a Wubbzy gardening activity guide for teachers.


Deadline: Applications must be postmarked by March 15, 2008.


For more information and an application, go to www.kidsgardening.org/grants.asp.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Celebrating Seuss...

This Sunday is a holiday that we will celebrate all week in my childcare… It is the birthday of Theodor Geisel, who would be 104 years old this year. Who is Theodor Geisel? Perhaps you know him better as Dr Seuss…

My memories of favorite books from my youth would include several of his classics. His books, in print for over 50 years, continue to delight generations of children. I believe that there are few authors better able to instill the love of reading in young children that Dr Seuss.

So how do we celebrate?


On Monday, March 3rd, Grab Your Hat and Read With the Cat on Read Across America Day.
Pledge your participation! Check out the state pledge pages for ideas, then let us know your plans by filling out the pledge form. We'll post our favorites on the Web site.Send a personalized E-card created by Reading Rockets, one of our partners. You can tailor it to invite others to your event or provide your own reading message!

Get a free copy of Horton Hears A Who! (read-along book)
For the first time ever, an animated digital version of Horton Hears A Who! by Dr. Seuss is being released. Just in time for NEA's Read Across America Day, this special Seuss classic will be available for free exclusively on kidthing™. The pages come to life on your computer screen with animation, narration and sound effects. Or, turn the sound off and read the book aloud. Download at www.kidthing.com/neasreadacrossamerica/ .

More ways to celebrate:

Lots more links at http://www.gpschools.org/ci/ce/elem/holidays/drseuss.htm

Pick up a Dr. Seuss book and in the words of Dr. Seuss in Oh, The Places You'll Go...

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!


Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Toddler & Preschooler Activities...

If you are looking for some quick and easy activities to keep your toddlers and preschoolers occupied, then today's resources may be just what you are looking for...

First is Early Childhood Fun, a blog that shares thousands of ideas for activities and resources for young children. Some are very simple and many you have probably already done, but this can be a good reminder of some activities you may have not done in a while.

The next site is The PreSchool Mama. This site offers advice on dealing with common preschooler health and nutrition issues, simple and easy ideas for arts and crafts that combine creativity with a great bonding experience for you and your child, 5 minute activities that will help you teach him through play which is how kids of this age do all of their learning, and how-to articles to help your child develop his reading, alphabet and numeral skills, and more.


Take a look at these sites and let me know what you think.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Early Childhood Education Deserves Attention...

An editorial from the Pennsylvania Times Leader...

Early childhood education deserves added attention

SEE DICK AND JANE.
See Dick and Jane go to preschool.
See Dick sit in the corner, staring blankly. Sit. Sit. Sit.
Dick has autistic tendencies that his parents dismissed as “just a phase.”
And Jane, well, Jane has undiagnosed dyslexia, which means she’ll have trouble learning to read, get teased by her classmates, decide she doesn’t like school, and grow up doubting her intelligence.

That’s not the storybook tale that most adults would recognize. But it represents a few of the realities confronting today’s day care workers, preschool instructors and elementary school teachers.

These professionals – and, yes, they should be acknowledged and paid as professionals – need to be given the know-how to identify and help children who have learning and developmental delays. They also deserve ample support from Pennsylvania’s political leaders and the children’s parents.

Recently the state approved a $75 million increase in funding for a “Pre-K Counts” program that awards grants to preschool centers. To be eligible for the money, the center must have at least one state-certified staff member in each classroom, Mark Guydish reported in Tuesday’s edition of The Times Leader.

Similar efforts to upgrade staff training are in the works. For instance, the state’s teacher certification system might be changed, splitting the current two-tier model into three parts by 2015. Rather than lumping together all “lower grades,” separate licenses would be issued for teachers specializing in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade and teachers focusing on fourth through eighth grades. The third certification level would encompass high school grades.

Putting a sharper focus on early childhood education through training, licensing and funding makes sense. After all, by spotting a child’s learning hang-up early enough and taking action, he or she might be able to overcome the difficulty. In turn, that can translate into a better-performing student, better-paying job and better life.

And if more of the area’s children mature into productive, responsible adults, the entire community benefits.

Plenty of people and institutions in the area have been trying to drive home these points for years. King’s College set up an Early Childhood Training Institute, giving real-world experience to day care workers. Meanwhile, the United Way of Wyoming Valley has championed a “Success By 6” project, emphasizing to parents and caretakers how critically important a child’s first six years can be. They recognize – as we all should – that reaching a happy ending depends a lot on having a good beginning. So let’s make certain teachers and others have the tools to help preschoolers like Dick and Jane thrive.
Thrive.
Thrive. Thrive.
Putting a sharper focus on early childhood education through
training, licensing and funding makes sense.



Friday, February 22, 2008

Birth Order of Children...

For all you mothers out there... As the mother of three, I can say that there is more truth to this joke than most of you are willing to admit....

Maternity clothes:

1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.
2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.
3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.

____________________________________________________

Preparing for the Birth:

1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.
2nd baby: You don't bother because you remember that last time, breathing didn't do a thing.
3rd baby: You ask for an epidural inYour eighth month

______________________________________

The Layette:

1st baby: You pre-wash newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in theBaby's little bureau.
2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.
3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?______________________________________________________

Worries:

1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper, a frown--you pick up the baby.
2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.
3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing

______________________________________________________

Pacifier:

1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until you can go home and wash and boil it.
2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off with some juice from the baby's bottle.
3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.

______________________________________________________

Diapering:

1st baby: You change your baby's diapers every hour, whether they need it or not.
2nd baby: You change their diaper every two to three hours, if needed.
3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.

______________________________________________________

Activities:

1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby Story Hour.
2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.
3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.

__________________________________________________

Going Out:

1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home five times.
2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.
3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.

______________________________________________________

At Home:

1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.
2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.
3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.

______________________________________________________

Swallowing Coins (a favorite):

1st child: When first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the hospital and demand x-rays.
2nd child: When second child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for the coin
3rd child: When third child swallows a coin you deduct it from his allowance!



I prefer to think that as I've gotten older, I've gotten wiser... not indifferent!

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Evaluating Child Care

The following points are good ways to measure the quality of a child care home or center. Take a look at your child care facility as if through the eyes of a prospective parent... how do you rate?

CAREGIVERS/TEACHERS

SETTING

ACTIVITIES

IN GENERAL

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Tax Time...

It is quickly coming up on tax time again and it's not too early to think about filing if you haven't already done so. The following tax related information comes from Redleaf Institute.

Online Tax Resources
February 2008



The Internal Revenue Service has posted a number of resources on their Web site that may be of interest to family child care providers:

For further help, call the IRS at 800-829-4933 (Business and Specialty Tax Line) between 8am and 8pm local time.


Redleaf National Institute has a number of resources on its Web site as well:

Go to www.redleafinstitute.org for more information.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

CCR&R Rate Survey...



Whenever two or more child care providers get together the first topic of conversation is usually to complain about those "troublesome" parents they have as clients. This is a topic of discussion for another day...



The second item that always seems to arise is the comparision of who is charging what for child care. Unfortunately this is a probable violation of the federal antitrust law. Federal antitrust law is designed to encourage competition and discourage competitors from setting prices higher than they would be otherwise. When providers discuss rates at association meetings, this can easily be construed to be a discussion to raise rates. This is true even if there are no direct statements made encouraging providers to raise rates. Associations who operate their own referral service for parents can give parents who call the service rate information, but they cannot share this information with other providers in the association.

While it is true that it is unlikely that a state would ever fine a provider who unknowingly violates this law, it is still illegal.

So how is a provider supposed to figure out if they are charging appropriately for their area? The best solution in Minnesota is through the Child Care Resource and Referral Network rate survey. While this survey won't tell you specific rates for various providers, it will give you the high, low, and average rates for your area.

With this in mind, if you are a provider in Minnesota, you probably already know that it is time to fill out the 2008 rate survey. The 2008 Rate Survey contracted by DHS is available online now. This is important, not only for the final results to be accurate, but also because information from ithis survey is used to determine Child Care Assistance Rates and DHS is asked by legislators and others for this information almost daily!

Please, that some time and complete the survey carefully and completely. The rate survey is a huge undertaking, this year the CCR&R Network will be working with 2425 providers and centers. Please, call or email them if you have any questions and they will be glad to help. Their phone number is 1-888-511-2244

The rate survey is available at
www.mnchildcare.org (There is a red box under the picture of the Mother and Children. Just click where it says and you will be directed to the rate survey.)

You can see the 2008 rates at
www.midwestchildcare.com in May when they finish with the gathering, entering, and checking of the survey. (Here are the 2007 results.)

Monday, February 18, 2008

Music & Early Childhood...

Do you use music in your early care setting? If not, you are missing out on some great fun and tremendous learning opportunities. I incorporate a lot of music in my childcare. There is plenty of singing and dancing on a daily basis and the children love using musical instruments to make their own "music". If you are interested in more music, the following article shares some ideas about how to use music in your early childhood curriculum...
Ten Steps to Successful Music Teaching in The Early Childhood Classroom
by: Marlene Rattigan


Young children learn by doing, by being actively involved in their learning through exploring and experimenting, through copying and acting out. And so it is with learning music, the foundations for which are best learnt while developing primary language. As such, a successful early childhood music program must incorporate movement and should quite naturally involve learning across the curriculum. The music program, therefore, can form the basis for the whole curriculum.

1. Make it Fun. They are not in your class to learn music, but learning music is what happens while they're having fun. It it's not fun you've lost them. Fun for them may not be fun for you. If it's not fun for you, you'll NEVER be able to convince them that you're enjoying it. You'll start using every excuse not to do the music session because you'll see it as a chore. If, on the other hand, you have a song, a piece of music or an activity you think is really cool, you'll have no trouble engaging the kids as your enthusiasm will carry them through. Sounds pretty logical, yet few class teachers conduct music lessons as part of the daily curriculum. Find a resource that suits you and do something every day - even if for only five minutes.

2. Establish clear rules from day one. Without this your class will quickly disintegrate into a shambles. They must stop when the music stops. This encourages listening skills. Listening is a skill that has to be learnt. Hearing is a sense we are born with. There's a huge difference. If they can listen, they can respond, and they can learn. Teach them about "space bubbles". Have them stand with arms outstretched and gently swing around. No-one is allowed to go inside their space bubble. Anyone who does must sit to the side. They will not want to miss out on the fun so encourage them to join in for the next track of music or next activity. Do not allow "time out" to be a preferred option. Not every child will feel confident enough to participate fully but sitting out is not an option.

3. Young children learn by doing. Get them actively involved. Music at this age is music and movement. This will incorporate story telling through use of percussion instruments or drama; it will involve dance and action songs and also singing. It will also involve interpretive movement - play some gentle classical music and use scarves to stimulate the imagination.

4. Include motor co-ordination activities. This will stimulate and integrate right and left sides of the brain. Musical instruments are played with both hands. This subject is the topic of a great body of research. Children today are generally not physically active enough to get sufficient stimulation to establish neural pathways. If you can do something daily in the way of motor skills, especially cross-patterning activities conducted to music, it will help enormously.

5. Relate activities to their level of understanding. Engage their imaginations. They live in a fantasy world ' take advantage of it. You personally may not feel inclined towards fantasy. It doesn't matter. Whatever engages them is what matters. Whatever you are wanting them to learn can be done best by engaging their imaginations, and fantasy is the easiest. Use drama in any way to engage their imaginations.

6. Praise them often. They respond best to positive reinforcement. A baby is born fearless. No matter how many times the baby falls over when attempting to walk, and despite injuries along the way, he or she will get up and try again, over and over until that skill is finally mastered. It never occurs to the child, or anyone else, that you have to get it perfect the first time. Everyone encourages them which is an added bonus. Somehow along the way though, by the time many children are in mid primary school, they have already been given so many negatives which erode their self-esteem that they give up trying new things.

7. Remember the K.I.S.S. principle and Keep It Simple Sunshine. Only do a few activities or songs at a time in your music lesson. Repeat them often and only when mastered do you add modifications or a new activity. Keep the whole lesson simple but fun. Do not confuse simple with easy. If the class structure is simple, you can easily add in a more challenging activity.

8. If the children are unused to music and movement sessions, do not try to be too ambitious. Five minutes a day may be enough for the first few weeks, depending on the children. Repeat the lesson (maybe up to three or four times) until confidence and competence improve. They need the repetition. You can add modifications for greater complexity and variation or change one or two activities before moving onto a new lesson. Set them up to succeed.

9. Initially the teacher should model the movements but not necessarily do all the running around. Choose a child to model for you (or the Teaching Assistant or even a parent) if you prefer not to or are unable to model the movements yourself. Observe the children's ability to perform the skills in movement, music, drama, listening and social interaction. The music lesson thus contains so many more outcomes. You are then leveraging your time by combining learning areas. That is why the movements need to be modeled appropriately.

10. Finish each session with stretching and relaxation. (Stretches should never hurt.) After a "mat session" music lesson the stretch only needs to be a full body stretch on the floor, after which the children close their eyes and listen to the music. Initially - Tell them what you want them to listen for, or, tell them a story of what the music is about, or, ask them to tell you what they think the music is telling them.

If you don't relax the children at the end of the lesson, thus utilizing this time for the affective aspect of music, they'll be unsettled for the rest of the day, especially if it's a dance and drama session. When they are used to relaxing at the end of the lesson they will happily lie down and relax but they need to be taught how to first. Each relaxation session, therefore, does not necessarily have to involve active listening but initially it must. Children are sometimes loud and boisterous because they think that's how they are expected to behave. Give them permission to be still and silent and teach them how. They need it.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Facts About Working With Children Learned From A Jigsaw Puzzle...

Sometimes there is a little wisdom in some of the "funny" e-mails we receive. I received this one from a friend and thought I would share it with you. There are some points about how to work wiht children that are certainly worth taking note of...

1. Don't force a fit. If something is meant to be, it will work together naturally.
2. When things aren't going so well, take a break. Everything will look different when you return.
3. Be sure to look at the big picture. Getting hung up on the little pieces only leads to frustration.
4. Perseverance pays off. Every important puzzle went together bit by bit, piece by piece.
5. When one spot stops working, move to another. But be sure to come back later (see #4).
6. Variety is the spice of life. It's the different colors and patterns that make the puzzle interesting.
7. Working together with friends and family makes any task fun.
8. Establish the border first. Boundaries give a sense of security and order.
9. Don't be afraid to try different combinations. Some matches are surprising.
10. Take time often to celebrate your successes (even little ones).
11. Anything worth doing takes time and effort. A great puzzle (and children's development) can't be rushed.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Cullen’s abc’s Preschool Videos...

Cullen’s abc’s is a resource site that we have not yet discussed...

Preschool videos are provided free by Cullen's abc's. Caregivers, parents, grandparents, family, friends, babysitters, homeschoolers, daycare providers, and teachers of preschoolers, can take advantage of Cullen's abc's videos in different ways.

Preschool Videos for Caregivers. Find new activities to share with your children. Cullen's abc's has a vast library of activities that caregivers can access, watch and then adapt to their children's interest and developmental stage. These preschool videos are even divided into categories to make searching simple. Also, most activities can be prepared and completed inexpensively – usually with common household items.

The preschool video categories include art and craft ideas, lesson tunes, rhymes, songs, activity ideas, new words, interactive book readings, as well as book reviews with tips for grown ups. The preschool videos designed for parents that outline new ideas and activities to share with their children. Cullen’s abc’s offers a vast library of activities that parents can access, watch, and then adapt to their children’s interest and developmental stage.

Preschool Videos for Children. Select interactive preschool videos for children to watch that stimulate preschool development and learning. The interactive preschool videos range from singing to reading to art. While the videos are entertaining, each one is also designed to enrich specific cognitive skills. It is highly recommended that you engage with your children while they watch these preschool videos, but you may allow them enjoy them on their own. Either way, you can rest assured that each video has been lovingly created by an experienced preschool teacher.
Cullen's abc's has produced 100's of preschool videos that have been viewed over 100,000's times!


These preschool videos are designed for children and parents to watch and take part in together. Parents can select videos that stimulate preschool development and learning. These interactive, preschool videos range from singing to reading to art. While the videos are entertaining, each one is also designed to enrich specific cognitive skills.

Key strategies that have contributed to the success of Cullen’s abc’s:
• Collaborating with Dr. Stephen Keller to create child dental health preschool videos(http://www.cullensabcs.com/themes.htm)
• Utilizing TubeMogul to post preschool videos to multiple video site-sharing sites in one click.(http://www.tubemogul.com/)
• Developing various holiday-themed videos to connect with children and caregivers on special occasions.(http://www.cullensabcs.com/themes.htm)
• Implementing video search engine optimization techniques, so videos are easier to find.Cullen’s abc’s videos are designed for those who care for preschoolers — parents, grandparents, family, friends, babysitters, homeschoolers, daycare providers and teachers.

Cullen’s abc’s is pioneering the use of online video to share preschool videos that stimulate preschool development at home. Go to Cullen's abc's and see if there are some new ideas for you to use!

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Earlychildhood News...

I know that I had talked about this resource in the past, but it probably bears repeating that Earlychildhood News is an excellent online resource for caregivers of young children.

Earlychildhood News bills itself as an online resource for Teachers and Parents of children, from infants to age 8 years.

The Featured Content and Article Archive, contain articles about child development, developmentally appropriate practices, health and safety, behavior and guidance, assessment and much more.

There are also some great curriculum ideas for teaching infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children. You’ll find great ideas in Activities & Curriculum and fun craft projects in Arts & Crafts.

You can even stay in touch with the latest topics in early childhood education as they’re discussed by the experts on ECN Radio (this feature is from the BAM website that I discussed a while back.) Also informative is the Sharing Boards to exchange ideas, discuss issues impacting early childhood education and network with other teachers.

The site also provides links to the offices that regulate licensed child care in each of the 50 states under State Licensing Requirements.

I also recommend that you sign up for the Earlychildhood NEWSlink, a FREE newsletter delivered by e-mail. In each NEWSlink email, you'll receive the latest updates, including new articles, events impacting early childhood education, developmentally appropriate classroom activities, arts and crafts projects and special offers on products from Discount School Supply. If you’re not currently a subscriber, sign up!

Bookmark Earlychildhood News. I'm sure that you will find this to be a useful resource.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Another Resource to Download...

Since being released last year, families worldwide have turned to the award winning book, "Bonding While Learning," to instill a love of reading in their children while teaching them to read and write.

To celebrate Valentine's Day, "Bonding While Learning's" publisher is offering the new eBook edition as a free download between February 13th and March 5th.

"Parents and grandparents tell us that 'Bonding While Learning' activities not only strengthen their children's literacy skills, but also create atmospheres where parents share memorable moments from their own childhoods with their children, and where families build memorable moments together," said Gary Kosman, "Bonding While Learning" co-author. "Bonding While Learning's love- and learning-filled activities are a perfect match for this Valentine's Day season. We're thrilled that the resource is available to anybody who can benefit from it."

iParenting Media Awards, one of the most prestigious awards programs for parenting products, honored "Bonding While Learning" by naming it an "Excellent Product of 2007," while parents, grandparents and teachers have showered the resource with their own complements, including:
Families, teachers and child care providers may download "Bonding While Learning" for free through March 5th at America Learns. Get your copy tomorrow...

Monday, February 11, 2008

Voices for Children Advocacy Day...

Voices for Children Advocacy Day 2008 at the Minnesota state Capitol is set! Join us on Thursday, March 27, 2008

Voices for Children Advocacy Day is an opportunity for parents, teachers, early care and education professionals, and others from across the state to stand up and be counted as a voice for children. The Voices Day rally will take place in the Capitol Rotunda with opportunities to make appointments with your legislators in the morning. For more information, visit the Voices for Children website.


Download and distribute the 2008 Save the Date flyer and Register to attend.

Mark your calendar and stay tuned here for more information in the coming weeks.
For more information on getting all Minnesota kids ready for kindergarten visit www.ready4k.org

Friday, February 08, 2008

Presidential Promises and Education...


Early education (and education in general) has been a pretty hot topic of late, however, few of the presidental candidates have been talking much about it. Are you aware of where they stand on the issue of education.


Here are some links to the education platforms of the major candidates still in the race:

Of all the candidate Web sites, Obama's includes the most detailed education platform, 15 pages for K-12 initiatives alone, mostly involving expanded early childhood education, NCLB reforms, and incentives to recruit and retain teachers in the nation's toughest schools. But because of there hasn't been much debate on schools, neither he nor Clinton has won the endorsement yet of the nation's largest teacher's union, the National Education Association (which, naturally, will back a Democrat).

Another resource for information is the blog Education Election (put out by the Education Writers Association) which has been writing about the candidates' campaigns and the role of education.

What do you think about the candidates' education platforms? Do you think you have enough information to make an informed decision? Remember that voting is the only real voice you have in making your wishes known... use the power wisely.

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Trends in Child Care...

Today I am reprinting an article from About.com that I found interesting. Are you "trendy" in your child care business?
Top 9 Trends in Child Care
From
Robin McClure,

Child care is evolving, and most care providers and parents agree the changes are for the best. What are some of the latest trends in child care and what should parents be looking for when making an all-important child care decision?

1. Child Care is Now Early Education
No longer is child care for young children simply babysitting. Child care centers have mostly transitioned to centers for early education, where young tots are involved with early learning. The trend to learning centers is partly due to high parent and school expectations; it's also attributable to research that shows that kids are capable of learning early academics and other skills that previously were not taught until later. Care centers often offer formalized early education curriculum, and staff receives extensive training in instruction geared for preschoolers.

2.
Drop-In Child Care is More Common
It's no surprise that drop-in child care is on the grow. What may come as a surprise to some is that these facilities typically offer high-quality, safe, and affordable care options. The drop-in care facilities focus on fun activities for kids and often include mealtimes and special theme events to provide parents with a worry-free evening or time away from kids. Gyms, recreation centers, churches and even schools are getting into the act of offering Parent Nights Out or similar events. Look for this trend to continue with even greater flexibility in the future.

3. Corporate Child Care is Raising Quality Bar
Corporate child care is raising the bar in terms of quality child care. An increasing number of companies are either offering (or considering) in-house child care centers as a perk for attracting and retaining top employees. In addition, more companies are partnering with child care centers to offer discounted rates or even special hours for employees. Some developers are even focusing on including a child care facility as part of master planning of new areas, knowing that having a quality child care center nearby will make the area more desirable for both employers and employees alike.

4. Technology is Changing Provider/Parent Connection
An increasing number of facilities offer parents the piece of mind of being able to check on their child while at daycare as desired through videostreaming of classroom activities throughout the day. Other providers regularly take photos of children and send to parents, post daily or weekly blogs or e-newsletters online for parents to view, or even exchange emails or text messages throughout the day. The technology provides parents and providers with another tool for staying "in touch" and bonding with activities and events planned for youngsters.

5. Most Child Care is Becoming Safer
While no system is absolutely fail safe, and occasional stories will continue to occur about child pornographers or sex offenders found to be working around children, the truth is that most child care providers are increasing measures to protect children in their charge. Increased security concerning picking up of children, additional background checks and screenings being done on prospective employees, and more surveillance and monitoring (both overt as well as the covert varieties) are helping to increase safety. Training and more thorough checklists is also helping to keep kids safer on field trips and outings.

6. More Child Care Options Exist
Parents today can consider a wider menu of child care choices, and many families are choosing to use a variety of care options based on current needs. Some families may use a nanny for an infant, an in-home provider for a toddler, and then switch to a care center for a preschooler. Some families use one type of care during the school year and then another for summer months. Occasional care service options can include babysitters, drop-in care, specified parent night out nights, and even child care co-ops. Options do abound in most areas, although sometimes you have to really seek them out.

7. The Internet Can Help You Find Child Care
Word of mouth or driving around a neighborhood used to be the most common way to find child care. Today, however, many families, especially those who have moved to a new community, rely on the internet to find quality child care. Many websites offer free listings of child care; most states have a child care site for review as well. Web-based babysitting and child care services are on the increase, and parents can type in a zip code and find providers who meet the specifications designated. Entrepreneurs are increasingly advertising availability for child care as well. Of course, nothing replaces reference checks.

8. Communications Are More Frequent, More Useful
In today's instantaneous, "tell me now" society, communications between child care provider and parent continue to strengthen. Where once a month newsletters used to suffice in addition to daily greetings and goodbyes, child care providers are using a variety of tools to provide parents with ongoing information about their child's day. Some providers create websites where they post monthly menus, weekly day-by-day activities, and even behavioral reports. Others provide parents with a daily update that is then emailed (written during naptime). Even with technology, face-to-face communications is still the best.

9. Child Care Caters to Time-Crunched, Working Parents
Have you noticed how more and more child care centers are offering enrichment options for tots to participate in while still at child care? Parents nowadays are busier than ever, yet want their child to participate in an array of activities at the same time. The solution for some is to sign kids up for optional fee-based ballet, karate, soccer and gymnastics classes that kids participate in during the week while still in care. The instructor comes to the facility rather than the other way around. This type of option may not be for everyone, but it works for those who are very busy or have long commutes each day.

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

Here is a solution that may work for you...

I am pleased to announce that TKW Consulting is now able to offer an innovative, affordable online training. Training that works on your time frame, not the schedule of others.



Through Smart Horizons, I can provide an on-line child care professional training system covering a wide range of topics. The courses are designed to meet the core competencies outlined by the Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credentialing Program. All of the courses earn IACET Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and meet the course requirements for a Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credential, CDA renewal, or in-service training for both initial requirements and renewal CEU's for a CDA credential. The courseware is currently used by over 575 child care centers throughout the country, and is some of the best and most comprehensive early childhood education available today.

Now is the time to look at getting your CDA credential! For more information, samples, and pricing details, go to the TKW Consulting website. Send me an e-mail or give me a call if you would like to discuss this.


Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Be an Advocate for Children...

I'm sure that you haven't missed the fact that we are in the midst of political campaigns and caucuses. Now is the time when candidates will listen to what you have to say... It is a great time to remind them that early education means more jobs, higher revenues, more secure parental employment and better business productivity. NOW is the time to invest in our future.

Attend your Precinct Caucus Today... February 5!

This process is about grassroots participation. This is YOUR opportunity to bring forth the issues that YOU care about. Your input is valuable to your party!


Precinct caucuses are the beginning of the process that Minnesota’s major political parties use for choosing the candidate and the issues they will support in elections. This is a great opportunity to connect with your neighbors and raise issues that are important to you, like quality early care and education.


As part of the precinct caucus process, citizens are encouraged to bring forward resolutions. Ready 4 K has prepared a sample resolution in support of increased state investments to expand access to high quality early learning choices. Click here to see the sample resolution and tips on presenting the resolution at your caucus.


To find out where your precinct caucus will be held, visit the website of your party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor (www.dfl.org), Green Party (www.mngreens.org), Independence (www.mnip.org), Republican (www.gop-mn.org). To find your precinct, visit the Secretary of State’s website (http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/).

Time to make your vote count and your voice heard...

Monday, February 04, 2008

February is Dental Health Month...



Were you aware of that? This is a great month to teach the kids in your care all about good dental practices. Last year, I listed a few resources for you to use during the month of February.



Something new for this year is from Colgate. The award-winning Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures Oral Health Education (BSBF) Program offers lots of developmentally-appropriate material for use in your classroom. The Kindergarten through 3rd Grade program is based upon the Legend of Tooth Kingdom global education program. You will need to register, but it is free and can be completed relatively quickly. But there is a program for younger children also...



Early Childhood Professionals know that building a child's literacy skills sets the groundwork for a lifetime of learning. Similarly, oral health plays a critical role in a child's overall well-being — now and for the future. The Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® (BSBF) classroom program combines these two aspects of child development into one easy-to-use program. Built upon the Head Start Framework, the BSBF program enables you to promote early literacy while helping children build good oral health habits that will last a lifetime. And now, this early-childhood program is available for download!



At Colgate's Pre-K site you can download the video, Dr Rabbit Come to School. It is a fun video and I guarantee that all your preschool age children will have fun meeting Dr. Rabbit, Alpha Betty and friends! They'll teach young children about their teeth while introducing early literacy concepts. You can also download the songs, lyrics, activities, posters, and teacher's instructions.



This is a great activity for a day or two during Dental Health Month... and completely free!

Oh yeah, a few more activites to use in addition to last years recommendations...


Friday, February 01, 2008

Commentary on the Unionization of Child Care Providers...

I received an e-mail last week from a reader stating that she had just received a visit from the SEIU (Kids First) union rep and asked me my opinion of unions for family child care providers. Since then, I have been asked this question a couple more times. I have decided to print my original reply here. Below is the e-mail that I sent back to her...

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I normally don’t discuss unions that often, because like politics and religion, it can elicit some emotional responses and opinions. However, since you asked “my opinion” I will tell you what I think and try to put into perspective why…

I am not a believer in unionizing child care providers. There are several reasons…
First, quite simply, I don’t see how they would benefit me. I provide care for very few children/families who utilize sliding fee arrangements. This seems to be the only area that a union could possibly coerce more funding.


Remember that just because a union may be able to attain rate increases (and there certainly is no guarantee of that no matter what unions reps promise you), it is questionable that states will increase any overall funding. I suspect that if rates increase, overall funding will stay much the same and fewer families will qualify for assistance.


If the pool of funds does not increase, it will in reality shrink… because with unions come union dues. I suspect that dues will automatically come out of the reimbursement checks that are sent out to the child care providers. Even if, by some miracle, this does not reduce the overall pools of funds available for provider reimbursement, it certainly eliminates any freedom of choice that a child care provider, as an independent business person, may have.


The last comment is a deal-breaker for me. My child care is my business. I am an independent business owner. I run my business the way I want. I don’t want to be “forced” to join a union (or any other organization). If I want to make more money, I increase my rates. While it is true that it may be difficult to raise your rates, it certainly is still possible. Unions were founded on the concept of giving a voice for workers with the business owners. In this case, I am the business owner and I am the worker and I can communicate my needs and desires with myself just fine. To unionize independent family child care providers seems to me to be a twisted concept. If I were more cynical, I might think the whole concept is simply geared to raise funds for the unions (who are not really altruistic, but rather “for profit” entities).


Where is your bargaining power? Would you or could you go on strike? Would you refuse to provide care for your families if the government doesn’t increase reimbursement fees? I may be wrong, but I don’t think you can legally decide to strike against just the poorer families. If you do strike, I predict that you would lose some of your better clients. I realize that no one is talking about striking child care providers, but it seems that without bargaining power, the unions promises are empty ones. Heck, if you pay me monthly dues, I will promise to be vocal for you and make an effort to attain you more money…


Finally, we can’t forget that the people the unions are trying to get more money from, is the government… and we are the government. It would almost be like me giving myself a raise (which as a business owner I could already do). I know that comment is a bit simplistic, but if we really want to change the way things are happening in our government, I feel the best way to accomplish this is politically with our votes, not with a union. If you want to be more active and more vocal, let me know and I will get you connected with your local Child Care Works advocate.


Sorry, that this reply has ended up so lengthy, but I felt that I should explain all the reasons that I do not have a positive opinion of unions for child care providers. I know that there are plenty that will disagree with me, but this is, after all, my opinion.

I’ve discussed many of these things before and you can check out some of the past articles and comments about unions by searching my blog at http://tkwconsulting.blogspot.com/search?q=unions

Thanks for asking and thanks for reading.

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