TKW Consulting

2009-07-01T05:10:00.000-05:00

Preschool Enrollment Issues...

We have talked about the importance of early education and the importance of quality preschool experience to enable children to be ready to succeed in school, especially those children who are "at-risk".

I read an interesting article last week in Early Ed Watch that talks about a report in Chicago that outlines some of the problems in getting enrolled and some recommendations to improve the process...

In 2007, a group of community organizers in Chicago surveyed several low-income neighborhoods and discovered some disturbing news: Between 40 and 64 percent of preschool-aged children in those areas were not enrolled in the state's preschool program or Head Start -- even though both are free to at-risk children.

"Why Isn't Johnny In Preschool?" is a new report that both reveals what has stymied pre-k attendance among children with the greatest need for it and offers a series of
recommendations for how to increase enrollment. It was published this spring by the early learning committee of a group called POWER-PAC, a Chicago organization of low-income parents who advocate for new ways to help families. Recommendations derive from more than 5,000 interviews conducted from 2006 to 2008 in low-income neighborhoods with predominantly Latino or African American populations.

The report coincides with Illinois' push to engage "hard to reach" populations in its statewide program, Preschool for All. This spring the Illinois State Board of Education has produced a "tool kit" with recommended strategies for reaching many more children. It provides step-by-step instructions for identifying community needs and partnering with community programs to help make preschool attendance easier for families.

I hope that you read the entire article and look through the resources listed. I thought it was very interesting and hope that you will as well.

2009-06-30T05:19:00.000-05:00

Independence Day...

June is nearly over and you know what that means... it's almost time for Independence Day. No, not the movie... I talking about the American holiday more commonly known as the 4th of July. Independence Day is is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, picnics, concerts, baseball games, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States.

There are some great online resources for crafts to help you celebrate with the kids in your care. Here are a few of my favorites:

About.com has a good listing of craft ideas.
Show off your patriotic spirit with all the recipes and activities at Kaboose.
Kinder Art has fun crafts, arts, and printables.
IndependenceDayFun has lots of... well... Independence Day Fun stuff.
Lots of party crafts and decoration ideas at Family Fun.
The Holiday Spot, as always, has everything about holidays.
Some great crafts and coloring pages at Holiday.Net.
Child Fun is a great source for poems, fingerplays, and activities.
Apples 4 The Teacher is always a favorite online resource.
Some fun party ideas at Step By Step CC.
You can find clever toddler activities at Clever Toddler Activities, of course.
Crayola always has lots of great holiday crafts.
There are some fun ideas at Kids Craft Zone. (The potato sack race sounds like fun!)
Don't forget about DLTK's 4th of July crafts and activities.

So many fun things to do with the kids this week, the hardest part will be deciding what crafts and activities to use to celebrate with them.

If you are close and looking for someplace to go this weekend, I can recommend all the 4th of July festivities in my home town - Spicer, Minnesota.

As a last note of caution... if you, like many people, are celebrating with fireworks this year, use caution... I hope that you will have a safe and happy Independence Day.

2009-06-29T05:43:00.000-05:00

Potty Training Awareness Month...

Well, I'm back from the NAFCC (National Association of Family Child Care) Annual Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. Did you miss me? I had a great time! Baltimore was a fun place to visit, but I'm glad to be back home. And after a week away from "my" children, I'm anxious for them to arrive today.

I'll be sharing some information from the conference with you as we go along, but I wanted to mention that one of the workshops that I trained there was about potty training. I had a fun group of participants and the class went well. However, I did not realize that June was Potty Training Awareness Month. I can't believe that I nearly missed this important event. Even though June is nearly over, I thought I would be remiss not to bring this to your attention.

You may laugh, but this is a topic that is important to child care providers as many of us seem to be in a non-stop cycle of potty training for years. Did you know that more than 4 million parents are expected to begin potty training this year? Many of these parents (especially first-timers) look to their child care provider as a source of expert advice.

So in honor of P.T.A. Month (and I'm not talking about parent-teacher associations), here are the top ten tips for potty training from the experts of the PULL-UPS® Potty Training Partners:

Be Prepared To Begin
Be prepared to begin the process. Potty training takes time and energy. The spring/summer season is often prepared as the warmer weather means less clothes, more vacations and longer days making more time for tots to master potty training. Any season can work though, just be prepared to work with "more" vs. "less."
Tailor Your Approach To Find What Works
Tailor your approach for potty training success. Different products offer ways to help make the transition easier. Parents can find a Potty Training Personality Profile at www.pull-ups.com that can suggest a training pant that matches their child’s learning style. Look for products that have wetness liners or other ways to help kids learn.
Introduce The Potty Chair Early
Introduce the potty chair at the beginning of the process when your child is showing signs of readiness—stays dry for two hours, interested in the bathroom, etc. Demonstrate how it works and instill a sense of potty ownership in him or her by wrapping it as a present or decorating it with stickers.
Get Your Child Comfortable With The Idea of Potty Training
Get your child comfortable with the idea of potty training, and introduce the potty training supplies you'll be using before getting started. Practice putting on training pants, washing his or her hands at the bathroom sink and sitting on the potty chair before he or she starts using it.
Remain Positive and Patient
Always remain positive and patient – potty training takes time and setbacks will occur. But remember that children thrive on positive reinforcement. Praise and rewards can help tots feel more comfortable with new skills and keep them motivated during each potty training stage.
Be Consisent
Be consistent – once tots are out of diapers – they stay out of them. It’s proven that toddlers train faster if they don’t switch back and forth between diapers and training pants.
Use Interactive Approaches
To sustain a child’s interest, use interactive approaches, such as games, videos, songs, books, progress charts and role modeling.
Use Teamwork
Use teamwork – make sure everyone in the child's life, from grandparents to daycare providers to siblings, is on board with a consistent potty training philosophy, encouraging your little one throughout the process.
Pack Familiar Potty Training Supplies When On The Go
When traveling, pack familiar potty training supplies like a child-size adapter seat and even a favorite book so he or she is as comfortable as possible using the potty in an unfamiliar setting.
Use Motivational Rewards
Use motivational rewards for your child, such as listening to a fun, potty training song on the PULL-UPS® Potty Training Totline at 1-877-4BIG-KID or downloading a special crown or badge at www.pull-ups.com for a quick and easy reward that says “I am so proud of you!” Other ideas include stickers or stamps, a token present such as bubbles, or a surprise from a "grab bag" pre-filled with inexpensive kid items.

So, is it time to ditch the diapers? If so, I wish you good luck in your potty training adventures.
Okay everyone, let's dance...

2009-06-19T05:10:00.000-05:00

A Favorite Poem...

It's Friday again. I hope that you had a great week. Just wanted to take a moment today to share a poem about child care providers that I really enjoy. It was given to me by one of the parents in my child care...

Forever In Your Heart
Although you are not their mother
You care for them each day,
You cuddle, sing and read to them
And watch them as they play.
You see each new accomplishment,
You help them grow and learn.
You understand their language,
You listen with concern.
They come to you for comfort,
And you kiss away their tears.
They proudly show their work to you,
You give the loudest cheers!
No, you’re not their mother,
But your role is just as strong.
You nurture them and keep them safe,
Though maybe not for long.
You know someday the time will come,
When you will have to part.
But you know each child you cared for,
Is forever in your heart!

I am off work next week and will be leaving on Tuesday to travel to Baltimore for the National Convention for the National Association for Family Child Care. I am training a couple of workshops and am looking forward to meeting some friends that I only get to see during this convention. It is a great time.

Have a great weekend, especially to all you fathers on Father's Day this Sunday!

2009-06-18T05:20:00.000-05:00

Online Radio for Early Childhood...

Have you noticed that several early childhood sites have jumped into radio and podcasting recently? You can now download or stream programs that focus on everything from raising a self-motivated child to how childcare providers are navigating through turbulent times.

There are a variety of channels... I particularly enjoy the Child Care Provider channel, but don't forget to tune in to NAEYC Radio (for the National Association for the Education of Young Children), NACCP Radio (for the National Association of Child Care Professionals) and Head Start Radio for some great segments featuring nationally renowned early care and education experts.

The podcasts are provided by BAM Radio, The Education Station. We talked about BAM Radio (Body And Mind) a while ago and it has grown substantially since then. BAM Radio was developed and is hosted by Rae Pica, an author and educator who has written many books about the link between children's physical, social and cognitive development. Go to the site to find listings of all the radio shows recorded so far.

Give it a try... If you are tired of reading dry reports or don't seem to have time to read the latest books, listening to podcasts can be a great break. For child care providers, you can find new and helpful information while cleaning or doing your daily chores. It may be just the ticket for you auditory learners out there...

2009-06-17T04:06:00.000-05:00

Father's Day is Coming Soon...

Next Sunday, June 21st, 2009, is Father's Day. In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. President Nixon, in 1972, established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June.

Father's Day is a day of commemoration and celebration of Dad. It is a day to not only honor your father, but all men who have acted as a father figure in your life - whether as Stepfathers, Uncles, Grandfathers, or "Big Brothers."

It's time to think of some activities to do in the child care to celebrate Dad. Some resources for you to look over...

Fun facts and information about fathers and Father's Day at Holidays.net.
Some great craft and gift ideas at Kaboose.
Black Dog has plenty of Father's Day fun and games.
Activities, poems, and more at Alphabet Soup.
Father's Day cards, gifts, recipes and more at Holiday Spot.
Lots of fun stuff at Billy Bear 4 Kids. (Don't buy a tie that dad will never wear, make a virtual one instead... it's the thought that counts!)
Games, songs, and crafts at Perpetual Preschool.
DLTK always has great activities and crafts.
Crafts and games (of course...) at Primary Games.
Family Fun has homemade gift and card ideas.
Lots of additional resources at Annies.

So whether you buy Dad a tie, or send him a card, or just watch a movie with him; plan for an enjoyable Father's Day.

2009-06-16T04:35:00.001-05:00

Using Tax Credits to Promote Quality...

Nearly every state has, or is developing, an early care and education quality rating and improvement system (QRIS). Just this past week, I was discussing the Parent Aware program (Minnesota's pilot QRIS program) with a colleague. One of the issues we discussed was the apparent lack of interest from providers and from parents to participate in this program.

Then I read this article on Early Ed Watch about a new approach being tried...

Last year Louisiana enacted an innovative tax credit package designed to address these concerns by offering financial rewards for those who participate in Quality Start, the state's new QRIS. While quite a few states have included financial incentives in their QRIS, what makes the Louisiana approach unique is its use of the state tax code to
provide these incentives.

Here is how it is supposed to work:
Families with a child under 6 who is enrolled in a child care program that participates in Quality Start will be eligible for a refundable tax credit based on the star rating of the program. The value of the credit increases with higher ratings.
Child care providers that participate in Quality Start are eligible to receive a refundable tax credit based on the number of stars they earn and on the number of children they serve in the Child Care Assistance Program or in foster care. The value of the credit rages from $750 per target child served in a center with two stars to $1,500 per child for a center with five stars.
Child care teachers and directors are eligible for a refundable tax credit if they teach in a center that participates in Quality Start. The credit is based on the level of education the individual has attained, rather than the star level of the program in which she teaches. The value of the credit ranges from $1,500 for a teacher or director at Level I of the Louisiana career ladder to $3,000 for a teacher or director at Level IV of the career ladder.
Businesses that provide financial support to centers that participate in Quality Start are eligible for a credit based on the star rating of the center. Businesses may also receive a tax credit for donations up to $5,000 made to child care resource and referral agencies.
An important strength of the system is that most of the tax credits -- including those available to teachers and early care and education programs -- are refundable. A refundable tax credit is one that is available to taxpayers even if it is greater than their tax liability or if they owe no taxes at all. This means that child care teachers who earn low wages (and therefore pay little or no tax) will receive a wage subsidy each year in the form of a tax refund. The provider tax credit is also refundable, which means that non-profit child care centers may receive what is essentially an annual grant based on their star level and the number of eligible children they serve.

Some national early childhood advocates are concerned that tax credits would be paid for out of the same pool of money used to pay providers directly, leading to a zero sum game. But the Louisiana SRTC is supported by state general fund dollars and thereby actually increases the funds flowing into the child care sector. It does not tap federal Child Care and Development Block grant funds or state education or social service allocations.

This is certainly an interesting approach to improving quality in early care and education. Check out the article and let me know what you think. Would a program like this entice you into participating in a QRIS program? I know that I will be watching to see how this works in Louisiana and if other states start to follow the same model.

2009-06-15T05:23:00.001-05:00

Fly A Kite Day...

Today, June 15th is Fly a Kite Day. Fly a Kite Day celebrates--what else?--the tradition of kite flying. June 15th is also the anniversary of Ben Franklin's kite experiment in 1752.

People of all ages enjoy flying kites. A kite is not merely a toy... it is a project with an educational value.

Here are some ideas on how to celebrate Fly A Kite Day:

Make or buy a kite to celebrate Fly a Kite Day. A kite can be constructed from many common household products. You can find out how to make a kite here or here or here or here or even here...
Make a kite safety poster. Flying kites can be a great spring activity. But there are rules to flying kites. For example, you should not fly kites near a power line.
Hold a kite flying contest. This could be a community-wide activity or just a household project. Award prizes for the best in show, longest flying kite, biggest kite, smallest kite and most colorful kite. Prizes could be a free coupon to a favorite eating spot or a gift certificate for a favorite store. Or give away a free kite!
Marvel at the cultural significance of kites. The first records of kite flying come from China, and many historians believe the tradition originated in that country. Today, kite flying is a significant activity in Asia, including China and Japan.
Learn more about kite history.
Learn more about kites. The first records of kites show that they were used in warfare. Today kites are flown to help weather prediction and for entertainment. Brainstorm other possible uses of kites.

Some more resources:

Try some actvities from DLTK Kids.
Preschool kite theme from Frist School.
More kite crafts form Arts & Crafts.
Find ideas for crafts, games, and other activities.

Have fun on Fly A Kite Day! I hope that we have a nice breeze...

Let's go fly a kite
Up to the highest height
Let's go fly a kite
And send it soaring

2009-06-12T05:22:00.001-05:00

What Child Care Providers Want to Tell Parents...

We made it to Friday! It seems like this has been a long week... Maybe it's just because this was a stressful week, but I seem to have experienced most of my pet peeves this week. Don't get me wrong, I love the child care profession, but there are a few things that I (and most child care providers) would like parents to know but will seldom tell them...

I am a professional. I may have chosen this line of work because I love children and I enjoy my job, but this is still my job/business. I have received specialized education and/or training to be a caregiver and educator for young children. I am not a babysitter; I am a professional.
I am not getting rich. In many places child care workers make less then public sanitation workers, secretaries and other jobs that require a lot less education and experience. I do get paid in smiles, hugs and recognition of appreciation from families.
Please pay your child care bills when due. Smiles and hugs don't help me pay my bills. Even though we have a personal relationship, this how I earn a living and my bill should not be viewed any differently than your house payment or utility bill.
I need you to read all material and notices. I am counting on you to know the information I provide for you in writing. This includes posted signs, newsletters, notes and contract material.
It is important that you communicate with me. Let me know in advance if there will be a change in your child’s schedule, or the services you will need.
If I ask you to bring in supplies for your child, please do. And make sure supplies are replenished as needed. This may include extra clothes, art supplies, diapers etc.
Remember your child is not the only child in my care. Although I do my best to provide individualized attention at times, I am often unable to change polices or disrupt schedules to accommodate the needs of one family.
Please do not send your child if they are ill. If they are too ill to participate in the day’s activities they are too ill to be in care. I need to protect the health of other children as well. If your child is or was ill, please notify me.
Please show up on time to pick up your child. Though I care deeply about your child, this is a business for me and I also enjoy my time off from work to spend with my own family.
I recognize that you are the most important person in the child’s life. I hope that we can work as a partnership for what is best for the child. Please share with me any concerns or questions about your child’s care and development. Work with me in helping your child learn, grow and develop.

This is my top 10 list. What do you think about it? Anything you would like to add that your child care parents should know?

Okay, I'm done venting and I feel better already! Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

2009-06-11T05:18:00.000-05:00

Flag Day...

Sunday, June 14th, is Flag Day. This is a day for all Americans to celebrate and show respect for our flag, its designers and makers. Our flag is representative of our independence and our unity as a nation.....one nation, under God, indivisible. Our flag has a proud and glorious history. It was at the lead of every battle fought by Americans. Many people have died protecting it. It even stands proudly on the surface of the moon.

Flag Day was first observed in 1877 on the 100th anniversary of the Continental Congress' adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States. In that year, Congress asked that all public buildings fly the flag on June 14. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Flag Day as a national celebration. However, the holiday was not officially recognized until 1949 when President Harry Truman signed the National Flag Day Bill.

Ways to celebrate Flag Day:

There are some great resources at the Holiday Spot.
Apples 4 The Teacher is another favorite site for activities.
Teach the children about Flag Day.
Download some handouts from Scholastic.
Print some flags to give the children.
Get some free downloads at Alfy.
Education World offers great Flag Day themed activities.
Learn the Pledge of Allegiance at First School.

So hang out the "red, white, and blue" and have a good Flag Day!

2009-06-10T05:21:00.001-05:00

Trash to Treasures...

A favorite class for child care providers is one that involves making crafts out of things laying around the house (as my husband says: junk that normal people throw away.) Look around your hoouse for items that you can use. Once you have a collection of "junk"--stray puzzle pieces, postcards from someone's winter trip, marbles, pine cones, broken crayons, pretty rocks, origami critters, stray socks, buttons, beads, pipe cleaners, ribbon--it's time to brainstorm. Encourage your kids to think about what they could make with this "junque," especially with the addition of a little paint or magnets. Here are some examples:

Glue the puzzle pieces along a plain barrette, adding a couple of layers if you have enough pieces. Leave them as is or paint them all the same color.
Shave the crayons up with an inexpensive plastic pencil sharpener, spread them between sheets of wax paper and with adult supervision, use an iron set on low heat to melt the crayons and create "stained glass." Protect your ironing surface with layers of old towels, and put several sheets of white paper or another towel over the paper to keep crayon from touching the iron. Once the paper is cool, cut it into shapes and suspend the hearts, stars, sunbursts or paper dolls from ribbons in sunny windows.
Combine the stray socks with buttons, beads, and ribbon for a sock puppet, or if you have some stuffing, make a simple sock doll. You might even add pipe cleaner whiskers!
Glue pebbles and origami with one flat side to magnets for use on the fridge.
Almost any kind of "junk" can be made pretty with paint, markers, glitter, etc and hung with string to make creative mobiles.

Other ideas: Paint the tips of pine cones with white glue, sprinkle with glitter and then set aside for holiday decorating next winter; trim an old picture frame by gluing on old buttons or beach shells; cut the pretty postcards so that they fit inside little picture frames or use them to decorate stiff paper that you've folded into note cards. Draw on paper with the edges of soap slivers and then watch the soap resist the paint when you brush on water colors.

Add a cardboard box or two, and the kids can build a house for those sock dolls, complete with "stained glass" windows, rock sidewalks, and pine cone "shrubbery." Make furniture out of small items or cut out of cardboard. Add fabric scraps for tablecloths and bedding, and decorate the "walls" with postcard photos and cancelled stamps. (No sock dolls? Create some paper dolls and move them in!)

Small boxes make great garages for Matchbox cars or turn them into vehicles with CD wheels and "chrome" from foil packages or pie pans. Big boxes can be boats or cars for little kids. If you don't have an appliance carton for a mini-playhouse, drape an old sheet over a table for indoor tenting.

The things you can do are endless... You are only limited by your (or your children's) imagination. And the best thing about all these creations... the kids can take them home for the parents to enjoy.

2009-06-09T05:05:00.000-05:00

The Fourth R...

There is an excellent article in the New York Times about a new study in the Journal of American Academy of Pediatrics that shows the importance of recess (and physical activity) for children's development.

The article states:

The best way to improve children’s performance in the classroom may be to take them out of it.

New research suggests that play and down time may be as important to a child’s academic experience as reading, science and math, and that regular recess, fitness or nature time can influence behavior, concentration and even grades.

A study published this month in the journal Pediatrics studied the links between recess and classroom behavior among about 11,000 children age 8 and 9. Those who had more than 15 minutes of recess a day showed better behavior in class than those who had little or none. Although disadvantaged children were more likely to be denied recess, the association between better behavior and recess time held up even after researchers controlled for a number of variables, including sex, ethnicity, public or private school and class size.

The article goes on to say that children can benefit academically from physical activity and that recess should be a part of every curriculum. I encourage you to read both the article and the study.

I always knew there was a good reason that recess was always my favorite class when I was in school...

2009-06-08T05:28:00.000-05:00

Got Milk?...

I can't believe that I missed National Donut Day last Friday... I was so excited about Gingerbread Day that I just missed it. Oh well, guess I'l just have to put it on the calendar for next year.

Today I want to mention that June is Dairy Month. June Dairy Month first became part of American culture in 1937. It started as National Milk Month, and many chain stores sponsored events to promote drinking milk.

Why should we take note? Well, if you are in the child care profession, I would bet that buying milk is a weekly (or more often) hobby. Dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, etc) are a mainstay of proper daily nutrition for a child. The USDA recommends that children have up to 2 cups of milk (or other calcium rich food) each day. The CACFP (food program) recommends that milk be served at every meal.

So celebrate Dairy Month. Color a special coloring page. Try some dairy craft ideas. Let the kids make their own ice cream. Try some more craft ideas. Try some recipes featuring dairy products. Try some more fun dairy activities and crafts.

Relax. Have a cold glass of milk. Enjoy....

P.S. Just a quick note that tomorrow is Donald Duck's birthday (who was created on June 9, 1934.)

2009-06-05T05:38:00.001-05:00

Life is Like a Cup of Coffee...

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. The conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and in life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an
assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

"What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups and were eyeing each other's cups. Now consider this: Life is the coffee and the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and do not change the quality of Life. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided. So, don't let the cups drive you ... enjoy the coffee instead."

I believe that those of us in child care are more concerned about the "coffee" than the "cup"...

P.S. Today is the anniversary of the birthday of Richard Scarry, one of our all time favorite children's book authors. Read a Busytown book today in his honor...

2009-06-04T05:13:00.000-05:00

How a Baby's Brain Works...

On Tuesday, I pointed you to an article about how young children's minds worked. Today, I would like to share a somewhat related article about how babies minds work...

New scientific research suggests that the mind of a baby is a humming, buzzing, supercharged learning machine, capable of taking in and processing enormous amounts of information. Now that we know this, how should we interact with babies and support their developing minds?

Jonah: "For so long we've seen babies just as unconscious, basically just as these lumps that just want to eat and cry and sleep, and now we think babies are actually more conscious than us. And this comes down to the particular ways babies pay attention. So one of my favorite metaphors for this concerns the idea of, adults pay attention using a spotlight, which means we shine a very bright spotlight on a very narrow slice of reality.

"Babies in contrast, use what's called a lantern mode of attention, which is that, even though their attention is maybe less focused, less fixated, they actually pay more attention to a greater range of things."

"Give babies something to look at, give them something to learn, give them ideas to put inside their heads to try to make sense of. And that can include everything from the Mozart symphony playing in the background, to something on the television, to the sound of your voice. There's nothing more important for a baby than ordinary social interactions."

Check out The inner workings of a baby's brain.

2009-06-03T04:33:00.001-05:00

National Gingerbread Day...

Friday, June 5th is National Gingerbread Day. I'm sure you've had it marked on your calendar for quite a while now... Gingerbread is more traditional at Christmas or during the winter, when the warming effects of the spicy ginger could be most appreciated. Holding a special day for it in June is really just an attempt to popularize it at other times of the year, but it hasn't really caught on. While maybe, "It isn't just for Christmas anymore...", the truth, Virginia, is indeed that it is just too strongly associated in people's minds with Christmas for that to change anytime soon. But hey... any excuse for sweets!

Surprisingly, there is quite a bit on online information for gingerbread. Start out at Annie's Gingerbread Page.

You could start celebrating National Gingerbread Day with pancakes or fresh fruit served with homemade gingerbread syrup. To make the syrup, heat 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, a 4-inch piece of diced fresh ginger and your favorite gingerbread spices to taste, such as cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, nutmeg and allspice. Simmer for about 10 minutes until the syrup is thick. It thickens further after you remove it from the heat.

Build a gingerbread house and let the children decorate... (or my less messy plan... give each child a gingerbread man to frost and decorate. Tell the story "The Gingerbread Man" or "Hansel and Gretel" to a child in your life on National Gingerbread Day. Serve your gingerbread refreshments during the story to fully celebrate the day.

Have some fun on Gingerbread Day!

2009-06-02T05:05:00.001-05:00

Children's Lively Minds At Work...

The following is from Child Care Exchange. It is an interesting article on how people view young children and their ability to learn...

We overestimate children academically and underestimate them intellectually. Lilian Katz
"One of my worries about the growing focus on academics and school readiness in programs for young children is it keeps many teachers from seeing children’s innate, lively minds at work."
Thus Deb Curtis opens her provocative article, "Seeing Children's Lively Minds at Work," in the March/April 2009 issue of Exchange (now available on the Exchange home
page). She continues...
"When teachers are overly concerned about teaching the alphabet and other isolated skills and facts, they may miss children’s serious approaches to tasks and voracious quests to understand the world around them. As Lilian Katz’s quote above suggests, children are more apt to be interested in intellectual pursuits than academic
lessons. I think clarifying the difference between t he two can help teachers see and appreciate children’s thinking, and in turn offer meaningful experiences that engage their lively minds."
"Webster’s dictionary defines academic as 'very learned but inexperienced in practical matters,' 'conforming to the tradition or rules of a school,' and 'a body of established opinion widely accepted as authoritative in a particular field.' And intellectual is defined as 'given to study, reflection, and speculation,' and 'engaged activity requiring the creative use of the intellect.' Obviously it is important for children to learn appropriate academic skills and tasks, but rather than overly focusing on these goals, I strongly claim and enjoy my responsibility to help children become engaged thinkers, excited about the wonders around them. Young children bring an eager disposition to learn all of the time, so it’s my job to find ways to really see, appreciate, and further their intellectual pursuits."
"It’s easy to dismiss children’s explorations because they move quickly, make messes, and put themselves in seemingly risky situations. I have developed the practice of waiting before jumping into a situation to determine what the thinking might be underneath a child’s behavior. I have come to see that with most everything children do they have something in mind; a purpose or question they are pursuing. When I take even their smallest actions seriously, I am astonished at children’s deep engagement with the simple wonders around them; I notice they are studying and speculating, engrossed in the moment."

I encourage you to read the article and tell mw what you think...

2009-06-01T05:48:00.000-05:00

Working Moms Want Safe Child Care!

From the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies:

Currently, over 70 percent of women with children are in the labor force. Over 11 million children under age 5 are in some type of child care setting every week. Yet, Congress has failed to make sure the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), the primary federal funding stream for child care in the United States, keeps children safe and promotes healthy development. The quality of child care varies greatly by state.

Only half the states require a fingerprint check of child care providers to make sure they don’t have a violent record. Only 16 states check the sex offender registry. Few states have any training requirements before providers care for children. In too many states, a child care license means little more than the paper it is written on because states do not routinely inspect or monitor licensed child care providers to check to see if they comply with state standards (such as basic health and safety practices).

Children need safe child care. We ask you to write to First Lady Michelle Obama and your Member of Congress to urge that CCDBG be strengthened this year to keep children safe and to promote healthy development.
Tell me more
Some Facts...
Over 11 million children under age 5 are in child care settings every week.
The #1 concern parents have is the safety of their children. Yet, half the states do not conduct fingerprint checks of child care providers. Only 16 states check the sex offender registry. Without a background check, parents can't know for sure whether their children are safe. The smile of a provider is not enough.
Few states have any training requirements for providers before they care for children. Only 13 states require training in child development. All providers caring for unrelated children should offer settings that promote the healthy development of children.
The inspection or monitoring of licensed child care by too many states is lax. Parents need to know that the license hanging on the wall means more than the piece of paper it is written on.
Parents can't know about the safety and quality of child care settings unless states provide oversight to ensure compliance with state standards (such as basic health and safety standards).
Parents are working. States need to step up their responsibility to ensure that a child care license is meaningful.

Your thoughts? What steps are reasonable and should be done to ensue the safety of children in child care?

2009-05-29T05:19:00.001-05:00

An Inspirational Thought...

Did you know that there is a certain type of bamboo in Japan that only flowers once every 100 years? It's certainly puzzling how this plant can keep track of time, but everything 99 years before it germinates will determine how much the bamboo will bloom. And that's a long time to wait to see the results.

In the same way, children don't always blossom on your timetable. The love, discipline and instruction you pour into their lives cannot be immediately seen. Your job as a caregiver is to prune and nourish the children in anticipation of their blooming. And once they do, you'll see them grow rapidly into patient, loving and consistent people. The latest bloomers often have the most striking and beautiful flowers.

...Have a good weekend. Talk to you next month.

2009-05-28T04:54:00.000-05:00

Child Abuse Prevention Manual...

Here is a free resouce that you should be aware of:

The Child Welfare Information Gateway recently posted a manual entitled “The Role of Professional Child Care Providers in Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse and Neglect.” The manual provides information on the roles and responsibilities of child care providers in preventing, recognizing, and reporting child abuse and neglect within and outside early childhood programs. The manual also presents an overview of prevention efforts, reporting laws, caring for maltreated children, and ways to support parents and professionals who work with families. To download the manual go to: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/childcare/

While you are there, take a look around the website. The Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families. Visit often for the latest on a wide range of topics from prevention to permanency, including child welfare, child abuse and neglect, foster care, and adoption and more...

2009-05-27T05:11:00.000-05:00

2009 Minnesota Legislative Update...

The 2009 legislative session concluded, as required by law, on May 18. The House and Senate submitted a balanced budget to the Governor, however, the Governor’s veto of their tax bill has created a $2.8 billion deficit for the next biennium, which starts July 1. To balance the budget, the Governor has indicated he will not call a special legislative session, but will instead use his unallotment authority to make spending cuts starting July 1. At this point, we do not know what cuts the Governor intends to make. I'll try to share information as it becomes available about the unallotment and the Governor’s plans. This is an unusual outcome for a legislative session.

Several early education and child care bills were passed and signed this session. The Health and Human Services omnibus bill made no cuts to the Child Care Assistance Program and allocated $8 million in federal stimulus funds to help shorten the waiting list for Basic Sliding Fee funds that help working families afford child care.

The Health and Human Services bill also included funding specifically for improving the qualtiy of child care services. $1.6 million was allocated to continue the School Readiness Connections pilot program and language that links the pilot to the Quality Rating System. $3.4 million will be used to continue the Family, Friend and Neighbor pilot program; the Parent Aware Quality Rating System Pilot Program; and fund quality improvements for providers to prepare for participating in the Quality Rating System.

It is disappointing that the Health and Human Services bill used $5.2 million in Basic Sliding Fee funds waiting for re-allocation to Minnesota counties to help solve the state’s budget deficit (i.e., the funds went back to the state’s general fund and will not be used specifically for child care), but overall, the bill was a strong outcome and signals that legislators recognize that affordable, high-quality child care is a critical investment for Minnesota, especially in a difficult economy.

The Governor also signed the E-12 Education bill, leaving intact all of the early childhood provisions. Unfortunately he line-item vetoed several items when he signed other major omnibus spending bills. Specifically:

He signed the Higher Ed bill, but line-item vetoed all state funding for TEACH early childhood provider scholarships ($500,000);
He signed the Bonding bill, but line-item vetoed $85 million worth of projects, including $2 million for Early Childhood Facility Grants.

Again, I'll keep you informed as more details become known.

2009-05-26T05:16:00.001-05:00

How to Select A Child Caregiver...

Whether you are looking for family child care or a center or an in-home option such as a nanny, here are a few tips for you to consider during the selection process:

Always take your child with you when interviewing a possible day care provider. Alternatively, make sure to evaluate how your in-home care provider interacts with your child. Select the care provider that seems to offer services that best fits the needs for your child.
Ask friends, co-workers and relatives for referrals to qualified care givers. Start early in your pregnancy as it can be difficult to find good, affordable child care. Sometimes "word of mouth" is the best way to find the best child care provider.
Use on licensed providers. No matter what type of care you choose, using a licensed provider will provide some degree of assurance that minimum guidelines for operation have at least been met.
Use a referral agency. Some areas offer a free referral service such as Minnesota's Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies for licensed child care providers.
Inspect the day care facility before signing a contract or agreeing to your selected care giver's services. Licensed facilities should have a safety plan including an evacuation plan posted, depending on state requirements. Check for cleanliness and nap facilities. See how other children interact with care givers and other children in attendance.
Discuss sick policies. Does the caregiver have a back-up care giver, if he/she should become ill? Are you responsible for finding alternate care while your care provider is ill? Will your child care giver take care of your sick child?
Discuss discipline. What actions will the care giver take to discipline a child who misbehaves? Does this fit within your views of how your child should be disciplined?
Discuss vacation policies. Will you need to pay any portion of your child care fee while you are on vacation?
Discuss work schedules. Will your care provider be willing to care for your child outside of his/her normal work hours? Does the care facility offer night and week end hours? Will there be extra fees charged if you are late for picking up your child?
Consider if the day care facility provides meals and snacks for your child. Licensed child care providers, whether in the family care home or large day care facility, can participate in a federal nutrition program. Child care providers follow much the same guidelines as the federal school lunch program and are reimbursed by the federal government for food costs. Finding a child care facility that offers meals using the federal guidelines ensures your child will receive nutritionally balanced meals and snacks. As a parent, you are not required to provide meals which can be a bonus as it's one less thing to worry about before heading to work.
Always review the contract with the day care facility or home. Care givers usually have facility rules which must be complied with.
Try to hire care givers that have had a security check done. Most, if not all, licensed care givers will have a security check done as part of the licensing process. The best ones will also have had finger prints taken and checked.
Perform an unannounced visit after placing your child in a day care facility. Allow your child to adjust to the new day care setting before dropping by unannounced. The unannounced visit will allow you to see what a typical day is like for your child. During the visit observe how happy the children are, how clean the facility is, and look to see if the care giver is operating what you consider a good facility for your child.
Finally... always pay your bill on time. Realize your care giver's job is important and deserves respect.

For you child care providers... How do you rate compared to this checklist?

2009-05-25T05:59:00.001-05:00

Memorial Day Story...

I hope you are having a great Memorial Day weekend. I just wanted to share a favorite Memorial Day story with you...

EAGLE BASE, Bosnia and Herzegovina
(Army News Service, May 22, 2002) --
It was raining "cats and dogs," and I was late for physical training. Traffic was backed up at Fort Campbell, Ky., and was moving way too slowly. I was probably going to be late and I was growing more and more impatient.

The pace slowed almost to a standstill as I passed Memorial Grove, the site built to honor the soldiers who died in the Gander airplane crash, the worst redeployment accident in the history of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Because it was close to Memorial Day, a small American flag had been placed in the ground next to each soldier's memorial plaque.

My concern at the time, however, was getting past the bottleneck, getting out of the rain and getting to PT on time. All of a sudden, infuriatingly, just as the traffic was getting started again, the car in front of me stopped. A soldier, a private of course, jumped out in the pouring rain and ran over toward the grove.

I couldn't believe it! This knucklehead was holding up everyone for who knows what kind of prank. Horns were honking. I waited to see the butt-chewing that I wanted him to get for making me late.

He was getting soaked to the skin. His BDUs were plastered to his frame. I watched as he ran up to one of the memorial plaques, picked up the small American flag that had fallen to the ground in the wind and the rain, and set it upright again. Then, slowly, he came to attention, saluted, ran back to his car, and drove off.

I'll never forget that incident. That soldier, whose name I will never know, taught me more about duty, honor, and respect than a hundred books or a thousand lectures.

That simple salute -- that single act of honoring his fallen brother and his flag -- encapsulated all the Army values in one gesture for me. It said, "I will never forget. I will keep the faith. I will finish the mission. I am an American soldier."

I thank God for examples like that. And on this Memorial Day, I will remember all those who paid the ultimate price for my freedom, and one private, soaked to the skin, who honored them.

(Note: The author, Capt. John Rasmussen, is now a chaplain with Multinational Division North in Bosnia. Story courtesy of Army News Service.)

2009-05-22T05:40:00.000-05:00

National Missing Children's Day...

Monday may be Memorial Day, but May 25th is also National Missing Children's Day.

It's one of the worst possible nightmares for parents: having a child go missing. Measures to keep children safe continue to increase, yet it only takes seconds to have a loved one go missing--almost literally before your eyes. Many innocent children continue to be abducted by strangers each year, often with parents nearby.

National Missing Children's Day was first proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan 27 years ago and observed by every administration since. May 25th is the anniversary of the day in 1979 when 6-year-old Etan Patz disappeared from a New York street corner on his way to school.

His story captivated the nation. His photo, taken by his father, a professional photographer, was circulated nationwide and appeared in media across the nation and around the world. Etan became the poster-child for a movement. The powerful image came to symbolize the anguish and trauma of thousands of searching families.

For nearly three decades, the search for Etan has continued. Just as that day when President Reagan proclaimed the first National Missing Children's Day, Etan is still missing. The widespread attention brought to his case and those of others eventually led to a nationwide commitment to help locate and recover missing children.

National Missing Children's Day honors this commitment by reminding parents, guardians, and other trusted-adult role models to make child safety a priority.

What can you do to help?

Even though most children are taken by people they know, it can help to teach your children about "Stranger Danger." Take the quiz to see how their knowledge rates.
Take 25 minutes to talk to your children about safety. NCMEC's (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children) national campaign encourages parents, guardians, and other trusted-adult role models to spend time talking to kids and teaching them ways to be safer.
Donate to support NCMEC programs and services.
Add a banner or link to www.missingkids.com.
Opt to receive posters of missing children via e-mail.
Search and view posters from our database of missing children.
Sign up to receive Wireless AMBER Alerts.
Use your NetSmartz! NCMEC’s award-winning, interactive, educational safety program that teaches children how to be safer on- and offline.
Promote National Missing Children's Day

Some more links to child safety information and resources:

2009-05-21T05:33:00.000-05:00

Monday is Memorial Day...

Next Monday, May 25th is Memorial Day. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the civil war), it was expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any war or military action.

Many people observe this holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorials. Volunteers often place American flags on each gravesite at National Cemeteries. Many Americans also use Memorial Day to honor other family members who have died.

Though the three day weekend is great, I think it is important to educate the children about the meaning behind Memorial Day. It's also appropriate to make the day not just about remembering those who have fought for and died for out country in the past, but also about those who are currently serving.

Here are a few Memorial Day resources for you to try:

Many activities at Apples 4 The Teacher.
More activites and resources at Family Education.
Recipes, crafts, and more at Annies.
Lots of printables and teacher resources at Teacher Vision.
More craft ideas at Suite 101.
Lots of great things at Kaboose.

Make some time to plan some Memorial Day activities to do with your children over the next couple days...

2009-05-20T05:00:00.000-05:00

Who's Teaching The Preschoolers?

Question: What are your thoughts on pre-school? Are very young children better off constantly interacting with a dedicated adult parent to stimulate their brain growth, or is there a benefit to socializing them with their peers at an early age? What's the optimum balance of this for raising an intelligent yet independent and socially adept child?

An excellent response by Dr. T. Berry Brazelton (of the Brazelton Institute) that talks about quality child care and what constitutes quality care.

My favorite quote from the article is this:

The reality is that while the human brain never grows and develops more rapidly and dramatically than in the first three years of life, children's most important learning experience will not come from videos or computer programs but from interactions with those who care about them most - parents, teachers, siblings and peers.

I think that Dr. Brazelton hits the bullseye. Early education is important and the age old fight on whether child care is better or worse for the child is not important. What is important is quality of care... if that come from the parents or other caregivers does not matter. What counts is that the foundations for lifelong learning are instilled early in life.

I hope that you read the article. Let me know your opinion...

2009-05-19T06:33:00.000-05:00

Happy Frog Jumping Jubilee Day...

Yep, you heard right. Today - Tuesday, May 19th, 2009 - is Frog Jumping Jubilee Day. On this date, in 1928, the first jumping frog contest was held in Calaveras County, California. You may be familiear with the original Mark Twain tale of the event. Here is some commentary on the event.

This may be a strange holiday... but hey another reason to celebrate with the kids! And they will have fun with this one. So Jump around. Jump around. Jump up, jump up and get down. JUMP! Play a game of leap frog... sing Froggie Went A-Courtin'... make a few frog crafts... eat some green foods (instead of flies)... Kermit would be proud!

2009-05-18T06:04:00.000-05:00

Free Downloadable Book...

So how was your weekend? I hope you had a good one... Today I'd like to share a free resource from the internet with you...

Did you know that parents and caregivers are child’s most important teachers? Research shows that spending even a few minutes each day to read, write, and talk with children helps them develop the language skills they need for future success. You’re probably already working on
developing these skills every day because grown-ups and children practice literacy skills just by reading, writing, talking, and listening.

You can have fun reading and writing with preschool-age children with Our Book By Us!/Nuestro Libro iHecho Por Nostros! from Reading Is Fundamental. This free downloadable book can be used to encourage children to read, write, listen, and talk.

The back of the book also includes some great additional activities to do with the children to promote early literacy. Check it out!

2009-05-15T05:24:00.000-05:00

Time for Graduations...

Well we finally made it to Friday again. I hope your week has been a good one. Tomorrow morning, my husband and I (and the kids) leave for Jamaica... Yep, Jamaica, Iowa. Population around 225 people plus a few dogs. I don't think there is any possibility of getting in some snorkeling... We are going down for the weekend to attend my niece's high school graduation. Yes, it is that time of year when the graduation invitations start coming.

What I really enjoy is getting graduation announcements from children that I used to care for in child care. I've been doing this for a few years now, so I get a some every year. I have a couple of these invitations for graduation parties this year and while it is a vivid reminder that I am not getting any younger, it is a joy to visit with the parents again and talk to the children who are now young adults but still have memories of life at child care. It's one of those satisfying intangibles that make this job worthwhile.

People may not remember who was President when they were a toddler or who won the NBA MVP when they were in preschool, but they remember the special people who cared for them, taught them, and helped them grow. I think that this is important for us to think about on those days when nothing seems to go right and the children have you at wit's end. (Yes, those days do occasionally happen to us all.) When you're not sure what to do next, think about how the child may remember this the rest of their lives and it will help influence what you do.

Brings to mind a poem that I really enjoy titled The Dash...

I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
from the beginning... to the end.
He noted that first came her date of birth
and spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of
all was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents
all the time that she spent alive on earth...
And now only those who loved
her know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not how much we
own;the cars... the house... the cash.
What matters is how we live and
love and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard...
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much
time is left,that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real;
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
and show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect,
and more often wear a smile...
Remembering that this special dash
might only last a while.

So, when your eulogy's being read
With your life's actions to rehash...
Would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent your dash?

Hey, have a good weekend and I'll talk to you on Monday!

2009-05-14T05:15:00.001-05:00

The 2008 State Preschool Yearbook...

For today, I thought that I would share a differnt type of reasource with you... This recently realeased report is the sixth in a series of annual reports profiling state-funded prekindergarten programs in the United States. This latest Yearbook presents data on state-funded prekindergarten during the 2007-2008 school year. The first report in this series focused on programs for the 2001- 2002 school year and established a baseline against which we may now measure progress over seven years.

Tracking these trends is essential, since changes in states' policies on preschool education will influence how successfully America's next generation will compete in the knowledge economy.

The 2008 Yearbook is organized into three major sections.

The first section offers a summary of the data, and describes national trends for enrollment in, quality of, and spending on preschool.
The second section presents detailed profiles outlining each state's policies with respect to preschool access, quality standards, and resources for the 2007-2008 program year. In addition to providing basic program descriptions, these state profiles describe unique features of a state's program and recent changes that can be expected to alter the future Yearbook statistics on a program. Profile pages are again included for states without state-funded programs. A description of our methodology follows the state profiles.
The last section of the report contains appendices, which are available online only. The appendices include tables that provide the complete 2007-2008 survey data obtained from every state, as well as Head Start, child care, U.S. Census, and special education data.

This report will serve as a resource for policymakers, advocates, and researchers to make more informed decisions as state-funded preschool education moves forward.

While parents strive to guide children's growth and development in the home, state and local governments bear primary responsibility for classroom-based education in the United States. Programs that serve young children operate under a variety of names and auspices, including the federal Head Start program as well as privately and publicly funded child care. State prekindergarten programs will play an increasingly important role as part of this larger array of programs.

The Yearbook seeks to improve the public's knowledge and understanding of state efforts to expand the availability of high-quality education to young children in the 21st century. Though this is not a resource that all of you will use, this can be interesting in seeing how the states differ in their approach, assessablility, and quality of preschool.

Limited time offer: Receive a free printed copy of the Yearbook:
To receive a free printed copy of the 2008 State Preschool Yearbook, please e-mail your name and mailing address to yearbook@nieer.org. Complimentary copies of some previous editions are also available. Or you can download the complete report.

2009-05-13T05:12:00.000-05:00

Report on The Current Status of MELF...

We haven't talked about MELF in a while, but the organization dedicated to inproving schoold readiness is still in action, though perhaps not quite as visible as it once was. The following is an article published last week in the MinnPost...

Major early childhood experiment hits money woes, still aims high
MELF – that's the sound a tire makes when it runs over a nail.
The Minnesota Early Learning Foundation (MELF) has hit a nail of its own, a down economy and lower-than-expected fundraising. Its 2009 budget has been deflated by 36 percent, from $7.8 million to $5 million.
It is suspending support for 500 Under 5, an early childhood initiative in north Minneapolis, and for the Wayzata-based Caring for Kids Initiative,) until additional funds are secured. St. Paul's Early Childhood Scholarship Program — MELF's flagship — is losing funding, too, and will eliminate its parent mentoring support to keep more children enrolled.MELF's successes and funding challenges are explained in its recently released 2008 annual report. (pdf) Things could change as fundraising efforts and state early childhood funding decisions evolve.

MELF's mission is to recommend cost-effective strategies for preparing children to succeed in school. The project was always time-limited, running through 2011. MELF is forging ahead with the St. Paul early childhood scholarship program, program evaluations and Parent Aware, a rating system that helps parents judge early childhood program quality.
MELF is trying to put some air back in its tires, too, says board member Art Rolnick, senior vice president and director of research for the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank. True, MELF had hoped to raise $30 million and it has raised $14 million so far, he said. On the optimistic side, the MELF board unanimously agreed at its last meeting to increase funding by another $5 million — and it will come from the board members. (For the 2008 board members list, click here.)
Pilot programs see varying impact
The city of Minneapolis' 500 Under 5 program targeted services to 1,000 young children and their families in two northside neighborhoods. It included parent education and connecting families to high-quality early childhood programs. It had created an expectation with the families and targeted neighborhoods that the program would run through 2011.
The MELF cuts sent staff scrambling. A letter for the 500 Under 5 leadership team
called it "a significant setback."
Maureen Seiwert, a member of the leadership team, said with belt tightening, more in-kind support from partners and other changes, the budget is almost balanced for 2009. "We have no guarantee after that," said Seiwert, executive director for early childhood education for Minneapolis Public Schools.
It does not appear that the new infusion of MELF money will help 500 Under 5 or Wayzata's Caring for Kids Initiative. They both plan to seek funding from other foundations.MELF also cut innovation grants, ending five projects earlier than scheduled. They included Anoka Community Action' s home visiting program and Joyce Preschool's program to expand supports for Spanish-speaking families.
The early childhood rollercoaster
There is a long history of early childhood research, starting with Perry Preschool, that suggests early childhood education pays for itself in the long run. Rolnick has written about it, too.
There have been many initiatives to bolster early childhood programs. United Way first started working on Success by Six in the late 1980s. In 1991 the Minnesota Business Partnership issued an Education Agenda for Minnesota stating: "A strong and effective early childhood development program must be included as a part of the mission of the state's education system." Later in the 1990s Minneapolis tried Neighborhood Early
Learning Centers (never quite lived up to expectations). In 2002 Hennepin County
issued its "Ready to Read and Succeed" report (never got traction).
The list goes on. State data (reported by MELF) says that only about half the kids who entered kindergarten in 2007 were ready for school.
Is MELF just one more example of early childhood education's roller coaster of money and initiatives?
Rolnick remains optimistic. "We will show such incredible results that as the economy improves this will be a high priority," he said. "We are going to bring a proposal to create a permanent $1.5 billion endowment that would permanently fund these kinds of programs."
As Rolnick sees it, Minnesota is still a wealthy state, producing more than $220 billion annually in gross state product. He suggests a 5-year capital campaign. The state kicks a half billion. The Obama administration has proposed Early Learning Challenge Grants; that should be good for another half billion. And he's almost sure the private sector will
contribute matching money.
"We can easily afford an endowment like this," Rolnick said. "We found $400 million for the Twins. … Let's talk about priorities well before we consider funding another stadium.

2009-05-12T05:07:00.000-05:00

Plan a Picnic in May...

A while back I mentioned that May seems to be the National "Month of Something" Month. May is National Hamburger Month. It is also National Barbecue Month (did you know that there was a National Barbecue Association?), National Salad Month (sponsored, of course, by the Association for Sauces and Dressings), National Egg Month (the incredible edible egg), National Strawberry Month (yummy!), and even National Asparagus Month.

I think to only way to go is to get out the grill, make some salads and deviled eggs and get outside to enjoy a picnic! The kids will have a blast and it's a great time to be outdoors. If you're feeling ambitious, it is a great time to have a family event where you invite all the kids and their parents and make a fun day of it. It is a great way to build relationships between your families. AND after your meal is done, don't forget about National Chocolate Custard Month.

If you're a little worried about all this food because May is National Stroke Awareness Month and National High Blood Pressure Month... There is a solution... May is also National Physical Fitness and Sports Month and National Bike Month so you can work off those extra calories.

Whew, now I'm about all celebrated out...

2009-05-11T05:25:00.001-05:00

Request For Action...

I hope you had a wonderful weekend and a Happy Mother's Day yesterday. It was an enjoyable weekend here in Minnesota... and for the Minnesota people reading this... the following notice is from Ready 4 K and Child Care Works...

Now is the time to take ACTION!
You are needed NOW to participate and influence.

The conference committee deadline is approaching. The work of the Conference Committees is dependent on leadership and the Governor reaching consensus on budget targets. As the final decisions are being made at the Capitol we need leadership on our side! We need their support to keep early childhood care and education a priority. Please call the House and Senate leadership and tell them:

"Thanks for making early childhood care and education a top priority. Please continue to invest in our youngest Minnesotans."

Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson-Kelliher - 651-296-0171
Senate Majority Leader Lawrence Pogemiller - 651-296-7809

Other opportunities to participate:
Watch this video from Invest in Minnesota. This video features St Matthew's Child Care Center on the West Side of St Paul. http://www.investinmn.org/video.html

Also, consider joining Invest in Minnesota's Rally today, Monday, May 11, at Noon. Invest in Minnesota's non-profit, faith and labor communities will gather at the State Capitol Rotunda for a rally that demonstrates organizational and citizen commitment to raising revenues fairly to maintain adequate funding for jobs, dignity, and public services that meet essential needs in communities.

Deadline for responding: Please take action ASAP!
Thanks for your help!

2009-05-08T04:52:00.001-05:00

Provider Appreciation Day...

We've already talked about how today is Provider Appreciation Day. I just want to say thanks for all the hard work that you do in caring for the children and I hope you have a great day!

Forever In My Heart

Although I'm not their mother
I care for them each day.
I cuddle, sing and read to them
and watch them as they play.

I see each new accomplishment,
I help them grow and learn.
I understand their language.
I listen with concern.

They come to me for comfort,
and I kiss away their tears.
They proudly show their work to me,
I give the loudest cheers!

No, I am not their mother,
but my role is just as strong.
I nurture them and keep them safe,
though maybe not for long.

I know someday the time may come
when I will have to part,
but I know each child I cared for
is forever in my heart!
~Author Unknown

P.S. And as long as we are celebrating... today is "No Socks Day".

2009-05-07T05:50:00.000-05:00

Encourage Little Kids to Move...

This is a great time of year here in Minnesota. Nice enough for the kids to spend most of the day outdoors without being too hot or too cold and it's too early for the annual onslaught of mosquitos. The kids I care for, love to be outdoors and be able to run and play. It is great to promote physical development and a healthy, fit lifestyle.

Kids need exercise just as much as they need books. In fact, teaching physical skills helps kids learn better throughout their school day. Many studies suggest a link between a child's overall health and learning. Physical fitness can affect everything from a child's behavior to his ability to focus on tasks. Movement is a basic fact of a young child's makeup. Early childhood expert Mimi Chenfeld says it best: "Moving is as natural to learning as breathing is to living."

However, just like you do with older kids, you may need to encourage preschoolers to get enough physical play. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education suggests the following fitness guidelines for young children.

Toddlers should accumulate 30 minutes of structured physical activity daily.
Preschoolers should accumulate 60 minutes of structured physical activity daily.
Both preschoolers and toddlers should engage in at least 60 minutes and up to several hours of unstructured physical activity daily.
Young children should not be sedentary for more than 60 minutes at time, except when sleeping.

The best way to get a child up and moving is to do it with them. It's great fun, and not that hard to incorporate exercise into the time you spend with your child. You don't need to enroll her in lots of classes and sports to encourage a healthy lifestyle. So what should you do to promote physical development?

Provide structured play... Small children need help learning motor skills. They must go through several developmental steps to learn how to coordinate their movements into efficient running, throwing, catching, and the like. "There is a common misconception that if you kick kids out to play, they will learn" on their own, says Jackie Goodway, Ph.D., an associate professor of motor development and elementary physical education pedagogy at Ohio State University. "But it's like reading–if you don't teach them, provide feedback, and offer them appropriate opportunities to practice and learn," they won't become proficient at those skills.

Provide age-appropriate toys and equipment, such as a wiffle ball and a fat plastic bat instead of a heavy wooden one. If you do enroll your child in a movement class, make sure it is appropriate for his developmental level. Kids this age are not ready for team sports, and they should not spend time waiting for their turn on the sidelines–instead of one ball and 10 kids, for example, each child should have her own ball.

Actively play with the kids... try some of the following:

Tag or chase: For variety, hop, waddle, or dance instead of running
Catch or kickball (experiment with balls of different sizes and textures)
Swimming or other water play, such as running in a sprinkler or washing the car
Crawling through a cardboard-box tunnel
Use music to inspire movement, Dancing: Add scarves or ribbons to make it more exciting
Balancing: Have your child walk on a piece of string or tape, a low beam or plank at the playground, or a homemade balance beam.
Playing pretend: Kids boost gross motor skills when they use their bodies to become waddling ducks, stiff-legged robots, galloping horses, soaring planes—whatever their imagination conceives!
Riding tricycles, scooters, and other ride-on toys; pulling wagons or pushing large trucks or shopping carts.
Building and navigating obstacle courses–indoors with furniture, pillows, boxes, blankets; outdoors with rocks, logs, or playground equipment.
Swinging, sliding, and climbing at a playground or indoor play space

Physical fitness equipment doesn't need to be expensive. Here are some great ideas on things that you can make yourself. So get those kids moving! They will have fun and you might enjoy it as well.

2009-05-06T04:07:00.000-05:00

Mother's Day is coming...

This Sunday (May 10th) is Mother's Day. Though it is celebrated at different times in different countries, Mother's Day is celebrated around the world.

As child care providers, we certainly want to acknowledge mothers. They are one of, if not the most, influential person in a child's life. Mothers are often your main contact for the families you provide care for and quite simply, without mothers we would be out of business...

Here are some favorite links and reaources for you to use:

Probably more information about Mother's Day than you could imagine as Day For Mothers.com.
Find crafts, receipes, coloring pages, gift ideas and more at Holidays.net.
Lots of cards, crafts, gift ideas, receipes and more at the Holiday Spot.
Poems, art ideas, crafts, activities and more at Kaboose.
You will find the history of mothers day, poems and quotes to the event, fun facts, wallpapers, screensavers, easy recipes to cook for your mom, and even certificates that say " Mom, You are the best!" at Kidsgen.com.
Lots of free e-cards at Deepest Feelings.
Lots of games for kids at Primary Games.
Of course, Everything Mother's Day has everything about Mother's Day.
Can't forget some more of my favorite craft sites that include: Danielle's Place, Billy Bear 4 Kids, Black Dog, Perpetual Preschool, Annies, Alphabet Soup, DLTK Crafts, Family Fun, Michaels, Apples 4 The Teacher, and Amazing Moms.

That should keep us busy for a couple days... Have some fun getting your kids ready for Mother's Day!

2009-05-05T05:09:00.000-05:00

Teacher Appreciation Week 2009...

May 3rd through 9th is Teacher Apprecation Week. It is a week in the academic calendar which is dedicated to all of our teachers around the world. It is a time to say thank you to our teachers for all of their help and show our gratitude for all the time and effort that they have put in our education.

Along with Teacher Appreaciation Week, today (May 5th) is National Teacher Day. On National Teacher Day, we take time out to honor local educators and acknowledge the contributions they make to our lives. The Teacher Day annual theme has been replaced with a standing tagline, "Great Teachers Make Great Public Schools," and draws attention to the crucial role teachers play in making sure every child receives a quality public education and conveys the hard work they do each day to make public schools great for every child.

Some links for craft and gift ideas:

Thanks to all you dedicated people who help to educate the children! I hope that this week you can get some of the appreciation that you deserve.

2009-05-04T05:47:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo...

Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo (which is Spanish for 5th of May). It is is a regional holiday in Mexico that commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely defeat of French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. However, Cinco de Mayo is not an obligatory federal holiday in Mexico. While Cinco de Mayo has limited or no significance nationwide in Mexico, the date is observed in the United States and other locations around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride.

Some things to do:

Games, songs, crafts and more at Kiddyhouse.
Make red, white, and green paper chains to decorate the room.
Look at About.com to check out many fun Cinco de Mayo crafts.
Print out one or more of these Cinco de Mayo coloring pages.
Learn more about Cinco De Mayo.
Make costumes and have a fancy parade.
Try some of these Cinco De Mayo Recipes.
Find Mexico on a map.
Have a Cinco De Mayo party.
Jump around and pretend you are a Mexican jumping bean.
Apples 4 the Teacher has some great info and ideas.
Many more resources at the Holiday Zone.

Have a great 5th of May!

P.S. Today (May 4th) is National Weather Observer's Day. Our thanks to the more than 11,000 Cooperative Weather Observers across the United States, who donate more than one million hours each year to collect the weather data that becomes our national climate records. Observers also add to the stream of information that the National Weather Service (NWS) uses to forecast weather, water and climate conditions, issue severe weather and flood warnings, and record the climates of the United States.

2009-05-02T05:20:00.000-05:00

Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Information for Child Care Providers

Thought I would share some more information about the Influenza A (H1N1) and what you should consider preparing for as a child care provider...

You may be receiving questions from the families you work with regarding your plans or thoughts on managing flu in your program. The following guidelines are good, general health guidelines. They may also be helpful as you create a plan for managing this new illness and/or managing the concerns of parents. It is very likely you will never need to put this plan into action. It still may be reassuring to have such information on hand.You can help protect the health of yourself and the children and families you serve by calling attention to the every day preventive actions that parents can initiate to protect their children.

Please consider posting or distributing the following message in your child care facility:
Preventing the Flu: Good Health Habits Can Help Stop Germs (Fact Sheet)

For child care providers, it would be prudent to:

First and most importantly, remind parents and enforce policies for having ill children stay at home during their illness.
In addition, remind and inform workers not to come to work while ill.
A child may be infectious for up to 10 days after illness onset with influenza while adults are generally infectious for 5-7 days.
Review your plans for responding to a pandemic and make sure they are up to date.
Know local/state plans for child care in the event of a mild or severe pandemic.
This information may be available from state or local health authorities, child care licensing agencies or resource and referral agencies.
Develop and implement a system to track illness and absence due to illness among children and staff if one is not already in place. The system should be simple and easy to maintain but should record the number of persons with various illnesses (e.g. respiratory, diarrhea, rash) by day or at least by week (see Caring for Our Children Standards 3.001 and 3.002 for information on how to do this).
Review and implement CDC Guidelines and Recommendations for Preventing the Spread of Influenza (the Flu) in Child Care Settings: Guidance for Administrators, Care Providers, and Other Staff Make sure staff are familiar with the above guidelines and that they are being followed in your program. Remind child care staff to clean/disinfect frequently touched surfaces within the facility. Provide information to parents on steps that they could take to prevent flu. (This fact sheet could be distributed to each parent or posted on a door to the facility).
Monitor the postings on the CDC web site about this virus to see if child care facilities should begin preparing for possible closure or changes in operation.
Contact your local public health department if you have questions or suspected cases. Review your facilities emergency preparedness plans and consult with state and/or local health department’s pandemic plans, particularly if the number of cases escalates dramatically.

More information:

Child Care and Preschool Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist
Preparing for Disaster: The Parent View
Planning information for schools, including examples of state and local plans, can be found on the Department of Education's website
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevent (CDC) has developed guidelines for how child care providers in all settings can help prevent the spread of swine flu (78 KB). Note: Conditions and situations are changing rapidly and the recommendations could change over time.
The CDC has also developed a fact sheet entitled Preventing the Flu: Good Health Habits Can Help Stop Germs (25 KB) that can be posted in child care settings or distributed to parents.
The CDC has developed a Q&A for caregivers that addresses the most commonly asked questions regarding swine flu such as: What is swine flu; What are the symptoms; How can one keep from getting it; etc.
The CDC has also developed a publication entitled Getting Prepared for a Flu Pandemic: A Planning Kit for Child Care Providers, which gives providers the tools and resources to plan, prepare and respond to a flu pandemic. Coming soon!
NACCRRA has developed a resource for child care providers entitled Nurturing Children After Disasters: A Booklet for Child Care Providers to help them plan and prepare for general disasters.
The Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) has developed a checklist entitled Child Care and Preschool Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist (PDF) to help child care programs prepare for the effects of a flu pandemic.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has developed a document entitled Preventing the Flu in 2008-2009: Strategies and Resources for Child Care Providers and Out-of-Home Caregivers of Children (PDF) that provides practical advice on how to prevent the flu in child care settings.
The U.S. Department of Education has developed a document entitled H1N1 Flu & U.S. Schools: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (PDF). This document provides information for school leaders on appropriate measures to take to prevent the spread of the swine flu virus.
Information for Parents
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed a Q&A for parents that addresses the most commonly asked questions regarding swine flu such as: What is swine flu; What are the Symptoms; How can one keep from getting it; etc.
NACCRRA has developed a brochure for parents entitled What's the Plan that provides parents with the proper questions to ask to a child care provider to ensure children are safe during disasters.
The U.S. Department of Education has developed a video for parents entitled Preparing for Pandemic Flu: A Family Checklist Video that defines the four flu variations and suggests things parents can do to prepare for it. (Note: to see this video, your computer must have Real Player, which is free from Real)

I will continue to share information as it becomes available.

2009-05-01T06:12:00.000-05:00

Happy May Day...

Good morning, I wish you a Happy May Day. But, did you know that today is also Mother Goose Day? Mother Goose Day was founded in 1987, as a day to appreciate nursery rhymes and stories. They are a favorite of children and their parents.

The term "Mother Goose" dates back to the 1650's. It refered to stories like Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty. It does not appear to represent a particular person, as many of "Mother Goose" stories were written both before and after this term was first used. And, the stories were written by numerous authors.

Children are taught basic skills through rhythm and rhyme. Children love nursery rhymes: they are delighted by mastering the familiar rhymes, many of which have been set to simple melodies.

Nursery rhymes can be used to teach important information in an entertaining way:

counting
abc's
body parts
vocabulary - word lists

Each nursery rhyme is a little story unto itself. In many ways they function as simple parables. Traditionally, nursery rhymes have been a vehicle for children to safely explore age appropriate questions about identity and their emotions. Many of these rhymes help children to confront their fears about losing things, getting in trouble or getting hurt.

There are many ways to use Mother Goose rhymes in the curriculum. Art work projects include making humpty dumpty mobiles, cotton ball lambs, decorated mittens and bright aluminum stars.

To learn everything you ever wanted to know about Mother Goose, go to the Mother Goose Society webpage.
Some great ideas to celebrate Mother Goose Day at eHow.
I'm not sure why this is on a police department website, but this is a great collection of Mother Goose rhymes.
Even more at this website and here and here.
Some good ideas for Mother Goose Day at Alphabet Soup.
These and many, many more links at the Nursery Rhyme page.

Most importantly, enjoy "Mother Goose Day" by reading Mother Goose stories and rhymes to the children!

By the way... today is also Space Day. The first day of May and we already have 3 things to celebrate... What a great month May is turning out to be!

2009-04-30T05:30:00.002-05:00

May Day...

Tomorrow is the first of May, otherwise known as May Day. May Day marks the end of the half of the year in the Northern hemisphere, and it has traditionally been an occasion for popular and often raucous celebrations, regardless of the locally prevalent political or religious establishment.

May Day was also celebrated by some early European settlers of the American continent. The Puritans frowned on May Day, so the day has never been celebrated with as much enthusiasm in the United States as in Great Britain. But the tradition of celebrating May Day by dancing and singing around a maypole, tied with colorful streamers or ribbons, survived as a part of the English tradition. The kids celebrating the day by moving back and forth around the pole with the the streamers, choosing of May queen, and hanging of May baskets on the doorknobs of folks -- are all the leftovers of the old European traditions.

Traditional May baskets are small and usually filled with flowers or treats and left at someone's doorstep. The basket giver would ring the bell and run away. The person receiving the basket would try to catch the fleeing giver. If they caught the person, a kiss was to be exchanged.

But enough history, lets look for some resources and fun things to do with the children...

As always, DLTK has lots of craft ideas and activities.
Kaboose also has some great craft ideas.
Preschool Education has some fun song ideas to share with the children.
About.com has some more May Day crafts and info.
Perpetual Preschool has snacks, games, art, and more.
First School is another site to check for May Day activities.
Preschool Express has games, songs, and more.
Don't forget to check out Crayola.com for coloring and craft ideas.

Hope you have a great May Day! How can you not love a holiday when it is good luck to touch a cow!

2009-04-29T18:40:00.002-05:00

Update on the Swine Flu....

In light of recent news, I thought I shold put out this update...

One of the greatest concerns for many Americans today is the swine flu. The World Health Organization today said the first pandemic since 1968 is imminent after the outbreak spread to at least nine nations. Infections have been identified in 11 states in the U.S. The WHO raised its six-step pandemic alert to 5 from 4, the second jump in three days.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has been considering the implications of the flu pandemic for early childcare. With the recent outbreak of the swine influenza, the Center for Disease Control has requested that NAEYC inform our community of the following precautions to prevent the potential spread of swine influenza.

The CDC has identified cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in people in California, Texas and Kansas with possible cases in New York. CDC is working with local and state health agencies to investigate these cases. It has been determined that this virus is spreading from human to human.

Mexico has reported increased levels of respiratory disease including reports of severe pneumonia cases and deaths. In Mexico, where the toll is highest, 159 people may have died of the disease, according to officials there. U.S. cases jumped to 94, from 64 yesterday, and included a 22-month-old boy from Mexico who died in a Houston hospital. The swine influenza viruses identified by CDC from cases in Mexico are similar to swine influenza viruses from patients in the United States, however the limited number of patients identified thus far in the US have not been severe, with only one hospitalized person. However, the CDC is concerned about these cases in the United States and the World Health Organization are concerned about continued spread of this new virus. Right now, there is no vaccine for this new virus and the current seasonal influenza is thought to be unlikely to provide protection against this new strain.

For more detailed information about what child care providers should be doing to prevent the potential infection or spread of this disease, please click here.

For up-to-date information, please see the CDC's Web site or view their swine influenza specific site here.

For a printable flyer to distribute to your staff and colleagues, please click here

2009-04-29T06:10:00.000-05:00

Children's Mental Health Awareness Week...

Next week - May 3rd through 9th, the first full week in May, has been declared National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week to increase the public awareness of well-being and human development of our nation’s children and youth. And May 7th has been declared National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day.

National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day (Awareness Day) is a day to promote positive youth development, resilience, recovery, and the transformation of mental health services delivery for children and youth with serious mental health needs and their families. Awareness Day raises awareness of effective programs for children's mental health needs; demonstrates how children's mental health initiatives promote positive youth development, recovery, and resilience; and shows how children with mental health needs thrive in their communities.

The theme for this year's national event is Thriving in the Community, with a special emphasis on how high school youth who receive the services they need are more likely to have positive outcomes, such as better grades, and less likely to have negative outcomes, such as involvement with the juvenile and criminal justice systems.

The National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health invites everyone to take this week to promote positive mental health, well-being and social development for all children and youth. Join the National Federation in sending out the following messages:

Mental health is essential to overall health and well being.
Serious emotional and mental health disorders in children and youth are real and treatable.
Children and youth with mental health challenges and their families deserve access to services and supports that are family driven, youth guided and culturally appropriate.
Stigma associated with mental illness should no longer exist.

In addition to the above links, there is a wealth of resources on the Mental Health America website.

If you are interesting in learning more about the importance of mental health in young children, I encourage you to take the classes on The Six Keys: Strategies for Promoting Children’s Mental Health in Early Childhood Programs. These are an excellent series of workshops about promoting positive mental health in young children begins in infancy with responsive caregiving by the important people in a baby's life and proceeds through early childhood with consistent and quality nurturing and caregiving.

2009-04-28T06:20:00.000-05:00

A Bit of History...

I was thinking that with the upcoming Provider Appreciation Day, that maybe we should mention a little bit about the history of early childhood education...

Early childhood education has been gaining ground since the 1800's. As researchers publish more and more findings that critical learning and developmental skills are formed years before kindergarten, the push for educating children earlier has grown.

Here's a timeline of some of the key events that has brought the early childhood education movement to where it is today.

1837: German Friedrich Froebel develops the first kindergarten. The classroom is centered on the idea that play was needed for children to learn.
1856: Margarethe Meyer Schurz, a German immigrant, introduces the first American kindergarten in Watertown, Wis. The children learn through arts and crafts, music and play. The model quickly spreads.
1940s: During War World II, women flood the workplace, filling roles left vacant by men fighting overseas. The federal government creates more than 3,000 child care centers.
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1960: David Weikart opens Perry Elementary School, which focuses on children "learning by doing." The school is interested in reaching students that the system had traditionally failed.
1965: The federally funded Head Start program begins. Focusing on low-income families, the program provides education, health, nutrition and parent involvement services to preschool-aged children.
1970s: The feminist movement and a poor economy combined to see a boom of mothers entering the work force.
1980s and 1990s: Advances in research points to the importance of critical brain development between the ages of birth and 3. Early childhood education gains momentum.
1990: Oklahoma voters pass an education reform bill that provides state funding for any school district that offers preschool to 4-year-olds qualifying under Head Start. Children who didn't meet the low-income guidelines also could attend, but they had to pay. In 1998, a bill is passed providing funding for all 4-year-olds regardless of income.

But we now know that we need to be concerned about early childhood education at a much younger age than kindergarten or even preschool... Early brain development begins at first and the first few years are crucial to development. It is often what we learn as a child that determines what we will achieve in our life. Therefore, early childhood learning programs for children should be comprehensively planned and focus on their overall development.

Early childhood education programs require caregivers who can provide quality early childhood learning. These teachers must possess skills required to deal with children with love and affection. Early childhood caegivers should have the following qualities:

1. Good early-childhood teachers must be able to easily relate to children and their parents. This helps them to understand the problems faced by children as well as their parents.

2. Early childhood programs who require teachers must keep themselves updated and should continuously enhance their knowledge. They must know about innovative teaching techniques and how to make teaching and learning a great experience.

3. They must know how to deal with various situations while teaching young kids. They must know how to solve problems of the kids with patience and skill. An experienced teacher will be efficient in finding solution to the problems faced by children and their parents.

4. Early childhood teachers who are enthusiastic and ready to go out of the way to help the child learn and understand are just perfect. They are always ready to help children and infuse in them the skills required to have a successful future.

In recent years there has been a lot of discussion about the importance of early childhood education and the crucial role it plays in the development of a child. But where do we go from here? What is the future of early childhood education?

2009-04-27T05:57:00.000-05:00

Provider Appreciation Day...

... is May 8th, 2009. Provider Appreciation Day is a special day to recognize child care providers, teachers and other educators of young children everywhere. Started in 1996 by a group of volunteers in New Jersey, Provider Appreciation Day is appropriately celebrated each year on the Friday before Mother's Day. The founding organizers saw the need to recognize the tireless efforts of providers who care for children of working parents. Momentum and support for this event has grown each year and recognition presently includes individuals and government organizations throughout North America, Europe and Asia. A national study, The National Economic Impacts of the Child Care Sector, sponsored by the National Child Care Association, found that there are at least 2.8 million people who earn their money by teaching and caring for young children or by working in directly related jobs. As the demand for child care continues to increase, who's minding the kids is crucial.

Today's child care professionals are the world's unsung heroes. This profession is one of the most underpaid occupations in the country; yet research shows that early childhood is the most critical developmental period in a child's life. It takes a special person to work in this field and the contribution these individuals make to the quality of children's and families' lives too frequently goes unnoticed. Provider Appreciation Day offers a unique opportunity to recognize and commend the unselfish dedication, commitment and compassion that child care providers demonstrate every day.

Provider Appreciation Day needs your support to continue to be successful. Individuals and community leaders can network with child care groups to plan events, schedule media coverage and issue proclamations. Begin now to contact parents, community groups, child care agencies, government leaders and others so that everyone who wants to support child care providers has the opportunity to participate in this important recognition event in your community. Even the smallest of efforts mean so much to those who have your children in their care.

So spread the word and help make providers feel appreciated! Know that I applaud your dedication and appreciate the hard work and the crucial service that you provide...

2009-04-24T05:50:00.000-05:00

Early Learning Guidelines...

I know that I have talked about this resource before, but this may be a good reminder... Do you know if your state has implemented (or in process of developing) Early Learning Guidelines? Early Learning Guidelines identify outcomes in language, literacy, mathematics, and other academic and developmental domains for young children. This information is important to see if you are helping the children in your care acquire the skills necessary for their stage of development.

You can check out your state at the NCCIC website.

Here in Minnesota we have 2 documents: The Early Childhood Indicators of Progress: Minnesota’s Early Learning Guidelines for Birth to 3 (2007) and Minnesota Early Childhood Indicators of Progress: Minnesota’s Early Learning Standards (2005) for children from 3 to 5 years of age.

The goals for these documents are to help parents and other caregivers understand...

developmentally appropriate expectations for young children. To promote healthy child growth and development,
high quality child care and early childhood education. To develop comprehensive and coordinated services
to benefit families with young children based on the Early Learning Guidelines framework.

If you have not looked these documents over, I encourage you to download a free copy and check out the developmental indicators and the strategies to help improve them. This is an excellent resource for parents and caregivers.

2009-04-23T05:16:00.000-05:00

Did You Know?

A quick quiz for family child care providers in Minnesota... Do you know what records and paperwork you are required to maintain for your business by the Department of Human Services? (Note that some counties may have additional requirements.)

The Answer....

Policies and Procedures...
You must have the following written information available for the parents of children in care and for the county licensing agency:

Ages and numbers of children in care
Hours and days of operation
Meals and snacks to be served
Labeling requirements for food brought from the child’s home
Sleeping and rest arrangements
Nondiscrimination practices
Policies for the care of ill children, disease notification, immunizations and medication permission policies
Emergency, fire and storm plans and monthly fire drills
Seat belt and transportation plans, field trip and transportation permission requirements
Fees
Termination and notice procedures
Grievance policy
Alcohol and drug policy for caregivers
Helper and substitute plans
Pets in the residence
Insurance coverage
A copy of Rule 2
Disclosure to parents if smoking is permitted in the home outside child care hours.

Records...
Before admitting a child, you must obtain from the parents the following information:

Admission and arrangements form
Special instructions in writing about toilet training, eating, sleeping, napping, allergies and any health problems
Immunization records
Signed written consent to obtain emergency medical care
Written permission to transport children
Signed authorization to release the child from care to person(s) authorized by the parent.

Of course you knew all this... but perhaps this is new information to someone looking to become a family child care provider. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

One last bit of info... The specific requirements to be licensed to provide child care in Minnesota is found in the Minnesota Rules, parts 9502.0300 to 9502.0445 (commonly called Rule 2) and Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 245A. It is helpful to be familiar with these documents. You can access Rule 2 here and the Statutes here.

2009-04-22T05:15:00.000-05:00

How Sanitary is Your Child Care Facility?

Sanitation is an important issue in today’s child care facilities. Parents have a real fear of sending a healthy child to day care and picking him or her up at the end of the day with a cold or worse. Young children are at increased risk for contracting infectious diseases because they:

are grouped together, are exposed to many new germs
have immune systems that are not fully developed to fight germs
do not have complete control of body fluids that contain germs
have personal habits that spread germs like thumb sucking, rubbing eyes, and putting things in their mouths

Child care facilities are much cleaner and healthier today than in years past, thanks to increased scrutiny and regulation. However, despite increased efforts at maintaining proper sanitation, children in child care do have a tendency to pick up and spread a variety of germs.

Surfaces at most child care facilities are riddled with germs, bacteria, and viruses; and proper sanitation is critical in a day care center environment, since so many children congregating in such close proximity can become a breeding ground for germs. Although there are guidelines and regulations, it is sometimes difficult to keep everything spic and span all the time.

One of the easiest ways to ensure proper sanitation is by frequent hand washing with anti-bacterial soap. This is absolutely essential! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that every year, more than 22 million school days are lost due to the common cold; and many of those could have been avoided if children had washed their hands correctly. It is important to teach children aqbout germs and the importance of stress the importance of proper handwashing. In my child care the children are taught that they need to wash threir hands while singing the Alphabet song to ensure that they are washing and rinsing the proper amount of time.

You should be able to discuss your hand washing and infection control policies with parents and discuss other methods that you use to keep toys, utensils and play areas germ free. You should also have standard procedures in place dealing with diaper changing and disposal, food preparation and clean up, bathroom cleaning and sanitizing, and what happens when a child gets ill.

Sanitizing regularly with a solution of bleach and water is the most effective way to get rid of the organisms. But the bleach-water solution must be used properly to rid surfaces of germs.

Mix one tablespoon of bleach to one quart of water in a plastic spray bottle.
The bleach-water solution should be mixed fresh everyday, otherwise it won’t kill germs.
Spray the surfaces you want to disinfect with the fresh bleach-water mixture, let it sit for two minutes, and then dry the surfaces with clean paper towels.
You can use bleach-water solution on tables, chairs, sinks, plastic toys, counter tops, changing tables, trash cans, and toilets.
Remember to store the bleach-water solution in a locked area out of the reach of children.

Parents also have to take some responsibility for cleanliness. Sanitation and health is a collaborative effort, between parents and providers. Parents should do their part to practice the same personal good hygiene at home. Parents should also be responsible and keep their children home when they exhibit signs of illness, especially runny noses, upset stomachs and diarrhea. Mutual collaboration and cooperation between parents and providers can keep contamination and sickness to a minimum. This really is everyone’s goal.

A few more resouces:

Some good handwashing resources at Healthy Child Care.
Use Henry the Hand to help teach young children.
WebMD gives 12 tips on how to prevent the spreading of cold germs.

Practicing good hygiene, frequent hand washing and adhering to infection control protocol will keep the spread of germs to a minimum, lessening the chance of illness in the children (and for you!)

2009-04-21T05:03:00.000-05:00

Week of the Young Child...

This week, April 19th through the 25th, 2009 is the Week of the Young Child. This year's theme is Bring Communities Together for Children—Children Bring Communities Together.

The Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The purpose of the Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.

Today we know more than ever before about the importance of children's earliest years in shaping their learning and development. Yet, never before have the needs of young children and their families been more pressing.

The Week of the Young Child is a time to recognize that children's opportunities are our responsibilities, and to recommit ourselves to ensuring that each and every child experiences the type of early environment--at home, at child care, at school, and in the community--that will promote their early learning.

NAEYC first established the Week of the Young Child in 1971, recognizing that the early childhood years (birth through age 8) lay the foundation for children's success in school and later life. The Week of the Young Child is a time to plan how we--as citizens of a community, of a state, and of a nation--will better meet the needs of all young children and their families.

Help celebrate and advocate for young children during this week... Check out some suggested activities to celebrate this year's event, find some resources for sale to help celebrate, or download the Week of the Young Child 2009 Event Planning Handbook and plan your own event.

2009-04-20T06:03:00.000-05:00

Arbor Day 2009...

Earth Day is coming up in a couple days, but that is not the only eco-friendly day this week. Arbor Day is on April 24th. Arbor Day is a nationally-celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care. The first Arbor Day took place on April 10, 1872 in Nebraska. It was the brainchild of Julius Sterling Morton (1832-1902), a Nebraska journalist and politician. Throughout his long and productive career, Morton worked to improve agricultural techniques in his adopted state and throughout the United States when he served as President Grover Cleveland's Secretary of Agriculture. But his most important legacy is Arbor Day. He proposed that a special day be set aside dedicated to tree planting and increasing awareness of the importance of trees. Nebraska's first Arbor Day was an amazing success. More than one million trees were planted. A second Arbor Day took place in 1884 and the young state made it an annual legal holiday in 1885. Morton was probably the most well-known advocate for planting trees except possibly for Johnny Appleseed. (Yes Virginia, there really was a Johnny Appleseed.)

My husband is originally from a small town not far away from Nebraska City, Nebraska and well familiar with J Sterling Morton and the Arbor Day traditions in Nebraska. I have been to Nebraska City and even the Arbor Lodge State Park.

How could we celebrate a holiday without activities and crafts for the kids...

Kaboose is always a favorite site.
Nor could we forget DLTK Kids.
Apples 4 the Teacher is an excellent resource site.
The Teacher's Guide has quite a bit of useful information.
Lots of resources at Teacher Planet.
Of course there are activities at the official Arbor Day Foundation website.

But the best way to celebrate Arbor Day in the true spirit of the holiday is to plant a tree with your children. If you have a location that you can plant a tree, the care and enjoyment of watching it grow will be a source of pride and accomplishment for the children for many years.

2009-04-17T05:55:00.000-05:00

April is National Poetry Month...

I'm beginning to think that we should have April declared the "National Month of Something" Month. This certainly seems to be a month of celebrations and awareness. In addition to the things we have already talked about, April is National Poetry Month. National Poetry Month is a month-long, national celebration of poetry established by the Academy of American Poets. The concept is to bring attention and appreciation to the art of poetry, to living poets, to our complex poetic heritage and to increase the visibility and availability of poetry in popular culture.

Whether you are a fan of Elliot, or Frost, or Poe... or like me, your taste runs more towards Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss . We all enjoy poetry. You may not even recognize that some of your favorite songs are poems put to music. Young children love the rhymes of many children's books, songs, and nursery rhymes. So it seems appropriate to celebrate poetry and especially poetry for young children.

Looking for some ways to celebrate? Check out...

Scholastic has lots of ideas on how to celebrate National Poetry Month.
Find some fill in the blank or rhyming games at Family Education. (Make sure to take the Dr. Seuss quiz.)
Also plenty of ideas for a variety of ages at Education World and Education Place.
Find the greatest children's poems ever written.
DLTK Kids also has a great list of poetry for children.

But the best way to celebrate National Poetry Month is to use it as another excuse to read to the kids in your care. Find a rhyming storybook and just have some fun. As Dr Seuss says... "Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. there are games to be won..."

2009-04-16T06:27:00.000-05:00

Earth Day 2009...

Earth Day will be on April 22nd this year. What is Earth Day? Earth Day was created to broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide, and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle for promoting a healthy, sustainable environment through a combination of education, public policy, and consumer activism campaigns. More than 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities, making it the largest secular civic event in the world. Earth Day 2009, April 22, will mark the beginning of the Green Generation CampaignTM! This two-year initiative will culminate with the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in 2010.

How about some ideas to celebrate Earth Day?

Both Kaboose and Amazing Moms have some great craft and activity ideas.
We shouldn't talk about crafts and activities without mentioning DLTK Crafts... one of the best.
You can download (or order) a free coloring book from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).
Visit the Teacher's Lounge at the Wilderness Society for a variety of age appropriate activities, ideas, and additional resources.
Tons of stuff at Planet Pals website. What? You have never heard of Planet Pals! Check it out, the kids will love them.
We have talked about KidThing in the past... Again this year, they are offering a free digital copy of Dr. Suess's The Lorax, to celebrate Earth Day. If you use a computer in your child care, this is a great (and kid-friendly) program to have.
Though more for older kids, TeacherVision and ABC Teach both have some ideas and printables for younger children as well.
Want to share some eco-friendly ideas with the children? Check out the Family Education website.
Read a book written by a first grade class about Earth Day.
Look for Earth Day events in your area. Or better yet, create your own block party.

Besides, I've always believed that despite what Kermit says , it is easy being "green" in child care. Where else can you use things that most people throw away to make craft "treasures" that parents will feel obligated to keep pinned to their refrigerators for years?

There are lots of ways to celebrate Earth Day. I'd love to hear about some of your ideas and resources.

2009-04-15T05:38:00.000-05:00

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month...

Today I will talk about something even more depressing and upsetting than taxes... child abuse. April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect and encourage individuals and communities to support children and families. What makes this even more pertinent is the sad fact that during times of economic stress like we are currently experiencing, rates of child abuse and neglect go up.

Child abuse is defined as any act to harm or to threaten harm to a child’s health or welfare which can occur through non-accidental physical or mental injury, sexual abuse or attempted sexual abuse, sexual exploitation or attempted sexual exploitation.

Four Basic Types of Child Abuse:

Physical abuse is the non-accidental harm of a child, including excessive corporal punishment, assault – shaking - slapping – burning or scalding – kicking – strangling
Neglect is maltreatment or negligence that harms a child’s health, welfare or safety, physical, emotional, or educational neglect through such actions as: abandonment – refusal to seek treatment for illness – inadequate supervision – health hazards in the home – ignoring child’s need for contact, affirmation and stimulation – providing inadequate emotional nurturance – knowingly permitting chronic truancy – keeping a child home from school repeatedly without cause (depriving a child of education).
Emotional abuse is the verbal assault or emotional cruelty, as well as: close confinement, such as being shut in a closet – inadequate nurturance – extreme discipline.
Sexual abuse is defined as sexual contact between a child or teenager and an adult or significantly older, more powerful person. In addition to sexual contact, abuse can include: inappropriate verbal stimulation of a child or teenager – taking or showing sexually explicit photographs of or to a child or teenager – exposing a child or teenager to pornography or adult sexual activity.

Scope of the Problem
There are more than two million reported cases of physical abuse or neglect in the United States each year (National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect). The National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse in the United States indicates that approximately 2,000 children per year die of child abuse and/or neglect. At least one in three girls (Russell, 1984) and one in seven boys (Finkelhor, 1985) are sexually abused by the time they reach the age of 18. In the vast majority of cases, sexual abusers are known to their victims. More than half of all sexual abuse occurs within the family. Offenders come from all economic, ethnic, racial, and educational backgrounds and religious traditions. They may be respected members of the community or church.

Studies show that child abuse occurs in 30 to 60 percent of family violence cases among families with children. A 1989 survey of 6,000 families found that 50 percent of men who assault their wives also abuse their children. Another frightening statistic, the Children’s Defense Fund estimates that 30 percent of abused children will abuse their own children, perpetuating the cycle of violence into the next generation.

Child abuse, like any type of family violence, does not discriminate. It occurs within every ethnic, religious and socio-economic background. It is most likely to happen when parents lack parenting knowledge and skills, are cut off from friends and family, have unmet emotional needs, abuse drugs or alcohol, were abused themselves or are going through a crisis.

Abused children tend to lack development in social, cognitive, physical and emotional skills. Many become dependent on drugs, get into legal trouble or become runaways. Girls tend to get into serious relationships at very early ages to escape their family life and often find themselves in abusive relationships all over again.

There are characteristics that are common to many abused children. If you notice one or more of these symptoms in a child, it is possible that the child has been abused in some way. They include mood swings, withdrawal or depression, bed wetting, eating problems, fear of adults, sleeping problems or nightmares, self-destructive behavior, frequent school absences or tardiness, bullying or aggressive behavior, and strange bruises, burns or bites

What should you do if you suspect child abuse?
Learn the warning signs of child abuse and how to report it. If you are a child care provider you are a mandated reporter. This means that you are obligated by law to report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect. Even if abuse is only suspected, you must report to the appropriate law enforcement authorities immediately. Learn more about mandated reporting in Minnesota.

Some other resources to learn more about child abuse:

Its not just our legal obligation to be aware of and try to prevent child abuse... its the right thing to do for the children!

2009-04-14T05:22:00.000-05:00

April is Month of the Military Child...

For many years, April has been designated as the Month of the Military Child. In 1986, Defense Secretary Caspar Weingberger designated April as Month of the Military Child, a time when each branch of the military service recognizes the sacrifices made by the children of parents who are serving our country. During April, military bases around the world will honor these young American heroes with special events just for them.

In Minnesota...
Governor Tim Pawlenty has issued a Proclamation to the State of Minnesota declaring April as Month of the Military Child. The Governor's Proclamation states "It is only fitting that we recognize and honor their sacrifices, celebrate their spirit, and let our men and women in uniform know that while they are taking care of us, we are taking care of their children."

In recognition of the Military Child's heroism, Governor and Mrs. Pawlenty will send a letter of gratitude to each child nominated by their military parent who serves in Minnesota National Guard, Reserves and Active Duty residents. Nominations will be collected on the Department of Veteran Affairs website through 30 April 2009:
www.minnesotaveteran.org/child/index2009.htm

In related news...
Sesame Street has been teaching kids to count, read and eat cookies in moderation for decades. Now the producers behind the show are branching into a different territory, with a primetime special called “Coming Home: Military Families Cope with Change.” The show, premiering April 1st (check local listings), is part of Sesame Workshop’s “Talk, Listen, Connect” initiative to help families and children dealing with military deployments and combat-related injuries. You can watch a preview here.

More resources...
To discover more resources, activities and support systems for Military Children and their Families, please visit www.beyondtheyellowribbon.org, http://www.militarychild.org/, or www.operationmilitarykids.org.

We need to remember, when a parent is serving their country, their children are serving, too. Over 1 million children currently have at least one parent serving in the military on active duty. These families endure long separations and often are required to move multiple times during their parent's service. This is a time to pay tribute to these kids and recognize the commitment, sacrifice and support they show as they face the special challenges of being a military child. To those children, and their parents, I would like to say thank you!

If you are a child care provider and want to find out how you can help, I urge you to inquire about the Minnesota SURGE project.

2009-04-13T05:54:00.000-05:00

Child Care Prevents Leukemia?

It seems like nearly every day some sort of childhood affliction has either been credited to or blamed on childcare. Whether emotional, social or physical, the "caused by child care theory" always seems to be mentioned. Seems that every time a child sniffles the parent blames the child care for the spread of disease. You may have already heard this, but childcare can prevent Leukemia!

A study presented at the Causes and Prevention of Childhood Leukemia conference in London last year, suggests that children who attend day care or play groups decrease their risk of developing the most common type of childhood leukemia by 30 percent. The study researched 3,800 children with cancer. Some of the kids had leukemia -- either ALL or another type -- and some had other forms of cancer. They were between 2 and 5 years old when they were diagnosed. Social activity and day care habits were compared with 7,600 children without cancer.

When the results were looked at more closely, the researchers discovered that the protection from social activity mostly stemmed from formal child care. This included kids who attended child care for any amount of time, a playgroup at least two half-days a week, or at least two half-days a week in a smaller childcare setting with at least four children.

The more social activity or child care the child was exposed to, the lower the risk. The effect was most pronounced when the child attended day care within the first three months of life.

I'm not sure if I completely believe this research or not. But then I certainly don't believe that child care spreads illnesses to any greater extent than the typical trip to the grocery store. If nothing else, this theory holds a calming incentive—that germs and bacteria aren't always bad. Maybe I'll market my child care as cancer preventative...

P.S. I hope you had a wonderful and relaxing Easter weekend!

2009-04-10T05:22:00.000-05:00

Good Friday...

I've thought that most Fridays are good , but this is Good Friday. My own children are all home from college for Easter weekend, but with no weekend trainings to attend, I'm really looking forward to a relaxing weekend.

For a bit of lighter fare than I normally write about, I thought that I would share my 12 "Golden Rules" to teach children. (These are also important for husbands and most other adults to learn.)

If you open it, close it.
If you turn it on, turn it off.
If you unlock it, lock it.
If you break it, admit it.
If you can't fix it, call in someone who can.
If you borrow it, return it
If you value it, take care of it.
If you make a mess, clean it up.
If you move it, put it back.
If it belongs to someone else, get permission to use it.
If you don't know how to use it, leave it alone.
If it's none of your business, don't ask questions.

I hope you have a joyous Easter weekend and I'll be back on Monday.

2009-04-09T05:13:00.000-05:00

Family Daycare Background Checks Bill...

I would like to share the following information that I received from the Scott County provider's association about the current status of the proposed bill on provider background checks in Minnesota that is currently being debated in legislature...

The bill has been introduced and is titled Family day care background checks required, and criminal history data access allowed. The link below will take you to the text of the bill. The bill number in the house is HF1543. In the senate the bill number is SF1413.

While many of you may be aware that the national union headquarters that both SEIU and AFSME have divided the providers in this state up by counties as to which union could organize providers, we have experienced a vast difference in how each union works with or on behalf of providers. SEIU has been at the capitol in the presence of Denise Welti and has been fighting hard for us to get this bill passed. AFSME has been at the capitol and is opposed to the bill. Their reasoning is that it would cost county social workers their job. We believe they are misinformed. Jobs will be created by DHS equivalent to the FTE of county social workers job responsibilities being removed. In some counties doing background checks may be as little as 10% of a persons job (.1FTE).

A hearing has been held in both a house and senate committees. At this time the bill may be jeopardy. Due to opposition by ASFME (A Union that represents both family child care providers and County Employees), the bill is in danger of being pulled. We (Scott County Licensed Family Child Care Association, Beth Mork and Deloris Friske) have been concerned about the conflict of interest a Union may have when it represents both County Employees, such as licensors and social workers, and child care providers. What is currently happening is a good example of that.

While many licensors have expressed support of this bill because it could speed up the background check process and licensing, ASFME has stated that there may be a job loss when Back Ground Checks become a state responsibility and not the county responsibility. We believe the net job loss would be zero. Some jobs will be created at the state level. Most counties will have no significant effect to their jobs as background checks are just a small part of one persons job in counties having fewer licensed providers.

Representative Nora Slawik (Maplewood) is the author of the bill in the House with Jim Abler (Anoka), Kim Norton (Rochester), Patti Fritz (Faribault), Carolyn Laine ( Columbia Heights), Jeanne Poppe (Austin), Ryan Winkler (Golden Valley) and Andy Welti (Plainview) as co-authors. Senator Claire Robling (Prior Lake) is the author of the bill in the Senate with Sharon Erickson-Ropes (Winona), Tony Lourey (Kerrick), and Tarryl Clark (St. Cloud) as co-authors.

Action: If you are a constituent of any of the authors, it is important to let them know how much you appreciate their support. You could e-mail or call your Representative and Senator who is NOT on the list above know the bill has been introduced and it is of interest to you.

Summary of the Bill:
1. Background checks will be transferred FROM the responsibility of a county to perform to the responsibility of the State via DHS (Department of Human Services).
2. As of the effective dates of the bill, providers will pay for the background checks the first time they are required and not again after that. We are looking at the language with July 1, 2009 effective date of the state fiscal year (or January 1, 2010) as the starting date for new providers coming into the system and January 1, 2010 as the starting date for those renewing family child care licenses. We guess this has to do with the fact that counties have this anticipated income in their budget.
3. Background checks will use an on-line system with DHS with family child care providers applicants collecting the information needed under subdivision 1 and forward it to the county agency using the commissioners online system.
4. The fee PER background check required will be $20.00 per study. This is a one-time fee to get into the state database. It does not state it in the bill but this fee is payable using credit card or debit card on-line. Concerns have been raised that this one time fee is not clear enough in the bill. We will be addressing that.
5. Section 8 addresses that probation officers and correction agents report to DHS any disqualified person. Violations of 245.C will be immediately kicked back to DHS for action rather than not detected until the next background check in our current system. Some licensors are adamantly concerned that local background checks need to be performed. We are looking at how this can be addressed in the bill.

The link to find the actual wording of the bill is below. https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.phpbill=H1543.0.html&session=ls86

Any action you might be willing to take to push this bill through needs to happen immediately. Our window opportunity for getting this bill passed this legislative session is coming to an end this week.

If you need more information or have a viewpoint or suggestion you wish to discuss with us, please contact us as soon as possible.

Deloris Friske
friske@frontiernet.net
952-492-3827

Beth Mork
Bethmork@comcast.net
763-427-3775

2009-04-08T06:21:00.000-05:00

National Autism Awareness Month...

Yesterday I mentioned that April is National Autism Awareness Month. After I thought about it, I realized that this is important and worth more than just a mention.

In order to highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism, The Austism Society of America has been celebrating National Autism Awareness Month since the 1970s. The United States recognizes April as a special opportunity for everyone to educate the public about autism and issues within the autism community.

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a "spectrum disorder" that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. Autism is a baffling, life-long disorder. And while there is no cause or cure, nor a known singular effective treatment, it is treatable. People with autism -- at any age -- can make significant progress through therapy and treatments, and can lead meaningful and productive lives.

Did you know?

Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the U.S.
Autism affects over 1.5 million Americans and their families.
Every 20 minutes, another child is diagnosed with autism.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a report (PDF) stating that 560,000 children in the county have some form of autism.
Autism may affect as many as 1 in every 150 children, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined.

It is almost inevitable that you will provide care or at least be in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with autism. Education is key!Here are some resources you can access:

Learn the Signs. Act Early. website provides information about childhood developmental milestones and delays. You'll be able to track the developmental milestones a child should be reaching, see how milestones change as a child grows, and download fact sheets on developmental milestones for children from 3 months to 5 years, along with information on developmental screening and developmental disabilities. http://www.cdc.gov/actearly
Autism Information Center from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides resources for families and professionals. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/

The Center for Inclusive Child Care has lots of resources and I encourage Minnesota providers to attend some of their Project Exceptional trainings to increase their awareness of the special needs of children.
Also, if you live in or near Minnesota, Frazer is the largest provider of autism services in Minnesota and has a wealth of information.

You can also learn more about autism from the Autism Society of America or the National Autism Association.

2009-04-07T05:34:00.000-05:00

Easter...

We're less than a week away from Easter. Easter is one of my favorite holidays. It is a blessed time for the faithful to celebrate the life, death and resurrection of the Savior... and a magical time for children to enjoy Easter baskets with chocolate bunnies , jellybeans , Easter eggs ... and best of all marshmallow peeps! (Oh, by the way, did you know that April 22nd is National Jelly Bean Day?)

Easter is April 12th and though its not as early as last year , it sure has seemed to sneak up on me. Wow! We better get busy with some things to do for Easter...

Where else would you expect expert advice on dying eggs other than from Amazing Moms?
Maybe from these guys , who were even around when I was a kids.
I've never had a MeddyBemps, but how can you resist Easter egg-tivities?
A great source for Easter activities is DLTK Kids. Don't forget the coloring pages.
Lots of resources and information at Holidays.net.
Easter crafts, recipes, and more at Kaboose.
Billy Bear has lots of fun Easter activities, crafts, puzzles, and more.
All crafts, always free at AllFreeCrafts. What more would you expect?
Apples4theTeacher always has fun activities.
Want to learn an Easter greeting in other languages?
We're always looking for a reason to party in child care... Family Fun has Easter party ideas, crafts, and recipes.
Black Dog has lots of game ideas for you to play at your party.
Learn more facts about Easter than you probably ever cared to know.
This is the "least messy" way of coloring (and then getting rid of) Easter eggs.

I hope you enjoy celebrating Easter, but on a more serious note, I should mention that April is National Autism Awareness Month, so take a moment and contribute to Easter Seals.

2009-04-06T05:51:00.000-05:00

It's Monday...

I hope you had a good weekend. I spent Saturday training a great group of ladies in Farimont, Minnesota . I had fun and even got home before the snow storm started.

I often get asked why I travel around the state and do workshops and trainings for child care providers... Did you know that nearly 12 million of the 18.5 million children under age five in the United States in some type of regular child care or early education setting? It's been proven that children’s experiences in the first five years of life greatly influence brain architecture and chemistry in ways that can have lifelong impacts on learning, behavior, and health. For these 12 million children in child care, the care givers have a huge impact on their development, safety, and education. A quality early education is one of the most important opportunities we can give our children. It will ensure future generations’ success in school and beyond. A solid early learning foundation helps children succeed later in school and gives them a better opportunity to succeed in life. It has been said that those who start earlier, do better, and stay in school longer.

That is why I train... to help improve the standards and quality of care for the children. If you are a child care professional, I encourage you to continue to seek training and knowledge to make our profession better. For yourself and for the children in your care.

Okay, I'm off my soapbox... I should quickly mention that tomorrow (April 7th) is my favorite holiday of the year... No Housework Day. At least, for tomorrow, I have an excuse! And if you're actually looking for ways to celebrate ...

2009-04-03T06:12:00.001-05:00

The Future of Child Care...

I think that it is realitively obvious that families need child care to work. Communities need thriving child care providers in order to prosper. Children in care need safe, stable, supportive settings. Investments in child care are investments in the current workforce, in economic development, and most importantly, investments in the future. The recent economic downturn has helped to highlight the important role that child care and early education programs play in the economic health of states and localities.

It is clear that helping families afford child care and ensuring that providers can keep their doors open should be part of any economic recovery package. While immediate funding is critical to get parents to work and ensure that children are in healthy and safe environments, now is the time to also think long-term about the needs of families and their youngest children and to invest in improvements in the quality of child care, to increase opportunities for our most vulnerable children to participate in Head Start and Early Head Start, and ensure that families can afford the child care that best meets their needs.

A long-term child care agenda should:

make child care more affordable for low-income working families;
increase the quality of child care for all families;
expand the supply of high quality settings, especially for families with infants and toddlers and other underserved populations; and
remove barriers that prevent families and providers from participating in or providing high quality care.

We must not forget to look ahead... Our economic situation requires immediate help for families, but it also signals the importance of supporting them in future years. The child care needs of American families continues to increase dramatically. Yet high-quality child care is too often unaffordable or simply not available. We have a tremendous stake in public policies that will help make high-quality child care available, accessible, and affordable to those who need it.

2009-04-02T05:10:00.002-05:00

April is National Garden Month...

I know that it is a bit hard to comprehend with our below normal temperatures and the new snow on the ground, but April is Garden Month according to the National Gardening Association. The NGA urges us to celebrate gardening during National Garden Month. Gardeners know, and research confirms, that nurturing plants is good for us: attitudes toward health and nutrition improve, kids perform better at school, and community spirit grows. Join the celebration and help to make America a greener, healthier, more livable place! Their site even gives 101 Ways to celebrate National Garden Month.

Even though you may not be ready to start planting, there are plenty of crafts and activities you can do or maybe read some books about gardening . You should take the opportunity to celebrate Garden Month. The NGA even has a kid-friendly website called Kids Gardening (don't forget to check out the teacher section of the site). If you like to garden, you can even register to enter a sweepstakes to win a prize package worth $1000.

Remember, the most interactive way to observe National Garden Month is by planting a small garden with children. If you don't have yard space for a garden try planting a container garden with preschoolers. You can explain that in order for seeds to grow they need soil, water, and plenty of sunlight.

Find some containers and a place with lots of sun that is close to where water can be accessed.
Fill the pots with a damp organic potting mix.
Let the children plant seeds in the potting soil. (My favorite seeds to use are beans, but use your imagination.)
Water and cover the containers with plastic until the plants begin to grow.
After the plants are growing, let the children take turns watering the plants and monitoring their progress daily.

If you are feeling adventurous, you could try to grow a fun theme garden:

Pizza garden: Plant tomatoes, basil, green peppers, onions and oregano. When it is harvest time, use vegetables from the garden to make pizza sauce for a homemade pizza.
Butterfly garden: Grow butterfly friendly plants (flowers that attract butterflies). Most garden supply stores sell butterfly garden seed mix.
Stone soup garden: Read the book Stone Soup by Marcia Brown [Aladdin, 1997]. Plant vegetables like onions, carrots, peppers, parsnips, beans, potatoes, and corn. Then make “stone soup” after harvesting the veggies.

Hey, if "April showers bring May flowers," maybe April snow makes gardens grow! Think about doing some gardening with your children this year. They will have fun and so will you...

2009-04-01T06:33:00.001-05:00

It's April 1st...

Happy April Fools Day. Maybe yesterday's snow storm in Minnesota was Mother Nature's April Fools prank on us... Let's hope it was her last one of the year. April Fools Day is one of the most light hearted days of the year. Its origins are uncertain. Some see it as a celebration related to the turn of the seasons, while others believe it stems from the adoption of a new calendar. Over the years, there have been many great pranks perpetrated on this day. I have certainly learned to proceed with caution with anything I am told today.

Looking for ways to celebrate with the children? April Fools Day is not often given a lot of attention with children, but this can be a fun day with the children in your care.

Check out Family Fun for some good pranks and gags and food ideas to share with your children.
Preschool Express has some fun April 1st activities and games.
Even more fun stuff at the Love To Learn Place.

So have fun today, but don't get fooled too badly!

2009-03-31T06:41:00.000-05:00

Week of the Young Child...

...will be April 19th - 25th. The theme for the Week of the Young Child 2008 is Bring Communities Together for Children--Children Bring Communities Together.

The Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the world's largest early childhood education association, with nearly 100,000 members and a network of over 300 local, state, and regional Affiliates.
The purpose of the Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs. NAEYC first established the Week of the Young Child in 1971, recognizing that the early childhood years (birth through age 8) lay the foundation for children's success in school and later life. The Week of the Young Child is a time to plan how we--as citizens of a community, of a state, and of a nation--will better meet the needs of all young children and their families.

Today we know more than ever before about the importance of children's earliest years in shaping their learning and development. Yet, never before have the needs of young children and their families been more pressing. The Week of the Young Child is a time to recognize that children's opportunities are our responsibilities, and to recommit ourselves to ensuring that each and every child experiences the type of early environment--at home, at child care, at school, and in the community--that will promote their early learning.

To find out more about the 2009 Week of the Young Child and ideas on how to celebrate go to the NAEYC website. If you are intested in perhaps doing a Week of the Young Child event, download the Event Handbook (in MS Word).

2009-03-30T06:43:00.000-05:00

Parents' Perceptions of Child Care...

Not exactly light reading fare, but still interesting... Parents' Perceptions of Child Care in the United States: NACCRRA's National Parent Poll

In November 2008, NACCRRA conducted a nationwide poll of over 1,000 parents with young children to better understand what they consider when they are looking for child care, what they expect and want from child care, and what barriers they face in obtaining high-quality child care.

This new report reveals that, more than any other aspect of child care, parents are concerned about its quality. Parents want their children to be safe. They want their children to be learning. Affordability or cost was the next biggest concern.

Moreover, the majority of parents logically assume that standards are in place in child care programs to ensure that children are safe. Parents overwhelmingly think that caregivers are trained in child development and safety and undergo a background check, and that child care programs are inspected. This is simply not true in too many states.

To learn more, download the following materials:
Full report
Executive Summary
Table 1.2, Parents Perceptions vs Reality
One pager
Press release

Look it over and discover the overall perception of child care. Do the families in your care have similar perceptions?

2009-03-27T06:44:00.000-05:00

The Child Care Transition...

A break from tax information today. I want to give you something to think about over the weekend... What happens – or doesn’t happen – to children in the earliest years of their lives is of critical importance, both to their immediate well-being and to their future?

If you received the best start in your earliest years of life, you are more likely to have grown healthily, developed language and learning capacities, gone to school and led a productive, rewarding life. Yet millions of children around the world are still being denied the right to reach their full potential.

Every child must be ensured the best start in life – their future, and indeed the future of their communities, nations and the whole world depends on it. But is child care the best answer? Some critics say no...

Steve Biddulph from Australia, whose books on parenting have sold more than 4 million copies:
"The best nurseries struggled to meet the needs of very young children in a group setting. The worst were negligent, frightening, and bleak: a nightmare of bew ildered loneliness that was heartbreaking to watch. Children at this age — under three — will want one thing only: the individual care of their own special person."

Susan Gerhardt from England, is co-founder of the Oxford Parent-Infant Project:
"It is not popular these days to spell out how great the responsibilities of parenthood are, since women have struggled desperately to establish themselves as men's equals in the workplace and do not want to feel guilty about keeping their careers or pay cheques going while someone else takes care of their babies."

Cathleen Sherry from Australia, is a human rights lawyer:
"No one has an absolute right to a career — men or women. If you choose to have children, your major responsibility is to care for them properly, and if that affects your career, it affects your career."

Obviously you don't need to ask my stance on this issue. I agree that there are poor programs that do not help children and worse, may even harm them. If you don't believe this, just scan the headlines for child care related news. You will find many stories that will frighten and disgust. However, there are also many great programs run by people who are knowledgeable and caring and nto only put the children's interests first, but actively work to help them develop and reach theri full potential.

A new UNICEF publication, The Child Care Transition, provides some insight and some interesting reading about our profession.

A great change is coming over childhood in the world's richest countries. Today's rising generation is the first in which a majority are spending a large part of early childhood in some form of out-of-home child care. At the same time, neuroscientific research is demonstrating that loving, stable, secure, and stimulating relationships with caregivers in the earliest months and years of life are critical for every aspect of a child’s development. Taken together, these two developments confront public and policymakers in OECD countries with urgent questions. Whether the child care transition will represent an advance or a setback for today's children and tomorrow's world. will depend on the response.

Download The child care transition: a league table of early childhood education and care in economically advanced countries.

There is no question that increasing numbers of the earliest generation in advanced countries are spending a significant amount of time in a child care setting. Take a look at this report and let me know what your thoughts are...

2009-03-26T05:23:00.001-05:00

Taxes & Education Expenses...

Although it might seem at first to be a simple matter, the question of whether or not professional development classes and credentials are deductible is actually quite complicated.

Classes or workshops that you take to get ready to care for children are deductible, but classes or workshops that you are required to take by state law before you can get a state license are not deductible. So if you take a class on child development before you are licensed, it is deductible. However, if state law says that you have to have taken a class in child development before you can get licensed, then it's not deductible.

However, continuing education expenses are deductible even if required by licensing. If state law says you must take 10 hours of training a year after you get licensed, then the cost of classes you take before and after you are licensed are deductible.

Any training you receive after you meet your state's child care regulations is deductible as long as the training is related to your business. These training classes are deductible even if they don't qualify for training credit according to your local regulation requirements. In other words, if you take a class on record keeping that doesn't count towards your state training requirements, this class is still deductible.

All costs associated with obtaining NAFCC accreditation or a CDA are always deductible. (...and I would be happy to help you with either!)
Education expenses related to child development, taxes, CPR, parent communication, nutrition, or any other class to increase your skills to run your business are deductible.
Classes offered by your local child care resource and referral agency are deductible.
Classes in a second language are deductible only if you use this skill to build your business or if you teach the language to children.

So how about college? You cannot deduct the cost of classes you take to receive a post-secondary undergraduate degree if this is your first post-secondary degree. The reason you cannot deduct this is because the degree qualifies you for a new occupation. Such classes are not deductible even if the class helps you maintain or improve your skills as a provider.

If you take college classes that do not lead to a degree (a class on child development, for example), then they are deductible. If you already have a post-secondary degree and you are taking classes that qualify you for a second college degree (a degree in early childhood development or a masters degree in education, for example), then these classes are deductible.

Clear as mud, right? One last thing to remember... If you receive a grant or scholarship (TEACH, TAP grant, etc.) to take training classes or attend business conferences, the money you receive is taxable income and needs to be declared as such. But you can also deduct the cost of the conference or classes that you take. If the grant does not cover the full cost of the training, you can still deduct the full cost. If you never actually receive the scholarship (the granting organization pays for the training directly), you should still report this as income and claim the cost of the training as an expense.

I obviously encourage training. There are numerous benefits of professional development in the family child care field. To the provider, it offers knowledge and skills that can enhance and enrich her career. To the child in care. it can mean a better educational environment when the provider is able to transmit the knowledge she has learned. To the parents of children in care, it can be a strong indicator of quality care. Such indicators will likely grow in importance as parents look for objective standards to help them select a caregiver for their child.

2009-03-25T06:56:00.001-05:00

2008 Tax Changes for Family Child Care Providers...

Since we are talking about taxes this week, I should share a few changes in the 2008 tax law that may affect child care providers. The following list if from Resources for Child Caring...

Standard Mileage Rate
The standard mileage rate for 2008 is 50.5 cents per business mile for January 1 through - June 30. The rate for the second half of the year is 58.5 cents.The rate for 2009 is 55 cents per mile.

Standard Meal Allowance Rate
The standard meal allowance rate for 2008 is $1.11 breakfast, $2.06 lunch/supper, and $.61 snack.

Special Bonus Depreciation Allowance
Providers can claim a 50 percent special depreciation allowance for property acquired and placed in service during 2008.

Eligible property must have a recovery period of 20 years or less.This includes: office equipment (computers, copies, printers, etc.), furniture, appliances, fences, play equipment, etc.It does not include home improvements or the home.

The original use of the property must begin with the provider in 2008 ("new" property).

Example - Family child care provider buys $2,000 of playground equipment
If it was used more than 50% in the business, provider can use Section 179
If it was used 40% for business:
$2,000 x 40% = $800 business basis
$800 x 50% = $400 - bonus depreciation on Form 4562
$800 x 50% = $400 - 7 year MACRS depreciation (14.29%) = $57.16 on Form 4562

Federal Minimum Wage
As of July 2008 the federal minimum wage rose to $6.55 per hour. In July2009 it will increase to $7.25 per hour. Providers who hire only one employee, or only hire family members, do not have to pay the federal minimum wage. Providers, however, may have to pay their state minimum wage.

The income limit to qualify for the IRA Saver's Credit has risen to $53,000 adjusted gross income for couples filing jointly; $39,750 for heads of household; $26,500 for individuals or married couples filing separately.

Just a few tips that may help you to save some money this tax season...
What I really want to know is... if a fine is a tax for doing wrong, is a tax a fine for doing well?

2009-03-24T06:07:00.001-05:00

Standard Meal Allowances...

Are you aware that you can claim food expenses on your taxes, but do not need to go through the hassle of saving receipts and adding up totals for the year? Family child care providers may choose to use a standard meal allowance rate to claim food deductions instead of keeping detailed records and food receipts. This can greatly reduce the amount of recordkeeping that is needed if you choose this option.

Providers can use the standard meal and snack rates for a maximum of one breakfast, one lunch, one dinner, and three snacks per child per day. Any extra meals or snacks beyond these amounts may not be counted when using the standard meal allowance rate. The rule does not give guidance on what constitutes a meal or a snack. Providers can count meals even if they do not meet the nutrition requirements of the Food Program.

Who Is Eligible?
All family child care providers are eligible to use the standard meal allowance, whether or not they are licensed, registered, or otherwise regulated by their own state or locality. This includes unregulated providers, providers receiving subsidy from their state to care for one or more low income children, and even illegal providers. Providers who are not on the Food Program may also use this method of expense tracking.

So what is the rate? For 2008, you can deduct:

Majority of the States:
Breakfast $1.11
Lunch/Supper $2.06
Snack $0.61
Alaska:
Breakfast $1.76
Lunch/Supper $3.34
Snack $0.99
Hawaii:
Breakfast $1.29
Lunch/Supper $2.41
Snack $0.72

A few notes of interest...

You cannot count meals if the parent of the child suupplies the food. If the parent only supplies part of the meal, you might be able to claim a portion of the meal allowance rate, but use your own reasonable judgment about whether to claim a portion of the meal allowance rate.
If the actual cost of food purchased as part of an activity, rather than as a meal or snack, it may be counted as an activity expense at actual cost, rather than as a standard meal food expense. This will often provide a larger deduction. For example, the cost of a cake served at a birthday party or the ingredients of a gingerbread house can be deducted separately. You should use best judgment to determine if a food expense should be counted as a meal or an activity expense.
To use the standard meal allowance rate, you must maintain records that include the names of the children in your care, the dates and hours of attendance, and the number of breakfasts, lunches, suppers, and snacks served. You can use any record keeping system that you prefer, such as Food Program monthly claim forms, sign in and sign out sheets, parent contracts, and other methods. The most difficult record to keep is probably hours of attendance. Although the IRS log asks providers to track this on a daily basis, if you keep reasonable attendance records and your meal counts are not inconsistent with these records, you should not have a problem if audited. (Again, you should probably check with your tax preparer and their recommendations.)

If you use this method of deduction, participation of the CACFP (Child & Adult Food Program) makes even more sense. Food Program rules have always required providers to keep track of children's attendance and meal counts (up to three servings a day). Because of this, if you participate on the Food Program already have most of the records required by the IRS. The additional records needed from Food Program participants are hours of attendance and the additional meals and snacks not reimbursed by the Food Program.

The key point to remember is that you have a choice in how to claim your food expenses. You can use this standard meal allowance rate or deduct your food expenses using the actual cost of the meals. You can even switch back and forth from year to year. You may want to estimate the actual food cost per child per meal that you incur and compare it with the standard meal allowance rate. If your actual food cost is greater, perhaps you should continue to save all business and personal food receipts. Figure out which method works best for you!

2009-03-23T06:54:00.000-05:00

Time and Space Percentage...

Tax time is almost upon us and maybe I should review some basic concepts that child care providers need to know about taxes and how they apply to our profession. But first, a disclaimer: I am not a tax expert and if you would like more information, please talk to your tax professional.

Today I want to talk about is the time/space formula. No, I am not talking about quantum physics, but a percentage that is the most important number in a family child care provider's business. The Time-Space Percentage represents the proportion of expenses for items that are used by both your business and your family that you can deduct on your tax return. These expenses include house related costs (property tax, mortgage interest, utilities, house repairs, house insurance, house depreciation, and home improvements) as well as other items such as household supplies, furniture, appliances, shared toys, and so on.These expenses can easily total thousands of dollars so it is vital that providers spend the necessary time to calculate their Time-Space Percentage correctly. This percentage is determined by calculating your Time Percent and then multiplying it by your Space Percent.

The time percent is the number of hours your home is used for business in a years time divided by the total number of hours in a year (8760 hours). Obviously to figure your tiem used for business you count all of the hours children are in your home, from the moment the first child arrives until the last child leaves. But don't forget those hours that you ae performing business activities when children are not present. Include such things as:

Cleaning your home for your business
Preparing meals for the children in your care
Planning and preparing activities for your business
Keeping business records
Planning menus and preparing shopping lists
Conducting interviews with prospective parents
Talking to parents on the phone about business
Reading magazines to find recipes
Working at your computer on business activities (including time on the Internet - child care related only!)
Any other activity that you do in your home for your business

AND, these hours can include times spent by someone other than yourself doing business activities. Your husband or your own child may spend time cleaning your home or you may hire a cleaning person to come into your home. When determining your cleaning hours, only count time spent cleaning up messes caused by your business. If you clean your bathrooms and kitchen on the weekend, only count part of the time because some of the mess was created by your family. (Unless, like my family, your family never makes messes...)

NOW we have our time percent... How do we figure the space percent?

That is quite easy... The space percent is the number of square feet of your home regularly used for business divided by the total number of square feet in your home. The living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, entryway, playroom, and pantry are obviously regularly used in most providers' businesses. A bedroom used by children for naps for 30 minutes a day is considered regular use. A room doesn't have to be used 10 hours a day before it can be considered regular use. Using a room 2-3 times a week for your business would probably make this room regular use.Children don't have to be in the room for the room to be considered as regular use. A laundry room, storage room, or office can be regularly used for business. Most providers would count their basement as regular use if it contained a furnace area, laundry room, storage area, or playroom. If a basement room contained items used to maintain the home (tools, supplies, food, garden equipment, toys, workshop items, etc.) it can probably be counted as regular use. Don't forget to count your garage as part of the total square feet of the home, even if it is detached from the home if, like most providers, you use your garage on a regular basis for your business as storage for a car, tools, bikes, garbage, recycling, supplies, etc.

Okay, we have our Time Percent and our Space Percent. Just multiply them together! (You can use a calculator if you like...) Now you have your Time-Space Percentage that can be applied to your shared household expenses at tax time.

2009-03-20T06:40:00.000-05:00

Today is the First Day of Spring!

Goodbye winter... today is the first day of Spring! Cold temperatures may still hover in some parts of the United States, but spring officially arrives on March 20. It is the day of the vernal equinox, in which the sun is exactly above the equator and day and night are equal in length all over the earth. Yet spring's coming in the natural world happens not at the turn of a calendar page, but through countless changes, such as crocuses blooming.

A sure sign of seasonal change is the journey north as birds, butterflies, and others animals migrate. Your class can report sightings or check out others students' updates of the migrations they see, from hummingbirds to Northern orioles. My child care anxiously awaits the sighting of the first robin.

The ideas for things to do at Springtime are nearly endless. If you can't stay outside all day, do some Spring activities, read a Spring story or two, try some Spring art, or make some Spring crafts. Looking for more? Try some of these resources.

Everyone is happy about Springtime and the promise of warmer weather, green plants growing, and the appearance of new life around us. There is little not to like about Springtime, except maybe this... but perhaps the kids can help. So, let's get outside and enjoy!

2009-03-19T06:36:00.000-05:00

Developmentally Appropriate Practice...

The National Association for the Education of Young Children has long been the leading voice in defining, disseminating, and recognizing best practice in the care and education of children, birth through age 8. In 2009, the Association released the much-anticipated third edition of its principles and guidelines for teachers and others in the field of early childhood education. These principles and guidelines describe what we call “Developmentally Appropriate Practice” — that is, teaching practices that ensure that young children learn and develop to their fullest potential. Well grounded in the research on child development and educational effectiveness, and carefully reviewed by experts, Developmentally Appropriate Practice serves as a fundamental guide for all who work with young children.

So, what is Developmentally Appropriate Practice? Well, obviously it is the practice of what is developmentally appropriate for children...
• Developmentally appropriate practice requires both meeting children where they are—which means that teachers must get to know them well—and enabling them to reach goals that are both challenging and achievable.
• All teaching practices should be appropriate to children’s age and developmental status, attuned to them as unique individuals, and responsive to the social and cultural contexts in which they live.
• Developmentally appropriate practice does not mean making things easier for children. Rather, it means ensuring that goals and experiences are suited to their learning and development
and challenging enough to promote their progress and interest.
• Best practice is based on knowledge—not on assumptions—of how children learn and develop. The research base yields major principles in human development and learning (this position statement articulates 12 such principles). Those principles, along with evidence about curriculum and teaching effectiveness, form a solid basis for decision making in early care and education.

Read the NAEYC position paper, then go to view the Developmentally Appropriate Practice video program that is currently availabe to view for FREE online through April 30th. Be aware that the video is about an hour long, but is very interesting and full of useful information.

Why is Developmentally Appropriate Practice important?
Because your moment-by-moment actions and interactions with children are the most powerful determinant of learning outcomes and development. Curriculum is very important, but what the child's teacher does is paramount. Both child-guided and teacher-guided experiences are vital to children’s development and learning. Developmentally appropriate programs provide substantial periods of time when children may select activities to pursue from among the rich choices you have prepared. In addition to these activities, children ages 3–8 benefit from planned teacher-guided, interactive small-group and large-group experiences. Effective teachers are intentional in their use of a variety of approaches and strategies to support children’s interest and ability in each learning domain. Quality caregivers provide significant learning in play, routines, and interest areas, along with carefully planned curriculum that focuses children’s attention on a particular concept or topic. Further, skilled teachers adapt curriculum to the group they are teaching and to each individual child to promote optimal learning and development.

To ensure that providers can continue to provide care and education of high quality, we must be well prepared and participate in ongoing professional development. Following Developmentally Appropriate Practice will help to assure that we are providing quality care. This should be a goal for everyone in this profession!

2009-03-18T05:50:00.001-05:00

Keeping Kids Safe...

One of the most basic charges of our profession is to keep the children in our care safe. If you do not have a copy of "Keeping Kids Safe" from the DHS, I encourage you to get thefree download now.

Keeping Kids Safe will help you be ready to respond to such emergencies while you’re caring for other people’s children AND to keep your own family safe–since your child care home is also your family’s living space. By planning ahead with this 10-step process, you can feel better prepared to keep yourself and the children safe.

Remember, like a Boy Scout, you must always be prepared. “Be prepared for the unexpected” is a common phrase used by individuals who work with children. Since September 11, 2001, Hurricane Katrina, and our own state’s natural disasters with tornado and flooding, we are even more sensitive to the importance of this phrase. Use "Keeping Kids Safe" to help prepare your own emergency plans.

There are three things that you must remember to do in the event of an emergency:

Keep Calm
Provide reassurance, physical comfort and structure
Follow your Emergency Plan
Act Quickly

Hey, let's be careful out there...

P.S. Hope you had a happy and safe St Patrick's Day!

2009-03-17T06:10:00.000-05:00

National Wildlife Week...

Did you know that this week, March 16th through 20th, is National Wildlife Week? (Seems somewhat appropriate with St Patrick's Day today and the "wild-life" going on... but I digress...)

Since 1938, National Wildlife Week has been essential to wildlife conservation, bringing awareness about the issue to people of all ages. Observing National Wildlife Week is a time to honor wildlife, bring communities together through service, ignite the minds of children and adults, and instill an absolute love of nature.

An easy way to participate in this week-long event is by making time for outdoor play and interaction with the natural world. Research shows that nature and the outdoors improves one's physical, mental and emotional well-being. This is especially important for children who typically spend hours in front of electronic media. Additionally, families and communities connected to nature raise healthier kids and inspire a life-long appreciation of wildlife and the environment.

Download several activities and resources for National Wildlife Week.
The kids can celebrate the week with Ranger Rick.
Provide a daily Green Hour® for the children in your care.
Enjoy some coloring pages and craft ideas from Crayola.
Get some great wildlife resources at TeacherVision.

Walt Disney summed up his feelings about wildlife when he said,

“Landscapes of great wonder and beauty lie under our feet and all around us.
They are discovered in tunnels in the ground, the heart of flowers, the hollows
of trees, fresh-water ponds, seaweed jungles between tides, and even drops of
water. Life in these hidden worlds is more startling in reality than anything we
can imagine. How could this earth of ours, which is only a speck in the heavens,
have so much variety of life, so many curious and exciting creatures?”

Spring begins on Friday and what a great time to get outdoors and enjoy nature during this great Minnesota weather!

2009-03-16T05:58:00.000-05:00

Top 'O The Mornin' To You...

B'gosh and begorrah... tomorrow is St Patrick's Day. On March 17th many people celebrate St Patrick's Day with parades, green clothing, and perhaps a malted beverage or two. It has been said that there is a bit of Irish in everyone. That may be a bit of blarney, but could be true because Lucky Charms come from Minnesota, and we're not commonly known for our Irish communities.

Here's some resources to help you prepare for and celebrate this green holiday with your little leprechauns:

Kaboose is definitely NOT the last resource I go to...
123Child has crafts, games, songs, and food ideas.
BillyBear4Kids has crafts, coloring pages, activities, games, and more.
DLTK Activities always has good activity and craft examples.
Enchanted Learning site has some craft ideas, but to access everything you must be a member.
Family Fun has lots of St Patrick ideas for fun for the family.
KinderArt has ideas shareed by many teachers and educators.
AmazingMoms gives you plans to make a "leprechaun trap".
FreeKidCrafts offers... wait for it... free kid crafts. Whoda guessed?
Apples4TheTeacher has lots of information for older children, but don't miss the coloring pages.
If you want to have a party, PreschoolersToday shows you the preschoolers way to party.
And for you real overachiever, you can even go Martha...

Erin Go Bragh... I hope you enjoy St Paddy's Day and...

May the roads rise to meet you,
May the winds be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

2009-03-14T11:10:00.002-05:00

Important Legislative Information...

...for family child care providers in Minnesota: A bill has been introduced and is titled “Family day care background checks required, and criminal history data access allowed.” The link below will take to the text of the bill. The bill number in the house is HF1543. In the senate the bill number is SF1413.

The next step is a hearing in both the house and senate committees. We don’t have the dates of the hearing at the time of this notification but believe the house will be as early as next week.

Representative Nora Slawik (Maplewood) is the author of the bill in the House with Jim Abler (Anoka), Kim Norton (Rochester), Patti Fritz (Faribault), Carolyn Laine ( Columbia Heights), Jeanne Poppe (Austin), Ryan Winkler (Golden Valley) and Andy Welti (Plainview) as co-authors.
Senator Claire Robling (Prior Lake) is the author of the bill in the Senate with Sharon Erickson-Ropes (Winona), Tony Lourey (Kerrick), and Tarryl Clark (St. Cloud) as co-authors.

Action: Maybe let your Representative and Senator who is NOT on the list above know the bill has been introduced and it is of interest to you.

Summary of the Bill:
Background checks will be transferred FROM the responsibility of a county to perform to the responsibility of the State via DHS (Department of Human Services).

As of the effective dates of the bill, providers will pay for the background checks the first time they are required and not again after that. We are looking at the language with July 1, 2009 as the starting date for new providers coming into the system and January 1, 2010 as the starting date for those renewing family child care licenses. We guess this has to do with the fact that counties have this anticipated income in their budget.

Background checks will use an on-line system with DHS with family child care providers applicants ‘collecting the information needed under subdivision 1 and forward it to the county agency using the commissioner’s online system.

The fee PER background check required will be $20.00 per study. This is a one-time fee to get into the state database. It does not state it in the bill but this fee is payable using credit card or debit card on-line.

The commissioner of public safety will develop and make available to the commissioner of human services a rap-back capability. See Section 14 which is new. This mandate to the commissioner of public safety will ensure that anyone in the state system who may have criminal history information in the future will be immediately ‘kicked back’ to DHS for action rather than not detected until the next background check in our current system.

https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H1543.0.html&session=ls86

2009-03-13T06:09:00.001-05:00

Televison and Asthma?

You knew that too much television wasn't good for children... (like the commerical says, aliens are waiting for your brains to turn to mush). Well, as if that wasn't enough to worry about, a newly released study has found that toddlers who spend more than two hours a day watching television almost double their risk of getting asthma before they become teenagers.

Researchers identified 3,065 children without asthma when they were 3 1/2 years old, and tracked them for the next eight years for wheezing or other tell-tale signs of the disorder that makes breathing difficult. Asthma rates rose in tandem with TV time, and those who watched the most had an 80 percent greater risk of being diagnosed by age 12 than those who watched less.

The researchers used television viewing as a marker for sedentary behavior, since the now-ubiquitous personal computers and popular home video-game systems weren’t as widely used when the study began in the early 1990s. The results add asthma to a catalogue of factors, including obesity, diabetes, smoking and promiscuity, tied to TV viewing.

It’s not clear exactly how sedentary behaviors like television watching are tied to asthma, the researchers said. There is some evidence to suggest exercise and deep breaths that come with it stretch the smooth muscles in the airways, while lack of exercise may make the lungs overly sensitive, they said.

So get the kids out from in front of the TV... its for their own good in more ways than you know.

AND, today is Friday the 13th, so stay away from mirrors, ladders, and black cats...

2009-03-12T06:08:00.000-05:00

Voices for Children Advocacy Day...

..in Minnesota is March 19th, 2009. 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.

Voices for Children Advocacy Day is the one day during the session the whole early childhood community comes together to show our support for young children at the legislature. We hope you’ll be able to join us at the State Capitol in St Paul on March 19, 2009 at 10:00am. The Teddy Bear Band will be performing and we’ll hear from legislative leaders and parents about the importance of investing in early care and education. There will also be a Family Fair in the Great Hall (one floor below the Rotunda) with activities for children and families.

If you cannot make it to St Paul on that day, you voice can still be heard! In your local community, encourage children to create art projects that reflect the Voices theme Plant the Seeds, Help Children Bloom, such as a flower with a child’s picture or name. Write letters to your legislators to encourage them to invest in our youngest Minnesotans. Send the letters and art projects to your legislator the week of March 19. Also, take a minute to call your legislator on that day to remind them of the importance of high quality early care and education.

Stand up and be counted as a voice for children! Join parents, teachers, early education professionals, and others for a morning of fun and community building:9:15 a.m. Children’s Activities10:00 a.m. Rally in the Capitol Rotunda10:45 a.m. Children’s Activities & Legislator Visits …with a special performance by the Teddy Bear Band!View and print 2009 flyer here.View and print 2009 flower project flyer here.See pictures from the 2008 Voices day here.New in 2009: Children's Activities immediately before and after the rally in the Great Hall (one floor below the Rotunda of the Capitol).

This is our time to come together to show our leaders that investing in early care and education is the right thing to do.

2009-03-11T06:50:00.000-05:00

Curriculum...

Yesterday, I talked about the importance of play. But there is more to providing quality care than just letting the children play... It is often said that curriculum is an important part of early childhood education, but what is curriculum? Curriculum is defined as a plan that indicates goals for children's development and learning, the experiences through which they will achieve these goals, how caregivers will help them achieve these goals, and the materials that are needed to support these goals.

A misconception about the use of a written curriculum in early childhood is that it will lead to the notion that quality care should be based on a school model rather than a home model. There is a certain pressure to define quality care as skills based and focused on cognitive development, but this is not the whole picture. A curriculum does not need to be a certain book of activities or a prescribed course of study, but it should be a framework that sets forth your program's goals, philosophy, and objectives for children as well as the guidelines for teaching that address all aspects of a child's development. A quality curriculum will look at early childhood development in separate domains (cognitive, gross motor, fine motor, language, and social-emotional) and set goals and objectives for children in each of these domains. Your curriculum should encourage social and emotional development by:

enhancing each child's individual strengths;
providing a setting that allows for building trust;
fostering independence;
having realistic expectations;
encouraging respect for feelings and for the rights of others;
supporting and respecting a child's home language and culture; and
planning routines and transitions so that they occur in a timely, predictable, and unrushed manner, according to each child's needs.

Whether you use a purchased curriculum or make your own, there are several points for you to consider:

Does the curriculum . . .

Promote interactive learning and encourage the child's construction of knowledge
Help children achieve social, emotional, linguistic, physical, and cognitive goals
Encourage development of positive feelings and dispositions toward learning while leading to acquisition of knowledge and skills
Have expectations that are realistic and attainable at this time
Include children with disabilities in the curriculum
Build and elaborate on children's current knowledge and abilities
Lead to conceptual understanding by helping children construct their own understanding in meaningful contexts
Facilitate concept learning and skills development in an integrated and natural way
Challenge children with disabilities to attain goals beyond those commonly expected of them.
Permit flexibility for children and teachers
Encourage active learning and frequently allow children to make meaningful choices
Foster children's exploration and inquiry, rather than focusing on "right" answers or "right" ways to complete a task
Promote the development of higher order abilities, such as thinking, reasoning, problem solving, and decision making
Promote and encourage social interaction among children and adults
Respect children's psychological needs for activity, sensory stimulation, fresh air, rest, and nourishment
Promote feelings of safety, security, and belonging
Provide experiences that promote feelings of success, competence, and enjoyment of learning
Promote positive relationships with families

Is it . . .

Based on sound child development principles of how children grow and learn?
Meaningful for these children? Is it relevant to the children's lives? Can it be made more relevant by linking it to personal experiences the children have had or can have easily?
Sensitive to and respectful of cultural and linguistic diversity? Does the curriculum expect, allow, and appreciate individual differences?

So do you use a curriculum in your program? How does it compare when considering the above concepts? Are there changes that you should make for your curriculum to adapt and expand to respond to individual needs and interests of the children in your care? Is your curriculum dynamic enough to respond to changing priorities and evolving concerns?

I hope that whatever curriculum you use serves you, the children you teach, and the parental expectations of your families as well.

2009-03-10T06:41:00.000-05:00

All Work and No Play...

Should your child care be “academic” or the fun place? While a few years ago the statement would’ve sounded absurd, being “academically prepared” for kindergarten is now a new and real parental concern. Kindergartners are now expected to learn what first-graders once learned. Many school administrators and educators have decided kids need to learn more, and earlier, to meet achievement targets set up by programs such as No Child Left Behind. However, many experts believe that children who are subjected to overly academic environments at a young age are less likely to be creative learners and thinkers.

In 1999, Rebecca Marcon, a developmental psychologist and education researcher at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, published a study that looked at 721 4-year-olds selected from three different preschool models: play based, academic (adult directed) and middle of the road (programs that did not follow either philosophy). Marcon followed the children’s language, self-help, social, motor and adaptive development along with basic skills. “What we found in our research then and in ongoing studies is that children who were in a [play-based] preschool program showed stronger academic performance in all subject areas measured compared to children who had been in more academically focused or more middle-of-the-road programs,” says Marcon.

This academic "push" is a troubling trend in early childhood education according to the Science Daily, that published an excellent article which states:

Parents and educators who favor traditional classroom-style learning over free,
unstructured playtime in preschool and kindergarten may actually be stunting a
child’s development instead of enhancing it... Children learn the way we all
learn: through engagement, and through construction. They have to make sense of
the world, and that’s what play or any other symbolic activity does for
children...

This is an interesting viewpoint in today's society of baby Einstein philosophy where parents try to gain every possible educational advantage for their children at an early age. Yes we need to be concerned about early education, about early literacy, about providing opportunities for learning experiences and then helping the child take advantage of them. BUT, play is an important part of the child's development. There does need to be structure in your childcare. Children need structure and stability. However, children also need the opportunity to be creative and intellectually curious. Unstructured play provides that for them.

Perhaps the best viewpoint is that early education is important, but at the preschool age, all learning should be fun! Learning activities should be intentional and planned, but fun and engaging for kids. Adults should be intentional about the teaching, but it should be embedded in everyday life and fun activities. So how about it? Can you be a good teacher and still make learning fun for the children in your care?

Remember that being ready for kindergarten is important, but all work and no play CAN make Jack a dull boy...

2009-03-09T05:13:00.000-05:00

Book It Beginners...

I told you before and I'll tell you again. If your program is not signed up for Book It Beginners, do it right away. Even though the official date has past, you can still enroll when I last checked. Once you have your program enrolled, a reminder will be sent out every year to enroll again.

BOOK IT! Beginners is a read-aloud program that builds reading-readiness skills and establishes an at-home reading routine by providing interactive classroom materials to teachers. These materials add an exciting, hands-on activity to read-aloud time. A literacy activity with a strong parent component, BOOK IT! Beginners was established in 1998 and reaches over 1.7 million children.

BOOK IT! Beginners is available for children ages 3-5, not yet in kindergarten, who attend a preschool/pre-kindergarten program or licensed child care facility. A regular faculty, curriculum, and an enrolled body of at least four eligible preschool children must be maintained.

Teachers read to the children in their class at least 60 minutes a week during March and April. They write the name of each book they read – or the amount of time read – on an interactive cutout which children then place on the BOOK IT! Beginners poster. At the end of each four-week reading period, teachers present each of the children in their class with a Reading Award Certificate.

Children who are read to at home show more interest in books, have a higher vocabulary, and learn to read more easily. Teachers are encouraged to provide a supply of the cutouts for parents to use at home when they read aloud to their child to involve the family and establish an at-home reading routine that will continue into elementary school. Reading aloud cannot be done too early or too often!

Pizza Hut is proud of every BOOK IT! Beginner! The restaurant manager and team congratulate each child for listening to the teacher read and reward them with a free, one-topping Personal Pan Pizza and an “I’m a BOOK IT! Beginner” Activity Sticker Sheet on both visits.

This is another great excuse to read to the kids in your care and prompt parents to do the same at home. If you don't get signed up this year, mark your calendar to remind you in January 2010.

Reading books and free pizza... doesn't get much better than that!