Coupon Codes for April - June 2014

Spring is here and time for more training. Here is the coupon code to save 1/2 off your registration fee for our April - June 2014 trainings? Please enter "April/June2014" in the coupon code area on your registration form.

November/December 2013 Workshops Coupon Code!

There's still time to get your clock hours for 2013, and we have plenty of workshops planned before the year draws to a close.

Check out our latest flyer here.

And save half off your registration fee for one workshop by writing the coupon code, "BLOGHALF13" on the blank on your registration form.

Free Social-emotional Resources to Share with Families

Child Care Aware® of Central Missouri has been utilizing the free resources available from The Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention (TACSEI) to help child care professionals manage challenging behaviors for several years.  Their website provides a variety of useful tools at no cost to you.  One new resource provides free printable handouts you can share with families to promote social-emotional skills at home.

The Backpack Connection Series helps parents stay informed about what their child is learning at school, and each one gives specific ideas on how to use the strategy or skill at home.   The handouts cover emotions such as jealousy, frustration, anger, and disappointment as well as challenging behaviors like biting.  There are also pages available on routines like bedtime and skills like sharing.

For example, the handout on smooth transitions offers these helpful tips:

• Use a timer, instrument, or funny noise to alert the child about the coming transition.
• Let the child choose a special toy to take with him to the new activity or place.
• Use a visual schedule to show the child the plan for the day.
• Use a special song during transition times.
• Give the child a job to do during the transition. 

To view and print the Backpack Connection Series or other useful resources, visit TACSEI’s website, www.challengingbehavior.org.

First Children’s Finance

First Children’s Finance provides loans and financial technical assistance to child care business owners, both family child care and center based, who want to expand or improve programs in 10 states, including Missouri.   Their loans can be used to open new programs, remodel or expand facilities, purchase equipment, or to make improvements necessary to fulfill licensing requirements.

The organization also has free online Business Resource Centers for family child care businesses and center based child care programs.  You’ll find information there to help you with starting a new business, marketing your business, keeping records, filing taxes, legal issues, money management, and insurance.

To apply for a loan or to utilize the many free resources online, visit their website at www.firstchildrensfinance.org/.

Cool Summertime Ice Play

Here are a few ice play ideas we’ve recently pinned to our Pinterest boards at http://pinterest.com/ccacentralmo.

Magnetic Ice Fishing:  For a fun way to use your magnet play materials, put a magnet in each segment of an ice cube tray, add water, and then add a few drops of food coloring.  Once the ice is frozen, take the ice outside, or add it to your sensory table, and let children explore using the magnetic wands.

Ice Boats:  To make the boats, freeze larger chunks of ice in re-purposed containers (yogurt containers work well).  Add food coloring or liquid watercolor to the water before freezing.  When the ice is about halfway frozen, add a “sail” from paper taped to straws or toothpicks.  Let children play with the ice boats in the water table and explore the floating, melting, color mixing, and more.

Monster Ice:  This can be done using ice cube trays for smaller “monsters” or larger containers for big ones.  Cook some spaghetti, and then make it different colors with food coloring.  For each “monster” add wiggle eyes and spaghetti “hair” to the ice cube tray, then cover with ice and freeze.  Children can play with the “monsters” outside and explore the feeling of the frozen spaghetti thawing.

Ice Chalk:  Mix one part cornstarch and one part baking soda with two parts water and a few drops of liquid watercolor.  Freeze in ice cube trays, and then let the children draw with the ice chalk on the sidewalks.  For an extra thrill, put some vinegar in a spray bottle, and let them spray their drawings and watch the chalk fizz.

Jell-O Ice:  You can freeze Jell-O cups purchased from the store, or mix up a box of Jell-O and put it in the freezer rather than the refrigerator.  This makes a colorful, yummy-smelling, and non-toxic sensory play material.       

Local Family Child Care Business Owner Wins National Award

We’d like to congratulate Meg Kocher of Kocher’s Family Child Care in Holts Summit, Missouri who was one of 50 early care and education professionals selected to win the Terri Lynne Lokoff/Children’s Tylenol® National Child Care Teacher Award.  Applications are encouraged from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Military bases and installations around the world, and four child care professionals in Missouri were selected to receive the award this year.

Meg’s application included a classroom enhancement project proposal she called “Science Squad:  Explore, Expand, Apply.”  The entry earned her $500 to implement the project in her child care business, and an additional $500 award for the teacher herself.  Meg used the money to purchase a sensory table, binoculars, magnifying glasses, magnets, and other science materials for the children to use.  The families Meg serves wrote letters of support and encouraged her to take time off work for an all expenses paid trip to Philadelphia to receive the award in person.

For more information about the Terri Lynne Lokoff/Children’s Tylenol® National Child Care Teacher Award, or to apply for the 2014 award, visit www.tllccf.org.

Summer Workshop Coupon Code!

You can save $9 off your workshop registration fee for one of our July or August 2013 workshops.  That's half off the regular cost of $18!

Check your mailbox or email inbox for the registration form, and simply write "SUMMERSALEB" on the registration form before you mail it with your payment to our office.

Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest for more codes.  Each coupon code is good for savings off one workshop registration fee per person. Limit of one code per workshop.  These codes are only valid for Child Care Aware^® of Central Missouri sponsored workshops held during July and August 2013.

CDA 2.0

Are you interested in furthering your education by obtaining a Child Development Associate credential?   If so, you’ll need to know about the changes coming soon from the Council for Professional Recognition, effective June 1, 2013.  Here are few key details:

• The CDA Exam will be taken at a testing center near you.
• The role of the CDA Advisors (who currently do observations) and Council Representatives (who currently do Verification Visits) is changing, and both tasks will be conducted by a CDA Professional Development Specialist.  The Specialist will now review the Candidate’s Professional Portfolio (formerly Professional Resource File), observe the Candidate working with children, and reflect with the Candidate about areas of strength or growth.
• The Specialists will report the results of your visit to the Council, and you can expect to hear the results of your exam and your visit much faster than in the past.
• Instead of being assigned a Council Representative, you will be able to online and choose who you want to conduct your visit from a National Directory of Specialists.
• There will no longer be a time limit for earning the 120 clock hours of training.  Any training or education meeting the Subject Area requirements and taken at any time during your career counts.
• If you plan to apply on or before May 31, 2013, you will use the current CDA process and the current Competency Standards booklet and application packet.  If you plan to apply on or after June 1, 3013, you’ll need to use the new “CDA 2.0” process.  This new process requires purchase of the new application packet and Competency Standards book.
• The CDA assessment fee will be increasing from $325 to $425 effective September 1, 2013.

You can earn the required 120 clock hours online through Child Care Aware Training Academy!  Find out more at http://www.smarthorizons.org/naccrra/ccam/  

For more information about obtaining a CDA, or about the changes to the program, visit http://www.cdacouncil.org/

New Grant to Support Early Childhood Improvement or Program Start Up!

The Missouri Department of Economic Development is pleased to announce the availability of $10 million in tax credits and grants to help support capital improvement and program start up costs related to Governor Nixon’s “Early Childhood Initiative”.

Children’s participation in pre-kindergarten contributes to success in elementary, secondary and post secondary education, which ultimately impacts career opportunities. The Department is providing resources to support the development of new or the expansion of existing high-quality early childhood and pre-kindergarten educational opportunities specifically directed at children of low and moderate income families.

The Department is releasing a Request for Proposals (RFP) today. The RFP and additional program details may be found at http://www.ded.mo.gov/BCS%20Programs/BCSProgramDetails.aspx?BCSProgramID=112

Responses to the RFP are due in the offices of the Department of Economic Development no later than 5:00 p.m., May 31, 2013.

Eligible capital improvement costs may include acquisition, new building construction, rehabilitation of existing properties, and related soft costs associated: appraisal; closing costs; engineering and architectural costs; inspections; and permitting. Program start-up costs may include costs such as curriculum development; equipment related directly to curriculum delivery; and teacher training. Applicants may seek either capital improvement funds or programming funds, or both.

Applicants for funding must meet the same eligibility criteria necessary to receive funding from the Missouri Preschool Project.

A webinar is scheduled for Friday, April 19th at 10:00 a.m. to provide more information to potential applicants. Webinar registration information is available on the website.

Benefits of Outdoor Play in Winter

How many times were you told as a child to bundle up so you don't catch cold?  The truth is, cold weather does not cause illness.  Colds and flu are spread by viruses, and children are more likely to get sick if they are cooped up indoors all winter long!

Missouri's Department of Health and Senior Services Section for Child Care Regulation requires:

A total of at least one (1) hour of outdoor play for children in attendance a full day unless prevented by weather or special medical reasons (Based on wind chill factor or heat index, children shall not be exposed to either extreme element.)

Check with your licensing representative for details on what qualifies as "extreme" weather.  As a general rule of thumb, if it's 40 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, your normal outdoor play routine should apply.  Here is a windchill/heat index chart published by the Iowa Department of Health to help determine whether it's safe to go outside for a full hour, for shorter periods of time, or if you shouldn't take children outside at all.

Daily outdoor play, even in chilly weather, has many benefits for children.  Gross motor activities, most easily done through outdoor play, are the best way to prevent obesity.  Plenty of outdoor play can also have a big impact on the number of challenging behaviors experienced in child care programs.  A simple change of environment can be a great way to refresh the children and the adults!

Be sure children are dressed appropriately for the weather.  Dressing in layers is best, because layers can be taken off or added as needed.  Be sure families in your program know that outdoor play is a part of your schedule, and children should be sent to child care with coats, hats, mittens, boots, and other appropriate winter wear.  It's always a good idea to have a few spares on hand for children who left their coats at home.

For more information about safe outdoor play in the winter, check out this resource from the University of California.   

Coupon Code!

Would you like to save $6.00 off your January or February workshop registration?  Simply write "BLOGCOUPON6" on your registration form, and take $6 off your payment!

This code good for January or February 2013 workshops only.  Each person may use each code one time.  Limit one code per person per training.

Look for more codes by "liking" us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and visiting our Pinterest page.

View or print the full flyer showing all our January and February workshops. 

Hot Chocolate Theme for Winter Months

We found some great ideas on the web that can be put together for a hot chocolate theme during these cold days.

www.teachpreschool.org suggests making fake cocoa mix and marshmallows using scraps of brown construction paper cut small and cotton balls. Fill your sensory table with the scraps of brown paper and some scissors, and let the children spend a few days practicing cutting skills to chop the pieces into small bits. Then create a cocoa making station using paper cups, plastic measuring spoons, and the “cocoa” and marshmallows.

The site also suggests using marshmallows as stamps in a painting activity. Marshmallows now come in extra large size, as well as the traditional mini and regular. You may even find other shapes in your grocery store. Set out a variety of marshmallows and white paint along with colored construction paper. Show children how to dip the marshmallow into the paint then stamp onto the paper.

foxtoybox.blogspot.com suggests using picture recipes to help children make real hot cocoa they can drink. This is a great opportunity to work on sequencing words like, first, next, and last. Children can measure the appropriate number of spoonfuls of cocoa into their cups, then measure the correct amount of warm (not hot!) water, then stir. Have children count as they add five mini marshmallows. Then use the experience as a writing or graphing prompt to record what children think about the cocoa.

Make hot chocolate play dough using this recipe from nurturestore.co.uk.

2 cups of water

1 1/2 cups of plain flour

1/2 cup of cocoa

1 cup of salt

2 tablespoons of vegetable oil

1 1/2 tablespoons of cream of tartar

Stir up all the ingredients in a saucepan, over a low heat, until the dough forms. Allow the dough to cool before sharing with children. The dough looks and smells good enough to eat, so make sure the children understand this dough is only for playing.

Preschool Activities Promoting Thankfulness

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, you're probably looking for fun new ways to introduce the idea of thankfulness to the children in your child care program.  Here are a few neat ideas we recently found:

Thankful Placemats
Give children sheets of paper and ask them to draw pictures of people, places, or things they are thankful for.  You may need to explain what "thankful means."  A child friendly definition is, "you're happy you have this person/thing in your life."  With children's permission, you can write explanations on their drawings, naming the people, or jotting down what the child said about his artwork.  These placemats can then be laminated and used at meals and snacks during the week, then sent home before the holiday break so families can enjoy them.  Idea found at e.how.com.

I'm Thankful Each Day

This wonderful book by P.K. Hallinan could be left in your classroom library all year.  The simple words and illustrations can be understood by the youngest children in your classroom, and they promote being grateful for material and non-material blessings we each have in your lives.

Make a "I am Thankful For..."Book
There are many ways to make books in your classroom, whether individual books children can take home, or classroom books you'll leave in your library and share over and over.  Kinderplans.com has a free printable book about thankfulness that you can allow each child to personalize.

Gratitude Journals
Oprah Winfrey made journaling about five things we are grateful for each day a popular activity with many adults.  You can pass this practice along to children in simple ways.  They could be encouraged to draw or write in a journal each day about what makes them feel grateful.  Or, you could have children share ideas as a part of circle time each day.

Service Projects
As children express things they are thankful for, we can begin to teach them about helping others who may not have these things.  Encourage children to come up with ideas about how they could help others during the holiday season.  They might want to collect canned foods for a food pantry or practice a short program they could perform at a nursing home.  Follow their lead, and help them carry out the plans they'd like to pursue.

Rules, Rules, and Fewer Rules!

It is that time of year when many programs are in transition; new children are enrolling, some are moving to a different classroom, it is the beginning of a new school year. This is a great time to re-visit your classroom rules to see if they are working for both you and the children in your program.

The following are some general guidelines for rule-setting:

• Your rules should be limited to a few of the most important ones.
• The rules need to make sense to the children.
• Rules should be stated in positive terms (Be safe, walk inside).
• Rules should be short and easily repeated.
• Rules need to be appropriate for the ages and stages of the children in the group.
• Teach each rule to staff, children and families.

Whatever rules you decide are important, the children should be part of the process of setting those rules.  For example, you might choose three simple rules such as:

1. Take good care of yourself. 
2. Take good care of others.
3. Take good care of our school or classroom.

As part of your circle time or your morning meeting time, you can discuss each of the rules and find out what it means to each child.  “Taking care of yourself” might mean stay safe, walk inside, or hold the handrail.

“Taking good care of others” might mean using soft touches, or talking softly while inside.

And “taking good care of our classroom” can mean be careful with our toys or color only on the paper.

The children will come up with a lot of great ideas, and you can help them see how they fit under each of the simple rules. Then you can use the consistent language of the rules for each situation. “James, take care of yourself; sit on the swing.”

You will know your rules are working, when you do not have to continually remind the children about following them.

Written by: Barb Vigil, Early Childhood Specialist
Adapted from Child Care Plus+

Sunny Summer Fun!

The lazy days of summer are here, and we know you’re always looking for new ideas to keep the children cool and occupied during these warm weather months. You can find an abundance of activities, themes, and inspiration online. Here are a few things we recently found:


Invisible Beach Drawings

Give children white crayons and a large sheet of manila paper. Encourage children to draw beach or ocean themed artwork with the crayon then paint over the drawings using blue, green, and brown watercolors to create water and sand. This is a great way to use up those white crayons nobody wants to use, and the manila paper lets the white show just enough that children can see what they are drawing and be amazed at how the drawings show up under the water color.

Pass the Ice Cube

This game is played just like Hot Potato, except you use an ice cube! Try playing outdoors on a hot summer day. Have the children sit in a circle then instruct them to pass an ice cube around the circle while you play music. See who has the ice cube when the music stops, or see how many times you can pass it before it melts away.

Kool-aid Painting

Sprinkle unsweetened powdered drink mix in a variety of flavors on sheets of paper, then give the children ice cubes to move over the paper. The ice will melt, dissolving the drink mix and creating colorful designs. Plus it smells delicious! Be sure to wear smocks or old clothes, because it might stain.

Beachy Dramatic Play

Create a fun beach or swimming pool theme for your dramatic play area. Add beach towels, empty bottles of sunscreen, goggles, blow up toys, sunglasses, and big floppy hats.

Summer Quiet Place

For a fun, summery quiet space where children can read a book, calm down, or just be alone, set up a small plastic pool in the classroom. Try setting it up first as a cutting practice area, and provide scraps of blue and green construction or tissue paper. Let the children cut or tear the paper into little pieces, reminding them to keep the “water” in the swimming pool. Once the paper is shredded, use it as a sensory area where children can dig through the paper shreds using shovels, scoops, or their hands. In a few days, empty the pool and put in some beach towels and swim rings, and let children snuggle up with a book or soft toy.

Chalk Time

We’ve all given children sidewalk chalk to create with on warm days. You may have even had children “paint” the sidewalk with water and a large paintbrush on hot days. But have you ever combined the two? Dipping chalk in water before using it makes the colors more vibrant. Or let children draw with the chalk, then “erase” with the water. Try encouraging children to draw roads with the chalk then use toy cars on the roads.

Cool Sensory Play

Use your sensory table, or empty plastic tubs to explore ice cubes. Simply put the cubes in the tubs and provide your usual water play props. Or add to the experience by dropping food coloring in the ice cube trays before you freeze them. Children will enjoy watching the colors mix as the ice melts. You can also provide shakers of table salt, and show the children how the salt melts the ice. See if you can get the cubes to stick together using the salt!

Ball Painting

Hang a large piece of paper (or try an old, light colored sheet) on your fence outside. Give the children paper plates with some paint and a variety of soft, small balls. Have them dip the ball in the paint, then throw the ball at the canvas. Try nerf balls, koosh balls, golf balls, or whiffle balls and see what patterns the different balls make. Do this on a hot day, and let the kids wear swimsuits then run through sprinklers to wash off any paint.

Sources:

http://www.preschool-plan-it.com/

http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/

http://www.everythingpreschool.com/

Child Care in America: 2012 Fact Sheets

Child Care Aware^® of America recently released its annual state-by state report on key child care data.  Child Care in America 2012 Fact Sheets provide information and statistics on working families, child care supply and demand, costs and other relevant child care data.

Some interesting facts for Missouri:

• Out of 678,384 total families with children, 124,899 families live in poverty.
• Average annual fees for full time infant care in a child care center in Missouri are $8,580. 
• This amounts to 39% of the median family income for single working mothers. 
• As a comparison, average annual cost for tuition and fees at a public in-state four-year college is $7,668. 

View or print the full 2012 Fact Sheet for Missouri here.

View or print the Fact Sheets for any other state or the District of Columbia here. 

New Crib Standards for Child Care

We've gotten a lot of questions from child care providers about the new crib standards.  A few facts:

• The new standards go info effect for child care providers December 28, 2012.
• They went into effect for manufacturers, retailers, and distributors June 28, 2011.
• Immobilizing the drop side on older cribs does NOT make them compliant.
• You should not purchased used cribs for use in child care, especially ones that were manufactured before June 2011.
• You should dispose of non compliant cribs in a manner which prevents them from being used.  This means you should NOT sell them or donate them.
• You cannot tell if a crib is compliant by looking at it.  If you purchased cribs prior to June 2011 and you want to verify whether they meet the new standards, you can contact the manufacturer or retailer and ask for written proof, a Certificate of Compliance.

See more information on crib standards from the Consumer Products Safety Commission here.     

When You are in the Sun

It is that time of year again when the sun and heat play a major factor in our outside time. Keep the children safe this summer by following these tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Babies under 6 months should avoid sun exposure, and dress in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats that shade the neck. A minimal amount of sunscreen with at least 15 SPF (sun protection factor) can be applied to the infant's face and the back of the hands with parent’s written authorization.

For older children apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside, and use sunscreen even on cloudy days. The SPF should be at least 15 and protect against UVA and UVB rays. Have children cover up their arms and legs with lightweight cotton clothing with a tight weave. Children should wear a hat with a three–inch brim and sunglasses (look for sunglasses that block 99-100% of ultraviolet rays).

Some other basic strategies to remember to shield children and adults from excessive sun exposure:

• Stay in the shade whenever possible, and limit sun exposure during the peak intensity hours - between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater. Be sure to apply enough sunscreen - about one ounce per sitting for a young adult. Lotion– and cream– based sunscreens tend to adhere to the skin longer, thus providing better protection.
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.

Following these ideas and suggestion will certainly keep everyone’s skin healthy and safe.

Sources:
http://www.skincancerprevention.org/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx
http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/summertips.cfm
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

As early childhood professionals, it is our job to ensure child abuse prevention efforts are happening year round. The month of April is a great time to emphasize the importance of prevention in our community.

CHILD ABUSE is a COMMUNITY problem. . .

• a report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds.
• 90% of the victims knew the perpetrator.
• 1 in 4 girls will be sexually assaulted by age 18.
• 1 in 6 boys will be sexually assaulted by age 18.

Visit Prevent Child Abuse in America website at: http://www.preventchildabuse.org/

Winter 2012 Connections

The Winter 2012 issue of the Child Care Aware^® of Missouri newsletter is now available.  You can view or print the full newsletter here.  Articles include information about T.E.A.C.H. Missouri, a scholarship program for early childhood professionals and a discussion about defining quality child care.  You'll also want to read the important warning about using Bumbo Baby Seats.

Playdough Day is February 24, and this helpful article from Child Care Aware^® of Eastern Missouri, a Program at LUME Institute explains what children can learn from experiences with dough.  The article includes recipes for making your own Gingerbread Playdough or Jell-o Playdough.

The article from Child Care Aware^® of Southern Missouri an Operating Agency of Council of Churches of the Ozarks shares information about The Children's and Young Adult Book Review Board of Missouri.  This group of volunteers reviews new children's books to help parents and teachers choose quality books for children.  Read the article here.

For great ideas to get kids moving both indoors and outdoors during cold weather, read the article from Child Care Aware^® of Western Missouri a Program at The Family Conservancy.