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. 

Questions about Online Workshops

After many years of child care providers asking for a chance to take professional development classes for clock hours online, we are thrilled to be offering this opportunity now! Since this is such a new process, we’ve received many questions, and we wanted to address some of those most frequently asked here.

What equipment do I need?

Prior to the training, you will be e-mailed workbook materials, and you’ll need to print these out before the class. During the training, you’ll need a computer with access to the internet. You’ll use this to see the visual portions of the training, such as power point slides. You’ll also need a phone (either a land line or a cell phone) to call a toll free number so that you can hear the instructor and ask questions. Up to three people can use the same computer and phone during the training.

Do I need computer skills?

Basic computer skills are necessary to get the most from these online professional development experiences. If you can access the internet, navigate to websites, and type a little, you’ll do just fine.

Can I participate in these trainings during my work day?

We are offering these online trainings at a variety of times including evenings, Saturdays, and typical nap times. Please keep in mind that proper adult/child ratios must be maintained in your program at all times, and children must be supervised. Nap time is often an easier time for a substitute or floater to take charge of a classroom, thus allowing the regular teacher time to take an online workshop.

How many online clock hours will licensing accept per year?

Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services Section for Child Care Regulation allows an unlimited amount of annual clock hours to be earned online.

How will I receive my certificate?

Your certificate will be mailed to the address you provided at registration once you have completed all the training activities.You are expected to attend the full class and participate in discussion and activities during the professional development event.  You will also be required to complete an evaluation of the session.

To view online clock hour opportunities available now, visit the Missouri Workshop Calendar at www.moworkshopcalendar.org and click on the "online/distance" tab at the top.