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Discoveries for those caring for children…
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Just for you! Fall Resources
“Literacy is only one part of early childhood development, but often it’s the barometer for the other areas of development — National Center for Family Literacy
Intentional Early Language Development
Beginning at birth, language is a portal into the world: to understanding the meaning of things and to communicate. Although many stages in oral language seem to "just happen", all children need adults who consciously guide and support language development to its fullest extent. This means that combined with our natural interactions with children, we need to intentionally plan for language development.
During the early childhood period (birth through eight) children are absorbing communication and cognitive skills that lay the foundation for later learning and form the brain’s architecture for learning. Infants become aware of sounds and words being shared around them and start to communicate their own needs. Toddlers begin to talk in simple sentences, ask questions, and share their ideas. Preschoolers develop complex vocabulary from varied language experiences (people, books, and play) in their lives.
Are you aware that Better Kid Care provides comprehensive curricula in early childhood development?
The Better Kid Care curriculum follows the Pennsylvania Core Body of Knowledge and offers multiple course titles to choose from. Each course offers numerous Distance Education lessons, providing a well-rounded approach to meet your professional development needs. View the entire Better Kid Care Distance Education curriculum on line at www.betterkidcare.psu.edu and choose your course of study today!
Featured Course: Family Childcare Learning Environments Course (4 age specific lessons)
Learn what is important to know about providing and equipping a family childcare early learning program that supports the growth and development of infants, a family childcare early learning program that supports the growth and development of toddlers, a family childcare early learning program that supports the growth and development of pre-kindergarten children, and a family childcare early learning program to support the growth and development of mixed-aged children.
View Better Kid Care's comprehensive list of web based and mail based professional development lessons here.
Research Collections:
Foundations for Lifelong Health & the Whole Child
The Foundation of Lifelong Health are Built in Early Childhood — This new report co-authored by the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child and the National Forum on Early Childhood Policy and Programs, states that health promotion in the early childhood period – where an extensive body of evidence supports the promise of effective prevention programs that can change the trajectory of children’s lives – can help reduce the social and economic burdens of illness, not only in childhood but also throughout the adult years. Investments in the early reduction of significant adversity are particularly likely to generate strong returns. Read more and download a PDF here.
National Wildlife Federation’s report, Whole Child: Developing Mind, Body and Spirit through Outdoor Play, is the first in a series illuminating the critical issues and societal costs surrounding America’s indoor childhood. Insights are offered into the health benefits associated with how daily unstructured play time in nature nurtures a child’s body, mind and spirit. Download the full Whole Child:Developing Mind, Body and Spirit through Outdoor Play report.
Explorations and Reflections: A Planning Tool for You!
Start your fall by being organized and prepared! Here's a free, downloadable lesson planner for you to use. One side will help you explore and plan, while the other side is for reflection. The PDF is sized for legal paper (to give you more room to write). 'Fit to page' for letter paper if that works better for you!
Turn the PageGoing to School
Starting a new school year, although exciting, can also be filled with many unknowns. Below are books that may help children identify and alleviate some of the anxieties experienced in starting a new school year.
Are you looking for articles to share with your families? Do you need information for your parent/family bulletin board? Family Time / Work Time shares easy-to-read articles for busy parents and caretakers with a focus on Building Strong Families.
You are welcome to print and share these publications with your friends, family, and other childcare providers.
Why We Need Nature
By Nancy Wilson,
Early Childhood Program Specialist
Spending time with nature can have a positive effect on your life. It can be healing during times of stress for both adults and children. Examples of ways you and your family can enjoy nature are listed below:
Read more here.
School Age childcare National AfterSchool Association Radio
NAA (National AfterSchool Association) and BAM Radio Network have partnered to bring you NAA Radio. Executive Director Paul Young hosts the program that will focus on the topics you really care about. Each brief segment of NAA radio will bring afterschool professionals the latest insights, practices and developments in the care of children and youth during their out-of-school hours.
Tune in to hear newly appointed board member Alycia Orcena, who has been in the afterschool field for 18 years. Alycia worked as a writer for School-Age Notes with founding director, Rich Scofield, as well as developing training curriculum in her current role with the Ohio childcare Resource & Referral Association. Also hear new board member Shelley Bromberek Lambert, Vice President of Operations, Champions a division of Knowledge Universe. Hear their key views on after school care! Listen here.
Council on-line Support
Do you have questions for the CDA Council for Professional Recognition? Visit the CDA Council for Professional Recognition’s On-Line Support link and receive live text messaging from 9:00AM – 5:00PM, EST.
As with any CDA work, it is important to stay in communication with the CDA Council for Professional Recognition. Be sure you visit the Council’s web site at www.cdacouncil.org or call 800-424-4310.Uncover more CDA Information from Better Kid Care:
As with any CDA work, it is important to stay in communication with the CDA Council for Professional Recognition. Be sure you visit the Council's web site at www.cdacouncil.org or call 800-424-4310 with your CDA questions.
Penn State's Better Kid Care and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Programs are teaming up to bring you "Go Green for Kids," a monthly tip to help you provide a healthier and safer environment for the children in your care. This month focuses on "Greener Cleaners." Below is just one of the recipes you can find in the "Greener Cleaners" brochure.
All-Purpose Cleaner (Yield: 4 cups)
Mix all ingredients together in cleaning pail or spray bottle. Label the bottle. Spray surfaces and wipe with soft cloth or sponge. (Other variations listed in brochure)
The following information highlights upcoming professional development opportunities available for early childhood practitioners:
PA Keys to Quality - Professional Development Training Calendar - Are you looking for training specifically in your area? Visit the PA Keys to Quality web site to locate and search the professional development training calendar. Locate the PA Key Training Calendar in 4 easy steps:
Contact the Pennsylvania Early Learning Keys to Quality office at: 800-284-6031.
September 15 – Webinar: A Conversation with Ellen Galinsky about Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs, http://www.investigatorclub.com/about-the-program/webinars.aspx
September 22 – Webinar: 10 Leadership Tips to Inspire Your Early Childhood Program Staff by Deborah J. Stewart, http://www.investigatorclub.com/about-the-program/webinars.aspx
September 27-29 – Facing the Challenge: Helping Teachers Better Work with Children with Challenging Behaviors Train-the-Trainer Session, Villanova, PA, register here.
October 13-15 – Early Childhood Education Summit, State College, PA, http://www.earlychildhoodsummit.org/
October 17-20 – Connecting Children with Nature Action Forum, Nebraska City, Nebraska, visit http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wf2010_nature/index.php
October 22- 23 – 2nd Annual PA Infant Mental Health Conference, Philadelphia, PA, http://www.chatham.edu/imh/
October 29-31 – The Pennsylvania Art Education Association (PAEA) annual conference, contact, wendymmilne@aol.com.
November 3-6 – National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI), http://www.naeyc.org/conference/
November 10 – Webinar: Brain Insights for Early Educators: Stimulating Brain Development in Your Program by Deborah McNelis, http://www.investigatorclub.com/about-the-program/webinars.aspx
November 11 – 14 - Get Outdoors! Be Active! Be Green! Take it outside – purposeful play, meaningful movement, Seven Springs, PA Registration Form, www.psahperd.org
Nov. 18-20 – Big Tent Conference (Better Developmental Outcomes for our Youth), Houston, Texas, http://www.bigtentconference.com/
December 9-11 – Zero to Three National Training Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, http://www.zttnticonference.org/
Resources for childcare from Extension. eXtension is an educational partnership of 74 universities in the United States http://www.extension.org/. eXtension connects knowledge consumers with knowledge providers - experts who know their subject matter inside out. For resources supporting childcare, click here http://www.extension.org/child%20care.
Tour a virtual PreK Counts Classroom – PreK Now http://www.preknow.org/about/index.cfm offers a virtual classroom tour and our short video following real children through their pre-k year, which will help you recognize high quality, understand why it makes a difference, and show you how children benefit. Tour here. Video here.
Cooperative Extension programming and Families Food and Fitness helps ease the transition "back to school" with helpful information to keep your family's health a top priority during this hectic time. Here, you will find articles specific to your child's health as well as fun interactive tools that you can experience with your child. You'll also find healthy, quick recipes for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and supper.
National Science Festival - NEEF is proud to be an official partner of the inaugural USA Science & Engineering Festival to be held in the greater Washington, D.C. area in October 2010. The Festival, which will be the country's first national science festival, is a collaboration of over 500 of the country's leading science and engineering organizations and aims to reignite the interest of our nation's youth in the sciences. Find out more here.
Gulf of Oil Spill Resources from Earth Gauge - Over the next few months, Earth Gauge will be distributing a series of fact sheets that focus on unique topics related to the Gulf of Mexico and the effects of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. They will provide information on a range of topics, including wetlands along the Gulf Coast, how oil breaks down over time, public health issues related to the spill and more. Find free fact sheets, video, and images here.
Play Day 2010 – How Playgrounds Build Community – Playgrounds are more than just spaces for kids to climb, they can be important places for imagination, cooperation and even community interaction — new designs and equipment are helping make it possible. Find out how you can host a Play Day to build or improve playgrounds in your hometown this September, with help from KaBOOM! A recent New Yorker article tells the story of today's reimagined playgrounds, featuring KaBOOM!
Back to School Safety – Safe Kids USA offers helpful information in keeping kids safe. With summer ending and the start of school just around the corner, drivers need to do their part to keep kids safe as they walk and bike to school. Whether you are taking your kids to school or just driving through a school zone, you can do your part to keep kids safe. Find out more here. Also, visit Safe Kids Educator Portal for activities, lesson plans, fact sheets and more.
Preventing Childhood Obesity in Early Care and Education Programs, the new set of national standards describing evidence-based and expert consensus on best practices in nutrition, physical activity, and screen time for early care and education programs are now available here. These updated standards will be a part of the comprehensive Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education Pro¬grams, Third Edition (CFOC, 3rd Ed.) to be released in 2011. The standards are for all types of early care and education settings – centers and family childcare homes.
Grants, Funding, & Opportunity
Teacher and Administrator opportunities from Office Depot – Find resources, savings, and reward opportunities from Office Depot here.
New subscribers can join by clicking this link: http://eepurl.com/dRhWg..
View archived Better Kid Care E-Newsletters here.
References:
Reflections…
Let's hear from you! Email your ideas to crb16@psu.edu or call 814-865-7894.
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