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Welcome to this month's issue of the Better Kid Care E-Newsletter - A newsletter for those caring for children.
Notable Quote: "Kids: They dance before they learn there is anything that is music. " – W. Stafford
Where do you find the best ideas on caring for children? From child care providers, of course! The following tip is from Wendy Salvatore of Clearfield County. Wendy is a mother of two young children and a reading specialist.
"Try creating a personalized alphabet book. All you need is a camera (some disposable cameras have 26 shots), film, 26 items representing the letters of the alphabet, and the children you care for! Decide on what you want to photograph for each letter. For example, I photographed my two-year-old daughter in her bikini and wrote "Bb for Bikini" (and Bellybutton!). You can photograph people or items that the children are familiar with, such as the family dog, siblings, grandparents, or their favorite stuffed animal. Objects used every day work well, too, such as a cup, toothbrush, etc. Mount the photographs on construction paper, sturdy card stock paper, or even index cards. Add the letter and name of object. Be creative, or better yet, let the children come up with their own ideas! If possible, you also can enlarge the pictures on a photocopier, or if using a digital camera, they may be enlarged on your printer. I like to laminate the book for longer wear-and-tear. Your local copying center may be able to help or you could try using contact paper. This idea can be extended to other subjects as well, such as big and little, opposites, numbers, friends, or family. Creating homemade books is a great way to support literacy and reading with young children."
Where do you find the best ideas on caring for children? From child care providers, of course! Do you have a great tip or good thing? Send us your best tips in writing and your tip may end up in our newsletter! If your tip is chosen for the newsletter, you will receive a little something from the Better Kid Care Program. Mail tips with your return address, place of work, and the number and ages of those you care for to:
Better Kid Care Program
Tips from Child Care Providers
253 Easterly Parkway
State College, PA 16801
E-mail to: crb16@psu.edu
The Joy of Music!
By Christine Belinda
The words joy and music go together when thinking of young children. If you spend time around young children, you know that music is a part of their everyday life. Infants are cooing sweet musical sounds, toddlers are humming and making nonsense songs all through their play, and preschoolers repeat over and over their favorite tunes or tap out rhythms on anything that makes sound. Music is also included in children's lives through television, radio, computer games, movies, or performances. Music is a large part of adults' lives, as well. We sing lullabies to our infants, we hum while cooking, we use song to celebrate birthdays, holidays, or special events (think "Take Me Out to the Ball Game!"). As caregivers, we need to be aware of music and its importance in play and learning, as well as the joy it can bring.
It's wonderful that many caretakers introduce music by singing, listening to music, and offering creative movement experiences. We don't even have to sing well! We do, however, need to know about the importance of music. Children need to be given time and encouragement to explore music; things that make sound and how it makes them feel or want to move. They need opportunities to discover cause and effect, pattern, pitch, and rhythm. They need adults offering interesting music materials, experiences they can revisit, and opportunities to explore and think on their own as well as with adults and peer groups.
Through music, children learn many things:
Language and literacy
(new words in song, making up songs)Math and thinking skills
(pattern, beat, rhythm, and pitch can be explored by clapping the beat, counting the repeated verses, matching the pitch, recalling words, and keen listening skills)Social skills
(singing children's names in song, interacting with others, sharing favorite types of music)Emotional skills
(learning to express self, singing about emotions, discovering how music makes you feel, supporting transitions such as a goodbye song)Multicultural support
(experiencing music from other cultures, other languages, and other instruments from different parts of the world)Physical development
(using gross motor skills to dance and move and small motor skills to grasp, hold, strum, pound)Creative movement
(moving like different animals, or using scarves to different tempos of music)
Quality musical experiences don't need to be overwhelming or take tremendous preparation. You can work music into your daily time together. Here are some ways to incorporate music into your child care day:
Present children with both the opportunity to create musical instruments on their own (with free exploration of materials and their own ideas), as well as directions for making simple instruments such as an oatmeal container drum. Your local library is a good resource of books about making instruments.
Music is a language that children and adults from any culture can share and explore. It's natural for music to be a part of a young child's experiences. Implementing music exploration in your work with young children will spark learning, create and support relationships, and add great joy!
Contact your local Penn State Cooperative Extension office for a complete list of resources, including a Music Theme Kit at and be sure to read the following Distance Education Highlights, which shares even more ideas on music and young children.
Music has the power to thrill and delight or to calm and soothe children. It helps our children learn and develop socially, physically, and emotionally. Music helps children with pre-reading skills and self-control. It is a gift that will enrich their lives and add fun to everyone's day.
Make songs work for you all day long. A welcome song, a clean-up song, and a goodbye song are all ways to smooth those difficult times of the day. Children love the feeling of security they get from the daily repetition of these songs. Make great circle times with active musical songs and games. Finger plays and musical games keep children moving and loving your circle time. Try picture books that illustrate some well-known children's songs. Your librarian can help you find them.
Here are some tips for adding music to your child care day:
This is a selection from the Better Kid Care Distance Education lesson, Music Magic. Complete distance education lessons to earn PA Department of Public Welfare/PA Pathways training hours.
For a complete listing of our distance education lessons (includes mail-based and Web-based) and additional information and resources, visit the Better Kid Care Distance Education page.
One of the most frequently visited resources of the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care (NRC) Web site is the Individual State Child Care Licensing Rules and Regulations Section. This section gives the full text of each state's child care regulations for centers and family homes (if regulated). School-age child care and mildly ill child care facility regulations are included if applicable to an individual state. Contact information for each state's licensing office is also included under the state listing.
The NRC updates this section on a continual basis as new regulations are revised within each state. Starting this month, the NRC will list in the "What's New" section which state regulations have been added or changed during the previous month. For example, listed are new/revised regulations from Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, and Pennsylvania that were updated on the NRC Web site in the month of August. Please note that the actual effective date of the regulations may be different than the month they are posted on the Web site. The NRC makes every effort to have the current regulations available on its site and contacts each state twice a year for updates.
The National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care (NRC) may also be reached at 1-800-598-KIDS (5437).
Great Books to Read with ChildrenReading aloud with children is a wonderful activity. Children of all ages love to be read to. Support the love of reading for children in your care by trying the following books:
Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin, by Lloyd Moss, ISBN 0671882392, published by Simon and Schuster (children's publishing). A tribute to classical music with fantastic rhyming children will love chanting! This book is a great introduction of musical groups and instruments, as well as a vast meeting of the unique, creative performers.
Lullabies: An Illustrated Number Songbook, by Richard Kapp, ISBN 0152017283, published by Gulliver Books; Illustrated Edition. A lovely mix of art and music is represented in this book. There are many lullabies to choose from and the art originates from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Nicky the Jazz Cat, by Carol Friedman, ISBN 0972609202, published by Dominick Books. Nicky is one cool cat who will share the joy of jazz with young children. You will meet Roy, the trumpet player who has taken Nicky under his wing since a young kitten. Imaginations will be soaring and sounds may be heard by playing the accompanying CD, Nicky's Jazz for Kids, Label: Dominick, ASIN B0000DI4TB.
Here are some other stories you may enjoy about Music:
Today is Monday, by Eric Carle, ISBN 0698115635, published by Putnam.
Itsy Bitsy Spider, by Ira Trapani, ISBN 1580890148, published by Charlesbridge.
Max Found Two Sticks, By Brian Pinkney, ISBN 06171787764, published by Simon and Schuster.
Contact your local children's library or your local Penn State Cooperative Extension office to find out about more books on Music and child care. Reading with children creates lifelong readers. Enjoy your time reading with children!
10-21-04 See as a Child, Feel as a Child
PA Pathways Professional Development Code K1C112-02-04 The Ins and Outs of Good Circle Time
PA Pathways Professional Development Code K2C103-31-05 Hot Topics for Center Directors: A Key to Quality Child Care...Implementing, Supporting, and Using Child Observation
Professional Development Code K4C2 / Topic Code 4104-14-05 Easy Ways to Boost Kids' Brain Power
PA Pathways Professional Development Code K2C105-26-05 Changing Spaces
PA Pathways Professional Development Code K2C2
Join with many other caregivers at live satellite training workshops offered in Pennsylvania and across the states. To participate in these workshops, visit the Satellite Workshop link.
New Staff Orientation - The New Staff Orientation curriculum is now available to child care centers in Pennsylvania. This curriculum is specifically designed for new staff members in child care centers. Included are a thirty-page workbook and thirty units on seven video tapes. Each video unit has a numbered page in the workbook. The easy-to-understand information is reinforced with activities and assignments. Units are designed to be used during naptime or other small blocks of time as staff/child ratios permit. Meets the Keystone STARS Performance Standards.
Click the link for more information about New Staff Orientation and to preview the materials on your computer.
Better Kid Care Kit - Do you provide care for children in your home? Have you signed up to receive a Better Kid Care Kit yet? Complete our online registration form and receive material in the mail.
Ask the Experts - Do you have a question you would like to ask a child care professional about a child you are caring for, or about something related to caring for children? You can e-mail your questions to betterkidcare@psu.edu and receive an answer by return e-mail from one of our child care professionals.
Additional Child Care Information -- PA Pathways Professional Development for Child Caregivers has information, training, and educational opportunities for child care providers across Pennsylvania. Visit PA Pathways or call toll-free 800-492-5107.
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