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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: "The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery." -- Mark Van Doren
The following tip was recommended by Cathy Abraham of St Charles, IL. Cathy is a self-employed early childhood consultant/trainer.
To thank providers, parents, and families on behalf of all they do, why not celebrate National Provider Appreciation Day on May 6, 2005. Provider Appreciation Day is a non-profit corporation created to support worldwide recognition of child care providers and the valuable work they perform.
For more information, call Provider Appreciation Day toll-free at 1-88FIRST-1; write to National Provider Appreciation Day, 568 Parkview Avenue, N Plainfield, NJ 07063-1855; or send e-mail to AppreciationDay2@aol.com; or visit the Web site at http://www.providerappreciation.com
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
c/o Christine Belinda
Tips from Child Care Providers
253 Easterly Parkway
State College, PA 16801
E-mail to: crb16@psu.edu
April 3 - 9, 2005
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. Contact the National Association for the Education of Young Children for more information about Week of the Young Child.
by Christine Belinda
The word science is derived from the Latin word scire, meaning "to know." Science for young children, therefore, is to find out; to know. This definition suits young children well, for they are true investigators of the world around them.
As we care for young children, we see how science is very much a part of who they are. Young children are natural scientists. Just observe a child for a little while and you'll see science in action. For example, a young toddler giggles as the wind blows cool air on his face and makes his hair fling about (air and wind). A preschooler is crouched low to the ground pointing and gasping at a spider crawling across the floor (insects and entomology). A kindergartner stirs her ice cream until it becomes liquid (solids to liquids). A child observes the rain falling and dripping down the window as she watches one particular drop of water sitting and becoming larger until suddenly, yet slowly, it spills over and slides down the window, combining paths with other streams of water droplets (mass, liquid, weather).
Children are natural investigators of what is around them. How exciting for us as providers, to tap into this discovery and support the process. Does this mean we need to learn a whole new science curriculum? Indeed not! Most science concepts can be added to already existing activities and experiences. There are, however, a few concepts to think about in supporting and guiding children in discovery through science.
A good place to start discovery through science is to observe children's ideas and interests. What fascinates them? What topics are they interested in? Are they wondering how something works? Are there elements in the environment that interest them? Once you gather a few ideas, find out what they already know about that subject. Find out what they want to know about that subject, as well.
Finding topics that interest the children and are part of their real life experience is important. For example, the children have all noticed a grayish-black spider living in the dramatic play area. It’s been there several days. Curiosity is piqued! This spider may be a good place to begin an ongoing science exploration. Spider discovery could be explored through observation (photograph the spider, watch and record ideas), art (create spiders out of different materials, paint webs or create webs with string), movement (move like a spider, spin webs), reading (books listing and showing spider types), writing (spider stories), singing (Eensy Weensy Spider), cooking (make a spider snack), dramatic play (find ways to dress up like spiders, spider families), and much more. In doing so, we support an array of developmental needs such as language, literacy, mathematics, social, emotional, and physical development.
Important reminder: Discovery through science is ongoing, not a one-time activity. Children should be offered the freedom to explore their ideas through many means, with ample time, resources, and materials with which to experiment. Supporting ongoing explorations helps children connect ideas and develop critical thinking skills.
The next step will be to gather information. At a meeting time, you may want to ask, while writing down on a large sheet of paper, what do we know about the spider in the dramatic play area? How can we learn more about that spider? Gathering children's ideas will show you how and what they think about the world around them, as well as what they are curious and interested in. They may be very interested in spider webs and not the spider, or they may be interested in how spiders move. For very young children, we will need to be keen observers to see their interests. Gathering information from children gives us a base to plan ideas in supporting the children's discoveries, as well as our own!
Often children will have a mental image (an idea) and may not know how to express or share the idea. We can support children’s mental representations and help in organizing thoughts by giving children ways to translate their ideas.
Tip: Stay connected with families
Ask families to share with you about topics their children are interested in. This is a fabulous way to discover and support children’s interests. Families may be able to help you plan ideas and gather materials to support science exploration
With some simple preparation, providers can offer a stimulating and exciting approach to science with young children. After all, science is right at our fingertips! Along with supporting children's interests, we can support nature and elements of science in our environments, such as sound, light, and color. When children see your interest in science, they’ll get excited too!
Tools - Children are very creative in finding materials to use as tools. Think of tools that will support children's discoveries in science. Support the use of tools by modeling their use.
As with everything in child care, SAFETY is our number-one concern. Make sure materials and experiences are safe and developmentally appropriate for each child. Supervision is necessary with all science discoveries.
Discovery through science models a fascinating way for children to begin to explore and understand the world around them. With children as guides and providers as resources, the path to learning is an exciting adventure.
Better Kid Care resources are available for child care providers by contacting your local Penn State Cooperative Extension office. A Better Kid Care resource library, with resource and activity books, is available for those caring for young children and some counties also have theme kits containing small toys, puppets, puzzles, and books.
Enjoy the following highlights from one of the many Better Kid Care Distance Education Lessons. Participate in Distance Education training in the convenience of your home.
Many caregivers dread rainy days. "My children are wild on the days we can't go outside," says Marcy, a family child care provider. "What can I do on rainy days?"
It's important to have the flexibility to change your plans when the weather isn't cooperating. Make sure you have a few tricks up your sleeve! When you can't take the children outside, choose activities that include active physical play. Active play helps prevent "rainy day fever."
Parades and picnics are perfect on a bright, sunny day. But did you know that parades and picnics are great indoor activities too? Try a parade on a rainy day. All you need are some pots and pans and large wooden spoons for the children to use as musical instruments.
Picnics are also fun indoors. Take an imaginary walk to the park. Have the children close their eyes. Describe what they will see, hear, smell, and touch. Let them add to the adventure. Plan indoor games and activities and finish up with a picnic lunch on the floor. Picnics indoors are exciting and with a cloth on the floor are easy to clean up. And the best part? No ants.
This is a selection from the Better Kid Care Web-based lesson, Rainy Day Ideas . If you would like to read this lesson in its entirety and learn more about what to do with children on rainy days and how you can replace outdoor play with sensory activities and indoor active movement, click on the title link above.
The Better Kid Care Distance Education Program helps child care providers and early educators earn Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, Pennsylvania Pathways training hours.
To view a complete listing of all distance education lessons and additional information and resources, visit the Better Kid Care Distance Education page.
Meets the Keystone STARS Core Series Training Requirements - This three part series shows how to establish, run and maintain a successful child care business and presents important information about understanding and supporting the developmental needs of each child.
Receive the videos and workbooks in the mail. Complete the entire series and return assignments to the Better Kid Care office for review to earn six Department of Public Welfare training hours.
To order: 1-800-452-9108 or betterkidcare@psu.edu
Reading 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:
Rain, by Robert Kalan, published by Harper Trophy, ISBN 0688104797. With bold graphics and few words, Kalan shares the many landscapes of weather.
Come On, Rain! by Karen Hesse, published by Scholastic Press, ISBN 0590331256. Young Tessie is excitedly awaiting the rain with the entire neighborhood. Read about their fun romp through the rain.
A Drop of Rain, by Wong Herbert Lee, published by Houghton Mifflin, ISBN 0395715490. Enjoy the rhythmic text and bright watercolor illustrations about a family trying to comfort their baby during a gentle rain.
Soggy Saturday, by Phyllis Root, published by Candlewick Press, ISBN 0763608513
The Puddle, by David McPhail, published by Farrar, Straus, Giroux, ISBN 0374460302
Rain Drop Splash, by Alvin Tresselt, published by Harper Trophy, ISBN 0688093523
Contact your local children's library or your local Penn State Cooperative Extension office to find out about more books on making friends and child care. Reading with children creates lifelong readers. Enjoy your time reading with children!
In preparation for National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, new community resource materials on child abuse prevention are now available on the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information Web site. This year's theme, "Safe Children and Healthy Families Are a Shared Responsibility," is carried throughout the community resource packet. The theme emphasizes the roles that parents, families, neighborhoods, and communities play in ensuring children's health and well-being.
National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov (800) FYI-3366 / FAX (703)385-3206
Community resource packets and other material can be downloaded from the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information Web site.
Join with many other caregivers at live satellite training workshop offered in Pennsylvania and across the states. To participate in these workshops, visit the Satellite Workshop link.
Do you have questions about caring for other people's children, such as:
Call the Better Kid Care Mentoring Line at 800-859-8340 or e-mail your questions to betterkidcare@psu.edu for information about child care and children's issues.
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 videotapes. 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.
Do you provide care for children in your home? The kit, which is free for Pennsylvania residents, includes booklets with activities, child care ideas, information about distance education training, a children's development chart, and much more. Complete our on-line registration form or call 800-452-9108 to order.
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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Look for information on Mix it! Clever pouring, stirring, and concocting with young children.