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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: “Sometimes, all it takes is one kind word to nourish another person.” – Mr. Rogers
In response to recent events, the Disaster Resource page is available for information to assist children and providers affected by Hurricane Katrina.
The following tip is from Rebecca Fox of Discovery Woods Learning Community, Vienna, Virginia:
Try creating mailboxes to add immediate interest to children's writing and communicating. Rebecca used inexpensive mailboxes from a home supply store. She made a row of six mailboxes, put a shelving board on top, made another row of six mailboxes, put a shelving board on top, until she got to the top row and put a pine board the length of the mailboxes on top for a writing surface/counter. On the sides, she attached two 1"x 2"x 38" boards (the size to support her structure; adjust yours to size) and screwed them into the shelving boards. It holds the mailboxes in by pressure and is very sturdy. (It's a good idea to have mailboxes next to a wall.)
Rebecca laminated pictures of each child, with name and/or symbols and attached them to the mailboxes. They were a big hit and are used many times a day!
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
by Christine Belinda
What inspires children to be kind? As those caring for young children, we know that nothing brings greater joy than to see children displaying and receiving acts of kindness. As educators and providers, we can discover ways to encourage the dance of kindness with our children. Are children naturally kind? How do we support and encourage kindness? How do we make goodwill a part of our program?
We have often heard adults say, “Be nice!” or “That isn't nice!” Do we expect children to just “be nice”? Of course we would like them to, but realistically it's not always that simple. As with all components of caring for children, we need to consider the child's developmental ability, family, culture, and background. These areas will provide a wealth of information that will help us understand the children.
Research has shown that children can express kindness at a very young age. Many of us have seen the young toddler gently stroke a crying friend's face, the preschooler who tries to bring the baby a bottle, or the child who willingly shares her special toy with a friend. Kindness is genuine in most children and occurs as a result of a sincere response, not because of adult expectations. Instead of expecting kindness, it is more important to inspire kindness and guide goodwill.
Think of what inspires you to be kind. It probably is not being yelled at or made to feel bad, but rather being encouraged, witnessing acts of kindness and goodwill, or having empathy and understanding of others' needs. When we are surrounded by others who show kindness, it motivates us to be kind, also.
In order for children to act kind, they need to be completely cared for, nurtured, and loved. The adults in their lives need to model kindness and goodwill. The environments should be safe, as well as support positive experiences and promote positive interactions.
The environments and experiences we prepare for young children can have a powerful effect on kindness. Does your environment have a community feel? Creating a sense of community and family provides children a safe, nurturing base, as well as a place where kindness is encouraged. When we feel part of a family, we want to care for that family.
Developing community takes careful thought, preparation, and reflection on the adult's part. The following ideas are examples of building a community environment:
A great place to start promoting goodwill is in the child care environment itself. By helping one another, developing relationships, and caring for the materials and the environment, the children can practice the dance of kindness and goodwill on a daily basis.
As caregivers, we can encourage kind actions and empathy by offering role play. Young children need to practice opportunities to work out their feelings and ideas in acceptable ways. Dramatic play areas such as housekeeping, firefighters, and hospital play offer children practice in interacting, taking turns, caring, and being helpful.
Another form of role play is for the adult to act out scenarios with children. While using props such as animal figurines or small toy people, adults can create situations for children to problem solve that are real to them or that have occurred in the group. Try adding situations you see, but not the children's identities. “The giraffe is so mad because the toad took his shovel. He's so mad, he wants to hit the toad! Let's help. What can the giraffe do? What can the toad do?”
When the group, individual, or circumstance requires the need for help or has a problem, pose the question to the children, “Let's help. What can we do?” Allowing the children to analyze what to do is much more valuable than just telling them what to do. Your guidance will help the children choose kind, considerate, and helpful actions.
Along with role play, children's literature offers an abundance of valuable stories that delve into the concepts of helping, comforting, and understanding the needs of others. Books allow for many different subjects and needs to be explored, as well as model and promote caring, considerate manners that children may transfer into their own lives. The more children learn about and experience kindness, the more children will begin to show kindness in their everyday lives.
Adults need kindness and nurturing, as well. Discover ways to show acts of kindness and goodwill to your co-workers. Create opportunities to celebrate others' accomplishments, share materials and ideas, offer assistance, or simply share a smile and kind word.
The dance of kindness has a continuing, positive affect for all who experience it. Those who participate are left with a feeling of caring and hope. Children are offered vital skills and techniques that will stay in their hearts and minds as they continue to develop and experience life. “The dance of kindness” provides connections to understanding each other, sharing kindness, and showing goodwill to others. What a beautiful dance!
Better Kid Care resources are available for child care providers by contacting your local Penn State Cooperative Extension office.
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.
Better Kid Care Distance Education Program awards:
Every child is special and unique. Think about the children you know. Have you ever cared for a baby who reacted dramatically to everything, even small things? Have you ever cared for the happy-go-lucky child who seemed to enjoy all that life threw his way? Have you ever cared for children who differed in these ways? Children are born with a style of reacting to the people and events in their lives. This preferred style of reacting is called temperament.
Researchers have found nine dimensions of temperament. Getting to know the nine dimensions of temperament can help you understand the children in your care. Since children cannot change their basic temperament, we might have to work extra hard with a child whom we find challenging. The first step is to learn about the children's temperament and then to learn about your own.
When you understand a child's temperament, you can adapt elements of your child care program to make the day go more smoothly. Get to know the nine temperaments dimensions and become more aware of your own temperament and how it meshes with the children in your care by participating in the distance education lesson Understanding Temperament. Click on the link to read this lesson in its entirety.
To view a complete listing of all distance education lessons and additional information and resources, visit the Better Kid Care Distance Education page.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) holds the Great American Smokeout each November to help smokers quit for at least one day, in hopes they will quit forever. This year's event will be held November 17, 2005.
For more information, visit The American Cancer Society on the Web and search the Great American Smokeout, or call your American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345.
"Flame retardant/Flame resistant" on fabric products and "Washable/Hygienic materials" on stuffed toys and dolls.
For more information, call CPSC's toll-free hotline 800-638-2772 or visit online at: www.cpsc.gov . (Search "toy safety")
The Penn State Better Kid Care Program has developed a new and exciting season of interesting, helpful satellite topics for 2005-2006. Join with many other caregivers in experiencing live satellite training workshops, offered through the Penn State Better Kid Care Program, in Pennsylvania and across the United States . To participate in these workshops, visit the Satellite Workshop link.
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:
Dogger, by Shirley Hughes, ISBN 068811704X, published by Harper Trophy. A little boy loses his stuffed dog. Kindness unravels as a result of the search for the missing stuffed animal.
George and Martha, by James Marshall, ISBN 0395199727, published by Houghton Mifflin. George and Martha are very good hippopotamus friends. Join the two friends while they explore what friendship is all about.
Too Many Pumpkins, by Linda White, ISBN 0823413209, published by Holiday House. Rebecca Estelle hates pumpkins—or so she thinks! A dislike for something turns into a labor of love, friendship, and coming together of an entire community.
How Kind, by Mary Murphy, ISBN 0763623075, published by Candlewick. A barnyard of animals shows how acts encourage kindness!
Dreaming Pictures: Adventures in Art, by Paul Klee, ISBN 3791318756, published by Prestel Publishing. Explore, through bright colors and interesting children's descriptions, the work of Paul Klee - dreaming pictures. A pleasure for all ages.
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!
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.
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.
- Part 1 - Family Child Care...It's a Business
- Part 2 - Understanding and Supporting
Children's Physical and Cognitive Development- Part 3 - Understanding and Supporting
Children's Language and Social/Emotional Development
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
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.
The monthly issue of Family Time / Work Time contains short articles and tips for busy working parents. Parents Count has information for parents on children's issues that are featured in training workshops for child care providers. Both publications are available online to print and share with your friends, family, and other childcare providers. Select issues are also available in Spanish.
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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Using observation with children