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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: “Inside of a ring or out, ain 't nothing wrong with going down. It's staying down that's wrong.” ~ Muhammad Ali
Enjoy the following tip from Carolyn Sheetz . Carolyn is the director and a teacher at St. Andrew's Preschool in State College, PA.
Try offering a Gallery of Art event to bring families, children, and staff together. St. Andrew's staff collects art work from children (paintings, sculptures, mobiles, murals, special projects, writings/drawings, etc.) over a period of time to display for the event. Photographs and documentation panels are also displayed with the art pieces (to help in sharing the experiences from the children's view).
The classrooms and hallways turn into beautiful art galleries; walls, ceilings, windows, windowsills, tables, are all used as display areas. The children make invitations welcoming family and friends to attend the Gallery of Art (the event is also advertised in the local newspaper and school newsletter). St. Andrew's also provides an ongoing slide show and refreshments at the event. The Gallery of Art event brings families, children, and staff together in celebrating community, art, and of course, 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
c/o Christine Belinda
Tips from Child Care Providers
253 Easterly Parkway
State College, PA 16801
E-mail to: crb16@psu.edu
Week of the Young Child celebrates a new theme for 2006: Building Better Futures for All Children
Building Better Futures for All Children Logo Week of the Young Child is April 2-8, 2006! New tools and information for Week of the Young Child 2006 will help you plan exciting events to celebrate children and raise awareness of their needs. Visit the NAEYC Web site for more information.
by Christine Belinda
There are times when caring for children can be exhausting, stressful, confusing, and challenging. When the work we do as educators and caregivers seems to lose its joy, it may be time to “rediscover the joy!” What might help?
There are moments when we just don't know what to do, and the work we hold so very important doesn't feel important or worthwhile. It happens to all of us, for whatever reason. It might be challenging behaviors, differing opinions, low funds, or simply a tough day that takes our joy away.
The good news is there are opportunities to rediscover the joy. Often the joy hasn't disappeared entirely; it's just covered up with the details of the challenging moments at hand. Sometimes all it takes is a fresh look.
As early educators, we need to embrace experiences that refuel our joy, but realize it may not happen overnight. Equally important is to allow time for reflection. When we allow time to reflect about our ideas, it provides the first step in rebuilding the joy.
After you have had time to think about and calm down from difficult experiences, it is helpful to make a list of the things you enjoy or that bring you joy in your work. It may even be small things, such as getting a hug from a child, seeing a child smile, or it may be larger, such as continuing your training and education.
Each one of us values individual aspects of our profession; under stressful times, we may have forgotten what they are. As well as listing what you enjoy in your work, try listing what you value in your work. What in your work is important to you? Why? Finding what we enjoy and value in our work guides us to discovering many of our joys. Writing what you enjoy and value shows they still exist.
We have all heard it before: Take good care of you! Taking good care of our health and well being really does affect how we feel at work. A few reminders:
It may be possible that we need to “tweak” something in our program: schedules, materials, environments, observations, attitudes, goals, mealtimes, etc. Take a look at what might need adjusting and brainstorm possible adjustments.
Tip: Remember to start small with change. We may respond well to small adjustments but become overwhelmed by too many changes. (Children will also respond better to smaller changes.)
Are you growing as a professional? Growing as a professional adds not only knowledge, but adds motivation to bring quality to our work. When we know and understand elements of our profession, we are better able to offer what children need. This contributes to a well-run program, which in return adds to the joy in our work.
Try finding opportunities to receive training in early childhood education, read early childhood articles, explore Web sites focusing on early childhood, or collaborate with other early childhood educators in supporting your professional development.
Joy is often found through our interactions with others. It is on this personal level that we often give and receive joy: collaborating with a co-worker, giggling with the children, showing excitement for a child's accomplishments, sharing humor with staff, or simply enjoying the time together. Take time for each other and joy will soon follow. Ask yourself the following:
There may be larger issues contributing to your stress or loss of joy in your work. Consider what those issues may be and address them in a positive, constructive light. Find support to help you make good decisions. This may be through resources such as directors, professionals in the field, co-workers, or support groups in the community. Try writing out a plan to help you stay on track in working through the problem.
We are all accountable for our own joy. Discovering opportunities to embrace joy in our work and in our life is ultimately up to each one of us and allows us to be “joy keepers.” Sharing that joy, particularly with children, is one of our greatest gifts as early educators and caregivers.
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 day child care providers work to meet the needs of the children in their care and the needs of their own family members. Many caregivers feel like they are running themselves down to meet the needs of others. Caregivers put in very long hours caring for children and their own families. In our society, women are taught how to be caregivers to everyone except for themselves. Finding ways to keep everything balanced is stressful and problems can result when caregivers don't take the time to manage stress. Caregivers need to understand that the way to provide quality care for children is for caregivers to take good care of themselves.
If you would like to learn more, view the complete distance education lesson How to Take the Stress Out of Caregiving on-line.
To view a complete listing of all distance education lessons and additional information and resources, visit the Better Kid Care Distance Education page.
Child care providers and others who care for young children can sign up to receive a free electronic quarterly newsletter from the American Academy of Pediatrics Child Care and Health Partnerships program. The newsletter will include practical steps that caregivers and teachers can take to promote the health and development of children. Information will be provided on evidence-based practices that promote the health and safety of children in child care.
Visit http://www.healthychildcare.org/hccpsignup.cfm to sign up or call 888-227-5409 to request information.
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.
March 23, 2006 Hot Topics for Center Directors
April 6, 2006 Parents: Friends or Foes?
May 11, 2006 How to Get Parents on Your Team
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:
The Happy Hocky Family, by Lane Smith, ISBN 014557717, published by Puffin. Join the hilarious, happy, hocky family! Lots of comic impact and simplistic sentence structure to entertain children.
The Happy Man and His Dump Truck, by Tibor Gergely, ISBN 0375832076, published by Golden Books. Children will love this classic story book and old-fashioned illustrations about a happy man and his dump truck. Discover their adventures!
The Happy Lion, by Louise Fatio, ISBN 0375827595, published by Knopf Books for Young Readers. “Bonjour, Happy Lion!” All the townspeople in a small French zoo greet the lion with warm affection. Everyone is so happy to see the lion—except when the zookeeper forgets to close the lion's door and he decides to visit the townspeople. Why are they so afraid, wonders the lion! Find out how a small boy saves the day for everyone.
I Feel Happy: A Book for Sweet Dreams, by Flava Weedn, Lisa Weedn, ISBN 0768320658, published by Cedco Publishing Co. This book offers sweet dreams and dreamy illustrations to soothe all children. The sing-song rhymes offer interest and prediction. The simple verse and pastel illustration make it suitable for young 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!
Better Kid Care Distance Education Lessons are now coded in a format to help in planning CDA training (based on the 120 hours of formal education /training needed and the eight content areas). View codes and lesson titles in the Penn State Better Kid Care Distance Education Brochure.
For information regarding Child Development Associate, contact Christine at 814-865-7894 or email crb16@psu.edu.
Better Kid Care Mentoring Telephone Help Line for Child Care Providers in Pennsylvania
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.
New Staff Orientation curriculum is 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 nap time or other small blocks of time as staff/child ratios permit. Meets the Keystone STARS Performance Standards. Click on the New Staff Orientation link for more information and to view the materials online.
Home-Based Caregiver Orientation 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.
Visit: Home-Based Caregiver Orientation to view materials online.
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 PA Department of Public Welfare training hours. To order: 800-452-9108 or betterkidcare@psu.edu
Better Kid Care Kit - 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.
Resources for Families - 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.
Would you like to receive this newsletter? New subscribers can join and have this newsletter delivered to their e-mail mailbox by sending mail to: BetterKidCareNews-subscribe-request@lists.psu.edu.
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We would love to hear from you! We want the Better Kid Care E-Newsletter to be informative, useful, and inspiring to you! Please contact the Better Kid Care Program with your ideas. Is there something you want to see more or less of? What information is most important to you? What topics are you interested in? How is the newsletter helpful to you? E-mail your ideas to crb16@psu.edu or call 814-865-7894.