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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: "My dad always taught me these words: care and share" ~ Tiger Woods
Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful fathers caring for children!
Blanket Toss
Materials: Blanket (tablecloth or sheet), lightweight items such as balls, beach balls, paper balls, stuffed animals, leaves, etc.
The goal is to be collaborative while holding the blanket and toss items in the air and let them fall back onto the blanket. It's a great way to learn to think carefully and work together. Be sure you have enough space to move around. Start by explaining the game in positive directions, such as how we all will need to work together to try to "lift" and "pop" the items on the blanket.
Start slowly by sitting down. (If you start standing up, you may have lots of running.) Practice a good way to hold the blanket with your hands (scrunch up material in your fists and hold tight). We like to practice the blanket toss without anything on it first. When we are ready to stand up, we practice moving the blanket. We talk about the movement of the blanket: waves, wind, high, low, wiggly, and slow. Before we "pop" anything, we practice a stop signal. We also state that we are not to go under the blanket unless we hear our name called (which we try to do periodically because they love this. Only have a few children at a time do this to keep it safe).
Depending on the ability of your children, you can modify how you play. We have tried tossing from one blanket to another. We like pulling the blanket over our heads and sitting on it, which creates a tent. I always use my whisper voice to add focus and calmness when playing this game. ~ Anonymous Home Care Educator
Where do you find the best ideas on caring for children? From early educators and practitioners, 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! Email Christine at crb16@psu.edu or contact the Better Kid Care Program at 814-865-7894 or 800-452-9108 (within PA).
by Christine Belinda
At the end of your day working with children, you probably do what a lot of early childhood providers do: Spend time thinking about what happened during your day. You often are too busy in the actual moment of working with children to really stop and think about all that is going on. It sometimes seems as though you need ten of you!
Here are two questions to think about:
Is it really that important to reflect on your work?
What insights might you gain by reflecting on your work?
Insights from your work
Your reflections and insights help you process, understand, and bring to light your child care experiences. By recalling events, you uncover what you might not have seen or what you might not have had time to think about—you become more thoughtful. For example:
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A provider was looking at digital pictures she had taken that day when she noticed that three-year-old Sam was always away from what was going on. She looked at photos from past weeks and noticed the same thing in several pictures. She hadn't noticed this before. The provider started to wonder: Why wasn't Sam entering the play? Was he comfortable? Can he communicate his ideas? This was definitely something to explore. |
By revisiting and reflecting, you may make connections to behavior, development, environment, programming, policies, philosophies, communication, and much more. Reflecting also gives you direction in gathering other resources needed, such as materials, child care educational resources (books, articles), and contacts (parents, health specialists, etc.).
When you take time to reflect, it shows you value the efforts of the children and yourself. It is the reflection that helps you question, plan, and understand. Reflection lets you see what is working, what’s not, and how you might make a change as a professional. In a sense, you become your own mentor, guiding and enriching the path of caring for children and yourself.
Written reflections
Methods of reflecting will be unique to each individual. Some providers review their daily/weekly (past) lesson plans and notes. Many review work samples, such as paintings, drawings, writing, and photographs/video of experiences. Some providers simply write notes about their days and moments. Whichever method you devise, it is important to write your reflections and ideas in a notebook or in your planning book. Having your ideas in writing will help you follow through with what is needed, as well as have a source to return to for ideas.
Reflections: Moving forward with new ideas
When you take time to reflect, you discover new ideas. This information is beneficial to the whole team: provider, child, parent, and program. Look at the following Experiences, Reflections, New Ideas, and Areas below that were created after the provider thought carefully about her day.
Experiences |
Reflections |
New Ideas |
Areas |
| "Painting the giant piece of cardboard was a lot of fun today, although I really needed more hands to help the children. I was feeling a little stressed because the children needed more paint and brushes at the same time I was helping someone with their idea; I felt like I didn't have enough hands to help. Instead of being a part of the experience with them, I was running around getting things they needed." | It will be helpful to ask a parent to volunteer when we do bigger and busier projects. I could put a sign up sheet the week before and also put it in our monthly “Dear Families Letter”. I could also prepare better ahead of time; mix the paints and try to have everything ready. I could even have the children help me mix the paints, wash the brushes, etc. I really need to involve the children more in what we do. I think that by helping the children will learn more and become more involved in the project. | Parent Volunteers, sign up sheets, letter for families, preparations, child involvement |
Programming, planning, communication with families, volunteers, child participation, self help, stress reduction |
| "Jenna was really interested in the ants crawling on the sidewalk. She kept trying to pick them up." | I will find some books, stories, and pictures about ants. I also have an ant farm packed away somewhere. I need to remember to wear my apron so I can keep my camera in the pockets. Taking pictures would help Jenna remember her ideas and also share the experience. I also need to take more notes. I heard Jenna counting the ants and sharing comments. I could add that to my observations to share with her parents. She is developing new cognitive concepts, this being a good example. (*PA Early Learning Standards 2-3 yrs.; Approaches to Learning and Cognitive Development; AL3.24-Demonstrate more complex concept knowledge) |
Ant books, pictures, ant farm, apron, camera, note taking. | Curriculum planning, programming, individual support to child’s interest and development, observation, parent communication, assessment, documentation. |
| "I meant to talk with Seth's mother about his medicine. He seems so sleepy all the time." | I will call Seth's mother. I wonder if his dosage has changed. I'm going to put paper and pen by our good-bye door so I can easily write notes to parents. I have a friend who uses parent mailboxes; maybe I need to try this. I'm glad I don’t give medicines in my child care home, but I really should put together a medication policy in case I ever need to. | Call parents, note pads near exit, mailboxes, medicine policies | Health and safety, parent communication, observation, programming, goal setting, policy making |
Larger reflections
You will gain insights not only from your daily experiences, but also from larger periods of time, such as one project to the next, one year to the next, or one season to the next. Create a list of questions that will help you gain an overall view of your experiences:
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What do you want to change? |
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What do you want to repeat? |
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What professional goals did you make? |
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Important discoveries
Almost all providers use reflection, but what really enriches the reflection is making the effort to document the ideas and move forward with that information. It’s like a present wrapped in a box: You can’t enjoy it unless you unwrap it, use it, and celebrate it! Reflecting on our work brings us the gift of discovery, encourages our growth as professionals, and brings valuable insights to our work with young children.
Enjoy the following highlights from one of the many Better Kid Care Distance Education Lessons.
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Play Dough: The Best Recipe for Fun and LearningProfessional Development Code K2C1 CDA 2 |
Most of us grew up with play dough. While we might take it for granted, that simple dough made of flour, salt, and water is a trusty friend to the child care provider. Fun to make and to use, play dough is a great activity for children, helping them grow. Learn why play dough is such an important part of a good child care program and what you can do to make play with play dough great for kids.
Preview and order the distance education lesson, Play Dough: The Best Recipe for Fun and Learning.
To view a complete listing of all Distance Education Lessons and additional information and resources, visit the Better Kid Care Distance Education page.
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Recalls and Safety News
Summer is a good time to go through your environments and materials to check for safety hazards and recalled items. Use the information below to help you stay safe.
Help keep your family and children safe by checking product recalls and safety news from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products. You can find information on over 4,000 product recalls and recall alerts. For more information, visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site or contact the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, an independent federal regulatory agency, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814; toll-free hotline (800) 638-2772.
Great Books to Read with Children
Enjoy the following stories sharing the joy of rain: jumping in puddles, wearing your favorite rain boots, creating and recalling wonderful memories of rainy days
Father's Day, by Anne Rockwell, ISBN 10-0060513772, published by HarperCollins. Mrs. Madoff's class is making books for Father's Day where the children think and write about how special their fathers are. Sam's dad is so strong he can carry Sam on his shoulders. Eveline's dad sings to her when Mama has to work at night, and Jessica writes about her father in Texas and her stepfather at home. A special surprise awaits the reader.
The Very Best Daddy of All, by Marion Dane Bauer, ISBN 10-0689841787, published by Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing. Animal daddies comfort their babies, hold them tight, and keep danger away.
My Father's Hands, by Joanna Ryder, ISBN 10-068809189X, published by HarperCollins. A simple outing in the garden shows the powerful moment of a daughter being together with her father, discovering the garden and discovering each other.
In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers (several writers), ISBN 10-1584300167, published by Lee & Low Books. Poems sharing the joy, honor, and humor of fatherhood, written by African American writers. This book shares that family is the greatest gift of all.
Other books about fathers:
The Night Worker, by Kate Banks, ISBN 10-0374355207, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
We're Very Good Friends, My Father and I, by P.K. Hallinan, published by Ideal Publications
I Love My Daddy, by Sebastian Baun, ISBN10-0060543116, published by HarperCollinsDaddy's Lullaby, by Tony Bradman, ISBN 10-0689842953, published by Margaret K. McElderry
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 child care providers.
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Family Fitness - Most of us are aware that we need to be active to be physically fit. Parents need to make sure their children have enough active times to be fit. Exercise can help reduce the risks of developing health problems later in life, such as heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, and high blood pressure. It can also provide hours of fun family times together. To read more about family fitness and view the entire Family Time/Work Time article, click on the picture icon. |
How Can Better Kid Care Help?
The Council for Professional Recognition has updated its Web page. Updates include a link to Council Updates, where important news and information is posted regarding the Council for Professional Recognition.
Get CDA Support!
Call Better Kid Care today at 800-452-9108. Talk with someone who can help you get started in the CDA credential process.
E-mail your CDA questions to Christine at crb16@psu.edu
For more information visit the Better Kid Care “What is the CDA?” 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.
Better Kid Care Kit
Need ideas in your work caring for children? When you enroll in the Better Kid Care Program and sign up for the Better Kid Care Kit, family child care providers will receive several free publications in the mail. Family home child care providers will also receive The Basics of Caring for Children in your Home notebook to organize and store your Better Kid Care publications. Have you signed up to receive a Better Kid Care Kit yet? Complete our online registration form or call 800-452-9108 to order.
Notebook Contains: Tip Sheets, Activities Pages & Lunch and Snack Ideas
All publications are available online to print and share with your friends, family, and other childcare providers. Select issues are also available in Spanish.
New Staff Orientation curriculum is specifically designed for new staff members in child care centers. Meets the Keystone STARS Performance Standards. Order at no cost by calling 800-452-9108. Prepayment for review of each Orientation is $5.00. If you received materials before November 1, 2006, please download new Instructions and REQUIRED Forms.
Home-Based Caregiver Orientation - Meets the Keystone STARS Core Series Training Requirements. Order at no cost by calling 800-452-9108. Prepayment for review of each Orientation is $5.00. If you received materials before November 1, 2006, please download new Instructions & REQUIRED Forms.
Interested in professional development opportunities? Take a look at the following professional development training available for early childhood practitioners:
For more professional development opportunities, visit the PA Keys online calendar.
Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards - The Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards were developed as a joint project of the Departments of Education and Public Welfare to guide the development of pre-kindergarten programs. Keystone STARS early care programs, Head Start programs, and pre-kindergarten programs participating in Pre K Counts are using the Early Learning standards to guide their curriculum and learning activities.
Family child care in the United States - A review of research studies examining regulated family child care in the United States, including survey, observation, demonstration, and evaluation research. This resource is part of the Child Care & Early Education Research Connections Reviews of Research series.
CyberStart Support Line and Web site - Would you like information on using computers in your classroom? Do you have questions on selecting developmentally appropriate software for preschoolers? If so, explore the CyberStart Web site for technology information, classroom ideas and resources, how-to guides, and lots of resource links for children, parents, and teachers. The Web site is updated regularly, so check back often for new information.
Born Learning is a national public engagement campaign helping parents, caregivers, and communities create early learning opportunities for young children. It's built on awareness, education, and action. This new campaign is designed to help parents, grandparents, and caregivers turn everyday fun into "teachable moments." A project of United Way, the Ad Council, Civitas, and Families and Work Institute, the Born Learning site also has information on child development and ways to take action and improve policies for learning.
World Children’s Festival - The National Mall at 4th to 7th Streets, Washington DC, June 23-25, 2007 from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Open and free to the public
Cool Sites for Kids! Visit the University of Illinois Extension Just for Kids Web site for fun and adventure.New subscribers can join by sending an email to:
BetterKidCareNews-subscribe-request@lists.psu.edu.
View archived Better Kid Care E-Newsletters
Upcoming July E-Newsletter:
Rock On! Creating Rock Gardens with Young Children
Reflections…
We would love to hear from you! E-mail your ideas to crb16@psu.edu or call 814-865-7894.
Disclaimer: Where trade names appear, no discrimination is intended, and no endorsement by Penn State Cooperative Extension is implied.