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Celebrate the magic children bring this holiday season!
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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: "She looked at me and said, 'You know, Mr. Clark, you'll do fine. As long as you can affect the life of one child, you've been a success.' To this day I do not like that quote. I feel we have to approach education with the determination to affect each and every one of our students...I approach each year with the knowledge that I have only one year to make a life's worth of difference in each child in that classroom, and I give it everything I've got." - Ron Clark
In light of the overwhelming amount of toy recalls, please share and read the toy information below for those buying toys this holiday season:
U.S. Consumer Production Safety Commission:http://www.cpsc.gov/nsn/toysafety07.pdf
American Academy of Pediatrics: http://www.aap.org/new/toyrecall.htm
"My co-workers and I laugh about the "Be-dazzler" devices that put shiny sequins on anything from clothes to footballs, but we have taken the idea and used it as an activity. Ask families and programs to donate their discarded CDs and DVDs or you can purchase inexpensive ones (aluminum pie tins can also be used). Always be aware of choking hazards for children 3 and under. Use a choke testing tube or toilet roll to check materials/toys; if materials fit through the tube, do not use with children ages 3 and under. |
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).
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Reflecting Ethical Conductby Christine Belinda |
As early educators, we have promised ourselves, children, co-workers, families, and the early childhood profession itself to do the best work we can. Having chosen this profession, we must follow certain moral commitments that involve moral reflection in our work.
In order to keep the promise we have made to do our best, we need to embody what is morally correct and ethical. Most of us have ideas of how we can be ethical. But have we really thought about what ethics means and how it affects our work? Where do we find informed solutions to the incredibly challenging dilemmas that we all may face at one time or another? How do we reflect ethical conduct?
Defining ethics: A beginning to understanding
The common dictionary defines ethics as follows:
Defining ethics is just the beginning to understanding ethics. As early educators, we need to practice and explore the concept of ethics. Doing so will lead us to the foremost values of working directly with children, families, co-workers, and programs.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) recognizes the need to support early educators in moral and ethical implications. NAEYC provides a tool: the Code of Ethical Conduct, which helps us keep the promises we have made to the profession of early childhood education and care.
Code of Ethical Conduct
A Code of Ethical Conduct can be thought of as a promise that we will behave in an ethical manner. It also helps reinforce our commitment to ethics. NAEYC states:
Code of Ethical Conduct - Defines the core values of the field and provides guidance for what professionals should do when they encounter conflicting obligations or responsibilities in their work.
We can begin to better understand NAEYC’s Code of Ethical Conduct by reviewing its Core Values:
Core Values: Standards of ethical behavior in early childhood care and education are based on commitment to the following core values that are deeply rooted in the history of the field of early childhood care and education.
We have made a commitment to:
Appreciate childhood as a unique and valuable stage of the human life cycle
*Culture includes ethnicity, racial identity, economic level, family structure, language, and religious and political beliefs, which profoundly influence each child’s development and relationship to the world.
Our responsibility: Reflecting ethical conduct
Reflecting a code of ethical conduct is our responsibility as early educators. How do you reflect ethical conduct? Find out more about ethics and consider using NAEYC’s Code of Ethical Conduct as a tool to help: http://www.naeyc.org/about/positions/PSETH05.asp
Also, Better Kid Care offers one-hour lessons on ethics. Visit the Better Kid Care Distance Education page or click on the titles below to preview:
Ethics: Your Responsibilities to Children
Ethics: Your Responsibilities to Families
Ethics: Your Responsibilities to Co-workers and Community
Let's Celebrate!
This lesson covers getting to know the world's children, exploring food from other countries, and new ideas for celebrating holidays. Learn how parents can help make your holiday celebrations special.
To view a complete listing of all distance education lessons and additional information about how to register, visit the Better Kid Care Distance Education page.
New AAP Reports Help Pediatricians Identify and Manage Autism Earlier
Two new clinical reports from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) will help pediatricians recognize autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) earlier and guide families to effective interventions, which will ultimately improve the lives of children with ASDs and their families. The first clinical report, "Identification and Evaluation of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders," provides detailed information on signs and symptoms so pediatricians can recognize and assess ASDs in their patients. Language delays usually prompt parents to raise concerns to their child’s pediatrician – usually around 18 months of age. However, there are earlier, subtle signs that if detected could lead to earlier diagnosis:
Educational strategies and associated therapies, the cornerstones of treatment for ASDs, are reviewed in the second AAP clinical report, "Management of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders." Early intervention is crucial for effective treatment.
Both reports will also be part of the new AAP practical resource for pediatricians, "AUTISM: Caring for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Resource Toolkit for Clinicians," which includes screening and surveillance tools, guideline summary charts, management checklists, developmental checklists, developmental growth charts, early intervention referral forms and tools, sample letters to insurance companies, and family handouts. For more information go to http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/oct07autism.htm or http://www.aap.org/, or contact the AAP at American Academy of Pediatrics, 141 Northwest Point Blvd., Elk Grove Village, IL, 60007, 847-434-4000
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Turn the PageGreat Books to Read with Children: Celebrate! |
Celebrating, by Gwenyth Swain, published by Carolrhoda Books, ISBN 1575053721. This book explores celebrations all over the world.
Children Just Like Me: Celebrations! by Anabel Kindersley, published by DK CHILDREN, ISBN 0789420279. A rich, multicultural look at holidays around the world.
Birthday Presents, by Cynthia Rylant, published by Scholastic, ISBN 0531070263. Through snapshots in a photo album, discover a family’s love and celebration of birthdays.
Bread, Bread, Bread, by Ann Morris, published by HarperTrophy, ISBN 0688122752. Do people all over the world eat the same breads and foods? What kind of bread do you eat? A bagel? A tortilla? A baguette?
A Time to Keep (the Tasha Tudor Book of Holidays), by Tasha Tudor, published by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, ISBN 0027895025. Month by month, Tasha Tudor's delicate illustrations bring to life the holidays of an earlier time. A warm-hearted celebration of family and tradition, this treasury of "times to keep" will be cherished and enjoyed all year long.
Kids Around the World Celebrate!: The Best Feasts and Festivals from Many Lands, by Lynda Jones, published by Jossey-Bass, ISBN 047134527X . Everyone loves a reason to have a good time, and although cultures around the world have their own unique feasts and festivals, we all share many of the same reasons to celebrate.
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.
Play - The Right Kind of Toys
by Nancy Wilson
Play and learning go hand in hand. Adults are mistaken if they think children are just having fun and using up energy while they play. Children learn every minute they are playing. Think about it. The more your child plays, the more he learns.
Here are some guidelines for good toys:
To read more about keeping children safe, click on the picture icon.
Better Kid Care Satellite Season 2007-08:
Welcome to the 2007-08 satellite season! Satellite workshops offer opportunities for child care providers to learn form experts and to share their experiences with other child care providers nationwide. Professional development hours are available. Mark your calendars now with the following dates and topics:
Next up! December 13, 2007
Math for Every Age
Professional Development Code K2C1 / Topic Code 17 / CDA 2
If you're able to add 1 + 1 and get 2, you can do math with children. Learn what young children understand about math at each age and simple math activities to do with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
More 2007-08 Satellite Dates and Topics!
March 13, 2008
Science for Young Thinkers
Professional Development Code K2C1/ Topic Code18 / CDA 2
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to help future scientists learn the basics. Find out how to make science activities really fun for children and adults.May 15, 2008
Improving Transition Times
Professional Development Code K2C2 / Topic Code 13 / CDA 1
Moving from place to place, activity to activity, is often filled with tears, screaming, and tantrums. Learn how you can smooth transitions to make them productive, fun times for children and stress free for adults.
Visit the Satellite Workshop link for more information.
Missed a show? Visit the Past Satellite Workshop page to view video online. If you live in Pennsylvania, contact your local extension educator for information to attend a workshop in your area. Outside Pennsylvania view Out-of-State Information link.
CDA News! (Child Development Associate credential)
New and Improved CDA Link!
Visit Better Kid Care's link: "What is the CDA?" to get answers to your CDA questions!
CDA Application
(pdf)
Best of all, the Better Kid Care Program has a live contact person who can answer your CDA questions! Get CDA Support! Call Christine at 800-452-9108. E-mail your CDA questions to Christine at crb16@psu.edu
Visit the Better Kid Care "What is the CDA?" link today!
Council Updates:
• From the Barrio to the Boardroom: A CDA's Journey to a Ph.D.
• Find out about Online Assessment
• Reggio Emilia books on Sale
Interested in professional development opportunities? Take a look at the following professional development training available for early childhood practitioners.
In Pennsylvania:
Other:
Outside Pennsylvania:
Looking for more professional development?
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.
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.
Transition Early Learners - The second annual Pennsylvania Early Childhood Conference featured information on transition. Presenters from the University of Virginia provided valuable insight into strategies to enhance the transition process for children and families. Their PowerPoint presentations are available for viewing: http://www.pde.state.pa.us/early_childhood/cwp/view.asp?a=323&q=123952&early_childhoodNav=|10715|
(pdf) (pdf) (pdf)Play in the Early Years: Key to School Success
A New Policy Brief from the Alliance and the Bay Area Early Childhood Funders
The Alliance for Childhood is distributing, free of charge, a new 8-page policy brief on children's play, produced in collaboration with the Bay Area Early Childhood Funders. The brief explains how high-quality preschools provide lasting benefits and how children learn specific skills related to academic and social success through play. It also makes five specific policy recommendations to support play-centered early childhood programs. Click here to download a free copy of "Play in the Early Years."
A new study from the RAND Corporation makes a strong case for the long-term social benefits of preschool, including significantly higher achievement levels in later grades. Download the study and executive summaries here.
Doing what works - The U.S. Department of Education has launched a new Web site to provide teachers, administrators, and other educators with recommendations on effective teaching practices and examples of possible ways to implement those practices to help promote excellence in American education and improve student achievement. The first in the series focuses on English language learners. The new "Doing What Works" site, dww.ed.gov, offers a user-friendly interface to quickly locate teaching practices that have been found effective by the department's research arm, the Institute of Education Sciences, and similar organizations.
Natural Learning Initiative http://www.naturalearning.org/index.htm - Creating healthy environments for healthy human development and a healthy biosphere for generations to come. A research and design assistance program of the college of design, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
Docs for Tots (pdf) on the effects quality preschool has on good health and school readiness.
New subscribers can join by sending an email to:
BetterKidCareNews-subscribe-request@lists.psu.edu.
View archived Better Kid Care E-Newsletters
Upcoming Feature Article in
January E-Newsletter:
Play: Can You Hear Me Now?
Listening to the Voice of Play
Reflections…
We would love to hear from you! E-mail your ideas to crb16@psu.edu or call 814-865-7894.
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