Home Child Care Appreciation Evening

ATTENTION: ALL HOME CHILD CARE PROVIDERS!!

You are invited to attend a special evening dedicated to you and the work you do!  Network with your peers while enjoying light refreshments and stimulating ideas.  While you are here, try out the equipment in our workroom and browse the resources in our library.

DATE: Wednesday, April 11 , 2012
TIME: Drop in between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.
RSVP: By phone 519-434-3644 x11 or by email lwilson@childreach.on.ca
COST: FREE!!!

Play a Game!

There are many benefits of playing board games with your children!

Social:

• A TV-free activity for you and your child to enjoy.
• Mommy/Daddy & child time.
• Practice of turn-taking and cooperating
• Sharing in an exchange of ideas and points of view.
• Making decisions and choices and accepting the consequences.

Emotional:

• Practice in regulating emotions if child does not “win”.  Avoid competition if a cooperative alternative is available.  Play in teams rather than one vs. another.
• Sharing and communicating emotions—both excitement and disappointment.
• Developing self-esteem while gaining success at playing by the “rules”.
• Focusing attention on the game and avoiding distraction.
• Persisting even when frustrated and coping with disappointment.

Communication, language and literacy:

• Responding appropriately to the verbal and print directions on how to play the game.
• Using new words and building vocabulary.
• Recognizing numbers in print and counting.
• Recognizing colours and shapes and matching their names.

Cognition:

• Asking questions to solve problems and clarify understanding.
• Using numbers, letters, shapes and quantities of items.
• Sorting objects, pictures and things into groups (classifying).
• Identifying patterns and knowing what comes next in a sequence.
• Using memory to remember picture cards in a matching game.
• Using counters to represent objects.

Physical:

• Fine motor dexterity, eye-hand coordination, by picking up and placing small items such as cards and game pieces.
• Large motor in floor games such as hop-scotch and twister.
• Auditory skills when identifying sounds on a sound bingo/lotto game.

HAVE FUN!

Rainy Day Fun

Today it is raining.   At some point, you may need to beat some boredom.  Here are a few ideas to keep your children busy and happy.

• Let children go through their toys and decide what they have outgrown or don’t use; then help them set up a yard sale and sell lemonade too (on a sunny day). On the next rainy day, plan a shopping day to spend the money they earned.
• Play music and dance!
• Visit an appliance store for very large boxes, and build a castle or a rocket ship.
• Visit or volunteer at a local seniors residence or nursing home.
• Visit the library and stock up on reading and viewing material.
• Break out the cards, and play crazy eights or go fish or make up a game.
• Get out old magazines and flyers. Cut them up and glue to create a collage.
• Plan a tea party with old tea cups and saucers.  Eat tiny sandwiches and cookies. 
• Armed with a list of things from around the house, make a scavenger hunt.

I am a Pizza!

This is the last year that we will be bringing Charlotte to London, so this is your last opportunity to see her live!   Treat yourself and your child(ren) to a fabulous, interactive musical experience!   You have your choice of two concerts on Tuesday, April 12 – 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. – at Forest City Community Church!   Tickets are $10 each.  

For tickets or more information, please call Jane at 519-434-3644 x36.

A Playdough for Everyone

There are various ways to make play dough with your children based on the age level and possible allergies of your child.  Here are some fun recipes to try at home with your children.  Some are tried and true while others are rather unique.  Remember to have fun; and for the child it is the process more than the finished product.  Feel free to drop us a line and let us know which recipes you would recommend!

Childreach Favourite:  Kool-Aid Play Dough
½ cup salt
2 ½ cups flour
2 packages kool-aid
3 tablespoons oil
2 cups boiling water

Directions:  Mix dry ingredients.  Add oil to water.   Add liquid to dry ingredients.  Stir and let cool then knead.  Store in plastic bags in the refrigerator to keep fresh longer. 

Hint:  if the playdough is too sticky, add a little flour; if the playdough is dry add a little oil in your hands and knead. 

Home Made Playdough
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
2 cups of water
1 tablespoons mineral oil
food coloring

Mix all ingredients in a saucepan.
Cook over medium heat, stirring until stiff.
Allow to cool, and then knead.

Peanut Butter Playdough
3 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
4 cups powdered sugar
4 cups powdered milk
3 1/2 cups corn syrup

Mix ingredients by hand.
Can decorate with sprinkles, M&Ms etc.
It is edible.

Salt Playdough
1 cup water
1 cup salt
1/2 cup flour
Food coloring

Mix ingredients in pan.
Add food coloring. Stir on low heat.
When it thickens remove from heat.
Put some on waxed paper or floured surface and roll out.
Cut out objects.
Air dry objects few days.
Store un-used portion in air-tight container.
It is non-edible.

 Oatmeal Playdough
2 cups smooth peanut butter
2 cups rolled oats
2 cups powdered milk
2/3 cups honey
Optional -Rice Krispies, Coconut Sprinkles, chocolate chips, Red Hots, etc.

Mix ingredients until combined.
Wash hands.
Lay down wax paper.
Store in air-tight container.

Numnum Playdough
2 cups of honey
3 cups of peanut butter
3 packets powdered milk

Stir all ingredients together until smooth.
Add more powdered milk if desired.
Is sticky and edible.

Cloud Playdough
1 cup water,
1 1/2 cup vegetable oil,
6 cup flour

Add a few drops of food coloring to water.
Combine water, oil and flour in a large bowl. Knead well.
Add more water if necessary in small amounts until the dough is soft and stretchy.
Cloud playdough should be used on a washable surface as it is very greasy.

Coffee Playdough
4 cups unsifted all purpose flour,
1 cup salt,
1/4 cup instant coffee
1 1/2 c warm water

Dissolve the coffee in the warm water.
In another bowl, mix the flour and the salt.
Make a well and add 1 cup of the coffee water into it.
Mix with a fork or with your hands until smoother.
Add more coffee water as needed: dough should be smooth not sticky or crumbling.
Store in air tight container.
When you’re done making figures, bake in oven for 1 hour at 300 degrees or until hard.
A coat or two of shellac keeps it well preserved for longer lasting gifts.

Fruit Playdough
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 tablespoons cream of tarter
2 cups boiling water
2 tablespoons of cooking oil
3 oz package sugar-free fruit flavored gelatin

Mix dry ingredients in pan.
Add the water and oil.
Stir over medium heat until mixture forms a ball.
Pour onto a sheet of wax paper

Koolaid Playdough
2 cups rice flour
1 tsp. xanthan gum
1 cup salt
3 Tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
2 packages unsweetened Koolaid (pick the color you like)
2 cups boiling water

Mix all together. Once cool take out of pan and knead well. Then place in Ziploc bag in the refrigerator.

Cornmeal Playdough – Gluten Free
1 ½ cups corn flour
1 cup corn meal
1 cup salt
½ cup corn starch
1 cup hot water plus 2 Tablespoons
1  tablespoon oil

Mix all ingredients until smooth.  Add water as necessary to make more soft and smooth.  Store in Ziploc bag for up to a month.  This is textured dough and will be yellow.

Written by Dawn Baetens, Early Years Program Leader

Fun-tastic Fall: Magic Drawings

You will need:

• white paper
• cotton swabs
• baking soda
• water
• purple grape juice

Here’s what you’re going to do:

1. Have your child combine one tablespoon of baking soda and one tablespoon of water in a cup.
2. Let your child dip cotton swabs into the mixture and make designs on sheets of white paper.
3. Let their designs dry completely so that their papers look blank.
4. Have them paint over their designs with purple grape juice.
5. Watch what happens!

For more fun-tastic fall crafts, recipes, stories, activity ideas, and poems, download and print our Fall Funtastic Book!

Starting a Home Child Care?

So you have decided to take the plunge and open your own home child care !  September is a busy month for everyone adjusting to new schedules, new families, new routines, and new children.

It is always a nice fresh start when you begin with lots of rest, daily exercise (e.g. walking, gym, sports, etc), organization, good time management, prepared schedules, and a caregiver support network.  To do this you can explore what is available in your community, online, or by attending playgroups.

New children can have lots of fears and tears.  Chances are by day one that you have had pre visits with the families to familiarize the child to your new environment.  Contracts are in place, and agreements are signed so you are noticeably ready to go!  Or are you?  Carefully planning your first couple weeks closer to home can assist in smoother adjustments for you and the children.

Here are some tips for a smooth integration process for you and the child:

• Greet the parent and child warmly
• Encourage the parents to “Get ready, set, go!”   Strategize with families in advance to know when they are getting ready to go.  Set the stage with the child with a daily goodbye routine.  Go promptly when you say it is time to go.  “Get ready, set, go!” decreases drawn out goodbye’s and teaches the child good habits of what to expect as you and the parent are consistent.
• Ask the parent to bring in a favourite blanket or stuffed animal for comfort.  (Or whatever the child uses for comfort).
• Ask the parents for a family photo (or two), or photo album in advance from home.  These become valuable during a parent’s absence.
• Label the spot for coats, bags, lunches (if they bring this), and all their gear!  This helps the child feel welcome and knows you are ready for them.
• The caregiver should hold the child as much as the child needs to build the attachment.  Children will grow and prosper once a healthy attachment is in place.  Don’t be surprised if you have a lap mate for the first week or so.  If they are not happy being held, seat the child within sight of you and let them follow you.  Be patient!  As the child becomes accustomed to your home, they will slowly and gradually become more independent. 
• Limit your outings as much as possible for the first week.  Your home and a new environment are sometimes enough for a new child.
• Let the child set their own pace.  Warmly invite the child into play.  They may be more comfortable observing for the first few days. 

Being prepared for change and the feelings is an important step for assisting with the child’s transition.  Continue building a positive relationship with the parent.  Open communication daily for the first week with an invitation for phone calls at specific times helps the parent ease their worries and is reassuring.  Keeping those lines of communication open encourages an easier transition for everyone!

Written by Dawn Baetens, RECE, Early Years Program Leader

PS.  Childreach is currently putting the finishing touches on the 6th Annual Home Child Care Conference: Commitment to Caring brochure.  Mark Saturday, October 2 in your calendars!   This full-day conference will take place at the Ramada Inn and will include lunch.   To register, or for more information, please call Sheri Spriggs at 519-434-3644 x39 or by email at sspriggs@childreach.on.ca .

Shoelaces

My littlest was beading a mountain of friendship pins this week, and she had strung all the decorated safety pins on a long purple string.  I noted that when I was little, my friends and I would put them on our shoelaces.  She gave me the strangest look.  

But what was stranger than her look was that it dawned on me that I had completely forgotten to teach my child how to tie her own shoelaces!    Oh, the guilt.   Thankfully, my resilience skills are up to par, and rather than dwell on the fact that I had potentially failed as a mother, I thought about how we were going to solve this issue.   

During this time of reflection, I reassured myself that although she could not tie shoelaces, she could knit a scarf.    It’s definitely not a lack of fine motor skills holding her back.    However, apparently  knitting is higher up on my parenting priorities than tying shoelaces.   To be honest, I also thought about going against all the ‘rules’ and seeing how far in life she could go without ever learning how to tie shoelaces, and the non-conformist in me was inspired.   Who says she needs to wear shoes with laces?   The only problem with this option was that I think she would look super cute in hightop sneakers.

The irony of all of this is I’ve done this before – the whole teaching a kid how to tie her shoelaces.   I seriously can not remember how I did it.   It’s been almost ten years!    

I asked the littlest if she wanted to sit down and learn how to tie shoelaces, and she simply said, “Nope.”   With 15 years of parenting behind me, I’ve learned to pick my battles very carefully which really means, I don’t pick many battles at all anymore.   They’re right when they say your parenting relaxes with subsequent children.   I respect that she doesn’t want to learn how to tie her shoelaces.   That’s cool.  And I’m cool.

In the meantime, she’ll wear slip-on shoes and shoes with velcro and buckles a little bit longer.  She’s down with that, so I am too.  One day she will want to learn, and when she does, I have some handy reference links up my sleeve!

A to Z Kids Stuff | Tying Shoes
youtube videos galore
Tying shoes step by step

Until then, I’ll keep my eyes open for the pair of shoes that will inspire her to learn and keep my shoe-lacing skills sharp.  :) 

Written by Nadine Reeves, Administrative Assistant

Beach Theme Activity Booklet

A couple of weeks ago, we posted a series of activity ideas relating to a beach party in preparation of the summer.   Today, we have the entire booklet for you to download and print for free.  

Beach Theme Activities

What are you waiting for?  Gather up your children and have fun!  :)

Ice Cream Shoppe

Our ECE Resource Centre staff are always pulling together seasonal and themed activity booklets that are full of songs, fingerplays, games, crafts, recipes and activities.   We sell these booklets to childcare providers, early years teachers, and parents – anyone who is looking after children.     The price of a booklet is super low as we simply need to cover the printing costs.  It got me thinking that we could skip the printing and make the file a pdf, and then we could share it with everyone online for free.    Free and fun stuff makes me super happy.  

So without further ado, I would like to present the first of our free, fun, easy to download activity booklets titled Ice Cream Shoppe!    Skip the trip to Dairy Queen, and make your own blizzards while singing ice cream cone songs.  :)

Ice Cream Theme Activity Book

Please let us know in the comments if you found this useful!   We’d love to hear how you incorporated into your children’s play and learning.