Thanks for all you do each day to support and teach children in your care. I am grateful for the child care professionals that truly make a difference in a child’s life each day. Also there is a great appreciation for the ones that are providing care while our nurses, medical professionals police, fire fighters, military, retail employees and many others are working during this holiday time. Thanks for all you do!
The hurricane is over and now it is time to clean up. Food safety should be top of mind especially if you are working with small children. Here are some tips from UGA Extension to help you know what to do in regard to your food and keeping it safe. I am really not happy about wasting food, but with my power out for four days and no ice available in our areas, then discarding food became a priority. Of course, I carefully reviewed all the food safety guidelines, prepared and saved what I could, but most was discarded. It was a learning experience for me and thought I would share in case you find yourself in a similar situation.
If you did not go through a hurricane or storm recently, this is great information to help prepare you for any future disasters. It is always best to be prepared and “If in doubt, throw it out.”
Click on this site to learn more about being prepared both before and after a disaster.
The social skills children learn today will will be used throughout their life. Making and keeping friends is an important challenge for preschoolers. As providers and parents we play an important role in encouraging and teaching children how to get along with others.
Typically, preschoolers prefer to play with other children, rather than alone. You can encourage cooperative play by allowing children lots of chances to choose playmates and decide how they will play. It is more fun to play doctor if you have a patient. With the teacher’s help, they have to figure out how to find everyone a turn and a fair share.
When conflicts come up, we encourage children to come up with solutions. You might say, “Hmm, there is only one green crayon and tow children who want to use it. What can we do?” Let them help in making decisions as problem solving will an important skill they learn while young.
Try to engage children in cooperative games more than competitive ones. They are much too young to worry about winning and losing, so play games in which everyone contributes.
We encourage children to identify the feelings of others by pointing out how they have hurt another child and how they might fix things to make them better. A teacher might say, “Katie said she’s very angry. Remember when Darius broke your toy? What do you think you can do to help Katie rebuild the tower you knocked over?” Helping children learn empathy gives them the opportunity to right the wrong.
There are many ways you can encourage children to help others. They might make cards for a sick teacher or child, take water to the workers outside, or help with a task. It is important for children to experience how good it feels to just be a friend!
For the past twenty years, September as been recognized as National Food Safety Education Month. The theme for this year is “Notorious Virus”. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illnesses, with about 20 million people getting sick each year. The most common source for norovirus is ready-to-eat foods and shellfish from contaminated water. Once a person is sick it is easily spread to others.
Of course, the best way to prevent the spread of norovirus is simply washing your hands correctly. Other tips include: avoid bare-hand contact; purchase food from approved suppliers; encourage employees to stay home when sick; clean up spills properly; and clena and sanitize food-contact surfaces. Handwashing is the number one way to prevent infectious disease so from the children in your care, to the providers and food handlers this is something to put great emphasis on.
To learn more about Food Safety Education or to find activities for children visit:
https://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/features-month/september/national-food-safety-education-month
Did you know the first Labor Day was celebrated in New York City? 10,000 workers took an unpaid holiday to march in the first Labor Day parade. The holiday was founded when many in America worked 16 hour days in harsh work environments. It was considered a day to recognize the challenges and the rights of workers. The first Labor Day was really a rally for the adoption of eight hour work days and other suitable work conditions.
Labor Day the last big holiday of the summer months and first holiday of Sept. It is a special day to honor people who work. Labor Day is a time to pay tribute to the workers who have made America what it is today. Since work is children’s play how can you help them learn about this holiday?
There are various sites that can provide some great activities to help children learn about Labor Day. I decided to include one link for your review and hope you will be able to use some of the activities with your children. These are geared toward preschool, but may be modified to work with other ages too.
Celebration Station – Preschool
Labor Day Art
Labor Day Games
Labor Day Language
Labor Day Social Studies
Labor Day Snacks
Labor Day Songs & Rhymes
http://www.preschoolexpress.com/celebration-station09/labor-day.shtml
(C) Jean Warren http://www.preschoolexpress.com
Painting with various medium is a great way to increase children’s eye-hand coordination. There are so many items you can use, be creative and just try your ideas. Here are a few suggestions to get you started. The possibilities with paint are unlimited.
Alphabet Block Prints
Using alphabet blocks with raised letters, dip in thick paint and press on manila paper.
Pine Needles
Dip the tips of the needles in white paint and stroke across black construction paper, or they can be dipped in colored paint and stroked on manila paper.
Fingertip Prints
Place a sponge on a plate and put paint over it. The child then presses one finger at a time on the sponge and applies it to paper.
Colored Chalk
Here are two different methods for you to try.
Ice Cubes
Start by placing a blog of thick paint on manila paper or finger paint paper. Have children push the paint across the paper with an ice cube. A paper napkin or paper toweling may be wrapped on the top of the ice cube to make it less cold for little hands.
Sports Ball Prints
Using golf, tennis, ping-pong balls, etc. dip them in thick paint and printed or stroke over manila paper.
Painting with Toy Cars
The wheels of the car are dipped in tempera paint that is mixed with liquid starch. The car is then wheeled over manila or other paper.
Potato Prints
Cut potatoes in half and carve a shape on them. Instruct your child to dip a half-potato into thick paint and press it on manila paper.
Fruit Prints
Using two apples, the first is cut in half from top to bottom; the second is cut in half around the middle. Let the child dip an apple-half into thick paint and press it on manila paper.
Creative people are often resourceful and thoughtful. If a baby feels safe and trusts her/his caregiver and the surroundings, they are more eager to explore and find out more. Creativity is invaluable and should be encouraged in children. A secure relationship with caregivers can provide a strong foundation for creativity.
There are a variety of art experience you can provide for children. Babies have opportunities to use their senses to explore and create. The process of squishing finger paint in their hands, tearing paper or scribbling with crayons is satisfying for babies and toddlers. They are developing eye-hand coordination, and are making choices to change the way a drawing looks. You can provide crayons, chalk, play dough and other materials for creativity and pre-writing skills.
At this age, children’s creations do not usually represent real objects unless we, as adults, label them so. As they grow, children will attempt to create what they see in real life. For now, they are simply enjoying the pleasure of creating and exploring the materials.
Teachers should use descriptive language as we discuss a child’s creations (“This painting has circular stokes:, “This color is bright!”) By encouraging discussion about what has been made, we support children’s language development. We focus on specific aspects (“How did you make this line so squiggly?”) We strive to help them feel their work is respected and valued. We often post the children’s creations for everyone to enjoy.
Teachers often encourage children to explore different art media. We might hang some sticky paper on the wall and have children enjoy sticking items to it to make collages. W e might have children paint with their bare feet. These experiences let children explore real materials with their senses. This is how babies and toddlers learn best.
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