The Hand Holders: A Tribute to Caregivers

I want to thank each of that work with children.  You role is very important whether providing child care as a profession, being a parent, co-parent, step-parent, foster parent, grandparent or having an important role in any child’s life.

The Hand Holders:
A Tribute To Caregivers

There is no job more important than yours;
no job anywhere else in the land.
You are the keepers of the future;
you hold the smallest of hands.

Into your care you are trusted
to nurture and care for the young,
and for all of your everyday heroics,
your talents and skills go unsung.

You wipe tears from the eyes of the injured.
You rock babies brand new in your arms.
You encourage the shy and unsure child.
You make sure they are safe from all harm.

You foster the bonds of friendships,
letting no child go away mad.
You respect and you honor their emotions.
You give hugs to each child when they’re sad.

You have more impact than does a professor,
a child’s mind is molded by four;
so whatever you lay on the table
is whatever the child will explore.

Give each child the tools for adventure,
let them be artists and writers and more;
let them fly on the wind and dance on the stars
and build castles of sand on the shore.

It is true that you don’t make much money
and you don’t get a whole lot of praise,
but when one small child says, “I love you”,
you’re reminded of how this job pays.

How Does Your Preschooler Grow?

3-year-olds

Children are individuals.  Each will grow and develop at different rates. So how do you work with this age group?  Here are some basic guidelines as you plan your work with 3-year-olds.  They will need your guidance and encouragement during this time.

3-year-olds will soon (or may already) be able to:

• Have a sense of past, present and future time.
• Recite numbers to five (but may be able to count only to two)
• Understand and accept simple explanations
• Enjoy a lot of dramatic play
• Show more independence

Physical activity now includes pedaling a tricycle, throwing and catching a ball and jumping.

Hand and fingers are more coordinated too.   Using a fork and spoon for eating, drawing squiggly lines and cutting with scissors are skills the 3-year-old is practicing.  Children are ready to learn concepts such as colors, numbers, counting and the alphabet.  They will also learn ideas like “over/under” and “in/out”.

Emotions for this age is intense.  Affection, joy, anger and frustration are often expressed loudly and very physically.  Throwing a block across the room when a tower falls is the way many 3-year-olds deal with frustration. They may tell you to leave them alone one minute and the next “I love you”.  It may be hard to answer questions all day long, but they will have hundreds throughout the day.  Where the 2-year-old asks “What is this?”  The 3-year-old will want to know “Why?”.  Don’t be surprised by questions like:

• Why are you doing that?
• Why is the ceiling high?
• Why do the clouds move?
• Why aren’t the clouds moving?
• How did you do that?
• What is this for?

Although you may get tired of answering so many questions, your answers help children learn.  If a child gets no answer, he may stop asking.  Answering questions encourages curiosity.  Try to give simple answers.  Avoid too many details.  If you haven’t given enough information, the 3-year-old will ask for more!  Try asking them what they think the answer is.  This age group can be so much fun.  Take the time to enjoy their journey of learning.

Watch out for the next blog which will talk about the importance of play.