Early Childhood Education
July 2019
Paths To Quality
Kiddie Cove Daycare and Preschool
Vigo County
Little Bugs Daycare and Preschool, Site B
Vigo County
Heather's Home Daycare II
Morgan County
Important Safe Sleep Update
Effective July 1, 2019 swaddling will no longer be allowed in any child care setting. Previously, swaddling children until they were three months old was an approved practice. The new rule is being implemented to align with the latest research being shared through Caring For Our Children. Please make sure to pass this information on to ALL staff so that they may begin to implement the changes. Please call Jill, at ext. 34, if you have any questions.
Early Education Matters — Statewide Updates from the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning
Attend a local Indiana AEYC meeting or join a Facebook live presentation to learn about upcoming changes to early childhood system policy.
At these meetings, staff from the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning will share some updates on the structure of Indiana's quality support system. All providers will have the chance to attend a local Indiana AEYC meeting, including both Indiana AEYC members and those who are not members, or join in one of two Facebook live stream presentations. See below for dates and more information.
- July 9, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. — East Central Region of Indiana — hosted by INAEYC
- July 15, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. — North Eastern Region of Indiana — hosted by INAEYC
- July 16, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. — Tippecanoe Region of Indiana — hosted by INAEYC
- July 23, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. — Columbus Region: System Updates
- July 12, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (2 - 3 p.m. ET) — Facebook Live: System Updates
- July 19, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. (1 -2 p.m. ET) — Facebook Live: System Updates
With the upcoming statewide release of I-LEAD and Indiana Learning Paths, webinars on Training Central will no longer be accessible as of July 9th. Although transcripts will be transferred to Indiana Learning Paths at a later date, it is recommended that you go to Training Central and print your certificates. After September 1, 2019 they will no longer be available through Training Central.
2019 National Summer Learning Week
Let's Play Outside: The Importance of Pretend Play in Natural Settings
Fantasy play, or pretend play, is an integral part of childhood. While too often limited by the narrow confines of a dramatic play corner, pretend play can flourish outdoors if children are given the space and materials.
Fixed playground equipment like slides or swings encourage active play. What materials should you introduce to promote pretend play outdoors? Read the article.
Why Outdoor Play Boosts your Baby’s and Toddler’s Brain Cells
Have you ever shifted your baby or toddler’s mood simply by getting them outside? Have you ever had a yearning yourself to go for a hike, or to go to the beach?
Of course! We all have, and that is because “there is a universal feeling we get when we put ourselves outside, and into the elements. We feel more open and connected to our world, and our babies feel the same way,” says Kimberley Clayton Blaine, MA, MFT, a Child Development expert, and founder of The-Go-To-Mom.TV, an internet parenting show. Read more from Kimberley in this article.
Rocking and Rolling. Fresh Air, Fun, and Exploration: Why Outdoor Play Is Essential for Healthy Development
Painting without Paintbrushes
If art is all about process, why limit creativity by limiting the tools? Add an innovative twist to a summer painting project by omitting the store-bought paintbrushes.
On an outdoor table or easel, provide paint, paper, and clothespins. Demonstrate how clipping a flower, leaf, or bunch of grass in a clothespin instantly produces a natural paintbrush. Then send the kids off in the yard to scavenge for their own unique collection of bristles.
Your budding artists will be quickly captivated as they discover how the patterns and textures of nature can be incorporated into their masterpieces.
Sand Art - Process Art for the Outdoor Classroom
Here's an activity incorporating art in the sand area. Of course you can do it anywhere, but we set this up right in our sand box where the primary material for this project was abundant—sand! It also made the clean up really easy.
All you need for this activity is sand, cardboard or stiff paper (dark colors will make the sand show up better), glue, and a pencil.
Providing Opportunities for Risk-Taking: The Importance of Creating a "Yes" Environment for Children
When was the last time you took a risk? How did you feel? When children take risks and succeed, they feel proud and self-confident. When things don’t go as planned, they feel frustrated, learn that things don’t always happen as predicted, and maybe even decide to try it again.
Risk is a vital component of children’s play. It allows children to be challenged, to face uncertainty, to problem-solve, to work with others to find a solution, and to think outside the box. All of these qualities serve to expand children’s cognitive, physical, and social-emotional abilities. They become the building blocks for later learning and managing of experiences, both throughout school and as an adult.
Allowing children to take risks in their play gives them the opportunity to develop the use of their judgment. Learn more by reading this article.
20 Ways to Keep a Peaceful Preschool Classroom
The Porsche 918 Spyder is the fastest car in production, able to go from to 0 to 60 miles per hour in 2.2 seconds — but that’s nothing compared to how quickly a preschool or daycare can go from calm to chaos. No matter how peaceful things may seem at any given moment, you’re always just one argument over a toy away from an outburst that throws all your hard work right out the window.
Unfortunately, there is no guaranteed way to take control of a preschool classroom. What may have worked for one teacher, child or class may not work for another. That’s why it’s important to discover as many techniques as possible to find whatever will work best in your unique situation.
In this article, learn 20 tips for keeping a peaceful preschool classroom. Read on and choose which ones you’ll try next in your class!
Five Questions Asked at Every Teaching Interview
10 Questions To Ask When Hiring Early Childhood Educators
Hiring and managing a team is one of the most challenging parts of running a child care center. It can be even more difficult given that burnout is a huge issue and teachers are leaving the field altogether in search of better prospects. Quality talent becomes a commodity that is tough to find and keep.
Culture is a hot topic in child care right now and the interview is a great opportunity to set the foundation for a good working relationship that is mutually beneficial for you and your team. Here are 10 questions that will help you showcase your center’s personality and get to know your future teammate better.
Stay Connected
Email: help@casyonline.org
Website: http://casyonline.org/
Location: 1101 South 13th Street, Terre Haute, IN, USA
Phone: 800-886-3952
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CASY.Inc
"In my opinion,
young children deserve nothing less
than our full commitment to their well-being."
~Gaye Gronlund