CASY Family Newsletter
August 2021
Build Learn Grow Scholarship Extended to March 2022
For families with qualifying incomes, classified as essential workers, the state of Indiana can cover 80% of your child care costs for kids up to age 12. That even includes before-school and after-school care.
Visit https://brighterfuturesindiana.org/scholarships/families to learn more and apply.
Many Hoosier families have either lost jobs or left the workforce due to COVID-19. From the job search to the interview, it takes time to find a job, and it’s even more difficult to do it with children at home to care for. To help, Indiana is providing temporary child care assistance so Hoosier parents can spend their time focusing on getting back to work. Families who qualify for On My Way PreK or CCDF financial support are also eligible job searching, participating in job training programs, interviewing, completing employment requirements and getting settled in their new job.
- Want to learn more about temporary child care assistance for job-seeking Hoosier families? Click here!
- Ready to apply? Click here!
On My Way Pre-K applications for the 2021-2022 school year now available statewide
On My Way Pre-K Enrollment Events
Monroe County
Vigo County
Wayne County
Routines ~ August 26th @ 1:00pm
Tips for Spending Quality Time With Your Child
Let’s face it—life is busy! Between work and life responsibilities, the days pass us by in the blink of an eye. Many parents worry that they don’t spend enough time with their children, wondering if this will lead to developmental delays. Some parents feel guilty about working full time, or experience anxiety about choosing to work out at the gym or go to dinner with friends. Social media posts from stay-at-home parents who are able to take their children to the local zoo or work on colors and the alphabet with them only add to this anxiety.
But have no despair! A recent study in the Journal of Marriage and Family questions the impact the amount of time mothers spend with their children has on the academic achievement, behavior, and emotional well-being of their children. This is not to negate the importance of time spent with children, but rather, to reinforce the point that quality of time is much more important than quantity of time. Children need high-quality time with parents and caregivers—that is what is most beneficial to children and what can have a positive effect on them as they grow. It isn’t about endless hours of time—it’s about how you choose to spend that time that truly matters.
As parents and caregivers, we can make choices to ensure time spent with our children is high-quality. Here are nine tips for busy families:
What You Want to See in a High-Quality Infant Program
We describe a few features of great infant programs, like a supportive physical environment and positive relationships. What else should you look for? Here are some examples of what you want to see.
Going Back to School
SCHOOL BUS SAFETY
Riding the school bus for the first time is a big step for your child. Help your kids get a gold star in school bus safety by following these tips.
10+ Ways to Ensure your Child is Prepared for Kindergarten
Kindergarten is a big step! There are several ways you can help your child make that leap. Here are some simple activities you can do with your child to help them prepare for kindergarten.
Safe Schools During the COVID-19 Pandemic
As we've learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, going to school in person is how children and teens learn best. Many students also get vital resources they need to thrive at school. With a new school year starting this fall, though, many students will not yet be eligible to get COVID-19 vaccines. This leaves them at risk as SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID, continues to spread with variants that are more contagious and may cause more severe illness. Read more here.
Swim & Water Safety for Little Learners
Water play is a great way to cool off and spark learning and fun for your little fish. But it also comes with some serious safety risks. Click here for important tips.
Sun Safety Strategies that Work!
Children don’t have to be at the pool or beach to get too much sun. Read more here.
Learning Through Water Play
Splashing and squealing, dumping and filling, pouring and swishing — water play provides endless fun for children and leads to discovery and learning! Click here for more.
New Resources to Help Children Understand Disasters
Is It Tattling or Telling?
How to teach your kids when to report a broken rule
How many times do our children run up to us to share a grievance toward another child? Generally these complaints involve rules that have been broken. We spend a lot of time teaching our kids “the rules” — use your inside voice, share your toys with your friends, keep your hands to yourself, etc. The list goes on. It’s natural for a child (and even us adults) to want to call attention to perceived rule breaking, but “Do not tattle” can also become a new rule for your child to follow. Read more here.
Teaching Kids About Boundaries: Why empathy and self-awareness play a major role
For most parents setting boundaries for young kids’ behavior is second nature: No hitting. Don’t interrupt. We don’t grab toys out of other kids’ hands.
But as they get older, and social interaction gets more complex, it’s not enough to just learn the rules. They need to learn to set boundaries for themselves and respect those of others. And that takes being able to recognize what others want and need — and express what they want and need, too.
Your Age-by-Age Guide to Screen-Free Activities Your Child Can Do With Minimal Supervision
Whether you have a Toddler, a Preschooler, and Elementary Schooler or a Middle Schooler, are you working hard to come up with ideas to lure your kids away from screens?
Here's your age-by-age guide to keep children under the age of ten busy, with minimal supervision from you. Use these as ideas to get your family brainstorming -- the possibilities are endless!
Wild Weaving Creating a Tapestry of Nature’s Colors
Nature, with its abundance of colors, textures, and seasonal variety, is the best inspiration for art. Children love to pick, collect, and display the treasures they find outdoors. Turn these collections into beautiful and unique natural tapestries with this simple weaving activity.
For personalized support in finding a child care program that best meets your family's needs,
contact CASY, Child Care Resource and Referral, Family Engagement Specialists
at 800-886-3952 and choose option 2.
You can also complete the referral request form by clicking here.
Our Family Engagement Specialists will follow up with you by the next business day when you submit the online form.
Stay Connected
Email: admin@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