Day Care
- Green Daycare
- Cooking With Preschoolers
- Daycare Health Articles
- Advertising Your Family Daycare
- Preparating for Kindergarten
- Free Daycare Forms
- Preschool Books
- Preschool Daily Reports
- Teaching Art to Young Children
- Daycare May Reduce Leukemia Risk
Posted by
Carla Snuggs
Carla Snuggs
Simple ways to teach environmental responsibility in the daycare and preschool setting
As I was working on a recycling preschool lesson plan for preschool aged kids, it got me thinking about some environmentally friendly things that preschool teachers and daycare providers can incorporate into their programs, curriculum, activities or atmosphere. I've been reading about organic preschools, such as Le Petit Paradise in Manhattan, and I'm blown away by how people, businesses, and young children are taking the intiative to care for our earth.
Right now the trendy thing to do is to “go green”, but it’s much more than a trend in my eyes. Learning about and getting in the habit of considering the environment and its precious resources is a lifestyle worth examining and something that children should participate in early on.
Some simple things early childhood educators can do in their classrooms with kids:
Right now the trendy thing to do is to “go green”, but it’s much more than a trend in my eyes. Learning about and getting in the habit of considering the environment and its precious resources is a lifestyle worth examining and something that children should participate in early on.
Some simple things early childhood educators can do in their classrooms with kids:
- Grow an organic garden and/or trees
- Teach the children about recycling and practice it in the classroom everyday
- Serve items with organically grown ingredients for lunch and snack
- Use recycled materials for crafts
- Use nontoxic cleaning products and recycled paper products like toilet paper and paper towels
Posted by
Carla Snuggs
Carla Snuggs
Hot-weather cooking activities and age-appropriate tasks for children ages 2-3
Cooking with kids age 2-3 can be tricky because their gross and fine motor skills are still developing. I know that when I work with kids these age, I’m most concerned with safety issues and the amount of cleanup the activity will entail.
When you’re cooking with kids this age, they usually can help with the following tasks:
When you’re cooking with kids this age, they usually can help with the following tasks:
- Stirring and mixing
- Mashing (think bananas)
- Pouring from a large measuring cup into a bowl
- Patting or packing ingredients in a measuring cup like brown sugar.
- Using a plastic butter knife to spread soft foods like butter or jelly
- Shaking ingredients in a plastic container with a lid
- Using a cookie cutter on soft cookie dough
- Ice cream sandwiches (using graham crackers and ice cream)
- Homemade ice cream (let the children pour ingredients into the ice cream maker)
- Fruit and yogurt parfait using whipped topping, pudding, and raisins and nuts for garnish
- Fruit smoothies (let kids select fruit and pour ingredients into the blender)
Posted by
Carla Snuggs
Carla Snuggs
A listing of key articles and blogs about nutrition and health in the daycare and preschool setting
As I was reading through my daily newsfeeds, I was moved by the number of articles about childhood obesity as well as those concerning food contamination issues.
It got me thinking about the many health and nutrition related questions to which many parents and child care providers need answers and practical solutions.
Are hand sanitizers safe? What kind of shots does your child need for preschool? How can you minimize the spread of illness in your classroom? How can we keep food safe in the classroom? How can I enhance my nutrition curriculum?
I’ve rounded up my top articles on health and nutrition in the daycare and preschool setting which my answer many of these questions.
Nutrition Articles and Blogs
Daycare Nutrition
Daycare Nutrition Programs
Nutrition Activities for Daycare
Daycare Food Safety
Daycare Illness Policies
Health Articles and Blogs
Controlling Illness in Daycare
Preschool Immunizations
Daycare and Preschool Handwashing
Yoga for Preschoolers
Reducing SIDS in Daycare
Daycare May Reduce Leukemia Risk
Are Hand Sanitizers Safe?
It got me thinking about the many health and nutrition related questions to which many parents and child care providers need answers and practical solutions.
Are hand sanitizers safe? What kind of shots does your child need for preschool? How can you minimize the spread of illness in your classroom? How can we keep food safe in the classroom? How can I enhance my nutrition curriculum?
I’ve rounded up my top articles on health and nutrition in the daycare and preschool setting which my answer many of these questions.
Nutrition Articles and Blogs
Daycare Nutrition
Daycare Nutrition Programs
Nutrition Activities for Daycare
Daycare Food Safety
Daycare Illness Policies
Health Articles and Blogs
Controlling Illness in Daycare
Preschool Immunizations
Daycare and Preschool Handwashing
Yoga for Preschoolers
Reducing SIDS in Daycare
Daycare May Reduce Leukemia Risk
Are Hand Sanitizers Safe?
Advertising Your Family Daycare
Posted by
Carla Snuggs
Carla Snuggs
How to use your local realtor to market your in-home daycare business
Did you know that your local realtors and leasing agents can be an excellent source of advertising?
When I moved into my apartment home late last year, I received a welcome package and directory. Included in this directory, along with important service numbers, were many of the local businesses’ pamphlets, flyers, and business cards, including one for a nearby daycare center. I continue to refer to it when I need to locate the best and most convenient services in my area.
You should have a variety of marketing strategies in your family daycare business plan. Advertising is the best way to promote your in-home family daycare. While some advertising options can be very expensive, there are some great inexpensive ways to market your daycare business.
If you haven’t already, create pamphlet or flyer that looks professional and polished and that details all of your contact information and high quality services.
Approach your local realtors and leasing agents and ask them to include your brochure or flier in the packet of information they distribute to their clients. Remind them that your reliable and affordable daycare services are an additional selling feature of the neighborhood.
When I moved into my apartment home late last year, I received a welcome package and directory. Included in this directory, along with important service numbers, were many of the local businesses’ pamphlets, flyers, and business cards, including one for a nearby daycare center. I continue to refer to it when I need to locate the best and most convenient services in my area.
You should have a variety of marketing strategies in your family daycare business plan. Advertising is the best way to promote your in-home family daycare. While some advertising options can be very expensive, there are some great inexpensive ways to market your daycare business.
If you haven’t already, create pamphlet or flyer that looks professional and polished and that details all of your contact information and high quality services.
Approach your local realtors and leasing agents and ask them to include your brochure or flier in the packet of information they distribute to their clients. Remind them that your reliable and affordable daycare services are an additional selling feature of the neighborhood.
Posted by
Carla Snuggs
Carla Snuggs
Top articles and blogs to help educators and parents prepare children entering kindergarten
Fall is already on our heels! This is the perfect time for a roundup of kindergarten-readiness articles.
It is normal to have questions and concerns about your child's development, especially when it comes to how he or she is progressing in preschool. It is also important to know whether or not your child will be prepared for kindergarten.
I have compiled my top articles and blogs about kindergarten readiness for your convenience:
Remember, it is never too early to look ahead into your child's future and understand what will be expected of him or her as they enter elementary school. This knowledge will ease your child's transition from preschool to kindergarten as well as help keep you and your child's teacher on the same page.
It is normal to have questions and concerns about your child's development, especially when it comes to how he or she is progressing in preschool. It is also important to know whether or not your child will be prepared for kindergarten.
I have compiled my top articles and blogs about kindergarten readiness for your convenience:
Remember, it is never too early to look ahead into your child's future and understand what will be expected of him or her as they enter elementary school. This knowledge will ease your child's transition from preschool to kindergarten as well as help keep you and your child's teacher on the same page.
Posted by
Carla Snuggs
Carla Snuggs
Free professional forms for use in your family or group daycare or preschool
Surfing the net today (a valuable yet addictive hobby) I came across a website called Supporting Providers. While they offer printables and articles, I think their best feature is that they provide access to free daycare forms for daycare providers and preschool teachers. There are over 300 forms in MS Word document or pdf form and they are arranged in neatly organized categories. All of the forms have been donated to Supporting Providers.
On the Supporting Providers, you can print:
P.S. Be sure to respect the copyright laws of the forms you use.
On the Supporting Providers, you can print:
- Business forms such as applications and staff record forms, changes in care forms, and financial forms
- Registration and enrollment forms
- Contract and policy forms like Parent Agreements, fees, and illness policies
- Health and medical forms such as accident and injury reports and allergy forms
- Report and logs, which includes daily reports, attendance, and safety logs
- Authorization forms. Very important for field trips and other outings
P.S. Be sure to respect the copyright laws of the forms you use.
Posted by
Carla Snuggs
Carla Snuggs
Books to help you build your personal and preschool library
Every preschool teacher and daycare provider needs a fully stocked library in order to succeed in the world of early childhood education. This will keep you abreast of the latest in education and developmentally appropriate practices and help you improve your daycare business.
As a preschool teacher or daycare provider, you should have a personal library of professional books, journals and magazines. You should have also have resource books for lesson plans and activity ideas so that you can spice up your curriculum as needed.
It's also nice to have an abundant library for the children you educate filled with colorful, diverse, intellectually stimulating, and age-appropriate books.
I've compiled a list of my top articles, each one chock full of book suggestions sure to beef up both your personal and preschool library. While the early years are the most important learning years, you're never too old to continue to educate yourself.
Top Articles about Preschool, Daycare and Business Books
As a preschool teacher or daycare provider, you should have a personal library of professional books, journals and magazines. You should have also have resource books for lesson plans and activity ideas so that you can spice up your curriculum as needed.
It's also nice to have an abundant library for the children you educate filled with colorful, diverse, intellectually stimulating, and age-appropriate books.
I've compiled a list of my top articles, each one chock full of book suggestions sure to beef up both your personal and preschool library. While the early years are the most important learning years, you're never too old to continue to educate yourself.
Top Articles about Preschool, Daycare and Business Books
Posted by
Carla Snuggs
Carla Snuggs
Daily or weekly preschool or daycare reports keep the lines of communication open
Over the weekend my sister, who has a 3 year old in preschool, shared a funny preschool related story with me which reminded me about how important preschool daily reports are. So I thought I'd jot down some tips about daily reports. They are an essential part of parent-teacher communication.
Preschool daily reports are handy, effective and resourceful for both the child care provider and the child's parents. They truly do establish a bond with the childcare provider, open the lines of communication, and give insight into how your child is behaving when you are not around. It is also helpful because it allows parents to nip some behaviors in the bud and work on pertinent issues at home in conjunction with the childcare provider.
Items to include on a daily preschool report:
Parents will certainly appreciate it, and you will have documentation about the activities and behaviors that go on during your watch.
Related Article: Books for Home Daycare Businesses
Preschool daily reports are handy, effective and resourceful for both the child care provider and the child's parents. They truly do establish a bond with the childcare provider, open the lines of communication, and give insight into how your child is behaving when you are not around. It is also helpful because it allows parents to nip some behaviors in the bud and work on pertinent issues at home in conjunction with the childcare provider.
Items to include on a daily preschool report:
- Disposition (behavior/mood): Was the child cheerful, tired, talkative, mischievous?
- What the child ate for breakfast, lunch, and snacks
- Things they liked that day
- How long they napped and comments about naptime
- Diapers and potty times (note the times you checked and if the child was wet or dry)
- Special activities they did that day
- Any concerns
- Any supplies that the child is missing (wipes, clean clothes, diapers, etc.)
Parents will certainly appreciate it, and you will have documentation about the activities and behaviors that go on during your watch.
Related Article: Books for Home Daycare Businesses
Teaching Art to Young Children
Posted by
Carla Snuggs
Carla Snuggs
Book review of Growing Artists: Teaching Art to Young Children by Joan Bouza Koster
Preschool teachers and daycare providers are responsible for providing the tools to help children learn and grow through artistic expression. If you're like me and could use a little help in planning and teaching art activities, I whole-heartedly suggest Growing Artists: Teaching Art to Young Children by Joan Bouza Koster.
This book isn't just a project book. It combines theory and curriculum, so that early childhood providers can get a firm grasp on the importance of art education and the correct way to foster an artistic, creative environment.
Why I appreciate this resource:
This book isn't just a project book. It combines theory and curriculum, so that early childhood providers can get a firm grasp on the importance of art education and the correct way to foster an artistic, creative environment.
Why I appreciate this resource:
- I like that the author doesn't just tell you WHAT to do but WHY you should be doing it. This should never be taken for granted.
- Koster truly keeps costs in mind and offers budget friendly ways to accomplish activities. For example, in some of her supply list for art projects, she will explain what items are necessities and what you items you can add if you have additional funds.
- Koster truly takes the time to walk the reader through the setup of each activity and explains the most appropriate group composition.
- The activities include modifications for special needs.
- Art activities include verbal cues which are so important in implementing activities that support curriculum objectives.
Daycare May Reduce Leukemia Risk
Posted by
Carla Snuggs
Carla Snuggs
A study says that early social contact may provide a degree of protection against childhood leukemia
It is common for parents to be concerned with the infections and illnesses that their child may pick up at daycare or preschool playing amongst other children. However, I recently read an article which asserts that daycare may reduce leukemia risk. To be more specific, the researchers at University of California, Berkeley contend that children who attend daycare or play groups are about 30 percent less likely to develop leukemia.
While this sounds suspicious, the basis for theses studies comes from something called the "hygiene hypothesis”. Supposedly, when children are exposed to certain infections early on it helps them develop stronger immune systems. Those that have pets and older siblings also tend to develop stronger immune systems. I’ve read about this hypothesis applied to everything from asthma to atopic dermatitis to the flu.
I contracted chicken pox and mumps as an infant because of early social contact, and I’m glad I wasn’t old enough to remember any of it. Had I been isolated or not had older siblings, its possible I would have gotten those illnesses at a much later age. I wasn’t sick very often as a child and I’m not very often ill as an adult, and it may be that early social contact was a factor.
I think what we can take away from this study is that it is definitely beneficial for young children to have early social contact in groups. It not only benefits their health as well as all other areas of development. In contrast, isolation is definitely counterproductive to any child’s development.
While this sounds suspicious, the basis for theses studies comes from something called the "hygiene hypothesis”. Supposedly, when children are exposed to certain infections early on it helps them develop stronger immune systems. Those that have pets and older siblings also tend to develop stronger immune systems. I’ve read about this hypothesis applied to everything from asthma to atopic dermatitis to the flu.
I contracted chicken pox and mumps as an infant because of early social contact, and I’m glad I wasn’t old enough to remember any of it. Had I been isolated or not had older siblings, its possible I would have gotten those illnesses at a much later age. I wasn’t sick very often as a child and I’m not very often ill as an adult, and it may be that early social contact was a factor.
I think what we can take away from this study is that it is definitely beneficial for young children to have early social contact in groups. It not only benefits their health as well as all other areas of development. In contrast, isolation is definitely counterproductive to any child’s development.
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