I'm searching for resources for an article that I'm writing about the drawbacks of using bouncy seats, swings, and exersaucers in the child care environment. Does anyone know of any quality resources available?
02/20/2012
11/12/2011
Ongoing Professional Development
In my daily work with child care providers I often speak with people who struggle to earn sufficient on- going professional development. It's a delicate balance because I believe in the extensive research that shows children and families benefit from teachers who are consistently improving their skill set. I also know all to well how physically and emotionally draining it can be to work with young children for eight to ten hours per day and that sometimes the idea of spending 2-3 extra hours in a workshop is just too much to bare.
The trick, I believe, is to find professional development activities that challenge you to move beyond your comfort zone while engaging your spirit as well as your mind. A dynamic presenter who also has a firm grasp on the topic at hand can help you to increase your level of understanding of a topic and help you begin to think of new ways to faciliate the learning and overall development of the children in your care.
One of my favorite topics to present on is, perhaps surprisingly, preventing child abuse and neglect in the child care environment. Often times early childhood professionals are so focused on identifying possible abuse that occurs outside of the child care program - they completely forget that a significant amount of abuse occurs right within our own centers. Although the topic itself is quite horrible, I enjoy helping people to create plans to avoid abuse from occuring and also practice how to appropriately handle situations that do occur.
At the end of this particular type of training participants tend to feel both educated and empowered. As a facilitator I couldn't ask for anything more!
As most professionals know, the NH Child Care Licensing Unit will begin requiring early childhood professionals to earn 18 hours of professional development within a 12 month period beginning July 1, 2012. Although that number might seem daunting, it's important to seek out high quality trainings and plan to earn a few hours each month to ensure not only that you are meeting the requirements but, more importantly, that you continue to grow as a professional and increase the quality of care you offer children and their families each day.
"The greatest sign of a success for a teacher...is to be able to say, "The children are now working as if I did not exist." -- Maria Montessori
The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
01/18/2011
Snow Day?!
When I was involved in "direct care", I had the same recurring thought year after year as I dug my car out of the mile high snow drifts, "WHY did I not study elementary education?"
I would clench my jaw as my public school teacher friends exclaimed, "I can't believe you had to be out on the roads today!"
So what got me through the more than 15 winters I spent in the field? I knew that the early childhood community was performing an essential service by opening it's doors to children even on the snowiest of days. Even though we would only see about 1/4 of our families on a typical snow day, those parents absolutely had to work. They did not have the luxury of taking the day off and if we were not willing, able, and ready to welcome the children into our homes and schools, the stability of the entire family could be in jeopardy.
So, I did what the vast majority of you all did this morning. I got up extra early, made a large cup of hot chocolate (in a to go mug), scraped off my car, and made the slow journey to the center. Once the walkways were shoveled, parking lot plowed, doors were unlocked, and the lights were turned on, it was just like any other day!
Thank you for the energy and excitement you brought to the early childhood classroom today!
03/30/2010
Screening Children
Do you "screen" children and families who tour your program? If you do, what are you looking for? If you don't, why not?
Let's talk about this concept of allowing only certain people to participate in your program. How do you feel about this idea? Are there any benefits? What are the specific drawbacks?
03/01/2010
The loss of electricity (and therefore internet and cable) that we have faced over the course of the past weekend really got me thinking. We all know that we are too dependent on "electronic" gadgets, but, it's never more obvious than when we are dealing with outages as widespread as they were this weekend.
I found it interesting that my first gut reaction was to think, "OH! Thank goodness for my Blackberry!" While it is true that I operate my business with tools that require electricity, I had nothing scheduled that required my immediate attention. And, to be honest, I was more concerned about how I could update my personal Facebook status if I had no computer than how to find a way to answer my email.
I've been honest... would you care to share what your most trivial concern was regarding this recent power outage? We all worried about pipes freezing, food loss, and where to turn for warmth. I'm curious about the somewhat absurd worries you had. For instance, and I am by no means admitting to worrying about this particular thing myself. But if I was to have worried about how my virtual fish would survive without being trained or fed... that would be pretty absurd.
What's your confession?
I found it interesting that my first gut reaction was to think, "OH! Thank goodness for my Blackberry!" While it is true that I operate my business with tools that require electricity, I had nothing scheduled that required my immediate attention. And, to be honest, I was more concerned about how I could update my personal Facebook status if I had no computer than how to find a way to answer my email.
I've been honest... would you care to share what your most trivial concern was regarding this recent power outage? We all worried about pipes freezing, food loss, and where to turn for warmth. I'm curious about the somewhat absurd worries you had. For instance, and I am by no means admitting to worrying about this particular thing myself. But if I was to have worried about how my virtual fish would survive without being trained or fed... that would be pretty absurd.
What's your confession?
02/18/2010
One of my favorite parts about trainings is that I get to meet new people and learn about their programs. There are so many ways to go about caring for and educating children that all programs have their own "spin". I definitely feel that I learn a lot of positive things from the women and men that participate in our trainings. But today I'm pondering what to do or say when something offends my sensibilities.
Let me be clear. I am not talking about anything that puts a child in danger or something urgent like that. I'm talking about philosophical differences.
There are some things that people do that just don't sit well with me. In my day job as a licensing coordinator, I know that my role is not to judge a program in any way that does not relate to our licensing standards. I understand and respect the role that I have while working in that capacity, I am a representative of the Child Care Licensing Unit in that position.
But when I am facilitating a training, things are very different. If I don't say something, it's likely that people will think I agree. If I don't address the issue head on, it's possible that the word on the street becomes, "Oh. I was at this Teacher's Toolbox training and learned that it's a great idea to serve Hawaiian Punch because it's so much cheaper."
I'm struggling with how to handle this. Those of you who know me know that I stand for children above all else. I believe in the standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (although I do think that some of them go a little too far). I believe that children should be protected, respected, and nurtured.
I worry that by letting this go I have not done my part to impact the life of the children enrolled in that program. I also worry about the reputation of my business; I work hard to cultivate the reputation we have in the state.
I guess I have my answer... I can't let things slide. So now the question is, how do I approach it in a caring and respectful manner? How do I tell someone that the benefit they were gushing about goes against everything I know about what is best for young children?
I'm always pondering something...
Let me be clear. I am not talking about anything that puts a child in danger or something urgent like that. I'm talking about philosophical differences.
There are some things that people do that just don't sit well with me. In my day job as a licensing coordinator, I know that my role is not to judge a program in any way that does not relate to our licensing standards. I understand and respect the role that I have while working in that capacity, I am a representative of the Child Care Licensing Unit in that position.
But when I am facilitating a training, things are very different. If I don't say something, it's likely that people will think I agree. If I don't address the issue head on, it's possible that the word on the street becomes, "Oh. I was at this Teacher's Toolbox training and learned that it's a great idea to serve Hawaiian Punch because it's so much cheaper."
I'm struggling with how to handle this. Those of you who know me know that I stand for children above all else. I believe in the standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (although I do think that some of them go a little too far). I believe that children should be protected, respected, and nurtured.
I worry that by letting this go I have not done my part to impact the life of the children enrolled in that program. I also worry about the reputation of my business; I work hard to cultivate the reputation we have in the state.
I guess I have my answer... I can't let things slide. So now the question is, how do I approach it in a caring and respectful manner? How do I tell someone that the benefit they were gushing about goes against everything I know about what is best for young children?
I'm always pondering something...
02/14/2010
Welcome to our first real go around with a blog, I am so looking forward to sharing ideas about all topics related to children, families, and professional early educators.
Nothing is off limits here as we contemplate our profession and our ability to create (and maintain!) programs that help children and families thrive. We have an enormous responsibility each and every day; to help children develop tools to become successful in life. To some, it may look like we are merely holding a jump rope, mixing paint colors, building block structures, or even singing silly songs. But we know better. We know that we are instilling a love for exercise, testing scientific theories, constructing complex designs for modern homes, and reinforcing a child's enjoyment of oral language. Oh and don't forget the silly. Imagine the world if the adults could belly laugh several times a day just by making silly faces and dancing like giraffes!
Yes. We do have a very important job and the results of our hard work will be seen for generations to come. I can't imagine a more important role in our society than ours. We have the ability to love, care for, and educate the smallest human beings in the world.
As I launch this blog, I hope that it will be a place for thoughtful conversation, respectful disagreements, and a creative playground for early educators.
I also hope we might cause a belly laugh... or two.
Enjoy!
Kristy
Nothing is off limits here as we contemplate our profession and our ability to create (and maintain!) programs that help children and families thrive. We have an enormous responsibility each and every day; to help children develop tools to become successful in life. To some, it may look like we are merely holding a jump rope, mixing paint colors, building block structures, or even singing silly songs. But we know better. We know that we are instilling a love for exercise, testing scientific theories, constructing complex designs for modern homes, and reinforcing a child's enjoyment of oral language. Oh and don't forget the silly. Imagine the world if the adults could belly laugh several times a day just by making silly faces and dancing like giraffes!
Yes. We do have a very important job and the results of our hard work will be seen for generations to come. I can't imagine a more important role in our society than ours. We have the ability to love, care for, and educate the smallest human beings in the world.
As I launch this blog, I hope that it will be a place for thoughtful conversation, respectful disagreements, and a creative playground for early educators.
I also hope we might cause a belly laugh... or two.
Enjoy!
Kristy
