Exciting Opportunity for CACFP Providers

Indiana's CACFP Award Program

The Indiana Department of Education received USDA's 2011 Team Nutrition Training Grant (a two-year grant) to create and implement an award program that will encourage and recognize Indiana Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) facilities for adapting menus and policies that align with the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Facilities participating in the CACFP may apply for one of three award levels. Use the application materials and resources below to learn more about the award and how to apply. To sign up to participate in an online training that will walk you through the award program and give you an opportunity to ask questions, click HERE.

Why Apply?

• To improve children's diets and bring program meals in line with USDA nutritional guidelines;
• To promote your facility to parents by demonstrating that you care about children's health;
• To be recognized by recieving:
• A certificate of achievement;
• A parent letter to share your success with parents of the children in your care;
• A press release template to assist you in promoting your award to your local media; and
• Signage to display your achievement at your facility.

For more information on the program visit their website at http://www.doe.in.gov/student-services/nutrition/indianas-cacfp-award-program .

Shower Your Baby with Love

Community Baby Shower and Maternity Fashion Show

(Plus a workshop for dads!)

Who: Pregnant moms and families. Dads are welcome too! Free!

When: Sunday June, 3 2012

Where: George Washington Community High School Entrance #2 2215 West Washington St., IN 46222

What time: 2-6 p.m. Registration begins at 1:30 p.m.

R.S.V.P.: Call 317-926-1170 to register.

Chance to win a car seat, crib and much more!

All expecting new moms will receive:

• Baby gift pack
• Refreshments
• A chance to win prizes
• Information about keeping baby safe and healthy
• Plus a special workshop and gift bag for dad

Doctors will be there to answer questions you have about your pregnancy or new baby.





Free Tax Webinar for Child Care Providers

IRS Hosts Free Webinar on Tax Related Guidance for Child Care Providers


On June 5th the IRS will host a free webinar spefically addressed at family child care providers.

Entitled "Tax Related Guidance for Child Care Providers" the webinar will cover:

* Income items

* Recordkeeping tips

* Business use of the home calculation

* Expense issues

* Depreciation rules and reporting

* Food Program reimbursements

To register for the free webinar, click here.

The webinar will be broadcast at 2pm Eastern Time. It will be archived for later viewing on the IRS Video Portal after approximately three weeks. You may want to alert your tax preparer about this webinar.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mindy Bennett, Program Director
Child Care Answers
(317) 636-5727 Ext. 224

INDIANA LAUNCHES FREE ONLINE TOOL TO IDENTIFY HIGH QUALITY CHILD CARE OPTIONS

Indianapolis, Ind., May 10, 2012 -- Hoosier families now have a digital tool to assess child care facilities for quality, safety and other benchmarks, and can take virtual tours of select facilities. Child Care Online is a free, Internet search tool designed so consumers can easily and conveniently compare child care programs and can identify a range of high-quality care choices. Child Care Online is available at http://www.childcareindiana.org starting today. “Finding the appropriate, high-quality child care provider is often a difficult task for Indiana families,” declared Melanie Brizzi, administrator, Indiana Bureau of Child Care (BCC). “Working Hoosiers need high-quality child care to support their children’s development. Research shows that effective early learning experiences prepare children for future success in school, work, and life.”

Mindy Bennett, program director for Child Care Answers Agency states, “Child Care Answers provides free help for families seeking child care. By using the information we have available, they can learn what they want to know most—who can keep their children safe, healthy, and learning. The Child Care Online tool allows users to see actual images of teaching and learning spaces, food service capabilities and toileting facilities, and recreation areas and equipment. Utilizing Child Care Online as a free marketing tool, child care providers can explain, in their own words, what they do and why. Through available text, photos and audio, parents and guardians can read, see and hear what to expect from providers.”

Child Care Online is being launched at simultaneous press conferences throughout the state in conjunction with Paths to QUALITY™, Indiana’s voluntary quality rating and improvement system for child care programs. Indiana is proud to be the first state in the nation to launch Child Care Online. More than 1,145 child care programs have achieved or are working toward the state’s highest level of care— national accreditation. Child Care Online will highlight these programs.

A local press conference to announce the launch and demo this free product will be held at:

Day Nursery- Ruth A. Lilly Center
3522 N. Central Ave.
Indianapolis,IN 46205
Contact Mindy Bennett, (317)636-5727 ext. 224 for more information.

Provider Appreciation- Free Online Training May 11th

Gift for Providers on Provider Appreciation Day Friday, May 11 Free Online Training! Provider Appreciation Day, celebrated each year on the Friday before Mother’s Day, is a special day to recognize child care providers, teachers and other educators of young children. Nearly 11 million children under age 5 spend a portion of their week in the care of someone other than their mother – on average, about 35 hours per week. To thank providers, the Child Care Aware Training Academy™ and our training partner, Smart Horizons, will offer free online training on Friday, May 11, Provider Appreciation Day. Registration instructions for the 2-hour course, Promoting Nutrition & Physical Activity in Child Care, will be posted here on May 11. The course will be available beginning early Friday, and remain available until midnight. This course is comprised of two classes: Physical Development and Outdoor Play and Nutrition and Menu Planning. Providers will be able to print a certificate of completion when they finish each class. The course focuses on strategies providers can use to create a healthier child care setting in light of the growing problem of childhood obesity. The course includes printable resource guides, family letters, activity ideas and planning forms. To learn more about registering for the free training, click here For more about Provider Appreciation Day, click here or call Toll Free: 1-800-261-6248

Upcoming Make-It-Take-It Session

Labels! Labels! Labels! (promoting bi-lingual literacy experiences)


Attention Child Care Providers: Do you find that there is never enough time in your busy day? Do you need help with labeling? Would you like to share ideas with other providers? If you answered yes to these questions, then join us for a morning of work and fun at our June Make-It-Take-It session. For only $5 you can gather materials, make your labels for your classroom(s), use our Resource Library, and have a brainstorming session with other providers. Make-It-Take-It sessions offer a 1 hour training certificate and connect activities to the Birth-Five Foundations. Sessions are held on the first Saturday of the month from 9:30am to 12:30 pm at the Day Nursery Lilly Center located at 3522 N Central Ave, Indianapolis 46205. If you’d like to register or have questions, contact Vanessa at 317-636-5727 ext, 241.

FREE Marketing Tool for Child Care Providers

Child Care Answers is excited to announce a new, FREE way to market your business. This is an exclusive benefit that is available only to child care programs who are rated a level 2, 3 or 4 on Paths to QUALITY.

Child Care Online highlights your child care site on Child Care Answers website. More then 350 parents a month visit our site to find care for their children, by participating in Child Care Online your program will stand out to these parents.

Child Care Online will launch May 11 around the state with lots of MEDIA attention. In fact Kara Kenney from WRTV Channel 6 news will be in our office next week to have a sneak peak at this exciting new way for parents to choose their child care.

Don’t let Child Care Online go live on May 11 without having your child care program highlighted.

Need more information? Watch this short video then call Crystal Givens at 317-926-3401 to find out how to get started.

Free Breakfast & Information Session

7:30 am, Wednesday, April 25, 2012... Celebrating the Week of the Young Child, Easter Seals Crossroads is thrilled to announce an offer for families . . . . free access to a remarkable early identification screening tool. Through generous support from the CVS Caremark Charitable Trust, parents and caregivers in Central Indiana can use the highly regarded Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) to help determine if their child is meeting developmental milestones. Together, we can help parents with children at risk of developmental delays, disabilities or autism get the early intervention services they need before the age of five so that they can start school with the opportunity to meet their full potential. Join us to learn more about Make the First Five Count and the ASQ tool! RSVP to brichardson@eastersealscrossroads.org or 317.466.2014

Save the Date

*Save the Date*

2012 Early Childhood Wellness Summit

Healthy Children + Healthy Caregivers =

A Healthy Future

We’re coming back to our roots!

The Ball State Early Childhood Conference

returns to the BSU Student Center

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Keynote & Workshop Sessions from

8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Lunch included!

FREE PARKING!

We are partnering with

Huffer Child Care Resource & Referral

Funding provided in part by:

Ball Brothers Foundation

ATTENTION Paths to QUALITY Sites

Could you use a $50 gas card?
Do you know any providers not participating on Paths to QUALITY?

If you answered yes, then send us a list of your friends, neighbors, and even competitors that are not on Paths to QUALITY, you could win a $50 gas card. For more details, call Crystal Givens at 926-3401.

CALL NOW!!

Have you been to the NEW Lakeshore Learning Store

Join us for a reception for Child Care Answers at the New Lakeshore Learning Store this Friday, April 13 from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm located at 1300 E. 86th Street in Indianapolis. Explore the exciting learning items that Lakeshore has to offer, enjoy free refeshments and utilize the valuable discount coupon found here:
http://childcareanswers.com/PDF_Docs/lakeshore001.pdf

We look forward to seeing you then.

ProKids, INC Presents

Effecting Individual Child Behavior and the Group Dynamic

June 9, 2012 at the ProKids, Inc Indianapolis from 9am-12pm

$30 Registration fee and includes light refreshments

All participants must register online at http://www.utsprokids.org/login.asp

Training Agenda:

This three hour session will focus on three distinct aspects of shaping children’s behavior and positively affecting the group dynamic of your childcare facility or classroom.

1. Environment & Workplace Culture

2. Planning and Communication (Thinking Outside the Box)

3. Strategies & Techniques

This session is designed to encourage teachers and childcare providers to focus on all three of these components, to value their impact on child behavior and to analyze each when problem-solving scenarios involving behaviorally challenging children.

When a child demonstrates challenging behavior, we typically jump directly to Strategies and Techniques, or even punishment/consequences. We often skip, or invest very little time, seriously considering that components 1 & 2 might also hold some answers and get the results we are searching for.

I will propose in this session that we miss many opportunities if we fail to consistently utilize all of the tools in our arsenal. In fact, investing time in Components 1 & 2 might even prove to result in change that (1) impacts the entire group dynamic (staff, children, and families), (2) that is longer lasting, (3) and is more effective.

Alas, don’t fret, we will spend considerable time on Component 3. I am, after all, a Behaviorist. We all want to discuss “what to do when…” Shaping a child’s behavior when it consistently interferes with their development and safety, or the development and safety of others is critical. Until a child is able to reasonably conform to the social and behavioral norms of any given environment in which they find themselves, they will struggle to benefit fully from what those environments have to offer.

We will discuss how you and your staff can address a variety of challenging behaviors. You will have an opportunity to share Strategies and Techniques that are effective in your environments and learn from the experiences of other session participants.

Tips From Your Mentor

Tips from your mentor: Clean your House, open your mind

By Suzanne Milligan, Paths to QUALITY Mentor

Child Care Solutions Kokomo, Indiana

As springtime approaches, you may be thinking about spring cleaning. Springtime usually brings on thoughts of new, crisp, refreshing and rejuvenating. According to Prudent Press Agency, clutter and untidiness within each area of your home causes constriction and inertia in the corresponding aspects of your life. In other words, if your home is cluttered, so is your mind in relation to that area.

Clutter in the Kitchen

The kitchen has been called the "heart of the home,"and with good reason. Here we are nourished and provided for, even if we are dining on frozen entrees zapped in the microwave rather than a homemade meal lovingly presented by mom. An untidy and disorganized kitchen makes it hard to nourish yourself and others, on both physical and metaphysical levels. How you care for your kitchen is a clue about whether you are giving proper attention to your own nourishment and sources of abundance. Cleaning up and de-cluttering your kitchen opens up space for you to receive the support and comfort that you need in life.

Living and Dining Room Clutter

These are spaces where you mingle with and honor your relationships with family and friends. Here you engage with the world while being at home through watching television, reading the paper, or arguing politics with old friends over dinner. Clutter can turn these social spaces into dens of isolation, especially if the mess is so bad that it has been years since you've invited people over. Look around your living and dining rooms to see what they say about your relationship with the rest of the world. Are you hiding your true self from others, burying it in clutter, or putting it on display here.

Cluttered Hallways

Hallways are the arteries and highways of your home. Think of clutter in your hallways as a traffic jam that prevents important connections between different areas of your home and you life. Look at your hallways to see how you feel about your life's path; are they well lit and easily navigable, or do the trip you up? If you feel disconnected between work and family, self and other, what you need and your obligations, it may be time to give your hallways a good clearing out.

Cluttered Closets

Closets represent things that are hidden, unknown, or unrecognized. When we fill our closets with clutter, we stifle our ability to be intuitive and insightful. Cluttered closets can indicate problems that you may not be consciously aware of but which impede your progress through life, work, and relationships nonetheless. Keeping the closet door closed is not an effective solution.

Writing a Quality Inclusion Policy

Writing a Quality Inclusion Policy

By Rachel Krug, Inclusion Specialist at 4C of Southern Indiana 



High quality childcare is indicated by the maintenance of a safe learning environment in which all children in care have equal opportunity to explore, to participate in a meaningful way, and to interact with other children and adults in the care setting. Inclusion is not simply about children with special needs; it is responsive care to individual abilities and needs of each child in care. We know that inclusion benefits children, their families, and childcare providers. How do we actively and effectively include all children in our child care settings? A written inclusion policy can help.

The first step to writing  a quality inclusion policy is to think about the principles of inclusion that you need to address specifically in your policy. Principles of inclusion that you will want to consider are access, participation, and support.

When considering access, ask yourself the following questions:

• How does my program make reasonable efforts to enroll all children, especially those with special needs?
• In looking at my learning environment, do all children have access to all learning centers, materials and activities?

When considering participation, ask yourself the following questions:

• How do I encourage all children to participate in meaningful ways with their peers?
• How do I build on each child's strengths to provide for his individual needs?

When considering support, ask yourself the following questions:

• How do I encourage all families to take part in making decisions about their child?
• How do I collaborate with parents and other partners to provide for each child's needs?
• What support do I offer my staff to have the skills to attend to each child's needs?

Another consideration to writing a quality inclusion policy is language used to promote appropriate inclusive practice in your setting. Always use Person-First Language when describing anyone. This focuses on the child and his abilities rather than challenges. For example, use "a child with autism" rather than an "autistic child" or "a child who bites" rather than "a biter." Focus on the strengths rather than challenges. For example, "We welcome children of all abilities" rather than "We welcome children with disabilities."

Finally, write and implement your inclusion policy. Ensure that all of your staff know the policy and guide them to fully include all children by providing for each child's individual needs and strengths while making accommodations for any challenges. 

Easter deviled eggs

Ingredients
Salt and pepper, for taste 1 teaspoon prepared mustard 1 1/2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish1/4 cup mayonnaise 7 large eggs, hard-boiled and peeled Paula Deen Paprika Spice Blend, for garnishingSweet gherkin pickles sliced, for garnishing Pimentos, for garnishing
Directions
Halve 7 eggs lengthwise. Remove yolks and place in a small bowl.
Mash yolks with a fork and stir in mayonnaise, pickle relish, and mustard. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
Fill egg whites evenly with yolk mixture. Garnish with paprika, pickles, and pimentos. Store covered in refrigerator.
http://www.pauladeen.com/recipes/recipe_view/traditional_southern_deviled_eggs/
http://ohamanda.com/2010/04/12/top-ten-tuesday-yummiest-food-ive-had-in-a-good-long-while/

Lemonade Day Indianapolis

Register For Lemonade Day 2012

In Central Indiana

Lemonade Day is Saturday, May 19th 2012

Simply put Lemonade Day is about providing kids of all ages the opportunity to experience entrepreneurship by starting, owning, and operating their own business: a lemonade stand. And it's FREE!!!

We're reaching kids in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, which includes the "nine-county region": Marion, Boone, Hamilton, Madison, Hendricks, Hancock, Morgan, Johnson, and Shelby counties, don't worry you can still sign up!!

For information on how to register and to receive your FREE backpack visit the website at http://indianapolis.lemonadeday.org/

A.S.K. Communication Workshop

It’s Not WHAT You Say . .

It’s HOW You Say It

Effective Communication Workshop

Tuesday, April 17, 2012     6:00pm to 8:00pm

Location: East 91st Street Christian Church 

6049 East 91st Street
Indianapolis, IN 46250

Cost: $10
Questions:Email asktraining@aboutspecialkids.org

Overview: Communication is a key factor when working with individuals and organizations. This training is geared toward parents of children with special needs to help build positive working relationships with schools, medical professionals, and groups or committees through improved communication skills. Topics such as partnerships, negotiation, and listening will be addressed.

Register online at www.aboutspecialkids.org/training Registration for the training will be closed on April 16, 2012

 

 



 

Need help finding staff?

Child Care Answers is excited to announce that we have added a career opportunities page to our web site. If you need help locating qualified early childhood staff let us help you by posting your oppor­tunities! We will be advertising this new service to local individuals who are searching for careers in early childhood.

The cost to you for this service is $75.00’s for a two week listing or $100.00’s for a four week listing.

It is easy to list your open positons.

To get started visit our career opportunities page here.

*FREE* Crafts for Kids-Saturday's 11:00am-3:00pm

http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/general_content/store_locations/storeCrafts.jsp?f=m

Every Saturday at Lakeshore Learning Store located at 1300 East 86th Street, Indianapolis
**********FREE*****FREE******FREE********FREE*********FREE***********FREE*****

Crafts for kids workshops from 11:00am-3:00pm

Here are some upcoming dates and themes:

March 24-"Spring flower bouquet"

March 31-"A buggy scene"

April 7-"fun bunny basket"

April 14-"Cowboy boot bag"

April 28-"fancy feathered bird"

May 5-"Thank-you bouquet card'

May 12-"Hand-print keepsake"

May 19-"Rainbow-Colored creatures"

May 26-"Patriotic wand"

June 2-"Snazzy garden snail"

June 9-"Flip-flop notepad"

June 16-"Key keeper"

June 23,-"Summertime door hanger"

June 30-"Star-spangled shaker"

(Please visit the website or call the store for any additional information.)

*FREE*Teacher Workshops!

http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/general_content/store_locations/teacherWorkshops.jsp?storeNo=066

3/21 - Interactive Software: Bringing Technology into the Classroom 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Interactive software for whiteboards and computers offers exciting new learning opportunities, but where should you begin—and what pitfalls should you avoid? This fascinating workshop will show you just how easy it is to integrate educational software into your Early Childhood or Elementary curriculum!
Receive a certificate verifying one hour of participation for each of these workshops!
Free door prizes with each workshop.

Please RSVP to 317-574-0304 at least 2 days in advance.

"Dinosaur Discoveries"-April 25th, 2012 6:00-7:00p.m.

"Life on the Farm"-May 30th, 2012 6:00-7:00p.m.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Use technology to help teach literacy

Making Shapes

Here’s what you’ll need:
Craft sticks and a package of Velcro circles.

1. Place the Velcro circles on each end of the craft sticks…just make sure you put one “roughy” and one smooth one on each end.
2. Enjoy some open-ended fun with these! Once your makes a shape, be sure to point out the shape’s name and the number of sides.

http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2011/09/making-shapes/

Easy Ways to Teach Numbers, Counting & Math

I put some glitter paint into zip lock bags for the children to practice writing their numbers. When teaching numbers I find children respond really well if they are able to touch and feel numbers and make numbers in different textures.

Though preschoolers generally don’t recognise it, maths is another way to understand and make sense of the world, much like language. Like words, maths is used everywhere and is an integral part of everyday life. What exactly is maths? Simply put, maths is the observation, identification, description and explanation of numbers, space, relation, and order. Counting, measuring, problem solving, reasoning, and identifying shapes and patterns are the activities of math. Preschoolers, who have opportunities to learn maths through play and everyday interactions are gaining the foundation for maths development.

Here are few additional ideas on everyday math and couting....

Count everything
As you go up steps, eat strawberries, pick flowers, put up Lego's, you name it.

Count to 60 while brushing their teeth
take turns brushing teeth and I count out loud to 60 for each of our turns. It's an easy way for children to understand the concept of one minute.

Cook TogetherInclude your child when you cook.
Have children count the cups of milk, the tablespoons of margarine, or the eggs when you cook. Show kids the recipe as you cook so they can follow along.

Play Hopscotch
Use chalk and draw a hopscotch game outside. Make sure to say the numbers out loud as you play.

Play an "I spy" gameTake turns playing "I spy"
Look around your room and say, "I spy something we have two of (or three of)..." It could be speakers for your stereo, cushions on the couch or pictures on the wall, or anything you can count.


Some of my favourite books to use when I'm teaching about numbers and counting are:
"Hungry Monsters" Teach Counting in Rhyme by Susan Heyboer O’Keefe and illustrated by Lynn Munsinger.
" Ten With Ten Little Ladybugs" written by Melanie Gerth and illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith
"Miss Spider’s Tea Party" Teaches Counting With a Social Lesson written and illustrated by David Kirk.
"The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle
"The Shopping Basket" by John Burningham

Early Childhood Conference

Join Indianapolis Area Chapter of Indiana AEYC
Winter Workshop
Saturday March 24, 2012

Wayne Township Preschool
1155 S. High School Road, Indianapolis, IN 46241
(Located behind Ben Davis University—enter Door 8 or 8A)
7:45-8:15 am registration 8:30-12:30 workshop
Pre-Register NAEYC Members $10 Pre-Register Non-members $15
Onsite Registration: $20 for Members and Non-members

Sessions
Sensationally Simple Ideas for the early childhood classroom

Handling Aggressive Behavior & Teaching Children Self-Control

Contact Angie Herniak for questions: 317-341-1889 or indychapter@gmail.com

Paths to QUALITY Marketing Training!

Are you a Level 2, 3 or 4 Paths to QUALITY Provider? If so join us on Monday, March 19th from 6:30pm till 9pm to learn more about the FREE online marketing tool available! Child Care Online offers Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4 programs an exclusive opportunity to showcase their achievements with an online profile made up of pictures and text. Participants will learn the benefits of Child Care Online for providers and families and learn how to create an online profile that will highlight their professionalism and commitment to quality. Eligible programs must complete this training prior to signing up for Child Care Online. .It's a great opportunity to showcase the high quality care you are offering. Call Emily at (317) 636-5727 to register TODAY!