[Hayley Miller]

Practice identifying emotions and regulation strategies when children are calm. Practice regulation in areas where children can go to regulate. Put words to the feelings children are experiencing. Focus on safety and getting our brains back on before trying to solve problems.

[Hayley Miller]

Lean on my coworkers and talk through issues. Lean on my support system. Practice self care, take a bath, go bowling, read a book, take a nap, get a special treat at the store, have a good cry. Talk to my own therapist or mental health specialist.

[Hayley Miller]

Be an active listener. Engage when you see children struggling and help guide them through interactions or give them attention one on one. Find something to connect with the child on everyday. Make sure that children’s needs are met. Give words for the big feelings they have and help find strategies that help them to regulate.

[Hayley Miller]

I call my mom and chat when I’m having a stressful day. I try to see friends or just get out of the house somewhere more fun at least once a week. When I come home from work I get smothered in love from my dogs and then I take a hot shower and change into comfy clothes which signals my brain that the day is done and I can relax.

[Hayley Miller]

Be an active listener. Give one on one time when you can and when noticing children needing some space from the group. Be engaging to the children. Return their serves. Be attentive to their needs and see that they are met. Take space before taking a tone when frustrated, know when to tap out.

[Hayley Miller]

I think the guideline policies of your center are literally always useful in any situation.

[Hayley Miller]

A two month infant should have a single level crib, bassinet, or playpen with a snug mattress so the infant can’t fall in the sides and suffocate. Any bedding underneath should be only used for that child and a two month infant should be on their back with no bedding on top of them.

[Hayley Miller]

Have a yoga session that children can join in when they finish snack. Sing songs that have dances that accompany them. Get active during outside time, play hide and seek and tag variations with the children. Play pretend with the children and encourage them to move in different ways like if they are dinosaurs or bears.

[Hayley Miller]

Healthy habits can be fun when we sing songs about them, turn them into games, add fun colors or characters like having a paw patrol toothbrush, make them sensory experiences like different textures in our food, get the kids engaged, have them teach the teachers how to do it.

[Hayley Miller]

Safety procedures in my room to highlight would be:

We have door alarms that beep everytime a door to the classroom is opened

Our three step cleaning process of all surfaces and tables done multiple times a day

Our laundry room where we clean fabric toys and bedding

All cabinets are bolted to the wall or the floor

We bleach toys every night

[Hayley Miller]

Make a call to cps, inform my director of concerns so they are aware of what’s happening.

[Hayley Miller]

In my work right now the biggest safety worry is peers that have very big reactions and hurt others. I also worry about illness especially as anti-vaccine families are on the rise and being recently out of a pandemic.

I have taken many health and safety classes and mandated reporter trainings so I am interested in learning any new information but I’m not sure what that will be yet.

[Hayley Miller]

Stay positive, always throw in something great their child is doing that you’ve noticed, build connections with parents that aren’t just about their kids to further strengthen relationships, Schedule meetings when important issues come up, listen to everything the parents have to say.

[Hayley Miller]

I would want my child to be safe. I want my child to be given positive attention so they can develop. I want my child to be redirected to positive activities so they can learn from their mistakes and follow a positive example. I would fear that they are unsafe, not being supervised, or not being encouraged to grow.

[Hayley Miller]

To get children engaged in meaningful learning you start with engaging activities set up in a way that is accessible and welcoming to children. Activities in small groups that are fun and active like painting or creating something, free play activities that are easy to locate and get out and set up with clear play areas. When children are playing and interacting, ask meaningful questions to get them engaged and thinking at a higher level. Let children take the lead of their play and enhance their learning by following along and helping to model play with others.