I like the concept of pointing out the physical cues, or body-checks. It’s a very observable and tangible way to connect big feelings with things they can change. Tight fists, scrunched face and quick shallow breathing can all be addressed in real time. You can help the child by identifying these and relating them to the feelings and then…

Read more

My first response to fatigue is to breathe and say a silent prayer. I will also seek out people in my “family” who can help me talk things out and get some perspective. I also like to take away stimuli: light, sound, etc. when I can and just be still.

Responsive exchanges with children is an important aspect of caregiving. If a child is having difficult time with a task or interaction and has an over-the-top reaction, it’s an opportunity to step in and help the child regulate. When you’ve done the work to create a relationship of trust with the child, they know they can depend on you to be…

Read more

I’ve found that breathing and praying silently (or saying some kind of mantra or affirmation) helps to relieve stress in-the-moment. I then use my break/lunch to get a deeper quiet and relaxation, sometimes in my care because the center is constantly active, so that I can come back refreshed and ready to get back in there with the kids.

To build connection with children, you need to get on their level. Play, read, instruct from where they’re at in the present moment. Allow them to lead play and activities as well so that they know that they can depend on you to listen, acknowledge and follow through on what they need when the time comes.

Guidance policies seem to be useful in emergency situations, but they can also be useful in daily activities. When you have a system that you can employ to guide you in how to deal with a child that is unruly and you’re at the end of your proverbial rope…it can help to avoid children being abused from harsh physical/emotional punishments.

A regulation crib with a well fitting mattress and just a fitted sheet. The child can be in a sleep sack and NO bibs or anything tied around their neck.

It’s easier to break down physical activity for children in smaller chunks. Physical movement can be worked in as ways to transition between activities. Games can be played in relation to curriculum (animals: stop like and elephant, etc). Adding music to movement can help encourage active play as well.

Some ideas for making healthy habits fun would be:

do theme food (colors, shapes, etc.)

play active games that get their bodies moving (simon says, freeze dance, etc).

make up songs about healthy activities and sing them while doing those activities.

On a tour, I would highlight the fire escape plans, shelter-in-place plans, first-aid resources, inaccessibility of cleaning chemicals to children, soft-edge protectors, child-proof outlets and infant cribs equipped with wheels made for rolling outside for building evacuations.

I would report any suspicions of child abuse. As a parent, I know that the parents or other caregivers may take any report as a personal attack on their abilities or attributes as a parent, but it’s the child that is the vulnerable person and needs to be addressed with priority. I would rather have someone report than be sorry later if…

Read more

My biggest worry about keeping children in my care healthy and safe is that at the age level I’m working with 1-12mo, there is a great discrepancy between abilities of children. Much of my time is spent in ensuring that the rambunctious movers don’t accidentally harm the younger less mobile ones. There’s also the fact that ever child at this…

Read more

Communication is key with establishing good relationships with families and other support/caregivers of children. The beginning to any good foundation for communication is finding and “buying in” to a common goal, that being of bringing up a healthy, intelligent and happy child.

When my children were small, I wanted their care provider to love them, nurture their curiosity and protect them from harm. My fears were that these wouldn’t happen and they might be injured, feel abandoned by me or not want to continue care and I would then have to quit my job.

You have to know the children’s interests in order to get them engaged. A first project could be “interviews” where simple questions about favorite things, activities, etc. are discovered and reported on by the children. Once you know where their interests lie, activities like painting their favorite animals, using favorite colors…

Read more

Plan the schedule by first separating out all the different activities and consider the time frame needed to do those activities. Next, put the necessary tasks in the schedule first (check in/out, snacks/meals, naps, hygiene, indoor/outdoor), then fill in the rest of the activities based on the energy level needed for the activities…

Read more

I think that safety is a premium component of a good early learning center. In the planning and implementing the layout and materials in a classroom, I would want to get down on my hands and knees to view things from the child’s perspective for dangers and also for ascetics of the environment.

The best way for me to approach a parent about the need for further evaluation of their child based on observation findings would be to first have a collaborative/cooperative relationship built with the parent. Practicing what you are going to discuss with an experienced coworker or supervisor could help to bring up sticky/difficult areas…

Read more

Observation and documentation helps to:

1. Meet a child where they’re currently at in the development continuum.

2. Design curriculum that will engage, challenge and solidify development.

3. Track the progress of development, so that the curriculum can be updated as needed and provide progress encouragement to the child and family.

Knowing that family life is busy at home, especially in the evenings (returning home, dinner, bathing, bedtime), I don’t believe that screen time in childcare should be used since it may be the only way a family can “get it all done” in the evening by letting their child watch an age appropriate video or play a game.

I believe that simple actions (rolling a ball back and forth), crawling around the floor on their level and letting them lead are the most frequent “serve and return” instances in my work with older infants.

Ask questions first. Are there obstacles in the parent’s day that are preventing on-time pick-up? Can some collaboration between childcare, parent and their work be made to coordinate the parent’s day around the time frames needed for childcare/work? Gently remind the parent that the stress on the child is what is the ultimate correction to…

Read more

This is found in WAC 110-300-0160

The differences in culture and traditions should be welcomed and explored so as to share with all the uniqueness of each child and family.

1. A multicultural education curriculum should be in place in every school. (SA)
2. Families should not be expected to be involved in classroom activities. (SD)
3. All learning programs should accommodate all children with special needs. (D)
4. Some extended family members may confuse children, so they should not have a voice in raising or educating the…

Read more