[Krista Stevenson]

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 help them to practice regulate themselves by flexing their fingers, stretching their face and breathing deeply.

[Krista Stevenson]

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.

[Krista Stevenson]

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 a safe place to receive their stress and a source of strength. The more tools they can be given from you to help you them deescalate, the better off they will be.

[Krista Stevenson]

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.

[Krista Stevenson]

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.

[Krista Stevenson]

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.

[Krista Stevenson]

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.

[Krista Stevenson]

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.

[Krista Stevenson]

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.

[Krista Stevenson]

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.

[Krista Stevenson]

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 they suspected my child was being abused.

[Krista Stevenson]

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 age explores with their mouth and it’s a constant battle to not have germs spread because 1 of 3 children have a runny nose on any given day.

[Krista Stevenson]

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.

[Krista Stevenson]

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.

[Krista Stevenson]

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 each week/month for themes, play acting their favorite activities and other children can guess what they are would be examples of engaging activities.