Do you have a weather emergency plan?

With the forecast of bad weather this week, do you have a plan of action in place for bad weather? Below are some tips and things to think about for winter weather emergencies.

• Have a plan for your children in case school/child care closes early. Share the plan with your child and the school.


• Have emergency supplies on hand. Some items to include would be flashlights, pantry items, several gallons of bottled water, a battery operated emergency weather radio and a cell phone. For young children don't forget diapers, wipes, formula and baby food.


• Carry emergency supplies in your car such as bottled water, blankets, flares, first aid kit and jumper cables.


• Shovel out all fire hydrants so that fire fighters can access them in case of a fire.


• Finally, if you don't have to leave STAY INSIDE. However tempting it may be for kids to go out and make snow angels or play in the falling snow, use caution. Those blowing winds - both before and after a blizzard - are cold enough to cause frostbite, and snowdrifts may hide dangers children might otherwise see. Stay indoors where it's safe, and warm!
  

TOO SICK TO ATTEND DAYCARE? HOW TO TELL!

We have all been fighting kids and illness the past few weeks. Here is a great article from askdrsears.com to help you decide to stay home or send your child.

It's seven in the morning and family rush hour begins. The teakettle is whistling, the toaster's popping, and the traffic report is the usual bad news. Enter a whine that will turn your already overbooked day upside down. By reflex you lay hands on your baby's head. "Oh, no, a fever!" To daycare or not to daycare, that is the question. Suddenly you realize that it is not so easy to change jobs at the touch of a forehead.

How sick is enough to miss daycare? This decision affects three parties: Does your baby feel too sick to attend daycare? Is she contagious to the other children? How convenient is it for you to take a day off from work? Here are some practical guidelines on what germs are the most catchy.

DIARRHEA ILLNESSES
Here is one set of germs that all doctors agree are very contagious. Frequent, watery, mucousy, and sometime bloody diarrhea is a sure indication to stay home, both for your baby's sake to prevent an outbreak in the center. Add vomiting – parents call this a double ender – and your baby is certainly too weak and too upset to leave home. As soon as the vomiting is over, the stools are no longer explosive and water and your baby feels better, she may return to daycare. Be prepared for the bowel movements to remain loose and frequent for weeks, as the intestines are notoriously slow to recover. During this convalescent stage of diarrhea, your baby is not contagious.

COLDS AND FEVER
While diarrhea illnesses merit quarantine, respiratory and febrile illnesses are a different bag of germs. Most cold germs do not threaten an outbreak in the daycare center as much as diarrhea. Children are most contagious a day or two before they act sick. When you send your two-year-old to daycare with a cold, this is one time to teach her not to share. Show her how to cover her nose and mouth with a tissue when she sneezes or coughs and to turn her head away from others. Two-year-olds may be able to learn this sanitation gesture but are likely to forget. If your baby have a fever (persistent temperature of at least 101ºF or 38.3ºC) it is prudent to keep her out of daycare until you ask your doctor whether she is contagious.

SORE THROATS
Sore throats, especially those associated with fever and throat spots (for example, herpangina), are very contagious and are a red light for day-care attendance until the fever and the throat spots are gone -- usually around five days.

EYE DRAINAGE
The nose is not the only thing that runs when baby gets a cold. Eye drainage is often associated with an underlying cold, especially a sinus infection. These eyes are not contagious, and usually neither is the rest of the baby. This type of goopy eye drainage does, however, merit a doctor visit.

Some runny eyes are due to conjunctivitis (often called pinkeye), a contagious infection that will send day-care providers rushing to make a come-get-your-baby call. If the eyes are bloodshot in addition to draining, this is contagious pinkeye, which is quickly treated and made noncontagious by an antibiotic eye ointment or drops. The baby may attend daycare as long as treatment has begun. If the eyes are not bloodshot, this is seldom contagious conjunctivitis, and your child may still attend daycare.

COLD VERSUS ALLERGIES
Day-care centers often reject a coughing, sneezing child because of a cold when it's really an allergy that is not contagious to playmates and is no more than a nuisance to the child. How to tell a cold from an allergy? Back to the telltale nasal secrections. Allergic noses are clear and watery, they run and drip, and are accompanied by other allergic signs: watery eyes, wheezing, a past history of allergies, and the fact that it's hay fever season. The nasal drainage from a cold is too thick to run; it dangles. Also, with a cold there are other signs of infection such as fever. In general, allergic children are noisy (sneezy and wheezy), yet they don't act sick. They may attend daycare and are not contagious. Children with colds act sluggish, mopey, or cranzy and may be contagious.

COUGHS
While most colds end the cough still lingers, keeping babies out of daycare and parents out of work. But all coughs are not automatically stay-home illnesses. A dry, hacking cough that neither awakens baby nor is associated with fever, pain, difficulty breathing, or other cold signs is not a reason for quarantine. These nuisance-type coughs linger on for two weeks, are rarely contagious, and seldom bother the child or her mates, who themselves may also be coughing. Then there's the baby who coughs a lot at night but seems well during the day except for annoying throat-clearing sounds and may have several similar episodes during the allergy season. This child suffers from postnasal drip, she is noncontagious, and this seldom is a reason to stay home from daycare.

Of course, any cough accompanied by fever, chills, and coughing up of green or yellow mucus warrants medical attention and absence from daycare. Your baby can return to daycare when the fever subsides and she feels better (usually in a few days), though the cough itself may linger for a week or two.

WHEN TO STAY HOME WITH A COLD
If your baby's nasal secrections are clear and watery, and your baby is happy and playful, pain free, and has only a low-grade fever (100 degrees F / 37.8 degrees C) there is no need to keep your baby home from daycare. If the nasal secretions become thicker, yellow, and green, especially if accompanied by a fever, an earache, frequent night waking, or a peaked look -- in mother jargon, a sick-looking-face -- this is a stay-home-and-call-the-doctor cold. Your baby may have an ear or sinus infection.

RASHES
The problem with rashes is that the daycare provider sees them and sends your baby home. But, not all rashes are contagious or uncomfortable enough for a baby to miss daycare.

CHICKENPOX
Unlike the rashes just mentioned, chickenpox is one of the most contagious of all childhood infections and a sure prescription to stay home. It begins as a flu-like illness (low-grade fever and tiredness), and the spots usually appear a day later. Initially, they resemble tiny bites over the back, chest, abdomen and face. I'll frequently have patients waiting at my office door at 9:00 a.m. wondering if "these spots" could be early chickenpox. I pronounce them prickly heat or fleabites and dispatch the spotted baby to daycare.

HEAD LICE
Where there are lots of children in a crowded place, expect little parasites to tag along. A typical scene: You get a call at your office or your baby is sent home from daycare with a note informing you that she has head lice. Your first reaction is embarrassment ("But my house is so clean!") followed by incredulity ("She has to miss daycare and I have to miss work because of a lousy louse?")

WHO PLAYS NURSE WHEN BABY IS SICK?
For dual-income families; Who stays home when baby can't go to daycare, mom or dad? Who can most afford to stay home? Who is most needed at work? Do you and your spouse split the shift or bring in the reserves? (Sick babies should have their mothers if at all possible -- mother preference intensifies when baby is sick.)

While there is no better nurse than a caring parent in a child's own home, this ideal may not be possible, especially for financially strapped and single parents. Consider these alternatives:
Try shift work. Mom is nurse in the morning, dad in the afternoon. Your child gets special TLC from both parents and both sharpen their sick-child-care skills.

Take your baby to work. If your baby is not sick enough to stay home but is not permitted in daycare prepare a "sickroom" at work if circumstances permit. If you have your own office, set up camp in the corner, including her favorite books, toys, and blankets. This scene is also a prime chance for your child to learn about your work. If the older patient is willing and able, give her some time-occupying tasks to "help" you at work. Your child will feel important and get her mind off being sick.

Have grandmother on call. If blessed with a nearby extended family, ask grandma to pinch-hit. Grandmothers have time, unlimited patience, and the price is right.

Use a sick-child-care center. Explore what facilities for sick children are available in your community. Some daycare centers and hospital pediatric wards have get-well rooms, staffed with sensitive caregivers trained to care for sick children. However, they are expensive.

Plan ahead. Before your baby gets sick -- and she will -- devise a family game plan rather than scrambling for on-the-spot decisions with the first fever. Decide with your spouse who will stay home. Have backup caregivers on call. Find out your daycare center's sick-child admission policies. Are there home-care agencies available, and what is their cost? Find out what's available, affordable, and what's best for your child.

Sick-leave benefits. Taking a baby out of daycare may mean paycheck deductions for working parents, but a day at home with your sick child can have its compensations too. Being at home with your sick baby is a chance to rebond. Especially if you have recently locked horns with your child or she is going through an independence streak, a day at home may do wonders for your relationship. Babies go from independent to dependent when sick, as if clicking into a memory of what "mother" and "father" really means. Making chicken soup and popsicles, giving back rubs and reading stories -- a day at home with your baby is a chance for nursing and parenting skills to shine

Sweet Dreams! How To Get Your Child To Stay In Bed All Night

You have turned on the night light, turned down the sheets, have given an "all clear" of any night-time gremlins, and have given your child a drink of water. A book has been read and your child has been smothered with nighty-night kisses and sweet dreams hugs.

If you are one of the lucky ones, the blissful evening silence may carry over into morning madness. But for many parents of young children, the bedtime calm may last only seconds, minutes, or into the middle of the night with the persistent evening creep back into your room. A child's wide eyes, often wet with tears and sometimes lack of sleep, are often combined with excuses to melt almost any heart and diffuse parental protests, especially if it's 3 a.m. and you need to work in the morning. "My room is making noises," "I need a drink," "I'm hungry," "I miss you so much," "I'm scared," "I'm lonely," "I'm sick" or simply, "I can't sleep." Name the argument; some parent has already heard it before.

It's easy for a sleep-deprived parent to simply turn down the sheet and half-heartedly left a young child sleep in their bed. It's the next morning--after enduring a night of tossing and turning of a wiggly child, loss of privacy, a child hard to awaken in the morning in time for school or daycare, or perhaps even wet sheets as a result--the parent insists the habit of a child sneaking into bed must change.

But how? Here are some tips for making the permanent transition of a child sleeping in his/her own bed:
* Make your child's room inviting, decorated to his/her taste, and age-appropriate. Consider allowing your child to help decorate by at the very least picking out the bedding. For the more ambitious adventurers, give your child choices of a bedroom theme, positioning of bed and furniture (with your help, of course), and overall look and feel. The general idea is you want your child to absolutely LOVE his/her room and want to spend time in it!

* Consider the size of the bed. Some parents move their child to a twin or even larger bed as soon as a child graduates from the crib. For some children, that is fine, but others may feel intimidated or even threatened by its size. Depending on a child's nature, toddler beds can provide a nice transition between crib and twin. These beds often are available in theme designs, such as a race car or castle. Make sure your child can easily get in and out of bed and feels comfortable in it.

* Establish a memorable bedtime routine. The routine does not need to be elaborate; however, it should be something your child looks forward to each night and considers a special time. This can be as simple as reading a favorite book in a special part of the room, having a bath to soothing music, eating a snack and then brushing teeth, singing a favorite song, saying a prayer, exchanging highlights of the day, or even a special bedtime kiss-n-hug ritual.

* Require your child to go to the bathroom just before bedtime. Sometimes its the need to go to the bathroom that then causes the child to wake and then want company.

* Don't lie down with your child, or if you do, only stay for a brief time. You don't want your child to think he/she has to have someone lay down with him for sleep.

* Establish the rule that your child will now sleep in his/her own bed and make no exceptions. Some parents report that it is helpful to build it into a celebration, such as "Now that you are starting kindergarten, you are expected to stay in your own bed every night" or "As a 4-year-old, you will get new privileges! One of those is the excitement of picking the toy you want to sleep with in your own bed every night."

* Don't weaken to crying or whining. If you do, your child wins. Tell your child you are not going to keep coming in for kisses, hugs, discussion, begging, or pleading. Stick to this. If your child leaves the room, simply re-direct the child back without discussion. Show no weakness, or your child will know that this behavior results in a change.

* Finally, even if you are totally exhausted or its an unseemly hour of the night, walk your child back to his/her room immediately if you receive a visitor. Don't over-react or give to much attention; simply say, "The rules are that you sleep in your own bed."

If you maintain consistency and the rules, your child will be sleeping in his or her bed throughout the night in no time. And, you and your child will both get improved shut eye and be better prepared to face the new day together!

Child Care Answers January Press Release

Press Release
Contact: Child Care Answers Child Care Resource and Referral Agency
Web: www.childcareanswers.com
Phone: 317-631-4643

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date/Time: January 19, 2011


Are you looking for a career change in the new year? Interested in starting up a Child Care? Let Child Care Answers help you with your career change!

Child Care Answers Resource and Referral Agency is a local agency serving Hamilton, Hendricks, Johnson and Marion County. Child Care Answers offers training for individuals interested in beginning a child care business. Those interested in starting up a licensed center, home or registered ministry can register to attend an orientation class through us. This class will give a general overview of child care in Indiana and resources in the community. Child Care Answers also offers classes to help in advertising your child care business and record keeping. The training calendar is published three times a year and includes upcoming classes offered by Child Care Answers and early childhood education classes in the community.

For licensed child care providers a mentoring program is available to help guide them as they advance levels in Paths to Quality, Indiana’s voluntary quality rating system for child care. Classes are also available to help with guidance and discipline, stress prevention for caregivers and Exploring the Foundation to Indiana Academic Standards.

A copy of Child Care Answers training calendar can be viewed online at www.childcareanswers.com. Once there, click on the provider tab and then the “training” link on the right hand side. If you would like to receive the calendar in the mail contact Mindy Bennett at mindyb@childcareanswers.com .

Need to Renew your CDA?

Ivy Tech is offering a 3 credit hour renewal course-
"School, Communities, and Families". No pre-requisites needed.

Class dates: March 19 - May 8, 2011 (eight Saturday’s)

Time: 8 am to 12 noon.

Interested???

Contact:
Rose Wilson, M.Ed, Early Childhood Assistant Professor School of Education
Ivy Tech Community College
Phone: 317-921-4403 ~ Fax: 317-921-4432 ~ Email: rwilson@ivytech.edu

Laughter Yoga..what a great way to exercise

'Laughter yoga' delights local daycare
By Susan Gibbs
Published: January 07, 2011

Youngsters at the Haney-Ripley Child Care Center in Stanardsville got their laughs on last Thursday.

"Laughter is good for you," instructor Shannon Brown told the boys and girls. "It helps the brain clean up so you can think better and it cleans the blood so you feel better."

In fact, according to the Laughter Yoga International's website, "laughter yoga" combines unconditional laughter with yoga breathing to combine physical exercise (laughter) with deep diaphragmatic breathing (yoga).

The website further explains that laughter is easily stimulated in a group when combined with eye contact, childlike playfulness and laughter exercises - where fake laughter quickly becomes real, and contagious.

Brown proved it was so when she gathered the children around her in a circle, looking each in the eye and starting to laugh. Before long most all the children - and center owner Nancy Haney - were unable to contain their own laughter.

As an exercise routine, laughter yoga is a complete wellbeing workout, according to the Laughter Yoga website.

Clinical research has proved that laughter lowers the level of stress hormones in the blood, and so fosters a positive and hopeful attitude. Participants report significant general health improvements.

Many have felt a reduction in the frequency of respiratory infections like common cold and flu, and some others reported overcoming depression, and relief or even freedom from chronic medical problems.

Also according to the website, the phenomenon was launched in early 1995 by a handful of people in a park. Today, there are more than 6,000 social laughter clubs in about 60 countries.

Laughter yoga has been introduced in schools, in the business world, in aged care facilities, in hospitals - where it has proven to have a profound impact on the immune system that influences the course of survival of cancer patients - and in prisons, where it has led to better prisoner-staff relations and reduced violence.

Not that the youngsters at the center knew any of that - they were just having fun, which, according to Haney, is the focus of the center.

"But at the same time, we provide a positive, effective and educational environment," Haney said. "Laughter yoga was done instead of a field trip, for those children who spent time with us during Christmas break."

Haney said that the field trips Haney-Ripley children have taken include visits to the Greene County Park, Greene County Library, Greene County Senior Center, Evergreene Nursing Care Center, Green Meadows Christmas Tree Farm, Carter's Mountain and Bounce-n-Play.

And, the center has had visitors from the community.

"A parent who is a professional firefighter visited the center, along with a fire truck, to discuss fire safety, and members of the senior center visited our center and brought candy for our Halloween festival," said Haney.

"Seniors read to children and spent time helping with art activities."

When they are not taking field trips, youngsters enrolled in the center are playing inside with dolls and dollhouses, action figures and trains, listening to stories or reading on their own, Haney explained.

They enjoy "circle time," during which they discuss the month, days of the week, and the season of the year.

They work with teachers on manipulatives and participate in art and music activities.

Or they are playing organized games outside, weather permitting. And, Haney added, they have enjoyed "several bounce castles here at the center."

The Haney-Ripley Child Care Center is a licensed center specializing in before and after school care for K5 through middle school students, and preschool care for the children as young as two years.

It began in August 2007 with 24 students, and now as 67. It also offers full day care for school-agers on days schools are closed, Christmas and spring breaks, and extended school closings.

For more information call the center at (434) 985-1185 or visit it at Haney-Ripley.com.

Simple Steps to Start Your Own Business

Indianapolis SCORE® presents

A Business Workshop Series

Exclusive to Potential Start-Up Business Owners

Investigate if your business plans and ideas are sound...

Attend this FREE preview workshop:

Saturday, February 12, 2011

• 10:00 AM Hendricks County, Economic Dev. (Avon)
• 10:30 AM Nora Library

Saturday, February 19th, 2011

• 10:00 AM Fishers Library
• 10:30 AM Wayne Library

Saturday, February 26th, 2011

• 10:00 AM Tilson Human Resource Center (Greenwood)
• 10:30 AM Warren Township Library

For additional information contact Indianapolis SCORE at

www.indyscore.org

or

(317) 226-7264

YogaKids

Free YogaKids classes offered by City Yoga on Monday January 17th from 2:30pm - 3:30pm

Educators, Parents, Child-focused Professionals, Children, Tween & Teens

Join Marsha Wenig & Susan Rose for a class full of fun, fitness & feeling great! You are guaranteed to learn, laugh & love the YogaKids way of educating the "whole" child.

This event is FREE for adults & kids of all ages.

Registration is recommended. Click here for registration.

Infections in early child care can lead to fewer absences in mainstream school

Infections in early child care can lead to fewer absences in mainstream school

Parents and child care experts will probably not be at all surprised to learn that a recent report in a scientific journal confirms that children under the age of 2½, who attend large group care settings, are more likely to develop respiratory and ear infections than those who don't.

Furthermore, those children who do attend these settings are less likely to suffer such illnesses once they begin mainstream school.

The report in the December issue of the US journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine was the result of an eight-year study carried out by Dr Sylvana M. Côté of Ste-Justine Hospital and the University of Montreal in Quebec.

It had been accepted that preschool children, especially those who were placed in large group childcare settings, experienced more frequent infections than children who were cared for primarily at home. This had raised concerns that group care could compromise young children's health and the health of their community, but few studies have examined the impact of group childcare on infections beyond preschool years.

Dr Côté and her colleagues studied 1,238 families with children born in 1998. These children fell into three groups;

1. those in a large childcare setting – where professional educators care for up to 10 groups of eight to 12 children;

2. those in a small childcare setting – home based centres where a childminder cares for between three and eight children;

3. those who were cared for at home.

For eight years the researchers obtained regular information about how often the children had respiratory tract infections, ear infections or gastrointestinal infections during three specific periods: early preschool (under the age of 2½), late preschool (ages 3½ to 4½) and early mainstream school (ages 5 to 8).

It was found that children who attended large group care settings before the age of 2½ and during the late preschool period had higher rates of respiratory infections and ear infections than those who were cared for at home, but once children started mainstream school, these infections tailed off.

Children who started in a small childcare setting and never attended a larger setting did not have any differences in infection risk. Those who were first cared for at home, but then started at any size childcare setting during the late preschool period had a higher risk of ear infections at that time, but no other differences in infection risk.

Group childcare was not associated with gastrointestinal infections at any period in the children's development.

The authors feel that this study involving so many children over an extended eight-year period, should provide reassuring evidence for parents that their choices regarding childcare should not have any major effect on the health of their children, as far as respiratory tract infections with fever, gastrointestinal infections and ear infections are concerned.

Furthermore, children who join large-group childcare settings at a very early age (under the age of 2½) may even gain a level of protection that will result in fewer absences when they come to begin mainstream school.

Author : Michael Evans
© The Earth Times

Office Closed on Monday January 17th

Just a reminder our office will be closed on Monday January 17th for Martin Luther King Jr day.

Winter Outdoor Safety Tips

With the falling snow and colder temperatures we have had several calls asking about guidelines for outdoor play. The rule of thumb for cold temperatures is that with the windchill considered 25 degrees and below is too cold for children to play outside. Our inclusion specialist wanted to urge providers to make sure that even if it's only for a few minutes to try and get children outside for fresh air. Fresh air is so much healthier for the children than being inside all day and is important for them to get everyday.

Below is some safety tips given from the American Academy of Pediatrics for the cold weather.

• Dress infants and children warmly for outdoor activity. Several thin layers will keep them warm and dry. Don't forget warm boots, gloves or mittens and a hat.


• The rule of thumb for older babies and young children is to dress them in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions.


• Hypothermia develops when a child's temperature falls below normal due to exposure to colder temperatures. It often happens when a youngster is playing outdoors in extremely cold weather without wearing proper clothing or when clothes get wet.


• Frostbit happens when the skin and outer tissues become frozen. This condition tends to happen on extremities like the fingers, toes, ears and nose. They may become pale, gray and blistered. At the same time the child may complain that his/her skin burns or becomes numb.


• Cold weather does not cause colds or flu. But the viruses that cause colds and flu tend to be more common in the winter, when children are in school and are in closer contact with each other. Frequent hand washing and teaching your child to sneeze or couch into the bend of their elbow may help reduce the spread of colds and flu.


• Remember that the sun's rays can still cause sunburn in the winter. Make sure to cover your child's exposed areas with sunscreen.

For the complete list of safety tips visit the American Academy of Pediatrics web page.

Child Abuse and Neglect in Child Care

For the Second time this week I have turned the television on to discover news reports of Child Abuse and Neglect in 2 separate Central Indiana Child Care programs. You can read the latest story here. This greatly saddens all of us here at Child Care Answers! Training and Technical assistance can greatly reduce incidents like what we have seen this week.
Please remember that Child Care Answers is here to be your resource to help you through the stressful situations that often occur in child care. On April 16th Child Care Answers will hold our second annual Cherish the Children: Preventing Child Abuse Conference. This is a wonderful conference that will have several experts providing break out sessions. Are you looking for a specific type of training? You can find our latest training calendar by visiting us on our website. What about some advice for your child care classroom? You can receive mentoring for you and your program FREE of charge by joining Paths to QUALITY. Child Care Answers also has an Inclusion Specialist and an Infant and Toddler Specialist that can visit your program to help you work through some of your most challenging situations.
Child Care Answers is just a phone call away! You can reach us Monday - Friday by calling 317-631-4643. Together we can ensure that ALL children are in SAFE, Developmentally Appropriate child care sites!

Child Care Answers response to recent media story

In light of the recent report of possible child abuse at a Lawrence unlicensed registered ministry our Program Director, Mindy Bennett sent this letter to local media.

My name is Mindy Bennett and I am the Director of Programs for Child Care Answers the Child Care Resource and Referral agency that services Central Indiana. We are a free service that helps parents locate and evaluate child care options for their children. In November alone we helped over 450 families with their child care search. We have a database of over 1400 child care providers that we provide training and mentoring opportunities to.

I want to thank you for running the story about the possible abuse of a child at Little Miracles child care. All children that are in child care deserve to be in safe, high quality child care programs. All child care sites in Indiana should be required to have trained staff and required to ensure that their environments are safe for children.

In Indiana, Ministries that provide child care are not required to be licensed. Ministries that provide child care are required to be registered with the state of Indiana, while this registration does have some regulation attached to it the regulations are far fewer then that of a licensed child care center. Little Miracles is an unlicensed registered ministry. You can compare the regulation requirements of a ministry to licensed homes and licensed centers by following this link to find our regulation comparison chart http://www.childcareanswers.com/PDF_Docs/FacilityRegulations.pdf. It is important to note that some Unlicensed Registered Child Care Ministries do voluntarily go above the requirements.

The staff at Child Care Answers works daily with child care providers by training them and providing on site technical assistance to ensure that children are kept safe while their parents work or attend school. We have Specialists that are a free resource to child care providers and parents who can provide specific training on issues related to guidance and discipline and other child care related issues.

I know that this incident has left many families scared and confused about leaving their children in child care. Please let your viewers know that Child Care Answers is here to help families with our free services during this troubled time. We have a team of specialists that can help families with their specific questions about child care and how to tell if a program is providing safe, quality care. We are only a phone call away; you can reach us at 317-631-4643. Parents can also find valuable tools on our website at http://www.childcareanswers.com/.

Click here to read more about the story.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest

The 2011 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest for Middle & Junior High Students is now available online at http://www.indianablackexpo.com/pdf/MLK%20Brochure%202011.pdf.

In his 1964 book entitled, What Manner of Man A biography of Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote, “The function of education …is to teach one to think intensively and to teach one to think critically. We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character- this is the goal of true education.”

Essay Question: President Obama has launched an “Educate to Innovate” campaign to improve the participation and performance of American students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). In 450 words or less, explain the importance of education and how it will help you attain your future goals.

The deadline for this year’s contest is Monday, February 7, 2011.

Awards will be given to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners as well as the school with the most entries.

If you have any questions contact Dianna: Indiana Black Expo Youth & Family Programs- 317-925-2702

21 HEALTHY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FOR KIDS

The following New Year tips are from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Preschoolers

~I will clean up my toys and put them where they belong.
~I will brush my teeth twice a day, and wash my hands after going to the bathroom and before eating.
~I won’t tease dogs or other pets – even friendly ones. I will avoid being bitten by keeping my fingers and face away from their mouths.

Kids, 5- to 12-years-old

~I will drink 2% milk and water three times each day, and limit soda and fruit drinks to once each day.
~I will apply sunscreen before I go outdoors on bright sunny days. I will try to stay in the shade whenever possible and wear a hat and sunglasses, especially when I’m playing sports.
~I will try to find a sport (like basketball or soccer) or an activity (like playing tag, jumping rope, dancing or riding my bike) that I like and do it at least three times a week!
~I will always wear a helmet when bicycling.
~I will wear my seat belt every time I get in a car. I’ll sit in the back seat and use a booster seat until I am tall enough to use a lap/shoulder seat belt.
~I’ll be nice to other kids. I’ll be friendly to kids who need friends – like someone who is shy, or is new to my school
~I’ll never give out personal information such as my name, home address, school name or telephone number on the Internet. Also, I’ll never send a picture of myself to someone I chat with on the computer without my parent’s permission.

Kids, 13-years-old and up

~I will eat at least one fruit and one vegetable every day, and I will limit the amount of soda I drink to one glass daily.
~I will take care of my body through physical activity and nutrition.
~I will choose non-violent television shows and video games, and I will spend only one to two hours each day – at the most – on these activities.
~I will help out in my community – through volunteering, working with community groups or by joining a group that helps people in need.
~When I feel angry or stressed out, I will take a break and find constructive ways to deal with the stress, such as exercising, reading, writing in a journal or discussing my problem with a parent or friend.
~When faced with a difficult decision, I will talk about my choices with an adult whom I can trust.
~When I notice my friends are struggling or engaging in risky behaviors, I will talk with a trusted adult and attempt to find a way that I can help them.
~I will be careful about whom I choose to date, and always treat the other person with respect and without coercion or violence. I will expect the same good behavior in return.
~I will resist peer pressure to try drugs and alcohol.
~I agree not to use a cell phone or text message while driving and to always use a seat belt.

American Academy of Pediatrics, 12/10

Cherish the Children: Prevent Child Abuse

Count Down...
15 weeks until Child Care Answers 2nd Annual Cherish the Children Conference- Saturday, April 16, 2011- Don't Miss It!


The Body Safety Program

Terry Hall is a 37-year veteran of the Indianapolis Police Department. He developed the Body Safety program in the early 1980s when he was with the child abuse unit investigating sex crimes. Though he’d won the IPD “Officer of the Year” award for his arrests and convictions, he said he couldn’t hang the award on his wall. He was too devastated by the light sentences the courts gave to the molesters he caught. Children weren’t being believed in the courts and, with sexual abuse, rarely has hard physical evidence.

“I realized apprehension is not working,” Hall said. “You have to go for prevention.” He then began developing the program to prevent abuse and identify abusers. Over the years, he changed the title from “Good Touch, Bad Touch” to “Body Safety” to go with other school programs like “bus safety” and “fire safety.” And, he noted, not all good touch, like from parents and doctors, feels good. He wanted to clarify that in the minds of the students. To develop the program, he talked to teachers and prosecutors. He talked to abuse victims and pedophiles. He interviewed hundreds of convicted molesters over the years. One thing he asked was how they got their victims to stay quiet. “I expected them to tell me, ‘we’ll kill their parents; we’ll kill their dogs, we’ll do this, that,;” Hall said. “They don’t even threaten kids. They said, ‘We don’t tell kids not to tell about child molesting. You do.’” The revelation hit him like lightning. That’s why Hall believes it’s imperative for parents and adults to talk frankly to kids about their private areas and not be embarrassed or ashamed. “If you can’t teach kids to say the terms without embarrassment, how can you ever get them to admit their uncle touched them there?” he said.

“I know of no other programs in the United States that actually teach children: these are your private parts and give them the correct names of the body. We’ve got one name for the thumb, one name for the elbow and 5,000 names for the private parts of the body,” he said. “So if we can’t discuss them in open forum or in hygiene issues and medical issues, how could we ever tell the most embarrassing thing: being sexually assaulted?” That’s wheat sets Hall’s program apart. He doesn’t mince words. He presents the terms factually and tastefully in ways students will understand. He said some folks tell him their community couldn’t handle the candor. With his fully booked schedule years ahead, “Somebody’s community’s handling it,” he says.

His program is presented in half hour segments. It’s broken into grade divisions: generally kindergarten through second grade, then grades 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12. “So where I’ll be talking ‘good touches and bad touches’ under third grade, third grade and over we’re talking child molest,” he said. For junior high and high school students, he adds the issue of date rape. In high school, he also gives students signals to watch for in their younger siblings. “A young kid will tell their big brother in high school about child molest before they tell their mom and dad,” he said. Before he speaks to any students, he holds a session for teachers and parents the night before. He goes over the material he will be presenting to the students and makes sure support will be there for kids who disclose abuse. “What’s worse than a child being molested,” he said, “is a child telling someone and not being believed.”

In the 23 years he’s presented the program to schools, Hall estimates 1,500-2,000 students have come forward either for themselves or a friend. Never have fewer than three students disclosed abuse. At one school, there were 80. Wherever he speaks, social services, school counselors, plain clothes officers from the local area and sometimes state police departments are all there as a safety new for the kids. Hall doesn’t actively promote the program to schools or communities. He lets those who’ve already brought him to their communities do that. “If I’ve got to come in and convince somebody that something like this is needed,” he said, “I’m really working up hill from the start.” But he said child molestation is happening in every county, every community, whether folks there want to admit it or not. And every community must address it. “If you don’t have an active program, you’re saying one of two things: it doesn’t occur, or we don’t care,” he said. “And I don’t like either one of those.” He said the program not only exposes molesters already in communities, but can keep some of the hardcore predators away. “If he knows that every year, every school-aged child in the city is going to be asked – ‘has anyone ever given you a bad touch for no good reason:’ – is he going to apply his trade there? Why would he do that when he can go 15 miles east or 15 miles west and find a school system that doesn’t have any program?” he said.

It takes a partnership from everyone within the community – partnerships among parents and schools and prevention groups and businesses and law enforcement. Child molestation is like a cancer on the victims and on our communities. In any fight against cancer, awareness and prevention is the key. For child sexual abuse, that begins with open communication. For adults it means candidly talking to our kids, empowering them to protect their bodies, listening to them and supporting them.

Terry Hall can be contacted to do Body Safety Programs: Cell: 317.607.5306 or email: thall26@comcast.net

Taken from Sgt. Terry Hall’s Public Agency Training Council information: Lifting the Shadows by Richard Biever

Going out to a New Year's Eve Party? Need Child Care? Tips to Remember

Caregiver Tips...

Parents often rely on a babysitter's services to help manage busy social schedules.

To ensure our children's safety, it's our responsibility to not only find a capable and responsible caregiver, but also provide them with the information needed to handle the job.

The following are several tips to consider:

Selecting a sitter

• Ask for sitter referrals from family, friends and neighbors.


• Interview several candidates and do a criminal background check, ask for and cross check references before making your decision.


• Make sure the sitter is at least 13 years old and understands what to do in an emergency. Confirm that they have had training in first aid and know infant and child CPR. Ask for references and follow-up on them.


• Before babysitting alone, ask the sitter to spend time with your children and learn their routines. Communicating pertinent information


• Provide a tour of your house. Point out safety devices such as baby gates, smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide detectors, etc. Show how to work the door and window locks and how to turn on outside lights. Make sure the sitter knows planned fire escape routes (including any problem areas) and understands where emergency supplies are located including a first aid chart, first aid supplies, and a flashlight.


• Instruct the sitter to never open the door for strangers or identify him/herself (on the phone or in person) as a caregiver. Ask that all doors be locked and outside lights remain on.


• Write down and discuss pertinent information about you, your children, and the situation, including:
  
  o Your name, home address, and phone number.
  
  o Where you are, when you will return, and how to reach you.
  
  o Emergency telephone numbers including police, fire/rescue, poison control center, hospital, doctor, and contact person if you can't be reached. Post at every phone.
  
  o Complete details about each child (i.e., full name, age, height, weight, nap/bedtime, allergies and special instructions for medications including doses, instructions, and schedule)
  
  
• Identify the location of each phone and talk about your usage policy.


• Discuss house rules and routines, including bedtime practices, discipline philosophy, and acceptable and unacceptable TV programs and foods. Identify which rooms are off limits to children. Give instructions regarding play areas and use of protective gear for bikes, skateboards, inline skates, etc.


• Stress the importance of constant supervision.


• Upon your return, ask for details regarding the time you were away, including any problems or issues.
  
  Tips adapted from American Academy of Pediatrics and National SAFE Kids Campaign
  
  

Happy New Years

Just a reminder the office will be closed on Friday December 31st for New Years Eve. We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday!

Indiana Food Protection Training

Save the date for a unique training opportunity sponsored by Indiana Food Protection

FD 112 Food Code, will be held in Indianapolis May 10, 11, and 12, 2011.

This introductory course will consist of training on the Food Code and the public health rationale for Code provisions to prepare regulators for application of the Food Code to “retail” food establishments. Topics include management’s duties and responsibilities, employee health, food equipment, water, plumbing, waste, physical facilities, poisonous/toxic material compliance and enforcement.

FDA courses, taught by FDA trainers, are tuition free and are open on a national basis. Indiana’s course will be open to Industry, Regulatory, and Academia. This course awards 2 CEU’s and attendees will be awarded a certificate for completion of the course. Attendees must attend the entire course, participate in all class activities, and complete the assessments tool(s) (exercises) that measure the participant’s attainment of course objectives.

Registration information will come from Indiana Food Protection in March.


Judy Blythe
Indiana State Department of Health
Food Protection Program Secretary
jblythe@isdh.in.gov

Cherish the Children: Prevent Child Abuse

As important as the human side of child sexual abuse is, the impact it has on society as a whole is critical.

Each and every one of us feel the economic impact of child sexual abuse. Even if you were not sexually abused as a child, even if no one in your family was sexually abused, child sexual abuse impacts your life. The immediate and tangible costs of intervention and treatment for a single incident of substantiated child sexual abuse are $14,345. These expenses are largely paid for by the public sector – the taxpayer. In fact, the U.S. spends $3.4 billion annually for the immediate costs of child sexual abuse. Long-term expenses and losses attributable to child sexual abuse add $35 billion annually. In Indiana, the direct and immediate costs of child sexual abuse are nearly $48 million dollars annually. The long-term costs and losses caused by child sexual abuse in Indiana are over $500 million dollars annually. Add to this the fact that child sexual abuse is a root cause of many other devastating and expensive societal problems. For instance, 60% of first teen pregnancies are preceded by an incident of child sexual abuse. Young girls who are sexually abused are three times more likely to develop psychiatric disorders and/or substance abuse problems in adulthood than girls who are not sexually abused. Male survivors of child sexual abuse are 70% more likely to seek psychological treatment for issues such as substance abuse, suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide.

Except for murder, child sexual abuse is the most expensive victim crime in the U.S. WHO PAYS? YOU DO. It only costs $10.53 to train an adult to improve their child-protective behaviors. Research suggests that the average trained adult will better protect at least ten children from sexual abuse in the years after training. That’s only $1.05 to better protect a child. The money saved by preventing just one substantiated case of child sexual abuse would pay for prevention training for 1,362 adults. That training would result in 13,620 children better protected from abuse. You do the math. Prevention is the answer.
~~~Darkness to Light~~~

Count Down...
16 weeks until Child Care Answers 2nd Annual Cherish the Children Conference- Saturday, April 16, 2011- Don't Miss It!

Child Care Answers Offers Free Services for Local Businesses to Help Employees

Press Release
Contact: Child Care Answers
Child Care Resource and Referral Agency
Web: www.childcareanswers.com
Phone: 317-631-4643 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date/Time: December 23, 2010


Child Care Answers Offers Free Services for Local Businesses to Help Employees

Higher quality child care benefits not only the child by providing a safe learning environment, but it also gives parents a peace of mind knowing their child is being properly cared for during their work day. When a company offers their employees services through Child Care Answers they are giving them a tool needed to be more productive at work and worry less about their children.

Corporate Child Care Answers was established to provide support to Central Indiana’s business community by offering specialized services to meet the concerns of their workforce. Corporate Child Care Answers provides multiple services to local businesses. Many of these services are completely free. Included in the services are referrals to child care programs that can be obtained through a “free child care” search button placed on the business website, or through a phone consultation with a child care search specialist, training on the components of quality child care, and individualized consultation.

When an employee clicks on the Free Child Care Search button they will be asked to enter their zip code and then they can complete a search for child care based on their individual needs along with educational information to help them make an informed decision about their child care preferences.

Another free service that Corporate Child Care Answers can offer is training to employees. Topics offered include: information on how to navigate and use Paths to QUALITY - the state’s quality rating system; Questions to ask a child care provider; Nutritional Meal planning for a busy family; Math at home; Positive Discipline; and Kindergarten Readiness.

To find out how Corporate Child Care Answers can help your business contact Mindy Bennett at 317-631-4643 x 224 or mindyb@childcareanswers.com.

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

From your Friends at Child Care Answers

Our holiday hours

Dec. 20th-22nd~ open 8-5; Dec. 23rd~ open 8-2; closed Dec. 24th

Dec 27th -29th ~open 8-5; Dec. 30th~open 8-7; closed Dec. 31st

The Mothers in Transition Project

A Community Needs Assessment:

The Indiana Commission for Women will be conducting a comprehensive research project titled Mothers in Transition. This research project is a state-wide community needs assessment focusing on women living the transition into single-motherhood whether that is by divorce, domestic violence, separation, or any other circumstance. Participants will be interviewed or participate in focus groups with the aim of discussing the lived experiences of single-motherhood in three areas: 1) Economic Development; 2) Physical Health; and 3) Psychological Wellness. Research findings are scheduled to be released August 2011. All information collected and will be kept strictly anonymous. The identities of participants will be protected under a confidentiality agreement.

Participant Requirements
I am seeking participants who meet all the following criteria:
• Women transitioning into single-motherhood from divorce, separation, death of spouse, pregnancy, or any other circumstance
• Within 18-70 years of age
• Within 10 years of the event of transition
• Custodial parent or primary caregiver of at least one child under the age of 18

Our mission at the Indiana Commission for Women is to understand the needs of Indiana women and their families and work strategically to help bring about positive solutions. The results of this project with elucidate those needs, help inform policy, and open a productive dialogue to address the relevant concerns and challenges. Only from knowing what is needed can steps be taken toward progress.

If you would like to be a voice in this research and meet all the aforementioned criteria, I invite you to join the conversation. I am looking for women of diverse cultural, social, economic, and regional backgrounds to provide their stories. Interviews and focus groups will be scheduled in the months of November 2010 – March 2011. If you would like to participate or would like more information, please contact the principal investigator via email at STran@dwd.in.gov or call (317) 234-3376. I appreciate your interest in this project and hope that you can somehow contribute.

Sincerely,
Stella Tran Research Coordinator VISTA

Website: www.in.gov/icw · Email: STran@dwd.in.gov · Direct Line: 317.234.3376
Government Center South · 402 West Washington St. Room W252, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

Be Safe This Christmas

Christmas trees that glitter with lights and tinsel symbolize the joyous spirit of the holiday season. The American Red Cross urges Americans to remember that the trees also symbolize the potential fire hazards that can be a tragic part of this time of celebration.
About 600 fires a year are started by ignition of Christmas trees. The months of December, January and February are bad months for house fires, including those associated with holiday celebrations. More than 40 percent of home fires occur during this three-month period, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
The 1.2 million volunteers in the American Red Cross’ 921 chapters respond to 67,000 disasters a year – one disaster every 8 minutes. Major disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes and floods get the headlines but every single holiday fire comes down to a single, terrible moment for the victims.
During December, January and February, the majority of the responses by the Red Cross are for fires. Red Cross volunteers help victims of these fires find temporary shelter, provide them with vouchers for food and clothing and provide other needed assistance.
The American Red Cross cautions people to be extra careful during the holidays when it comes to fire prevention. Decorating trees and homes and cooking holiday meals can be happy and joyous times if a few common-sense precautions are taken:

1. Decorate Christmas trees only with laboratory-approved lights.
2. Unplug Christmas tree lights when leaving home or going to bed.
3. Do not decorate metal trees with lights.
4. Do not decorate trees with candles.
5. Keep candles away from decorations and other combustible material.
6. Place trees away from heat sources and exits.
7. Water trees daily.
8. Make sure chimneys are inspected before the holidays and cleaned if necessary.
9. Keep space heaters at least three feet away from bedding, clothing, furniture, drapes and anything else combustible.Use equipment that is approved for indoor use. Turn space heaters off if you are not available to monitor this equipment. Remember at all times children anywhere near space heaters
must be supervised at all times.
10. Don’t wear loose-fitting clothing when cooking to avoid ignition by stove burners.

Santa Comes to Town

Today at the State Fair Grounds Toyota Pavilion, is Santa Comes to Town! There will be giveaways for children and information about local service agencies. The event is free and runs from 11am - 6pm. Stop in and check out our booth!

Holiday Hours

Wishing you a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

From your Friends at Child Care Answers

Our holiday hours

Dec. 20th-22nd~ open 8-5; Dec. 23rd~ open 8-2; closed Dec. 24th

Dec 27th -29th ~open 8-5; Dec. 30th~open 8-7; closed Dec. 31st

Call Your Senators TODAY to Support Increased Funding for Child Care!!!

Child Care Spending Needs to Be Increased to Ensure the Safety of Our Children

Today could be the day the Senate takes up a year-long funding bill (referred to as the omnibus funding bill). Funding for all federal programs is at stake. The House of Representatives passed a year-long funding measure with a $400 million increase in child care funding for next year. The Senate bill includes $2.8 billion for child care – an increase of about $700 million! Let your Senators know that getting the economy back on track hinges on parents being able to afford child care. The Senate vote could be today!

What happens next? Senators need to adopt the omnibus bill. The House needs to either pass the omnibus bill or negotiate the differences between the two bills in a conference committee. The federal government is currently operating under a continuing resolution (CR) until Saturday. Call your Senators TODAY -- especially if you are from the states of AK, CO, FL, IN, ME, MN, MO, MS, OH, and WV -- to tell him/her to support the omnibus appropriations bill with $2.8 billion for child care. Every call counts! We are counting on you to weigh in – every Senator needs to know that the omnibus bill is important and child care funding is critical to working parents.



Take Action! TODAY!



1.The toll-free number to call is 1-877-227-3801. This will connect you to the U.S. Senate Operator.



2.The first person to answer will be an operator who will ask how you want to be connected. Tell the operator the name of your Senator. If you’re not sure, [click here] to find out.



3.Once you are connected to the office of your Senator, a staff person will answer the phone. Please say:



·My name is (name) and I’m calling from (city, state).



·“I’m calling to urge your support for the omnibus appropriations bill, which includes $2.8 billion for child care.



·Working parents need child care. Make child care a priority to help people get and keep a job!”



4. After your call please forward this notice on to all of your friends and/or coworkers to also have them make a call. We must continue to let Congress know that it is critical to invest in early childhood funding. AFTER YOUR CALL, follow-up with an email to your Senator by clicking here.

NACCRRA urges all to Take Action Now!

**BREAKING NEWS**ALERT: CALLS STILL NEEDED! Take Action!


Call Your Senators TODAY to Support Increased Funding for Child Care!!!

Child Care Spending Needs to Be Increased to Ensure the Safety of Our Children

Today could be the day the Senate takes up a year-long funding bill (referred to as the omnibus funding bill). Funding for all federal programs is at stake. The House of Representatives passed a year-long funding measure with a $400 million increase in child care funding for next year. The Senate bill includes $2.8 billion for child care – an increase of about $700 million! Let your Senators know that getting the economy back on track hinges on parents being able to afford child care. The Senate vote could be today!

What happens next? Senators need to adopt the omnibus bill. The House needs to either pass the omnibus bill or negotiate the differences between the two bills in a conference committee. The federal government is currently operating under a continuing resolution (CR) until Saturday. Call your Senators TODAY -- especially if you are from the states of AK, CO, FL, IN, ME, MN, MO, MS, OH, and WV -- to tell him/her to support the omnibus appropriations bill with $2.8 billion for child care. Every call counts! We are counting on you to weigh in – every Senator needs to know that the omnibus bill is important and child care funding is critical to working parents.

Take Action! TODAY!

1. The toll-free number to call is 1-877-227-3801. This will connect you to the U.S. Senate Operator.

2. The first person to answer will be an operator who will ask how you want to be connected. Tell the operator the name of your Senator. If you’re not sure, [click here] to find out.

3. Once you are connected to the office of your Senator, a staff person will answer the phone. Please say:

· My name is (name) and I’m calling from (city, state).

· “I’m calling to urge your support for the omnibus appropriations bill, which includes $2.8 billion for child care.

· Working parents need child care. Make child care a priority to help people get and keep a job!”

4. After your call please forward this notice on to all of your friends and/or coworkers to also have them make a call. We must continue to let Congress know that it is critical to invest in early childhood funding. AFTER YOUR CALL, follow-up with an email to your Senator by clicking here.

New Preschool-Based Curriculum for Jumping and Jump Roping Skills Available

The brand new Jump Start! Preschool-Based curriculum is now available under "Resources" as a free download from the Jump Kids Jump Movement website, www.jumpkidsjump.org. This new curriculum, available for free, meets Indiana Academic Standards for Kindergarten and Foundations: Indiana Academic Standards for Young Children from Birth to Age 5.

Also found under "Resources" is the Jump Start! video that is now available as a free complement to the curriculum. The video illustrates some of the jumping activities preschoolers can engage in to develop skills for jumping rope and can be downloaded and burned to a DVD.

To access these free resources, all you need to do is register on the www.jumpkidsjump.org web site.

Says Pattie Ryan, Deputy Director for the Indiana Association for Child Care Resource and Referral (IACCRR), "Our state's preschoolers can benefit considerably from Jump Start! as a way to help them develop and practice jumping skills as an essential first step before learning to jump rope. Jumping rope is a fun physical fitness activity they can do all their lives." The curriculum, a ready-to-go resource for anyone working with preschoolers, contains lessons, activities, and resources to help introduce preschoolers to jumping and jumping rope. With Indiana's children among the most obese in the nation, "early intervention with a curriculum and DVD like Jump Start! is a hands-on way to help our preschoolers develop a fitness life skill that can help prevent them from ever becoming overweight and from battling health problems now and in the future," states Dr. Jeff Sperring, Riley Hospital's Chief Medical Officer.

Ideas for Christmas Break

Most school-aged children are on vacation for two weeks and the budget’s blown on holiday gifts…What’s a parent to do? Listed below are several ideas to keep the kids busy without spending a fortune.

Active
◦Bundle up and take a walk around The Canal and White River State Park or Monument Circle admiring the Circle of Lights® presented by the Contractors of Quality Connection and Electrical Workers of IBEW 481 (until Jan. 8) – FREE.
◦Go swimming at the Natatorium on the campus of IUPUI.
◦Go duckpin bowling at Action Duckpin Bowl or Atomic Bowl Duckpin in Fountain Square.
◦Take a twirl around the ice skating rink at the Indiana/World Academy Skating Academy in Pan Am Plaza.
◦Test your skills at the Amazing Games arcade at Jillian's or try cosmic bowling in the Retro Hi Life lanes. Grab a bite to eat in the Video Café.

Educational
◦Take a guided memorial tour and visit the Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum, located in the basement of the Indiana Soldiers & Sailors Monument (open Wednesday through Sunday) – FREE.
◦Take a tour through the Indianapolis Museum of Art or check out Christmas at the Lilly House through Jan 2. – FREE (parking included.) ◦Kids will love the hands-on approach at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, where kids of all ages are encouraged to touch and let their imaginations take over! Don’t miss The Children’s Museum Jolly Days Winter Wonderland through Jan. 9. This event features a Snow Castle, Yule Slide and photos with Santa. Polar Bears to Penguins exhibit is also on display through Jan. 2.
◦Visit the Indiana State Museum’s Celebration Crossing through Dec. 31 and Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition through Jan. 16.
◦View the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art’s new exhibit, Jingle Rails: The Great Western Adventure, on display through Jan. 9. (IUPUI students and staff and kids under 4 get in FREE.)
◦Visit holidays past at the beautifully decorated Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, dressed up in all the trappings of holidays past at the White House. He was the first president to decorate a tree in the White House.
◦Visit the past at the Morris Butler House Museum and the James Whitcomb Riley Home.
◦It’s tea time! Take the family to the Indianapolis Propylaeum’s Holiday Children’s Tea "Peter Pan and the Pirates" Dec. 29, complete with scones, tea sandwiches, sweets and flavored teas.

Entertainment
◦The Indiana Historical Society hosts Winterfest Dec. 27 -30. Engage your creative spirit and roll up your sleeves for family-friendly, hands-on activities and more!
◦Visit the Indianapolis Zoo for Christmas at the Zoo & White River Gardens' Woodland Wonderland presented by Wells Fargo Advisors until Dec. 30. Stroll through the Zoo covered in lights to see animals, indoor exhibits, the holiday dolphin show, Santa’s Village presented by Community Health Network, carolers, Santa’s Sweet Shop, the All A-Glow Light Show presented by Macy’s and more!
◦Don’t miss Christmas at the Puppet Studio! This Downtown tradition takes place Dec. 10 - 27 at Peewinkle's Puppet Studio.◦Follow the yellow brick road to The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis’ Lilly Theatre for “Dorothy Returns” holiday production Dec. 18 - 19, 21 – 24, 28 - 31 and Jan. 1 – 2.◦Have “Tea with Mrs. Claus” Dec. 19 & 26 in the Indiana State Museum’s L.S. Ayres Tea Room. Mrs. Claus and Raggedy Ann greet guests as they enjoy dainty sandwiches, scones, pastries and tea.
◦Take in the spectacular Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Yuletide Celebration through Dec. 23.

Seeking Hamilton County Child Care Providers!

The Prevent Child Abuse Council is seeking the involvement of child care providers in Hamilton county. The council meets from 8am to 9am on the third Friday of every month at the Hamilton County DCS office.

If you are interested or would like additional information you may contact Tory at (317) 636-5727 ext. 245 or email torym@childcareanswers.com

Early Childhood Investigations Webinar Series

FREE webinars to continue your professional development journey...

Robert-Leslie Publishing is not just another publishing company, they are members of your early childhood education community. They believe it is their responsibility to actively participate in the community by making important information accessible and available to administrators, teachers, parents, and other early education professionals. They sponsor Early Childhood Investigations, a free webinar series that makes it easy for early childhood professionals to hear from and engage with leaders in the field.

The 2011 Early Childhood Investigations Webinar Presenters:

Dr. Becky Bailey
Vicki Ehlers
Beth Engelhardt
Susan Gunnewig
Ana Lomba
Karen Nemeth
Debra Pierce
Dr. Timothy Shanahan
Bob Siegel
Sarah Sprinkel
Wendy Young


Check it out...
http://www.investigatorclub.com/AbouttheProgram/Webinars/tabid/263/Default.aspx#webinar1

Clergy for Child Care

You are invited to the first meeting of "Clergy for Childcare".

A gathering of religious leaders who provide or promote quality early care
and education through their places of worship or outreach ministries.

Thursday, December 9th, 2010 8am - 10 am.
North United Methodist Church
3808 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis
(Northwest corner of 38th and Meridian)

Speakers will include:
Dr. Eugene White, Superintendent, Indianapolis Public Schools
Ellen K. Annala, President and CEO, United Way of Central Indiana
Panel of local clergy discussing opportunities and challenges of child care ministries

Opportunities will include:
Networking with local clergy who provide or promote quality child care
Helpful ideas from education, nonprofit and religious leaders
Resources to take back to your ministry, children and families
A continental breakfast will be served.

Please R.S.V.P. to Melissa Jackson at United Way of Central Indiana
at 317.921.1335 or melissa.jackson@uwci.org.

St. Mary's Child Center Winter Seminar

St. Mary's Child Center Educational Outreach Program will hold it Winter 2011 Seminar Series in February. The seminar will focus on exploring and interpreting the Work of the Schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy at St. Mary's Child Center.

The seminar is ideal for those educators who would like to know more about St. Mary's Child Center's exploration and interpretation of the Reggio Emilia Philosophy and how to bring it to their classrooms. It will look at the classroom environment, interactions with children and families, and the documentation of the children's project work and investigations.

Seminar Dates:
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 (Part 1)
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 (Part 2)
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 (Part 3)
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
(A light dinner will be served)

St. Mary's Child Center, Gilliatte Building (Ft. Benjamin Harrison)
9230 Hawkins Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 42616

Seminar Fees: $40 per seminar or $100 for all 3 seminars
Scholarships are available for educators serving children impacted by poverty, violence, and trauma.

Please contact Sharon at (317) 361-4893 or outreach@stmaryschildcarenter.org for more information or to register.

Call the White House on Tuesday, November 30

Call the White House on Tuesday, November 30
NAEYC Children’s Champions Alert

The funding bills are still under negotiation between the White House and Congress. On Tuesday, November 30, advocates from across the country will contact the White House to ask them to remind Congress not to drop 300,000 children from child care and Head Start, and to support the Early Learning Challenge Fund.

The President and his important staff are key players in these funding decisions and we need to continue to let them know that young children and families should not lose out on the early care and education they need during these difficult times.

How to Call or Email the White House on November 30

Leave a message for President Obama on the White House Comments line:
To call the comments line dial 202-456-1111. (You may need to call more than once if you get a busy signal.)

Here is a sample voicemail message:

My name is ________ and I'm from (City), (State). Please urge Congress not to drop 300,000 children from child care and Head Start. Make sure that continued funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant and Head Start is NOT REDUCED in the appropriations bill and that the Early Learning Challenge Fund is included. Thank you.

Send President Obama an e-mail in support of early childhood education programs.

To e-mail the President, go to www.whitehouse.gov/contact.

Use the web form to send the White House an email. Here is a sample message you can type into the form:

Dear President Obama,
Please urge Congress not to drop 300,000 children from child care and Head Start. Make sure that continued funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant and Head Start is NOT REDUCED in the FY 2011 appropriations bill and that the Early Learning Challenge Fund is included. These programs help children learn and develop skills they need to succeed in school and in life. They also help families get ahead by giving parents the support they need to be productive at work. Thank you.


Sincerely, (Insert Your Name)

Holiday Hours

Child Care Answers will be closed November 24th, 25th and 26th to observe the Thanksgiving holidy. We wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving. The office will reopen on Monday November 29th.

Now Offering: Online Child Care Professional Training

Child Care Answers now offers Online training opportunities...

Training courses are designed to help early childhood professionals complete annual training requirements and acquire required training hours for those seeking a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, CDA credential renewal or in-service training. Courses provide a variety of engaging topics designed specifically for the early childhood professional. Courses are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year!

Don't delay - go to www.childcareanswers.com to register
Questions: contact Vanessa 317 636-5727, ext. 241 or vanessaf@childcareanswers.com

Scholarship dollars are not available to cover the cost of these training courses; however the cost of your CDA assessment could be covered by TEACH if you qualify

PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIAL FOR INDIANA YOUTH WORKERS

PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIAL FOR INDIANA YOUTH WORKERS: Classes Now Forming

Ivy Tech Community College is offering the new Indiana Youth Development Professional program.

Developed in partnership with Indiana YouthPRO and the Journey Fellowship, the Ivy Tech courses lead to an Indiana Youth Development Credential. Courses start January 10, 2010, at Ivy Tech's Indianapolis, Columbus, Kokomo, Lafayette, Muncie and South Bend campuses.

For more enrollment info from Ivy Tech, e-mail Tracy Schmitt at: tschmitt15@ivytech.edu

More info on the Indiana Youth Development Credential:
Indiana YouthPRO.

300,000 Children Could Lose Care

A broad coalition of early childhood advocacy groups is urging early childhood professionals to call on Washington about funding TODAY. Here is their message:

Congress is back in Washington today and has limited time to do some important work: ensure that funding is not cut for child care and Head Start before the end of the year.

Watch this video and share it with your friends and coworkers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7pEQ_pUaOk

Then, call Congress!!

As many as to 300,000 children stand to lose child care and Head Start, and we need to create the Early Learning Challenge Fund to encourage states to do even better for young children and families. Congress i s considering appropriations bills that could go backwards in spending for child care and Head Start, and would lose the Early Learning Challenge Fund.


Tell Congress to move forward and fund the Child Care and Development Block Grant, Head Start, and the Early Learning Challenge Fund.

1.Call 1-888-460-0813

2.The first person to answer the phone will be an operator who will ask how you want to be connected. Tell the operator the name of your Member of Congress. (Not sure? Look it up here: http://action.ececonsortium.org/

3.Once you are connected to the office of your Member of Congress, a staff person will answer the phone. Tell the staff person:
■ My name is (name) and I am calling from (city, state) and I am (your role).
■ Don’t drop 300,000 children from child care and Head Start. Make sure that continued funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant and Head Start is NOT REDUCED in the appropriations bill and that the Early Learning Challenge Fund is included.
■ We are counting on you here in (state). Thank you.

4.Then, hang up and ask five friends or coworkers to make a call as well.

New study confirms Videos for infants have little educational impact

New study confirms research from The Future of Children’s Issue on Children and Electronic Media: Videos for infants have little educational impact.

Read the full blog posting: The Future of Children Blog.

Winter Farmers Market

The Indy Winter Farmers Market opens in a new location this year, The Maxwell, on Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. from Nov. 13 - April 30, 2011. This is your one-stop-shop to purchase vegetables, fruit, meat, baked goods, herbs, natural cleaning products and other locally produced food & household products straight from regional farmers. By directly connecting farmers and producers to Indianapolis area residents, the Indy Winter Market supports family farms, preserves farm land and delivers fresh healthy produce to Indianapolis residents.

Healthy Child Care America

Looking to find a child care health consultant or early childhood mental health consultant for your program? Not sure who to contact? With the help of many state representatives, Healthy Child Care America has identified key contacts in each state and has made this information available at www.healthychildcare.org/Contacts.html

Contacts that you will find:

- Child Care Health Consultants

- Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants

- AAP Chapter Child Care Contacts

- CCDF State Administrators

- Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies

- ECCS Coordinators

- Licensing Contacts

- Professional Development Contacts

Not familiar with the role of a child care health consultant? Visit www.healthychildcare.org/WorkWithHP.html for more information.

If you believe the information listed on the state contact Web page of the HCCA Web site is incorrect, please e-mail childcare@aap.org with the correct information.

Feel free to share this information with your colleagues! Don't forget that you can print and disseminate the HCCA flyer from www.healthychildcare.org/ResourcesEECCP.html (first item listed) so others can learn about all that the HCCA Web site has to offer.

Rush Hour Recycling

Green Piece Indy will be hosting a round of rush hour recycling during the month of November.Drive through one of five locations to drop off old electronics and cardboard. Most of our hosts are offering a cup o’ joe just for recycling! Please share the dates with your colleagues and customers.

Each event is from 7 to 9 am:

Nov. 15: Bjava Coffee, 5510 Lafayette Rd
Nov. 16: The Coffee Brake, 6215 Allisonville Rd
Nov. 17: Lazy Daze, 10 S. Johnson Ave
Nov. 18: The Strange Brew, 4800 W Smith Valley Rd
Nov. 19: Earth House Collective, 237 N. East St

Rush Hour Recycling

In celebration of America Recycles Day, Rush Hour Recycling will take place the week of November 15. All Rush Hour Recycling events are from 7 to 9 a.m.

Nov. 15: Bjava Coffee, 5510 Lafayette Rd
Nov. 16: The Coffee Brake, 6215 Allisonville Rd
Nov. 17: Lazy Daze, 10 S. Johnson Ave
Nov. 18: The Strange Brew, 4800 W Smith Valley Rd
Nov. 19: Earth House Collective, 237 N. East St

Acceptable Recycling Items:
Clean, white EPS foam only. Recycle #6. No food containers.
Cardboard and box board (cereal boxes)

Televisions ($10 donation)
Telephone systems
Cellular phones
PC (personal computers)
Laptops
Computers
Monitors (CRTs) complete (no bare CRT tubes)
Mainframe computers
Scanners
Printers
Fax machines
Back-up power supplies systems
Photocopiers
Toner cartridges
Microwaves
VCR’s
Electronic wiring
Power cables
Electronic motors
Metals – Aluminum, Copper, Brass, Nickel.
Integrated Circuits (IC)
Computer mice
Microphones
Laserdisc Players
Computer Keyboards
VCR/DVD Players
Games Systems
Power Supplies
Surge Protectors
Palm Pilots/PDA
Motors
Computer boards
Copiers
Cash Registers
Satellite Components

How to teach Poison Safety to Elementary Aged school children

• Do you teach injury prevention programs for preschool and/or elementary school children?


• Are you looking for a new safety topic?


• Would you like to promote poison safety in your own community

Wednesday, November 24th from 12-3pm.
Who? For people who teach injury prevention programs for preschool and elementary
school children.
How long? 3 hours. Provides poison prevention background for the instructor, how to effectively teach poison safety to children and how to get the safety message home to children.
How much?The workshop is FREE
Where? 1812 N. Capitol, Wile Hall, 3rd Floor, Room W310, Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis

To register, contact
Barbara Cole at
317-962-9248 or
bcole@clarian.org

Foundations Training available online

4C of Southern Indiana is offereing a Foundations Podcast on their website. This is able to be accessed by anyone who logs onto the website. You will need to do the following:

1. Go to http://www.child-care.org/
2. Click on the Podcast option
3. Click on episode 4 Foundations
4. Click on Listen
5. Click on Read for the Educational Review
6. Print and fill out the form and enclose $10
7. Certificate will be mailed after the form has been reviewed

The certificate is good for 1 hour of in-service credit.

Preschoolers and Challenging Behaviors

Register now for the Preschoolers and Challenging Behaviors Class. There are limited spaces available.

The class is November 15th - 18th from 6pm to 9pm. Class will be held at Day Nursery Lilly, 3522 N. Central Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46205.

We will take a look at challenging behaviors in the 3-5 year old classroom. A model of social and emotional competence will be used throughout and many teaching strategies will be shown. Come prepared to learn, listen, share and participate in rethinking challenging behaviors and making children more successful in your child care setting. Participants must commit to all nights and complete required assignments in order to obtain the training certificate and CEU’s. ($60)