Sunday, September 23, 2012

Provider Picnic 2012

  We thank everyone who joined us for the Provider Picnic 2012. We missed those of you who were unable to make it. We hope to see you all next year! 



ALOHA from Child Care Answers!







Who did YOU vote for?








































"Unsweetened tea! Try some unsweetened tea!" 


Kids' party favors~





Mr. Maestro himself!











Thank you, Melanie Brizzi, for supporting quality child care!
































We're so glad some of our representatives joined us!















 




Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Tips, Tricks, and Parenting Advice- Parenting Plus!

Indianapolis Healthy Start and Walgreens are partnering together to bring the Parenting Plus Project to Indianapolis. 

An IHS Health Educator will be on-site at the Walgreens store at 16th and Meridian (1530 N Meridian St) every Tuesday from 10 am to 12 pm to provide education about parenting. Walk-ins are welcome and encouraged! Stop by the Health Corner to learn more about the Parenting Plus Project, visit parentingplus.eventbrite.com or call 317-221-2430 for more information!

*In addition to great information, attendees will receive B.A.B.E coupons!

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Free Mammography's /Mamografìas Gratis

2012 St. Vincent Mobile Mammography Van

The Jane Pauley Community Health Center

El Centro de Salud Comunitario de Jane Pauley

Friday September 28th. 2012 / Viernes 28 de Septiembre de 2012
Requirements / Requerimientos
  • Woman 38 years or older / Mujer mayor de 38 años de edad
  • With no medical insurance / Sin seguro medico
  • Must have a primary care provider / Debe tener un médico familiar
  • Complete a registration packet / completar el paquete de registraciòn
  • Last mammogram must have been at least a year ago / Su ultima mamograma hace mas de un año
For more information and to get a registration packet please call / Para màs informaciòn llame a
Rosie Moreno (317) 355-8708
The Jane Pauley Community Health Center
8931 E. 31th Street
Indianapolis, In 46219
Located at the Renaissance School / Localizada en la Escuela Renaissance

Clases Básicas de Computación

Clases Básicas de Computación

(En español)

Biblioteca Central (40 E. St. Clair Street)

Laboratorio de computación en la Biblioteca Central-Primer Piso

Para inscribirse, llame al (317) 275-4099
Cada clase ofrence dos opciones del dia y horario. Escoja una clase.
Septiembre 2012
Introducciòna computadorasEn este curso usted se familiarizarà con las partes bàsicas del computador, aprenderà a utilizar el teclado y ratòn. Conozca los programas que vienen incluidos y aprenda a personalizar su computador.
Mièrcoles, 12 de septiembre desde 6:00-8:00pm
Sàbado, 15 de septiembre desde 1:00-3:00pm

Navegando en Internet
Obtenga acceso a las noticias y a la informaciòn necesaria mediante el uso del internet, aprenda las funciones, y los sitios de web màs conocidos. Aprenda a utilizar mapas en internet para llegar a diferentes lugares.
Mièrcoles, 19 de septiembre desde 6:00-8:00pm

Sàbado, 22 de septiembre desde 1:00-3:00pm

Creando Cuentas de Correo Electrònico
aprenda a crear su cuenta de correo electrònico, como enviar, recibir y almacenar sus mansajes y las direcciones de las personas que envìan un correo electrònico, ya sea para comunicarse con su familia y amigos o para solicitar un trabajo.
Mièrcoles, 26 de septiembre desde 6:00-8:00pm

Sàbado, 29 de septiembre desde 1:00-3:00pm

Cupo limitado. Clases ùnicamente para adultos. Las clases son gratis y estàn abiertas al pùblico.





Celebración del 202 aniversario de la Independencia de México

The 202 anniversary celebration of the independence of Mexico

 

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Conferencia Latina de

Cuidado Infantil 2012
Sábado 29 de Septiembre del 2012

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

(Las registraciones comienzan a las 8:00 a.m.)

Costo: Registraciones antes del 17 de Septiembre – $25.00; Después

del 17 de Septiembre – $30.00; Registraciones en la entrada – $35.00

Almuerzo incluido

Lugar: Saint Mary’s College, Student Center (Centro de Estudiantes)

5445 North Dixie Way

Notre Dame, IN 46556

Para más información acerca de hoteles favor accesar a:

http://www.iaccrr.org/latinaconference2012.pdf

Se requiere pre-registrarse.

Fecha límite: 17 de Septiembre del 2012

Para conocer más información acerca de la conferencia
Por favor contactar a:

Yully Ortega

IACCRR

574-292-2782

Monday, July 30, 2012

Play and Learn Program

Press Release

Contact: Child Care Answers Resource and Referral Agency

Phone: 317-636-5727 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date/Time: July 30, 2012

Play and Learn Program Prepares Children for Kindergarten

Not all children have the opportunity in Central Indiana to attend preschool or a high-quality child care. The childhood years leading up to kindergarten are a vital part of a child’s brain development and learning patterns. For those children that are at home with their caregivers Child Care Answers offers a Play and Learn Program designed with the purpose of helping caregivers interact in an educational way with children to ensure children are prepared to enter kindergarten.

The program is offered weekly in neighborhoods throughout Indianapolis, generally held in IPS schools giving the children and families a chance to become familiar with the local school. During the sessions parents and caregivers are set in an environment allowing them to play with their children, interact with other adults, relax, and have the opportunity to ask questions and referral information.

Each session includes an art activity, sensory activity and math building activities. The goal of these activities is to give the parents an opportunity to see simple activities to help build kindergarten readiness skills while playing with their children. While also offering a chance for the children to have positive social interactions with other children and teach valuable social skills such as playing together and sharing.

These sessions are offered daily throughout Indianapolis and are completely free to parents, caregivers and small home child care providers. For more information about the program contact Leslie Wildhauer at lesliew@childcareanswers.com or 317-926-3401 extension 307.






Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Don't forget the CDA Renewal Amnesty program - Renew today!

Each initial CDA has an expiration date and must be renewed in order to stay active (within three years for an initial CDA and five years for a renewed CDA). If you do not renew before the expiration date you may have to "start over" and do all of the hard work it took you to get your first CDA rather than go through the much easier, faster, less expensive renewal process.


The Renewal Amnesty Program allows all who have earned or renewed a CDA in the last ten years to apply for Renewal, even if their CDA has expired. If your CDA has a credential date of January 2002 or later, you are eligible for Renewal Amnesty.

Take advantage of the CDA Renewal Amnesty program before it's too late!

Even if you don't need to renew, please be sure to let your colleagues with CDAs know about the program. The Renewal Amnesty program ends this December. We wouldn't want anyone to miss out on this great opportunity so please act now!

Click here to learn how to renew www.cdacouncil.org/renewal

Monday, July 16, 2012

Your Baby Can Read! Video Maker Shuts Its Doors

July 16, 2012
Contact: Shara Drew (617-896-9368; shara@commercialfreechildhood.org)
For Immediate Release


Your Baby Can Read! Video Maker Shuts Its Doors
Children’s Advocacy Group Declares Victory for Families

BOSTON -- July 16 -- The company responsible for deceptively marketing the video series Your Baby Can Read! has ceased operating.

Last year, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood petitioned the Federal Trade Commission to stop Your Baby Can, LLC and its founder and spokesperson Dr. Robert Titzer from falsely claiming that their product would teach babies to read. The video series, priced at $200, encouraged parents to put infants as young as three months in front of screens and was advertised heavily on television. Five months after CCFC’s request for a federal investigation, TV advertising for Your Baby Can Read! stopped completely. The FTC is still investigating the company.

“By making grandiose promises, Your Baby Can Read! exploited parents’ natural tendency to want what’s best for their children,” said CCFC’s director Dr. Susan Linn. “But there is no evidence that screen media are effective for teaching babies anything—let alone a complex skill like reading. In addition to conning parents out of $200, the company’s false and deceptive marketing may have been putting babies at risk.”

Research has linked infant screen time to sleep disturbances, attention problems, and delayed language acquisition, as well as problems in later childhood such as poor school performance and childhood obesity. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time for children under age two. If parents followed Your Baby Can Read!’s viewing instructions, their baby would have watched more than 200 hours by the age of nine months.

A notice at www.yourbabycanread.com informs visitors that “the cost of fighting recent legal issues has left us with no option but to cease business operations.” In addition to CCFC’s complaint, the company was the subject of an investigative piece on the Today Show and had been battling class action suits.

CCFC is still urging the FTC to take action, to send a message that such deceptive marketing will not be tolerated.

Dr. Linn added, “The Commission has in its power to force Your Baby Can to provide compensation for parents who were deceived, and to prevent Dr. Titzer from creating another company making similar false claims. Even more important, taking action will deter other companies from making deceptive claims about the educational value of screen media for babies.”

The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (www.commercialfreechildhood.org) is a national coalition that counters the harmful effects of marketing to children. CCFC is a project of Third Sector New England (www.tsne.org).

Monday, July 9, 2012

We all do better when our children receive safe, loving care every day - Grand Rapids Herald-Review: Opinion

We all do better when our children receive safe, loving care every day - Grand Rapids Herald-Review: Opinion: As Minnesota children settle into their summer care routines, many parents breathe a sigh of relief. Arranging care that engages their older c…

Kids Day at The Indiana State Fair

August 13th from 10am-3pm

Activities throughout the day from children including visits from PBS's Clifford and Phineas and Ferb. The Midway will offer unlimited rides from noon-10pm for $15.

For more details visit the State Fair's website at www.indianastatefair.com

Friday, June 29, 2012

Toddler's death highlights inconsistencies in Indiana day cares - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Toddler's death highlights inconsistencies in Indiana day cares - 13 WTHR Indianapolis
What's important to take from this story is that regulations in Indiana do vary vastly depending on the type of care it is. Parents searching for care have services available to them free of charge that will not only help them locate child care in their neighborhood but educate them about the regulations and what to look for in a quality child care setting. In central Indiana parents can contact Child Care Answers to help them in their search at (317) 631-4643 or visit online at http://www.childcareanswers.com/.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Office Closed

Just a reminder our office will be closed on Wednesday July, 4th. We will reopen on the 5th at 8am. Wishing you and your family a safe and happy holiday!

Bullying in Indiana Symposium

2012 Education Symposium presented by the Children's Coalition of Indiana presents:

Bullying in Indiana

Session 1: Bullying & Cyberbullying
What are they? What are the systems in place to prevent/stop them?
What holes exist in the current system?

Session 2: The Dividing Line
Where are the lines between bullying, school discipline, and free speech?

Session 3: Best Practices
Where do we go from here?

July 26, 2012 ~ 9:00 a.m.‐1:00 p.m. ET (check‐in, 9:00‐9:30 a.m.)

Cost is $15 ($10 for CCI members) and includes lunch.

The Villages Training Room
3833 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis

Register by July 20 at http://tinyurl.com/738mrn4.

For more information, contact Leslie Hankins–
lhankins@ayskids.org, 317‐803‐3134 x18

CEUs available

Monday, June 25, 2012

FREE Training Opportunity

Looking for some FREE traning opportunities? Check out the webinars offered through Early Childhood Investigations.

June 27, 2012, 2 PM EDT, Felicia DeHaney, Ph.D.

Family, Culture, Program Administration, and Social-Emotional Development- A Lens for ECE Administrators
Sponsored by National Black Child Development Institute

July 11, 2012, 2 PM EDT, Jeff Holden

Lined up around the Block: Build Waiting Lists for Your ECE Program with ideas from the Fortune 500

August 15, 2012, 2 PM EDT, Barbara Kaiser

Challenging Behavior is Everyone’s Challenge! How to support ECE staff who work with children with challenging behaviors.

August 22, 2012, 2 PM EDT, Dr. Bill Strader

Put future ECE leaders to work in your program: Making the most of college students in early childhood settings

To register for the webinar and view additional topics offered visit the website at
http://www.earlychildhoodwebinars.org/presentations/

Thursday, June 21, 2012

3 hours of FREE training for licensed providers in Allen, Hamilton, Johnson, Lake and Marion Counties

DoD-Funded Military Child Care Liaison Initiative is offering online professional development opportunities through the Child Care Aware Training Academy ™ Indiana is one of 13 states selected to participate in the Military Child Care Liaison Initiative, a U.S. Department of Defense-funded project in partnership with Child Care Aware® of America (formerly NACCRRA) to expand the availability of quality, affordable community based child care for military families. There is an opportunity for no-cost professional development through this initiative.


The Department of Defense (DoD) is funding a series of three online trainings for
licensed child care providers in Allen, Hamilton, Johnson, Lake and Marion Counties.


➤➤ Developmentally Appropriate Practice

➤➤ Planning Language and Literacy Experiences

➤➤ Mathematics and Science Experiences for Young Children


These trainings count toward licensing requirements and the professional development clock hour requirements for Paths to QUALITY.  A certificate indicating that the participant has completed three training hours will be awarded upon completion of all trainings.

All trainings must be completed by December 31, 2012.

Register now and be part of this exciting professional development opportunity.


To register, send your name, email address, county, and state to:

Please watch for an e-mail from “Smart Horizons.”

Space is limited – Register today



Play and Learn

Have you hear about our Play and Learn program? Play and Learn is a FREE program designed for kids ages 0-5 and their parents or caregiver. Play and Learn groups are an excellent place to have fun with your kids. They are:
  • FREE!! There is no cost to families!
  • Located in YOUR neighborhood.
  • Not only fun but helps prepare kids for the skills they need for kindergarten success!
  • A GREAT way to learn about community resources and meet other parents in your area!
  • Open to child care providers as well! Just be prepared to play with the kids and keep your ratio 4 children to 1 adult!
Our summer session begins Tuesday, June 26th ! We meet on the following days and locations:
Tuesday 9am-11am
IPS School 56
2353 N Columbia Ave

Wednesday 9am-11am
Immanuel United Church of Christ
402 Prospect

Thursday 3:30-5pm
SouthEast Community Services
901 S. Shelby St.
Senior Center, 2nd Floor

Friday 9am-11am
IPS School 51
3426 Roosevelt Ave

For more information contact Leslie Wildauer at (317) 926-3401 ext. 307. Or email lesliew@childcareanswers.com .

Monday, June 18, 2012

Upcoming Webinar Opportunity

Early Childhood Investigations is pleased to present

Family, Culture, Program Administration, and Social-Emotional Development- A Lens for ECE Administrators presented by Dr. Felicia DeHaney June 27, 2012

Join Dr. Felicia DeHaney, Chief Executive Officer of the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI), and one of our country’s leading experts on child development for children of color, as she addresses the cultural aspects of asocial-emotional development of children from birth through age eight. This free webinar will cover:


• school as a stressor

• familial cultural and linguistic identity

• building and supporting resilience

• your role in guiding teachers and families to support social emotional development.

Participants will receive practical tools and strategies to strengthen what they are currently doing to help children succeed in school.

Learn more and register now!

But, wait... There are so many more webinars!


Thursday, May 31, 2012

Read 'Round the Circle

Love Reading? Love Kids?
Join Colts DB Antoine Bethea to help us break the national reading relay record of a single book!

We can make it happen with 500 people! We’ll provide the book. You read the story.

Invite your family and friends to read a sentence from the beloved children’s novel Charlotte’s Web.

June 7
5 p.m. on Monument Circle
Sign up today at uwci.org!

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Another FREE webinar: Using ECE Technology DAP-Style! Top Questions Answered

Join the ECE Technology Wizard, Chip Donohue, as the moderator of this fast-paced webinar with Fran S. Simon, M.Ed. and Karen Nemeth, Ed.M., Co-Authors of Digital Decisions: Choosing the Right Technology for Early Childhood Education. The webinar will focus on practical recommendations to help you integrate technology in your program using developmentally appropriate techniques that focus on learning and relationships. You will learn more about:


  • the DAP technology planning process
  • evaluating apps, websites, and software to ensure they align with constructivist approaches, as well as preschool standards
  • integrating technology into learning centers in child-initiated programs.
  • using technology meaningfully to enhance child-centered learning
Webinar is June 6th. Learn more and register now!



Summer Reading Programs

With the start of the summer season filled with hot days it gives a great chance to cool off in the shade with a few good books. Many local libraries and bookstores offer great summer reading incentives that will not only keep your children reading but reward them for it.

Half Price Books is once again offering their Feed Your Brain Summer reading program in which children who read at least 300 minutes receive a $5 coupon to use during the month of August.

Barnes and Nobles summer reading program offers a free book for reading 8 books through the summer.

Scholastic has a Summer Reading Challenge in which kids can log their minutes read for a chance to win prizes.

Most local libraries offer fantastic summer reading programs!

Friday, May 25, 2012

Exciting Opportunity for CACFP Providers

Indiana's CACFP Award Program

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

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

Why Apply?
  • To improve children's diets and bring program meals in line with USDA nutritional guidelines;
  • To promote your facility to parents by demonstrating that you care about children's health;
  • To be recognized by recieving:
  • A certificate of achievement;
  • A parent letter to share your success with parents of the children in your care;
  • A press release template to assist you in promoting your award to your local media; and
  • Signage to display your achievement at your facility.
For more information on the program visit their website at http://www.doe.in.gov/student-services/nutrition/indianas-cacfp-award-program .

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Shower Your Baby with Love

Community Baby Shower and Maternity Fashion Show
(Plus a workshop for dads!)
Who: Pregnant moms and families. Dads are welcome too! Free!

When: Sunday June, 3 2012

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

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

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

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

All expecting new moms will receive:
  • Baby gift pack
  • Refreshments
  • A chance to win prizes
  • Information about keeping baby safe and healthy
  • Plus a special workshop and gift bag for dad
Doctors will be there to answer questions you have about your pregnancy or new baby.



Free Tax Webinar for Child Care Providers

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


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

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

* Income items

* Recordkeeping tips

* Business use of the home calculation

* Expense issues

* Depreciation rules and reporting

* Food Program reimbursements

To register for the free webinar, click here.

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









Thursday, May 10, 2012

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Provider Appreciation- Free Online Training May 11th

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

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Upcoming Make-It-Take-It Session

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


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

Thursday, April 26, 2012

FREE Marketing Tool for Child Care Providers

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


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

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

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

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

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Free Breakfast & Information Session

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

Save the Date

*Save the Date*

2012 Early Childhood Wellness Summit

Healthy Children + Healthy Caregivers =

A Healthy Future


We’re coming back to our roots!



The Ball State Early Childhood Conference

returns to the BSU Student Center

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Keynote & Workshop Sessions from

8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.



Lunch included!

FREE PARKING!



We are partnering with

Huffer Child Care Resource & Referral


Funding provided in part by:

Ball Brothers Foundation



Thursday, April 12, 2012

ATTENTION Paths to QUALITY Sites

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

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

CALL NOW!!

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Have you been to the NEW Lakeshore Learning Store

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

We look forward to seeing you then.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

ProKids, INC Presents

Effecting Individual Child Behavior and the Group Dynamic

June 9, 2012 at the ProKids, Inc Indianapolis from 9am-12pm
$30 Registration fee and includes light refreshments
All participants must register online at http://www.utsprokids.org/login.asp

Training Agenda:

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

1. Environment & Workplace Culture

2. Planning and Communication (Thinking Outside the Box)

3. Strategies & Techniques

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

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

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

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

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

Tips From Your Mentor

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

By Suzanne Milligan, Paths to QUALITY Mentor
Child Care Solutions Kokomo, Indiana

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

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

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

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

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

Writing a Quality Inclusion Policy

Writing a Quality Inclusion Policy

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

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

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

When considering access, ask yourself the following questions:
  • How does my program make reasonable efforts to enroll all children, especially those with special needs?
  • In looking at my learning environment, do all children have access to all learning centers, materials and activities?
When considering participation, ask yourself the following questions:
  • How do I encourage all children to participate in meaningful ways with their peers?
  • How do I build on each child's strengths to provide for his individual needs?
When considering support, ask yourself the following questions:
  • How do I encourage all families to take part in making decisions about their child?
  • How do I collaborate with parents and other partners to provide for each child's needs?
  • What support do I offer my staff to have the skills to attend to each child's needs?
Another consideration to writing a quality inclusion policy is language used to promote appropriate inclusive practice in your setting. Always use Person-First Language when describing anyone. This focuses on the child and his abilities rather than challenges. For example, use "a child with autism" rather than an "autistic child" or "a child who bites" rather than "a biter." Focus on the strengths rather than challenges. For example, "We welcome children of all abilities" rather than "We welcome children with disabilities."

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

Monday, April 2, 2012

Easter deviled eggs


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

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Lemonade Day Indianapolis

Register For Lemonade Day 2012
In Central Indiana

Lemonade Day is Saturday, May 19th 2012

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

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

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