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)

CCDF Contact Information

General Information-All counties (Hamilton, Hendricks, Madison, Marion)
CCDF Main Office
Family Place (317) 545-5281
3801 N. Temple Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46205
Toll Free: 1-866-287-2420
Fax: 317-545-1069
Site hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm Monday 8:30am - 8:00pm

CCDF Scheduling Hotline: ccdfscheduling@childrensbureau.org To schedule or reschedule an appointment contact hotline at 317-545-5281 x204 or 1-866-287-2420 x 204. Live hotline is available Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:30 am to 11:30 am and Tuesday from 1:00pm to 4:30pm. After hours, please leave a message.

CCDF Appeals: Floretta McGraw, fmcgraw@childrensbureau.org . Send appeals to Floretta's attention at : 3801 N. Temple Avenue; Indpls. IN 46205, 317-545-1069 X354 or fax 317-545-1069
***No Walk-in Hours at Any Location***

Looking for a Halloween night snack that's both healthy and festive? This skeletal array fits the bill, no bones about it -- just assorted fresh vegetables and a bowl of dip arranged in the shape of a spooky cat.
More Halloween Recipes
Ingredients
• Black Bean Dip
• ASSORTED VEGETABLES OF YOUR CHOICE, SUCH AS
• Celery
• Cherry tomatoes
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Green beans
• Mushrooms
• Zucchini



Instructions
1. Arrange vegetables in the shape of a cat, as shown. Serve with Black Bean Dip

Tips for a safe Halloween

Motorists—please do not exceed 20 MPH in neighborhoods this Halloween, regardless of the posted speed limit.

Trick or Treaters—always walk in-groups; parents should accompany young children. Older children should give their parents a predetermined route and return time. Try to finish trick-or-treating before dark—if not, carry a flashlight. Only visit homes that are decorated or that have outside lights on—never enter a strange home or get in the car with a stranger. Always use sidewalks where available—if not, walk facing on-coming traffic.

Costumes—make sure your costumes are made of flame-retardant materials and are not so long as to trip you walking up and down steps. Use light colors or carry a glow stick or some type of reflective material. If you choose to wear a mask, make sure that your vision is not obstructed or walk with someone who can watch your step for you.

Treats—don't eat your treats until you get home! Parents check out all treats in a well-lighted area and throw away any treat that has torn or damaged packaging. Fruit and homemade treats should be inspected very carefully, even to the point of cutting them up for a closer look.

Are you a Super Dad??

Faster than a speeding minivan, more powerful than the smell of a dirty diaper, able to leap discarded toys in a single bound, it's . . . SUPERDADDY!

Join Dads, Inc. this Saturday, October 30th at 10:30 am at the Glendale Branch Library for this fun-filled, action-packed program that teaches Dads how to incorporate comic books when helping their toddlers and pre-schoolers learn to read, or when enhancing their elementary-age children's reading skills. Dads and kids are both encouraged to dress as their favorite superhero! And be prepared to meet some superheroes! This event is appropriate for ages 3 and up.

While this is traditionally one of our most popular programs, it will not be offered again until October 2011. Be sure to take advantage now!

Registration is $10 per family ticket (1 dad and up to 2 kids). That price includes a free comic book, a snack and a picture with a superhero! To register, call Chris Maples at 317-635-DADS today!

Access Pass Program Partnership

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Conner Prairie Interactive History Park, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, NCAA Hall of Champions, and Indiana Historical Society have joined forces to make fun family learning available to more Indiana families. Families that participate in any of the state assistance programs listed below can visit these locations for just $1 per family member per visit.

Qualifying programs

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Food stamps

Hoosier Healthwise Insurance

To join, visit any of the venues listed below and complete the Access Pass application. Applicants must show an Indiana-issued photo identification and a Hoosier Works card (without Visa logo) or Hoosier Healthwise card.

Download a printable application.

High Quality Family Child Care Training Online!

FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS...Don't miss this opportunity!

Up to 90 hours of family child care training IN YOUR OWN HOME!!!

REGISTER BY December 12, 2010

NAFCC is offering 2 online family child care training courses. Each course is worth 45 clock hours. Both classes are stand-alone and may be taken one at a time or at the same time.

Teaching and Learning in Family Child Care
· Explore the unique relationships that define the family child care environment
· Learn strategies for addressing guidance issues
· Discover the purpose of play and how to provide developmental learning activities that will keep your kids and parents excited about your program
· Grasp the professional and business practices that will help make your business a success

Creating Safe and Healthy Family Child Care Environments
· Understand how to arrange your home to facilitate positive learning experiences
· Learn what materials and equipment are developmentally appropriate
· Examine the health and safety concerns that are particular to the family child care environment

4.5 CEUs are available for the completion of each course and must be purchased at time of registration.

Courses begin January 10, 2011 and end May 6, 2011.

NAFCC Members
Course $150.00 (PER COURSE)
CEUs $50.00 (PER COURSE)
Non-Members
Course $200.00 (PER COURSE)
CEUs $50.00 (PER COURSE)

For several semesters, NAFCC, partnering with Salt Lake Community College, has offered Introduction to Family Child Care as a 45-hour online training course. If you completed NAFCC's "Introduction to Family Child Care" online course you have completed the curriculum that is covered in "Teaching and Learning in Family Child Care" and "Creating Safe and Healthy Family Child Care Environments"

Scroll Down for More Information

REGISTER HERE by 12/12/2010

Questions?-Contact us at training@nafcc.org or call 801-886-2322 ext. 335

More Information

Both classes are stand-alone and may be taken one at a time or at the same time. Each class will be considered complete based on its own merits. These two classes present a solid foundation for family child care providers new to the field and a best practices in family child care refresher training for experienced providers.

Teaching and Learning in Family Child Care

Materials included in this class are based on the NAFCC Quality Standards for Accreditation content areas of Relationships, Developmental Learning Activities, and Professional and Business Practices. It examines all of the relationships that make up the family child care environment including those between the provider and children, the children together, and the special relationship that exists between the provider and the client families. It also addresses the professional relationships that are part of family child care and explores the unique aspects of operating a family child care business. This class offers 10 lessons specifically targeted to providing developmental learning activities in a family child care environment including all domains of learning, information that reinforces the importance of scheduling and of providing a balance of both provider and child-directed activities, and strategies for addressing guidance issues.

Creating Safe and Healthy Family Child Care Environments

Materials included in this class are based on the NAFCC Quality Standards for Accreditation content areas of The Environment and Safety and Health. This class examines topics including home arrangement, materials, and equipment for the family child care program. It also addresses specific areas of concern regarding the safety and health of young children in group care settings. Creating Safe and Healthy Family Child Care Environments explores topics including minimizing disease in the family child care environment, planning and preparing food for young children, keeping children safe, and ensuring that the family child care environment is inspected for both health and safety concerns.

Requirements

There are no regularly scheduled class meetings: participants will learn where and when they choose within the time frame of the course schedule. Assignment due dates are included and will be adhered to during the course. Included are printable lecture notes, engaging discussion groups, weekly individual and group assignments, and links to additional material. This is an introductory course; there are no prerequisites.

Toddler was severely burned at a Plainfield Child Care home

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 September alone we helped 566 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 respond to the reports that a Toddler was severely burned at a Child Care home in Plainfield Indiana. This is a horrible tragedy that could have been prevented!

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

In Indiana home child care providers are not required by law to be licensed or regulated if they care for 5 or fewer unrelated children. Irene Martin, the child care provider in this case, was not licensed and was not required to be regulated or to take training to operate child care out of her home. Regulation and training could have helped prevent this tragic incident and kept that toddler safe.

I know that this incident has left families scared and confused about leaving their children in child care. 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 www.childcareanswers.com.

Mad Scientist Wraps

Ingredients
• 6 7- or 8-inchwhole wheat or plain flour tortillas
• 1/3 cupmayonnaise or salad dressing
• 6 leavesleaf lettuce (optional)
• 6 slicescooked ham (3 ounces)
• 6 slicescooked turkey breast (3 ounces)
• Assorted decorations such as: parsley sprigs, sweet red pepper strips, ripe olives, small pimento stuffed green olives, small pepperoncini peppers, julienned carrots, small sweet pickles, and/or shredded lettuce
• Mayonnaise, salad dressing, or honey mustard
• 6 slicesAmerican cheese
• Wooden picks
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Wrap tortillas in foil and bake for 10 minutes.
2. Spread each tortilla with 1 tablespoon mayonnaise. Lay a lettuce leaf over mayonnaise, top with a slice of ham and a slice of turkey. Roll up and secure with wooden pick. Stuff one end of rolled tortilla with sweet red pepper strips, shredded lettuce, parsley sprigs, and julienned carrots.
3. Attach olives for eyes and the nose and a piece of pepper for the mouth with mayonnaise or honey mustard. Cut an apron shape from the cheese and lay atop tortilla. Add pickles or peppers for shoes and use cheese as a blanket. Makes 6 wraps

Marketing Strategies for Child Care Providers

Looking for ways to increase enrollment? Not sure what marketing techniques to use?

Learn how to reinvigorate your marketing strategy with a refresher on "old school" fundamentals plus tips on how to use new technologies to increase your brand presence and communicate with current and potential customers.

In this interactive session, we'll examine:

• Defining you brand and key message
• Analysis of changing customers needs
• How you present your business in the marketplace
• Key components of your marketing and communications plan
• How to create community in the new world of Internet and social media

Saturday, October 30- 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Cost: $50

Location: Day Nursery Lilly Center, 3522 N. Central Ave.

Preregistration is required. To register, call (317) 917-3266 ext. 100 or email information@bussinessownership.org

Approved for United Way of Central Indiana's Child Care Ministry Improvement Project

Attendees will receive a certificate for 3 training hours

Conference for Child Care Ministry Directors

The Hooise Child Care Quality Expansion Project and IACCRR are proud to present a
Child Care Conference Planned Specifically for Child Care Ministry Directors

Caring in Faith
Friday November 12, 2010 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
(Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m.)
Cost: $15.00, lunch will be provided

Fort Harrison State Park Inn-Main Lodge
5830 North Post Road
Indianapolis, IN 46216

Preregistration required, Deadline is October 31,2010
For more information contact Traci Marshall (317) 924-5202 or (800) 299-1627

The Children’s Museum Experience: Learning through Play

We are pleased to announce our next FREE evening webinar, brought to you by Child Care Aware Parent Network! As with all of our great content, this session is FREE! We hope you will join us online for:

Wednesday, October 27, 2010 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM EDT

To REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR CLICK ON THIS LINK.

Children’s museums create playful, interactive learning experiences that stimulate curiosity and motivate lifelong learning in children. They provide a place where children can learn through play with the caring adults in their lives. Join children’s museum professionals for a behind-the-scenes look at children’s museums. Learn how these institutions create environments that spark learning in children and connect families through play. Presenters will share essential tips for getting the most out of your next children’s museum visit!

Presenters:
•Jeannette Thomas, Program Officer, Membership, Association of Children’s Museums, Arlington, Virginia
•Susan MacKay, the Center for Children’s Learning, Director, Portland Children’s Museum, Portland, Oregon
•Keith Ostfeld, Director of Exhibit and Program Development, Children's Museum of Houston, Houston, Texas
•Joseph Olson, Vice President- Visitor Experience, Minnesota Children’s Museum, St. Paul, Minnesota

Shaken Infant in Hamilton County

Hamilton County Prevent Child Abuse Council along with Prevent Child Abuse Indiana and Promising Futures are teaming together to present:
Preventing Shaken Infant Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma

The presentation will cover the dangers and consequences of shaking young children. This interactive program is designed to help people cope with the frustrations that come with caring for a crying child and introduce effective stress and anger management techniques. Learn to be an advocate for the prevention of SIS.

Where: Noblesville Library: One Library Plaza in Noblesville

When: November 18th from 6:30-7:30 pm

This is a FREE even and no reservations are required.

Come and Learn:

*To identify those at risk of shaking infants and children

*To understand physical injuries associated with SIS

*Ways to help parents and others cope with the frustrations of caring for a crying child.

Contact Promising Futures at 317-773-6342 for further details.

Hendricks County Kids Fair

Sunday, October 24th
Noon – 4:00pm
Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds

Bring the kids in their costumes and look for Child Care Answers booth!
* Free Food and Refreshments Music and Live Entertainment from Local Groups
* Fun Giveaways, Door Prizes and Games and Costume Contest for Children
* Information from Local Businesses and Community Organizations
* Face Painting, Balloon Animals, Clowns, Bounce Houses and Much More

Mister Rogers and Me

You might enjoy the documentary Mister Rogers & Me which is part of the Heartland Film Festival which opens today in Indianapolis.

Here’s a link to a preview. http://www.trulymovingpictures.org/festival-years/2010/movie/mister-rogers-and-me

An MTV producer’s life is transformed when he meets the recently retired host of Mister Rogers Neighborhood, Fred Rogers. Friendship with the PBS icon sets the young producer on a quest to find depth and simplicity amidst a shallow and complex world. Conversations with Susan Stamberg (NPR), Tim Russert (Meet the Press) and Marc Brown (Arthur) are among the highlights of the film.

AMC Castleton Square
Oct 15, 2010 at 12:15pm

AMC Showplace Indianapolis
Oct 16, 2010 at 12:15pm

AMC Castleton Square
Oct 17, 2010 at 3:00pm

AMC Showplace Indianapolis
Oct 19, 2010 at 1:15pm

AMC Showplace Indianapolis
Oct 20, 2010 at 2:00pm

AMC Castleton Square
Oct 23, 2010 at 3:15pm

Parents and the Economy

Last week, NACCRRA released its newest report, "The Impact of the Economy on Parents’ Child Care Choices and Perspectives," which found that quality and cost remain the most important factors for parents when choosing child care. The report shows that despite modest improvements in the economy, many families are still struggling. Nearly 40 percent of parents say the current economy has affected their child care arrangements and they worry about not being able to meet their household expenses. Three-quarters of parents rate affordable child care as the most important (31 percent) or one of the most (45 percent) important factors in helping working families.

Despite the down economy, parents want quality child care. Nearly three-quarters of parents (73 percent) said that they support investing more government money in improving the quality of care, even if it means they would have to pay $10 more in taxes per year.

This report is the latest of many reports that NACCRRA has produced on key aspects of our child care system — with reports on children in disasters, background checks, licensing of child care centers and family child care homes, and costs and prices of child care. These hard-hitting reports are a tribute to the dedicated leadership of NACCRRA's Executive Director Linda Smith.

5th Annual Indy Baby and Toddler Expo

Bebe Paluzza Productions presents the 5th Annual Indy Baby and Toddler Expo for "Everything from Bellies to Tots" - Indiana's Largest Premier Baby and Toddler Expo Show!

What will you find at the expo (other than Indy's Child)? Mik the Music Man and the Bounce House Band, Diaper Derby and Daddyathon, education speakers, Princess Tea Party, Pirate Party, Bongo Boy Music and much more! Plus, the first 50 moms who arrive will receive a card with a number making them eligible for a FREE SWAG BAG full of goodies from nearly 40 different companies! You will also find nearly 130 different organizations available to shop, get free goodies, entertain the kids and much more. You won't want to miss this one-of-a-kind event!

Where: Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St. Indianapolis.

Dates: Saturday, October 16 from 10 am - 5 pm and Sunday, October 17 from 11 am - 4 pm

Cost: $7 for adults, grandparents ½ price, children 6 and under are free.

Purchase tickets online at: http://www.tixonlinenow.com/babyexpoindy/shopdisplayproducts.asp

For more information visit: http://www.indybabyexpo.com/

“Parents in the Know”
www.childcareanswers.com
October-November 2010


JOB LISTING: Parent
Requirements include but are not limited to the following.
1. You must be willing to work 24 hours/ 7 days a week – 365 days a year.
2. You must be able to work on limited sleep at times but still be in a good mood.
3. You must be able to provide shelter, food and clothing for at least the first 18 years of the child’s life.
4. You must be able to be attend to the sick, have referee skills, be a guidance counselor and head up
transportation as needed.
You will not receive any pay for the job but the benefits are OUTSTANDING!
There is no doubt that being a parent is by far the most challenging yet most rewarding job you will ever
experience. As with any job, it helps to know that you are not alone in facing the joys and challenges.
There are some great ways to share your thoughts and your concerns while learning from others at the same
time.

Child Care Answers offers
FREE Parent Workshops .
Workshop Location: English Foundation Building
615 N. Alabama St., Suite 300, Indianapolis.
Register by calling Cathy at 631-4643 ext. 225

Upcoming topics include:

Understanding Paths to QUALITY,
An overview of the voluntary quality
rating system and how to use it as a tool
when searching for quality care
Thursday, October 21, 6-8pm

Communicating With Your Provider,
Keys to keeping the lines of communication
open with your Child Care Provider will be
shared. Wednesday, October 27, 6-8pm

Traveling with Children- An overview
of the helpful tools to make traveling with
young children less stressful for the
whole family. Thursday, November 18,
6-8pm

Other Topics of interest include:
Physical Activity~ We will explore the
different types of activity, and length of
exercise recommendations for each age
group of children Monday, October 18,
10am-12pm, Room 6

Temperaments- This is an interactive
presentation based on the video Flexible,
Fearful or Feisty- The Different
Tempera ments of Infants and Toddlers.
Saturday, November 13, 8:30-11:30 am,
Pilgrim Lutheran, 10202 N Meridian St,
Indianapolis