Tuesday, February 14, 2012

100 Ways To Be Kind

100 Ways to be kind to your child CreativeWithKids.com Tell to your child:


1. I love you.

2. I love you no matter what.

3. I love you even when you are angry at me.

4. I love you even when I am angry with you.

5. My love for you can reach you wherever you are.

6. If I could pick any 4 year old (5 year old...) in the whole wide world, I'd pick you.

7. I love you to the moon and then around the stars and back again.

8. Thank you.

9. I enjoyed playing with you today.

10. My favorite part of the day was with you when we… Tell them:

11. The story of their birth or adoption.

12. About how you cuddled them when they were a baby.

13. The story of how you chose their name.

14. A story about yourself when you were their age.

15. A story about how their grandparents met.

16. What your favorite color is.

17. That sometimes you struggle too.

18. That when you're holding hands and you give three squeezes, it's a secret code that means, "I love you".

19. What the plan is.

20. What you're doing right now. Play:

21. Freeze Tag

22. Uno

23. Crazy 8s

24. Gin Rummy

25. Memory

26. Go Fish

27. I Spy- especially in the car when you’re tired and feeingl snappish.

28. Catch Pretend:

29. To catch their kiss and put it on your cheek.

30. That their tickle tank is empty and you have to fill it.

31. That their high five nearly knocks you over.

32. That you are super ticklish.

33. That you are explorers in the backyard.

34. That it's party day! Decorate for no reason! Try:

35. To get enough sleep.

36. To drink enough water.

37. To eat decent food

38. Wearing earrings or whatever makes you feel pretty.

39. Calling friend the next time you feel like you are about to lose it with the kids.

40. Giving a gentle touch to show approval.

41. Dancing in the kitchen.

42. To get your kids to bop to the music with you in the car.

43. Showing your kids that you can do a somersault or handstand or a cartwheel

44. Keeping that sigh to yourself. Just jump in and help clean up cheerfully.

45. Using a kind voice, even if you have to fake it. Read:

46. A book of silly poems.

47. A book and then act it out. (Like "I'm going on a Bear Hunt")

48. Your favorite childhood book to them.

49. When the afternoon is starting to go astray.

50. Outside under a tree.

51. In the library kids corner.

52. The comic book they love that you're not so hot on.

53. About age appropriate behavior so you can keep your expectations realistic. Listen:

54. To your child in the car.

55. To that Lego description, and think how important it is to your child.

56. For that question that indicates your child really needs your input.

57. A second longer than you think you have patience for.

58. For the feelings behind your child's words. Ask:

59. Why do you think that happens?

60. What do you think would happen if______?

61. How shall we find out?

62. What are you thinking about?

63. What was your favorite part of the day?

64. What do you think this tastes like? Show:

65. Your child how to do something instead of banning them from it.

66. How to whistle with a blade of grass.

67. How to shuffle cards- make a bridge if you can!

68. How to cut food.

69. How to fold laundry.

70. How to look up information when you don't know the answer.

71. Affection to your spouse.

72. That taking care of yourself is important. Take Time:

73. To watch construction sites.

74. To look at the birds.

75. To allow your child to help put ingredients in the bowl.

76. To walk places together.

77. To dig in the dirt together.

78. To do a task at your child's pace.

79. To just sit with you child while they play. Trust:

80. That your child is capable.

81. That you are the right parent for your child.

82. That you are enough.

83. That you can do what is right for your family. Delight your child:

84. Clean your child's room as a surprise.

85. Put chocolate chips in the pancakes.

86. Put a love note in their lunch.

87. Make their snack into a smile face shape.

88. Make sounds effects while do something.

89. Sit on the floor with them to play. Let Go:

90. Of the guilt.

91. Of how you thought it was going to be.

92. Of your need to be right. Give:

93. A look with Kind Eyes to your child.

94. A smile when your child walks into the room.

95. A kind touch back when your child touches you.

96. The chance to connect before you correct so that your child can actually hear your words.

97. Your child a chance to work out their frustrations before helping them.

98. A bath when the day feels long.

99. A hug.

100. Your turn- how can you be kind to your child today?

Monday, February 13, 2012

Make Your Own Paint With Water Pages




Make your own water color paper

Just opened the tube of paint and put a little dot of each color on the pages. Then let the paint sit to dry.
After a couple hours the dots had hardened up nicely.






Spice Painting

Spice Painting

I thought it would make a great group activity as well! So I told everyone to raid their spice cabinet for old spices (no hot spices) and bring a bottle or two of white glue. I poured a bit of glue into tiny plastic cups and added water to dilute it, then we let the kids help add the spices to the glue. Then the fun began!



http://www.playcreateexplore.com/2011/12/childrens-art-group-spice-painting.html

Turning School Glue Into Paint



It simply takes a few drops of food coloring, in a half empty bottle of glue. The amount of food coloring, depends on the shade you want, but a few drops go a long way.

Fresh glue can be added on top of the food coloring, to fill the bottle up to 3/4s of the way full, leaving room at the top, so the glue can be mixed together with the food coloring. I usually turn the bottles upside down for a while, to let the color blend all the way through...

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Sensory Steps



Just glue plastic, wash clothes, make-up sponges, fur fabric, squishy wash netting, etc to cardboard. When it dries, cut around edges. Glue shelf liner on the other side. And you are done.Enjoy hours of activities!!!






Recycling the Old and Dry into Liquid Gold

1. Rubber-banded 5 or 6 dried out water-based markers of a similar color together.
2. Then I poured water into glass baby food jars below the screw top area.
3. Put the color tips of the markers into the water and just let it be. If you look closely at the green jar you can just see the color gliding out of the markers and sinking to the bottom. It was fun to watch and I showed several of my students whose classes attended that day.The longer it sits the better. I had a few jars that sat all school day (8 hours) and another set that sat all night long. Both turned out well. 2 to 4 hours isn't near enough time.
4. Discard markers, and enjoy the water color!

http://amanda0480.blogspot.com/2011/05/recycling-old-and-crusty.html

Kiwi! Banana's! & Mandarin! Oh My!



Class Room Arrangement

CDA Student Angela Lynn Hard at Work on her assignment.









































Monday, January 30, 2012

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY GAME TIME!

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY
GAME TIME!

Events for Sunday, February 5th 2012
Super Care Clinic
12:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Union Station
The Super Care Clinic is a full-service urgent care visit center operated by a coalition of Indianapolis-area healthcare facilities. Physicians and nurses from Community Health Network, Franciscan St. Francis Health, Indiana University Medical Group Primary Care, St. Vincent Medical Group, and Indiana University Health, will be available to treat illnesses ranging from coughs and colds to minor injuries. Individuals requiring more advanced treatment can be quickly transported to area hospitals.

The Huddle After Hours Club
10:00 PM - 03:00 AM
Super Bowl Village
The Huddle After Hours Club is open to the public and will be an ultra lounge destination featuring top shelf cocktails, an exclusive VIP area and entertainment.

SportsCenter (ESPN)
09:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Pan Am Plaza
SportsCenter broadcasting live from the ESPN Broadcast Studio on Pan Am Plaza.
Sunday Countdown (ESPN)

10:00 AM - 02:00 PM
Pan Am Plaza

Sunday Countdown broadcasting live from the ESPN Broadcast Studio on Pan Am Plaza.
Super Bowl Village
11:00 AM - 12:00 AM

Georgia Street
Celebrate football in Super Bowl Village! Enjoy live music, entertainment, food and beverages and more in this outdoor festival! Entrance is FREE.

The Huddle
11:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Super Bowl Village
The Huddle will provide entertainment and dining options for visitors. It will also contain the LIDS Locker Room with a wide assortment of Super Bowl and NFL merchandise.

Zipline
11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Super Bowl Village
Experience the 80' tall and 800' long Zipline in the outdoor Super Bowl Village. Tickets purchased on-site at the Zipline Launch Tower (258 S. Capitol Ave.) are $10 and on a first come, first served basis. Zipline is operated by Ziptrek Ecotours.

Roaming Street Entertainment
11:00 AM - 06:00 PM
Super Bowl Village

Roaming street entertainment includes magicians, balloon artists, and jugglers.
LIDS Locker Room @ Circle Centre
11:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Super Bowl Village

Located right in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, the temporary retail space will be transformed into a fan destination with activities and autograph session opportunities, as well as a wide selection of officially licensed AFC, NFC and Super Bowl XLVI apparel and memorabilia. End time today is TBD.

Ice Gurus From the Food Network
11:30 AM - 02:30 PM
Super Bowl Village
Randy Finch and Derek Maxfield from the Food Networks show Ice Brigade, will do live ice sculpting performances.

National Anthem by Phillip Dain Powell
11:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Super Bowl Village
Phillip Dain Powell sings the National Anthem. The Color Guard will be presented by the Indiana Army National Guard.
Indiana Reggae Band
12:00 PM - 01:00 PM

Pepsi Stage
Indiana Reggae Band will perform on the Pepsi Stage on America's Super Game Day in the Super Bowl Village. This is a free event.

NBC Game Day Show
01:00 PM - 03:00 PM

Super Bowl Village
Bob Costas will host the NBC Sports pre game show in the Super Bowl Village.
Whitney Coleman
01:30 PM - 02:30 PM

Pepsi Stage
Whitney Coleman will perform on the Pepsi Stage on America's Super Game Day in the Super Bowl Village. This is a free event.

DJ Rusty
03:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Pepsi Stage
DJ Rusty will perform on the Pepsi Stage on America's Super Game Day in the Super Bowl Village. This is a free event.

Ice Gurus From the Food Network
05:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Super Bowl Village
Randy Finch and Derek Maxfield from the Food Networks show Ice Brigade, will do live ice sculpting performances.

SportsCenter (ESPN)
10:00 PM - 10:30 PM
Pan Am Plaza

SportsCenter broadcasting live from the ESPN Broadcast Studio on Pan Am Plaza.
PrimeTime (ESPN)
10:30 PM - 11:30 PM

Pan Am Plaza
NFL PrimeTime broadcasting live from the ESPN Broadcast Studio on Pan Am Plaza.
SportsCenter (ESPN)
11:30 PM - 01:30 AM

Pan Am Plaza
SportsCenter broadcasting live from the ESPN Broadcast Studio on Pan Am Plaza.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Signing Time Workshop

Signing Time Workshop

With Rachel Coleman

Friday, April 27, 2012
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Indiana Convention Center, Hall H
100 S. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see Rachel Coleman, Emmy-nominated host of Signing Time!, live and in person. Rachel will use songs, signs and group interaction from the

Signing Time series to teach families and children the power that comes from learning how to communicate using American Sign Language (ASL). In addition, she will tell her inspiring story of being the mom of two children with special needs. Join her for a meet and greet after the show too!

Registration: $15.00 for Individual  $25.00 for Family of 5 or less

To register, go to http://www.utsprokids.org/ For more information contact Janice at 317-472-5602 registration@utsprokids.org


















Free Webinars

IACCRR

Free Webinars!

We hope you and your staff take advantage of this FREE opportunity. The trainings are delivered via the internet- no need to leave your site. All topics are relevant to early childhood, and will help you meet Paths to QUALITY annual in service training hours. Topics will include, Universal Precautions, Early Childhood Careers, Disability Awareness, Physical Activities, Math, Social Studies, and more. More than 10 webinars to choose from each month. Webinar times are convenient to you. 1:30-2:30 p.m. EST

Get a full list of monthly trainings here, then call 1-800-299-1627 to register!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Poison Prevention Class

• 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?

If you answered “yes” - the Indiana Poison Center can help you teach poison safety.

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 parents.
How much? The workshop is FREE
Where? Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis
When? Wednesday February 22nd from 12:00-3:00 p.m.
 
Registration is limited to 10 Please contact Barbara Cole to confirm that an opening is available.
(317) 962-9248 bcole@iuhealth.org

NASA Ignite! Training Mission

NASA Ignite! Training Mission

Enrolling: Certified Teachers, Preservice
Teachers, and Afterschool Educators
 
When: March 17, 24, and April 28, 2012
Where: Marian University,Marian Hall Upper lobby (old Civic Theater area)
Time: 8:30-5:00
Topics:
Day 1, March 17 – Rocketry - rockets and discussion of expectations and responsibilities for the teachers (a "flight plan," so to speak)
Day 2, March 24– Astrobiology - life science (the body in space, NASA's search for other life in the universe)
Day 3, April 28- Space exploration (our near neighbors in the solar system and then moving beyond to comets, stars, and how we get there)

Cost: $75 (includes training, 3 lunches and teacher materials)

Seating is limited! Make checks payable to Marian University NASA Workshop

Commitment: Participants will commit to attending all 3 workshops and some additional training throughout the year facilitated by NASA educational consultants. Participants will be invited to teach hands-on activities at summer programs in the Indianapolis area. The Marian University Summer Learning Institute will provide a stipend for those who participate in summer teaching opportunities.

Reservation: Dr. Judy Bardonner, Director, Center for Community Learning,
Marian University; (317) 955-6545 jbardonner@marian.edu

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Next Steps: Life After First Steps

Don't Let Your Child's Transition to Preschool Get Messy!
Sometimes children may still need therapy after they have completed the First Steps Program. The next public option for children older than three years of age to receive therapy services is through the special education preschool program provided by every local school district.

Join us for the "Next Steps: Life After First Steps" free, informative meeting that will help you understand what services are provided by your local school district and the process to access these services. This event will also allow you to meet and greet available school representatives from local school districts in Hamilton, Hendricks, Johnson, Marion, Morgan, and Tipton Counties.

At this event, you will be able to:
  • Get your questions answered about Preschool Special Education Services
  • Learn about School Bus Services and see the type of bus your child could ride
  • Tour a Special Education Preschool
  • Witness a mock case conference
  • Gather resources from various programs and services
  • Participate in a "make it & take it," hands-on preschool activity
Date: February 8, 2012
Time: 5:30 pm
Location: Fishback Creek Public Academy
                 8301 West 86th Street
                 Indianapolis, IN 46278
YOU MUST RSVP TO Kathy at 472-6104 by 2-1-12
    

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Hidden Sugar in Food Labels

The Many Names of Sugar

Want to cut down on the sweet stuff? You have to find it first.
By Heather Lee

If you feel like your eating is out of control, one of the most important steps you can take is to reset your taste buds' sensitivity by avoiding flavor overload, says weight loss expert David Katz, MD, director of the Yale Prevention Research Center. That means cracking down on hidden sugar in foods that you don't even think of as sweet--such as pasta sauce or potato chips.

Unfortunately, sugar hides behind many different names on food labels. Here is a list of its aliases:

• sucrose
• fructose
• glucose
• dextrose
• galactose
• lactose
• maltose
• invert sugar
• raw sugar
• turbinado sugar
• brown sugar
• confectioner's sugar
• granulated sugar
• corn syrup
• high-fructose corn syrup
• honey
• maple syrup
• molasses

FREE Stewards of Children Training

Join the Movement to End Child Sexual Abuse

Stewards of Children is a powerful sexual abuse prevention training program that educates adults to prevent, recognize, react responsibly, and take courageous action.

Visit: www.mccoyouth.org/Intervention/stewards-of-children.html or contact Shanna Martin at
shanna.martin@Mccoyouth.org or 317-921-1233 for more information about Stewards of Children trainings.
2012 Trainings:

• February 11, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
• February 21, 1-3:30 p.m.
• March 15, 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
• April 3, 8:30-11 a.m.
• August 7, 1-3:30 p.m.
• November 13, 8:30-11 a.m.

Monday, January 9, 2012

How do you connect with Child Care Answers?

Child Care Answers offers several ways to keep up with our trainings and community events.
  • Check out our Facebook page
  • Follow us on Twitter @childcareanswer
  • Subscribe to our Legislation Education Blog for up to date information about Legislation impacting youth.
  • Check out our website for the latest Training Calendar and to register for classes.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Have You Considered a Career in Child Care?

A career in child care can be a very rewarding choice. As a licensed home provider you can make a difference in the lives of children as well as owning a business. Child Care Answers wants to help you get started by offering FREE training classes as well as assisting you with community resources and other classes to help you succeed as a child care provider.

Did you know that Johnson and Hendricks county has a strong need for more licensed child care providers? In 2011 Child Care Answers had 426 families in Johnson and Hendricks county searching for child care but only has 132 providers available in that area.

Child Care Answers Resource and Referral Agency is a local agency serving Hamilton, Hendricks, Johnson and Marion County. Child Care Answers offers FREE 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 or take the class online at http://www.iaccrr.org/portal/?#tabs-training. This class gives 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 four 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 http://www.childcareanswers.com/. Once there, click on the provider tab and then the “training” link on the right hand side.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Exciting Opportunity to Make Visuals

Join our Inclusion Specialist, Tory Masters, for an exciting Make and Take It session on Saturday, January 7th. The session begins at 9:30 am and for an hour I will go through all the visual supports and how to use them with children, then for another hour or so, I will give you time to make those visuals. The cost is only $5 per person! Below is a list of what I will have available for you to make:


  • Tucker Turtle’s social story for handling frustration
  • A visual schedule (please bring photos of your children following your daily routine to use if you want to use them!)
  • Center Control
  •  Stop Signs
  •  Solutions Kit for problem solving
  •  Emotional Check in
It will be a fun filled morning and we have limited seats. Once you register and payment and finalized, we will give you all the final details of the day! Feel free to register a friend and pass this information along to others! You must be completely registered and payment received by Thursday, January 5th!

Friday, December 30, 2011

New Year's Eve - Art Activity

Water Bottle Noise Maker

Age: 8 and up
Parental supervision is recommended

What you'll need:
Empty plastic water bottle
Beans, coins, or other items to place inside
1 sheet white tissue paper
Scraps of tissue paper in various colors, cut into small squares
24” long strip of light blue crepe paper streamer
24” long strip of pink crepe paper streamer
White craft glue
Water
Scissors


How to make it:
Place a handful of beads or coins inside the clean, dry water bottle. Run some glue around the mouth of the bottle and replace the cap.
Make a mixture of 1/2 white craft glue and 1/2 water that will be enough to cover the bottle a few times over.
Tear white tissue paper into large chunks, approximately 4”x2”.
Paint a small section of the outside of the water bottle with the glue mixture. Place a torn piece of white tissue paper onto the glue mixture and paint over it with the glue mixture. Repeat this process, covering the entire bottle with 2-3 coats of white.
Apply small colorful squares of tissue paper randomly over the white tissue paper to resemble confetti.
Cut each strip of crepe paper streamer in half. Carefully tie one of the pieces around the neck of the bottle. Repeat with other lengths of crepe paper. Use scissors to cut each length to about 4” hanging length, and then cut upwards into thin strips. Use a couple pieces of the excess crepe paper you just cut off to twist around the neck of the bottle and glue in place. Allow to dry for several hours.


Have Fun ringing in the New Year!!!