| Tip of the Week | |
Children gain a sense of security, calmness and warmth when sitting on our laps.
If you need an extra lap, take an old pair of jeans, stuff with stuffing, and sew the openings closed. Use this "extra lap" in your cozy area or use at circle time.
From Abby Bosley, Mexico Farms Child Care Center, Allegany County |
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Saturday, November 20th
9:00 am - 3:30 pm
St. Ann's Church
Manalis Center, Hagerstown
$20.00
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| Contact Us |
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6 West Washington Street, Suite 210
Hagerstown, Maryland 21740
301-733-0000 or 800-924-9188
FAX: 301-733-0886
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Greetings!
Happy Wednesday.
An extra hour of sleep this weekend was a well-deserved treat. Working with children with challenging behaviors can leave us drained, exhausted, and hopeless.
There are many strategies you can use (in addition to more sleep) to stay energized while helping children with challenging behaviors. Starting each day fresh, as Mr. Rogers reminds us in his morning song, "...and when you wake up ready to say, I think I'll make a SNAPPY new day," is a great way to reframe the challenges you face and put you in solution mode.
One solution that has helped many child care providers in Early Childhood Destination: Inclusion is to create a cozy area for children to retreat to when they need to work through strong emotions.
Already have a cozy area? Share some pictures or descriptions of unique items in your cozy areas and receive a FREE children's book. (See Coupon Below)
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 "You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality." Walt Disney
Everyone, even the most social children, like to be alone sometimes. Tonya Helbig, project manager for Early Childhood Destination: Inclusion, may not remember challenging her preschool teacher, but she definitely remembers the importance of getting away from it all:
I can still remember being that four year old child walking into my Head Start classroom, excited about what I was going to do that day and which toy I was going to play with first. And then...there it was...the LOFT. The housekeeping area was under the loft. On top of the loft was this comfortable area that fit just one child-ME! I was able to see the classroom, look and listen to books, and curl up with soft blankets and pillows. I felt so free, so comfortable-and it was a quiet space that I needed.
Many children spend most of their day in a child care setting and need that quiet space from time to time. Children with strong emotions need it more than others. We can plan for those times by creating a cozy area and teaching children ways to recognize that they need a break before they lose control. Find a quiet space in your program and build a cozy area using some of these ideas: - carpeting
- pillows (varying sizes and textures)
- a lap to sit in
- bean bag chairs
- mirror
- soft lighting
- headphones to listen to music or books
- books about feelings
- pictures of faces, places, and families
- blankets/scarves to make forts or to wrap up in
Still have questions or need more resources about cozy areas? Let us know how we can help you create spaces your children will remember as Tonya does - even decades later! Contact us at help@applesforchildren.org. |
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