#1 - Regulation changes in May 2014
All the revised forms related to the regulation changes are starting to be added to the OCFS website.
For more info click on website below:
#2 - New ways to manage your program's child care attendance
In cooperation with the State of New York, Controltec is offering to qualified child care providers KinderScan, a quick and efficient way gather attendance for all of your subsidized children.
Click here for more information: KinderScan
#3 -Early childhood professionals
Aspire is New York's registry for early childhood professionals. Teachers, directors, family/group family child care providers and trainers can use this new online system to keep track of their employment history, education, ongoing professional development, and contributions to the field. In addition directors can use this registry to track their employees training information.
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YOUR BUSINESS IS OUR BUSINESS
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Help Us Market Your Program
We talk to thousands of parents each year who are looking for care for their children. Keeping your program info current in our referral database helps us provide better referral services to parents and helps you gain potential customers.
It's easy! You can view your current program profile on line and complete an update on line or by calling Ellen O'Brien, Resource and Referral Database Administrator at 761-3456 ext. 117.
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Know Your Regs!
Turn Off The Television!
It's time to turn off the television. The regulations now require that if television or other electronic media devices are used, it must be part of a planned developmentally appropriate program with an educational, social, physical or other learning objective that includes identified goals and objectives. Television or other electronic visual media must not be used solely to occupy time. In addition the television must remain off during meal times.
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WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE COUNCIL
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"2014 Annual Awards Breakfast"
Be a part of Westchester's largest celebration of early care and education when we say thanks to special men, women and organizations who have opened up "A World of Possibilities for Westchester's Children".
Our Champions for Children this year:
Hon. Mike Spano, Mayor of Yonkers
Keith F. Safian, President/CEO of Phelps Memorial Hospital
TD Bank, accepting Adam Kintish, Westchester Retail Marketing Manager
Our Joey Award winners:
Hon. Michael Kaplowitz, Chair, Westchester County Board of Legislators
Mary Ann Becker, Mamaroneck Community Nursery School
Basia Kinglake, Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health
Susan Matos, Imagination Family Daycare
Annie Villacres, Port Chester Carver Center
Cheer your colleagues, meet community members who appreciate and support your work, enjoy a delicious breakfast. Clap, laugh, you'll leave feeling proud of what you do!
Click here for invitation:
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Gardening With Young Children
"Children are natural gardeners. They're curious, like to learn by doing, and love to play in the dirt. Working in a garden, a child can experience the satisfaction that comes from caring for something over time, while observing the cycle of life firsthand." (eartyeasy.com)
Your garden can be a plot of ground or containers on the porch. It isn't the size but the experience. It is about children seeing what happens when seeds are planted and plants grow. And gardens are for all ages. Infants can enjoy the sights, smells, and the dirt. Toddlers can help water and weed and enjoy a designated digging place.
Consider these types of garden -
- Flowers or vegetables or both
- Container gardens - a variety of flowers in each container or one tomato or pepper plant
- Vertical gardens - In tight spaces, garden in the beds on the side of the house or building . Peas and green beans will climb right up the trellis.
- Raised bed gardens - There is no digging up the hard ground and raised beds can be easier for children to get to the plants.
- Windowsill gardens - put planters on porch windowsills.
- Pizza gardens - herbs, tomatoes, and peppers
What to grow? (eartheasy.com)
- Sunflowers
- Lettuce, radishes, and snow peas which grow quickly
- Cherry tomatoes
- Peppers
- Carrots
- Bush beans
- Pumpkin if you have room
- Herbs
Vicki Stoecklin says to keep this in mind when gardening with young children.("Developmentally Appropriate Gardening for Young Children")
- Children are active learners. They must garden in "hands-on" and sensory ways - digging in the soil, planting seeds, touching, tasting, smells, and collecting.
- Keep in mind that "age-appropriate gardening activities take into account children's differing cognitive capabilities and psychological needs."
- Show don't tell when explaining what you want children to do (and not do) in the garden.
- "Children need to be able to practice their newly acquired gardening skill." One seed in one hole is not much of a gardening experience. Development comes from practice, so children need space inside and outside to use gardening tools and act out what is happening in the garden.
Please send The Child Care Council pictures of your gardens. We will share them in a future newsletter.
Resources:
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Inside the Community Fun:
Free Museum Workshop
The Neuberger Museum of Art offers a free workshop for children every second Saturday of the month. Children learn through fun hands on experiences.
For more information click the link below:
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BORN LEARNING TIP OF THE MONTH
"Reading to Children"
Include in your own newsletter or info board for parents. Click the link below to read more:
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March 24, 2014 - April 25, 2014
Click here for more information:
Child Care Council
2014 Annual Awards Breakfast
June 6, 2014
FREE training on the new Family and Group Family OCFS Regulations
Free to Council members and $10 for non-members.
March 22nd, 9:30 am -12 pm
April 5th, 9:30 am - 12 pm
May 15th, 6:30 pm - 9 pm
June 12th, 6:30 pm - 9 pm
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TEAM BUILDING
Team building is important if you wish to make the most of your workforce. Here at The Council we believe in team building. Team building significantly contributes to employee productivity by building trust and motivation - which in turn helps us serve our community. Looking for fresh team building ideas? Call Juanita Pope, Office Manager/Community Events Manager at 761-3456 ext. 106.
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Join the Council in 2014!
Benefits include: Valuable discounts on workshops, on-site trainings and conferences * Free postings on the Council's job bank
* Membership Certificate to post at your program
* Listing on the Council's web site
* Free use of the Council Resource Library
* Access to the Council's Children's Resource Corner
Your membership dollars support the Council's: * Advocacy for funding and policies that strengthen our early care and education system in Westchester * Public education to get the word out about the importance of affordable, quality early care and education for our community * Representation of our early care and education system in Albany and Washington Call (914) 761-3456 ext. 106 or visit our website below.
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Special Discounts For Members
Magical Memories Entertainment is a one stop shop for all your entertainment needs. They currently provide discounted rates for their services for all Council members.
For more info click here:
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JOIN WESTCHESTER PROFESSIONAL GROUPS FOR SHARING AND NETWORKING!
 Westchester Early Childhood Directors Association meets every third
Tuesday of the month from 1 pm to 3 pm at the Council. Contact Howard Milbert at Ossining Children's Center at (914) 941-0230 or Dawn Meyerski at Mt. Kisco Child Care Center at (914) 241-2135 or [email protected] for details.
School Age Directors Network
meets every third Tuesday of the month from 10 am to 12 pm at the Council. Call Brent Morton of The Country Children's Center at (914) 242-0520 or Kim DeSalvo of The Ardsley Children's Center at (914) 693-6686 for details.
Hudson Valley Afterschool Network (HVAN)
is a new regional network of the New York State Afterschool
Network "NYSAN" that includes all stakeholders in after school programs including providers, funders, policy makers, educators, schools, school districts, youth, families and diverse community
organizations. HVAN performs advocacy and professional development for the field. Call Dr. Jim Bostic at the Nepperhan Community Center at (914) 965-0203 for details. |
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Child Care Provider Appreciation Day
Friday, May 9
This is a special day to recognize child care providers, teachers, and other educators of young children. Provider Appreciation Day is celebrated each year on the Friday before Mother's Day. Started in 1996, the founding organizers saw the need to recognize the tireless efforts of providers who care for children. Take the time to celebrate this special day.
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May 12, 2014- May 18, 2014
A NATION WIDE CELEBRATION OF BOOKS AND READING
SINCE 1919
Invite families to read to the children in your program. Invite anyone you can think of to come and read. Let children see that everyone reads. Read, read, read!
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