July 2014

914.761.3456

Parent Connections

TOP 3 THINGS TO KNOW

#1 - You Might Be Eligible for New Child Care Subsidy Funding

Approximately 100 new slots were funded in this year's Westchester County budget for working parents over 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Slots are still available. Call us to see if you might be eligible! We can also help you with your subsidy application. Call (914)761-3456 ext. 140.

#2 - Keep Your Children Safe from Heat Stroke

Did you know heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children under 14, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration? Young children are at greater risk because they are not able to regulate their body temperatures as well as adults.
To learn more, visit
http://www.kidsandcars.org/ the website for Kids and Cars, a national advocacy group.

#3 - Finding the Best Child Care or After School Program for Your Child

The Referral Department is available to help you understand your child care options and discuss financial resources.

Our Free Services Available to You:

Consultations with trained child care counselors Mon-Fri from 9am to 5pm
Online child care search, available 24/7/365
Guidelines for choosing a quality child care program
A checklist to bring along when visiting child care programs
Profiles of full-/part-time regulated child care programs
Assistance finding day camps and nanny services
Link to look up complaint history of child care programs
Information about resources to help pay for child care, including public subsidies, tax credits and scholarships
914-761-3456 ext 140 or Click Here

CHILDREN'S CORNER

July is Anti-Boredom Month:

Celebrate With These Fun, Learning Activities

1. ICE -

Freeze water in different sized containers from ice cube trays to large mixing bowls. Put the ice into water tables or small containers and watch the fun.

2. ICE-POP CHALK -

Mix together equal parts of cornstarch and water. Add washable paint (just enough to have a bright color. Freeze in ice-pop molds. Let the children paint outside on a sidewalk or fence (that you don't find gets painted).

3. Make Ice Cream in a Plastic Bag - (This really works!)

This recipe is enough for one student, so that each student can make their own.

1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon sugar
4 cups crushed ice
4 tablespoons salt
2 quart size Zip-loc bags
1 gallon size Zip-loc freezer bag
a hand towel or gloves to keep fingers from freezing as well!

Mix the milk, vanilla and sugar together in one of the quart size bags. Seal tightly, allowing as little air to remain in the bag as possible. Too much air left inside may force the bag open during shaking. Place this bag inside the other quart size bag, again leaving as little air inside as possible and sealing well. By double-bagging, the risk of salt and ice leaking into the ice cream is minimized. Put the two bags inside the gallon size bag and fill the bag with ice, then sprinkle salt on top. Again let all the air escape and seal the bag. Wrap the bag in the towel or put your gloves on, and shake and massage the bag, making sure the ice surrounds the cream mixture. Five to eight minutes is adequate time for the mixture to freeze into ice cream.

4. Paint with Water

Give children a bucket of water and different sized paintbrushes - wide "grown-up" ones are so much fun. Let them "paint" everything!! No stains and no mess and even infants who can sit up can join the fun.

5. Have a "Car" Wash

Wash the toy cars, wash the bikes, and wash the wagons. Give children large sponges and let them wash all of your vehicles.

HEALTH & SAFETY CORNER

Health Tip - Summer Safety

Summer is here, and the children will be spending more time outdoors. While we are planning fun activities, safety must always be on our minds.

Thank you to Child Care Aware and the American Academy of Pediatrics for this important information.

Sun Safety

Regardless of a child's age, sun protection is always important. Make certain the child will be protected from the sun while enjoying the outdoors. Sunburns are more than uncomfortable; they are also a major risk factor for melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer. The risk of skin cancer from sun exposure is significantly increased by time spent in the sun during childhood.

Sunscreen and Child Care: If your child is going to be outside make sure you apply sunscreen or give the program sunscreen to apply or reapply. You must give your child's program written permission and instructions including the exact name of the product which you are supplying. Written permission must match directions of use for the sunscreen provided. Click Here for: Parent Consent Form

Babies under 6 months: The two main recommendations from the AAP to prevent sunburn are to avoid sun exposure, and to dress infants in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats that shade the neck to prevent sunburn. However, when adequate clothing and shade are not available, parents can apply a minimal amount of sunscreen with at least 15 SPF (sun protection factor) to small areas, such as the infant's face. If an infant gets sunburn, apply cool compresses to the affected area.
For All Other Children: The first, and best, line of defense against harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure is covering up. Wear a hat with a three-inch brim or a bill facing forward, sunglasses (look for sunglasses that provide 97% -100% protection against both UVA and UVB rays), and clothing with a tight weave. On both sunny and cloudy days use a sunscreen with an SPF 15 or greater that protects against UVA and UVB rays. Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after or sweating.
Stay in the shade whenever possible, and limit sun exposure during the peak intensity hours - between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Click Here to read more: Summer Safety

Child Care Aware: http://ccapub.childcareaware.org/docs/pubs/120e.pdf

American Academy of Pediatrics:

http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/summertips.cfm

2014 Child Care Survey - Parents Speak Up

Be Entered to Win a $50 Gift Card!

The Council is gathering new info from parents on child care including the type of care they're using, the cost, the factors behind their choices.   Last year, the results of our parent child care survey helped secure $900,000 of new child care funding in the 2014 Westchester County budget.

So we are urging parents to complete our child care survey. You can go to www.ChildCareWestchester.org and click on the big RED BUTTON to complete the survey on line.



Or you can click below for a hard copy of the survey to distribute to parents: Parent Survey
You can drop off completed flyers to the Council office or fax to

914-761-0389.

Every parent who completes a survey can be entered into a drawing for a gift card. No individual info will be reported or shared.

Thank you for your help! If you have questions, please contact Nicole Masucci, Director of Family and Employer Services at nicolem@cccwny.org or (914) 761-3456 ext. 139.

BORN LEARNING TIP OF THE MONTH

"Sing, Sing, Sing!"

Music is rhythm, rhyme, vocabulary and more. Singing with children fosters early literacy development.

This month's tip has songs for you to sing with children throughout the day.

Include in your own newsletter or info board for parents. Click the link below to read more:

Born Learning Tip (English version)

Born Learning Tip (Spanish version)

IS YOUR CHILD CARE AS GREAT AS YOUR CHILD... Keep Informed

Child Care Regulations Corner

In addition to the background checks currently required by regulation all substitute caregivers in a Group or Family Day Care Home must have three references, medical exam/ TB test, and the educational and experiential qualifications of an assistant.

Revised forms related to the May 1, 2014 regulation changes are starting to be added to the OCFS website. For more info click on website below:

http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/documents/docsChildCare.asp

Regulation Reminder: 417.11(f)(7)(i)

As summer heats up it is important to remember to apply sunscreen when bringing children outdoors to play. But remember the regulations require that you have written parental permission when applying over the counter topical ointments including sunscreen and insect repellent.

SAVE THE DATE

Workshops for Parents

Choosing High Quality Child Care With An Exploration on PLAY

7/15/14 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

Click Here to Register

COUNCIL FACES

Resource and Referral Department -

Katelyn Sherman

Cornell

As the Council continues to make better opportunities for children, we are glad to welcome aboard our college intern this summer season.

A college internship at the Council is an experience that intends to help the student close the gap between school and work. The experience and confidence the student will learn will be vital.

RESOURCES

Essentials for Parenting

The federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have launched "Essentials for Parenting", a free, on-line positive resource for parents of two to four year olds. Helpful info on typical challenges like tantrums and whining. Offers parents tools and reduces the daily stress of rearing young children. For info, Click here:

Looking for the Latest Research on Early Childhood?

Check out the National Institute of Early Education Research, a terrific source of information on early childhood, prek, teachers, public policy and funding trends. NIEER issues reports, conducts research, provides testimony to government leaders and contributes to the growing body of knowledge about early childhood.

Click below to visit their website:

NIEER

National Info on Child Care - from a Parent's Perspective

The Economy's Impact on Parents' Choices and Perceptions about Child Care (2010)

Parents' Perceptions of Child Care in the United States: National Parent Poll (2009)

ATTENTION AMAZON SHOPPERS!!!

If you shop at Amazon, the Council could receive up to 2% of your shopping proceeds.

Just click this link to sign up today:

Amazon Smile

Log in with your Amazon Account and then you are prompted to select your charity. Pick the Council by entering "Child Care Council of Westchester" and then click search. You'll then see the Council and the "Select" button next to it. That's it!

(Note: each time you shop you have to use the link below but your charity information will be saved after it has been set up.)

Please share on Facebook once you have signed up.

Butterfly In The Wind Poem

A child is........

A butterfly in the wind,
Some can fly higher than others;
but each one flies the best it can.
Why compare one against the other?

Each one is different!
Each one is special!
Each one is beautiful!

Author Unknown

www.childcarewestchester.org

914.761.3456

313 Central Park Avenue

Scarsdale, NY 10583