Spring Training

          Spring! What a glorious time of year! Trees are budding, flowers shooting to the sun, the smell of fresh cut grass and rain tickling its way through an open window. With spring on my mind, I am transported back to my days as a director in Lexington, and all the headaches that can come with it!

          I am thinking of all the things daycare directors go through this time of year! Getting your summer calendars ready, collecting sunscreen application forms, having employees calling in a little more than normal, and so on! Believe me, I've been there!

          I think though, the best foot to put forward as you crack yourselves out of the winter cocoon is to start with the basics… staff! Staffing is vital to a center’s success. Your center cannot run without an educated, compassionate staff. I have a few pointers to help in creating and nurturing the perfect staff!

          Motivating staff starts with a no nonsense attitude when it comes to state policy! Make sure your staff is completely aware of all state regulations by providing them a copy of the licensing regulations upon hiring.  

It can be difficult being an early educator at times. You, as their leader, need to rise to the occasion and comfort them! A really good way is to hold annual reviews in the spring. Ask each employee to review the center and what they would like to see change over the coming months. A group outing is always fun, or perhaps a spring pot luck with a recipe contest.

Training is, in my opinion, the most effective way to build a qualified and creative early education team. It is mandatory that all those who work in Kentucky day cares have 15 training hours per year. If your budget can allow it, host a professional development day. Close your center for a day and provide two training classes. Have one focus on Infant/Toddler and one on Preschool/School Age. After the trainers are gone, break staff into smaller groups. Ask them to plan a whole day’s curriculum and meals around your training topics. Finally, have them present their work to the rest of the staff. This inspires your staff to think outside the box, and gets them motivated to attend more training!

We at The CCC provide some of the best training in the state of Kentucky! We would be more than happy to help you and your team! Check out our Professional Development section of our website.

Julia @ Kids Matter

Meet the "Blog Squad"

In an effort to provide a diverse blog, the Child Care Council of Kentucky surveyed our staff to see who would be interested in writing for the Kids Matter Blog.

We had several people interested in writing and they submitted "samples" of their writing. Once there was time to read through the entries, we were thrilled to find that we not only have staff that are amazing at their jobs, but we also employ some great writers with a diverse selection of passions.

The "Blog Squad" was born and we had several talks and meetings to discuss the best way to proceed. We are confident that you will enjoy the diversity of our new Blog Squad and we are thrilled to get back onto schedule for posting. As always, if you have any questions or suggestions, please let us know. You can comment on the blog posts or you can always email us at kidsmatter@cccofky.com.

Without any further delay, I would like to introduce you to the new Blog Squad!

Hello! My name is Julia and I am an Eligibility Specialist with the Child Care Council of Kentucky. My background has been on the other side of the desk as a Preschool/Head Start Teacher, Observation Specialist with Head Start, and an Assistant Director in a STARS rated Child Care Center. I am passionate about curriculum and educating educators! I am all about bringing creative learning to all ages starting as early as the Infant Room. I look forward to bringing you- the director the latest in curriculum, themes, prop boxing, staff management, training, and inspirational leadership for staff, children, and families throughout Kentucky!

Julia @ Kids Matter

____________________

Because of you Lynnsey, the next time we meet an American we will know that you aren’t all bad."
-Former Ecuadorian Student

Hello! My name is Lynnsey and I work in the Call Center with the Child Care Council of Kentucky. After two years in the Peace Corps, I returned to the United States determined, more than ever, to make a difference in the lives of those whose voice is not always heard; those who are rejected by a society who judges you by the brand of shoes on your feet and the size of the television in your living room. What can you expect from my blog? Well, I want to teach. I want to be heard. I want to change lives. I want to share with my people the beauty of a world that isn't always as scary as we think.

Lynnsey @ Kids Matter

____________________                   

Hello! My name is Betty Ann and I am the Special Projects Coordinator with the Child Care Council of Kentucky. I have been in the “people business” for my whole career.  All kinds of people of all ages, men, women, families and children have crossed my path. Surely there is a reason. Do they know what it is? Do I know what it is?  Sometimes yes, sometimes no, and sometimes, well, just maybe.

What people do and how they do it, what people say and how they say it, their ideas, my ideas, their talents, my talents……….then throw in some emotion, laughter, passion and love of life and there you have an idea of what to expect when you read my blog posts.  

BA @ Kids Matter

____________________

Hello! My name is Belinda and I am an Eligibility Specialist with the Child Care Council of Kentucky. Writing is not a menial task, a chore, a roadblock … writing is a passion, a search for the perfect flow of motivating and artistic wording that will draw in the reader. As a wife, mother of six, and grandmother of twelve I find myself writing many genres and always in search of creative expression through not only writing but photography as well. My purpose in blogging is to excite the parent into activities that will bring family unity, unwavering family bonds, and memories that will automatically light the darkest of nights with a smile. Those memories, that in looking back, always start with, “When I was a kid I remember…” There is no fonder a memory than being a child and remembering the good times shared with parents, siblings, and grandparents.

Belinda @ Kids Matter

____________________

Hi, I’m Robin.  I've worked at the Child Care Council of KY for 12 years.  I have never blogged before, so am excited about trying something new.  I don’t have a specific area of interest for writing yet, so my blog subjects may vary.  However, I do have a general interest in conservation of natural resources, traveling, experiencing different cultures, and encouraging multi-cultural interactions.  

Robin @ Kids Matter

____________________

Hi! I am Angie and I am the Office Manger at the CCC. I have worked for the Child Care Council of Kentucky for almost 5 years. I worked exclusively on writing the blog until job duties changed and it became too much for one person. My main interests lie in helping parents to help their children. Whether it is an education issue, a wellness issue or many other things, that is where my interest lies. I am fond of saying, "You do not need a million dollars or a Master's Degree to help a child." I look forward to getting back into writing and posting blogs!

Angie @ Kids Matter

____________________

We look forward to interacting with you soon!

Literacy in America

We frequently see the headlines about literacy in America, but I have stumbled upon an interesting statistic. As I perused the Kids Count Data on the Annie E Casey Foundation website, I saw a listing for "Children ages 1 to 5 whose family members read to them less than 3 days per week". The latest data that they have is 2007, but I still found the numbers shockingly high.

On average in the United States, 16% of children ages 1 to 5 are not read to by family members at least three times per week. That means no nightly bedtime stories, no fun rhyming books, no board books, no picture books, no literacy.

Research has shown that the earlier a child has access to books, the better their academic achievement. A baby that plays with board books, grows into a child that reads chapter books, grows into an adult that is literate and able to continue the cycle with their children. Without literacy, there can never be quality education!

For a family that is struggling to pay for the basics, affording books can be out of the question. How do you provide quality literacy moments for these families? With the prices of new children's books averaging from $3.00 for softcover to $15.00 for hardcover, it can be an unattainable dream for struggling households. Sadly, in these households a book can be a luxury, much like a cashmere sweater or concert tickets to another household. These children are beginning their education, markedly behind children coming from households with a family library. A family library does not have to be a huge affair, just a chance for children to look through books and understand that the marks they see on the pages, conveys a story to match the pictures. Every child should have this opportunity and every family member should have the opportunity to provide the joy and happiness that books can provide to their children.

Children Living in Poverty in the United States

The Annie E. Casey Foundation has recently released the new Kids Count Report. As I looked through the report, I was saddened to see the high percentage of kids living below the national poverty level.

United States
0 to 5	26%
6 to 17	21%
less than 18	23%

This is the rate of children living in poverty throughout the United States. The smallest children are the  highest percentage living below the national poverty level.

Early childhood experiences and education have been shown to affect a person's entire life. If a child is growing up below the poverty level from birth - 5 years of age, they are frequently at a large disadvantage by the time they start school.

A child's brain grows to 80% of it's adult size (source: Better Brains for Babies @ University of Georgia) during the early childhood years. The brain is stimulated by experiences, play, attachment and consistency. This is why quality care for children is so important. Children from homes below the national poverty level deserve to have opportunities that will stimulate that growth. They need not only new experiences, but they need repeated experiences to ingrain that event/knowledge into their brain.

As you look through the Kids Count Report, you will see a breakdown for the nation and for each state in several areas, including Demographics, Education, Economic Well-Being, Family and Community, Health, Safety and Risky Behaviors and Other Indicators.

One of the goals of the Kids Matter campaign is to raise awareness of quality child care for all children. What are your suggestions for equalizing children? Many states are going towards public preschool for all children, whether funded privately or publicly. This is a great start, but we need to discuss how we reach the full spectrum of children and how we offer a future full of education for all children.

Weigh in with your thoughts.

Fabulous Friday - Vision

Wordless Wednesday

My, what big eyes you have!