Carla Snuggs's Blog
Posted by Carla Snuggs
September holds some very exciting and informative conferences and continuing education opportunities.
If you are in the Los Angeles area, look forward to California Association for the Education of Young Children's Training the Early Childhood Education Trainer Conference. If you train staff, parents, and teachers, this is the conference for you. This conference will be held September 12-13, 2008 in Anaheim. Enjoy keynote speakers Dr. Debra Sullivan, Luis Hernandez, and Stacie Goffin.
If you're in the Portland, Oregon area, you may want to attend the Child Welfare League of America's Western Region Training Conference. The theme is "It Takes Courage and Compassion to Serve Children and Families," which promises to provide you with "a greater understanding of how to be a more effective caregiver, direct-service worker, advocate, or administrator serving America's at-risk children and families". It will be held at the Portland Hilton on September 15-17, 2008.
If you're near Virginia, The Virginia Alliance of Family Childcare Association's 17th Annual Training Conference. It will be held in Fredericksburg, Virginia on September 19-21, 2008. This is a three day conference with workshops, keynote speakers, and a variety of vendors.
There should still be time to register and/or arrange for hotel accommodations.
Happy Conferencing!
Posted by Carla Snuggs
Skimming the news today, I came across an article about a unique approach to kindergarten readiness and choosing a preschool that ties in with my series of articles about learning through play.
Hirsh-Pasek, co-author of A Mandate for Playful Learning: Presenting the Evidence, says that parents should select a preschool with a kid-friendly environment and the five “Cs”.
Those five C’s are: collaboration, communication, content, creative innovation, and confidence.
When selecting a quality preschool, look for one that fosters a strong social environment. Consistent with my articles on learning through play and verbal cues, there should be a balance of guided and unguided play (creative innovation). Also be sure to look for a healthy amount of dialogue and communication in the classroom.Your use of verbal cues is an important component of creative innovation and communication.
There should also be a balance of objective (content) focused learning and social and creative learning. The school should also foster a sense of confidence by allowing opportunities for students to try new things and take harmless risks.
When you think along these lines you may increase your chances of choosing a preschool that will best prepare your child for kindergarten.
Posted by Carla Snuggs
I just discovered the cutest book: The Humongous Book of Preschool Ideas by Joani Schultz, Patty Anderson, and Christine Yount Jones. It’s an excellent resource for Christian preschool teachers and daycare providers. It’s filled with Bible stories, crafts, games, finger plays, prayers, and even snacks!
What I love about this book is that it’s well organized and comprehensive, making it easy for preschool teachers and child care providers to create a complete lesson play relatively effortlessly. First you pick a Bible story from either the Old or New Testament. Then, based on the Bible Story, the authors provide you with activities in various categories along with the supply lists and the verbal cues necessary to enhance learning.
My favorite snack activity is the Jericho’s Walls where kids can build the Walls of Jericho on a paper plate out of graham crackers and cream cheese.
I also like the “edible ark”. Using pretzels and animal crackers, children are encouraged to outline an arc on paper plates, then to identify and match animal pairs. As they snack children can discuss each animal and how each animal is special.
The lesson plans are fun, easy to implement and creative. I would definitely consider adding this to your preschool resource library.
Posted by Carla Snuggs
The news can be filled with disturbing stories about situations that happen in preschools and daycares all over the world. So when I read about positive things that preschools are doing, I’m stoked and can't wait to share them with you.
Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP) has launched an awesome and inspiring community-benefit program which will enroll children in foster care (or relative care) into high-quality preschools at no cost! The purpose of this program is to help properly prepare this population for kindergarten and beyond.
According to a Business Wire article [June 2008], studies show that only 18 percent of eligible foster children in Los Angeles County currently attend preschool. I was also shocked to find out that 73 percent of publicly preschools in Los Angeles County have waiting lists!
The article explains that 25 percent of foster care children are placed in special education, and in the state of California almost 75 percent of foster children function below grade level.
In many of my articles, I discuss the importance of quality daycare and kindergarten readiness. When a child receives quality childcare, they are more likely to do well later in life. They are more likely to lead healthier lives, more likely to earn a higher income, and are less likely to be involved in crime.
If you are a foster parent or you are caring for a relative’s child, you can enroll him or her by visiting Los Angeles Universal Preschool or call (866) 581-5287.
Posted by Carla Snuggs
Behavioral issues and how to effectively manage them is usually a topic of concern for preschool teachers, daycare providers, and parents. I've rounded up my top articles that address behavioral issues that are most common with the preschool set:
Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder
Many preschool teachers wonder if their students have ADHD and how to manage ADHD behaviors in the classroom. These articles answer a lot of questions:
Preschool Biting
The majority of questions come from parents and center on issues with biting. I always tell my readers that child safety comes first. If your child is being traumatized by a biter, remove the child until the situation can be resolved.
Preschool Temper Tantrums
In the three and two year olds, temper tantrums are common. Don’t despair! There are easy tips in the following articles for dealing with temper tantrums in the preschool classroom:
Posted by Carla Snuggs
Just in case you didn’t know, July is National Ice Cream Month! Apparently in 1984, Ronald Regan declared July National Ice Cream Month and, additionally, the third Sunday of the month National Ice Cream Day. I couldn’t resist doing a short blog on a few ice cream themed daycare or preschool activities.
In honor of National Ice Cream month, I suggest the following activities:
- “I is for Ice Cream” letter activity. First School has convenient ice cream activities and worksheets
- Ice cream nutrition activities which focus on the importance of dairy and calcium. You can make ice cream in the classroom, letting children take turns adding fresh ingredients to the ice cream maker.
- Physical activity using Play and Freeze Ice Cream Balls. I recently came across this item which is loads of fun for children. Basically it’s a specialized ball that you add ice and rock salt in one end and ice cream mix in the other. Next, let the kids pass, toss and shake the ball around, and in no time you have homemade ice cream.
I don’t know about the weather where you are, but it’s sweltering in the west. Take care in implementing outdoor activities and pay close attention to weather advisories.
Happy Ice Cream Month!
Posted by Carla Snuggs
As I was preparing for my trip to Cabo San Lucas and going over some of the particulars, a smile came across my face as I realized my resort is “adults only”. Hoorah!
Then, as my slight attention deficit disorder began to kick in, I thought about parents who need vacation daycare and what their options for childcare might be since I’m always interested in new and emerging childcare trends.
In my research I came across a handful of vacation childcare sites. One such site is Babysitters Los Cabos. If you are vacationing in Los Cabos, Mexico you can make a reservation with this company which claims to provide high-level child-care services, on a 24-hour basis. The sitters are supposedly trained in CPR, childcare, and first aid.
So, say you have a day of parasailing ahead or a romantic evening planned and you need childcare. You can arrange to have your child(ren) taken care of by their babysitting services for a particular window of time, anytime of the day.
I am by no means endorsing or condemning this service. I’m just letting my readers know what’s out there.
I would suggest exercising caution, as with any childcare service, and I would advise you to do your research and evaluate your options carefully. I’m not sure how I would feel about leaving my kids with an unknown babysitter in another country, but it is a convenient option for some parents. Apparently, this is now a trend toward vacation childcare that may warrant some consideration and/or investigation.
Hope you’re having a great summer so far
Posted by Carla Snuggs
As I was working on a recycling preschool lesson plan for preschool aged kids, it got me thinking about some environmentally friendly things that preschool teachers and daycare providers can incorporate into their programs, curriculum, activities or atmosphere. I've been reading about organic preschools, such as Le Petit Paradise in Manhattan, and I'm blown away by how people, businesses, and young children are taking the intiative to care for our earth.
Right now the trendy thing to do is to “go green”, but it’s much more than a trend in my eyes. Learning about and getting in the habit of considering the environment and its precious resources is a lifestyle worth examining and something that children should participate in early on.
Some simple things early childhood educators can do in their classrooms with kids:
- Grow an organic garden and/or trees
- Teach the children about recycling and practice it in the classroom everyday
- Serve items with organically grown ingredients for lunch and snack
- Use recycled materials for crafts
- Use nontoxic cleaning products and recycled paper products like toilet paper and paper towels
In the classroom, you can start with simple steps and behaviors and know that you are planting the seeds of change.
Posted by Carla Snuggs
Cooking with kids age 2-3 can be tricky because their gross and fine motor skills are still developing. I know that when I work with kids these age, I’m most concerned with safety issues and the amount of cleanup the activity will entail.
When you’re cooking with kids this age, they usually can help with the following tasks:
- Stirring and mixing
- Mashing (think bananas)
- Pouring from a large measuring cup into a bowl
- Patting or packing ingredients in a measuring cup like brown sugar.
- Using a plastic butter knife to spread soft foods like butter or jelly
- Shaking ingredients in a plastic container with a lid
- Using a cookie cutter on soft cookie dough
In this hot weather you may be hesitant to cook but try making simple, cool snacks with no heat necessary. Here are some suggestions:
- Ice cream sandwiches (using graham crackers and ice cream)
- Homemade ice cream (let the children pour ingredients into the ice cream maker)
- Fruit and yogurt parfait using whipped topping, pudding, and raisins and nuts for garnish
- Fruit smoothies (let kids select fruit and pour ingredients into the blender)
Always be sure to check for food allergies and have all the children wash their hands before beginning any cooking activity.
Posted by Carla Snuggs
As I was reading through my daily newsfeeds, I was moved by the number of articles about childhood obesity as well as those concerning food contamination issues.
It got me thinking about the many health and nutrition related questions to which many parents and child care providers need answers and practical solutions.
Are hand sanitizers safe? What kind of shots does your child need for preschool? How can you minimize the spread of illness in your classroom? How can we keep food safe in the classroom? How can I enhance my nutrition curriculum?
I’ve rounded up my top articles on health and nutrition in the daycare and preschool setting which my answer many of these questions.
Nutrition Articles and Blogs
Nutrition Activities for Daycare
Health Articles and Blogs
Controlling Illness in Daycare
Daycare and Preschool Handwashing
Posted by Carla Snuggs
Did you know that your local realtors and leasing agents can be an excellent source of advertising?
When I moved into my apartment home late last year, I received a welcome package and directory. Included in this directory, along with important service numbers, were many of the local businesses’ pamphlets, flyers, and business cards, including one for a nearby daycare center. I continue to refer to it when I need to locate the best and most convenient services in my area.
You should have a variety of marketing strategies in your family daycare business plan. Advertising is the best way to promote your in-home family daycare. While some advertising options can be very expensive, there are some great inexpensive ways to market your daycare business.
If you haven’t already, create pamphlet or flyer that looks professional and polished and that details all of your contact information and high quality services.
Approach your local realtors and leasing agents and ask them to include your brochure or flier in the packet of information they distribute to their clients. Remind them that your reliable and affordable daycare services are an additional selling feature of the neighborhood.
Posted by Carla Snuggs
Fall is already on our heels! This is the perfect time for a roundup of kindergarten-readiness articles.
It is normal to have questions and concerns about your child's development, especially when it comes to how he or she is progressing in preschool. It is also important to know whether or not your child will be prepared for kindergarten.
I have compiled my top articles and blogs about kindergarten readiness for your convenience:
- Kindergarten Readiness Programs
- Signs of Kindergarten Readiness
- Transitioning to Kindergarten
- Preparing for Kindergarten
- Kindergarten Readiness Camps
Remember, it is never too early to look ahead into your child's future and understand what will be expected of him or her as they enter elementary school. This knowledge will ease your child's transition from preschool to kindergarten as well as help keep you and your child's teacher on the same page.
Posted by Carla Snuggs
Surfing the net today (a valuable yet addictive hobby) I came across a website called Supporting Providers. While they offer printables and articles, I think their best feature is that they provide access to free daycare forms for daycare providers and preschool teachers. There are over 300 forms in MS Word document or pdf form and they are arranged in neatly organized categories. All of the forms have been donated to Supporting Providers.
On the Supporting Providers, you can print:
- Business forms such as applications and staff record forms, changes in care forms, and financial forms
- Registration and enrollment forms
- Contract and policy forms like Parent Agreements, fees, and illness policies
- Health and medical forms such as accident and injury reports and allergy forms
- Report and logs, which includes daily reports, attendance, and safety logs
- Authorization forms. Very important for field trips and other outings
I believe it is important to support websites that make it easier for early childhood educators manage and market their businesses and this one is a virtual gold mine.
P.S. Be sure to respect the copyright laws of the forms you use.
Posted by Carla Snuggs
Every preschool teacher and daycare provider needs a fully stocked library in order to succeed in the world of early childhood education. This will keep you abreast of the latest in education and developmentally appropriate practices and help you improve your daycare business.
As a preschool teacher or daycare provider, you should have a personal library of professional books, journals and magazines. You should have also have resource books for lesson plans and activity ideas so that you can spice up your curriculum as needed.
It's also nice to have an abundant library for the children you educate filled with colorful, diverse, intellectually stimulating, and age-appropriate books.
I've compiled a list of my top articles, each one chock full of book suggestions sure to beef up both your personal and preschool library. While the early years are the most important learning years, you're never too old to continue to educate yourself.
Top Articles about Preschool, Daycare and Business Books
Posted by Carla Snuggs
Over the weekend my sister, who has a 3 year old in preschool, shared a funny preschool related story with me which reminded me about how important preschool daily reports are. So I thought I'd jot down some tips about daily reports. They are an essential part of parent-teacher communication.
Preschool daily reports are handy, effective and resourceful for both the child care provider and the child's parents. They truly do establish a bond with the childcare provider, open the lines of communication, and give insight into how your child is behaving when you are not around. It is also helpful because it allows parents to nip some behaviors in the bud and work on pertinent issues at home in conjunction with the childcare provider.
Items to include on a daily preschool report:
- Disposition (behavior/mood): Was the child cheerful, tired, talkative, mischievous?
- What the child ate for breakfast, lunch, and snacks
- Things they liked that day
- How long they napped and comments about naptime
- Diapers and potty times (note the times you checked and if the child was wet or dry)
- Special activities they did that day
- Any concerns
- Any supplies that the child is missing (wipes, clean clothes, diapers, etc.)
You can make your own daily or weekly report, or you can print out this free Preschool Daily Report from the Nurturing Nest and make copies.
Parents will certainly appreciate it, and you will have documentation about the activities and behaviors that go on during your watch.
Related Article: Books for Home Daycare Businesses
Posted by Carla Snuggs
Preschool teachers and daycare providers are responsible for providing the tools to help children learn and grow through artistic expression. If you're like me and could use a little help in planning and teaching art activities, I whole-heartedly suggest Growing Artists: Teaching Art to Young Children by Joan Bouza Koster.
This book isn't just a project book. It combines theory and curriculum, so that early childhood providers can get a firm grasp on the importance of art education and the correct way to foster an artistic, creative environment.
Why I appreciate this resource:
- I like that the author doesn't just tell you WHAT to do but WHY you should be doing it. This should never be taken for granted.
- Koster truly keeps costs in mind and offers budget friendly ways to accomplish activities. For example, in some of her supply list for art projects, she will explain what items are necessities and what you items you can add if you have additional funds.
- Koster truly takes the time to walk the reader through the setup of each activity and explains the most appropriate group composition.
- The activities include modifications for special needs.
- Art activities include verbal cues which are so important in implementing activities that support curriculum objectives.
For more information about preschool arts and crafts, see Online Preschool Lesson Plans.
Posted by Carla Snuggs
It is common for parents to be concerned with the infections and illnesses that their child may pick up at daycare or preschool playing amongst other children. However, I recently read an article which asserts that daycare may reduce leukemia risk. To be more specific, the researchers at University of California, Berkeley contend that children who attend daycare or play groups are about 30 percent less likely to develop leukemia.
While this sounds suspicious, the basis for theses studies comes from something called the "hygiene hypothesis”. Supposedly, when children are exposed to certain infections early on it helps them develop stronger immune systems. Those that have pets and older siblings also tend to develop stronger immune systems. I’ve read about this hypothesis applied to everything from asthma to atopic dermatitis to the flu.
I contracted chicken pox and mumps as an infant because of early social contact, and I’m glad I wasn’t old enough to remember any of it. Had I been isolated or not had older siblings, its possible I would have gotten those illnesses at a much later age. I wasn’t sick very often as a child and I’m not very often ill as an adult, and it may be that early social contact was a factor.
I think what we can take away from this study is that it is definitely beneficial for young children to have early social contact in groups. It not only benefits their health as well as all other areas of development. In contrast, isolation is definitely counterproductive to any child’s development.
Posted by Carla Snuggs
Evaluating and selecting daycare is an important and sometimes daunting task for parents. I frequently get asked questions about what to look for in choosing child care. I also get emailed many questions about policies and regulations. With that in mind, I thought it was time for a roundup of pertinent articles and list some quick but important tips with regard to selecting daycare.
- Trust your instincts. If your gut instinct causes you to doubt a childcare provider for any reason, don’t ignore it. Ask questions, investigate, and if you are not satisfied and confident with your choice, keep searching!
- Pop in unannounced. Many times parents schedule appointments because they don’t want to intrude. I say, don’t hesitate to show up announced so you can get a true feel for your child’s child care environment before and after they are enrolled.
- When interviewing daycare providers, always be prepared. Make a list of the important questions you need to ask about the facility, the staff, the childcare program, and center policies. Make your concerns known and leave no stone unturned.
Top articles about evaluating daycare
Posted by Carla Snuggs
Not too long ago, I wrote an article about the many methods of marketing your family daycare. The internet is your friend when it comes to publicizing your family daycare or childcare center. One of the most effective means of doing so is through creating a weblog.
A weblog (usually called a blog) is an online journal or diary. Your blog can stand alone or can be a component of a website or webpage. My favorite blog site is Blogger. It’s a free website that allows you to publish your blog using simple yet professional templates. If you are ambitious and would like to create a blog from scratch, more power to you! There is a great tutorial from Howstuffworks.com on how to create a blog which is definitely worth checking out.
Create an informal, entertaining, and personal blog which talks about your current activities, lesson plans, and your day-to-day experiences. You can talk about things like your daily menus, your policies, behavioral strategies, and developmentally appropriate practices. Update it regularly and encourage others to post comments. Upload photos, make it personal, and get creative.
The blog benefits you in two ways: It creates visibility for your business and it also creates a platform for parents and childcare providers to also share their ideas and experiences, which can never be bad for improving your business. So get blogging!
Posted by Carla Snuggs
April is Garden Month according to the National Gardening Association. As we continue with spring themed activities and lesson plans, take the opportunity to celebrate garden month by adding fun garden themed activities and crafts to your daycare or preschool curriculum.
The most interactive way to observe garden month is by planting a small garden with children. The easiest plants for children to grow are sunflowers, lettuce, radishes, snow peas, cherry tomatoes, nasturiums, carrots, potatoes, bush beans, and pumpkins. These seeds are easy to grow and have a short growing season.
If you are not able to plant a garden, because of the weather or you don't have the space, try reading books about gardens, gardening or nature. I like The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds: A Book About How Living Things Grow by Joanna Cole [Scholastic, 1995] It's an exciting adventure and in the process children learn about the growth of living things. And there is always one of my favorite classics The Little Red Hen which is about planting and harvesting wheat.
For language and alphabet lessons you can create or print out gardening themed coloring sheets such as "G is for garden", "L is for Leaf or Lilly" and "D is for Daisy".
You can also spend time talking about farmers and their role as a community helper.
As always, have fun and be creative!
Happy Garden Month!
Posted by Carla Snuggs
I just had to make mention of a great learning and networking opportunity.
If you're going to be in the New Orleans area try to get to the 24th Annual NACCP National Conference sponsored by the National Association of Child Care Professionals. With the theme "How Successful Directors Manage" it is the perfect conference for preschool and daycare owners as well as preschool directors and administrators. It is being held April 16-19 in New Orleans, Louisiana at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel.
Don't miss this chance to see keynote speaker Dr. Harvey Karp of Happiest Baby on the Block and Happiest Toddler on the Block fame. I'm definitely a fan of Dr. Karp.
Some sessions of interest include "Taming Toddler Tantrums", "Ten Musts to Motivate and Energize Staff and Prevent Turnover", "Building Enrollment", and Influenza Prevention.
Along with over 30 sessions there are also exhibitors and cool entertainment opportunities like jazz and karaoke. The conference offers 20 hours of training in management and administration as well as CEU credits.
Posted by Carla Snuggs
Today as I was sifting through the news, I came upon a news story about a 24-hour daycare facility that was approved by the Mississippi State Board of Health. Heaven Sent, a daycare center in Scott County, will now be able to offer around the clock daycare for newborn babies and children through the age of 5. This daycare facility offers changing areas, a shower, and a bathtub. In addition, children sleep on mattresses at night instead of mats or cots.
So I decided to do a little bit of research and found that 24 hour daycare facilities are not new. There are plenty of 24-hour daycare centers around the country, and I assume they must be pretty popular and convenient.
I applaud a daycare center that offers extended childcare hours in order to support those parents who work the late shift. I believe that there should be all sorts of affordable daycare options for parents who work regular 9 to 5 shifts, weekend, and nights, or for those who need emergency childcare. However, my second instinct is to think about those parents that will abuse this service. I imagine parents dropping their kids off and flying to Jamaica for a week, but that is the cynic in me. I figure there must be some regulations with regard to how long you can leave your child in the daycare center. I also feel that as a parent I would be concerned with various safety issues. At any rate, I am having a mixed reaction to what is, for me, a new discovery.
I have created a new discussion thread because I would love to get your opinions, comments, and experiences about 24 hour daycare service.
Posted by Carla Snuggs
March is Irish-American history Month.For preschool teachers and daycare providers, this provides a great opportunity to teach children about different countries and cultures. I would begin with a simple lesson that about Irish history. You can take out a map or a globe and show kids the location of Ireland for starters. Talk about what the Irish flag looks like, discussing the colors of the flag and what each color represents.
Next, I suggest you explore and explain the significance of the color green. Discuss that green tends to symbolize hope and nature. Have the children name some things that are green in nature.
In conjunction with Irish-American history Month, you can include a lesson about St Patrick’s Day. Talk about the significance of the 4 leaf clover and leprechauns, and of course include a small history lesson about St. Patrick. Introduce the children to the national emblem of Ireland: the shamrock. Make sure to use plenty of visual aids when introducing new concepts to children.
Keep it simple in terms of activities. Read simple picture books about Irish history, let the children decorate your bulletin board with personalized shamrocks, present an “L is for Leprechaun letter activity”, or make an Irish flag of construction paper. Crafts for St. Patrick’s Day [Millbrook Press, 2000] by Kathy Ross has tons of ideas for simple crafts for preschoolers perfect for celebrating Irish history.
Dont overwhelm them with too much information. Keep it easy and fun! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Posted by Carla Snuggs
Today's rates of childhood obesity are alarming and frightening. I believe that early childhood educators are called to protect and educate children as well as support their emotional and social well-being. Nutrition education along with children seeing adults model proper health and nutrition behavior is essential.
With that said, in support of National Nutrition and Health Month, I have a fabulous book suggestion. I usually don't review books that are not yet released because readers will have to wait to purchase them, but I was so excited about this one that I couldn't wait.
The title that I suggest parents and educators get enthusiastic about is Food and Health in Early Childhood: A Holistic Approach [Sage Publications, 2008] by Deborah Albon and Penny Mukherji, a book and CD Rom combo with a release date of April 17, 2008. For educators, this is a must because it discusses healthy eating guidelines and policy development in early childhood education. I am impressed with the food related socio-cultural information and psychological tie-ins, as the authors discuss food, culture and identity as well as food and emotion. The text is supplemented with case studies, supporting activities, and vital links to website and related pertinent information. A must-read!
Posted by Carla Snuggs
Parents: do you wonder if your kids are getting the proper nutrition at daycare or preschool? Daycare providers, are you aware of the new (2005) food pyramid guidelines for children?
With March being National Nutrition and Health Month, I am urging you to check out the MyPyramid.gov website, a site sponsored by The Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, an organization of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Here you will find guidelines for kids (and adults) and a wealth of materials. There are games, tips for families, coloring pages, and worksheets. For teachers, there are also classroom materials.
There are a host of cool nutrition related preschool activities at one of my favorite resource sites First-Preschool. My suggestion is to engage the children in activities in which they prepare healthy foods using fresh fruits and vegetables, plant a garden, or learn about healthy bodies.
Now is also the perfect time to evaluate your daycare meal plans and mealtime environments to make sure there is balance, variety, and moderation.
Posted by Carla Snuggs
In honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, which is coming up on March 2nd, I am directing you to Seussville! He is one of my most beloved authors and, FYI, my favorite of his works is Hop on Pop.
Not only is the site simply interesting and useful for providing an opportunity to learn about Dr. Seuss’ life and accomplishments, but planning activities for your preschool or daycare with a Dr. Seuss theme is easy once you experience all things Seuss.
This well-maintained and easy to navigate website includes everything you need to stay abreast of Seuss happenings. Seuss’ biography is extensive and interesting. In addition, there is a fun “playground” section with all sorts of games and activities – great for circle time and craft idea production. The ‘catalog” section is a grand resource for an overview of all of his books sorted neatly into categories by reading level. You can also purchase books and Seuss related music, clothing, and gifts. The “Events” section will link you to Seuss and Read Across America events.
What are you waiting for? Off to Seussville you go!
Posted by Carla Snuggs
Wasn’t it just Christmas? This year is whizzing by!
In order to help you stay abreast of upcoming possible unit themes, I have compiled a short list of possible themes/holidays for February and March. This should help you get a head start on fun activities and engaging lesson plans.
February
Black History Month
National Children’s Dental health Month
Library’s Mother’s Month
Valentines Day (February 14) --A Friendship theme is appropriate
President’s Day (February 18)
March
National Nutrition Month
Irish-American history Month
National Pig Day (March 1)
Dr. Seuss’ Birthday (March 2)
St. Patrick’s Day (March 17)
Spring Themes (Spring begins March 20, 2008)
Easter (March 23, 2008)
Vincent Van Gogh’s Birthday (March 30)
For free online preschool activities, see Online Preschool Lesson Plans.
Posted by Carla Snuggs
Valentines Day is February 14. I was thinking of a simple Valentines Day activity or craft to share and decided on a simple but Valentines Day mail box.
First, take ordinary shoeboxes with their lids and let the children decorate them with Valentines Day themed decorations. This can be anything like pieces of Valentines Day themed wrapping paper, pink, red and white tissue paper, confetti hearts, heart shaped stickers and lace.
Once the boxes are decorated, cut a slit in the top and it now becomes a mailbox.
Throughout the week, your toddlers and preschoolers can be working on those fabulous creative valentines for each of their classmates. A great site with Valentines Day Card Crafts is Everything Preschool. There are loads of ideas there. You may also buy pre-made cards, but for children, making the actual cards is half the fun.
Then, on Valentines Day, the children can “deliver” the cards to each child’s mail box, and the children will delight in receiving mail.
Happy Valentines Day!
Posted by Carla Snuggs
This year is already moving super fast! It's almost February and February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, sponsored by the American Dental Association (ADA) in an effort to raise oral health awareness.
On the ADA's website they provide numerous activities for teachers to help them promote oral health awareness. There are posters, presentation resources, and really cute activity sheets including coloring sheets, puzzles and games.
A great book to read within this theme is Brushing my Teeth by DK Publishing [DK Preschool, 2007] a cute board book which explains to chidren how to brush, how often to brush, and why they need to go to the dentist regularly.
Have fun with it! You can find all kinds of dental health arts and crafts, songs, and lesson plan ideas on the internet.
Posted by Carla Snuggs
Conference time!
Two upcoming conferences of note:
Early Years Conference 2008: Valuing all Children
January 30 - February 2, 2008
Fairmont Vancouver
Vancouver, BC, Canada
For those located in or near Vancouver, take advantage of this early childhood development conference sponsored by the University of British Columbia Interprofessional Continuing Education. The conference offers four days of workshops, events, and keynote speakers. The emphasis of the conference is on child care and children with disabilities. There are also 2 pre-conference events on January 30 and January 31 which are open to the public. This conference offers professional credits.
NHAEYC-VAYEC Administrator's Conference, 2008
February 8-9, 2008
Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee Vermont
Keynote Speaker: Paula Jorde Bloom
The New Hampshire and Vermont chapters of the National Association for the Education of Young Children are holding a 2-day conference perfect for preschool and daycare administrators. Topics include (among many) marketing, grants, child development theory, power dynamics, best practices and staffing.
Posted by Carla Snuggs
January 21, 2008 is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr day. While the children in your daycare or preschool may or may not be able to grasp the concepts of slavery and racism, the themes of peace and unity may be a simpler concept to create an activity or unit around.
A “Unity Hand Wreath” activity simply involves panting then cutting out construction paper hands in the colors of red, yellow and brown and white (skin tones) and gluing them to a paper wreath made of a heavy paper plate with the center cut out. The wreath then symbolizes cultural unity.
I also recommend The Story of Martin Luther King, Jr. by Johnny Ray Moore and Amy Wummer (Illustrator) [Ideals Publications, 2002]. This is a simple, charming board book which provides a very succinct overview of the life of Dr King.
It does not have to be a complicated historical explanation at this age. My point would be to get across the basics with regard to the concepts of harmony, cooperation, peace.
Happy MLK, Jr. Day!
Posted by Carla Snuggs
While I have never worked in a preschool that utlizes grandparent volunteerism, I have been reading more and about this trend and its benefits especially in Head Start Prograns. If you don't know what I mean, I'm talking about older adults (usually age 55 and older) who, as part of Foster Grandparenting programs, volunteer at preschools and daycare centers. They help with school readiness, reading, and games. They may also sit and have lunch with the children. I'd imagine it would be great to have additional caring adults to provide extra care, kindness, and attention. Some programs also provide the grandparent with an hourly stipend, meals and transportation. So that, coupled with the extra help a educator receives, and in addition to the ability to provide an opportunity for a retired or semi retired person to feel a sense of utlity, it is pretty much a win-win situation for all involved.
I'm very curious about those of you (parents and educators) whose daycare or preschool participates in foster grandparenting or grandparent volunteerism and how it is working out for you. Join the discussion here.