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In The Kitchen

mssusan@toddletowne.com (Susan Berry) — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 18:02:34 GMT

A Birthday Treat for George Washington

Even the little ones can help make this treat. Let the child roll or press out a canned biscuit and put a tablespoon of cherry pie filling in the middle. Fold the biscuit over, seal edges with a fork, brush with milk and sprinkle with sugar. Put them on a cookie sheet and bake for 5 -10 minutes until golden brown. Don't help too much, and remember that if they cook, they should help with the clean-up before eating the treat.

Family Fun

mssusan@toddletowne.com (Susan Berry) — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 18:01:15 GMT

Tired of Cold & Snow?

Take a trip to the Missouri Botanical Gardens at 2101 Tower Grove Ave. St. Louis Mo., and bask in the warm steamy rain forest climate of the Climatron, the hot desert, or the sunny Mediterranean climate, The Botanical Garden, a National Historic Landmark, was founded in 1859 by Henry Shaw. Orchids will be featured during February, and the Camellias will reach full winter bloom. The Gardens are open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm throughout the winter. Admission is only $5.00 for adults; children 12 and under are free.

The Garden Gate restaurant has sandwiches and meals... a little more than McDonald's but still reasonable. You can call 314-577-9400 for more information or visit their website at www.mobot.org.

Child Abuse: Mandated Reporters

mssusan@toddletowne.com (Susan Berry) — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 17:59:39 GMT

Protecting Children

We are required, by law, to report injuries that are consistent with abusive treatment. Our sole responsibility is to factually report the presence of an injury with no presumption of parental guilt.

Toddle Towne Learning Center and every teacher in the center are mandated reporters of "suspected child abuse." We are required, by law, to report injuries that are consistent with abusive treatment. It is not our job to investigate, make judgments, or assign guilt. Our sole responsibility is to factually report the presence of an injury with no presumption of parental guilt. Some of the injuries we are specifically required to report include: handprint marks, adult human bite marks, pattern bruises, "glove" burns, and cigarette burns. Other circumstances which would indicate our responsibility for reporting would be inconsistencies between the reported cause of the injury and the actual injury, conflicting stories from the child and other family members, similar and repeated injuries, or a pattern of injuries.

Do not worry about everyday bumps and bruises or scrapes and scratches. Healthy, active children will acquire a variety of minor injuries on knees, shins, foreheads, and chins. If there is an unusual birthmark or severe injury, please discuss it with us when you bring the child in; this will allow us to be more accurate in assessing our responsibility to report. We have no desire to embarrass or upset our parents. If a report is made, the family will be contacted; there will be no further contact or interference if a reasonable explanation is given. We are not allowed to keep any records of unfounded reports. Stresses of today's fast-paced life can push any parent into inappropriate parenting. For these parents, relief is offered in auxiliary child care, counseling, or even financial resources. It is not the aim of the Department of Children and Family Services or Toddle Towne to punish the parents but rather to protect the child.

Fulfilling our role as a mandated reporter is not easy or comfortable for us; however, if we do not report, Toddle Towne may be denied a license to operate, and individual teachers may lose their certification and the right to work with young children. We ask for your cooperation and understanding as we carry out our responsibilities as advocates for young children.

Food Group Treat Week

mssusan@toddletowne.com (Susan Berry) — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 17:54:53 GMT

Help Us Celebrate the Week of Valentines

The week of Valentine's Day will be FOOD GROUP TREATS. Check the calendar to see which food group will be represented on each day and help us teach the children to make healthy food choices by letting them select and share an appropriate treat with their friends. PLEASE! NO COOKIES, CUPCAKES, OR CANDY. ALL FOOD MUST BE PURCHASED COMMERCIALLY AND BE IN THE ORIGINAL UNOPENED PACKAGING

Monday 2/14 = DAIRY

Tuesday 2/15 = GRAIN

Wednesday 2/16 = FRUIT

Thursday 2/17 = VEGETABLE

Friday 2/18 = MEATS

From Ms Peggy

mssusan@toddletowne.com (Susan Berry) — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 17:51:14 GMT

To Tell The Truth

If we believe our folk history, George Washington could not tell a lie even to escape punishment, and Honest Abe Lincoln would walk miles to return a penny that wasn't his. Honesty and truthfulness are values that we adults hold in high esteem. We also assume that children share our views about truthfulness. Because lying is seen as detestable, no parent wants to accept that their child would lie. Every parent sees their child as truthful as George and as honest as Abe. But, to tell the truth...kids don't know much about the truth or honesty!

Children don't perceive truth and honesty in the same way adults do. As adults, we have agreed that our society will operate more productively if we tell the truth and count on honesty from others. Children aren't farsighted enough to see the value of these or any other rules. They don't know the importance of conforming to agreed-upon standards of behavior for the good of all. Children tell lies because it looks like the smart way out. If you ask them if they are the culprit in a situation and are pretty sure that punishment will follow, then lying seems smart.

Sometimes the lack of truth is even more fundamental. Children see any incident only from their point of view. From that perspective, the other kid is always the one that started it, and punishment is always unfair and undeserved.

Children aren't always aware that they are lying. If you have ever tried to convince a child that monsters and nightmares aren't real, then you know how difficult it is for them to separate fact from fantasy. Things they are worried about sometimes become real in their minds, even if they never really happened.

Yet another difficulty is the fact that children have not yet mastered the logic of cause and affect. If two things happen simultaneously, children assume that one caused the other. A child once told me that his mom had caused the burn on his hand. During questioning, he agreed that he had climbed up and put his hand on the stove in defiance of his mother. The burn, however, didn't start hurting until mom rubbed ointment on it. In the child's mind, the mom had caused the pain.

Children earnestly look you in the eye and tell you that they didn't make the mess even when they are the only ones in the room. They swear that an object is theirs even though you know it couldn't be. They look so angelic and innocent that even though you know better, you swear they must be telling the truth. Children don't look guilty because they don't feel guilty. Piaget, Kohlberg, and other child theorists who studied the moral development of children agree that children are not born with a conscience that tells them what is right and wrong. It must be developed and nurtured throughout childhood. Most religions also recognize this fact and identify seven as the "age of accountability," when children can be expected to know right from wrong and take responsibility for their actions.

Does all this mean that children cannot be expected to be truthful? Well...yes and no! Parents should be realistic in acknowledging that all children (even "good" children) tell lies. It is unrealistic to expect young children always to know the truth or tell the truth. Instead, as responsible parents, it is our job to teach children to tell the truth by emphasizing the value that we place upon truthfulness, fair play, and the wrong inherent in telling a lie to escape consequences. They need to know that although we don't stop loving them, we are disappointed when they do not tell the truth. As we do this, we help them develop a conscience and become responsible, truthful adults. *

In The Kitchen

mssusan@toddletowne.com (Susan Berry) — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 20:46:50 GMT

SLIME!

This is for fun not for eating! Home-made Slime will provide lots of fun and entertainment on a snowy Sunday afternoon. Mix equal parts liquid laundry starch and Elmer's Glue. Food coloring and flavoring extract may be added to the laundry starch for variety. This also makes an inexpensive party favor. It will keep for some time in the refrigerator.

Family Fun: In The Car

mssusan@toddletowne.com (Susan Berry) — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 20:45:39 GMT

In The Car

Employed parents spend a lot of time in the car with their children going from home to childcare, work, and back again. This time can be a frustrating hassle or a valuable and enjoyable part of your routine. If you give the kids all of your attention during this time, maybe, just maybe, when you get home, they’ll let you relax for a minute or two before you start dinner.

If you tape a copy of the school newsletter on the dash, then on the way to school, you can help your children anticipate the events of the day. On the way home, try starting a conversation with leading questions like, “How was the spaghetti today?” or “What did you see on your field trip to the parking lot?” You can also save a bit of early morning hassle by looking ahead to see if you need to get that transportation toy ready to take to school tomorrow. Please put it in the car now, so you don’t forget!

Travel time can enhance learning by pointing out numbers, shapes, and letters found in signs and license plates. With each change in the speed limit, have them check to tell you if you need to slow down or go faster. Look out the window and talk! Explain what the service vehicles or repair crews are doing point out changes in weather and conditions. Count the number of dogs, red cars, or anything else you see. See how many store signs they can recognize and “read.” Ask them, “Which way will we turn next?” “What kind of a store should we go to to buy milk? Gas? Etc.?” Pick one or two new words each week. Tape them to the dashboard of the car. Use the word with a definition, (That truck is enormous, it is very big.) at least twice a day until you hear them using it in a conversation.

Tell them about your day, explain what you did at work. Explain the function of all of the car’s gauges and dials, let them check to see if you need gas, watch the odometer change, and operate the radio and heater buttons. Teach them to be safe passengers and (future) safe drivers by explaining why you stop and why they must use their seatbelts.

If your child is still too young for these activities, hang a mobile in front of the car seat or tape pictures of single objects they are learning to name, shapes, or colors on the back of the front seat, so they have something to look at. Position a suction mirror on the dash so you can see and talk to your child in the back seat. Sing silly songs. It will increase vocabulary and calm a fussy child. Include the child’s name in made-up songs to familiar tunes. (Where or where is dear little Lauren? Way back there in the back seat!).

Have fun and drive carefully

From Ms Peggy

mssusan@toddletowne.com (Susan Berry) — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 20:42:40 GMT

New Years Resolutions

I collect words like other people collect buttons or baseball cards and "resolution", as in New Year's resolution, is one of the best in my collection. It is derived from the Latin root "resolvere" which means to again loosen up, dissolve, or melt away. That is what we do each New Year. We try, by making a New Year's resolution, to once again make our problems melt away!

Resolve can be used as a noun or a verb and has as many as 17 different meanings depending upon the context in which it is used! Each year at this time we resolve (analyze) our lives looking for some change we can make that will make us better people. We resolve (solve again) the problems which confront us. We resolve (reach a decision) to concentrate on our resolve (fixed intention or settled purpose) to make changes that we hope will resolve (transform) our life. If we stick to that resolve (fixed intention or settled purpose) with resolve (determination) then maybe ... just maybe we can make some real changes in our lives.

Although emphasis upon change and improvement is increased at the beginning of the year, productive and emotionally healthy people make it an ongoing process not limited to New Year's Eve. A worthwhile resolution for this New Year would be to teach our children how to resolve (bring to a conclusion) their own problems. As a child, when I was faced with a tough problem, my mother would sit back, fold her arms and firmly remind me that, "every tub must sit on its own bottom!" At the time, I didn't think much of her advice! I didn't realize that by stepping back and insisting that I solve my own problems she was helping me to accept that I, and only I was responsible for my life. As much as we would like to...we can't solve problems for our children. If we attempt to do so, in the long run, we only make life more difficult for them. Although I didn't appreciate her then, I have since been thankful that I had such a wise mother.

Although as a parent you can't resolve (determine or decide) life for your children, you can help them learn how to resolve (break up into separate parts and analyze) their problems so that they can resolve (make clear and understand) the best course of action to take. When your children come to you with complaints about life's (or their friends') unfairness, remain calm...don't be overcome with sympathy! Help them to retell what happened. What actions did they take? What actions did others take? How did their actions affect others? How could they have changed their own behavior? How would that have affected the situation? What are possible courses of action to prevent or deal with another occurrence? What course will they choose? What do they think will be the outcome?

That's the easy part...now you must insist that they implement their solution with resolve (firm determination). The first try might not resolve (melt away) the problem, they might have to try again and again. As they become adults, the ability to resolve (analyze and bring to a conclusion) their problems with resolve (determination) will take them further in life than all the help, assistance, relief, succor, support, aid, consolation, or solace, you can give them. Happy New Year!

From Ms Peggy

lisa@demarcodesign.com (Susan Berry) — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 23:52:35 GMT

Visions of sugarplums

More than 100 years ago, my great-grandmother excitedly recorded in her diary that she had found oyster crackers to purchase as a surprise for the Christmas stockings. She was delighted as she anticipated the pleasure of her children when they discovered this special treat. Today's children would certainly not consider oyster crackers a memorable holiday surprise!

Expectations of both children and their parents have multiplied since my great-grandmother’s time. Children expect to have every toy advertised and parents take it as their responsibility to see that their children have a perfect life. Children are exposed, through TV, to an array of toys that my great-grandmother could not have imagined. Parents, wanting to make the holidays a perfect time, free of any disappointment or frustration, buy for their children every toy they request. They shop until they are exhausted, do without themselves, and overspend their budget so badly that they must spend the rest of the year worrying about how to pay the bills. If they cannot find or afford a requested toy they worry that they have ruined their child's life forever. This Christmas attitude does not make children happy. It makes them greedy and prevents them from learning to deal appropriately with the disappointments and frustrations that are inevitable in life. It makes parents so tired and stressed that they can't enjoy their children. The holidays become a time of lost tempers, harsh words, stress, and worry.

It is important for parents to remember that it is part of their job to say "no" when children have unrealistic expectations. As adults, we are lucky if we get even a small percentage of the material things we want and yet we try to give our children everything they ask for. Is it wise or loving to raise our children with unrealistic expectations for the adult world? This holiday, instead of focusing upon extravagant gifts and flawless decorations, concentrate on spending time working together as a family. Children would really rather have family times than perfection. If the children really can't help in some part of the preparations, then talking with them and including them in the planning makes them feel a part of things. As adults, they will recall times spent together not Hokey Pokey Elmo or Kasey the Kinderbot. Make sure that these memories are filled with hugs and laughter, not worries and harsh words.

When WRAPPING PRESENTS, choosing the correct size box or paper can be a real challenge to the youngsters. Give them scraps of paper or the Sunday funnies, blunt scissors, and lots of tape, and they can wrap the gifts for home exchange or they can wrap and decorate an empty box for grandma ... grandmas like anything!

If you are BAKING COOKIES, give them a small amount of dough to roll and cut out. A soup can with the label torn off makes an extra rolling pin. The results aren't important, it's the process that counts. Let them do it their way. If you have other kitchen work and need to keep them occupied, a squirt of shaving cream or dishwashing soap on a cookie sheet on a newspaper-covered floor will keep them busy for a long time. The results are very washable.

When it is time to DECORATE THE TREE, if you really can't stand junior grade creativity, cut off a branch, stick it in a flowerpot of sand and let them do it all themselves. They can make decorations, or use old or unbreakable ones.

I would like to wish each Toddle Towne family a very individual Season's Greetings. Thank you for being a part of our lives. I hope that your holiday celebration is a very special time for you and your family and that you build memories that will last for a lifetime!

Christmas Gifts

lisa@demarcodesign.com (Susan Berry) — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 23:52:34 GMT

Christmas Gifts

Several parents have expressed their appreciation for the dedicated work of our teachers and have asked about giving Christmas gifts. We appreciate these kind thoughts and intentions, but would ask that no gifts be given to individual teachers. If you wish to express your thanks in the form of a gift, we would prefer it be one which the teachers can share or one that the children can enjoy such as books, records, magic markers, shaving cream, play dough, tinker toys, push/pull toys or other similar toys.

In the Kitchen: Holiday Cookies

lisa@demarcodesign.com (Susan Berry) — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 23:52:33 GMT

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without CUT OUT COOKIES!

CREAM TOGETHER: 1/2 C shortening, 1 C sugar, & 1 t vanilla. Add 1 egg and beat. DISSOLVE 1 t baking soda in 1/2 C sour milk (a few drops of vinegar will sour sweet milk) SIFT together 2 t baking powder & 3 1/2 C flour. ADD milk and dry ingredients alternately mixing well. ROLL OUT fairly thick, sprinkle with colored sugar, cut with Christmas cutters. PLACE on greased cookie sheet, BAKE in 350 - 400 degree oven until lightly brown on edges.

Holiday Schedule 2021

lisa@demarcodesign.com (Susan Berry) — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 23:52:31 GMT

Please mark your calendar

We will be closed December 23rd and 24th, and December 31st. In order to schedule teachers efficiently and to allow them a few days of well deserved vacation, we need to know in advance the days you will need care. Please give us your schedule for for the next few weeks in advance. We will be working from unusual schedules, so for these dates only, we would appreciate 24 hours notice for changes in schedules.

Important Bits & Pieces: December 2021

lisa@demarcodesign.com (Susan Berry) — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 23:52:30 GMT

This may sound like a strange request, but do you have any old mismatched or outgrown socks or mittens that we could have? We will use them as a collection for sorting, matching and all sorts of learning activities.
We would also like to have a picture of your family for this month. We will be doing lots of hands-on things like counting each family, adding two families, and counting all the freckles (just kidding). A snapshot would be just great. If you send a studio portrait, we will copy it and return the original to you. What a great gift you give your children when you are interested in their education.

TTLC works very hard to see that everything within the school is as safe as we can make it, but we have a few problems with which we need parental cooperation.

Recently we seem to have a rash of children bringing money to school with them. Coins can present a serious choking danger to young children. Even if your child is old enough to know that money should not be put in the mouth, there are younger children enrolled who do not know this. By the time we are aware that children are playing with money brought from home it could be too late. Please be even more careful than usual in checking what children bring into school.
Another problem is with medicine brought to school. We are glad to give necessary medications for which we have appropriate instructions and authorizations but all medicines must be treated with a great deal of caution. Some children get their daily vitamin in the morning just before they leave for school, but instead of chewing it, we may find it in pockets or being played with later on in the day. We have also become aware that some of our parents routinely keep fever relievers and other over-the-counter medicines handy in the diaper bags. We cannot take precautions for medicines when we are not aware that they are available. Please do not put anything in the diaper bag which you could not safely put out for the children. Only parents should carry medicine into the building, and medicines should be handed personally to the teacher, not put down on a counter or shelf.
One final problem is with smoking parents who routinely discard their cigarette butts near the entrance. Picking up interesting things and putting them in your pocket or your mouth is how children learn. But with cigarette butts, the learning could be dangerous or disastrous. Perhaps some of you don't realize that the nicotine in a single cigarette, if eaten by a child under two, could cause death.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Family Fun - October

lisa@demarcodesign.com (Susan Berry) — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 17:22:57 GMT

Family Fun

Every fall my family took a ride up to Calhoun County to see the leaves, ride the ferry, and get apples. It has such pleasant memories for me that I continue to go year after year with my children and now my grandchildren. Depending upon your location, you might want to substitute a different orchard, but looking at the colored leaves and picking apples is a great day regardless of where you do it. To avoid the traffic jams, make your trip a week before the scheduled "peak" on a Saturday or a weekday instead of Sunday. Eat before you go, take a picnic (Marquette Park has playground equipment and lots of scenic picnic spots), or stop at a restaurant along the way.

Take the Great River Road (Rt. 100) to Grafton. Stop at any of the many roadside stands or turn right onto Rt. 109 and follow the signs to Eckert's, or any other local orchard, and pick your own apples. While you are there, pick up a pumpkin and lots of freshly harvested vegetables. Retrace your way back to the Great River Road and continue on to Marquette Park where you can stop and stretch your legs, have your picnic or just drive through to look at the leaves. Children will enjoy trying to find a leaf of every color. Take a magazine along to press the leaves in. When you get home, cover them with clear contact paper or iron them between two sheets of waxed paper to preserve them. Continue up the River Road (Rt. 100) to Hardin, make a left turn as soon as you come off the bridge and follow that road through Brussels to the public ferry. Take a free boat ride across the river, turn right on the River Road (Rt. 100) and you're headed back home again. Hopefully the children are asleep in the back seat and you have had a great day!

From Ms Peggy: Food For Thought

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 17:22:56 GMT

Thanksgiving family feasts are traditional with this season. They make us very aware of the emotional overtones attached to food and eating. We tend to see food as a symbol of our love and caring for our families, we use it for both reward ( "you were good...have a cookie") and punishment ("no cookie if you can't behave"). It is no wonder that eating difficulties are a common source of discord between preschoolers and their parents. Bright children soon learn how to manipulate their parents with food.

Adults have 3 important responsibilities in regards to food.

1. They must serve as good role models. Whether you eat chips or carrot sticks, your child will want the same.

2. They decide what will be served. Put healthy well balanced meals and snacks on the table...don't nag or preach.

3. They also decide when eating times will be and how long they will last. Three meals and two snacks spaced throughout the day are reasonable; 1/2 hour is ample time to eat---after that time conclude the meal and clear the table without argument.

After fulfilling their responsibilities, the adults must then relinquish to the child the right to decide which of the healthy available foods and how much of each that s/he will eat. Don't worry if they eat less than you think they should. As children grow older, they grow more slowly, and their appetites should decrease. Don't fuss if they choose not to eat some of everything. If only healthy foods are offered, children will tend to choose a balance over time. Don't be concerned if they prefer apples to green beans. It is difficult for adults to relax and allow children to make these decisions, but if you won't fight there will be no reason for them to make unreasonable demands. After refusing a healthy meal, children can be piteously convincing when they want snacks. Don't be persuaded! An intelligent, healthy child will suffer no ill-effects from waiting until the next mealtime and will quickly learn to make appropriate food decisions.

Use these daily dietary requirements as a guide:

Milk or Milk Products

Toddlers: 2-3 servings of 1/2-3/4 cup

Preschool: 2-3 servings of 1/2-3/4 cup

Meat or Meat Substitute

Toddlers: 2 servings of 1/2-1 oz

Preschool: 2 servings of 1 oz per year of age

Fruits and Vegetables

Toddlers: 4 servings of 2 T

Preschool: 4 servings of 1 T per year of age

Breads, Cereals, or Pasta

Toddlers: 4 servings of 1/2-1 slice or 2 T

Preschool: 4 servings of 1/2-1 slice or 1 T per year of age

The Great Outdoors

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 17:22:55 GMT

We go out to play every day except in cases of very extreme weather. Dress your child accordingly. Do not request that your child be kept in. If s/he is not well enough to go out, then probably s/he is not well enough to be at school. Each teacher is responsible for a group of children, if your child stays in, a whole group must stay in. Fresh air is good for children and there are fewer germs in the outside air.

Giving Thanks

lisa@demarcodesign.com (Susan Berry) — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 17:22:54 GMT

With the Thanksgiving holiday this month the TTLC Board of Directors would like to "give thanks" for a staff of 22 dedicated, well trained, and experienced employees. Staff turn-over is an important issue in early childhood education. A stable staff is one of the highest indicators of quality care. A local survey revealed that the average length of employment in child care centers is 3 months with almost 1/2 of all center positions experiencing turn-over each year! Because we have directors with from 29 - 40 years of experience and our 22 teachers range from 1-27 years of experience, we have been able to incorporate new teachers with fresh ideas into our staff. Fifty five percent of the staff have over 3 years of employment with us. Our average length of employment at TTLC is 8 years 9 months.

The education of employees is another important indicator of a quality center. TTLC requires an educational background related to the care and education of young children: 3 staff have a BS, 8 staff have an AAS, 4 have been awarded CDA certification (a proficiency based credential which requires extensive non-credit training and evaluation by an outside observer). Ninety four percent of our staff have college classes in child development. All staff members complete at least 20 hours of non-credit inservice training each year, all have CPR training and certification, 9 have Food Preparation and Sanitation certification.

This is a fine staff but equally important is the leadership provided by the Executive Director. With 34 years of experience at TTLC, an AAS in Early Childhood Education, and a B. S. in Business, she provides the training and motivation necessary to enable the staff to operate at their best.

Our Curriculum Consultant with 51 years experience at TTLC, a B.S. in Early Childhood Education, an M.S. in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, and additional hours towards an Ed. D. provides a learning program geared to individual children.

Please join the board in thanking the staff for the quality of care they provide for your children!

Since you bring your children back to the center day after day, we must assume you are pleased with the services you receive, but please join the board in expressing to the staff your appreciation for the quality of care they provide for your children! How do you do this? Say it! Tell the teacher, tell her boss, tell a friend. Compliments motivate people to work even harder. Smile it! Even when you are busy and the day has gone all wrong, a smile or a shared laugh will make both you and the teacher feel better. Write It! A quick note or a card for no particular reason will let the teacher know you are interested and appreciative. Show it! Actions always speak louder than words, do the little things that will make a teacher's life easier: label coats and other belongings; if a sibling accompanies you to the center watch them and insist that they follow all rules; see that your child puts away toys before leaving; stick to the school rules and don't ask for special privileges; drop off and pick up children at the scheduled time, don't be late; turn off Power Rangers and encourage productive play at home.

Oh, and by the way, "Thanks for being such great parents!"

TTLC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Family Fun: Fall Gardening

lisa@demarcodesign.com (Susan Berry) — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 17:22:52 GMT

Family fun does not have to be expensive or time-consuming. You can buy a dozen tulip or daffodil bulbs for only a few dollars and it will take only an hour or so to plant them. There is no need for a great deal of preparation. Bulbs are on sale at just about every store so pick some up. For $5 - $10 you can purchase a "bulb planter" which makes things easier, but a shovel or an old tablespoon will do just as well, and it will be more fun and easier for the kids to handle. I would suggest planting them near the door that you use most frequently so that you will be sure to enjoy them. Mark where you want the flowers to be and then set the kids to digging holes. That is a child's favorite activity anyway, so you should have no problems getting them involved. You might, however, want to explain that this is the ONLY time they are allowed to dig holes in your lawn. Most bulbs only need to be 6 - 8 inches deep. Put the bulbs in with the pointed end up, and cover with soil. The flowers should bring back happy memories every time they bloom for years to come. After the flowers have bloomed, allow the foliage to die back naturally. This allows the bulb to form another flower for the following year. If you cut it off you will have no flowers the next year. You can plant bulbs up until the ground freezes. The time you spend together this way will have a double result. You will have beautiful flowers blooming in the spring, and your children will also "bloom" with the extra time and attention from you.

In The Kitchen: Helping Make Thanksgiving

lisa@demarcodesign.com (Susan Berry) — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 17:22:51 GMT

Having the family over for Thanksgiving? There are lots of things that children can do to help. Even very young children have perfected some skills which will come in handy. Kids can put things in a container, like napkins on a plate, potatoes in the pan, or mints in the dish. They can scrub things like vegetables, the tub, or the refrigerator door. They are good at tearing things into little pieces like bread for stuffing, or lettuce for a salad. They can stir anything that isn't hot. The secret is to "let them help" not to "make them work". A little bragging to grandma will make them beam with pride, and a few years from now when they really can be a big help, they will think working in the kitchen with you is fun.

Halloween

lisa@demarcodesign.com (Susan Berry) — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 22:25:16 GMT

Not all of our children come everyday so rather than a traditional Halloween party, we will have special but appropriate and productive holiday related activities spread throughout the week. Some of the special activities will include, face painting, Halloween learning games, carving a pumpkin, Halloween songs, cooking with pumpkins, and designing our own costumes. We would appreciate the donation of any old hats, purses or "dress-up" type clothes for our activities.

At the Library

The Witch has an Itch by Donna Guthrie illustrated by Katy Keck Arnsteen mixes a child's fascination with spooky creatures with their delight for repetitive phrases. Gromelda was a wicked witch and proud of it but when she becomes allergic to evil magic...."The Witch has an itch! Oh where does the witch have an itch?" In the end her only choice is to change her reputation - starting from scratch.

From Ms Peggy: Sick Again?

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 22:24:08 GMT

It's only October but already we've heard parents say, "Since we started child care the kids are always sick!" Is it true? Research is not conclusive but we have to admit that it is reasonable: more children - more germs. Each family has a set of germs to which they have developed immunity. Clean and healthy children bring these germs to school and then exchange them with others who are not immune. The more germs introduced into the school environment...the more colds your child will be exposed to. Exposure is a sensitive issue to young children because they have not yet developed an effective immune system and because they are more likely to develop complications from colds. Regardless of age, it takes about a year of exposure to infections to develop this immunity. Even if you could protect your child from exposure now, s/he will have a year of colds in kindergarten.

For working parents, even a mild cold passed throughout the family can cause serious financial problems with lost income or jobs! A child, not in child care, usually has 5-6 respiratory infections lasting 5-10 days each year. Non-employed parents can accommodate the "sniffles" with a quiet day of T.V. and never disrupt their routines. For employed parents these mild symptoms are much more noticeable since costly and inconvenient alternate care arrangements must be made. Perhaps it just seems like children in day care have more colds.

Insuring good health for your child is a shared responsibility. TTLC tries very hard to do their part by providing a healthy environment and by teaching the children good health habits. Hand washing before and after meals, after using the bathroom, after outside play, and any other time it looks necessary is supervised. All diapering surfaces are disinfected after each diaper change and bathrooms are sanitized regularly. Tables are wiped with disinfectant before and after each use, toys are also disinfected (daily in the nursery, once a week with older children). Any child with vomiting, diarrhea, rash, or fever is sent home. Medical records are monitored and immunizations kept up to date.

There are some very important ways in which parents should contribute to this shared responsibility for healthy children. To cut down on the number of germs exchanged between home and school, parents should help their child wash hands at arrival and departure times. They should keep sick children home until they have been free of symptoms for 24 hours. Parents should arrange in advance for supplementary care so they aren't tempted to use aspirin to mask a fever so a sick child can be sent to school. Stress interferes with a child's natural immune system making them more susceptible to developing a disease when exposed. It is not easy, but stress can be reduced by keeping things calm with meals and bedtimes on a regular schedule. Get up a little early to avoid last minute rushing, lay out clothes the night before. Keep your child's body strong and healthy by cutting down on snacks, fast food, and late night T.V. Let's work together for a healthier, more productive school year. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

Monthly Theme: September

lisa@demarcodesign.com (Susan Berry) — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 20:18:13 GMT

Nursery Rhymes and Fairy Tales

For those of you who are new to our center, a brief explanation of our curriculum. Each month, we use a familiar theme as a basis for all of our learning experiences. NURSERY RHYMES AND FAIRY TALES was chosen as the theme for our first unit of the new school year because it is a familiar subject for the children, allowing them to feel immediately successful. Our first week will be spent getting to know the children, establishing the rules of the school, and encouraging them to become familiar with their new surroundings and friends. We will use the familiar stories and rhymes to teach other important lessons. Jack Sprat provides a focus for nutrition, Humpty Dumpty and Jack and Jill lead to a discussion on safety, and Jack-be-nimble's behavior will be discussed by one of our local firefighters.

Skill Goal Focus - September

lisa@demarcodesign.com (Susan Berry) — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 20:15:18 GMT

Here is what to expect in September

A monthly personal progress plan will be written for each child each month. Teachers will be using the plan to schedule your child's activities. The teachers will mark the plans as skills are reviewed or mastered. At the end of unit, the plans will be sent home to keep parents abreast of their child's development. Focused skills will be taken from cognitive, self-help, social skills and gross and fine motor areas. Children will work on the identified skills at the level that is most appropriate to their development. If colors are identified as a focus skill, some children will be matching colors, others will be identifying colors, and others will be reading color words. Each skill will be emphasized many times throughout the year and mastery can be expected to take several months. The Personal Progress Plans are to assist the teachers in planning appropriate activities; they are not report cards and should not be used to judge the success or failure of the child. Do not feel you must "teach" identified concepts at home, but rather be aware of what we are doing so that you can take advantage of any incidental learning opportunities.

From Ms Peggy

Mon, 06 Sep 2021 20:04:32 GMT

Day Care Headlines

The news frequently focuses on the terrible things that can happen to children in child care centers. After each one airs, we have calls from parents who are disturbed and upset to think something like this could happen ... maybe even to their child. I would like to believe that all these reports are false and unjust, but we all know that the world is not perfect, not all child care centers are good.

It is then that I reflect on how lucky TTLC is to be operating in Illinois rather than in a number of other states. Each state sets the rules for its child care centers; who must have a license; what will be required to get that license; and how license requirements will be enforced. In 1999 Illinois spent 10% of their federal funds to promote the enhancement of child care programs and was ranked by "Working Mother" magazine (8/99) as one of the top 10 of 50 states in terms of quality of care, safety, availability, and commitment. Higher standards make providing care at an affordable price more of a challenge, but it also makes quality care more available to you. According to researchers (BabyTalk, Aug 98), "children in high quality care, have fewer behavioral problems like whining, hostility and disobedience than children in low quality centers. . . and on tests of school readiness and language development, kids in high-quality care scored better than kids in medium- to low- quality care-- higher even than the children of stay-at-home moms.

One important aspect of Illinois licensing is that few centers are exempt from licensing and supervision by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Only if a center uses a curriculum approved by the State Board of Education and is under the supervision of the board of a private/religious school or government agency are they exempt from licensing by DCFS. In many other states there are many exemptions, including any type of religious affiliation (even the mail-order kind).

The strictness of the standards is another point of variance between states. In many states not even a high school diploma is required for child care employees. Illinois requires, for teachers and directors, a two year degree (or the equivalent) with 6-18 semester hours of classes in Early Childhood Development. The National Day Care Study confirms that requirements such as these are associated with improvements in children's development, test scores, and in social interactions. The number of children an adult is expected to care for, will also affect quality. In Idaho, one adult may be assigned as many as 12 infants! Illinois conforms to the recommendations of the National Association for The Education of Young Children with a ratio of one adult to four infants. Only three states have smaller ratios. The number of three and four year old children with one adult is 20 in Florida, 18 in Texas, and only 10 in Illinois. Again, only four states have lower ratios. In regards to nutrition, there are specific menu requirements in Illinois, but in California, children may bring a sack lunch. In addition to DCFS regulations, centers in Illinois must also meet fire code, with regular inspections from the State Fire Marshall, and health standards monitored by the Department of Public Health.

High standards are nice, but of no use if they are not enforced. Your best protection, of course, is a center (like TTLC) that is committed enough to meet standards regardless of enforcement. In Illinois, conforming to the standards is not left to the center's conscience. A license is issued for three years. During a license inspection, not only is the program observed and the building and the equipment inspected, but the records of each child and staff members are scrutinized. This inspection takes the better part of a day, resulting in a 30 page report. DCFS is also mandated to provide announced and unannounced monitoring visits yearly.

So, the next time you see one of these disturbing programs on TV, you can rest a little easier knowing that TTLC and the state of Illinois work together to keep your child from becoming the subject of a report on the 6 o'clock news.