Winter 2017 ~Happy New Year!~
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| Winter has come and the warm weather is far from reach. A new year brings new goals and new ideas. Below you will find some health tips, a fun recipe and winter craft and an interview with a featured Registered Family Day Care.
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| Mom Knows BestOne cold season in 1990 my mother let a bad case of the common cold her two year old caught get out of hand. All the usual symptoms were there – high fever, hacking cough, runny nose and gloomy disposition. But that young girl (who happened to be me) was my mother's third child and this cold certainly wasn't her first time to the rodeo. She used all the usual remedies to alter the course I seemed destined to take. Except one. She had been to the doctor multiple times that year alone, let alone the last nine years of motherhood she had endured. Going to the doctor now and being told (what would have felt like the millionth time) that there was “nothing to be done, but drink fluids and rest” seemed like a waste of time and money to this experienced parent.
But unfortunately, all of her home remedies and loving hands were no match for the terrible illness that crept up on me. My common cold turned into full blown pneumonia that landed me in a hospital bed, under an oxygen tent and on heavy antibiotics for a good five days. My poor mother was forever overly cautious with her children's health.
Fast forward 26 years—I'm a nurse and a not too new mother and I sit in the doctor's office with a baby and toddler who are both sporting fevers, coughs, runny noses and gloomy dispositions. To one, the doctor said there was “nothing to be done, but drink fluids and rest” while the other was diagnosed with a nasty virus and a bad ear infection. Perhaps it's my background in healthcare or maybe it's being raised by an overly cautious mother with a bad experience, but I don't like to take chances with my children's health.
As a registered nurse, I've seen people come into the hospital with what seemed like a cold. Without proper treatment, these people ended up bedridden and hooked up to IV fluids and antibiotics because it didn't seem worthwhile to call their doctor sooner. I'm not trying to scare you and I'm not trying to be dramatic. I understand that things happen – especially with children. Just because it's winter doesn't mean we can lock ourselves away. But this time of year is when illnesses rise, where hospital admissions increase and where young children develop common colds that can turn into a parent's worst nightmare.
However, there are lots of simple precautions that can help get us through:
- Washing your hands frequently is the number one preventative measure for spreading sickness. Wash before you eat, after using the bathroom and when you get home from a public place.
- Get a yearly flu shot for everyone in your household. If there's even a small chance of preventing a full blown flu, it's worth it to get a shot for you and your children. The flu is far more dangerous to children than we give it credit for.
- Avoid known sick people as best you can. Just because a coughing/sneezing relative is visiting doesn't mean you have to let him or her hug and kiss your kids.
- If you have a concern about your child's health, don't let it wait and don't rely on the internet –CALL YOUR DOCTOR! As parents, we have a natural ability to want to follow our gut and we should use it. Your doctor is there to help. If your gut is telling you the doctor doesn't understand your concerns – FIND A NEW DOCTOR!
It's easy to be a seasoned parent and feel like you've seen it all. And it's easy to believe that as a new parent you may just be over thinking it (or worse, asking Dr Google for his advice), but take a lesson from my mother and take some extra time to exercise caution this winter. You'll be glad you did.
~Ashley Dawson, Registered Nurse & Mother of 2
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| Marshmellow Snowman
Hot Chocolate Buddy
What you need:
- Marshmallows
- Pretzel sticks
- Candy corn
- Mini Chocolate Chips
- Extra long toothpicks (4 inches)
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- Use the toothpick to poke holes for the arms, legs and nose.
- Break off 1/4 of the pretzel sticks to make them the right sizes.
- Push the pretzels and candy corn into the snowman. Twisting them in makes for a cleaner edge.
- Carefully push the 3 marshmallows on an extra long toothpick. Snip off the excess toothpick.
- Melt the chocolate chips and put in a plastic bag Snip off a tiny corner of the baggie and “pipe” the chocolate out to draw eyes and a mouth on the snowman.
- Make sure to let small kids know that there is a toothpick inside the snowman before they start eating it.
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| Save the date! Champions of Childcare 2017 Thursday, May 11th Accepting nominations soon!
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In the Winter 2017 edition of the Council Connection, CCCDP announced that a partner of the Council would randomly be selected for an interview and would be featured in the next edition of the Parent e-newsletter. After randomly selecting a Provider, Allison Ugarte, Family Daycare Provider (Blooming Buddies) was chosen and interviewed. Blooming Buddies is located in Poughkeepsie. Allison is MAT certified, participates in CACFP, has participated in a round table discussion training for the council, has a Bachelors degree in Communication and Human services with a concentration in Administration and is currently working on her 2nd Bachelors/Masters in Human and Child Development.
CCCDP: What is your age range? Allison: "Currently, 6mos-4 years" CCCDP: How long have you been doing care? Allison: "In April it will be 21 years"
CCCDP: What is your overall goal for your children in care?
Allison: "I would say my goal is to watch the children grow up and see them be successful in whatever they do. I hope to maintain those connections up the road, with the kids who started here from day one. Many of them will send me pictures over the years and invitations to graduations. I think my overall goal is to see that they are doing something they love in life, that they have succeeded and that the time we spent here wasn't in vain and that it did work for them."
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| CCCDP: Why did you decide to open a Family Day Care? Allison: "Originally, when I had my middle son, I looked around for daycare for myself because I was managing the money office in a department store working days. I just couldn't find the care that I wanted to see and have. I went back to nights and was home with my son during the day. A neighbor mentioned to me about watching her children and I realized that I could not only raise my own children at home and be there for them, but also maybe offer good quality care for other kids. I ended up realizing that I really loved it."
CCCDP: What would you say is the most unique aspect of your Daycare?
Allison: "I think the factor that it's a home day care. I really believe in the philosophy of home family day care and that's why I've stuck with it. I really love what I do. I chose it because I think it is unique when you maintain those connections. Also the longevity of the connections the children make with each other is very unique."
Allison also added that her curriculum is unique. She talked about how it's hard to stay away from the idea that you have to "produce" something every night, where you end up doing more work on it than the children. She values the process more than the product and is thankful she has parents who are on board with that. She stands her ground on this philosophy and she hopes other people are still doing this.
CCCDP: What is a favorite annual activity or event that you do with your children in care?
Allison: "In December, we read the book "The Mitten Tree", which is about a a little old lady who sees a bunch of children playing out by the bus and they all have mittens. She sees that there's this one little boy who is standing to the side. She gets out her knitting needles and knits a whole bunch of mittens and puts them all over a tree. The boy is able to grab the mittens and put them on and is able to join in and play. Allison said each year, they set up a little tree and the children bring in mittens and hats to donate the Children's Home, inspired by the book. They also get to write notes to the children there.
A few other favorites are the cookie social and moving up celebrations.
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CCCDP: What is one way you incorporate learning into play? Allison: "In every aspect of our day with hands on. Children this age are very hands on and all you have to do to see them learning is watch. I like to encourage and allow using the same thing in several different ways. For example; blocks don't have to stay on the block table, take it around the room. Adding language to what they're doing is a big one. When I see them struggling or looking for that word, then I'll add it in, but a lot of times I like to stand back and let their own ideas drive them. Also, adding language in that will bring them up to the next level. When they're looking for the next thing and you add it in and then they ask " whats that!?", you can show them what it is through books or technology." Allison used the example of the question "what sound does a Zebra make?" One of her children asked that question so they looked it up. Allison added; "I am a big proponent of getting a whole bunch of books on a subject they're interested in and using those natural ways of learning." She summed up her answer with the phrase "watch, listen and add in" and explained that if you do this, you will always be able to extend learning in the natural everyday play.
CCCDP: What is one life lesson you have learned from working with children?
Allison: "I guess watching them everyday shows you how vulnerable we are and how we can learn and also the underestimation of what they can share and what they're really capable of. Emotionally, it gets me every time because they are so capable of a wide range of emotions. My other lesson is that it took me a few years. As a new provider I fell into the pressure of having to "produce" that thing every night because you think that's what people want. I've learned that you have to stand your ground in what you believe in and stick to it. And of course support it and back it up, believe in yourself and your philosophies. But at the same time, I am all for opening up to new ideas. I am doing a research project on the effects of technologies because it is here and they are going to have to live and compete in the new global economy. At the same time, is it healthy? My belief is that at a younger age, it's not. But, you also don't want them to be behind the curve. So, a big lesson to learn is how to keep up with the world in a healthy way"
CCCDP: Is there anything you would like to add?
Allison: "One thing I would say to people entering the field is make sure you love it because if you don't love it, you aren't really invested in it. Because it isn't easy, it's a hard profession to be in. Sometimes underespected and sometimes exhausting with a lot of hours and a lot of demand. But if you love it and your hearts in the right place, then I think you're going to do the right thing."
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Parent/Provider Workshop! The next Parent Education course will be in the spring. More information to come soon.
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| Mason Jar Snow GlobesWhat you need:
- Mason Jar and Lid
- Fake Snow
- Decorations such as mini trees or snowmen
- Silver or white glitter spray paint
- Adhesive spray
- White Glitter
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| - Spray your decorations with some adhesive spray and sprinkle it with glitter and fake snow.
- Spray the lid with glitter spray paint and let dry.
- Glue your decorations on the inside of the lid.
- Fill the jar with some snow and screw the lid back on.
- Flip the jar over and let it snow!
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| Need Help Finding Childcare? Call the Council! A referral specialist will assist you with your search for childcare and help you narrow your search. After answering a few questions, you will be given a list of NYS licensed/registered childcare providers who provide care in the area you are looking. The specialist can also connect you to other community resources and provide basic information regarding childcare subsidy. Assistance is also available to help you identify quality childcare programs for your child's needs.
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| Clickable Links Parents can be partners of CCCDP, too! Click here for more information.
Visit CCCDP's website for a list of partnering agencies who offer parent education resources.
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