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Winter 2018
~Happy New Year!~
The holidays are over, the children are back in school and the snow in here.  Take a look below and you will find an article about parent teacher conferences from the NY Times, an article on electronic lights and sleeping, a fun recipe, information on a parent workshop and an interview with a featured Registered School Age Child Care Program.

5 Lessons from a Diplomat for Bridging the Parent-Teacher Divide

By Amy E. Robertson, NY Times
".....Based on the tense way the meeting had ended, my approach wasn’t the best one for getting the teachers to see my point of view.
1. Don’t skip the niceties. Living outside of the United States for the past 13 years, I was struck by the importance other cultures place on pleasantries and formalities. Americans pride ourselves on getting straight to the point. But a diplomat would never skip protocol, and the truth is, no parent should either. There isn’t a teacher in the world who doesn’t appreciate being acknowledged as a human being before being bombarded by a concern.
2. Find common ground. All negotiations have to start somewhere, so look for something you can agree on. (Perhaps you think 20 spelling words a week is too much pressure. Can you first establish a common respect for the importance of good spelling?) Or is there something positive you can mention before getting to the hard stuff? (Maybe spelling is a disaster, but before getting to that, can you let the teacher know how well you think math or science is going?)
To Continue reading this article click HERE.

Now Accepting Registrations for our...

Winter Parent Workshop
"Understanding Sensory Needs in Children and How it Relates to Behavior"
Date: Tuesday Jan 30th
Time: 6:30pm-8pm
Location: 70 Overocker Rd, Poughkeepsie NY 12603
Fee: No Charge
Facilitated By:   Renée Falanga-Brenner


Sensory Processing disorders affect 5-16% of school age children, the UCSF reports.  

To Sign up online, click below
Click Here to Register Online
or
 Contact Cara Brooks at 845-4141 x224 or email at cbrooks@childcaredutchess.org

***For Providers: If you send a parent to attend the Workshop, you will receive a free training.  Parent must have note from Provider stating they were referred.***
***Snow date is Tuesday Feb 13th, 6:30-8pm***

Recipe Corner



Chedder Goldfish Crackers with Peanut Butter Spread


What you need:
INGREDIENTS
  • 1 c. all-purpose flour
  • 4 tbsp. cold unsalted butter
  • 8 oz. grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese
  • ¾ tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. fresh-ground pepper
  • ½ c. peanut butter
  • 1 tbsp. honey
  • 13 tsp. cayenne pepper
DIRECTIONS
  1. Make the dough: Pulse the flour, butter, cheese, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper together using a food processor until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Pulse in 3 to 4 tablespoons of water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and only enough so that the dough forms a ball and rides the blade. Remove, wrap in plastic, and chill for 20 minutes or up to 24 hours.
  2. Make the spread: Stir the peanut butter, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and honey together until....(to continue reading click HERE.)
Inspired by www.delish.com
Pizza Pocket Bites
What you need:
INGREDIENTS
  • 2 Box Pizza Crust Mix
  • 2 tbsp. finely chopped oregano
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • ¼ small red pepper
  • ¼ small yellow pepper
  • ¼ small green pepper
  • 1¾ oz. pepperoni
  • 1 c. grated Cheddar cheese or mozzarella cheese

    DIRECTIONS
  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Put the pizza crust dough in a bowl with the oregano, add the required amount of warm water according to the packet instructions and mix thoroughly to form a smooth dough.
  2. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead it until it is smooth.
  3. Heat the oil in a heavy-based frying pan and cook the peppers over..(to continue reading click HERE.)
Inspired by www.delish.com
~Provider Interview~
After randomly selecting a Provider, First Reformed Church of FIshkill, a School Age Child Care Program was chosen and interviewed.  First Reformed Church of Fishkill located in Fishkill and is Directed by Ann Marie Harris. Ann Marie Harris has been at the program for 16 years.  She has a degree in child care and worked with children with special needs before working at First Reformed.  

CCCDP: What is your age range?
Ann Marie: "Our age range is Kindergarten to 6th grade"
CCCDP: How long have you been doing care?
Ann Marie:  "I have been here for 16 years and before that I worked with children with special needs." 
CCCDP: What is your overall goal for your children in care?

Ann Marie:  "My overall goal would be for children to learn how to work out problems with others by themselves."  Ann Marie went on into some specific goals which are that the children grow in all sensory areas through science, math and gross motor.  Ann Marie likes to incorporate these into play.  She also likes to put an emphasis on Imaginative play as she feels this helps the children show their feelings and express themselves in different ways and learn to interact with others.  Another goal for Ann Marie is to teach the children to reach out to children that are playing by themselves and include them.
CCCDP: Why did you decide to work in School Age Child Care?
Ann Marie-  Ann Marie decided to work in School Age Child Care because she felt that there were a lot of things school age children needed and didn't always get at home and she wanted to be able to provide a place where they could get those things. Ann Marie's  goal is to make a difference in someones life and she knows she can achieve that by working in School Age Child Care.
CCCDP: What would you say is the most unique aspect of your SACC Program?

Ann Marie:  "The most unique aspect of our Program is Imagination play.  I think that here in this program, the children are able to be who they are through play and dress up."


CCCDP: What is a favorite annual activity or event that you do with your children in care?

Ann Marie:  "Every year the preschool upstairs has an Open House and I try to incorporate that into the School Age Program."  Ann Marie explained that they have a different theme each year for what they make.  Last year they made the Solar System and during that week, they will share their art work with their parents.  This year the theme is Animals. 

CCCDP: What is the children's favorite annual activity or event that you do with them?

Ann Marie:  "Their favorite activity is the end of the year party with Pizza.  Another favorite is during the holidays, we bake cookies and bring them to the Policemen to say thank you." 

CCCDP: What is one life lesson you have learned from working with children?

Ann Marie:  "One lesson I have learned is that you can never spend enough time with your own children or the children in your life.  Time moves so quickly and I've learned to cherish the time you have with them and to teach them as much as you can."
CCCDP: Is there anything you would like to add?

Ann Marie:  "I think a good program is one that you can involve the children in decision making.  Keeping up communication with them and their needs daily is important.  Always having a plan B and C and being flexible so that you can accommodate the children's needs as they change.  Another important thing to remember is always being well aware of what is going on in small groups if the children pair off, keeping your ears wide open. I also think that it is very important to be teaching children to care about others."
Does your son or daughter read from an iPad, smartphone, or other blue-light emitting device near bedtime? According to a study published last month by researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital, this might not be a great idea.
During the two-week inpatient study, twelve subjects read eBooks on an iPad for four hours before bedtime each night for five consecutive nights. This was repeated with printed books. The iPad readers had reduced secretion of melatonin, a hormone which plays a role in inducing sleepiness. Participants who read from the iPad were less sleepy before bedtime and less alert the following morning after eight hours of shut-eye.
If your child must stay up late to study or read:
  • Use old-fashioned printed books rather than iPads or Kindles, especially as bedtime approaches.
  • Giving 1-3 mg of melatonin might help offset the negative effects of an eReader.
  • Encourage him/her to use blue-light blocking glasses such as Uvex if she must use an eReader.

-Written by Dr. Malak from Bambini Pediatrics
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.  

(845) 473-4141 or go online to search on your own!
Photo Credit: Bard Children's Center.  Thank you for your submission! Click here to download the photo release form and here to submit a picture!
Clickable Links
Parents can be partners  of CCCDP, too! Click here for more information. 
Visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission for current information on recalls and product details. 
Visit CCCDP's website for a list of partnering agencies who offer parent education resources. 
Tell us what you need! Take the Parent Education Needs Assessment.  
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Child Care Council of Dutchess and Putnam, Inc.
70 Overocker Rd | Poughkeepsie, NY | 12603 US
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