the preschool child care starter kit - wonders learning...the preschool child care starter kit some...

The Preschool Child Care Starter Kit

Some useful information for those who are considering child care. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, contact us and we’ll find

resources for you. [email protected]

Play Helps Children Learn ................................................................................ 1

How to Choose High Quality Child Care ...........................................................3

Know Your Options When Choosing Child Care Providers ...............................5

A Checklist to Evaluate a Child Care Provider ................................................ 6

Child Care Accreditation.................................................................................. 8

ThePreschoolChildcareStarterKitLookingformore?Contactusandwe’llfindresourcesforyou. [email protected] 1

Read Doris Bergen’s paper, “The Role of Pretend Play in Children’s Cognitive Development”: http://ecrp.uiuc.edu/v4n1/bergen.html

Playisn’tjustfun,it’sfundamental.Childrenneedtheplaytimethey

crave,asit’scrucialforhealthydevelopment.

Childrenlearnabouttheworldthroughexploringideas,manipulat-

ingobjectsandproblem-solvingwithothers.Atplay,childrenare

usingtheircreativityandimaginationstotryonnewrolesandtotest

newconcepts.Playprovidesameaningfulcontextinwhichchildren

practiceskillsandexpressideas.

DevelopmentaltheoristJeanPiagetsaidthat“playistheworkof

children.”Itfosterscognitive,physicalandsocial-emotionaldevelop-

ment.Inthecontextofpretendplay,childrenbecomeverymoti-

vatedtoshowwhattheyknowandtolearnnewskills.DorisBergen,

aDistinguishedProfessorofEducationalPsychologyatMiami

University,statesthatthereisagrowingbodyofevidencesupport-

ingconnectionsbetweencognitivecompetenceandhigh-quality

pretendplay.

Imaginewhatmighthappenwhenagroupofyoungchildrentrans-

formsthecorneroftheirclassroomintoapizzaparlor.Whilecreat-

ingandplayingintheirrestaurant,childrenacquireanduseskillsin

alloftheso-called“academic”learningareas.

Inthepretendpizzaparlor,childrenpracticeletterformationand

letter-soundcorrespondencewhilecreatingmenusandwriting

uporders.Bymakingsignstopromotetheirrestaurant,children

exploretheconventionsofprintandseefirst-handtheusefulness

ofwritingtoconveyamessage.Childrenlearnandtryoutnewvo-

cabularywords,suchas“receipt”and“reservation”.Theyhonetheir

orallanguageskillswhileproblemsolvingwithpeersandactingout

theirroles.Theygainfine-motorpracticewhendrawingandcutting

outtheingredients.

Indramaticplayscenarios,childrendeveloptheirnumbersense

andmathematicalthinking.Inthepretendrestaurant,children

practicewritingnumeralsonchecks,estimatehowmanypepperoni

ittakestocoverapie,measureingredients,andcountoutmoney

whenpayingthebill.Intrigued,childrenaskquestionsaboutsocial

studiesandscience(e.g.,“Wheredotheingredientscomefrom?”;

“Whatjobsdoweneedtoruntheplace?”;“Whatmakesthecrust

riseintheoven?”)

Beyond“academic”learning,childrenalsouseplaytodevelop

throughinteractionswithpeersandadults.Social-emotionalskills

areessentialforsuccessinchildhoodandbeyond.Interactiveplay

istheidealmediumforsocial-emotionallearning.Whilecrafting

playscenarioschildrenmustnegotiateandtrouble-shootwiththeir

peers.Theyneedtocontroltheirimpulsesandeffectivelyexpress

theiremotionsfortheplaytocontinuesmoothly.

Beingabletotakeonotherpeople’sperspectivesisavaluableskill

thatisalsolearnedthroughrole-playing.Whilemakingandserving

Play Helps Children Learn

“It is a happy talent to know how to play.”RalphWaldoEmerson

Lookingformore?Contactusandwe’llfindresourcesforyou. [email protected] 2

pretendpizza,childrencanexperiencetheworldfromtheeyesof

cooks,wait-staffandcustomers.Theymustcomeupwithstrategies

forfairplaywhentacklingproblemslike,“Canarestauranthave

morethanonechef?”or“Howcanwesplitupthecheesefairlyso

ourcustomersarehappy?”

Teachersandparentsperformtheimportantrolesoffacilitating

andfosteringthelearningthathappensduringplay.Topromote

skillacquisitionandconceptdiscovery,teachersandparentsshould

carefullyplantheresourcesandmaterialsthatareoffered.They

mustusewhattheyhaveobservedaboutthestrengthsandneeds

ofindividualchildrentocreateappropriateplayopportunitiesthat

helpchildrenreachthenextlevelintheirdevelopment.

Whileplayisoccurring,teachersandparentscanencouragechil-

drentoreflectonwhatthey’redoingandhelpthemputtheirideas

intowords.Whenchildrenareproblem-solving,adultscanoffersup-

portandprovideclearexpectationsaboutbehaviorwithoutintruding

or“takingover.”Theadult’sgoalshouldbetoofferanappropriate

levelofguidance;notsomuchthattheflowoftheplayisinterrupted

andnotsolittlethattheplaycan’tbesustained.Agreatwayfor

parentsandteacherstoextendchildren’sthinkingisbyaskingnon-

intrusive,open-endedquestions,suchas:“Whatdoyouthinkwould

happenif…?”or“Whatwouldyoudoif…?”

Whenitcomestoearlychildhoodeducation,learningisacomplex

processthatchildrenexperienceinawaythatatypicalacademic

environmentdoesn’taddress.Hands-on,interactiveplayneedsto

beanessentialpartofeachchild’sdaybecauseplaying islearning.

Elvin Klassen, a former teacher, principal, and district administrator, wrote an article that dis-cusses how and why to ask questions that pro-mote growth. He provides some great examples of open-ended questions. Read it here:

http://bit.ly/rdTUfH

Read an article that explains why the current debate between play vs. “academics” can be off-point and based on the false premise that school-readiness skills can only be taught sit-ting down with a paper and pencil:

http://bit.ly/nwABVO

Play Helps Children Learn


Findinghighqualitychildcarecanbeadauntingprocess.Discoveringtheright

“fit”foryourfamilycantakealotoftimeandeffort.Herearesomesuggestions

forevaluatingyourchildcareoptions.

BEFORE YOU VISIT PROGRAMS:

Create your own child care wish list. Considerwhatqualitiesaremostimpor-

tanttoyou.Thinkaboutyourfamily’sneedsandabouttheinterestsandabilities

ofyourchild.Agreatwaytobeginyoursearchisbylistingwhatmatterstoyou

themost.Whatareyourtoppriorities?Whatwouldbeyour“dealbreakers”?

Whatkindofenvironmentwouldbeagoodfitforyourchild’stemperament,

health,andinterests?

Do your research. Spendsometimelearningwhatresearchinthefieldofearly

childhoodeducationtellsusaboutqualitychildcare.TheNationalNetworkfor

ChildCarehasputtogetheranarticlethatdescribestheingredientsofhigh

qualitychildcarederivedfromleadingresearchinthefield.Readithere:

http://bit.ly/nyob7Z

Make a list. Whetheryouaskfriendsandrelatives,searchtheInternet,or

consultanofficiallisting,compilealistofaccessiblechildcareproviders.Keep

aneyeoutforimportantinformationlistedonofficialwebsitesandcustomer

reviews,asitmayhelpyouimmediatelyeliminatesomeoptionsfromyourlist.

WHEN YOU VISIT:

See for yourself.Onceyouhavealistofprogramstoconsider,it’stimetoat-

tendopenhousesandarrangevisits.Itisoftenhelpfultofirstvisitonyourown

andbringyourchildonareturnvisit.

Keep notes. Thereisalottotakeinduringavisitandtheinformationprovided

canbeoverwhelming.Ithelpstocometoeachvisitwithalistofthingstolook

forandquestionsyou’dlikeanswered.Printoutandbringaneasy-to-use,com-

prehensivechecklistfoundonpage6ofthiskittokeeptrackofyournotes.

Learn about culture. Askaboutaprogram’sphilosophyandbeliefsaboutchild

development.Dotheybelievechildrenlearnbydoing?Dotheynurtureeach

child’ssocialandemotionalgrowth?Dotheteachersplanhands-onlearning

experiencesthathelpadvancechildren’scognitiveskills?Herearetensigns

ofagreatpreschool,accordingtotheNationalAssociationfortheEducationof

YoungChildren(NAEYC):http://bit.ly/P8E0d

Check accreditation.FindoutiftheprogramisaccreditedbyNAEYC.Ifitisnot

currentlyaccredited,aretheyintheprocessofbecomingaccredited?Accredita-

tionisanational,voluntarysystemwiththegoalofsettingprofessionalstan-

dardsandhelpingfamiliesidentifyhigh-qualitycare.Itisalengthyprocessthat

How to Choose High Quality Child Care


requiresallstafftotakepartinreflectingon,assessingandimprovingthecare

theyprovide.YoucansearchforaccreditedprogramsontheNAEYCwebsite:

http://bit.ly/ardwBJ

Herearesomeadditionalindicatorstoseekoutforwhenvisitingchild

careproviders:

Clear, written health and safety policies. Makesuretogetcopiesof

theirpoliciesandparenthandbook.

Classrooms that are warm and welcoming. Arethereinterestingand

variedmaterials?Istheenvironmentsetuptoencouragechildren’sexplo-

rationandinteraction?

Calm, caring and frequent interactions between teachers and chil-

dren. Dotheteachersseemtoknowthechildrenwell?Dotheyspeak

withchildreninwaysthatreflectandextendchildren’sthinkingandunder-

standingoftheworld?Arethestaffresponsiveandrespectful?

An inclusive, multicultural philosophy. Dotheyteachrespectandac-

ceptanceofALLpeople?Dotheyhaveanopen-doorpartnership

withfamilies?

A belief in the importance of life-long learning. Whataretheirrequired

teacherqualifications?Dotheyencourageteacherstofurthertheireduca-

tion?Dotheyprovidemeaningfultrainingopportunitiesforstaff?Dothey

offerworkshopsandresourcesforparents?

Ask for references. Thedirectorshouldbeabletoprovideyouwiththename

andphonenumberofafewparentsyoucancalltoaskabouttheirexperiences

withtheprogram.

AFTER YOU VISIT:

Listen to your instincts.Considerallyouhavelearnedandobserved,andgo

withyourgut!Objectivelycompareandcontrasttheprograms,butdon’tforgetto

trustyourinstincts.

Wrap-up and review.Haveyoufoundtheright“fit”foryouandyourchild?Can

youpictureyourchildthrivinginthisprogram?Howdoyouthinkyou’dfeelat

drop-offtimeeachmorning?Canyoueasilyimagineyourchildlearningand

laughinginoneoftheclassrooms?

Know Your Options When Choosing Child Care Providers

In your home.

Ifyouarelookingfortheconvenienceofhavingacaregivertravelto

yourhomeonaregularorsemi-regularbasis,considerhiringananny

oranau pair.

A nannyissomeonewhoprovides40-60hoursofchildcareper

weekoneitheralive-inoralive-outbasis.Nanniesaretypically

unsupervisedbytheparentthroughouttheday,andsometimes

performminimalhouseholddutiesrelatedtochildcare.Nanniescan

behiredthroughalicensedagencyorindependently.

An au pairisalive-inchildcareproviderwhoworksunderthedirect

supervisionoftheparentsforabout40-60hoursaweek.Aupairsare

frequentlyyoungpeoplefromfarawaydestinations,andhaveminimal

childcaretraining.

Outside the home.

Childcareprofessionalswhoworkoutsideofyourhomeoftenprovide

trainedsupervisioninchildproofedenvironments,wherechildrencan

socializeandlearnfromtheinstructorsandoneanother.Theprimary

typesofout-of-homeprovidersare day care centers, part-time

programs,and family day cares,inwhichchildrenarewatchedoverin

thecaregiver’shome.

Day care centers employseveralstaffmemberstotakecareofa

largergroupofchildren.Childreninteractwithbothadultsandpeers,

andarehelpedindevelopingsocialandemotionalskills.Manyday

carecenterscreatedevelopmentalactivities,ensurequalityplay

time,andupkeepdisciplinaryandhealthstandards.Single-site

providersoperateinonelocation,whilemulti-siteprovidersgive

parentstheflexibilityofchoosingoneofseverallocationsdepending

onchangesintheirday-to-dayschedules.

Family day cares areoperatedfromthehomesofthechild

careprovider.

Part-time child care,suchasaplaygroup,allowsparentstoleave

childreninthecareofasupervisingadultforafewhoursatatime.

Publicly funded preschool programs aresubsidizedbymanystate

governments,andofferfull-andhalf-daycareeitherfornochargeor

onsliding-feescalesbasedonincome.



A Checklist to Evaluate a Childcare ProviderThefollowingisamodifiedchecklistexcerptedfromChildCareAware©andtheNationalAssociationofChildCareRe-

source&ReferralAgencies(NACCRRA).Findtheoriginalchecklistsat: http://childcareaware.org/parents-and-guardians/

child-care-101/evaluating-providersandhttp://www.naccrra.org/publications/naccrra-publications/is-this-the-right-place-

for-my-child. Takethischecklistwithyouwhenyouvisitachildcareprovider.

Caregivers/Teachers

Dothecaregivers/teachersseemtogenuinelylike

children?

Dothecaregivers/teachersgetdownoneachchild’s

levelwhenspeakingwithhimorher?

Arechildrengreetedwhentheyarrive?Aretheadults

warmandwelcoming?

Arepositiveguidancetechniquesused?Dothe

adultsavoidyelling,spanking,andothernegative

punishments?

Arechildren’sneedsquicklymetevenwhenthings

getbusy?Dotheadultspayindividualattentionto

eachchild?

Areyourchildrenwatchedatalltimes,evenwhenthey

aresleeping?

Arethecaregivers/teacherstrainedinCPR,firstaid,

andearlychildhoodeducation?

Arethecaregivers/teachersinvolvedincontinuing

educationprograms?

Aretheadultstrainedinchildabusepreventionandhow

toreportsuspectedcases?

Willthecaregivers/teachersalwaysbereadytoanswer

yourquestions?

Willthecaregivers/teacherstellyouwhatyourchildis

doingeveryday?

Areparents’ideaswelcomed?Aretherewaysforyouto

getinvolved?

Dothecaregivers/teachersandchildrenenjoy

beingtogether?

Isthereenoughstafftoservethechildren?(NACCRRAguidelinesrecommendonecaregiverper3or4infants;onecaregiverper3or4youngtoddlers;onecaregiverper4to6oldertoddlers;onecaregiverper6to9preschoolers)

Setting

Istheatmospherebrightandpleasant?

Isthereafenced-inoutdoorplayareawithavarietyof

safeequipment?Canthecaregivers/teachersseethe

entireplaygroundatalltimes?

Aretheredifferentareasforresting,quietplayandac-

tiveplay?Isthereenoughspaceforthechildreninall

oftheseareas?

Activities

Isthereadailybalanceofplaytime,storytime,activity

timeandnaptime?

Aretheactivitiesrightforeachagegroup?

Arethereenoughtoysandlearningmaterialsforthe

numberofchildren?

Aretheredailyorweeklyactivityplansavailable?Have

theadultsplannedexperiencesforthechildrento

enjoy?Willtheactivitieshelpchildrenlearn?

Dotheadultstalkwiththechildrenduringtheday?

Dotheyengagetheminconversations?Ask

questions,whenappropriate?

Dotheadultsreadtochildrenatleasttwiceadayor

encouragethemtoread,iftheycanread?

Aretoysclean,safeandwithinreachofthechildren?

Health and Safety

Doadultsandchildrenwashtheirhands

(beforeeatingorhandlingfood,orafterusingthe

bathroom,changingdiapers,touchingbodyfluidsor

eating,etc.)?

Arediaperchangingsurfacescleanedandsanitized

aftereachuse?

Doallofthechildrenenrolledhavetherequired

immunizations?

Aremedicineslabeledandoutofchildren’sreach?

Areadultstrainedtogivemedicinesandkeeprecords

ofmedications?

Aresurfacesusedtoservefoodcleanedandsanitized?

Arethefoodandbeveragesservedtochildren

nutritious,andaretheystored,prepared,andserved

intherightwaytokeepchildrengrowingandhealthy?

Arecleaningsuppliesandotherpoisonousmaterials

lockedup,outofchildren’sreach?

Isthereaplantofollowifachildisinjured,sickorlost?

In General

Doyouagreewiththedisciplinepractices?

Doyouhearthesoundsofhappychildren?

Arechildrencomfortedwhenneeded?

Istheprogramlicensedorregulated?

Aresurprisevisitsbyparentsencouraged?

Willyourchildbehappythere?


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Child Care AccreditationWHAT IS ACCREDITATION?

Accreditationisanational,voluntarysystemmaintainedbygovern-

ingorganizationssuchastheNationalAssociationfortheEducation

ofYoungChildren(NAEYC),theworld’slargestorganizationfocused

onearlychildhoodeducation.Theaccreditationprogramsaimtoset

professionalstandardsandhelpfamilieseasilyidentifyhigh-quality

care.Itisalengthyprocessthatrequiresallstafftotakepartin

reflectingon,assessing,andimprovingthecaretheyprovide.

WHY LOOK FOR ACCREDITATION?

Childcareproviderswhoreceiveaccreditationarescrutinizedfor

quality-assurancecompliance,andshowavoluntarycommitment

tocontinuousimprovementsinoperationsandprogramdevelop-

ment.Accreditationstandardsarebasedoncurrentresearchinthe

fieldofearlychildhoodeducation,sochildrenreceivingcarethrough

accreditedchildcareprovidersaretreatedinamannerbestsuited

forpromotingpositivegrowthanddevelopment,andareexposedto

awidevarietyofdevelopmentalresourcesandmaterials.Accredited

providershaveaprovenhistoryofcreatingandexecutingwell-

planned,developmentally-appropriateprogramsandactivitiesina

safeandhealthyenvironment.

NAEYC CODE OF ETHICAL CONDUCT

TheNAEYCisoneoftheaccreditationorganizationsforearlychild-

hoodcare.ItsCodeofEthicalConductsetsforthaframeworkof

professionalresponsiblity.

CorevaluesoftheNAEYCCodeofEthicalConduct:

Appreciatechildhoodasauniqueandvaluablestageofthe

humanlifecycle

Baseourworkonknowledgeofhowchildrendevelop

andlearn

Appreciateandsupportthebondbetweenthechildandfamily

Recognizethatchildrenarebestunderstoodandsupportedin

thecontextoffamily,culture,community,andsociety

Respectthedignity,worth,anduniquenessofeachindividual

(child,familymember,andcolleague)

Respectdiversityinchildren,families,andcolleagues

Recognizethatchildrenandadultsachievetheirfull

potentialinthecontextofrelationshipsthatarebasedon

trustandrespect

Thefullreportcanbeviewedhere:

http://bit.ly/r711tp

Accreditation OrganizationsAchievingaccreditationthroughtheNational

AssociationfortheEducationofYoungChildren

(NAEYC)isjustoneofthewaysinwhichchild

careproviderscanensurethattheirstandardsare

currentandprofessionallyacceptable.Belowisa

listofthedifferentorganizationsthroughwhicha

childcareprovidercanbeaccredited:

National Association for the Education of

Young Children (NAEYC)

http://www.naeyc.org/

National Association of Child Care

Professionals (NACCP)

http://www.naccp.org/

National Early Childhood Program

Accreditation (NECPA)

http://www.necpa.net/

National AfterSchool Association (NAA)

http://www.naaweb.org/

National Association for Family Child Care

(NAFCC)

http://www.nafcc.org/

Council for Professional Recognition - Child

Development Associate Credential (CDA)

http://www.cdacouncil.org/


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